What Difference Two Weeks Make

Less than two weeks ago we were in sunny southern California listening to the locals tell us how cold it was.  It never got below freezing and the high temperature ranged from about 55  to sixty degrees.

We enjoyed strolling along the beach and the Pier at Oceanside.  It was beautiful and relaxing to be where it was a little warmer than where we normally spend our Januarys.  Since we have been home we have experienced a week of very cold weather here in Cache Valley.  There has been an inversion which has caused the air quality to be poorer than we would like.  This morning when we woke up to get ready for Church it looked like it could snow.  In fact, a few fluffy flakes were already beginning to fall.  Three hours later it was beginning to fall a little more heavily.  We had been asked to come out to the River Heights First Ward where Ryan and Samantha live with their sweet little brood.  Ryan and Sam had been asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting and we wanted to hear their talks and thought maybe we could help out with the little ones while they were up on the stand.  We were happy to be there.  They did a great job with their talks and both had wonderful messages.  The kids were little angels.  What else could they be?  They are our grand kids.  After sacrament meeting we went out to about six inches of freshly fallen snow and it was still coming down heavily,  good wet snow.  Here in Utah and Idaho prayers are often offered in the hope that snow will fall.  Some how we all like to see green grass in the spring, fruit in the fall, and have plenty of water to to drink and bath in.  Large snowfalls, unfortunately, have a downside.  They bring lots of work.  They make for very treacherous traveling conditions, and they are often fallowed by severe cold spells.  Nonetheless, we are grateful for the fallen snows, and they are beautiful. beyond words.  I wonder  just how many of those who live down stream a thousand miles stop to give thanks for the snows that fall in the northern and central Rockies.  If they don't they should, because their very life and their  way of life depends on the depth of snow in the high mountains.

This is what our place looked like after shoveling some of the snow away after we returned home from Church.  The snow continues to fall.  How blessed we are!!!!

This photo was taken from the recreation area outside our condo in Oceanside, California about two weeks ago.  What a difference two weeks and about 800 miles make!!!

I was out shoveling snow off the neighbors driveway after dark tonight.  Everything was so still and absolutly beautiful.  When I finished with the shovel, I traded it for my camera and took a little stroll in the falling snow up past the Temple.  I took several pictures.  Imagine that.  Below is  just a represtative few of the wonders I beheld.  We love being so close to the Temple for many reasons.

 

Logan Temple in the Falling Snow

Winter Lights 

 

 Logan Temple as the Storm Passes 

The Joy of Grandchildren

We are very blessed!  We have twenty-five grandchildren. Twelve boys and thirteen girls.  It was  dead even until July 25th last year when little Neveah came and tipped the balance.  We love each and every one of them from the oldest, JT, now returned from his mission is Russia and married to the very youngest, Neveah.  We had the opportunity to take care of her this evening for a couple of hours while Ryan and Sam went out to dinner together.  They probably needed a little break and we just love being close enough to help out.  Annka, Micah, and Tristan were spending the night with their other grandma in Preston, so we had Neveah all to ourselves.  She is growing and developing so well in very way.  Ryan and Sam are loving and caring parents and it is easy to see their love radiating from each of their children.  Neveah never fusses and smiled and "talked" to us the entire time she was here.  We always enjoy having the grand kids when they come.  The bring joy into our home for both of us.

Winter Vacation January 2013

Grandpa Bart and Grandma Iris Watching the Sunset over the Pacific Ocean

Over the years, winter has seldom been considered vacation time, but since we have retired, moved to Logan, and begun working at the Logan Temple, what extended free time we have comes in the first two weeks in January, when the Temple is closed.  A couple of years ago we went to Hawaii for two weeks and this year we decided to go to Oceanside, in sunny southern California.  We made a few stops along the way to visit some of our children and their families.  We first stopped in Layton, where we spent some quality time with Jason and Rene and their family.  They are always so fun to be around and we spent a good part of our time laughing, which we really needed for a change.  It seems when Iris and I laugh at home it is usually at one another rather than with each other.  I guess we can blame it on old age.  It was especially good to see Rene on the mend from her fall, broken arm, and subsequent surgery.  This has not been fun for her, but she is tough and has a loving and attentive family and is improving from day to day.  She is always so active and it has been hard for her to slow down and let her body heal, but she is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

    Jared and his family were busy sponsoring another race and so were unable to catch them this time around.  We understand the race went well and we are proud of Jared as well as each member of their family. 

     We stayed with Stephen and Candice and their four  for a few days and had the opportunity to go with them to their church meetings.  They are always so good to us and we love to see their kids, especially after their long time in Pueblo, Colorado.  Then we saw them usually once a year. Now, they are closer so we are able to see them more often.  They have a wonderful, very active family and are a delight for us to be around.

     We stopped in St. George and visited with Ellis and Jeannine, as well as Brenda and Dean, who have decided to winter in Dixie this year.  It was good to see them all.

     We proceeded on down I 15 to the Las Vegas, Nevada area, where Philip and Megan took us in and showed us a good time for three days in and around their home in Henderson.  It felt good to be in a warmer climate for a change.  Garrett and I took a hike up Black Mountain near their home. It was fun for me to spend some time with him.  He is such a good and loving young man and we are very proud of the progress he has made in the last few years.  I hope all of us can do as well with our individual challenges as he is doing. We both enjoyed the hike.  I also  enjoyed going with Garrett and Gavin to the park where they demonstrated their basketball skills for me.  It kind of reminded me of our kids playing in the driveway years ago. Even the trash talking.  I swear I did not teach any of them to do that, but I guess boys will be boys.  One difference though, there was no blood left on the court at the park.  Such was not always the case after a few hours on our driveway back in Montpelier, Idaho, where we raised our family.  While we were at Philip and Megan's I went with Philip and the boys out to the Spencer W. Kimball Scout Reserve in the mountains not far from Las Vegas.  This scout camp area is rather high in the mountains and it was cold up there.  The small lake at the camp was covered with a couple of inches o ice, enough to keep them from sinking when they ventured out onto it a little ways.  It was interesting to see  where the boys in that area go for summer camp.  It's very different from what I've been used to, but beautiful in its own way.  It was good to see some of the projects Philip has been spearheading.

     Our next stop was at Worldmark Resort in Oceanside, California.  The weather there was nice and warm, at least by our standards.  As we viewed the either reports from back home in Utah, we were glad to be where we were enjoying temperatures about 70 degrees warmer than the ones back home.

We strolled along the beach, viewing the Pacific and all the beautiful things associated with it in warmer climates.  We especially enjoyed the beautiful sunsets and the warm breezes through the palms.  Philip and Megan and their family joined us there for three days.  It was great to be with them.  It is good to see how they are teaching and raising their kids.  At one point we sitting around the table and some of us started eating.  Garrett spoke up and said: "Have we said a prayer on the food?"  The answer was: "No."  Garrett's response was: "Then why are we eating?" As a grandparent, who wants his children and their families to always remember their Creator and our Savior. this was a wonderful thing to see.

       We made a little side trip to San Diego and Coronodo Island.  We visited Old Town San Diego and the Mormon Battalion Exhibition.  It was very nice and also educational.  The kids, especially, liked the hands on exhibits panning for gold and carry black powder guns etc. etc.  We also stopped at the beautiful San Diego Temple.  It was very impressive as we arrived their after dark when the temple was fully illuminated.

     We also went to the old Spanish Mission of San Luis Rey in Oceanside.  This was also very interesting to us to find our about the activities of the early missionaries and the Indians and early Mexican/Spanish settlers of this beautiful region.

     Our trip home as uneventful except for a short stop at Ellis and Jeannine's in Washington, near St. George and another night at Stephen and Candice's.  We got there in time to watch Mason play a basketball game with Stephen as his coach.  We enjoyed that a lot and were so glad we got there just at the right time.  We got home late Sunday afternoon and now it's back to our routine.  It was 14 below zero the night we got back to Logan.  Maybe we should have stayed another week or so!

    Below I will show some of the photos I took of our adventures.

Grandpa Bart and Garrett on Their Hike up Black Mountain near Henderson, Nevada

Garrett on our Black Mountain Hike Overlooking Henderson, Where He and His Family Live.

A Little Brotherly Basketball Competition Between Garrett and Gavin

More Basketball Action at the Park in Henderson.

Walking with Birds.  Grandma Iris on the Beach at Oceanside, California.

Philip putting on a clinic for Garrett, or is it the other way around?

A photo op before lunch.

Megan and Sweet Libbie.

Gavin getting a lesson in gold panning from his dad.

The stunning San Diego LDS Temple.

Philip and Megan's family on the beach at Oceanside.

One of my better sunset over the Pacific photos at Oceanside.

The Oceanside Pier at Dusk.

Mason in action on the basketball court in Lehi.

Mason and one of his teammates posing for Grandpa Bart.

Gabi, Halle, and Sophie having fun in their unfinished basement on a very cold day in Lehi.

At the Mormon Battalion Monument in San Diego, California.

Grandma Iris at the Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside.

Megan  takes this commandment to multiply and replenish the earth seriously. Surprising results when she decided to take a picture with my camera, not realizing it was set to the panorama mode,