GHOST TOWNS

While on a road trip to Moab, Utah we decided to check out a ghost town that I had read about. The town of Sego, Utah was founded in 1911. It began as a coal mining operation, but almost as soon as it began the water table dropped and things soon went from bad to worse. By 1947 the town was nearly deserted and the whole town was sold at auction in Moab.
The stone building was the company store. the wooden structure that is about to fall was the boarding house. There are also several other stone buildings scattered about the site that are in various stages of collapse.
To get to Sego you take the Thompson exit that is just east of Crescent junction, on I-70. Sego is about 4 miles North of Thompson. Thompson itself is all but a ghost town. there are still a few people living there but all the business have closed. there is a deserted cafe, hotel, motel and a once used train station which is probably responsible for the town being there in the first place.

GEOCACHING

For any of you that don't know, one of the things we do for fun is to go geocaching. It's a great way to get outside and get a little exercise and fresh air. And our grandchildren love it. Geocaching is an outdoor game that you play with a hand held gps. Other cacher's hide things then put the coordinates on a web site. Then you take the coordinates and go see if you can find where it is hidden.
Sarah was up visiting for the weekend so we decided to do some caching and even hide one of our own. We also placed our first "travel bug". A travel bug is a dog tag type piece that has a tracking number that can also be entered in the web site and then you can track the item as it moves around the country or even the world.
We attached our tag to a little white bear with a "I love Utah" sweater on, we are hoping that he will travel across the country to visit our son David and his wife in Tennessee.
If you want to see where "Utah" has been on his travels you can visit him at geocaching.com. his tracking number is 3BK8N3

IF YOU JUST SMILE!

It should be spring but it is snowing. The economy is in the tanks, the stock market is diving, gas prices rising, and I'm still too fat......etc. etc. etc......SO SMILE ANYWAY!

Zane, Tessa, Aaron, Quinton, Sarah, Maddison, Matthew, Drake

SMILE

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, youll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
Youll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
Thats the time you must keep on trying
Smile, whats the use of crying?
Youll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Charlie Chaplin

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

March 20;
Today is the day I married my sweet heart 39 years ago.
We were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and for all eternity
We have had good times and we have had bad times but we have always stuck it out together, knowing that there is a brighter future that awaits us.

We have 4 wonderful children and 8 of the best grandchildren in the world, and we hope more to come (grandchildren not children).

So happy anniversary Karen, and may we have many more years together as we set in our recliners together and watch the world go by. And everyone but us getting older, Because we are timeless and look just the same as we did 39 years ago.

I love you more than words can say. THANKS.

NO TAKERS

I can't believe no one wants a free dinner!
Karen, try as she did, never got it. Now she is disqualified because she knows where it is.

So, a clue........or 2.
The picture was taken just off I-80 somewhere between the 2 Utah borders
At the base of the sign is a pile of cinder block that was once a gas station, and with the pile of block you will find assorted other garbage like; old mattresses, tree stumps, carpet, etc. because everybody knows "1big pile of garbage is better than 2 little piles".
So for any regular reader of this blog, that is not a total stranger, to identify where this photo was taken, wins dinner at the Rio Grande Cafe of course I get to go with you.
All you have to do is identify the freeway exit where this sign resides.

DIESEL OR NO DIESEL

Does any body else have a case of spring fever. Utah is beautiful after a spring snow storm. It cleans the air and makes everything look fresh and clean. Today was one of those beautiful days. Not much going on at work so I took the afternoon and went to do a little geocaching. Just found one cache, but I can't tell you were it is. You have to guess that one.
So for any regular reader of this blog, that is not a total stranger, to identify where this photo was taken, wins dinner at the Rio Grande Cafe of course I get to go with you. The picture was taken on 3/12/09 and is within a 50 mile radius of Stansbury Park.
This is a test to see if anybody really is reading my blogs, ever!

NO FREE STUFF

Nobody has free stuff anymore. Unless you count toothpicks at restaurants.
I remember going on long road trips as a kid and all the gas stations had "free" maps. They were printed and distributed by the gas companies as a way to get you to patronize their establishments. Some also had "free" popcorn and of course you did not need to get out of the car. there was an attendant to fill your car with gas, wash your windows, check your tires and oil. And all without being asked, it was called "service" which is why gas stations were known for years as service stations.
As a kid I used to walk to the service station that was close to our house and check out all the new maps. I had quite a collection of maps, for places I had never been or would never go. But hey they were free. It is probably guys like me that brought and end to the free maps. I still love maps and love to plan road trips that I might still never take. I love road trips. I even went by auto once from Chicago to Salt Lake City. Not by choice. I was in Chicago on 9/11 and it was the only way we had to get home 23 and 1/2 hours from downtown Chicago to the Salt Lake Airport.

OUR PRIVILEGED PLANET

Last week Karen and I watched a documentary called "The Privileged Planet" I wasn't sure what to expect but it turned out to be very interesting and spiritually moving.
The documentary was put together by a couple of scientists that have examined our planets place in the universe. they embrace the concept of intelligent design and refute the theory of evolution, this intriguing video puts forth the premise that Earth was created not by a series of random events but by a "creative designer" who knew exactly what he was doing. Several proponents of intelligent design, including philosophers and scientists, share their views about this controversial theory and provide evidence that supports their premise.
It is very in depth look at all that had to take place in order for this planet to be habitable by life as we know it. they then point out that the planet is also in the perfect location in the solar system for us to discover and learn of the rest of the universe.
At the close of the video I almost expected one of them to bare testimony of the plan of salvation.

Not only has God provided for us a perfect place to live and be tested, but the perfect place to learn of His wonders. God wants us to understand His works that we can gain a greater testimony of His miracles, and His love for us.

Check out the video, it is available at Netflix.

BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN; FYI

Driving down highway 89 in central Utah, you will pass the Big Rock Candy Mountain. Have you ever wondered what significance if any this place has to the old hobo balled of the same name?

Well the song was first recorded in 1928 by "Haywire Mac", and again in 1949 by Burl Ives, but it has been recorded by many artists throughout the world. It is probably best known today for its use in the soundtrack of the 2000 movie O Brother Where Art Thou? (One of my all time favorite movies).

Shortly after the release of the original recording in 1928, some local residents, as a joke, placed a sign at the base of a cluster of some brightly colored hills a short distance from Marysvale, Utah, naming it "Big Rock Candy Mountain". They also placed a sign next to a nearby stream proclaiming it "lemon Springs" The names stuck and the location is currently home to the Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort.

I remember as a kid stopping here when ever we went to southern Utah. We would by rock candy and there once was a sort of "zoo" there with foxes, coyotes and rattlesnakes.

LEHI'S DREAM OF THE TREE OF LIFE

The youth of church have been challenged by the general Young Men and Young Women's presidents to read the Book of Mormon at least 5 minutes a day.

As a bishopric we have challenged the youth of our ward, along with their leaders, to read 6 and 1/2 minutes a day. Our goal is to read a total of 1,000 hours by the end of the year.

Accepting this challenge I have been trying to read the Book of Mormon each day.

Sunday night while doing my reading I happened to be reading Lehi's dream for perhaps the 99th time in my life. There was one passage that made a very strong impression on me as I read the story of the dream it was I Nephi 8:28

"And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed,

because of those that were scoffing at them;

and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost".

My heart bleeds for those who have tasted the fruit and then because of the influences of the world or peer pressure or the scoffing, become ashamed of the things they know to be true and fall away.

It is not enough to just taste of the fruit and then go about our lives. We have to hold tight to the rod. We have to continue to feast upon the word of God, every day for the rest of our lives.

I pray everyday for my family and for my ward members, that we might all remain strong, endure to the end and do all that we can do to build our testimonies and those of our families.

Today Karen and I took the day of and toured the new Draper temple. what a beautiful edifice that has been built and will soon be dedicated to the Lord. The new temple is filled with gorgeous art work and murals. beautiful furnishings and stain glass windows. Nothing is to good for the Lord's house.