"Praise to the Man!"

Another serious note:

On this normal day I thought I would take a minute to pay my respects to a very special man who was martyred 164 years ago today. Joseph Smith Jr and his elder brother Hyrum were attacked and shot to death in a prison in Carthage, IL by a large mob with faces cowardly painted black. A mob in Missouri had previously offered to do the job, but it was the men of IL that finally sealed the Prophet's testimony in his blood, and of course no justice was brought to anyone. Joseph and Hyrum were set to go before a judge for causing a uproar in the community. 

Sara and I had the great opportunity to visit Nauvoo and Carthage in '06. It one of the greatest experiences I have had to walk the streets of Nauvoo, watch the Pageant, and to the see the cell and bedroom that they were being held. It's hard to describe the feeling I had when I stood in that room and in front of the window where Joseph fell to the ground below and was shot a few more times. It is very easy to feel the Spirit there, and very easy to receive confirmation that Joseph is the prophet of the Restoration, that the Book of Mormon is exactly what he testified- the keystone of our religion and another witness of Jesus Christ, and that I belong to the full and true gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Sara and me outside of Carthage Jail.

The Joseph Smith "mansion"

My Father ........my hero (sorry if this is embarrassing)

This Fathers day, and everyday really,as I am hours and hours away from my family, I have been very grateful for telephones and internet. Especially now with fathers day here, it has made me a little more home sick.  Don't get me wrong.  I am enjoying myself and I absolutely love it here and most of the time wouldn't want to be elsewhere, however homesickness does creep in every now and then.  Back to the point.  My Dad!  I don't know if I could ever explain to anyone and have everyone completely understand how much of a hero my father is.  This day was set aside for fathers because of guys like my dad.  When I was 12 years old, my parents divorced.  I don't remember much about family at that point.  I had other things to worry about.(diabetes) I do however, remember that my dad worked a lot.  He always had dinner on the table and made sure we had EVERYTHING we needed, and for the most part wanted.  Dinner was creative some nights, and i'm not sure even some moms could get this creative. (hot dog pizza, goolash, which in our family just meant any couple of things mixed together) Point is, we never went hungry. We made it to church every Sunday and to school in the mornings.  I usually tell people that my dad could listen to a car for a minute or two and be able to tell you what was wrong with it and how to fix it right away.  He has been known as McGyver (i have no idea how to really spell it) a time or two.  This man can fix anything.  And I mean anything! Food, Feelings, Gardens, Automobiles, motorcycles, plumbing, electronics, and the list goes on.  Reflecting on those years, I don't remember feeling like he had all of that going on.  Sure I knew he was busy and had his hands full, but.... Now that i'm an adult (or at least in that age bracket) I realize something.  My dad is a SUPer hero.  The financial stress he was probably under with six busy kids, the job responsibility, church callings,etc. all single handedly.  I'm not sure many guys would stick around for that kind of assignment.  He did.  I think I would have curled up in a ball and slept for weeks.  He didn't.  He pushed and pulled and helped us all to be the kids we are today.  On a funnier note.  I never imagined my dad to be a guy in a pageant.  Of course there were family reunions where he dressed in a leotard and did a gymnastics routine, and he did have a silly side.  But a few years ago, my dads wonderful wife Randi, signed them up for the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Nauvoo.  Eric and I had the chance to go, and I don't think I've ever seen my dad have more fun!He danced and sang up on that stage! It was awesome!

  Like I said, this man really does it all.  He knows everyone in St. George and surrounding areas, and he knows someone everywhere he goes.  He is a very social person and always lends a helping hand.  He always was the first to offer help to those in need. From a homeless man on the street, or a woman no one would talk to needing a ride to church, to his neighbors.  He has a giant heart.  So to this man, my father, my hero....Happy Fathers Day!  love ya dad!

Ghost Town Goodness!

Snow in June!!  Really?!  Come on!
We have had so much fun this last week, and believe me, I was ready for it.  It has snowed here (in june), it rained for about a week, and now the sun is shining and everything is the brightest green ever! So Saturday morning I had to go to Stevensville (45 min. drive) for a tri-stake youth conference. I wasn't to excited, I will admit, but the drive was beautiful and I did have fun.  When I got home, our AWESOME friends Ashley and Brody Hanni, invited us to Garnet Ghost town with them.  It was awesome and full of old buildings, homes and artifacts.  It was a beautiful hour drive there and the weather was perfect!

Eric and I above the ghost town...
ashley up in my bidness in the out house
Eric, Sara, Ashley, and Brody

Those miners had russian coke!

When we were on our way down the mountain, Eric and Brody decided to ride their bikes.  So Ashley and I rode in the truck and followed the menly men.  They got going roughly 40 mph on their bikes!  Holy Moly!  We were nervous!  When we got back into town, we stopped at Cracker Barrel and enjoyed a yummy home cooked-ish meal!  LOVE IT!  

For Fathers Day, Eric and I decided to celebrate ourselves. We have no kids now, but one day Eric will be a father and so we thought we'd make it a habit now to celebrate!  We went to a place called Patee Creek Canyon.  We roasted weenies, ate smores and enjoyed the beauty, weather, and the birds.  It was a great weekend finisher before another work week.  (eric might say the basketball game is the great finisher!) 

Our Delicious set up!

Hope all the fathers I know had a wonderful Fathers Day!