Sunday, August 24, 2008
Appreciation
We have hardly had the GoKart out all summer so we decided to run up in the mountains west of where we live Saturday afternoon. This is reservation land which requires that one have a fishing license in order to travel over it. I have had a license since we arrived here but had not taken advantage of opportunities. We traveled back into Mocassin Lake. The roads are really rocky necessitating pretty slow travel over a number of switchbacks. The country is gorgeous. All we could think of was how marvelous is the work and hand of God. His creations, the mountains, the trees, the streams, the meadows, the flowers, etc., etc., -- the beauty and feelings are beyond expression. We were both filled with awe and gratitude.
I have had some trouble with the motor in the GoKart this year. I was still using the same gas I purchased when I it was new and hadn't drained the tank as I should have. One of the other purposes was to run some Gum Out cleaner through the gas tank and engine to clean it up from the build up caused by the old gas. I don't know if it was hitting a bunch of pot holes going too fast or running into a small stump but if you look closely at the picture of me sitting in the GoKart, just above the front tire and below the top of the fender, you will see that the connecting piece to the drive line is broken. It was challenging to move forward when the front tires were going in different directions. We will get this welded back together and be ready to go again.
It is amazing to me as I have gotten older how much I regret some of the things I did and wish I hadn't. I love the mountains and love being in them with family. What I regret is getting upset with my children when we were cutting fire wood. I still tend to want work things to move expeditiously and smoothly. What I now realize, and wish I would and would have in the past, is the time, place and INDIVIDUALS, are much, much more important than the work. The work will always be there. Children grow up and both they and others move on and out of your life (or at least with children out of daily contact.) The time spent together is what is most precious and every effort should be expended to fill these moments with joy and the love of being together. There is so much learning and appreciation of God's hand in all things to share.
I have had some trouble with the motor in the GoKart this year. I was still using the same gas I purchased when I it was new and hadn't drained the tank as I should have. One of the other purposes was to run some Gum Out cleaner through the gas tank and engine to clean it up from the build up caused by the old gas. I don't know if it was hitting a bunch of pot holes going too fast or running into a small stump but if you look closely at the picture of me sitting in the GoKart, just above the front tire and below the top of the fender, you will see that the connecting piece to the drive line is broken. It was challenging to move forward when the front tires were going in different directions. We will get this welded back together and be ready to go again.
It is amazing to me as I have gotten older how much I regret some of the things I did and wish I hadn't. I love the mountains and love being in them with family. What I regret is getting upset with my children when we were cutting fire wood. I still tend to want work things to move expeditiously and smoothly. What I now realize, and wish I would and would have in the past, is the time, place and INDIVIDUALS, are much, much more important than the work. The work will always be there. Children grow up and both they and others move on and out of your life (or at least with children out of daily contact.) The time spent together is what is most precious and every effort should be expended to fill these moments with joy and the love of being together. There is so much learning and appreciation of God's hand in all things to share.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
California Tripping with Alysha
What a wonderful blessing and opportunity to attend the temple with Alysha. For her birthday present we purchased her ordinance clothing to go with the dress her mother made. It was great that she had the opportunity to attend the temple a few times. Because of that she knew exactly what she wanted. While in the temple we learned that President McKay had them add a picture of Hyrum Smith to their portraits of church presidents.
After attending the temple Alysha took me to "The Empanada Place" which brought back memories of my mission in Argentina. I had many empanadas during my mission and this place was run by an Argentine family. They featured empanadas that are unique to various parts of Argentina. The Empanada Criolla was what I was most used to. It has raisins and egg in addition to the meat and other ingredients. We made them a couple of times when Tami and Andrea were little but I didn't keep track of the recipe or just didn't take the time to continue to make them. I should have. We will have to have a big empanada party.
As this was our time to celebrate our birthdays together Alysha also gave me the presents she had for me. One was of the picture she created for her senior presentation at BYU and a package of caffeine free yerba mate from Argentina.
You will note the pictures of us walking on the beach. We walked until the sun went down and then walked back along the beach front. The ocean is so soothing and is such a reminder of God's great creations.
After attending the temple Alysha took me to "The Empanada Place" which brought back memories of my mission in Argentina. I had many empanadas during my mission and this place was run by an Argentine family. They featured empanadas that are unique to various parts of Argentina. The Empanada Criolla was what I was most used to. It has raisins and egg in addition to the meat and other ingredients. We made them a couple of times when Tami and Andrea were little but I didn't keep track of the recipe or just didn't take the time to continue to make them. I should have. We will have to have a big empanada party.
As this was our time to celebrate our birthdays together Alysha also gave me the presents she had for me. One was of the picture she created for her senior presentation at BYU and a package of caffeine free yerba mate from Argentina.
You will note the pictures of us walking on the beach. We walked until the sun went down and then walked back along the beach front. The ocean is so soothing and is such a reminder of God's great creations.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
59th Annual National Art Show & Sale
Coming to Wyoming has become a time for Carla to once again expose her talent for painting. She has created a number of paintings for my office and for the school of various students in their Pow Wow dance regalia. She has painted portraits of family members. Following some encouragement, she joined the Wind River Valley Artist's Guild. This provides an opportunity to visit and meet with other artists in the area.
Carla decided to develop some paintings for the Annual Art Show sponsored by the Guild. The three paintings below were entered. The top one is entitled "Lead Me - Guide Me" and is done in acrylic. It is of a child in our branch in her Pow Wow jingle dress. The other two are oils. One is of a neighbor's grandson who works his ranch with him. The other is of a modern day cowboy we met in Dubois, Wyoming (the middle painting.) The middle painting received an honorable mention in the Professional Oil category, the category with the most submissions. (By the way, artists from all over the United States submit to this Art Show.) It also received the Poplular Award that is given to the most popular work in each category as chosen by the viewing public. Although being selected by a fellow artist and honored with a ribbon is wonderful, personally I am most pleased that the public honored my sweet, wonderful wife with the popular selection.
Carla decided to develop some paintings for the Annual Art Show sponsored by the Guild. The three paintings below were entered. The top one is entitled "Lead Me - Guide Me" and is done in acrylic. It is of a child in our branch in her Pow Wow jingle dress. The other two are oils. One is of a neighbor's grandson who works his ranch with him. The other is of a modern day cowboy we met in Dubois, Wyoming (the middle painting.) The middle painting received an honorable mention in the Professional Oil category, the category with the most submissions. (By the way, artists from all over the United States submit to this Art Show.) It also received the Poplular Award that is given to the most popular work in each category as chosen by the viewing public. Although being selected by a fellow artist and honored with a ribbon is wonderful, personally I am most pleased that the public honored my sweet, wonderful wife with the popular selection.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Worthy of the Name
In 1897 Utah
In an effort to partially identify with them and what the other handcart pioneers shared in crossing the plains, I accompanied our Wind River Branch youth and other leaders on a two day trek going from 6th Crossing, the Willie Center to Rock Creek Hollow. While their journey through the area was in the freezing cold and snow of an early winter, mine was the rather pleasant July weather. Clouds and a gentle breeze proved helpful as temperatures were generally in the upper 80's. One of the acts attributed to my forebears was that they offered their help to weary travelers, putting poultices of stale bread and water on swollen feet too inflamed to go on. While I didn't have their help on my trek I did have the sweet and compassionate assistance of my companion to bless me as I ended the first day with large blisters on both feet (two large ones on the right foot and a large one and growing second one on the left foot.) She endeavored to lance the blisters and then cut and place moleskin around them. Our branch president gave me a blessing with the promise that I would be able to finish the trek and my feet would be OK. How marvelous it is to have the gospel and the Lord's authority restored in these latter-days to bless all mankind who seek it.
The next morning one of the medical staff offered us some corn patches which are thicker than moleskin. Carla applied those. Then I put on my better hiking shoes and began the hike over Rocky Ridge. Most of the first day I had pulled or pushed the handcart. The second day I did well to be able to walk. I made the climb over Rocky Ridge and then chose to ride in the medical wagon with Bro. Twitchell from our branch who accompanied us with his mule team pulling a wagon (my feet felt like they were on fire as I came into the rest area past Rocky Ridge.) After lunch, I again set out on foot with the handcart and finished the remaining six plus miles. A blessing fulfilled.
Today (the day after), I think I am more bothered by the aches of tired muscles and joints than from the blisters. I am thankful for ancestors who made that long journey across the plains because of a firm commitment to and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and His latter-day work. Even with this experience, I am barely able to comprehend the tough conditions of their daily lives. What I can relate to is the testimony they had that gave direction to their lives. I am most thankful for their dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ, their witness of a living prophet, and the personal revelation they received of our purpose here in mortality and the joy to be experienced in Eternity as we accept, understand, and keep God's ordinances and commandments.
In an effort to partially identify with them and what the other handcart pioneers shared in crossing the plains, I accompanied our Wind River Branch youth and other leaders on a two day trek going from 6th Crossing, the Willie Center to Rock Creek Hollow. While their journey through the area was in the freezing cold and snow of an early winter, mine was the rather pleasant July weather. Clouds and a gentle breeze proved helpful as temperatures were generally in the upper 80's. One of the acts attributed to my forebears was that they offered their help to weary travelers, putting poultices of stale bread and water on swollen feet too inflamed to go on. While I didn't have their help on my trek I did have the sweet and compassionate assistance of my companion to bless me as I ended the first day with large blisters on both feet (two large ones on the right foot and a large one and growing second one on the left foot.) She endeavored to lance the blisters and then cut and place moleskin around them. Our branch president gave me a blessing with the promise that I would be able to finish the trek and my feet would be OK. How marvelous it is to have the gospel and the Lord's authority restored in these latter-days to bless all mankind who seek it.
The next morning one of the medical staff offered us some corn patches which are thicker than moleskin. Carla applied those. Then I put on my better hiking shoes and began the hike over Rocky Ridge. Most of the first day I had pulled or pushed the handcart. The second day I did well to be able to walk. I made the climb over Rocky Ridge and then chose to ride in the medical wagon with Bro. Twitchell from our branch who accompanied us with his mule team pulling a wagon (my feet felt like they were on fire as I came into the rest area past Rocky Ridge.) After lunch, I again set out on foot with the handcart and finished the remaining six plus miles. A blessing fulfilled.
Today (the day after), I think I am more bothered by the aches of tired muscles and joints than from the blisters. I am thankful for ancestors who made that long journey across the plains because of a firm commitment to and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and His latter-day work. Even with this experience, I am barely able to comprehend the tough conditions of their daily lives. What I can relate to is the testimony they had that gave direction to their lives. I am most thankful for their dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ, their witness of a living prophet, and the personal revelation they received of our purpose here in mortality and the joy to be experienced in Eternity as we accept, understand, and keep God's ordinances and commandments.
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