SABBATH MUSINGS

We are each working out our own salvation
with fear and trembling before the Lord. And
that gift will come to us only if we know in our
hearts that we deserve it no more than anyone
else. The truth is, we are all, each of us, equally
damned without the mercy of the Lord. Eternal
life is a gift. I have no cause to feel entitled. I
have cause only to feel grateful.
from: The Peacegiver
by: James Ferrell

I had an interesting experience in the Salt Lake temple 2 weeks ago. I've been mulling it over in my mind ever since. I've been trying to figure out what it means and how to share it. And maybe it's too personal. So instead, I'll have you find joy in this picture....

"prepare yourselfs for the great day of the Lord"

And say, "Dont be left behind."
Work hard to stay close to all those that you love.
I know that the alternative is to be greatly avoided.
I'm feel sure the effort expended will be worth it!!

We are not what we own.
We are what we do, who we
help, and the difference we
make in the world.
from: The Necklace
by: Cheryl Jarvis

I'm missing my boy-slash-young man!!
It's so hard to believe that he's been away for a whole year!!
The year went fast!!
Here's praying that this next year goes as quickly.

I miss his handsome, goofy face.
I miss his expertise.
I miss his jokes and the twinkle in his eye.


What makes this "mission phenomenon" possible in a mothers heart is that these kids learn to LOVE what they have been called to do. It might not start out as a love affair...but more often than not it turns into complete infatuation!! Most of these kids turn into men and women while they're gone. Most missionaries learn to love serving others. Most missionaries fall hard for the truths found in the holy scriptures. These young people learn 'people skills' that can be learned in no other way. These good 'kids' come home with a powerful testimony of their Savior and their Father in Heaven. Most of this army of missionaries come home with a greater appreciation for their parents. (sometimes 19 yrs seems a long time to wait for such a gift. wink, wink) They all learn how to work, and to work hard- though my Builder was an excellent example of this for his kids. And boy oh boy do they all learn how to praY!!!

So even though my heart grows tender and wistful at times, I truly am grateful that sweet Sparky, ie Elder Clark, has heard the call to "stand as a witness of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places that he may be in..."; even though his 'place' is far, far away!!
May God continue to bless my dear boy in all that he does!!!
So now that I have been able to vent a little, it really is with great gratitude that we have missionaries and prospective missionaries in our home. Really!! But sometimes its hard, 'cause we just plain miss them.

TODAYS PHOTO

G is for Gelato, Great Friends and Good Hikes

Its delightful, its delicious,
its de-lovely.
-Cole Albert Porter

For months now I have been hearing about the gelato shop located in downtown Sugar House. I've even told friends about its renowned reputation. Last week, while hang'in with dearest friend Jan, and the girls, and after eating the most yummy Asian cuisine and strolling the streets of S. H.- we accidentally stumbled upon the famous parlor!!!We could have so easily missed it, as it was swamped by road construction. (orange cones are taking over the world!!!)

Let me just say that Im not a food critic,

But I am a food enthusiast.

Im not an ice cream lover,

But I am a gelato junkie!! (anything Italian I suppose)

The peeps and I stood at the beguiling counter and sampled every single one of the luscious, delectable, creamy flavors offered this day!!! We cooed and awed and salivated and our eyes rolled back in our heads in blissful euphoria with each bite. (I only saved a partial sampling of the cute little plastic spoons we collected) Knowing that this stuff is made with local fresh fruit only added to the delectableness of each taste. The offerings this day were flavors such as:

Coconut cream -tasted better than an Almond Joy bar!!

Chocolate orange (tasted better than the Christmas orange sticks..so much better!!)

Chocolate – tasted like fudge on steroids!!

Mandrain with Pine nuts- unusual flavor, but so, so good!!!

Cinnamon – oh so yummy and savory!! It was Annas favorite!

Strawberry Cantaloupe- amazing!!! I think this was my favorite!!

Berry Berry and More Berry- mild and delicious and the color was spectacular!!

And there was so many more....

It was just to hard to decide which velvety smooth gelato would fill our cups!!!

Relief from extreme decision making came when we discovered that we could choose TWO flavors for our cups!!! Oh joy oh joy!!!

Our taste bud reached Nirvana!!!

And it was heaven hang'in with 3 of the ladies I love.

Now I know where I'll be visiting again when I return to the northern regions. If you can, go find this wonderful spot in Sugar House.

While enjoying this vacation, I was also determined to try and keep up a certain level of fitness. So I also took every opportunity I could to go hiking. Taking good friends and dear family along with me was such a bonus!

Man oh man is it gorgeous in the canyons of Northern Utah!!!








This world we live in is so magnificent and full of delectable treats at every corner!!

Thank you good friends and family for sharing so much of it with me!!!

POST SCRIPT!!!!!!

NPR radio joined us on our stroll through the tunnel.
Go HERE to read and listen to what they had to say about this memorable day!!
So cool!!!

ZION TUNNEL WALK- THROUGH LIGHT AND DARK AND TIME

"Under a wine-dark sky I
walk through light reflected
and re-reflected from the walls
and floor of the canyon, a radiant
golden light that glows on rock
and stream, sand and leaf in
varied hues of amber, honey,
whiskey--the light that never
was is here, now, in the storm
sculptured gorge...
from:Desert Solitaire
by: Edward Abbey

Look for more information on the history of this remarkable tunnel to follow shortly!! Oh what a treat it was to be among the few who were able to participate!! A rare treat indeed!!

TODAY'S PHOTO

I see more poetry in in a chunk
of quartzite than in a
make-believe wood nymph...
-Edward Abbey

"L" is for Lagoon, Lakes and Look Who's Back!!!??

Its so easy to be wicked without
knowing it, isn't it?
from: Anne of Green Gables
by: Lucy Montgomery

Im certain its been at least 15 yrs since my Builder and I have taken the 'kiddies' to Lagoon. (shame, shame on us) But Im quite certain too, that we wouldnt have enjoyed it any more than we did last week!!! Lagoon didnt disappoint!! Bob and I were the designated 'adults' for the excursion. We were in good company though...the two of us and 6 very fine teenagers were in attendance. (By the way, 8 IS GREAT!! Even numbers are the perfect senerio for amusement park activities!!! It always came out even steven for every ride!!
Once again I'll let the photos do the 'talk'in.'
WE HAD A BLAST!!!

And though we had a throughly enjoyable time at the park...I think my Builder enjoyed the day at the lake even better!!
This was the day that I went to American Fork to visit Cuz Ann; everyone else headed to the water!!
More Good TImes!!!

Easy peesey for the Bri-dog!!

The Builder prefers the knees....but a 180 is easy peesey for him!!

Anna's FIRST TIME UP!! (not so easypeesey)

Upon arriving home in So. Utah we were happily anticipating the return of our dear friend Justus!! No work in Boise-and guaranteed work here...so we got him back!!

Does this prove that if you grumble loud enough about an empty nest...a chickie will materialize???
Yes....THANK HEAVENS!!!!

WAKE UP AMERICA WEDNESDAY!!!

"Secularism also produced an artificial sense of security. A good example of this is what has happened to our Social Security system in America. Principles gave way to political promises, and the secular theology with its “cast your care upon Social Security” has now exposed its hollowness—like the billboard outside Chicago ten years ago that read, “Borrow enough from us to get completely out of debt.” Sad as it is to say it, the hard choices ahead for the nation regarding our Social Security system could pit the young against the old and the middle class against the poor. The system is scarcely “social” in such a setting; likewise, the financial unsoundness of the system scarcely deserves the word Security. What we have is thus neither social nor security. Ahead of us are additional days of reckoning besides the one noted many times in the Bible."
-Neal A Maxwell


Are you intrigued??? Go here for the full article!! Be sure to put on your thinking caps first!! I had to pull the dictionary off the shelf, dust it off and USE it for this commentary!!!

TODAYS PHOTO

Most people don't have any idea

about all the complicated life going
on inside a hive. Bees have a secret
life we don't know anything about.
from: Secret Life of Bees
by: Sue Monk Kidd

Cousins are the best!!! They're the bomb!!
And I have lots of cousin news!!!

First there is news of Lynley.
SHE LEFT ME!!!
I cant imagine why she would choose to go and leave an old geezer like me for a real university town, where the men are wild and daring and seeking a real education..plus moving in with sweet Anna to boot. Why oh why would she do such a thing??
I miss her.
I miss her cute hiccups.
I miss her humming and singing.
I miss her movie collection and watching them with her.
I miss her curiosity and questions.
I miss her help in the kitchen.
I miss our visiting.
I miss her upbeat attitude.
I miss her red hair and smiling face.
Oh well...things NEVER stay the same.
She knows I'll always be in her corner-rooting for her all the way.
You can keep track of her life in Logan, and how shes dealing with college life and the impending COLD and all of her adventures there!! Lynley is a marvelous writer. You'll really enjoy her, I promise. Go HERE to see for yourself.




Then there's my dear cousin Ann.
Its really quite pathetic but Im quite certain we saw more of each other when we were little kids. Our parents were much more successful at getting us together then we have been now that we are 'grown-ups.' ( eww...I have such a negative connotation of the word 'grown-up.' My parents are grown-ups NOT ME!!!)
Anyway, our get-away to regions northward did bring the two of us together once again. It was long over-due. Ann invited Jude and myself to lunch at her darling home in American Fork.
And it wasnt long before our visiting juices began to flow and we talked until sundown!! It was wonderful to catch up with her and her life and that of her kids. It felt just like the olden days, when we'd sit on the twin beds in the yellow room of our grandmothers basement. I guess sometime the pre-adolescent catching up isnt that much different than it is now!! odd....
And this time Ann didnt volunteer to give me a haircut/hackjob without permission. (oh how displeased our mothers were with us) But she was happy to show me Caesar the cat's yoga position. She didnt have to swallow a patience pill and listen to my boy crazy ways either. Not this time. But we did enjoy sharing with one another our vast knowledge we've acquired through all our years on this planet.
It was a wonderful way to spend a day. And I once again vow to myself to not let so much time pass before another visit.
Thanks Cuz!!
Im root'in for all things good in your life!!!



And then there are the COUSINS!!!!
Oh what a delightful batch of cousins we have!! Every time we all get together we marvel at the comonadary these kids have with one another. What a blessing!!! They truly enjoy one anothers company!!
The photos will do the best in telling the tale of cousin friendship and love.

dan, bri, matt, stephen, anna, steph, becca and aunt cathy

The first week of August hangs at the very top
of summer, the top of the live-long year, like
the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it
pauses its turning.
from: Tuck Everlasting
by: Natalie Babbitt

There are changes a brew....(for me, and the season)
its dark now, when I head for the hills...ours days are already shortening.
...I needed a jacket this morning as I waited for this spectacular sunrise!! Burrrrrrrr.....
The Ridge is changing too..... (more on this later)
I adore the changes in the desert....I never tire of the privilege to watch!!!

Its been a GREAT summer!!!

I hasten to assure you that I am young
and happy and exuberant; and I trust
you are the same. Youth has nothing
to do with birthdays, only with "alivedness"
of spirit, so even if your hair is gray,
Daddy, you can still be a boy.
from: Daddy-Long-Legs
by: Jean Webster

More Birthday News!!

We have often accused our kids of being masters of lengthening birthday celebrations...My Builder must have been taking notes. He's enjoyed a nice long weekend of celebrations....starting in Salt Lake, Friday morning. Waffles, whip cream, snicker bars, and home canned fruit. “ah shucks, thanks so much Cathy and Kelly and kids."

Friday night we arrive at home sweet home, and then it was pizza, pop and grandkids. “The fun has just begun.”

Sunday brought the official family dinner. “Being the center of attention is alright by me.”

My love, there can be no better reason for a celebration than for you and your good life!!

Cant wait to see what the next year bring us!!!

(the next several post will be about our wonderful times in Salt Lake. There are fun pictures to share!!)