Farewell to Kinsey Amanda Happy Birthday Mason

Just ten more days and our oldest granddaughter, Kinsey Amanda, will enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah to begin her  eighteen month long stint as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She just turned nineteen on the 14th of June, so you can see she has been anxiously awaiting this day when she could be a full-time servant of the Lord.  She has a very supportive family and all of us are very pleased about her decision to serve a mission. Kinsey gave an outstanding talk about revelation and it's role in gaining a testimony and serving the Lord. It takes a great deal of courage and faith to be a good missionary, but Kinsey will no doubt measure up to the task.  We look forward to hearing of her activities  and experiences in Sweden.  She will need to learn a new language, but I have no doubt that she will pick up the local language quickly,  She is smart, outgoing, and unafraid.  Couple that with being led by the Spirit and her faith, she will be an outstanding missionary.  We will pray for her and support her in every way we know how.  She will always be on our mind.  We love her and her family very much and are very grateful that they are all apart of our lives.  Nearly all of our family was there to wish her well.  We especially appreciate Philip and MEgan and their sweet kids for making the long trip up from hot Las Vegas to almost as hot Murray, Utah.  All of the family had a good time together at Jared and Shana's place after the services.  My heart is filled with gratitude for our family and for the goodness of their hearts and souls and especially their love for one another and the Lord.  I will certainly continue to count my many blessings.

As usual, I took quite a few pictures, but as I reviewed the photos I'd made, I realized I had missed several of the family.  So as not to leave anyone out on this post I've decided to post just a few pictures.
One of the soon to be missionary and the other of the birthday boy whose birthday just happened to coincide with Kinsey's Farewell.  Happy 14 Mason!!  and Farewell Kinsey!! at least for now.  You will do well as you serve.

Sister Kinsey Amanda Eborn.  The Lord is pleased with your decision to serve him and so are we all.

 Do you think she might be a little excited?

 

 

Mason has turned fourteen.  He is growing tall and if his size thirteen shoes are any indication, he's going to be a gentle giant someday.  He is a good example to us all and especially his adoring sisters. I'm sure his mom and dad are very proud of their firstborn.  We all are!!  Happy Birthday, Mason!!!

Bear Lake Monster Century II

Again this year Jared sponsored the Bear Lake Monster Century Bike Rice.  It began and ended in Montpelier.  After his accident a few weeks ago he has been stressing some over how this event would turn out.  Iris and I volunteered to help him and  we were there, as requested, at 6:00 AM at the park near the Oregon/California Trails Center in Montpelier.  Jared had already been up since 4:00 AM making the final preparations.  There were  five different routes for the riders to follow, some opting for the 100 mile ride, some choosing the 100 kilometer/62 mile ride, and still others the 75 mile, the 50 mile, and the 25 mile rides.  It was a beautiful clear day in the Bear Lake Valley.  The temperatures were on the cool side with morning lows dipping to the mid thirties.  I talked to one young man who told me that he was from Phoenix and that he had rarely felt such cool temperatures in his life, let alone at the beginning of the summer season.  The sun soon began to warm the valley and by the time the riders were returning  after a hard workout most of them were praising the cool crisp Bear Lake Valley air. 

 

When an event like this is planned, of course, you want everything to go off without a hitch, but most especially that no one involved gets hurt or  has an accident of any sort.  With so many people involved in an event like this it is not unlikely that their will be a few mishaps. Luckily, on Saturday there was nothing worthy of note in the accident or injury report.  Nearly everyone who participated seemed to have had a good experience.  A few complained that the wind was gusting a little to much from time to time, but that , of course, couldn't be blamed on the event planners.  All in all it went well. I didn't get a count on the riders, but I'd guess over three hundred in total.  One always hopes for more, but this was a manageable number. Nothing to cry about, for sure.

 

I was inspired by the participants.  Most of them had come to Montpelier from quite a distance to participate.  They had, for the most part, rather expensive equipment, the were dedicated to physical fitness, which a lot more of us should be, and were willing to put in some effort to be fit.  I appreciated the sociality among the bikers.  They all seemed to be getting along well with one another and were enjoying the day.  I was especially inspired by a few individual riders.  There was a young lady there riding who had only one leg.  The other was a prosthetic leg.  She refused to let this handicap curtail he activity in these kinds of events.  Another young man was just passing through town and stayed in a motel on Friday night.  He learned about the race and wanted to participate.  He showed up in a wheel chair and his bike was one of those you propel with your hands and arms.  He took off and was able to stay right with some of the other riders.  I wonder what I would do if I had just one leg, or none at all!  Another young lady told me she had never done anything like this before.  She didn't have the best of equipment and was a bit overweight, but determined.  She chose the 50 Mile ride.  When she returned I talked to her again.  She was tired and a bit sore and could begin to feel the stiffness that accompanies overused muscles beginning to settle in, but she had a big smile on her face.  That together with the words; I DID IT! told a huge story and was an inspiration to me.  There were people of various ages, most were young adults, some were middle aged, and there were a few who I would have classified as old, but they say you are only as old as you think you are.

I keep trying to tell myself that.  One lady, very slim, with gray hair and a few wrinkles rode the 100 Kilometer/62 miles.  She astounded me with her ability and determination.  I thought about asking her how old she was, but I've learned that that is not a good question to ask a woman who might appear to be in he seventies, so I left it at that and admired her willingness to keep on keeping on.  It was a great lesson to me.

 

All in all it was a good day!  I was thankful that Jared was able to be there and did so well.  We could have been in mourning instead after his accident.  I was thankful to Dr. Shana.  She is such a support and steadfast person.  Jared is fortunate to have her by his side and I feel very fortunate that she is a part of our lives along with their beautiful family.  I was thankful for the good people we met whom we knew and loved when we lived in the Bear Lake Valley. Where else would the mayor  go home and bring my sweet Iris a pair of socks to keep her cold tootsies warm until the sun came up. They are good and they are genuine.  We enjoy living closer to the Temple in Logan, but a part of us will always be in the Bear Lake Valley.

 

One of the volunteers was there with his daughter.  He was having fun with the names of the places around the Bear Lake Valley.  He texted a friend.  "I'm here in Montpelier"  The friend texted back: "France?"  He replied:  I was in Paris, just yesterday, and this afternoon I'll be at the summit in Geneva."  It was fun to see someone having a good time with the place names bestowed on various places around the Bear Lake Valley and  which speaks to the heritage we, who have lived it in the Bear Lake Valley, share.

 

Below are just a few photos of the days events.

 

The Bear Lake Monster Century started near the  Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier.

Here, some of the riders are beginning to assemble to get instructions from Jared.  He has a great voice, but using the bullhorn, nobody had any trouble understanding what he had to say.  We were glad to be there and are proud of our son, Jared, as we are of all of our children and grandchildren.

 

Jared giving instructions prior to the start of one of the rides

Jared and Shana.  We could all learn something about supporting one another from their example. 

Iris and one her good friends from the Bear Lake Valley.  Here she is with Cindy Raymond, who is working at the Oregon/California Tail Center this summer as an actress in the living history museum there.  She is the mother of one of Stephen's best friends from high school, Brad Riska.  Interestingly. his mother reports that he is married, doing well, and living in Boise, and that he has a little girl named Sophie.  Imagine that. I remember Cindy's words one time when we were at an event our ward sponsored in Montpelier.  It was a missionary focused event and Cindy came, feeling a little apprehensive and maybe unsure if he should be there.  A few seconds later she spotted Iris.  Relieved, she exclaimed: "O. there is my good friend Iris."  That's just the way they are. It's hard not to feel better when you are around either of these two wonderful women.  Cindy reported that they will be moving to Boise following the summer.  It couldn't be a desire to be closer to the grandkids, now, could it?

 

The gardener and The Gardener

People who know me, know that I love flowers and I love to work in my flowerbeds and try to make things look beautiful in our yard.  Sometimes I actually feel like I'm learning and making some progress in this undertaking  Last week when we drove through Emigration Canyon on our way to and from the Bear Lake Valley I was reminded of just who the Gardner really is and how far I have yet to go.  I'm also grateful that we can choose to enjoy the journey along the way.

 

 A part of my little experiment with New Guinea impatiens.  They are starting to shape up a bit and have great potential.  I'm still in the learning mode with this particular variety, but learning is most of the fun anyway.  I try to keep them alive and help them grow.

The real Gardner seems to be able to turn hundreds of acres into magnificent colors with seeming little effort very spring, and that is just one little corner of His garden. He gives them life and causes them to grow.  Every time I open my eyes, I think of the words of the song How Great Thou Art.

The Lemonade Stand

I think nearly every kid goes through these moments of fledgling entrepreneurial enterprise.  Today it was Ethan, Hayden and Kate.  When I was there they seemed to be having fun and learning the tricks of the trade under the watchful eye of their papa. Oh, and the lemonade was yummy and priced just right. I love to see my grandkids doing things and enjoying what they do.

Paying Respect and Reflecting on Blessings

Yesterday we drove over to Montpelier to attend a funeral memorial service for Lois Lee Hulme.  She died last week in St. George where they had lived for the last several years. She was a wonderful person who was always very active and in the service of others, especially with her gift for music and her willingness to share it with so many people over the years.  She had an infectious smile and always left one feeling better  after being around her and having the chance to visit with her.  She was 87 years old at the time of her passing and will be missed by many and welcomed by even more.

 

When we walked into the Montpelier Third Ward Meeting House/Stake  Center my mind couldn't help but reflect on the many great experiences of the years we were in the Montpelier Third Ward.  From the moment we entered the door of that building we felt like we were at home and could be of service to others while we lived there.  We met hundreds of wonderful people who touched our lives and the lives of our family for good.  Our lives were certainly enriched by the people we came to know and love in Montpelier and it was good to see and visit with so many of them while we were at Lois Lee's memorial services.  Many of our friends are now growing old and some  have already departed this life, but the impact they had on our lives will last forever.  We asked Ralonna Petersen to snap a picture of us as we were leaving for the sake of good memories.  Iris looks much the same as she did then, but the years are beginning to take a toll on me as you can see in the picture below.

 

Silent, Secret Acts of Sevice

About an hour before we left home for our Temple duties this afternoon and evening, Alison showed up with Ada and Avery and a bucket of paint.  For some time now we have talked of painting our garage floor and making things look a bit nicer.  Alison, always looking for a way to serve someone, decided to surprise us.  Her original plan was to do it while we were at the Temple.  Then she realized she wouldn't have  way to move the car in the garage and I'm certain she did not want to paint around it.  That sounds like maybe something I might do, not Alison.  Anyway I got to help her do a little prepping before we left and when we got home around ten tonight we had a beautiful, clean new Garage floor.  When it dries, it will be clean enough to eat off from,  not that we will.  At least it will be clean for a while and I'm sure we will try harder to keep things clean and neat out there more now than we have before.  Anyway,  thank you, Alison.  We think you are awesome and that is because you really are and you are constantly on the lookout for something to do for others.  No wonder we LOVE our daughter so much.  You are such a good example to all, especially to you own children. The world would be a wonderful place if everyone was as concerned about others as you are.

 

Below are just a few quick pictures taken before and after.

 

 

Alison goes to work.

Dad joins in for a quick damp mop.

 The finished project as it looked tonight when we arrived home from our temple assignment.

 

THANKS, ALISON!!  WE LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW.

Free Fishing Day

Each year Idaho and Utah have what is know as "free fishing day".  This simply means that you can fish in any water open to fishing without a license.  This year the day was June 8th, a Saturday.  I had made kind of silent plans some time ago to go over to the Ovid Creek and see if there has been any improvement in the fishery environment since the last time I tried it.  I remember in my younger years so many good days spent with a fishing pole  along the Ovid and Liberty Creek.  The largest trout I personally eve caught was taken near what we used to call the Old Swimming Hole just west of Ovid.  I'm not sure what it weighed, but I remember measuring it out at just under twenty-one inches, not bad for a kid fishing in the willows.  At other times I remember walking down to the creek with Merl Roberts and some of the other neighborhood kids in the hot days of July.  We should catch fish by the dozens, that is if you want to call a Utah chub a fish.  They were fun to catch, however, when we were young.  Another memory was when Ellis and I wanted to go fishing on the first day of the season.  Dad always seemed to busy, so on this particular day it was Mom who waded through the sloughs and swaps sometimes carrying us, probably just me, on her back until we got to the Ovid Creek.  It was cold and damp and we sat there shivering for most of the day trying to catch a fish.  Finally Mom caught one, and the not much later another.  As I remember it that was the total take for the day for all three of us.  I suppose events like that would not be very memorable to most, but for me it has always been a fond memory, not so much the fishing or the trip, but the simple fact that we had such a wonderful mother who didn't mind taking time away from her other duties to make sure her boy got to do what they had been dreaming of.  Another memory was of a time I took my little brother Reed fish down by the Old Swimming Hole.  He was ten years younger than me so I'm guessing we were about 8 and 18 respectively.  He needed a little help baiting his hook and was not really very good at concentrating on the task at hand at that age.  I put a worm on his hook and helped him cast it out into what I thought was a perfect place on the opposite side of the stream near the willows. I told him to watch the line and when a fish started jerking on to jerk back and begin to reel in the fish.  In the meantime I went a few yards away and was fishing in another hole.  When I returned Reed's fishing pole was no where to be found. He hadn't been watching it very carefully.  Finally I detected something unusual on the opposite side of the creek.  It was his pole and it appeared to be moving around in the low lying willows rather vigorously.  I told him, I would go get it for him, but if there was not a fish on the line I was going to kick his rear end.  Fortunately for both of us there was a nice fish that was big enough to pull his unattended pole into the creek and across to the other side.  The water was about five feat deep so need less to say the pole rescue effort was a wet event for me.  These kind of experiences have turned into fond memories as the years have gone by.

 

Now, back to Free Fishing Day 2013.  Before I left Logan for the Bear Lake Valley, we made arrangements to take Avery with me.  He and I had not been fishing together ever.  He's twelve years old and such a thing should not ever happen.  We talked along the way, and I told him I didn't expect very good fishing, but that mostly I just wanted to go over to where I often went fishing as a boy.  When we turned out on to the Lanark road and came to the bridge where the Liberty Creek crosses under the road, I stopped the car just to take a look.  There was just a trickle of water crossing under the bridge.  We are in a drought this ear, with very low snow pack in the mountains due to the less than severe winter we experienced last winter.  My mind told me this was not going to be much of a fishing trip, but we were not about to give up with out even trying.  Our next stop was the Spring Hold down below Lyme Hymas' barn.  This was one of our favorite spots to fish when we were growing up.  Almost always, we would get a few good bites and maybe a good fish or two there.  This hole I fed by a steady flowing spring so there would at leas be some water there.  At least that's how I figured it would be.  I carried Avery across the spring outflow stream so he wouldn't have to get wet.  In a few minutes we were at the Spring Hole.  There was some water, but not nearly what had remembered from my youth. Our expectations were not very high.  Nonetheless w baited our hooks with some odd fresh night crawlers and cast our lines out into the murky water.  A few seconds later I got a good jerk on my line and hooked and landed a  small Bonneville Cutthroat trout.  Son Avery had one and the another etc.  They were small, but between the two of us we landed eight fish and several more got away.  We had a good time catching fish and just talking an being together.

We the headed back to the car e where we ate our lunch and the headed for the Old Swimming Hole on the Ovid Creek.  One look at the stream there gave us a good indication that there we no fish to be had it this once popular fishing hole.  The upstream farmers have diverted nearly all of the water out on to the meadows so they will have a hay crop later in the summer.  The upstream farmers have divert  I guess they have to make  a living too, but it sure plays havoc with the traditional fisheries.

 

We talked a lot and I shared some of my memories with Avery.  The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day.  It's not lik we were depending on the fish for the evening meal.  We had a good safe trip home and I think shared some very good bonding time.  I had a great ime and hope Avery didn't mind tagging along with his Grandpa.

 

Below are a few pictures of our little fishing expedition taking advantage of the sunshine and the Idaho Free Fishing Day.

 Avery waving to me in the meadow.  Midnight Mountain looms in the background.

 Avery and Grandpa Bart in the green meadows near Ovid Creek.

 

A panorama photo of my daily view as a child growing up on the farm in Lanark.

 Here we some of the water that has been diverted from the stream on to the meadows.  Everything is green, at least for now.  It's still early in June.

Thanks, Avery.  You made my day.  I hope  you will remember our time together and know that I love you and always will.

Yellowstone June 2013

Ryan and Samantha and their family are developing a tradition of an annual trip to Yellowstone Park.  This year, once again, they were nice enough to invite a couple of older people to accompany them.  We were glad to be the ones to go.  I've been to Yellowstone Park many times in my life.  There are reasons for this.  Number one, it's close by and we don't have to travel forever to get there.  Number two.  The entire trip, coming and going as well is a wonderland of nature, especial in the spring of the year.  Actually, it is at any season of the year, different, but each season has its own beauty and power.  This year we saw lot's of wildlife, especially buffalo.  I'm sure it was nothing compared to what Lewis and Clark and the pioneer settlers experienced a couple of hundred years ago, but it is nice to know that some people had the foresight to preserve some of the wonders of this great nation for future generations, and that we have he opportunity to enjoy these magnificent places.  Number three:  To me, Yellowstone is at once a place for peaceful reflection and awesome contemplation, serenely beautiful and powerful beyond description.  It's no wonder the Yellowstone area was the first in the world to be designated as a National Park.

Below are a few pictures of our mini vacation earlier in the week, natural and man made memories never to be forgotten.

Annika got a great surprise when Gabrielle magically showed up while Ryan and his family were playing at the park in Jackson.  This had been prearranged by Stephen and Candice and us before we left Logan.  It was great to have Gabi with us for  few days.

This was just a small portion of the many bison we were able to see.  There were many new born calves and the entire herd seemed to be in better shape for this time of the year than I have experienced for quite a long time, probably a function of a less than normally severe winter season and the resultant earlier Spring in the Yellowstone region.

Grandkids are great.  Here are twenty percent of ours at Mammoth Hot Springs. Left to Right, Gabi. Annika and Neveah, Micah, and Tristan..  They were all so good, never fussing and always appreciative of what we were doing and seeing.  They were a joy for us to be around.

It's supposed to be spring, but we had no trouble recognizing that in some places spring has not quite arrived, even though it's June.  Here are Tristan and Micah standing near, actually under an over hanging snow bank that was considerably higher than their heads.

Mighty Beast crossing the road.  One night we got caught in a Buffalo Jam on the road along the Madison River on the way back to West Yellowstone.  It took us nearly two hours to make the fourteen my trip.  We learned at least one thing.  You can't roller skate in a buffalo herd." Nor can you drive a car.  Who wants to tangle with one of these critters?

 Tristan, almost four years old!

 Annika and Gabi, good cousin friends, budding fourth graders.

Handsome Micah, just out of first grade.

The kids got a chance to rough it by spending a couple of hours in the pool each day.  Poor little ones. NOT!!!!  They loved it.

Sam and Neveah seemed to be enjoying their vacation time too.  Samantha is always so willing to go the extra mile for her family, and even for her in-laws.  Thanks Sam!!!!!!!

What a life, just lay around in the shade and take care of the harem.  We saw quite a few elk.

 

 

Grandma Iris and Grandpa Bart with the Lower Falls in the background.

 

Annika and Gabrielle at Old Faithful.

 

Girls will be girls, or?????

Annika and Gabi stirring the pie.  Later to be a buffalo chip, I guess.

 

The falls along the Yellowstone River are always awe inspiring

 

Ryan tying a fly on the end of his line.  A vacation to Yellowstone isn't complete without at least a few hours fly fishing along the Madison or the Fire Hole Rivers.

 

Ryan, fly fishing in the half-light along the Fire Hole River.

 

Inspiring view of the geysers along the Fire Hole River at sunset.

 

THANKS RYAN AND SAM FOR INCLUDING US.  WE LOVED THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER!!!

Fly Fishing Moments

I haven't posted here recently, partly because I haven't been feeling very well (nothing serious) just haven't been able to sleep well and have always been so tired I have had trouble functioning the way I would like.  I did, however, accept Ryan and Samantha's offer to accompany them on their annual Yellowstone Park excursion.  I hope I wasn't to much of a pain for everyone.  Last night I spent a few hours along the  Fire Hole River.  Ryan was fly fishing.  I mostly tagged a long to take some pictures and to savor the beauty of creation.  When we got home this evening, I decided to make a short video and share some of my thoughts and feelings that seem to always occur when I put myself in this kind of situation.  I need to do it more often.  It's good for the soul.