Week 48 - March 25-31

Elder Koberstein and I started this week by taking our bikes in for their yearly tune up to this bike shop on our drive to the Family History Library.  We hoped for good weather to bike and Elder Koberstein did bike home from the library twice this week.

Thursday night and Friday we did have a spring snow storm.  We did not park in the garage and had about 4 inches of new very wet snow on the car when it was time to go in to the Family History Library on Friday Morning.  This picture was taken on our drive in.

The bulbs in front of the library were covered with snow.

They amaze me to how hearty they really are.  I think they will be ready for conference this next weekend.

Elder Koberstein and I debated about a trip in this winter weather but decided on our half T/R day on Friday to drive to Monticello, Utah.

Monticello is in the warm part of Utah so we thought it would get better as we came out the other side of the mountain pass.  We stopped after the pass and I was surprised as I looked at out licence plate.  It was covered with a layer of ice.  Roads where basically clear and not a bad drive in a snowstorm.

Saturday morning we attended the 8 am session in the temple.  It is the 16th of 17 operating temples that we have visited this past year in Utah.  Our goal is to visit all 17 temples before our year in Utah is over. In this picture you can see the temple and beyond it the steeple of a chapel at 7:30am on Saturday morning.  Monticello, Utah is a very small down but blessed with a beautiful little temple which must draw from surrounding areas.

After the temple we changed and drove to Arches National Park.  This is Wilson Arch.  It is visible from the highway.

We hiked to the arch.  It was quite a view of the valley.

After waiting for what seemed a very long time in this line we actually gained enterance into Arches National Park.

On the right is Courthouse Towers on the left is the gossips.  We think they are the three wise-men.

This is called Balanced Rock.  It looks ready to fall.

We saw two rock climbers climbing these soft sandstone rock formations. 

Doesn't seem as safe as the granite in California.

This is Delicate Arch taken with Elder Koberstein's telephoto lens.  The people looked like ants with the naked eye from the upper viewpoint vantage we hiked to.

After leaving the park on our ride home we noticed the unusual color on the side of some of the mountains. 

The color remained us of corrosion on a copper pipe.  We wondered if the soil had a high content of copper in it.

The drive back though the canyon to the Wasatch Mountain front, was beautiful.  We had clear roads all the way and it was not snowing.  We had a wonderful weekend together.

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son;  John 5:22

Week 47 - March 18-24

The flowers in the heated flower beds outside the Family History Library are getting ready for General Conference in April.  They even have endured to occasional snow on them.

  Saturday we drove to Provo with Nathan and Susan and enjoyed a session in the Provo City Center Temple.  It was interesting to see the Wasatch mountain range with the tops covered with clouds on the way to Provo.

The Provo City Temple is a fascinating building made from the shell of the old Provo Tabernacle which was burnt to the ground in December 2010.  The tabernacle served the Provo community from 1898 to 2010.  The new building closely resembles the original structure's including a replica of the original 147-foot center tower.  In addition, salved art glass, hardware and finials from remains were used in the new temple.  It is beautiful inside.  I love the circular stair cases.  It was amazing how many young people were working at or in attendance in the session we attended.  We were definitely the older ones.

Elder Koberstein and I learned to like Indian Curry in Fukuoka, Japan.

This place makes a good Chicken Tiki Masala but we prefer just plain nann bread to go with it.

As we drove home following lunch we could see some of the tops of the mountains through the clouds.

I took this picture walking back to our car after church today.  It still amazes me that we attend church in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and can enjoy the walk across temple square each week.  I feel blessed.

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

"A Wish" A wish which was printed on silk in the back of an old silver watch which has been in the Weston family for generations.  A poem found in my mother's "Treasure of Truth" in the section titled poetry. 

Where ever you may dwell may content be your lot And friendships like ivy encircle your cot, May each rosy morn dressed in mantle of peace, Shed health o'er your cottage, your blessings increase May gay smiling plenty adorn the fair spot. May sorrow ne'er enter the door of your cot. May your honest endeavors be crowned with success. May you ever live happy, ne'er witness distress, An your neat humble roof may those blessings descend 'Tis a wish free from guile, 'tis the wish of a friend.

Week 46 - March 11-17

This week Elder Koberstein and I attempted to go to the art exhibit at the Church History Museum.  We went one day to early but were able to look at a few of the exhibits not chained off until opening.  This one is from Japan.  It is titled "Touching the Hearts of Many Generations" by Kazuko Covington.  It is a quilt made from a damaged antique kimono and obi.  The dots represent ancestors and the eternal link that connects generations.  The chrysanthemum a symbolic flower in Japan represents beauty.  The insect nest among the flowers petals represents our mortal existence protected by our ancestors blessings.

Artist, Justin Wheatley's painting is titled "The man, the tree, the rod, and the words of strangers and friends." The artist says, "When the difficulties surrounding us become seemingly overwhelming, it is prayer and meditation that bring into focus the love our Lord has for each one of us."  The artist is from Utah.

Jennifer Paget, from Utah painted the "At-one-ment."  This painting depicts the fall and the atonement.  The conjoining circles between the two represents the two becoming one creating a new shape in the middle called the visica piscis a symbol of Jesus Christ.  The Star of David stands as a symbol between the two.  "And this is my everlasting covenant, that when shall thy posterity embrace the truth, and look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy." Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 9:22 

We need to go back another day to see the rest of the exhibits.  I am standing by the roped off area. 

Nathan has had fun with Daniel's snowman.  Earlier this week his neighbor across the street complained he had no snow left and Nathan had a pile and a duck.  Nathan packed a big snowball across the street to the neighbors yard so he had some snow too.  We had more snow and Nathan built a column again.  I called it the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

This is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  Don't they look similar, both leaning.  Snow is not a very permanent building material.  It has already fallen over and much has melted because of the warm spring like weather.

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

Susan found some papers from mother.  I was impressed with mother's poetry collection.  This poem was memorized by a brother of my great grandmother Mercy Weston.

"Kindness to Animals"

A verse on a watering trough on Holloway Hill between Bath and Willow, England learned by Joseph Weston as a youth and repeated to Samuel Weston (brother) on 10th of November 1931 about three weeks before Joseph's death.

A man of kindness, to his beasts is kind

But brutal actions show a brutal mind,

Remember!  He who made thee, made the brute,

Who gave thee speech & reason, formed him mute, 

He can't complain, but God's all-seeing eye

Behold thy cruelty and hears his cry,

He was designed thy Servant, not thy Drudge,

Remember!  His Creator is thy Judge. 

A watering trough is a  place for animals to drink.  This watering trough is found in Florida.  The hand pump is used to pump water for the animals.

Week 45 - March 4-10

March has really come to Salt Lake City like a lion.  This picture was taken as we pulled out of the garage the first part of this past week.  I love the snow hanging on the branches of the trees.  It makes the world a winter wonderland.

Another morning this week when we arrived at the Family History Center the rain had left a design on the building that reminded us of a temple.  So many beautiful things if you look for them.

Thursday after our day at the Family History Library we drove to Logan to C's sixth birthday party.  The family meet for dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe.  It is currently my younger grandchildren's favorite place to eat out.  The roads were clear but snow on the mountain sides.

C is really into unicorns.  She even had a beautiful birthday cake with a unicorn on it.  It was great to be able to celebrate with her.

We had enough snow on Friday night for J to slide down the small hill in Aunt Susan and Uncle Nathan's backyard.

Daniel, with help from Uncle Nathan, build a snowman over six feet tall.  It was a fun morning for J.  He was able to play in the snow, sled, throw snow balls and make a snowman.  What more would you want from a March snowstorm?

We spent the rest of the day in Logan with two of our son's families.  We enjoyed, visiting, playing with cousins and dinner at Chuck-o-Rama before starting back to Bountiful.  A fun week with many shared adventures with our family.

A THOUGH FOR YOU

"Sing Your Way Home" 

from Children's Songbook

Sing your way home at the close of the day.

Sing your way home; drive the shadows away.

Smile ev’ry mile, for wherever you roam

It will brighten your road, it will lighten your load

If you sing your way home.

Week 44 - February 25 - March 3

The big event this week was RootsTech.  Monday and Tuesday the Family History Library was open from 8am to 11pm.  Attendees at RootsTech started to arrive in Salt Lake City and visiting the library.  Elder Koberstein and I worked Monday evening until eleven.  We did not see many late night visitors but the crowd earlier was a little heavier.  The week was busy as many missionaries were drafted to work at RootsTech.  There may possibly be more guests early this week as well.  This is Elder Koberstein walking to RootsTech Saturday morning.  Saturday is free day and our p-day.  We were not scheduled at the library.

We attended the Saturday morning general session with Elder and Sister Bednar.

We then stayed in the main hall and enjoyed the Jake Shimabukuro, a keynote speaker/ukulele player.  His heritage is Japanese Hawaiian for five generations, I believe he said.  We were there for the award for the professional video.  Ch'en's, missionaries on the International floor's, daughter won the contest for both categories "judged" and "peoples choice".  It is on YouTube under "My name is..." RootsTech video contest winner.

Next we visited the exhibit halls.  They were very crowded on Saturday.  We had lunch and enjoy spinning the BYU wheel before heading off to the last two sessions.

We attended "Consultants:  Serving as a Temple and Family History Consultant"

A thought by Joseph F. Smith from the presentation.

A thought from Theodore M. Burton.

 The last class of the day and one we attended was "Family History That Won't Put Your Kids to Sleep."  What do you think we learned that has to do with genealogy?  This will be a surprise for our family reunion this summer.

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

The Savior's Name

by Fran L. Brower

You got it from your Savior

It was only His to give.

A new name you must cherish

For as long as you may live.

You took His Name upon you

And entered sacred water,

Promised to remember Him

As His precious son or daughter.

If you lose the name He gave you

Through struggles sore you've faced,

Remember that each black mark

Can always be erased.

HIS Name was clean when taken,

And a worthy name to bear.

He got it from HIS Father

There was only honor there.

Make sure you guard YOURS wisely,

Endure your mortal run.

You'll rejoice YOUR NAME is spotless

When presented to the SON.