Caleb's Homecoming Talk

Caleb delivered his homecoming speech in sacrament meeting this week.  It was very good.  He mostly told stories about the miracles people had with regards to the Book of Mormon and receiving testimony through it of the truthfulness of the church.  One story involved a man from Liberia, who could speak, but not read English.  The Book of Mormon has not been translated to his language, but he did say if he received a witness of the veracity of the book he would be baptized.  This testimony was born to him in a dream, when an angel came to him and told him the book was true.  He also talked of a couple he taught, where accepting the gospel made incredible changes in their lives, from being homeless with no car to having a car, three jobs, and a healthy baby.  He also talked of a young man who had received a testimony through the Book of Mormon, and wrote his family to tell them of his desire to attend BYU Idaho and go on a mission.  Caleb was there when his parents called back, and accused him of not loving them.  They were able to provide support in a sensitive situation.  This brother is at BYU Idaho, but has not yet been able to raise money for a mission. 

How to get Killed Driving the Altamont Pass

The drive to work, which I do on occasion, has become much more scary.  I have also learned a lesson, “mind yourself.”  In one of those moments, I flipped off another driver.  I was changing lanes in front of him, and he pulled up and blocked me off, and honked.  I tried to ask for him to let me in, but he had no intention, so I turned the asking into flipping him off.  He pulled back, and then I pulled in front of him.  He was not happy, pulled around to the side of me, and then pulled in front of me, slamming on his breaks as if we wanted me to crash into him.  I saw his driver side door begin to open..  It was all I could do to not hit him.  He must have been disappointed, because his door only opened an inch or so, and then closed again.  I am sure he expected I would crash into him.  I was able to get around him on the left, but I left lots of space between me and the next car so I could hurry past him.  Even so, When I went past I drove on the shoulder; I wasn’t sure if he would try the same trick again.  I did get in front of him, and then changed lanes so he couldn't track me.  I think I left him way behind, but lost track of him never-the-less.  Some drivers should take the train, which is what I do mostly unless I am working overtime.

Wild Flowers and other Fauna on Our Iowa Trip

Utah West Desert Tree

Tree at Utah West Desert Rest Area

Iowa City Handcart Park

These pictures are all from the Handcart Park.  There was lots of brush and lots many different wild flowers.

Nauvoo, flower between the city and the river

Soybean was very common in both Iowa and Illinois

Flower garden pictures at Carthage Jail 

These next flowers were at the Bear Lake over look

thistle

Sun Flower

Quaking Apen

Mom's nursing home

Close to Great Salt Lake, not cattails

Sunflowers Mt. Sterling, Ut

If you identify any of the flowers please comment and let me know.

Iowa Trip Day 3: Des Moines

We started early from Terry's house after an interesting conversation about kids.  We stopped briefly for pictures in Elk Horn where they have a Danish windmill.  The also have an old viking house, circa 900 a.d. replica.

Danish Windmill

Viking House

Adair Iowa

We then hit the road, and were in Adair for breakfast where Jesse James and his gang carried out a train robbery.  The park was very nice, with a small playground and picnic tables.  We were off to Des Moines for our next stop.  

In Des Moines it was the first day of the State Fair, and we thought long about attending.  However, the crowds, my need for a haircut, and the need to pick up Ty at the airport put us short on time so we did not get there.  We drove through down town, no one wanted to get out, but have a couple pictures from the car.

801 Grand, tallest building in Des Moines

church through the bugged windshield

Des Moines Arboretum part of botanical garden

Cow and calf outside dairy

We picked up Ty, and then headed for something to eat.  We chose Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, which was a good choice.  They had breakfast as well as dinner.  I had the chicken fried steak with banana cream pie.  Very good.  

We then checked in to the hotel, and I was able to get in a swim.  Not the largest of pools, but I could get a bit of a swim in swimming diagonally.  The highlight of the day was picking up our Caleb.   This was Thursday August 13.

Manteca Stake Handcart Trip: Reenacting

In July, I was able to participate in the Manteca Stake Handcart trek as a re-enactor.  We presented several different scenes.  I also was able to tell handcart stories.  It was fun.  The first day I portrayed the mean uncle, who didn't want to let his nephew go with the Mormons, and disbanded him from the family in the end.

myself with beard 

 Then the Banks portrayed the couple in which the wife left her shoes behind.

Sister Poole

The second day we portrayed a brother passing away.  Bishop Eklund played and I sang "Come, Come Ye Saints."  It was effective.
As the carts came into a clearing the last day, Sister Poole was playing "Come, Come Ye Saints" on her flute.  This too was very effective.  She then portrayed her relative, while we talked of the rescue. Elder Martin told the Saints to prepare for the worse and Sister Jackson told of her vision of her husband telling her they were to be rescued.  Then our two horse riders came over the ridge and into camp and told everyone that more provisions were just a ways further.

The rescue

Re-enacting was fun, and it was a good time.

looking for the rescue riders

Trip to Pick Up Caleb Day 2: Across Utah, and Wyoming, and Nebraska

We made an early start, and were in Evanston for breakfast, milk and Chocodiles, and then across the state with only gas and rest area stops.  We followed the pioneer trail, and when we got further on I tried to get a good picture of the Platte River from the window, but it was elusive, darting behind trees or going away from the freeway.  However, I finally got it when we stopped for lunch at Grand Island.  We finally crossed the Missouri into Iowa, and then headed for Sheri's brother's house, Terry.  We were able to set up camp in the basement.   We discovered, 410 miles across Nevada, 400 across Wyoming and 450 across Nebraska.

Pioneer Monument

Wyoming Sky

Location of old fort along Platte River

In the car

Road Ranches

In Nebraska

Car again

Military Vehicle Museum

Fort Kearney Replica

Platte River

froggy

Platte

Missouri River