Must be summer!

After such a cold, wet spring, we've really enjoyed having some warm weather before it gets hot.  David took the boys to the ward Fathers and Sons camp-out at Strawberry Reservoir.  They got super dirty, which means that they had tons of fun!

 Nathan has been interested in learning to use the sewing machine.  He picked out some fabric and made a pair of shorts (with some help!)

David's brother, Michael, told us about a hike we could take up Dry Canyon, above Lindon.  We were amazed at how beautiful it was up there.  Maybe it's because of the cool, wet weather.  It was really lush and green.  The views of the rock formations and mountains were incredible.

That's the peak of Timpanogos in the background.

Christian enjoyed smelling flowers from the backpack.  We bought the baby backpack when Nathan was a baby.  It has been worth every cent we paid.

I'm so glad we got to see these meadows of grass before they turned dry and brown in the heat.

 The trail continues for several miles.  We didn't get to go very far because it was close to dinnertime.  We'll definitely have to go back sometime and see more.

Here's the view as we walked back to the car.  We felt like we were in New Zealand or something.  I love that there is a place so beautiful so close to home.

Go Fish!

We recently discovered a new fishing pond less than a mile from our house.  Clara was the first one in our family to catch a fish there.  She was so excited!  She made sure to flaunt it whenever someone walked by.  She got very upset when we suggested eating it for dinner.  It's HER fish!  I think she plans to keep it in the freezer forever so she can take it out and admire it whenever she wants.

Christian was in charge of distributing the bait. 

Poor Nathan still has not caught a fish in Utah.  As if that wasn't discouraging enough, he also stepped on a fishhook and had to have me pull it out of his toe.  Later, he was completely grossed out when David gutted Clara's fish.  Hopefully he doesn't give up on fishing altogether. 

David still craves fishing in the high country without another human in sight, but he is glad to find a place like this so close to home.

A life well lived

Janeal Hansen 1927-2011

My sweet grandma passed away today.

Her life is a lesson on enduring difficulty with dignity and grace.  She was widowed at the age of 28, with four small children to care for.  She eventually remarried and had four more children.  She spent decades working hard as a farmer's wife and faithfully standing by her husband through poor health and financial difficulty.  She lived with few worldly luxuries but never forgot that she was a lady.



Paradise Found

I would have posted these earlier, but last week my appendix decided it was through being my appendix.  After a week of recovery and lots of nice people helping with the kids, I'm feeling great and ready to jump back into life.
These pictures are from our spring break in Idaho with David's parents.  It was a much-needed break.  Our ward split last month and David was put in the new bishopric.  Faced with the task of building the entire organization from the ground up, they had been spending hours and hours and hours and hours in meetings and extending callings.  We had a great week in Idaho and got all relaxed and de-stressed.

We went snowshoeing on Schweitzer mountain.  What a beautiful view!

People in Utah who complain about six inches of snow have no idea. 

David's mom and I decided not to try keeping up with the men.  We set our own pace.

 Grandpa and David took the kids on a hike.  Christian took a nap in the backpack.

Nathan helped with the burn pile.  He couldn't resist walking through the wet ashes.

We Are Never Alone

In Sunday School a few weeks ago, we were studying the story of Jesus walking on the water.  The teacher emphasized that the disciples had been struggling through the storm all night long before the Savior came to them.  She said that Jesus often lets us struggle alone for awhile before He comes to our aid.

Yes, He lets us struggle, but I don't think our Savior ever leaves us alone.  There have been times when I have felt alone as I struggled through some difficulty.  But even then, I can look back later and see evidence of His hand supporting me through some of the darkest times.  

This truth was movingly taught by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in his powerful address:  "None Were With Him", given in April 2009.  The entire talk is well worth reading, but I especially want to share this paragraph:

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” ²⁰

We do not have to struggle through our lives alone.  Christ is right there to take our hand.  We are human and so easily forget what Jesus Christ did for us.  I am glad we have holidays like Easter to remind us.

color

David and I recently listened to "The Giver," by Lois Lowry.  Among other thoughts provoked by the book was this: "What would the world be like without color?"  After several months of seeing mostly white, brown, and gray outside, I am craving some color.  I sometimes get my color fix during the winter by looking through pictures I've taken of flowers and other living things.  Here are some of my favorites for the benefit of others who might need some color:

This is where David grew up in north Idaho.  When you walk through these grasses on a warm day, you can literally feel the energy of the living things surrounding you.  How could anyone be satisfied with anywhere else after living here?

 This vinca was the only thing I could get to grow in the damp, shady front flower bed of our Orem house.  I love this shade of violet.

We found this spider web near Battlecreek Falls, above Pleasant Grove.  

Not only is the web amazing, but I love how the leaves look with the sunlight shining through them. 

These flowers were all along the trail heading to Grouse Creek Falls in Idaho.

Simple and beautiful. 

You don't see many ferns where we live.  These were in the back forest at David's parents' house in north Idaho.  The next two pictures are from the flower gardens there.

This was near Bridal Veil Falls, up Provo Canyon.

Looking out our back window.  I've always thought of a beautiful sunrise as God's way of saying, "Good morning."

St. George

David had a conference in St. George last week.  His parents were kind enough to take care of the kids so we could spend a couple days there.  Neither of us had been to St. George before.  In the short time we were there, we enjoyed what we saw.  I loved the old red brick buildings against the backdrop of red cliffs. 

It's nearly spring there.  I've always loved seeing crocuses and knowing that winter will soon be over. While David was at his conference, I caught up on our family photo album and did some shopping. 
We also discovered at a chinese buffet that we love coconut shrimp.

The church must have known we were coming, because they were kind enough to make sure the temple was closed for maintenance while we were in St. George.  Just our luck!



David and his good friend, Brother Brigham.

 

We spent an afternoon at Snow Canyon State Park, 20 minutes from St. George.  There were some nice little hikes, including petrified sand dunes and a trail leading up to pioneer names written on canyon walls with wagon axle grease.  David saw this formation and knew he just had to climb it.  Someone had to stay below to take pictures so I volunteered.

 

This was a fun little slot canyon we found. 
Nothing like a couple days away from the kids to remind us how much we like them.