I have gone through 110 pictures of Dad. Please email any others you may have so that I can add them to the video I am trying to put together.
Dave, can you scan slides to digital? It would be great if you can scan the slides Dad took.
-Ron
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
We Can Do Hard Things.
I should have known. I really should have known. When a priesthood leader starts off an activity with all of us saying together "We can do hard things!" I really, really should have known. But, I didn't.
I always wanted to hike the trail to the top of the mountain above the temple, Frenchman's Peak. What a rugged and beautiful mountain. Our stake planned an activity for the Aaronic Priesthood Young Men to hike the mountains with their quorums and their fathers. Spencer and I were going to do this together. Ben claimed to be sleepy from late nights of doing homework and performing in Savior of the World. I think he had already hiked the mountain and knew the truth.
We gathered at the stake center for a kick off. We gathered at the church by the temple and talked again about the goal. We gathered at the trailhead to start the hike. Each time we talked of the importance of gathering, the importance of working as quorums, and the importance of serving each other.
The hike was made in sections. Each section was lead by a priesthood key holder, a deacons quorum president, a teacher's quorum president or a bishop with a yellow bandana and a hiking stick. We made eight stops along the way. At each rest stop, an Aaronic priesthood holder talked on a purpose of the Aaronic priesthood.
Please dear reader, understand that this is a hard thing, (except for Mark who would have yawned and been bored at our grueling pace.) This hike is 4.5 miles round trip. The elevation climb is 1632 feet which is an average grade of 14%. Highway in the mountain passes are typically a 6 or 7% grade.
I remember being at one point and looking up to the saddle just a few switchbacks up and feeling exhausted. I was so excited to be so close to the top. As I reached the saddle, I realized that the trail moved on. It dropped down 300 feet and then right back up another 730 feet in elevation to climb to the summit. (At the top of the saddle behind us is an H1 rescue vehicle)
Today at church Spencer reported on the hike in priesthood meeting. He mentioned how our leader said that the vistas were wonderful and we looked back at our cars and we had come a long way. The base of the mountain had been used as a dump and looked a lot like the Telestial Kingdom. The saddle we had just reached was the Terrestrial kingdom and then we looked up at the summit which was the Celestial kingdom and we hiked on.
When we reached our goal, we could see the whole Las Vegas Valley on the west and Lake mead on the right. ( You can see the temple right at Spencer's left shoulder.) The Lake Mead side probably resembled a lot what the Salt Lake valley looked like when the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. We Talked about the Ensign that was raised to the world, A yellow handkerchief on a walking stick. We talked of the word being sent out to all the world from that point. We talked of young men preparing to serve missions. We sang:
High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled.
Ye nations, now look up;
It waves to all the world.
In Deseret’s sweet, peaceful land,
On Zion’s mount behold it stand!
I always wanted to hike the trail to the top of the mountain above the temple, Frenchman's Peak. What a rugged and beautiful mountain. Our stake planned an activity for the Aaronic Priesthood Young Men to hike the mountains with their quorums and their fathers. Spencer and I were going to do this together. Ben claimed to be sleepy from late nights of doing homework and performing in Savior of the World. I think he had already hiked the mountain and knew the truth.
We gathered at the stake center for a kick off. We gathered at the church by the temple and talked again about the goal. We gathered at the trailhead to start the hike. Each time we talked of the importance of gathering, the importance of working as quorums, and the importance of serving each other.
The hike was made in sections. Each section was lead by a priesthood key holder, a deacons quorum president, a teacher's quorum president or a bishop with a yellow bandana and a hiking stick. We made eight stops along the way. At each rest stop, an Aaronic priesthood holder talked on a purpose of the Aaronic priesthood.
Please dear reader, understand that this is a hard thing, (except for Mark who would have yawned and been bored at our grueling pace.) This hike is 4.5 miles round trip. The elevation climb is 1632 feet which is an average grade of 14%. Highway in the mountain passes are typically a 6 or 7% grade.
I remember being at one point and looking up to the saddle just a few switchbacks up and feeling exhausted. I was so excited to be so close to the top. As I reached the saddle, I realized that the trail moved on. It dropped down 300 feet and then right back up another 730 feet in elevation to climb to the summit. (At the top of the saddle behind us is an H1 rescue vehicle)
Today at church Spencer reported on the hike in priesthood meeting. He mentioned how our leader said that the vistas were wonderful and we looked back at our cars and we had come a long way. The base of the mountain had been used as a dump and looked a lot like the Telestial Kingdom. The saddle we had just reached was the Terrestrial kingdom and then we looked up at the summit which was the Celestial kingdom and we hiked on.
When we reached our goal, we could see the whole Las Vegas Valley on the west and Lake mead on the right. ( You can see the temple right at Spencer's left shoulder.) The Lake Mead side probably resembled a lot what the Salt Lake valley looked like when the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. We Talked about the Ensign that was raised to the world, A yellow handkerchief on a walking stick. We talked of the word being sent out to all the world from that point. We talked of young men preparing to serve missions. We sang:
High on the mountain top
A banner is unfurled.
Ye nations, now look up;
It waves to all the world.
In Deseret’s sweet, peaceful land,
On Zion’s mount behold it stand!
For God remembers still
His promise made of old
That he on Zion’s hill
Truth’s standard would unfold!
Her light should there attract the gaze
Of all the world in latter days.
His house shall there be reared,
His glory to display,
And people shall be heard
In distant lands to say:
We’ll now go up and serve the Lord,
Obey his truth, and learn his word.
For there we shall be taught
The law that will go forth,
With truth and wisdom fraught,
To govern all the earth.
Forever there his ways we’ll tread,
And save ourselves with all our dead.
We did hard things.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Spring Break and Easter
A full week off and boy did Vicki and the boys take advantage. One night camping, two days hiking and Ben with play practice every night.
Monday, Vicki and the boys went to Red Rock National Conservation Area. Ben had his first freeway driving experience and did just great. However, Vicki noted that when he made it to the campsite his fingers were really stiff when he tried to take them off the steering wheel.
Once camp was set up, they went on a small hike and we found out that Toasty likes water that the can actually reach the bottom. I made it up for a dinner of hot dogs and potato chips and family home evening. Vicki actually ate her second hot dog of the year, both times she was camping. I headed home because of work the next day. When Vicki and the boys made it home, I heard more adventures of hikes and Ben's safe driving. Toasty was one pooped pup from all the bouldering and hiking and took on a light shade of pink from the red dirt in his white fur.
Thursday they headed east instead of west on an adventure to St. Thomas, the under water city. Saint Thomas was flooded when the water behind Hoover Dam filled in about 75 years ago. Again Ben drove getting experience this time on dirt roads with wash boards. After a short 2 mile hike, their exploration began.
Most of what they found included concrete foundations of old homes. Not the Indiana Jones type of archaeological dig but, lots of fun for a spring hike.
For Easter this year we continued our tradition from last year. Vicki and I hid Easter eggs with coins and a special message that the boys had to cooperate to earn a special treat. The rules were explained the boundaries were set.
After the start, all bets were off. Eggs were flying from their hiding spots to the baskets. The Easter Bunny has gotten more clever in hiding as the boys have gotten older. Look up high in the left corner of the picture below.
Hidden behind Ben's knee is an orange egg in the Ornamental Easter tree. They didn't find that one 'til much later.
Spencer and Ben must have spent a good 30 minutes looking in 8 rooms. We were convinced that they had found all the eggs. Because the Bunny couldn't remember where any more eggs were. We gathered in the music room where Spencer and Ben opened their eggs. They were counting money and finding pieces to the puzzle for the big treat. Once all the found eggs were opened, money was counted and puzzle pieces organized, we found that they were still short some puzzle piece eggs. Off they went to hunt again.
They found several more eggs filled with money and a few more clues. Each time they found money, they were frustrated. They wanted to solve the puzzle.
We pulled them together again and found that we were still short two puzzle clues. Off they went to find more eggs more money and one puzzle clue. No surprise without finding the whole puzzle. Ben and Spencer searched and searched. We had been in this hunt for over an hour. More money was found but no more puzzle pieces.
We called a truce and went on to do Sylvia's Empty Tomb activity. As we boys were reading and mixing ingredients together, we heard a gasp. Vicki remembered where the Easter bunny had hid another egg. "Ben your leg is burning up," a reference to the hot and cold game that we had used previously to help the boys find the eggs. He looked on a shelf under the table top and there he found the last puzzle piece. All the eggs were found. The last piece was put to the puzzle. The earned treat was a gift certificate for each of us to Cold Stone Ice Cream. (Shhh, don't tell Katherine. We want her to be surprised when she gets home.) What a relief to find all the eggs.
This morning we woke up and were downstairs waiting to open "the tomb" for our empty tomb cookies. I looked outside and saw Toasty eating a plastic Easter egg. I headed out talking to him so that I could get the 2 halves of the egg. He was laying down and I was able to get the pieces. Then something shiny right by Toasty caught my eye. Sure enough, it was two dimes. It seems that during yesterday's Easter egg hunt, Toasty caught on and finding an egg Vicki put in his bowl, he raced outside and opened it up by chewing on it.
Ben finally made it down all ready for church. We opened the oven, and found that ours cookies were a flop. It seems that our new oven has an oven cooling feature. Once the oven heat is shut off, a fan that blows until the inside of the oven is cool. We had crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside somewhat empty Empty Tomb cookies.
TTFN
-Ron
Monday, Vicki and the boys went to Red Rock National Conservation Area. Ben had his first freeway driving experience and did just great. However, Vicki noted that when he made it to the campsite his fingers were really stiff when he tried to take them off the steering wheel.
Once camp was set up, they went on a small hike and we found out that Toasty likes water that the can actually reach the bottom. I made it up for a dinner of hot dogs and potato chips and family home evening. Vicki actually ate her second hot dog of the year, both times she was camping. I headed home because of work the next day. When Vicki and the boys made it home, I heard more adventures of hikes and Ben's safe driving. Toasty was one pooped pup from all the bouldering and hiking and took on a light shade of pink from the red dirt in his white fur.
Thursday they headed east instead of west on an adventure to St. Thomas, the under water city. Saint Thomas was flooded when the water behind Hoover Dam filled in about 75 years ago. Again Ben drove getting experience this time on dirt roads with wash boards. After a short 2 mile hike, their exploration began.
Most of what they found included concrete foundations of old homes. Not the Indiana Jones type of archaeological dig but, lots of fun for a spring hike.
For Easter this year we continued our tradition from last year. Vicki and I hid Easter eggs with coins and a special message that the boys had to cooperate to earn a special treat. The rules were explained the boundaries were set.
After the start, all bets were off. Eggs were flying from their hiding spots to the baskets. The Easter Bunny has gotten more clever in hiding as the boys have gotten older. Look up high in the left corner of the picture below.
Hidden behind Ben's knee is an orange egg in the Ornamental Easter tree. They didn't find that one 'til much later.
Spencer and Ben must have spent a good 30 minutes looking in 8 rooms. We were convinced that they had found all the eggs. Because the Bunny couldn't remember where any more eggs were. We gathered in the music room where Spencer and Ben opened their eggs. They were counting money and finding pieces to the puzzle for the big treat. Once all the found eggs were opened, money was counted and puzzle pieces organized, we found that they were still short some puzzle piece eggs. Off they went to hunt again.
They found several more eggs filled with money and a few more clues. Each time they found money, they were frustrated. They wanted to solve the puzzle.
We pulled them together again and found that we were still short two puzzle clues. Off they went to find more eggs more money and one puzzle clue. No surprise without finding the whole puzzle. Ben and Spencer searched and searched. We had been in this hunt for over an hour. More money was found but no more puzzle pieces.
We called a truce and went on to do Sylvia's Empty Tomb activity. As we boys were reading and mixing ingredients together, we heard a gasp. Vicki remembered where the Easter bunny had hid another egg. "Ben your leg is burning up," a reference to the hot and cold game that we had used previously to help the boys find the eggs. He looked on a shelf under the table top and there he found the last puzzle piece. All the eggs were found. The last piece was put to the puzzle. The earned treat was a gift certificate for each of us to Cold Stone Ice Cream. (Shhh, don't tell Katherine. We want her to be surprised when she gets home.) What a relief to find all the eggs.
This morning we woke up and were downstairs waiting to open "the tomb" for our empty tomb cookies. I looked outside and saw Toasty eating a plastic Easter egg. I headed out talking to him so that I could get the 2 halves of the egg. He was laying down and I was able to get the pieces. Then something shiny right by Toasty caught my eye. Sure enough, it was two dimes. It seems that during yesterday's Easter egg hunt, Toasty caught on and finding an egg Vicki put in his bowl, he raced outside and opened it up by chewing on it.
Ben finally made it down all ready for church. We opened the oven, and found that ours cookies were a flop. It seems that our new oven has an oven cooling feature. Once the oven heat is shut off, a fan that blows until the inside of the oven is cool. We had crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside somewhat empty Empty Tomb cookies.
TTFN
-Ron
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
