change

This morning I was able to participate in the rededication of the Ogden Utah Temple.
The words of the speakers were amazing and touched me in a personal way.
I often do not remember what was spoken, but I always remember how I felt.
Today, however, it is what I felt that helped me remember words.

The temple is the Lords house. It is dedicated to him.
When I heard the speaker tell us that His presence was here,
I FELT it.
I KNEW it.
Even in the simple chapel of the church that was a temporary extension of the temple.

Later in the day, my daughter and I drove up into the mountains.
It was a wet and drizzly drive that gave me a new perspective of the changing leaves.
The trees were enveloped in fog. At times, the visibility ahead was not always clear.
These views caused me to turn my thoughts to the temple.
A sacred place where I learn truths.
A holy place where I feel loved by my Heavenly Father.
A peaceful place where I can ponder the many ways I need to change..

What a blessing the temple is to me.

(Sharing todays quote[s] on photos taken on our drive…)
   

Finally…

Two years later, we finally made it back to Lake Powell. (A crazy year, coupled with bad timing, caused us  to cancel all of last years plans.)  We hit the road Sunday afternoon and enjoyed a leisurely drive, taking in the beauty along the way…



As usual, we camped at the Super 8 in Page… Kylee and friends managed to find a friend. Without delay, I was summoned to remove him from the premises.

Setting aside unwanted guests, we hiked, relaxed, read, napped, swam, played, and laughed for three full days…

What a tree reminded me.

This winter has been unseasonably warm. So warm, in fact, that our coats have stayed in the closet.
The other day, I noticed that our trees have started to bud already.
These poor trees have been deceived into thinking it is Spring.
They have been hasty and they prematurely sprouted new life.
The danger that lies ahead… it is still Winter. The chance of cold, heavy snow is great.
These young, immature buds will most likely die off.
The miracle of it all… the deep, strong roots of this tree will provide a way for these many branches
to try again.
When the appropriate amount of time has passed, this tree will once again bud and produce beautiful green leaves

Just like these trees, we are susceptible to deceit.
Every day, we face dangerous, subtle temptations.
If we are hasty, and make a poor choice, we may find ourselves trapped in sin or addiction.
The miracle for us… the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Through repentance, faith, and His love for us... His atonement makes it possible for us to begin anew.

“We knew that our purpose was to gain a physical body, to overcome trials, and to prove that we would keep the commandments of God. Our Father knew that because of the nature of mortality, we would be tempted, would sin, and would fall short. So that we might have every chance of success, He provided a Savior, who would suffer and die for us.”  ~Thomas S. Monson

Confused Trees (365Project):

365

Have you ever found yourself excited by a great idea, only to forget about it as if the idea never existed?

Me, yes. Far too often!
I am sure you understand what my dilemma is.

I have been racking my brain for weeks now. Trying to figure out what I wanted to put into action in 2012.
I knew that it had something to do with one of my favorite hobbies… amateur photography.
Somehow, it all came back to me, and I have officially put my plan into action.

I have joined the 365project.

What this means… I have committed to uploading a photo a day for the next 365 days.
What you can expect… I will not post here every time, but you can find my page HERE.
What else can you expect… many “simple” and sometimes “mundane” photos. My life is NOT exciting.
What I hope… that I can keep this up for an entire year.
What else I hope… that I will find pleasure and joy in what seems to be simple and mundane things.

My first contribution…

3 birds on a wire as seen on my way to Church on a windy Sunday morning.

Fall Colors

1 daughter
1 dog
2 cameras
1 full tank of gas
1 beautiful road trip

A way to display…

This week I found myself the proud owner of updated photos
of some of my nieces and nephews!
A new school year and updated photos seem to go hand in hand.

Too often, these photos remain in their protective envelope,
waiting for the day I climb on a stool, pull the frames off the wall,
take apart the frame, exchange photos, replace the back of the frame,
hang it all back on the wall.

Seems easy enough.

I finally had enough and decided to put a new plan in action.
What I needed was a better way to display!
Better, in the sense that it is quick and easy to get each updated photo up
immediately!!

After a quick Google search for some ideas,
and a little gratitude for creative minds that are not afraid to share,
this is what I ended up with…

(the jury is still out on which display I like more.)

Hospitalized

Test results back in 2-3 weeks.
We are hoping for a positive diagnosis.

the…

(the photographer... me, & mostly Kylee!)

July’s travel log…

On Sunday, Evan left for Phoenix for a business trip.
He was gone only a few days, but we scheduled a slight detour.

Bright and early Wednesday morning, the girls and I packed up the car,
dropped Chester off at Grandpa & Grandmas
and started our road trip.

First destination, Las Vegas.
Only for dinner and a nights rest…
but not before picking up an extra passenger.
Evan joined us and was our chauffer to our final destination…

But first, a cold trip to the beach
where we laid around, took pictures (acquiring some scrapes in the process)
and shivered.

it was relaxing, in spite of the chill.

We spent the next three days in the park.
After the first day, I came to accept two facts.
1] no matter what care and attention I pay to my feet, Disney always delivers blisters
2] prickly heat has become a permanent part of my early summer wardrobe

 

I will share more later.
As for now, I am tired and I am so very much looking forwarding to sleeping in my own surroundings!!
It is not very Disney…. but it is fitting to say
There is no place like home!

Kicking off a 3 day weekend…

After a spontaneous decision, Kylee packed her bags
and took off to Portland with some friends.
Determined to have some fun of our own,
the rest of us kicked off the weekend with a bang.
(Literally!)

We started our day with a movie…
Transformers at the new Cinemark down the street.
Followed by few errands that we had to get out of the way,
especially if we wanted to eat!

Later, we threw some chairs in the back of the truck,
packed a small cooler with some water,
grabbed the camera and the dog,
and headed west to Riverton for some fireworks!

In spite of my neglect…

...from the rose bush by my front door.

Jr. Prom

Tonight is JHS’s Jr. Prom.
After an afternoon of hiking,
(followed by a panic stricken father-moment when the thunderstorm hit the valley)
Taylor transformed herself into a beauty!!

She has always loved her sister’s Jr. Prom dress,
and a quick trip to the tailor earlier this week was all that was needed.
A little pampering at the beauty salon saved me from an afternoon of frustration.
Here are the results.

She practiced pinning the boutonniere on dad,

then on her date. She received her corsage and off they went.

Call us crazy…
curfew is left to her own discretion.

I love…

Hope you are enjoying Conference as much as we are.
I love that I get to spend the full weekend with my family!