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.

Spring Is Just Around The Corner????

I've been kind of under the weather for a couple of weeks and haven't dared venture out in the cold much until my lungs get functioning normally again,  Alison, Avery, and Ada did stop by today and that always boosts spirits.  I even stepped outdoors and took a picture of them playing on the snow pile in front of our house.  Even though spring is just around the corner, I think it will be several days before we have an unobstructed view out our front window.  That's OK though, if the grand kids will just come over and play on it now and then.  We do love our grand kids.

Lessons learned from tough times

Over the course of my life I have been blessed with remarkably good health.  I've tried to live well, eat right, stay active both physically and mentally, get adequate rest, breath in the fresh mountain air of the Bear Lake Valley, allow the Spirit to be my guide,and enjoy each day as it came, even those with special challenges. In the past forty years of excellent health, I guess, Ive become a little smug, giving myself too much credit for my good fortune.  I've become what some have termed "stubborn"., still others "arrogant".I''ve come of late to realize more fully that I am not the "master of my fate", and not "the captain of my soul".  Invictus has its point, but it also leaves out the main point. We are children of our Father in Heaven, who loves and nurtures us.  Sometimes, the most important lessons can come during times of sickness and other trials, when we tend to be more humble and see that God sends his love to us through angels of mercy, who love, teach and nurture us during these trials. For the past ten days or so, I have been sicker than I have ever been.  Near pneumonia, which has hung on and on, but seems to be subsiding some now.  I've surrendered and gone to the Doctor a couple of times, more than in the previous forty years combined, if you don;t count my surgery of five years ago.  I've been the recipient of the love and kindness of the best nurse any one could ever have, Iris.  I've received calls of encouragement.  I've received a priesthood blessing after the hundreds and hundreds I've given over the years.  I've come to understand more fully the suffering of others and my own personal dependence upon others as the carriers of God's love for me.  I am ashamed, that in my pursuit of self reliance, I may have forgotten, the source of my blessings to an unacceptable degree.  Thanks to all of you who have shown concern, and especially those who had the courage to tell me what I needed most to know.  I will work at these things, and try to be more grateful for every breath I take and every person who touches my life for good.  I'm still on the mend and can hardly wait to get back to the Temple and to go and see the ones I love the most, my family.  God bless you all for all you do to help me be a better person.  I'm still a pretty rough stone, in need of polishing, but my love for each of you is great and pure, and so I face each day, each moment, with a resolve to live worthy of my blessings and to never take them for granted.

Love you all and always,

Grandpa Bart

Fresh Air and Long Shadows

Today when we woke up and looked out the window the sky was clear and the sun was shining.  That is not the kind of day that I like to spend indoors, so in spite of the rather cold temperatures, I bundled up and went up near Beaver Mountain for a few hours out in nature, getting some much needed exercise and some fresh air.

I strapped on the cross country skis and spent about five hours moving slowly along the well groomed trails.  The snow was perfect and so was the day. except that I missed River, who always used to accompany me on these expeditions.  I haven't done this as much as I should since we moved to Logan, but today was a great reminder, that I really do not have much of an excuse.  Even on foggy days or when we have a red air day here in the valley, the weather up high in the mountains is often clear and the air is crisp.  There is really not much more invigorating.  I'm slower than I ever was, but somehow that doesn't seem to matter much any more.

This was my trail, well groomed, and on Monday not a lot of traffic.  I did encounter a couple of snow mobilers, but that was it.

One  of the first things I noticed, was that I still cast a shadow.  I thought about that a lot as I moved slowly along the trail.  I was filled with a deep sense of gratitude for such a great, great blessing.  There are so many in the world who do not often have this kind of an opportunity, just me and my shadow and the Sun/Son up above.  It's good to know that there is something above us that brightens and lightens our days and gives us courage and strength to move on.

For some this kind of landscape may seem cold and foreboding, but one need not look long to recognize the beauty and even see signs of wild life.  I couldn't help but see a certain majesty in natures art.  Here  we see the tracks of a solitary weasel or squirrel across the smooth blanket of snow covering the landscape, which will provide water in the valleys below and facilitate the growth of all the crops, trees, grasses, and flowers, to name but a few, for the spring and summer months ahead.

Why's a Duck?

My dad always had a funny little question, which he would say, when he meant:  What difference does it make.?  We've smiled at this over the years, but now I think I've finally got it figured out.  A few days a go I took Micah up to First Dam to feed the ducks and the geese there.  We took a couple of loaves of bread and gave the birds a real feast.  They were very hungry and eager to be fed.  It made Micah smile and laugh a lot. I decided that is the answer to:Why's a duck?  To make little kids happy, of course.  We had a good time together.

Micah feeding the ducks/geese at First Dam on the Logan River.

Hungry geese anxiously awaiting a good meal at the had of Micah.

Another day Annika and Micah were at our house.  We told about JT serving his mission in Russia.  I played the video about the Siberian Road that is posted elsewhere on this blog.  There was a man singing  a song in Russian.  Micah listend and said:  "Oh, I can do that."

Micah is very quick at picking up a foreign language, don't you think?

Viva Las Vegas

Philip was born on a 40 below zero night in Montpelier, Idaho.  He still refers to Montpelier and Bear Lake as home and we are glad that he appreciates his roots.  Life has led him in to many places, each of which has been a good experience for him and those around him.  He served a mission in the Phillipines, and for a short time in Georgia.  He has travelled to Palau and the Northern Marianas and many other places across the USA and elsewhere.  Now he and his family have traded the beauties of the mountains of Utah and Idaho, where he has spent most of his life for the warmth of sunny Las Vegas.  We will miss him, but know this will be a great opportunity for him and his family.  Las Vegas will be a better place, because he and his family will let their light shine in such a way that many will see their good works and come to the real light, which at least some seek foolishly in the neon for which the city is most famous.  We hope that you will reflect on the cool quiet evenings in Bear Lake while you are in Las Vegas and that all will be well with you and your family while you are there.

From a little Mormon settlement in the Bear Lake Valley to a little Mormon settlement in southern Nevada.  Happy Trails, Philip and Family !!!!!