Pine Creek

This last week was a full one. My grandmother Janice Jensen Barton, my mom's mom, passed away last Thursday evening. She was holding her husband's hand and surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her funeral was Monday. The weekend was full of family and tears of joy and sorrow. She was a beautiful lady inside and out. I am working on a separate post about her. It was wonderful to spend some time with my family & see so many aunts, uncles and cousins that I haven't seen in years. & Maryann flew in from Vegas! Maryann, we could've used another week.

Before driving up north, Dad, Ross, Matthew & I squeezed in a trip to Zion & went down Pine Creek. It was beautiful. Parts of it were dark & cold, but the day was warm & by the time we got back to our car, we were hot. Thanks guys for a great time! What's next?

Shelf Canyon

We went to Zion Saturday. How many Saturdays in a row is that? It must be summertime! This time we took the whole family. We found an awesome little hike that was just perfect for the girls. There was some bouldering, scrambling, stemming and lots of exploring. The park was packed on Saturday, no parking anywhere, tons of people, but we didn't see anyone else on this trail. It was about a mile walk into and back out of a narrow slot canyon. It was in the 90's that day, but the canyon was cool and shady. The girls could touch both walls at one point. After Shelf Canyon, we took another little walk down to some petroglyphs and saw pictures of mountain sheep just like the real mountain sheep we saw on the way. It was a great day. We brought the girls home happy and exhausted. They didn't fight us at bedtime. Success!

There and Back Again

Saturday we hiked Angels Landing again, this time with some Laurels and Priests in our ward. We all made it to the top and back down safely, so the hike was a huge success. There were so many wildflowers in bloom it was all I could do to quit taking pictures and keep track of the teenagers. Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja) just might be my favorite flower. This week anyway.

Yankee Doodle

Matthew & I went on a little adventure this morning: Yankee Doodle Canyon, a small slot out past Silver Reef (the rappelling spot from Christmas). There was a nice long rappel to start with (70 or 80 feet I think), lots of downclimbing, some cold muddy water, and a light drizzle that was over by the time we were done and we hiked out in the sun. My favorite way to spend a Saturday. It's so nice to be married to someone with a similar idea of a romantic date. Dad, next time you're down here, we'll do it again - it only took 2 hours. DaronandChristina, you guys would dig this. That is, if Daron will let you Christina. ;) David & Jena, doesn't that water look tempting???

Here's the photo evidence:

Cate's new do

So, I just cut Catherine's hair. I should've taken a picture of it this morning before I cut it - it was crazy! It was getting long and scraggly & tangly. It's always in her face or just sticking straight up. So, instead of waiting to get an appointment with a professional, I figured she doesn't have that much hair, how hard can it be to cut a straight line? Well, a little harder than I thought, but after I curled it a little, it looks pretty cute. The bangs are too short - I always cut bangs too short. It'll just give me a little extra time between trims right? It's definitely an improvement from how it looked this morning!

Easter Sunday

The First Presidency's Easter Message: (From LDS.org)

At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

Holy Week: Day Seven

I have so much that I want to say about this. I'll let Isaiah say it for me:

Isaiah 53

 1 Who hath ^abelieved our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

  2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender ^aplant, and as a ^broot out of a ^cdry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no ^dbeauty that we should desire him.

  3 He is ^adespised and rejected of men; a man of ^bsorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we ^cesteemed him not.

  4 ¶ Surely he hath ^aborne our ^bgriefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

  5 But he was ^awounded for our ^btransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his ^cstripes we are ^dhealed.

  6 All we like ^asheep have gone ^bastray; we have turned every one to his ^cown way; and the Lord hath laid on him the ^diniquity of us all.

  7 He was ^aoppressed, and he was ^bafflicted, yet he ^copened not his mouth: he is brought as a ^dlamb to the ^eslaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

  8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his ^ageneration? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the ^btransgression of my people was he stricken.

  9 And he made his grave with the ^awicked, and with the rich in his ^bdeath; ^cbecause he had done no ^dviolence, neither was any ^edeceit in his mouth.

  10 ¶ Yet it pleased the Lord to ^abruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an ^boffering for sin, he shall see his ^cseed, he shall prolong his days, and the ^dpleasure of the Lordshall prosper in his hand.

  11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his ^aknowledge shall my righteous ^bservant ^cjustify many; for he shall ^dbear their iniquities.

  12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto ^adeath: and he was numbered with the ^btransgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made ^cintercession for the transgressors.

Holy Week: Day Six

Holy Week: Day Five

On this night, the Savior and his apostles held the last supper. It was the night of the Passover, and they would have celebrated as mandated by Levitical Law-- with unleavened bread.

This year and last we've had a semi-traditional Jewish Seder dinner and read a Hagada (traditional Jewish Passover meal script.) This year the fifth day of Holy Week fell on the Jewish Passover, which is fairly rare, and it was fun to eat unleavened bread knowing that many of that faith-- and all over the world-- were also sharing in the tradition. As we ate we looked back on the old traditions of the Israelites but also talked about the deep and beautiful fulfilment of that tradition in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Long ago, on that night and after the meal, Jesus suffered for our sins and was later betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed that the cup might pass, (as it did for Isaac and, later, the children of Israel) but as my Father-in-law said a little while ago, "no lamb was in the thicket to spare the Son's suffering. God, for us, provided Himself a Lamb."

Holy Week: Day Four

*Matthew & I each wrote something for day #4 without talking about it, (this will come as no suprise to those of you who know us well & know that there are millions of important details we neglect to share with each other every day) so I posted both of them. As you can see, we don't necassarily need to talk about everything, we're usually thinking the same thing anyway!

On this day, the scriptures tell us very little of what the savior did. Of this day, the scriptures say only:

"17 ¶ And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there." (Matthew 21:17) 

Our oldest child loves this day of Holy Week, because she is named after the village, Bethany, where the Lord chose to spend some of his last hours on Earth. 

We know that Bethany was "Located on the southeast slope of Mount Olivet, [and] the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha (John 11: 1-46; 12: 1)" (Bible dictionary)

I like to think of what the Savior did that day. I think he went to Bethany to minister to and spend time with his closest friends and family. I have to believe that his mother was there with him in Bethany; we know that she was at the cross with Mary and Martha just days later, why not in Bethany in the last week?

I think that his last Earthly visit with his mother, Mary, was poignant and tender-- and far too personal and holy for even scriptures to recount. 

Holy Week: Day Four

“The day is spent outside the city of Jerusalem, perhaps in Bethany. The scriptures do not indicate what the Savior does on this day." His Final Days, The New Era, April 2006

We take a moment today to be grateful for family and dear friends. I like to think that our Savior spent the day with his family and friends. His final moments with them were bittersweet. How his closest confidents must have loved to be in his presence, to learn at his feet. He loved them and they loved him. Yet only he knew of the lonely road he would soon walk. He bore a sadness that foreshadowed the crushing physical pain and spiritual anguish soon to come. He told his disciples, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death," (Matthew 20:18.) Did their eyes linger on his beloved face a little longer that day, knowing he would leave them soon? Did they listen eagerly, desperately, to each divine word he spoke? Did they understand how soon his words would come to pass when he told them, (verse 19) "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him." Did they believe literally in his promise "and the third day he shall rise again."

He walked the lonely road to Calvary alone, so that we do not have to walk alone. He will be there in our hour of need, to love, to strengthen, to forgive, to inspire. We should be there for each other in the same way. By doing this, we will be there for Him also.

Holy Week: Day Three

Spencer W. Kimball

“This was not selfishness or unkindness. The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable. How can one share obedience to the principle of tithing; a mind at peace from righteous living; an accumulation of knowledge? How can one share faith or testimony? How can one share attitudes or chastity…. Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself…. In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Fasting, family prayer… control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures- each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity-these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p.255)

Holy Week: Day Two

Matt. 21:12–14; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46; John 2:13–17

A few years ago, when we still lived in Hemet, we were having the girls act-out some of the important scenes from the Holy Week. Bethany (4) and Gwen (3) loved this one... a little too much. They liked being able to throw the money around and get a little mad... and they were a little let-down the other days of the week when they didn't have permission to throw stuff to the ground. 

Usually when I think of this scene I'm impressed by the strength and righteousness of the Lord. I wonder if I would have the type of strength that he showed-- to put right what is wrong. Lately I've started thinking about the money changers, and identifying with them, because-- really-- on the spectrum of bad to good I'm  much closer to them, with their faults, than I am to the Savior and his perfection. I wonder if any of them were able to repent because of the actions that the Lord took on this day. 

I'm grateful for a Savior who does-- by his shining example-- force me to look at my actions, beliefs, and thoughts. I'm grateful to learn of his perfect life and I want to be a better man because of Him.

Holy Week: Day One

Zecheriah 9:9, Matthew 21: 1-11

Elder Uchtdorf's (Sunday morning) talk on this subject was amazing. 

Date Night

Date morning actually. Matthew & I got a babysitter & hiked Angel's Landing Saturday. It was a beautiful day. I love that hike. I love that guy. I love that we both love to get outside & pant & sweat a little, to enjoy the beautiful world, dizzying heights & gorgeous views of Zion. Also, way easier to find a sitter for a Saturday morning than a Saturday night.

"Come spirit, come charm, come days that are warm."

(from The Secret Garden, my soundtrack for spring)

Signs of spring:

My square foot garden. Peas, lettuce, chard, peas, green beans, soy beans and basil, so far.

Blossoming trees.

Snow in Summer.

Alyssum.

Sunflowers from last year.

Globe Mallow.

Sidewalk chalk.

Open windows.

Dirty dishes.

It's a bird, it's a plane,

it's a pergola. Or is it an arbor? Maybe a gazebo? The girls call it their playhouse.

Whatever you call it, we love it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dad.

Soon there will be vines climbing the posts and walls of flowers surrounding it. I'm thinking some and and from my favorite catalog.

Gwen's special day

Gwen turned six last week. Six seems much older than five, more than five seemed older than four. Maybe that's just my denial talking. She had a great birthday weekend. Saturday morning, we took her rapelling all by herself. She got to try out the new harness we just got the girls. Is it not the cutest thing you've ever seen? She loved being the center of our attention and we loved spending that time with just her. (One kid is really easy to keep track of!)

We went to The Olive Garden for lunch. Every other year, the girls get a friend party & on the no-party years, they get to choose the restaurant they want to go out to eat at. (I love the non-party years.) Gwen chose Dairy Queen when she turned four, so her tastes are definitely maturing. Her Grandparents and Aunt Maury came with us. We did a little shopping in the big city before heading home. We went to one of my favorite stores, Ross. The store Ross, not my little brother Ross. Once Maryann asked me where I got a mirror in my house & was so confused when I said Ross. Why would my little brother be giving me a large ornate mirror? Anyway, I love that store. I found these shoes (Merrells) for under $20! Maury found some really fun shoes too. (Fun until she fell & broke her foot wearing them, but that's another story.) My girls wanted to get these little numbers, but somehow they didn't get their way. Then we went home for cake and ice cream and presents. Maury made Gwen's cake while we were rapelling. It turned out so cute. I am not very good at cute birthday cakes and always feel bad about myself after each attempt, so thank you Maury!!!

Sunday was Gwen's actual birthday and it was a little more low-key. It was filled with meetings, naps, and home teachers. I stole a few moments that evening to hold Gwen and tell her about our first day together six years ago. I told her how I held her and smelled her and how she slept and cooed. She fit so snuggly in my arms then. Sunday night while we cuddled on the couch, her legs hanging off my lap, I thought what millions of mother before me, and millions more after me, will think, how fleeting childhood is, how precious. How little time I really have to teach and shape and love my beautiful daughters before they are grown and making decisions and families on their own. What a responsibility parenthood is! These short years are so vital to the health and happines of our children; it is worth any and every sacrifice to put them first, because they won't always be so little and teachable. There will be time later for work, a career even, for school, a graduate degree possibly, for developing talents, for more socializing than just playdates. Right now, I am happy to be home this morning, listening to Gwen & Cate play in the other room, doing their breakfast dishes, teaching them to do laundry. This afternoon, we'll pick up Bethany from school and go grocery shopping and I'll try to soak up every second of our time together. I don't have any romanticized memories of my babies; it was dang hard work, and I keep enjoying them more and more the older they get. I just don't wanna miss a thing.

Gwen Raps

(Please ignore me & my Three Amigos "Look up here" comments.)

All the monkeys aren't in the zoo.

Every day you meet quite a few.