I Love the Mountains: "The Emblem of the Land We Love" (Missive from June, July, August 2020)

Sunday mornings we enjoy watching the Tabernacle Choir.

And we especially love patriotic renditions.

Our eight-year-old granddaughter loves The Star Spangled Banner. Her second grade school teacher (when they were in school) would have them sing this song each day.

In Kaysville and in California, friends have worked with us to understand symbols. My husband and I wonder about "An Emblem of the Land We love...”

Hearing songs with allegiance to a nation has reinforced an idea: the land we love is a "promised land!"

And the true standard we honor is He who freely gave His life to offer freedom.

(Literally the first fruits of them that slept.)

Echoing a message from Lloyd Newell:

"…Our love and respect for our country seems to deepen as we work to overcome our shortcomings and mistakes, past and present...In a sense each of us is, like our beloved flag, an emblem of this land we love."

Grateful, we are, for encouragement to plant,

to grow our gifts…to notice growth around us, in neighbors, friends, children, grandchildren, mothers, siblings.

Above includes what a granddaughter calls "chard" (actually rhubarb, third generation from Grandma Verla's first fruits) proof that a grain of a mustard (or lettuce) can billow and bring surprises!

As we celebrate grandchildren brave and willing to join together and seek adventures

in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and reaching toward Utah, California, Arizona and beyond,

we remember the best form of flattery is emulation—so we have piled into our own set of wheels to search for adventure of our own.

Words from Val:

I enjoyed some one on one time with Laurene. After camping at Ledgefork campground in the Uinta Mountains, waking with frost on our tent, we learned it pays to ask where to go hiking.

No fish, but we found a moose,

and an osprey. (Above right...squint!)

Determined to prove to ourselves and grandchildren that fishing was not only about casting and reeling,

we asked seasoned neighbors, and tried our luck. First, on the Mirror Lake highway...

discovering butterflies on Butterfly Lake...

Next, we enjoyed grandson, Riley,

driving to and from Trial Lake.

"This was the trial--

two days of constant effort,

capped with humble prayer

in the final hour at the lake,

Riley caught a fish!

(Lesson learned: Bible dictionary--The object of prayer is...to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them.

Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.)

(Good work, Riley! Grateful we are for experiences which give evidence and encouragement to increase our faith.)

"Third, an outing with Laurene to Hoop Lake (northern Uinta Mountains)

We traversed a wooded grove and found several

(between the two parallel logs, look closely)
sage grouse after reading about another experience in which the heavens opened upon a secluded time in sacred wooded space.

We also found some interesting rock renditions.

Can you find a "hole in the rock"?

(Look above sage brush line, below right)

How would you like to sleep in this tee-pee?

Would you like to see Dad laugh?

Following a Boeing policy of redundancy--for anyone who wants to doubt his possession of tent poles--here is evidence he brought double!

We also met neighboring campers, including Dave Burton, a bow hunter, gentleman extraordinaire, from Plain City, who knew Uncle Bob Stewart, their elementary school principal. Dave shared an impressive story of his month-long bow hunting pursuit of a large, beautiful elk.

Upon leaving for home, he chose to share his secret with a budding young hunter and father. He later learned the young boy is an avid hunter, because of Dave's personal sacrifice to share.

Dave also told about surviving a precarious mountain tumble with a demolished all terrain vehicle, which he reclaimed--and presently mounted to deliver us ice.

When Dave required the grandson responsible for the wreckage to contribute to the repair, an amazing thing happened:

the speed-hungry youth proceeded to use energy and resources in better causes and just returned from a mission to South America.

Others of Dave's family travel regularly to Africa to drill wells and build schools. Finally, Dave told us how as a young child, he had announced boldly that serve would a mission to England. His mother wanted to know if he was going to suggest this to his bishop. "No. Don't need to."

Dave was sent to England. Decades later, after wondering for a time if his mission truly had value,

he received a phone call from long lost friends who decided,

'He is our age...

'If we are not dead, maybe he is still alive!'

They confirmed to him their appreciation and efforts to

keep the faith.

As Dave's wife Cherie is on her fourth round of chemotherapy,

will you please include them in your prayers?

We read about twins that call to find out

they are wearing the same colors.

On a drive through Wyoming and south,

with intent to discover a recommended angling spot, we found fish…and a brother in similar search. (Only his crew was equipped with better bug protection!)

Val calls this a corona virus edition of family camping--

"Go up separately,

then get pictures six feet apart."

(Can you measure six?)

Grateful, to prepare with a youngest,

nest-gathering, a flurry of baking soda, vinegar, rags, brushes, and showers of kindness from family, friends, and miracles left, right and in front of us