We meditate to discover our own identity, our

right place in the scheme of the universe. 

Through meditation we aquire and eventually

acknowledge our connection to an inner power

source that has the ability  to transform our outer

world.  In other words, meditation  gives us not

only the light of insight but also the power for

expansive change.

from: The Artist Way

I cant put my finger on why it is that hiking inspires me to blog.  I miss, miss blogging.  I have missed, missed hiking.  Weight lifting is a gas...I really love it...but I guess there are no gorgeous vistas to photograph...no down time to just take in the scenery and to breath. Too many sweaty, straining faces at the gym...who wants to see that!!??

I am so, SO grateful that Brian and Mericar are in town now...for now we have plans!!! Lots of plans for hiking. I almost feel reborn.  Hopeful.

Today we picked a moderate hike...for we had grands in tow. Anna and David are rock stars! They toted those kiddos on their backs and in their arms most of the time!! Thanks Blacksmith Barbell for the strength training there!!

It was a beautiful Labor Day Monday. Even My Builder joined us!!  I think the grands would follow him anywhere!! Even up a mountain!!

William may grow up to be a rock hound.  He was always on the hunt to find a precious rock to put in his pocket. I believe the headboard of his bed is lined with such treasures.  He is our treasure!

 Did I mention that the morning was glorious!! The clouds...the tint of fall colors on  the trees in the distance.  It  rained  last night...and everything smelled amazing...the grass was bent over with the weight and coolness of the moisture! Perfection!!

 This little grand is a talker!! Hiking opens up his mind...even more...and he talked to all of us about anything...things that most four year olds dont articulate.  What a boy!!  Growing his legs stronger so he can be an even better hiker!!

And look what we found as the hike drew to a close. A lovely "St George" colored caterpillar!! He was a tickling treat!!

 When we ask for God's blessing, we're not

asking for more of what we could get for

ourselves.  We're crying out for the  wonderful,

unlimited goodness that only God has the power

to know about or give to us.

from: The Prayer of Jabez

by: Bruce Wilkinson

I know Christmas is about Jesus...I know this well. And my journey to know Him and love Him better is a good one.  My concerted efforts to study  and learn about His life and Gospel has become a beautiful thing for me.
But what is Christmas without family?  Family was a little sparse this year...with it being an 'off' year...But there is nothing "off" about having Clark and Jenna and Gideon here and with celebrating with grands. William and Ben's enthusiasm and wonder are the reason for the season as well.

Im not embarrassed to admit...whenever we go to the DI we find a treasure. This time if was an armful of grandma furry hats!! They made us happy..all those hats and fur collars...that smelled like a grandmas drawer...talcum powder and musty perfume. We think we sport them well, dont you??!

 You gotta love Old Main Hill at the University!!  And the sunshine on this day was heaven sent!!  It felt like it had been months since the sun had shone around here!! A perfect day for sledding!! PERFECT!!!

 I love these people!!

 I challenged David to a race...he started of strong....but I beat him in the end!! Good times!!!

Im so grateful for my good, good family. They bring me such joy and happiness, and fun times.

And words cant express how very proud I am of of these two kids. Medical school is a challenge I cant possibly comprehend...and to have them both so challenged is remarkable to me.  Their being able to relax for a time was such a gift ...for I know not what else I could do for them.... God bless them.

Maybe there is a bigger purpose, a bigger

picture that we only contribute a very small

piece to. You know, like one of  those thousand

piece puzzles?   There's no way you can tell by 

looking at  one piece of the puzzle what the puzzle 

is going to look like in the end.  And we dont have

the picture on the outside of the puzzle box to guide

us.  Maybe everyone represents a piece of the puzzle.

We all fit together to create this experience we call

life.  None of us can see the part we play or the way

it all turns out.  Maybe the miracle's that what we see

is just the tip of the iceberg.

from: Making Faces

by: Amy Harmon

MY THANKSGIVING PRAYER

of 2015

Thank you dear Heavenly Father, for these good people who do their very best to take care of one another and to be mindful of each other and who love one another.  We are truly blessed with more than plenty.  Plenty of food, plenty of talent, plenty of love, plenty of fun and of course, plenty of blessings from Thee.  (For look where we can celebrate this day!!!!)
May each of these dear people around this table be blessed with continued peace and prosperity and with continued  determination to do their very best and to enjoy their journey.  May we each feel love, and give love and be love.
May we be mindful of those what cannot join us at our table this year.  Please God, send them our thoughts and prayers. We miss them.  We wish our table and our circumstances could hold them all! May we all continue to work towards our hearts' desires and that these desires will be in alignment with what Thou would have us do and to be.
Thank you!!  Life is good!!
Amen

 These bags of groceries are maybe just an 1/8th of what we hauled in to feast on!!

 Handsome boy whom I so enjoyed playing card games with!! Notice the homemade egg rolls!! YUM!!! Thanks Mericar!!

Here's what I think now: At first you fall in love.

You wake in the morning woozy and your twilight

is lit with astral violet light.  You spelunk down

into each other until you come to possess some

inner vision of each other that becomes one thing,

Us Together.  And time passes. Like the forming

of Earth itself, volcanoes rise and spew lava.  

Oceans appear. Rock plates shift.  Sea turtles swim

half the ocean to lay eggs on the mother island;

songbirds migrate over continents for berries from 

a tree.  You evolve- cosmically and geologically.

You lose each other and and find each other again.

Every day. Until love gathers the turtles and the 

birds of your world and encompasses them too.

from: Driving Mr Albert

by: Michael Paterniti

The stars aligned, the rain clouds departed and the sun shone warm and golden and Mothers Day became practically perfect this year.  Sure we were missing a few kids..but phone calls were the next best thing to filling in the void.

I cant remember the last time I've ever been completely taken by surprise.  But Saturday night it happened...a joyful, glorious surprise.
Seeing Joe and his whole beautiful family walk into the restaurant where My Builder and I along with Brian and Mericar were enjoying a delicious meal together was a most delightful surprise!! It was the very best kind of surprise!!  And then the fun really began....'cause painting primer on a million cabinet doors just wasnt quite fun enough was it Bri and Mericar!!!??  Getting a tiny home ready for their move in date is becoming quite the push.  But I'm so, so grateful that I can help..really I am.

Watching the kids swim at the hotel, going to church on Sunday morning with B&M and Anna and David and the kids and receiving a chocolate candy bar was just the beginning.
Having everyone come to our tiny home was wonderful and a little daunting...would we all squeeze in!!!??. There was art at the kitchen table and nap taking and kid shows to watch and newly planted flowers to yank out of the ground. (dear dear Beckham oh how we LOVE you!!!)  There was food to eat and an RC truck to race up and down the road and then the most satisfying  springtime walk along the Logan River.

 Life has gotten in the way for Joe...he may not even remember what a great artist he once was..and probably still is...but it looks as though Beckham will be following in his footsteps!!

I estimate that a 100 rocks were hucked into said river. What is it about bodies of water and boys and rocks?!!

The frogs sounded as happy as I was that the sun had returned after our 5 days of rain. Croaking chorus'es of frogs were singing to us all along the trail. David was determined to catch one of them to show to all the kids. So he rolled up his pants, hopped the fence and waded in!! (Anna was convinced that he was'going to 'catch' more than a frog from the muddy marsh...like a parasite or something worse. Oh sweet Anna...whose daughter are you anyway?)

He was a beautiful little reptile...who withstood much mauling by tiny little hands.

 Ben isnt afraid of reptiles, NOT AT ALL...he kept trying to give them a kiss!!

Brian and David also caught a little garter snake for the kids to see and touch..much to Natalies dismay.

I gathered some simple wildflowers to brighten my countertop.  Oh how I love buttercups.  They remind me of my childhood, and living back east.  Did you remember that holding  a buttercup under your chin can determine whether you like butter or not?  If you see a reflection of yellow on the underside of your chinny chin chin you love butter!!!

 (Is Anna walking with Jesus!!!??)

Oh what a glorious day!!!  My kids..and their kids, and their wives and husband, bring me such joy!  My pride in them  knows no bounds!!