Living Nature Makes Me Feel Alive...

Here are some random pictures of nature.
Dave and I like to drive up into the canyon occasionally.
I am a shutter-bug.
Some of these are actually off our deck. Well, not the one with the moose in it...
Hope you like them, but understand that it's not the same as being there; smelling the smells, feeling the breeze... Ahhh...

Father's Day Surprises...

Father's Day was a special day for David this year. Several of the kids called him, and others were able to come over for a B-B-Q.
Rob, Julie and Little Dude came over along with David and Laura. We had a nice dinner and played a game and just enjoyed each other's company.
A couple of special blessings were given and then everyone was on their way.
Truly the makings of a wonderful day.

The gifts he received brought tears to his eyes and warmed his heart.

I enjoyed giving him a book I made with Blurb.com. It has pictures of each of our children and grandchildren, along with stuff about them. Several of them also made contributions. It was neat.

Thunderstorms Stir My Soul!

A fabulous thunderstorm swept through the valley today. AWESOME!
Here's a poem I wrote in 1980 about storms in life:

A Humble Child, Prepared

Isn't it stirring that the wind ushers in the storms of our lives as it does in nature?

The bending, swaying branches
Seem to sigh and cry
Knowingly,
As the long awaited
Thirst-quenching rainfall nears.

Oh how wonderfully clean
And refreshing the sensation!
Smell the filtered air -
All dirt now removed.

All things are prepared to receive
Rhythmic welcome gifts
Falling from far above -
Like fairy spirits, catching and
Reflecting light.

Their journey completes this portion
Of an eternal round.
They give to their fullest
And satisfy the soul;
Parched, arid, weather-worn.

The extacy of renewal and rebirth
Is more than a baptism to the soul.
It is the needed daily rain
That feeds upward growth.

Roots grow deeper day by day,
Stretching, growing strong
To weather future storms
Until, at last,
Another season of harvest
For the just and pure.

Enduring and fervent we look to the day
When Christ Jesus, our Master, will say,
"Well done, my child, you've passed the test.
Come join now in our Father's rest."

What's New in Nauvoo?

Dave had the fun opportunity. He was invited to play the piano for a series of events surrounding a reunion for the descendants of Joseph and Emma Smith in Nauvoo, IL. His step-mother, Francine, was invited to play the violin.


This is the Mansion House where Joseph and Emma lived for 6 months before he was martyred.



Dave did magic tricks for children whenever they were waiting for the next event.


Here is Francine playing inside the Carthage Jail.


These are the bullet holes in the door which killed Hyrum and Joseph.


This is "Grandma's House" where Emma lived the rest of her life. She had a corner room so she could look out the window and see the river.


Though there was a continuing comedy of errors, Dave had a fun time.

Graduates, Congrats!

Both Laura and Michael graduated from high school this week. Woo Hoo!
What an awesome time for them. I only graduated a few years ago. Oh yeah, I guess it is a lot more like TWENTY-NINE years!
How time flies when you're having fun.
Mike is going on a Senior trip to Idaho, and Laura is going to Lake Powell.
Both places forecast storms. . . :~p

What an exciting time for them!
Life's adventure is taking a flying leap of faith.
Laura plans to go to BYU for the summer semester.
Mike is moving in with us and plans to work until he leaves on his mission next February.