Travels Abroad July 19 - July 30, 2012

Luke and I had the great opportunity to travel to the Middle East in July of this year. We joined about 40 others and traveled to Israel and Egypt. I didn't know hardly anyone before we left, but by the end I felt like I had 40 new friends.

Our journey started in Jaffa and continued north to Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. Traveling in July meant hot temperatures, but very few people around. The tourists weren't there, the Jews were on vacation, and the Arabs were observing Ramadan. Some times the heat was over 115 degrees, but I would still take that over the hoards of people that are usually milling around the same places we visited.

The Sea of Galilee was very beautiful. We took a boat ride in a boat that supposedly is a replica of the type of boat Jesus would have ridden.

We went up on the Mount of Beatitudes. Israel is really quite hilly. It is also very brown in the summer. We often wandered what all the fuss was over this hot, desolate land.

We had a tour guide every step of the way. He taught us a lot about the country, its peoples and its history. I didn't realize that the Jews and the Arabs all live together. Just because the UN decided to create an Israeli state did not mean that the Arabs who were living there all got up and left. And for the most part the Jews and the Arabs that live in Israel get along fine. It was interesting to learn about the wars, the boundary line shifts, and the existence of Arab towns within the nation of Israel, where Jews are not allowed to enter (like Bethlehem and Jericho).

Another observation is that the country has been occupied and destroyed many times. There aren't too many original sites. Every place we went was a ruin or had had several buildings built of top of the original. And most every place we went, we were told, "this is the traditional site of .....".

We were able to go the the northern end of the country where we could see both Syria and Lebanon.

The area along the Dead Sea was also very nice. It is the only part of the country that is green during the middle of the summer.)(actually anything that was next to water, ie. the Mediterranean or the Sea of Galilee). We went to two different sites that claim to be where Jesus was baptized.

Jerusalem was a highlight. We visited all the major sites. It was amazing to know that we were walking literally where Jesus had walked.

We finished our trip to Israel by heading south, with stops at the Dead Sea and Masada. I can not tell you how hot the Dead Sea was. Hotter than any hot tub. We did get in and floated, but could last only about 5 minutes.

Going from Israel to Egypt was quite the experience. Our bus parked on the Israeli side. We walked through the check gate and customs and then got on a new bus on the Egyptian side.

Our trip through the Sinai included an armed security man on our bus at all times as well as two jeeps with armed guards escorting our bus. But honestly, I never felt unsafe. I think it is just a precaution the tour companies take in Egypt for their clients. Sinai was very large, very barren, very mountainous.

We spent two days in Egypt. One day was in Luxor, the other day in Cairo. What I really liked about Egypt is that the places we went were the originals. They had not been destroyed and built over. The Pyramids are the real thing. The Karnak Temple is the original.

Our trip ended with a long flight back to the USA. It felt good to land on US soil after being gone. Luke was a great traveling companion. Sorry that we probably won't have the chance to travel like that again, but it was great!

It's a Wonderful Life

This blog is probably for me more than anyone else. But for those who knew Dirk, particularly his children, this blog is for you too.

This Christmas I decided to watch It's A Wonderful Life. This was Dirk's favorite movie and he watched it every, single Christmas. In fact he had most all of it memorized. So, this year I decided to watch it and see what it was about this movie that meant so much to him. It really wasn't hard to do. Everything in it reminds me of Him.

First, this is a love story. Dirk is Jimmy Stewart. I guess that makes me Donna Reed. I think in any story, you place yourself in it. There is much about George Bailey that parallels Dirk.

Dirk prided himself on his humor. He really thought of himself as a funny guy as does George Bailey. Dirk loved to laugh at all the corny humor in the movie, including this scene, where Mary is hiding in the bushes and loses her robe. He also called Mary "brainless" when she was a child.

Dirk loved George Bailey, his faults and his strengths. George was very passionate about life. He, so much wanted to leave his hometown to see the world, but his sense of duty and loyalty to his family kept him there running the family business. You always felt so bad for George, when it looked like he was just about ready to leave town, and then some crisis would cause him to remain home. He was always quick to give the shirt off his back to one in need, but sometimes a little frustrated about how the person had gotten themselves in the mess in the first place. This makes me think of one of Dirk's favorite sayings, "No good deed goes unpunished". George was often quick to lose his temper or patience. But he always felt bad afterwards. He was tempted by the power and wealth that Potter offered him, but in the end George saw through it and chose the higher road.

The real point of this movie is the value of relationships. George Bailey, thought the world would have been better had he not been born. But through his experiences with Clarence, the angel, he comes to see all the good he had done in his life. It was all the little things that really did matter. George had lived a good life and been very influential in the lives of many others.

I think the most moving scene in the movie is near the end. George is probably going to jail for Uncle Billy's misdeed. Through the efforts of his wife and friends, money is collected to cover the debt. I have to admit that I sometimes get teary-eyed (Dirk, always got teary-eyed!) during this scene as many, many people come to donate their money. They all loved George and wanted to help him out.

This last scene makes me think of Dirk. Family meant everything to him. And he always had an eye heaven-ward.

Towards the end of his mortal life, I cannot tell you how many phone calls and letters came to Dirk with expressions of love and support. What a blessing that he was able to enjoy this display of friendship from so many. He heard from childhood friends, mission companions, law school classmates, work colleagues, church friends from all over and of course his own family.

He died knowing that he had loved so many, and that he was loved back. We all miss him! He indeed was the "richest man in town"!

Autumn in Utah

This has been a great fall season. Utah had the most wonderful weather all the way up until like this weekend. There is more color than I would have thought, so that has been nice. Being autumn, the two things I think of first are General Conference and BYU football.


We missionaries received one ticket to conference. I attended the Sunday morning session. I sat about 10 rows from the bottom, but on the far left. It is crazy around here during any type of large event at the Conference Center. The traffic is crazy, the parking is worse. Thank goodness, I can just walk across the street, and I am there.

I bought season tickets to BYU football. I usually drive down early and hang out with Luke and/or Anna. I have had a blast.

Somewhere in this picture (in a white t-shirt) is Jimmer Fredette. He is quite the celebrity around here.

I sit in the student section. It rotates every game so you never know where you'll sit until just before game day. Also, the students don't sit. They stand the whole game (except for short breaks during time-outs and half-time.)

And lest I forget that I am in Utah, I woke to the following yesterday morning. They say this is just the beginning. Remember it is only Autumn. But something about the dry air, makes the cold not so bad, (So far).

I drove down to Provo and Provo had received no snow. How wierd!

Also yesterday I took the kids out to Tucano's Brazilian Grill to celebrate Luke and Cameron's birthdays. I had never been there before. It was alot of fun. Kind of a toss-up as to who ate the most, either Cam or Luke.

And this is a picture of the "famous drink". Some man, according to our server, bought me a drink and had it sent to our table. I'm a little skeptical, but alas, the drink was very good. And when I suggested Cameron use a different straw as I passed the drink around, he said, "Why? We're all family". Hopefully he's not bringing any strange germs into the family.

Summer in SLC

Well, I survived a summer without central a/c. Thank goodness fall is coming!

To update my visitors, I have seen: Diane Horsley (without Doug), Beverly Olson (& family), Becky Douglas and her missionary daughter (serving at Temple Square), Joye Woodruff, Hope Lane, Robin & Kara Seabrook, Laura & Stevie Kaiser, and Bob & Ruth Morton. It is always great to see old friends.

Living in downtown has been a real change from the Grayson suburbs - alot of things going on, and just walking to everything.

I've seen the Tabernacle Choir on several occasions, attended concerts at the Assembly Building, visited the Children's Museum (with Nic & girls), watched the Pioneer Day Parade, went up to Cache Valley and saw the Martin Harris Pageant, and spent alot of time with the Woods when they came to the states and stayed up in Farmington with Jon's parents.



Pictures from the July 24th Pioneer Day Parade. President Monson is riding in the car, couldn't really see him, though.

We celebrated Maggie's 3rd birthday on August 7 at the home of Jon's sister. It was a Princess Party in case you can't tell. Maggie did really well, no melt downs.

Notice two different cakes... AJ is getting really cute and turning into a "Big Girl".

And then the "big announcement"....................It's a Boy!!!


This is the little tour bus that goes over to the Humanitarian Center and Welfare Square. I took the tour over and saw Welfare Square. The grainery in the picture holds like 16 million pounds of wheat.

This is the main place I like to go for walking. It is Liberty Park. In 1860 Brigham Young purchased the land and planted all the trees.

In August I went up to Cache Valley. This is a picture of the newly constructed Brigham City Temple.

This is Jon & Pam Cook and Linda Stewart in front of the Martin Harris gravestone.

Every other year the people up here put on an outdoor musical about Martin Harris. He was one of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon. He moved here in his later years and died here.

The biggest event of the summer was the engagement of Anna and Cameron. Cameron had me get them up to Temple Square. He also had a photographer (as seen in picture) on hand. I was strategically hiding to witness the event. This is right in front of the Reflecting Pool on the east side of the Temple. Anna knew the proposal was coming, but she thought it was going to be late September. She was totally surprised!

And finally a thought I heard while attending Music & the Spoken Work on August 21, 2011.

"Life, in this world, can be hard on anyone. We hear and see things that are discouraging, even disheartening, and at times we may feel dismayed about the state of the world and the condition of our own lives. Yes, life can be hard.

"But within us, deep down in our heart of hearts, resides a sense of robust hope and sweet expectation that can lift us out of life's fog to see clearly who we are and our capacities. We lift the fog every time we count our blessings, every time we are kind toward others, every time we seriously ponder life's purposes. We lift life's fog as we pause to listen to our heart..."

Until next time........