Not Your Typical Teenager

While visiting at Jared and Shana's last week we got a chance to spend a little time with our oldest  granddaughter.  When we got there she was getting ready to go to the temple with some friends.  She does this most every week, she says.  We're so glad she wants to do this and have that special feeling of serving others who need help from someone on this side of the veil.  I'm so happy I can help supply names for her when she goes to do baptisms.  I love my Kinsey Amanda, and I love her Grandma too.
They are both very special to me.

Visit in Murray

It had been entirely too long since we made the trip to Murray to see Jared and his family.  We did make it down there this weekend, on Saturday, to help celebrate Sam's seventh birthday.  He is a  bright, active and happy kid.  It was fun to see some of his school and primary friends and to be their as he marked his seven-year milestone.  Another year and he'll old enough to be baptized.  Where does all the time go.  I think Sam has made some big strides in the past few years.  He and his dad stopped by our home in Logan a week or so ago.  Sam had spent the day with his dad.  We asked him if he had liked the day.  He said: "No" and then quickly added. "I didn't like it, I LOVED it."  It was good to see father and son enjoying some quality time together.  We LOVED our time with Sam too.

Here is Sam, caught in a moment of typical exuberance.  We love you, Sam, and we think you are an awesome kid.  Keep on enjoying life and your good family too.

Annika at her Gymnastics Meet

We attended Annika's gymnastics meet this afternoon.  It was great to see her perform.  Needless to say we are very proud of our six-year-old.  Love you Annika.

Our Little Brave Dude

We watched Ryan and Sam's kids  the other night while they were at a
school/baseball team function.  They are never any trouble.  I did happen
to snap a shot of the littlest Brave in the family, Tristan. What's not to like
about that kid, or any of the rest of our twenty-four grandchildren?  We
adore them all.  Shortly before we were to leave Tristan came over to me
and kept saying something I didn't quite understand.  He's just year and
half old so I was trying to figure out what he meant.  Then Micah
came over and said: "He wants the iPad, Grandpa."  It is indeed a different
world from when I was a kid and wanted a stick horse.  Gotta Love 'Em.

The First Real Taste of Spring

As a child in the Bear Lake Valley, where the coming of spring often lingered well
into April or sometimes even May, some things seemed to herald the dawning of
the change and warmth that accompanied the changing of the seasons.  One of
these was the unmistakable sound of Canada Geese winging their way northward
to their nesting grounds. Some times these beautiful birds would land on the baring
stubble fields in search of some grain that had been lost in the harvest of the
previous season.  It was always with a good deal of gratitude and anticipation that
these great birds were awaited.

Another sure sign of spring was when Dad would come home with a bag full of

fresh water cress.This was the first real taste of spring and one that was always

appreciated.  The water cress grew in small springs where the water temperature

was a little higher than the surrounding environment.  Some of the favorite places

for gathering this early water cress was the Spring at the Lyme Hymas farm and

also at the old Rill Long sawmill in Sharon.  This fresh green water cress was

especially tasty with  slice of Mom's fresh home made bread, strait from the oven,

and some good sharp cheddar cheese.  I still relish this delicacy of my youth and

try to continue the tradition each spring.  Since we moved to Logan this has,of

necessity taken a few turns, as to time and place.  The tastes are still the same

and the anticipation of the coming spring are not diminished after all the years. 

I found this small patch of water cress in Logan Canyon during a walk on the

Stokes Nature Trail a couple of days ago.  Needless to say I have been feasting

on green for the last few days.  Simple Pleasures.

After a pleasant walk along the Stokes Nature Trail on Friday I was reminded that

there is a time and a season to all things. The picture above was taken the

following morning just outside our door.  Sometimes  we anticipate what is surely

coming only to be reminded that the time is not yet, and that we are not the ones

to set the clock of all things. This is true in our own daily walks of life, as well. 

Patience is indeed a virtue,  just as is faith in what will surely come to pass.  Just a

few musings on the past and the future from the vantage point of the present.

Miracles Unfolding Before Our Eyes

It seems these last several months that miracles have been taking place all around me.  I have long been aware of the miracles of nature that seem to become more evident in the springtime, but lately the miracles have been of a different nature.  I became keenly aware of this this morning as, our niece, Kristina, called and said she would like to drop off some of the temple ordinance cards she had picked up from me about a month ago.  It is always good to see her and to feel of her enthusiasm for Temple work.  She is a miracle in and of herself.  The picture below represents just some of the work she has done and has orchestrated over the past few weeks.  I will not take the time to count, but all of these cards are now complete and have had all their temple work done.  I know for sure that the vast majority of those people for whom this great vicarious work has now been performed are rejoicing in the Spirit world and now stand even more ready to serve as ministering angels to those of us who are willing to listen to them and seek out even more of our kindred who have gone before us and who now await the great day when these sacred and essential ordinances can be performed on their behalf.  It is wonderful for us to be able to see so much of unfold before our very eyes.  The work goes forward both here and on the other side of the veil, and the veil is indeed very thin sometimes.  I could go on for hours about the special spiritual experiences I have witnessed since I've become more involved in this great work.

Most days I spend a goodly portion of my time sitting at the computer, pouring through books, and searching the Internet for information regarding our extended family.  It is so rewarding that I have even caught myself doing it at two or three o'clock in the morning.  Some might think I've gone nuts.  You be you own judge, I don't really care.  Maybe more than at any other time in my life, I feel that the work in which we are involved is important, indeed essential.  I remember one of our stake presidents, President Hammond, when we were in Montpelier telling us we should measure all that we do in light of this question: "What does it really matter in the eternal scheme of things?"  I'm sure if we would do that, we would be a happier people and the world would be a better place, not to speak of the effect on the eternal world.  There is a time and a season appointed to all things, a time to plant and a time to bring in the sheaves.  I am grateful to have realized this so that my days of retirementt at least  can be more productively used.

Springtime Azaleas

When Iris was growing up in Georgia and spring came in March and April the azaleas bushes came out in bloom in all their splendor.  We still have our azaleas in the spring time, but as you can see from this picture, we have a little different perspective now.  Nonetheless, we rejoice in the beauties of the earth and appreciate the beautiful flowers of spring, while just out side our front window, winter shows signs of lingering for several more weeks.  We love the spring flowers and anyone who really knows me, knows that I am getting a little antsy about planting flowers around our place for the summer.  I guess, I could say, I just can't wait, but there is a time and a season for all things.  Waiting is sometimes an important part of what we have to do in life..  We live in a time when people seem to seek instant gratification, but there are important lessons, that can be learned from looking at the the azaleas from the comforts  of our home, and at the same  time giving thanks for the large snow banks outside our front door and on the mountains  that promise plentiful drinking water and water for our crops and yards for the months to come.  Another thing that I am especially grateful for is a wife, who grew up among the abundant spring flowers of the South, and who now has learned to love and appreciate the beauties of the Rocky Mountains as well and who is never heard complaining about the snow outside our door or the cold temperatures which tend to give us both creaky bones and joints as we grow older.

If we ever tend or happen to feel ourselves getting down, I hope we will stop and reflect upon our blessings and see the beauties that abound all around us all the time.  It is often a matter of perspective and always a matter of cultivating a joyful heart.  Little signs of hope should remind us that we can be assured of the greatest blessings we can ever imagine, especially as we show and express gratitude and live our lives outside ourselves in the service of others.