The Kindness of Strangers

We decided that we needed one more trip this year on the motorcycle so we planned to go to see my sister, Laurel in Colorado. She is a crafter and was participating in the Applefest in Cedaredge. It's a big deal for a small town. We loved the idea of going there and enjoying the Applefest. This part of Colorado has a wonderful harvest of many variety of apples. So we packed the bike and headed out. A storm was coming to Utah but the Colorado part had a better forcast. We thought we would miss the storm. We did.....sort of, well, at least for one day. The first day out was without a drop of rain. It got a bit chilly but we were well prepared. We met our friends, the Richards, in Grand Junction and went on to Cedaredge the next morning. As we traveled over the Mesa into Cedaredge we encountered cold and snow but coming down into town the weather was overcast but fine. We looked for a parking place and found a little one way road by some condo's. We pulled in and as soon as we did a couple of residents came out and we felt sure that they were going to ask us to leave. They approached and we visited for a few minutes. They were curious about the bikes and all about how we travel in weather etc. They were very friendly and warm. As we began to take off all of our layers Sue, the woman in the picture above, began to fret about the safety of our leaving our coats and helmets etc. on the bikes. "It'll be fine" David kept reassuring her and we continued to peel off. Sue and her friend and the dog were going off to see the antique cars but she was worried about us, the strangers who had just blown in. She said that she would worry all the time we were gone and wondered if she should stay home to protect our things. She wanted to put them all in her home for safety. It was such a kind concern that we all agreed that she should enjoy her day as well so we picked up our coats, liners, helmets, overpants and lugged them in to her tiny apartment to await our return. Above is Sue and her friend by the bikes and here she is in her apartment. Our gear took half of her living room!
There are many good people in the world and this is one of them. She didn't know us at all but she percieved a need and did everything she could to meet it. What a great example she is of loving her neighbor.
If you ever get to Cedaredge, Co. you can count on Sue. We'll be sure to look her up next year when we go.

The following pictures are of the Applefest. There were many booths for food and crafts. There were entertainers and steam driven whatevers. My sister Laurel and my niece Julie had the booth you see. They did just fine until the rains came down about 2pm. Things cleared out pretty fast then. Our trip home was full of rain but we were warm and dry thanks to the forward thinking and grand preparations of my dear David, the biker dude.

FOLLOW THE PROPHET

There is a wonderful little primary song called Follow The Prophet. The children enjoy singing it and hopefully they get the message. It's a simple one; "Follow the Prophet, he knows the way."
It is interesting that the First Presidency published The Family, A Proclamation to the World years before our nation became embattled in the debate over just what constitutes a family. You also remember that the Word of Wisdom was given long before we knew anything about the health ramifications of commonly used products of that day. Remember Noah? It wasn't raining. Do you also recall the theme of so many conferences of The Church in recent years; get out of debt, be prepared with some food in the pantry that will last, have some money readily available and get a 72 hour kit? We now readily see the wisdom in all of that. History shows that the prophets have always been years ahead of issues that affect us so dramatically.
Last night I dreamed I was in a hurricane but I was safely inside and protected from the storm though it raged aganist the building and it's windows. I believe that today, with the stock market failing and much of our life savings invested there, that I am still safe from the storm. How can that be? There is panic everywhere. Here's why I am not fearful when everything around me says that I should be.
We have been following the prophet's advice but not always understanding why. We have trusted in the Lord and have kept faith that He knows what is best for us and the nation. I don't know how this failing stock market will be healed or if it will but I do know that the Lord has power over all things. If we are to struggle and lose what we have I still know that we will be fine. It will be another challenge. I know that a few righteous people have a great effect on the world and our nation. (Helaman 13:12,14) Thankfully, I know that there are many righteous people in this country. I know that the prophet is given fore knowledge of things so that we can be protected if we follow the counsel. I believe that in difficult times and in times of ease that trust in the Lord brings peace. I believe it is our obligation to pray for our country; to pray for it's leaders and to follow the counsel of the prophet. That, my friends, is the answer.

The Traveling Pants?

You have heard of the Traveling Pants by now. I admit that I have not seen the movies but the name is fun; "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". Well, it seems that I have my own traveling pants saga.
Have you ever had an article of clothing that you just love; it is the right color, it fits great, it has the pockets in the right place, and the fabric is just right? I had those pants. They were workout pants. They were perfect for any workout because I could wear them with any color shirt, they were long enough yet short enough, the pocket was just right for my ipod, and the fabric was breathable, stretchy and light. Perfect.
They went missing just after my daughters visit. I thought perhaps she had mistakenly taken them home to Atlanta with her but when I asked her about it she looked and found no sign of the missing pants. I searched every drawer and closet in my home. No pants. I checked at the Gym. No pants. It was depressing.
I began to look for the replacement at every store including the one in Park City where I bought them but none were suitable; too youthful, too tight, too funky, not long enough, too long. (Every woman knows about this kind of shopping experience.) I ruminated on it and even prayed about it. No pants.
Several weeks went by and I was still hopeful of the recovery of the pants but resigned enough to not finding them that I bought another pair at Smith's Marketplace. They were long and suitable for the weight lifting class and would keep my legs warm to and from the gym on cold days. The price was right so I settled.
Last night I dreamed about my lost pants. What a silly thing I said to myself. Why would I dream about those pants. Yes, I wanted to find them but I didn't think I was obsessed enough to dream about them. In my dream I found the pants between the wall and the headboard of my bed.
This morning as I dressed for the gym I remembered the dream. I knelt down by the side of my bed and looked. There they were! Just where I had found them in the dream and perfectly folded as well. I gleefully retrieved them and told my husband, David, of my wonderful find. "Had you prayed about it? he asked. "yes," I sheepishly replied. He smiled as if to say "I knew it". "You have a pretty good connection." he said. I admit that I do deem it a blessing.
Now you may call this a coincidence or say that I sub-consciously knew where they were all along, but this is a tender mercy from the Lord; a gentle reminder that He is there watching over us even in our most trivial pursuits.
Silly? Not at all.

The Cousins Come to Visit

What is more wonderful than a visit from our loved ones from Atlanta. This is my Granddaughter, Gabrielle. I can't believe how she's grown. What a lovely young woman.
Spencer and Sarah, cousins, were off to "Especially for Youth" at BYU. Sorry Spencer, I caught you with a funny face. You are adorable anyway. They both said that they had the greatest week ever. The enthusiasm expressed as they told the stories of the week was off the charts. We laughed and laughed at the retelling of all the adventures. What a great opportunity they had.

Carrie and I talk on the phone several times a week. I caught this out side Cafe Rio in Draper where we met John and Alison for lunch the day before the Krogh family went back to Atlanta. Cafe Rio is a must when they visit Utah.

John and David and Carrie at Cafe Rio. We all loved our lunch! Yummy! Below are Lindsay, Carrie and Alison.
Eliza Jane, age 5, Christiana, age 9, Katherine, age 11, Spencer, age 15. These are some of the greatest kids on earth!
Eliza and Abby are 2 months apart but Abby is sure to tell you that she is 6 and Eliza is 5. These little cousins had a great time together; 2 sleepovers, a trip to the kids museum, the zoo, etc, etc. Thanks, Uncle John for all the time you spent entertaining everyone.
This was a day of great excitement. Christopher invited us to his pool for a swim. The children were all over Uncle Chris constantly. He threw them up, pulled them around like a train, took them on his shoulders etc. They were in heaven. Everyone was especially happy because he was going to "pop the question" to Megan that night. They were all way into it because of the funny stories he had told them about it all day. That night everybody prayed for him. 2009 post note: Sadly this engagement was short lived. All I can say is that it is good to spend lots of time together so you know.

These cousins had a great time. Gabrielle stayed with Analisa for a few days. They wished they had more time to sleep and talk but these teens were constantly on the go. Thanks Aunt Claudia and Uncle Brett.

Christiana went to Sarah's High School Musical Dance Camp for a week. This happy girl loved every minute of it. Sarah was a great teacher. This was taken just after the final day's performance.

Below: This just goes to show what a great time the adults had together as well as the kids. John and Alison had us for dinner and guitar hero and board games. Alison's face reflects how everybody had fun.
Lindsay's boyfriend, Chris, Katherine, Claudia, Lindsay and part of Megan. Sorry Lindsay and Megan that I didn't get the best of you two, but we all know how beautiful you are in and out!
The visit was short but great. We love when they come to our house. We all wish they lived here!

What is she thinking? I just had to add this one. Someone give me a good caption.

An Observation at the Salt Lake City Cemetery

One beautiful fall morning while walking through the Salt Lake City Cemetery I came upon a woman about my age at the grave of a loved one. These were my thoughts.

She came alone with sadness all about her.
She had done her best;
Her untiring efforts recorded upon her face and body.

She approached the flower laden resting place of her parent.
She paused reflecting, eyes fixed upon the mound,
And stooped to select a remembrance.

A long stemmed rose she chose
And straightened with it tenderly;
A lonely last token of a loved one lost.

It was the way of things; the coming and going;
The heavy heart, the mind’s replay, the hope.
She stayed not long, then turned and left alone
With sorrow all about her. It was done.

Judith Kay Brown Nielson
October 2007

Dance Dance Dance

At age four my parents began to give me dancing lessons. I loved it from the beginning. My mother encouraged me, worked with me, made me look adorable and was my biggest supporter. I must have had some talent because I quickly moved into classes with older girls and seemed to be front and center all the time. I could begin any routine on either foot so my mom tied a ribbon on my wrist to remind me which foot to start with. Since I was in the envied front row center position, other children would follow my lead and I could really mess things up in performances. The ribbon was a good solution.
I took lessons from Barbara Church in a storefront studio on the main street in Burley, Idaho. Before that it was in a basement somewhere in the neighborhood. As I said, I loved it. I learned tap dancing, ballet and acrobatics. I was given solos in the performances along with the group dances. I felt pretty special. Mother would take me to perform for clubs and “old folks homes” with groups or by myself. It must have been fun for her; it was certainly fun for me.
I remember getting a lot of attention after one acrobatic solo at our dance recital at the end of the year. I had a sparkly, gold costume with orange accents. My solo began with a front walk over and the strap which held up the top broke. I continued the routine holding up the top when necessary and afterward was the talk of all the grownups because of my professional stage presence. It must have been a big deal to them and it made me feel special to have all that attention.
We moved to Idaho Falls when I was beginning third grade. I continued my dance lessons with instruction from the Sisters Watson. I took ballet only. I was a better than average student for them. I performed solos at the year end recitals. At school, my friends and I were always discussing which was the better of the two dance schools in town. I was sure it was the Sisters Watson. I went to class in town on Saturday mornings for my lessons. It seemed to me that Mom had lost interest in my dancing. She didn’t come to class with me as she had done in Burley. She was working full time and Dad was traveling constantly. We didn’t have much money and I’m sure there was a lot of stress in her life. When I wanted to stop my lessons there was no encouragement from her for me to continue. If I wanted to start up again Mom seemed to find a way for me to do that. She had my baby sister to care for plus a million other things to occupy her on Saturday mornings.
When we moved to Salt Lake City in my eighth grade year there was definitely no money for dance. I always felt like a dancer but as I performed in high school assemblies and shows, it was obvious that I lacked training. The girls I danced with had been taking lessons at the University of Utah all their lives. They encouraged me but I felt like a dud in comparison. They all knew the same combinations and put them together with ease. I struggled until I got it.
At one point, I was able to take ballet from a former dancer/teacher from the U of U by the name of Gordon Paxman. He was a wonderful dancer who started dancing in his twenties and became a principal dancer in the forerunner of Ballet West. I was pretty excited. I thought he was awesome. I went to his studio and found myself behind, of course. In my second or third class with him we were doing some combinations across the floor in pairs. He called my partner and me “the gruesome twosome”. That comment destroyed me and I never went back.
When I met David I learned that he was a wonderful ballroom dancer. He went to dances several times a week. He loved it. He patiently taught me to be a worthy partner. I say patiently because I became so nervous about not being able to follow him that I was tense and then couldn’t follow him! It took me a long time to be comfortable and confident. He has always teased that he was a “snappy dresser and a good dancer”. In reality, both are true.

I love that my girls and granddaughters are able to take dance lessons. They have wonderful opportunities and they make the best of them. What a blessing it is. Dance is like the beating of one's heart. It makes you live. All my life I have loved the free expression of dance. Dancing allows ones entire body to be involved in communication. To the viewer it may be beautiful, comical, provoking, entertaining, spiritual, but to the dancer it is complete expression from the whole being. My guess is that other artistic people feel similarly about their art, but my soul loves the dance.

O Canada

For all of you who are wondering...yes, we made it there and back...all 2,250 miles of it. The beauty of Canada is breathtaking. Pictures just don't tell the story. I always thought that the mountains in Utah were big. The Canadian Rocky Mountains make them look like adolescents.

We came to Canada via Glacier National Park in Montana. Waterfalls, rivers and streams were everywhere. This was awesome.
You can see the narrow passages on"Going to the Sun Highway" This Parks vehicle was actually under the rocky ledge as it passed us.

Here we are at Lake Louise in the Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Note the color of the glacier water; a beautiful gray/blue. There are over 1000 glaciers in this park! You can't see the top of this one because of the cloud cover. David and I are seated on the patio of the famous Banff Hotel. The view from here was incredible. The hotel was originally built in the late 1800's by the railroad as a resort for the wealthy. It's still for the wealthy or those who wish to pretend.

Have you heard of the Calgary Stampede? It is a Rodeo to end all rodeos. People come from all over the world to this event. Here is a flavor of the Rodeo.

This is the entrance to the fair grounds. A view of the city of Calgary from the fair grounds. There were street entertainers and marching bands. Our favorite was the One Man Band. See video clip below.

There were all kinds of horses from tiny ones, small as dog, to the big working class horses. The Chuckwagon races were great; men on horses and men driving wagon teams, mud flying everywhere, crowds cheering their favorites. The wagons and the outriders were so exciting as they manuvered around the barrels then off to run the track and home to the finish line. Fun. Fun. Fun. I bet a quarter on the Eckels wagon in honor of Laurel and Bob but I lost. So much for picking winners. Then, ofcourse were the Canadian Mounted Police looking good.
I especially liked the dog on the Budwwiser wagon pulled by the Clydesdales. Just hearing the sound of their hooves was impressive. The little dog had the best ride of the day. The rodeo itself was great with its bull riding, calf roping, bareback riders, barrell racers and all that goes. They call the Calgary Stampede the "Greatest Outdoor Show in the World." It's very entertaining and fun. All in all we had a great trip. I couldn't help but think of the glorious world Heavenly Father created for us as we travelled all those miles. The memories are many. The friends are great. 2250 miles in 8 days on a bike is a pretty good ride!

Don't you think? We're grateful to be safely home. God Bless America.