Temples, Temples and Heavenly Bodies

This morning on the way to work I decided I would take a different way home not through Park City and Salt Lake City, not through Provo Canyon but up over the Aspen Loop.

You drive up past Sundance Ski Resort. Just past Robert Redford's gate (I have a picture but it is not that glamorous) I come across the following:

Well I had to stop and take a picture, because I have an Eleanor and I wished I could just turn down that road and see her, Eleanor is my granddaughter

This Picture was on the day she was blessed

Isn't She a Heavenly Body?

Eleanor Marie Deschamps

I love where I live, Utah is Great! The mountains of Utah are heavenly and temples of grandeur

This past year had been a wet one in Utah so the mountains are still green, very green

I must have passed about 100 cyclist on the drive, some heading down hill....

I stopped to take this picture at the top and a cyclist was coming up the hill, "I said it is all down hill from here", He said "I sure hope so this is going to kill me" Given the 8,000 foot peak and the Utah Valley floor is 4500 feet, that makes it a 3,500 foot climb ALL uphill. Not a flat spot in the 9 or 10 miles up hill

This is looking out towards the west towards the Utah Valley

Though the mountains are beautiful and something I enjoy being, I stopped by on my way home and took a picture of another temple The Lord has had created which is just as beautiful and much more precious than any mountain

The Mt Timpanogos Temple

American Fork, UT

I am going to have to make that trip again soon. The next time I will take a better camera my cell phone camera is OK but I think I can take some better pictures

Rich vrs Money

On Thursday, 7/30 I attended the funeral services for The Elder Member of my most family. Uncle Dick, (Richard Washburn Young) was married to my mother's sister Edith Harvey Young. I had the fortunate opportunity to have Uncle Dick visit my home more than some of my other cousins. My home was my Grandparents house, as I was reared by them after my mothers death. Aunt Edith and Uncle Dick would come to Blanding, and with them came their children, and we would drive to Mack to visit them.

Dick and Edith had 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys and they came in that order. There family was just the opposite of the Cornwell's we had 5 boys and two girls. The Cornwell's and the Young are pretty close, age-wise and emotionally, at least I feel it. We shared many similar life experiences which I will note later

During the service the Young's mentioned several times they didn't have much money, boy you could have fooled me I thought they were Rich and still do. The Richness today is the joy of a close family who seem to have no guile just like their father. At the service I took some notes about memories I had of the Young's. I will list those and comment on a couple of them.

My List:

Water Truck and conserving water

The Old House

The New House, trips to it

Cook-out in the desert

Beckies Graduation from HS

Nate's Wedding and reception at the Young's Home

A summer noon meal and not asking for water

A large garden

Neta spending the summer at Grandma and working at the store

Kathy spending a winter with just Amy and I (1974 I think following her mission)

1980 driving to Becki and Devan daughters blessing in a blizzard

Ricky's death

There are many more memories I have of the Young's but those are the one's I noted.

I always looked forward to going The Young's'. Though they may have not had lots of money, they carved our a very rich home, not big but of so large enough to foster love of family.

One thing things the Young's and Cornwell's shared was the tragic loss of a brother. Ricky drowned at a pond near there home. As I recall it was near or on Scott's 8th birthday, Ricky was 10 if memory serves me. I know this was a tragedy to the Young's, but today Eidth and Dick can now further rear there son Rick.

Uncle Dick left this world a Wealthy, Wealthy man. He left a legacy of a life filled with Rich blessing that I will never forget and a family that loved him more than any man could ever hope to expect. I family I love and admire.

Thank You Uncle Dick, you old cowboy you!

If anyone would like me to elaborate on any of my notes I will happily do so.

Stripes

I stopped last night at the local Sam's Club.  I was wanting to just head home but the gas gauge said I wasn't going to make to home without some fuel, So I had to stop. Once there I figured I better see what was inside.

I started searching for Otter Pops, along the way I got a drink of Tang from one of the Taster people, and then I found the Otter Pops, and got in line.  

Once in line the gentleman stuck up a conversation, "Where are your stripes tonight"  I thought for a minute like I should know him.  I said, "I got some Blue in the car"  He then said that his daughters played basketball at Timpview.  Then he said he thought I did a good job, that when he saw me walk onto the court he was a little relieved, that I wasn't some rookie or some poor official. I said thank you as he was finishing his purchase.  The clerk said you must be used to getting yelled at. I had to admit I was but that I still did it because I love the game and the responsibility of being a Referee.

P.S.  I love Tang, who couldn't love it, the astronaut's drank it in space

P.S. II  I love Otter Pops

The memories our children

I got a text Yesterday from my son Nate, it went something like this...

"Dad, Fernley always reminds me of you"

The story, When we first moved to Nevada (about 1993/94) I was assigned to go work a High School Basketball, it was a Saturday so I took Nate along with me, he would have been about 12 I think. Well at some schools to show some appreciation to the officials they will give us a voucher to get something at the snack bar, some schools are pretty appreciative or maybe just trying to bribe us with Hot Dogs and Drinks. Well at Fernley they gave me a voucher and I recall my partner Jerry Gribble got one too, and I think we both gave ours to Nate. I am not sure what he got, but the memory was embedded in Nate's mind about Fernley, Dad and Snack Food Vouchers.

I know one Saturday Jen and Nate were forced to go with me when I did a game at Nixon, which is a small school operated I think by a Ute Indian tribe. I would sure be interest to know what Jen and Nate remember from that trip. I think I took Jen on a long trip to Hawthorne, I wonder if she remembers that trip. Jen also went we me a time or two to watch the State Championship games in Reno. Jen was and is always fun to be with. Today being with her might involve a game and she is always trying to beat you and badly, with a large dose of Love.

Chants of Three Two Run No Matter What

Did another tournament this weekend. So today have chants running though my head. No I am not talking about chants that one might hear at a monastery, but chants from the dug-outs or benches of these girls. Some of them are quite entertaining. Much different than baseball at this level. The boys are quiet and methodical, the girls are expressive and open.

On a dropped 3rd strike by the catcher(She must catch it and hold onto it for it to be an out), the batter may attempt to obtain 1st base if 1st base isn't occupied prior to the pitch, and if there are two out it doesn't matter if 1st base is occupied. So on these occasions the girls are reminding the girl at bat, when she has the 3-2 counts to "Three Two Run No Matter What" or if the catcher drops the ball try to get 1st base.

Well yesterday I had a lot of 3-2 counts, so today I have the chant running through my brain.

Sometimes the girls get the count mixed up and try to get first on a 2-1 count thinking they have two strike instead of just one.

Today I am very tired something about standing out in the sun for 6 to 8 hours. So today I am feeling it.

Lost it

The other night, Thursday, the 23rd at the request of my little girl Nicole, I was a test subject for her phlebotomy class. She stuck me two times one on the top of the hand and once near the upper elbow region.

It had been a normal, that was the problem, Normal days for me are get up go to work, work all day, don't drink much or eat anything, though I did have a couple of bananas and some red vines. After work about 4:30 I drove to Nate's in Kearns to pick up a back pack because Nicole needed one for a trip to the Grand Canyon next week. Once I had met up with Nate, played with Ender it was on to Ogden to be the test subject. I stopped off at a C-store to get a drink and some sun flower seeds, then onto Ogden.

Well what happened after Nicole stuck me was that I got really light-headed(a little more than normal). I sat there for a minute or two, then got up and moved to another chair and I guess I passed out, all I can remember I fell asleep and that I started to dream. Well I woke up Nicole rubbing my neck and offering me some grapes, an apple and some water. I kind of felt embarrassed to say the least. Nicole and I went and got a Hamburger and Fries, something I should have had done prior to getting stuck.

Nicole was a trooper, she was very good at the stick, and next time Dad(I) do something like that I will make sure I have not had a normal Jess day, I will have eaten something. The drive home was nice, I was a little worried about being tired which I was, but I talked with a friend on the way home which made the 75 minute drive go quickly. Think was so sweet she called me to make sure I would call when I got home.

What I learn or affirmed from this experience: I love my family and my friends

Frozen Ice

The other day as I was driving, ( I have 45 minutes to work and about the same home, so plenty of time think and reflect)   Well I was thinking there is something missing in my summer.  For a while there is was the heat, our June here was mild and wet but that resolved itself last week with 100+ weather.  I have been have some fun on hikes, BBQ's and Fireworks... Then it dawned on me... Otter Pops....  

Otter Pops can be great, I can eat them and eat them.  But what to do with those plastic sleeves?  In times past my kids would leave them every where, and then there were the scissors on the counter and the tops of the Otter Pops on the counter.  I would get a little frustrated at that little mess.

Well kids are older now and aren't around as much anymore, What a dad would give to be frustrated with the little mess on the counter...

So if you want to stop by I should have Otter Pops, or I will happily make slushies... I love those better than Otter Pops

Good Ice and friends

This weekend I was up in Salt Lake City doing a softball tournament. It was exceptionally hot in SLC and all along the Wasatch Front here in Utah. It was 100 according the weather people, that makes it about 110 on the diamond, add to that the wearing a full hockey style face mask, a chest protector and the shin guards, it was hot, Dang Hot!!!

On the way home Friday I stopped off at a C-store and was blessed to find Good Ice, Do you know what I mean by Good Ice, well it is the ice that is kind of pebbled and easy to crunch between the teeth. So I have add that C-store to the list of places that have Good Ice. I have a friend Cindy who also shares a passion for the stuff. Well lets say she has a greater passion for the stuff because she buys it by the bag and stores it at home. Macey's the local food/grocery store sells it. Cindy has learned to go to the meat department and ask for a fresh bag, unlike those that have been in store for a while because they melt a little prior to hitting the freezer case so some of the ice is Block Ice not Good Ice. She and I have talked extensively about the subject. I have been on the phone with her and shared he disappointment when she has gone to Sonic and they don't have enough Ice to sell her a bag. I have also gotten a call from her or a text wondering if I know of a place to get Good Ice, the last time she was in American Fork. (by the way, The Chevron between AF and PG on State Rd)

I have had other friends that has also share my love for the Good Ice, though I am not in contact with them as much as they have married, but I am sure there love for Good Ice has stayed the same.

So Good Ice for me shares the refreshment of it cooling powers and the association I have with friends who also enjoy its powers.

Honor and Loyalty

You will notice from prior posts I have been officiating some softball and a team from my home town is participating. I did 4 games, 3 games in a row, one off, then one more to finish the night/day.

Well my first game of the day, was to work behind the plate and the old home town team was one of the teams, and Coach Swenson was the 1st base coach for Blanding. I love where I grew up, I love the friends I had and the opportunities of being able to play all the sports, football, basketball, and baseball, throw in a little golf, even some wrestling. By-the-way, I don't think much of soccer. I attend many of the games that Blanding plays when they are in the area, it is a chance to see old friends, and we are getting old. So one could say I am Loyal to Blanding. So it was kind of tough to put loyalties behind and honor the avocation of officiating where one doesn't let loyalties get in the way of calling what you see with a clear mind.

They won the first game, and then I had to do them again on my 3rd game. They were ahead most of the game but the team from Springville came back in the last inning to lead 4 to 3 and Blanding could score in the bottom of the inning.

I recall attending one of my daughter Jen's 8th grade games, I can't recall but I don't think any officials showed up to officiate, so I was ask to step up to the court and help. I recall having slip-on dress shoes and slacks on at the time. I recall it being a good game and having Jen's teammates and coaches thank me afterwards. I didn't get to watch Jen play too many more times, she was always the 13th player on a 12 player team. Something that was very disappointing to her and made me cry in my heart for her because of the disappointment of not making the teams as a Freshman and Sophomore. One of the issues one had to go through when you attend a large high school, and maybe me as a dad not playing hoops with when I should have. Jen is now a great mother of two precious girls and one of my heroes.

So remember to put honor and loyalty into perspective.

The games go on.

My games yesterday were good. I had to reprimand the crowd... Here is the story... Had a very astute pitcher, batter stepped out of the box(not within the rules), stepped back in, the batter motioned to the pitch to hold up, the pitch knew she didn't have to honor that, so she delivered the pitch, was a Strike, there was the little verbiage between myself, 1st base coach, and the batter, then from somewhere on the opposing crowd side some guy says "something to the affect, "She wouldn't hit it anyway". Well the inning ends shortly, the coach comes up to me and says, something to the affect of " is there anything you can do about the Jerk who made the comment, I said to her, no not really, but I sure would like to... Well I thought about for a minute, got out my soap box and went to the screen and said "Will the Jerk who made the comment please tone it down, these are only 14 year old girls her, not major league. The beer bellied guy, in the white tee shirt, pipes up and Says I am the Jerk, I am sorry. By the way the did shirt was soil in the bellied area, it was rather ironic, atleast to me.

It was a hot day too. But The good Lord blessed us with some afternoon breezes to make it bearable.

I also ran across an old friend from Blanding, Denise Adams, now Smith I think. Plus a team from Blanding is up for the tournament. Morris Swenson one of my HS coaches helped bring them up, I know he must have a Granddaughter on that team. Coach Swenson is one man I really admire, he made learning to drive such a pleasure, Yes he was the Drivers Ed instructor too. So through out life when I do some stupid driving maneuver and some say, Who in the H&|| taught you how to drive, my response "Morris Swenson".

Just remember... After all that is said and done, more is said than done... So do more and say less!!!

A dog's life

Well it Tuesday and another day in the life of Dog sitting. Last night Ender went with me to umpire three softball games. He spent game one along the 1st base line, he would whine when he saw me. Games 2 and 3 were behind the backstop at home plate. He did much better there, one he could see me and two fans, kids and adult would stop by to say hi to him. I am sure game he is a sociable dog, instances like this will only help that.

As for me life goes on, doing some more games today. hope all goes well again.

When I die and go into the next life, and I get reincarnated I want to be a dog lover's dog.

A New Way

I Thought I would try to catch up with one of my children and blog from time to time. It will be interesting to see what I post, could be about life, my officiating in Blue and the times I wear stripes, could be about just stuff.

This weekend life has been centered around Freinds, Family, Freedom and a Dog. I was tell my friends that my Son's dog Ender is my GrandDog, closest thing my son has come up with to grandchildren. This is my second stint at dog watching, I have learned they are just like children some ways better and other ways far worse.