Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Haircuts on Christmas Eve

Sarah's and Alyssa's Haircuts
2007

Sarah and Alyssa decided to cut enough hair to donate to Locks of Love. So each had at least 10 inches cut off of there hair.

Trip to Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Christmas Lights

Inside Conference Center
Choir and Orchestra

Salt Lake City Temple

Salt Lake City Temple

Quote -- Will Rogers

We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can.
Will Rogers

Sarah and Friends CAROLING

Sarah organized some friends and went caroling tonight. It was snowing and they had a blast going to many of the homes in our neighborhood.

Janine, Amy, Ressa and Sarah

Sarah and Ressa

Ressa and Sarah in the Snow

Ressa, Sarah and Amy

Sarah Choir Concert

Sarah comes down to the stage. . . .

Dad and Sarah
after the concert

Dad Birthday Party Video

This is a video from a Sunday celebration of Dads 83rd birthday.

My Sterling Scholar in MATHMATICS at Bingham High School 2007-2008

Okay sorry to share my bragging here. I am so proud of my Alyssa. Today I attended an assembly at Bingham High School. Its purpose was to announce the Bingham's representatives to the state Stirling Scholar competition. Imagine my surprise as my very own daughter was selected from all the other finalists. It is not like she did not deserve it. She is so dedicated and organized in her life. What a wonderful accomplishment. . . . .

Congratulations ALYSSA

Alyssa as they talk about the things she has accomplished

Alyssa picks up her finalist certificate

Alyssa waiting for the other winners to be announced

Dad and Alyssa

Setting for picture the school will display

Congratulations ALYSSA

You will have to ask Alyssa sometime what this is all about. . . . Needless to say I am very proud of my daughter. She worked, studied and prayed hard and she was rewarded. She is such an example to all of us of what applying yourself with all your heart, mind and strength can do.

A few Kaylee pictures

Kaylee and Mom

Just Kaylee
but she is a smilin'

C.S. Lewis -- Two kinds of People

There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'

C. S. Lewis

The Atonement Gives Us the Strength to Endure -- Dallin H. Oakes

The Atonement Gives Us the Strength to Endure

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ and the healing it offers do much more than provide the opportunity for repentance from sins. The Atonement also gives us the strength to endure 'pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind,' because our Savior also took upon Him 'the pains and the sicknesses of his people' (Alma 7:11). Brothers and sisters, if your faith and prayers and the power of the priesthood do not heal you from an affliction, the power of the Atonement will surely give you the strength to bear the burden."

Topics: Atonement, endurance, healing, repentance

(Dallin H. Oaks, "He Heals the Heavy Laden," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 9)

Father and sons

This is a picture of me and my brother with our father after a BYU football game early in November. Our dad will be 83 the first week in December and is a survivor of leukemia for the past 14 months. We are so happy to still have him with us. He has been a light and a strength to our families.

Me, Dad, Mark

Novemeber 1st, 2007

And another year comes and goes. Today is the fifth anniversary of Sally's accident. On the preceding anniversaries I have done so many things. Today was a little more relaxed. One thing that has been constant is at least one trip to the temple. That occurred today too but only as a part of my regular work assignment in the temple. I took the day off from work and had planned to go to the Salt Lake Temple. As I was getting the kids to school there was a report on the radio of a pretty serious accident on north I15 and I decided to just stay home and work on some family projects. This morning just happened to be something for my dad. Did that until about 10:00

Decided to drive to Provo to go to the cemetery. Threw the flower boxes in the back of the car and headed out. While there cleaned off the headstone and also the headstone of my aunt and uncle that is really close. Found some flowers that had some fall colors. Then took some time to reflect on life but not too long.




Next found myself heading up to my folks. All their cars were there but they were gone. (Later discovered they had walked to a luncheon)

Came back and fulfilled my temple assignment. We learned at the last minute that we were supposed to have the lesson today for preparation meeting. I offered to share my testimony as I figured my heart would help out a little with the things to say and my assignment is the shift instructor. . . .


After my temple time I finished up the day going to a wedding reception for one of my son's good friends and then to a movie "Dan in Real Life" A movie about a widowed man raising 3 daughters . . . How close is that to reality? Anyway an okay day in review. . . Life does continue to roll on. So glad for all the wonderful people in my life.

Pumpkin Carving 2007 FHE (One of the best pictures of the night!!!)

Grandpa and Kaylee

Pumpkin Carving 2007 FHE -- Thank you RAY's

Bond -- Vivaldi with pictures of ISRAEL

Las Vegas Weekend

Dallin, Tyler and I headed out Friday after work. Goal was to make to St. George before it was too late. Traffic was heavier than expected. Trip was great and we arrived at the Ropers safely. Then after visiting briefly we went into St George for my required but missed the last couple of times trip to Nielsons Custard Shop. Love that custard and for some reason it does not bother me like ice cream.

Saturday morning it was off early to go to Vegas. Boys wanted to get there early so we could do some things before the game. We tried to find the Vegas version of the sky coaster at Lagoon only to learn that the MGM Grand had taken out it's team park about 3 years ago. I then made the boys follow me to my favorite electronics store. (Frye's) I did find some good stuff.

Next we searched for a buffet that had all you can eat crab legs. At Dallins request. We found one but if just happened to be at the Wynn. This just happened to make it very pricey. There was some good stuff but not enough to make it worth the cost. What ever happened to the days of the cheap but good buffets in Las Vegas.

Football game was good as BYU won. Since my camera was still with Alyssa only one picture of note. The following is Dallin and Tyler in the Bellagio flower exhibit.



After the game we played and caught the water shows at the Bellagio and then drove back to St George. Arrived at 3:50am. It was a very fun day as we had great company for all activities.

Sunday we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa (which seemed to come way to early as they had 9:00 meeting) then Tyler and I came back to catch a nap before dinner. Slept longer than planned -- can you imagine that. Ate dinner and then went to visit Geri's Uncle Leonard. We then went to visit the Guard's and Aunt Sharon. All of our visiting caused us to leave late . . . around 8:00pm. Had an uneventful trip home and arrived at 11:30. All in all a wonderful weekend trip with my son's in tow. Hope they know that I love them . . . . .

The Snake River -- Big Kahuna in October

Made a trip to Idaho this past week to visit my Uncle Bill. My aunt Karma passed away sunday October 7. We had a great visit and then on the way home took the scenic route over to the snake river. . . . The following picture is of the Big Kahuna rapid. There is a big rock at the end of the hole we usually take the boats thru. Sorry about the picture quality. I let Alyssa use my camera while she was in Washington DC and so had to use my cell phone camera. I have never seen the river this low or the lake behind the palisades dam so low for that matter. The lake looked like an extension of the river. It will be miracle if there is enough water to sufficiently rebuild the lake.

This was still a beautiful trip. After the snake river came back through Logan so I could see Brighton. It was a great trip from several points of view. Visits and company was the best.

Conference at the CABIN