They That Wait Upon the Lord

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Fiddling With My Camera on a Winter Night

I spent an hour or so fiddling with my camera tonight. It's a lot smarter than I am, but I'm starting to get it figured out. The Logan Temple is always one of my favorite photo subjects. It is beautiful every day and in all kinds of weather. We are fortunate to live so close to it and have the opportunity to serve there. I hope some of you like a few of my latest pictures of the Temple. I let my creative juices flow a little more than normal on some of these. I'm definitely still in learning mode, but it's fun just the same. "Holiness to the Lord." is very close indeed!

Christmas Night 2015

Tonight was a special night, not only was it Christmas night, but there was a clear sky, and a full moon. This was the first full moon on Christmas night in the past 38 years and it was a site to behold. Reflected light from 248,000 miles into space reflecting on the snow from the recent storm which blessed so much of the Rocky Mountain region. It was a reminder to me of how important light is to life, and how even reflected light can help us steer the proper course and keep us from danger. Also, it is a great reminder to each of us to let our light shine. As I was out tonight in the cold, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures and being grateful for the opportunity to share a few of them with you all.

Gratitude at Christmas Time

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family and friends. We love you all so much and are so very blessed to have you all in our lives. We appreciate those who are far away and those who are close by for helping us to feel a part of this special season of the year. It was awesome to be with some of you in person and we are grateful for technology which allows us to be in contact with you all frequently. This seems to be especially meaningful during the Christmas Season. Most of all we are thankful for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate during this season of the year. It is He, who gives us all a cause for hope and the power to one day become as He is. He and our Father in Heaven are the Source of all of our blessings. We must never forget. We also thank each of for you all for the thoughts and prayers, the gifts, the cards, calls, texts, and Facebook posts and messages. Just being remembered is so important to us. Each one of you have added to the joy of the season for us now that we are empty nesters and have been for quite a few years. The joy in the eyes of little children still brings joy to our hearts, especially when we can see that these special little one are being taught the true meaning of Christmas and to know that they are loved.

Logan Temple in Winter

The Logan Temple in winter is so beautiful, just as it is in every season of the year. We see it very often and it never fails to remind me of why I'm here, what is most important for us to do, the Source of our blessings, and especially during this Christmas Season the great joy we all should feel as a result of the Savior's birth, His example, His life and His mission. Merry Christmas to you all! May Hope and Peace fill your hearts at this time and through the coming year.

Bear Lakers Remembered

Here in Cache Valley, we've got winter. Over the mountain in the Bear Lake Valley they have had a Bear Laker these past couple of days. Well do I remember those winter storms which occasionally come to that part of southeastern Idaho. I remember being snowed in at home so that we couldn't get out for days. I remember one time when we were actually snowed in at school and couldn't get home for a few days. Fortunately our grandparents lived in Paris so we got to stay with them. Other, less fortunate students, just made do at the school until the storm passed. On one occasion we were at school and a winter storm began during the school day. The decision was made to send the buses home early in an attempt to get the students to their homes and avoid being snowed in at school. In my minds eye, I can still see my older brother Ellis and Ordell Passey, walking in the raging blizzard a few feet in front of the school bus. The driver could see them a few feet away,but the visibility was not more than just a very short distance, Eventually we made it home. When I was growing up nearly everyone made their living from small dairy operations, They would milk their cows and put the milk cans on the side of the road to be picked up by the milk truck driver who would make the rounds each day and deliver the milk to the Creamery in Paris. On days when the truck couldn't make the rounds, the farmers stored the milk in cans until there were no more cans left. Then began the painful task of milking the cows and pouring the milk out because there was no place to put it. Literally they were pouring their family's livelihood into the snow. I remember on one occasion Dad spent the entire day going around Lanark with neighbor, Dave Parker, with a team of horses and a flatbed sleigh picking up the neighbors milk cans and delivering them to the Creamery in Paris. Well do I remember him as he entered our home at the end of the long day plastered in the driven snow and looking very much like the Abominable Snowman of legend. We all did our best and looked out for one another. That's the way Bear Lakers are. Things have changed over the years, but one thing has stayed the same. Bear Lakers may be Bear Lakers, but Bear Lakers are still Bear Lakers and they care for each other and have one another's backs. Thanks to all who serve so selflessly to get everyone through these weather events and give us cause to be proud to be Bear Lakers, no matter where they may now live. The photo is of the Montpelier Fire and Rescue volunteers out doing their selfless service helping others weather the most recent Bear Laker.

Merry Christmas, Aggies!

Wishing Aggies everywhere a merry and bright holiday weekend. (Artwork created by Natalie Humpherys for the USU College of Engineering.)

The Reason for the Season

He came! They found Him. He is coming! He will find and rescue us! May our reunion with Him be a joyous one. May we offer up unto Him the only true gift we can truly have to give:, A Broken Heart and A Contrite Spirit. Remember, O Remember! The only way to heal our broken hearts is to give Him all the pieces. Great shall be our joy! A Merry Christmas to you all! God bless you every one!

Winter Wonderland

In spite of the cold and lowering atmosphere that seemed to prevail today, my wanderings took me to some more of nature's beauties. One truly need not look long to recognize the hand of a Higher Being in the changes from night to day or from autumn to winter and on to an awaited warming in one eternal round. I am thankful for the moisture the recent storm has brought, for the beauty of the changing seasons, and maybe even more particularly that I am not a wild duck or a goose finding my next meal in a nearly frozen pond and spending the night outside in the cold instead of in a nice warm home under my electric blanket. I shudder to think of how my arthritic bones might feel if I had to change places with these beautiful creatures for even one night. I will continue counting our blessings.

Taking Pictures in a Snow Storm

Taking pictures in a snow storm at night is probably not something most people would put very high on their "To Do List". I guess I've always been a little weird, but I've always been able to see a unique kind of beauty in snowy scenes, be they pines draped in their winter coats, Temple lights and snow flakes, or the man made beauty of Christmas and holiday season lighting displays. Accordingly, I spent about an hour with my camera out enjoying the beauties that seem to always surround me. I will share just a few, and according to the night's weather forecast, there should be some more beauty tomorrow and tomorrow night. Every day has something to look forward to and to gives cause to marvel at the majesty created at the hand of the Master Artist.

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Pre-Christmas Family Celebration

Sunday Evening with family! We had a little pre-Christmas celebration with those of the family who could make it. It is a busy season of the year with so many things going on in everyone's lives and some of the family literally being spread from coast to coast, not to speak of the pending inclement weather, but we count our blessings as a family always, and especially during this season when we celebrate the greatest Gift of all, the birth, life, and mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We met at Stephen and Candice's place this year and enjoyed one another's company. We even got to have a little Skype Session with some of the New Hampshire Eborns and if you were unable to to be in attendance, please know that you are greatly loved and were missed. I didn't get pictures of everybody who came (I guess we were having too much fun.) but I will include a few from yesterday evening's gathering and try to catch the rest of you another time. We love each and every member of our family, daughter, sons, in-laws and especially the grand children, so very much and are so grateful to have you all in our lives. By next Christmas we will be great grandparents. If only we could do that without aging in the process. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas season and all the choicest blessings in the upcoming year.

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Our Branch is Growing

Saturday was a special day! Our little Chinese Branch is growing! We had another baptism today. The young man who did the baptizing was a recent convert himself, about a year ago. He also spoke on the subject of baptism. The most recent convert until today spoke on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He was baptized just a couple of months ago, and the young lady who said the closing prayer is a convert of about six months. We see such marvelous growth and faith among the people of our branch. Several of our good Chinese friends were also in attendance as guests. We have grown to love all of these good people as well as the many others who work so diligently and faithfully in the branch. We are all still learning and growing together, and it feels right. We know we are helping the the Lord's work move forward and sharing the wonderful blessings of the restored gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for the blessing of all of God's children all over the world and we can see clearly how this is coming to pass in its own due time

Happy Birthday, Philip!

Happy birthday, Philip! The world is a better place because you were born. If everyone would follow your example what a wonderful world this would be. We love you very much and are very proud of all you do and what you stand for. May this year be filled with many happy days and precious memories that will last forever. It was a cold day, the day you were born, Minus 40 degrees, but the sun has shown a little brighter every day since and many, many hearts have been warmed by your smile and your caring attitude. Love you, forever.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Sometimes, I stop and count my blessings, perhaps not as often as I should. Of late, I have been especially grateful for and thankful to that person who has brought the most true and pure joy into my life, my sweetheart, Iris. I have never told her how much I love her, because words can not fully express the depths of my love, and my actions certainly don't measure up to the love and respect she deserves. I think we both understand that we are mere mortals and have an eternity to perfect our love for one another, our family, and others. One of the greatest comforts to me, is that we have both made eternal covenants to one another and our God, that we will seek always to move forward, through thick and thin, through good times and sad times, through the greatest joy and times of heartbreak and sorrow, seeking to follow the example and words of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and not allow the small things to become stumbling blocks along our path to together forever.
I am so grateful for the miracle that brought us together and for the opportunity to face the challenges of life side by side. We both know it wont always be easy, but we know that it will be worth it in the eternal scheme of things. I love my eternal companion. We are both older now, but when I stop and think about her, I still see this beautiful girl sitting on the right side of the chapel in Twin Falls, Idaho those many years ago, and my heart sings Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Christmas Concert at the Ellen Eccles Theter

Today we had the opportunity to attend a Christmas Concert of the American Festival Chorus at the Ellen Eccles Theater here in Logan. The performance was truly an inspiration. The talent was superb, even sensational. The Choir performed flawlessly under the direction of Director, Craig Jessop. The guests included violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker, singer, Jenny Jordan Frogley, and many talented Kurt Bestor, each of whom shared their marvelous talents with all who attended. This event has finally got me feeling the true Spirit of the Christmas Season and my heart is filled with gratitude. Sitting in the cramped seats in the crowded theater were a small price to pay for this awesome afternoon with my sweetheart, Iris. Normally, I take a camera with me and get a few pictures of my own, but cameras are discouraged, and I didn't want to be disruptive in any way. I found a few downloadable photos on the American Festival Chorus' Face Book page and will share them to help others get a feel for the special experience we had at the matinee concert this afternoon.

Thoughts from my Thanksgiving Morning Walk

My Thanksgiving morning walk yielded the following photos and prompted me to think more strongly on gratitude for these blessings in my life. the photos below are symbolic to me of Eternal Families, Eternal Learning and Progression, and the Blessing of living in a land where we are able to exercise Free Agency! I feel not only the JOY of these blessings, but the RESPONSIBILITY that goes along with them.