To Kill a Mocking Bird

At least once a year we try to make it to Cedar City to the Shakespearean Festival.  We usually see one of Shakespeare plays.  This year we did not.  We saw To Kill a Mocking Bird in the indoor theater.  I think every high school or middle school student is required to read the book . When I was a kid I really did not like to read...I don't know why because if I could, I would curl up with a good book and read the day away.  From the very first line in the book and the play "When he was nearly thirteen my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow." Harper Lee hooks the reader and play goer on this deceptively simple story of a southern family caught up in a cataclysmic moral crisis and keeps you hanging on until the very last word.  Lee's style of making a grown up Scout (Jean Louise Finch) a tomboy of her day and, the story teller.  (The women who played Jean Louise in the play did a fantastic job.) This story took me back to my day growing up as Jem, Scout and Dill, a playmate as they venture around their little town in Maycomb. In the first chapter Scout describes the town of Maycomb as a tired slow moving town. "There was no hurry to get anywhere and nowhere to go beyond the boundaries of the small county."  Scout says, "Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer's day.  Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning.  Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting of sweat and sweet talcum.  People moved slower then, a day was twenty four hours long but seemed longer. There was no hurry because there was no where to go, nothing  to buy, and no money to buy it with."  The character of Scout is so real you feel it is someone you knew in first or second grade or maybe you  yourself.  Jem, her brother is four years her senior and is a great big brother and you share in their wonder adventures.  They live with their father Atticus, and house keeper Calpurnia.  I saw my father in Atticus. Atticus is a loving but not doting father who seems embody the greatest of virtues. He is tolerant, patient, kind, and understanding.  He is a lawyer and a tower of integrity.  It was a hard time in Maycomb, a time of the depression. It was hard for everyone but especially hard for the poor white and all the blacks. The town was deeply segregated, and a white women Mayella Ewell falsely accuses a black man Tom Robinson of rape. In the eyes of most of the towns people Tom is tried, convicted and awaiting execution. Judge Taylor doesn't feel the same way and appoints Atticus to defend Tom.  Atticus knows better then anyone else how his decision will affect...his children, but he explains to Scout who wonders how Atticus can be right if everyone else thinks he's wrong, if he didn't take the case he could never hold his head up in front of his children again.  Atticus knows he's fighting a losing battle, but deep inside himself he believes he may lose a battle but win a bigger war. The kids have an obsession with a strange neighbor who never to their knowledge leaves the house except at night when their sleeping, and that is Authur Radley affectionately know as Boo.  In the play the young women who plays Mayella plays the part so very well that at the end of the play when all the characters come out to take their final curtain call, you hardly recognize her because her appearance is totally changed!   The play will be there until the end of October so if you get the chance I highly recommend it.  The acting was superb!!!  Or maybe I've wet your appetite to find the book and read it "again" as I did when we returned home. We are going back in October to see Les Miserables.  I'm so excited.  Les took me to the Capital Theater years ago to see it and I loved it.  The music is so beautiful.  We love the area around Cedar City, Zions, and Bryce.  This year we went to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes and the area around there.  It was great.

We stopped on our way at the Thunder bird Cafe.  As you can see from the pictures it's a unique place. There's the Highlander right in front.

Such a beautiful area.  We really enjoyed ourselves there.  Then we were off to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State park.

This was a beautiful area and we really enjoyed ourselves just driving around and taking pictures.  Can't wait to go back in October!

Virginia in the Summer Time

On June the 9th Jaron turned 8 years old. We had been lucky enough to make it to the Bryn and Isaac's baptisms so we couldn't let Jaron down.  On July 14th we flew out to Regan National once again.  The kids thought they were going to be in Kansas but you know how the government is!!!  It was a little scary this time because we arrived right at peak rush hour, Les and I knew what were getting into as far as the freeways.  Thank goodness once again for our trustee GPS system!!!  The kids kept calling us to find out where we were and if we were stuck in traffic. 

Jer and Bec always think of neat and different things for us to do when we come to visit.  I think the main reason for that is that Les and I provide such comic relief for them so they think, "okay what can we think of next to have them do???  Last time it was the Segways where me and my Segway did a pole dance (your might recall from my blog about that visit). This time it was Kayaking on the Potomac River.  We went to Jack's Boat House.  A really unique little place right in the heart of Washington D.C.  The kids treated us to this little excursion.  Jeramy and Rebecca went in separate Kayaks because they heard that it was easier to maneuver then being in the same one.  But did they bother to tell us that, NO!   Although Les said he didn't think I had the strength to paddle one by myself.  Little did he know, since we have been working out for the last few months I can handle myself pretty darn good:-)  Anyway we got our life jackets, and our Kayaks and after a shot demonstration we were off.  But do you think Les and I could synchronize our strokes...you guest it, nada.  We kept going out away from the group.  They have guides all around you to make sure you don't go off on your own and Les and I kept heading out towards the guides, or...we would run into the other people in our group.

I'm sure the others were saying, "watch out for that senior citizen couple they don't know what in the heck their doing."

  

All and all when it was all said and done we got a little or a lot wet from the water running down our paddles and into the boat so when I got out I looked like I had peed my pants. But it was a lot of fun.  Thanks Jer and Bec and you can thank us for all the laughter we provided the two of you.

As you can see from the pictures above Jaron was pretty excite to be baptised and he looked pretty dang sharp in his new suit.  We had told Jeramy not to ask either of us to give a talk because we had so much going on before the baptism but Brynlee called and said, "Nana what is Papa going to talk on for Jaron's baptism?"  I said he's not giving a talk.  She said, "yes he is. Jaron called and asked him to."  I said, "Les did Jaron ask you to speak at his baptism?"  He said, "No."  The next thing we know Jaron is calling and asking Papa to speak on baptism, so Brynlee spoke on the Holy Ghost and did a very good job I might add.  Last time Papa spoke at Isaac's baptism he almost put the little kids to sleep because he gave a talk as if he were speaking in Sacrament meeting.  I found him a talk geared to Jaron' age group and it went much better this time:-)  We thought we only had one more baptism to travel for and that would be for Hayden's and that won't be for two more years, but I got an email from Rebecca last week saying the doctor told them they would have to change their email address around February 22nd from Cookfamily6.  At first I didn't even get it Rebecca had to tell me to go back and read it again.  THEIR EXPECTING!!!  It's funny, or not, how the Lord just seems to be able to sneak one more in on you if your not prepared.  I know it will be a great blessing for them after Rebecca gets over her morning sickness.  The kids have been partying ever since they found out.  Hayden said, "Yah!!! Now I'll have someone to boss around."  Everyone but Hayden wants a sister.  Nana and Papa are really excite.  We thought we would only be having great grand babies from now on.  Jeramy and Rebecca are great parents and I'm sure that's why they Lord is sending them another one of his little ones to raise. "And they shall rise up and call thy name blessed."  As you get older you realise that your children are really the only things that matter in this life.  And if you can give them a good start centered in our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ you are a success.

We caught a few of the sights around D.C. we had missed on our last visit.  The last time we were there we did not see the Martin Luther King Memoria or the FDR Memorial.  These were taken at night so they aren't the best but you get the drift.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of a world with equality for all. Today, his dream lives on at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC. Now open to the public, the newest memorial on the National Mall is the first to honor a non-president and the first to honor a man of color.  Wouldn't he be surprised today with President Obama!  The centerpiece of the memorial is a 30-foot statue of Dr. King. His likeness is carved into the Stone of Hope, which emerges powerfully from two large boulders. The two boulders, which started as one, represent the Mountain of Despair. The boulders are split in half to give way to the Stone of Hope, which appears to have been thrust forward toward the horizon in a great monolithic struggle.  All around the mountain of hope are the stirring worlds of Dr. King.  It is incredible.

 In 1997 the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial was added, it tells a story of the president and the country in a chronologial order,  Since Roosevelt was elected to four terms of office his monument has been created as if in four rooms representing his "12" years as president.  He brought the United States through the Great Depression and World War ll while paralyzed from the waist down affer suffering a bout of polio.  It stands as a reminder of some of American's toughest times.  What an admirable man he is.  I wish I could have taken more pictures.  What a great heritage America has!!! 

Above are a few pictures from our visit to Old Fredricksburg.  It's like stepping back in time.  It was a lot of fun and as you can see it was another fun trip.  You gotta hate those good-byes:-( Not.

Can't believe It's been 8 months since I've blogged!!!

I was just thinking, when was the last time I blogged?  I know people aren't blogging like they use to my Virginia kids being one of them.  I know that life gets hectic and busy but this is a form of writing your history. Others can read whats happening in your life or things you think are important and it may just touches others lives or makes them think about their own life and the similarities.  I am sitting here at the computer today preparing my lesson for this sunday and it really made me think about writing my history.  I know my mother has been working on her history for quite a few years now and I really admire her for that.  My lesson is on Personal Records.

President Kimbal gave this advise about keeping our journal and records..."I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations.  Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us and as our posterity read of our life's experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us.  And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted."

President Eyring also gave this advice in 2007 conference talk “Oh Remember, Oh Remember”

When our children were very small, I started to write down a few things about what happened every day. I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened.

The years have gone by. My boys are grown men. And now and then one of them will surprise me by saying, “Dad, I was reading in my copy of the journal about when …” and then he will tell me about how reading of what happened long ago helped him notice something God had done in his day.

My point is to urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. You remember that song we sometimes sing: “Count your many blessings; name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. You might ponder and pray did God send a message just for me? Did I see his hand in my life?

I am going to try to recommit even if no one else reads what I blog it is a record. I hope I stirred a little guilt in others that may make them decided to do a little blogging or at least start on their history or a daily journal.  Happy writing:-)

Off to Virginia and Washington DC!

I know this post is along time coming but at least it's here...which is more then I can say for my son and daughter in law who haven't blogged anything for months hint, hint...On the 18th of October we boarded a plan in Salt Lake and flew to Regan National Air Port in Washington DC to visit Jeramy, Rebecca and the kids. The kids were so excited they called us weeks in advance to see if we were packed and ready to make the trip. That helped to make us even more excited! I never look forward to the ritual we have to go through at the air port. Les and I have to take our heart burn meds before we go because a case of anxiety always set in before we get settled in the plane and take off. Then it starts up again when we arrive, pick up the car and start out in traffic trying to navigate our way in a strange place. Thank goodness for GPS systems. What a relief to hear..."Arriving at destination," and realize that we've made it in one piece and we didn't get lost. (unlike other trips pre GPS systems). I was a little disappointed that this trip wasn't in the spring and at Cherry Blossom time but Autumn time with the beautiful colored leafs is second best!!! We arrived on Saturday, what a beautiful home Jeramy and Rebecca have. And they definitely rolled out the red carpet for us it was like staying in a five star hotel. We had a beautiful room downstairs and had our own bathroom. On Sunday morning we woke up and got ready for church. It was the kids Primary program. We had been to Keagan, Jake and Lily's for years so it was neat to be able to see Isaac, Jaron, and Hayden say their parts and sing their little hearts out. Brynlee just graduated into Young Women's the month before. That evening we drove into Washington DC to go to the DC Temple and got a little taste of the DC traffic. You see your life flash before you eyes literally every time you enter the freeways there. Bec and I were following Les and Jermay and the little boys in our rental car, Rebecca told me my son is a terrible driver and just as she is telling me this we see Jeramy swerve off the side of the road and a car almost hit them and swerve back on again. He called and said, "did you just see that?" Rebecca said, "Yes you almost hitting that car?" He said, "no that car came over three lanes and just about hit us, I had to swerve off the road to avoid getting hit." Les said he was so afraid Jeramy was going to roll the van and the little boys in the back would be hurt. So glad we don't live there!!! It's so amazing, your driving down the crazy freeway and come around a bend and staring you right in the face is the Washington DC temple. I can't take credit for this picture a lady at the visitors center gave us one. It was taken by a visitor with his Cel phone, CEL PHONE! can you believe it. It's better then a lot of pic's I've taken with my camera. He saw it and had to stop and find out what this beautiful building was. Pretty amazing sight isn't it!

Here is the family in front of the Temple. Papa and Hayden went cas for comfort:-) Sorry this picture isn't the best but it was at night. The next day it was off to Mount Vernon to visit the home of our 1st President George Washington.

Here is Brynlee with the sculpture of George, Martha and their two grand children. What a great man Washington was. And when you hear about his life, you know that the Lord preserved him and sent him to earth at that time to lead and guide our country to freedom. He never had any children of his own. He meet Martha who was a widow with two children and became enamored with her from the 1st time they meet. This is the view from the front of the home. It is sets on a large amount of acreage as most of the homes in the South were, it would have been a beautiful home in it's day as it is still is at this time.
This would have been the view of Washington and his guests as they sat on the porch in the rear of the home and discussed politics and the events of the day as they gazed out at the Potomac. The covered walk ways are attached to the house provided shade as the guest would walk about the grounds much like an Arbor or Pergola and get a load of those beautiful Autumn leafs peaking through!!! This is a another view from the rear of the house so you can see where the guests would sit on the porch after a hearty meal. In George Washington's day when ever anyone traveled because there were no hotels and homes were few and far between the Washington's had house guests on a daily basis who would stop to spend the night and for a meal as well. I don't think President and Mrs Bush or the Obama's would appreciate us just dropping by and asking for a place to stay and a meal do you?!?;-)
This is one of the wax figures of Washington at Valley Forge in the museum.

Washington being sworn in as the first President of the United States. The next day we were up bright and early and off to the White House. You are not allowed to take a camera in the White House, no pictures are allowed. All along the walls as you first walk in are photos of the late Presidents and current President and their families which was very interesting to see, also dignitaries who visited them in the White House. Each of the more recent 1st ladies had rooms and large portrait of them hanging on the walls. There were fresh flowers, beautiful bouquet's through out the White House, one of the guards told us that there is a florist in the white house that provide fresh flowers daily. In the large dining area Les asked if the President actually dined in this room. The guard told us yes, they dine there when there are dignitaries all the time in fact the night before they had a large group of people there. We were told that Jackie Kennedy had change the decor in this room, originally the walls were covered with beautiful wood. Jackie had the wood painted white and all the light fixtures and trim gold leafed. We toured the main floor, the President and his family live on the second floor. After we toured the white house we went to the State Capital. You go through security to enter all these buildings. The capital is another very impressive building. Jeramy, Rebecca and Les in front of the Nations Capital. The ceiling in the Capital building. There is so much to take in at the capital, sculptors, paintings, it's such a beautiful place. Each state has sculptures they have donated to the capital. One of Utah's statue is of Brigham Young. Our guide told us that the President Obama can not enter the state capital unless he is invited by congress. That was something I did not know.

Washington is such a fascinating place you could spend week even months there before you could see everything there is to see. One of the highlights of our trip (and I had to be coaxed into doing it) was taking a segway tour of the Washington Mall. When I first got on the segway I was white knuckling it and I didn't feel very secure. Les on the other hand jump on his and took off like a kid on a new bike. He was wild and free on that thing! I wish I would have taken a video of him he was hilarious and he had so much fun. I was expecting Jeramy to be the wild and crazy one:)
Here we are in front of the White House, don't we look fashionable in our helmets!
Les and I with the Washington Monument in the back ground.

The Vietnam Monument. This was very sobering because I had a neighbor and good friend Frank Nelson who was killed during the Vietnam War. We were able to find Franks name on the wall.


Here's having a bad hair day after removing the lovely helmet. Les and I in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I had wanted to see this beautiful monument as long as I can remember. This is also where Martin Luther King stood and gave his "I have a dream" speech. There is so much history here. You can feel the spirit of our founding fathers and other great men and leaders all around you if you have the time to just stop and contemplate. I'm so glad were were with Jer and Bec because Les and I would have been up a creek if we would have come here on our own. It was great having our own personal tour guides! After the tour on our way back to the segway rental I gave Jeramy and Rebecca a laugh!!! I was riding behind Les with about 4 other people. We came to a cross walk and the light was red so we could go Jer, Bec, the tour guide and half of the group went across the street but Les decided he would be a nice guy and stop and let a car who wanted to turn right go ahead of the rest of us. He stopped and I came to an abrupt stop behind him a long with the rest of the group. For some reason I just started to get off my segway which is a no no. I took one foot off but the segway thought I wanted to keep going because my other foot was still on...within seconds I could see my life flash before my eyes seeing me and my segway out in the middle of the road with all the traffic. Thank goodness there was a pool in front of me so...me and my segway did a little pole dance while the terrified tour guide shouted,"I'm coming!!!! As my segway and I did the pole dance Les was oblivious to what had happened and happily sailed across the street asking,"where's Judy?" Isn't that just like a man! The next day it was off to Arlington Cemetery to the grave of the unknown soldier.

It was raining the day we went to Arlington which added to the somber mood you felt upon entering the cemetery and seeing the rows upon rows of head stones of the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. We arrived just in time for the changing of the guards which was so amazing to watch. These young man take this job very seriously, from their impeccable uniforms to their stoic attitude you can tell they deem it an honor to watch over the grave of their unknown comrade. It was a very patriotic experience. Upon the tomb of the unknown soldier it reads " Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God." It's a very sobering sight!The photo above the soldiers is of the view of Washington from Arlington. We also saw the graves of the Kennedy's there. There are so many other places we saw like the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian Museum, the Aircraft Museum and there were so many more pictures we took and things we did that I can't put them all in this blog but we really did enjoy ourselves and recommend the trip to all of you. Thanks Jeramy, Rebecca, Brynlee, Isaac, Jaron, and Hayden for being our tour guides and making our stay at your home so wonderful. Isaac was a little tease and put faux spiders in the bathroom to scare Nana. We love you guys and wish we didn't live so far away.