10/10/10--Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

Yes, today is the birthday of another amazing and wonderful man--my father! The thought was enough to propel me to my feet in testimony meeting this morning. I feel sorrow to know that I wasn't old enough to truly appreciate who and what Daddy was before he left us..........but what a legacy!! As a teenager there were times when I was unhappy to know that his name precluded me from some activities in our small town. Thank goodness we grow up and recognize that sometimes teenagers are just plain stupid! How thankful I am now--and have been for many years--to have learned that I didn't miss anything of vital importance and was possibly protected from situations and experiences that may have proved unhappy and/or hurtful.

I want to share just a couple of other deep seated memories.......my father always took the time to answer my questions. It didn't matter how silly they must have sometimes seemed to him. He always answered. I remember an early morning drive to Ogden, to the orthodontist, in the old black truck with a load of shavings (we tried to double up on trips as much as possible). We talked about clearance lights on semis that morning. I loved riding in that old truck. There was always plenty of time to look at everything. And you were high enough to see lots of things you couldn't see in a car. Going to Price for a load of coal was a grand time indeed!

I loved to go with him to do the chores in the winter--when I wanted to, of course. We would walk through the snow to Grandmother's. Once he had "blazed" the trail, he would walk in the same footsteps. Of course, his stride was much too long for my short legs and I was always thankful when there was a crust on the snow that I could walk on. I remember a few mornings in the early, pre-dawn light.......remember, I'm not a morning person, but I loved the mornings I made the effort to go with him to feed.

One more--July 4th--I was probably about 16 years old. I played the flute in the high school band, and the band always marched in the parade in Oakley. I was proud to march past our family--all sitting in or standing around the car backed into a spot along the highway. We tried to park in front of the creamery where there would be shade for most of the duration of the parade. At any rate, this particular July 4th Daddy was not going to be there. (Of course, I was unhappy about that!) He was going to irrigate for a member of the ward so she could take her four young children to the parade. I'm embarrassed to admit my uncharitable feelings about that...........but what an example he was to me. And I'm so sorry I was not mature enough to recognize at the time what a priceless gift Father in Heaven had given me. There really are disadvantages in being one of the "little ones" and I feel the loss acutely in that I had a whole ten years fewer to know him............that I was never really old enough to appreciate what I had until he was gone. But I'm so very, very thankful for what he did give me............not a great deal of the world's wealth, but many things of infinitely greater value. How I pray I will never disappoint this great man!! What a happy day it will be to be wrapped safely in his arms and tell him how much I have missed him and how often I could have used his wisdom!!.....how grateful I am for him. I anticipate many, many exquisitely happy hours............eternity............with him. Thank you, Daddy. And happy birthday! Next year we will celebrate the centennial!!!!

my other father

I can't let this day pass without being grateful for the birth of an amazing man: my father-in-law, Willard Stephenson. From the very first day I met him he treated me with his own cheerful kindness. I will never forget his happy smile while leaning on the counter in Deseret Book (where I worked) to ask me if I had recently received a letter from his son--serving a mission in Brazil. The day after we told him of our engagement--years later--we all went to Salt Lake City for general conference--in April. As we were getting out of the car I said something about joining the family. He immediately put his arm around me and responded to my question. (Up until a few years ago I could have told you verbatim what was said, but my mind has become more slippery. Many of you know what I mean, the rest of you just need to wait a few years and you too will know!) But I remember the feeling of love and acceptance in that hug and I was never once given a cause to question it in all the years since. We had the privilege of living right next door, so our children had grandparents close--a mixed blessing sometimes. But I am so thankful for the relationship our children were able to have with their grandparents. He's been gone 17 years now and there are times when I miss him terribly. Dad, I love you, and I'm so thankful for the good name you have given our children. We are working hard to continue the legacy.............HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

a delightful day...........mostly

We took a day off yesterday from the sometimes frantic pace of fall--think harvest, peaches, pickles, pears, tomatoes, pickles, etc., and all that goes along with "preparing"--and went to Provo for the day. First, of course, there was the usual "have to stop here" places and, thankfully, delivery of some honey.  Then we hurried to the production of "The Cashore Marionettes".............totally delightful!!!

 

The picture here shows "Lullaby"--a tired mother with her fussy baby--she rocks him, puts him in a cradle then kisses him goodnight...........and talk about looking real!!!! Not to mention the feelings and emotions you experience while watching! My goodness!!!! Oh! they were all so good!! The "Maestro Janos Zelinka"........well, all of them were amazing!! But he even got the vibrato going in the left hand/wrist and such action in the right wrist that I'm pretty sure our orchestra teacher here would try to tone it down some..........but on stage, in this form, it was enchanting! There is some talk that BYU will have him on the the performance schedule again next fall. If you get the chance here's another "show" I highly recommend!!

We ate at what used to be the "Cougareat".........Richard joined us there and shared the fresh-baked bread he had just purchased. Daniel and Michelle went and got two more loaves and we ate those too.........we watched some students practice/play with their yo-yos and listened to another student practice the piano (didn't sound much like practice) and then enjoyed a walk across campus.

The rest of the day was less delightful, though I got to spend it with some of my favorite people in all the world. It's amazing how that can salvage an otherwise rather disappointing event............

off we go!!!!

You might guess!!!!! Roger and I were able to get tickets to see Discovery leave for her last mission November 1st!!!!!!!!!! Yes!! I am so excited I can hardly believe it's for real. Now I'm praying for good weather, perfect conditions, that the shuttle will be _________ ..........you know.........no glitches! We got up at 5:30 this morning to be ready when the last of the tickets were available at 6:00 (8:00 EST) And we got some!!!!! I checked later..........they were sold out in 25 minutes!!! Ohhhhhhh, I pray all goes well...........it's not like we can check back two weeks later, you understand! I cannot describe the thrill I feel just at the thought of being there to see and feel and hear.............leaves me giddy and weak-kneed!!! Just had to share my jubilation!!!

...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.