...of deserts, missionaries and miracles

Oh my...........I'm getting farther and farther behind............but my life is not all that exciting anyway, so there really isn't much to tell......... I uploaded these pictures a few days ago and I'm just now getting to writing something about them.

A few years ago (somewhere around 10!) we had some boys from the "west desert" live with us so they could go to high school here and play football. They don't have a football team at West Desert High School in Trout Creek, Utah, so they would come here for football then go home for the rest of the year to play basketball. Everyone in the school had to be on the basketball team! They were fun boys. Well..........one of them returned from his mission the middle of August so we wanted to go listen to him speak in church. We left here about 8:30 a.m. so we could have plenty of time............you never know what is going to happen when you drive out there...........

I need to back up a little..........Roger had gone to his early meetings that morning and our bishop told him to put some coveralls and a pair of gloves in. (Roger didn't tell me this until we were on the road.) And I thought of Joseph Smith telling Israel Barlow to buy a buggy whip. I also prayed that we would not suffer too much for our lack of obedience. We got there. Had our meetings and a great time visiting with friends we have made over the years. They had a big pot luck meal after church--very good. And we headed home. We had been traveling about half an hour when the "information panel" dinged and told us the air pressure in the right rear tire was low--24 pounds. All the others were 30-32 pounds! I prayed again--and rather constantly from then on, I might add............We had never even had the spare tire out! And it's carried under the Suburban and you have to lower it down with a crank..........we had never even really looked it over, much less gone through the actions. And Roger was in his suit, of course! We continued to watch the gauges--and drive slower--we pulled into our garage with 14 pounds pressure in that tire. We offered many prayers of gratitude. By that night it was flat as a pancake--or flatter--and Roger learned how to use our jack/crank/etc. the next morning. It really is pretty easy..........we're just grateful he didn't have to learn it all on a hot, dusty road in the middle of nowhere while wearing his Sunday suit!

Now for the pictures............I realize this is desert..........but there are beautiful things about deserts too........but you know that..........

We saw more antelope than other cars.........

The road starts out paved, but quickly turns to gravel...........it was a good gravel road.......

This is looking across the desert to Callao.......about 10-15 miles away..........

Trout Creek is somewhere this direction.........the church and school are "in" Trout Creek.

Notice the moon in this picture.........I really like this one..........I didn't take many pictures on the way home. I had already taken a bunch and besides, I was too worried about that tire going flat!!

We are so glad we went. You know.........we can plan to do something and then the preparing and thinking about leaving Suzanne all day sets in and I really drag my heels and wonder if we need to go..........well, we are just really glad we went.

I'm still here.......

Wow! it's been a while since I posted anything here. Trouble is, it's not that I have been just sitting around doing nothing. I know everyone has a busy life, but I feel that mine kicked into high gear for a few weeks. I'm not sure it will calm down much very soon, but I will try to get something posted soon. And when I do get to it, I have a lot to tell you about!! It's been crazy, but fun, for the most part............

Kamas Lake

During our TRA family reunion the first part of August, some of us wanted to make at least one last trip to Kamas Lake. Our grandfather and his sons--including our father--found a small lake in the Uintas and built a dam to increase the level of the lake, thus increasing water rights on the Weber River. As children, we often went with Daddy to close the dam in the fall. I had not been to the lake since my marriage, so it follows that none of our children had ever been there. I've wanted to take them for a long time but did not dare do it on my own for fear of not finding it! (Translation--getting lost!) I did not pay close enough attention as a child--there were so many other things to look at and I always had my father to keep me on the right trail! Well, four of us--Irene, Millard, Janeen and I--along with many of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren made "one more trip for Daddy". I'm so glad we did!! And maybe I will go again............someday....... We ran into a snag.......the Forest Service has made "improvements". We always started our hike by parking our car off the side of the road at Pass Lake, crossing the road and picking up the trail at the end of the guard rail. Well! first improvement (and I'll have to admit that it is an improvement) they have made a parking lot a little farther up the road. We should have just walked back down the road and started our hike at our familiar trailhead--but we didn't. The sign at the parking lot:

This was the only sign with "Kamas Lake" on it and a trail started off a little to the right--so trusting souls that we are, we set off..........it wasn't long before we were telling one another that we needed to be farther west, that we didn't recognize any of the area we were hiking through. But we had begun and our group was already somewhat spread out so there really was not much we could do but go on and hope we all arrived at the desired destination............(without losing anyone!)

The trail went up..............

...and up...

...and up...

...Bald Mt. continued to shrink...

Michelle carried her baby! and kept smiling!!!

...we saw beautiful, new vistas and tranquil lakes...

...and continued to go up!...

...some commented that they were having a "nature experience mountain goat style". I called them gazelles...

...and we went up some more!! Notice how I am always looking up from the slow end of the pack? I've always been the "tail end"...suppose I always will be. But I had never before thought how many more steps I have to take than Millard!!

...we are almost at the top...thank goodness!!!...

...talk about the top of the world...(or at least, my world)...

...there was a little more "up"...and I made it!!! (So did Irene! we were pretty proud of ourselves)...


...the flowers were spectacular...

..."Baldy" was even "shorter"...

...we finally arrived...and this I remembered! It really is a beautiful little lake "tucked away in the heart of the hills"...and this one I have seen turn from deep blue to gold!


We walked around the lake and started down on the trail we knew. It was a beautiful hike down...and a time to revel in the memories...

...the alpine meadows were as lovely as I remembered them...I'm so glad I made the effort, but I'm not so sure "it was for Daddy". It was another day of restoration for me. Thank you, everyone, for making it possible (I would never have gone on my own) and letting me tag along.