Rainbow Bridge at Lake Powell

100th Anniversary 2010

In order to get there we took the boat at least over 45 miles. It was amazing! Then you dock and hike to the actual bridge.

Native Americans living in the region have long held the bridge sacred. Since the bridge became widely known in the early 1900's, thousands of people from around the world have visited each year.

The World's Largest Natural Bridge. It is 290 feet from its base to the top of its arch -

nearly as tall as the Statue of Liberty and spans 275 feet across the river. The top of the arch measures 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide.........

Amazing I say..................It was just amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty cool reflection photo................ Making Memories!

Amazing Lake Powell at Sunset!

Come Unto Christ

The words “Come unto Christ” are an invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept.

With him there is Safety......with him there is Peace.

Share this gift with someone today! You may never know what your kindness might do for others.

Give someone a hug, a wave or a smile today and be an example of Christ.

Learn about our Savior Jesus Christ here: http://JesusChrist.lds.org

Dear Nana.......I'm Going to be in the Nutcracker!

Well It is Official! Layni got the call! I am so excited for her!

Our Little Diva will be appearing in a cute version of the Nutcracker.

She said Nana.........I will have three parts, I will be a snowflake, a rose bud and a party girl.

Then she said.........Nana, I really wanted to be Clara! It is every little girls dream to play the part of Clara.

I just gave her words of encouragement and told that if she works really hard this year then maybe next year she will get the very special part of Clara.

Attending the Nutcracker in Salt Lake at the Capitol Theatre is a tradition for us! I already have the date circled on my calendar when the tickets go on sale in October.

Two years ago we took the American Girl Doll along with us and she was dressed in her finest festive Christmas outfit. We had lunch prior to the ballet at Olive Garden across the street and everyone commented on how cute "Kit" looked. It was an amazing day!

Oh my dear sweet little cherub child........You will always be your Nana's most favorite ballerina in the whole wide world. ♥♥♥♥

I cannot wait to be there for this wonderful special performance.!

I love you Layni Brooke and I am waaaaaaay excited for you! I know you will do your very best!

La Luna

It's Big....It's Bright....It's Full

What is it?

It's the full moon for the month of August.

This full moon is actually the smallest full moon for the 2010 year. Even as a small child I was simply mesmerized by full moons. The first thing I do when I get the calendar is circle all the full moons for the coming year. Then I wait patiently like a little child would wait for Christmas morning. Whenever I am with the grandchildren and there is a full moon we are so excited to see "La Luna". I remember Layni being about three and I had started to get her to point and say "La Luna".......the full moon.

I waited for this beautiful moon to come up over the mountains last night and then set my alarm yesterday morning and then this morning for 5AM to get up and watch it move to the southwest until it disappeared beyond the West Rim mountain. I hope you didn't miss this showing and I would like to think that wishing on a full moon brings wonderful blessings.

So.........as we enjoy a bit of Autumn air making it's way down the base of the Rockies and spilling into Texas you might take a moment to get up early and witness this event.

This August full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon or the Green Corn Moon. I think I remember Pocahontas singing about the Green Corn Moon in the Disney Animated film.

Just Do It

It's that time!

I can no longer ignore it! Nor can I deny it's purpose!

I can no longer use the excuse "It's to hot......here in Zion Canyon". The mornings and evenings have cooled to where it's most definitely.... tolerable!

So............out I go, sometimes with friends and sometimes alone.

Hair up in a ponytail and the baseball hat in place.

Running shoes laced and I'm off!!!

I hate to exercise! I hate the thought of exercise...........YUCK

But when I sit and ponder it, the hate part is the "getting my butt out the door part".

When I am out and walking or running "I am loving it"!

I get to enjoy nature at it's best!


Hey Joe and Mackenzie let's do the Butch Cassidy run/walk again this year!
This could actually be a great family event. Maybe Pam and her sis too?

We could have some cool shirts made! Does that sweeten the adventure?

This morning I met Nena and Auggie Doggie on my walk. She has lived in the community for more than twenty years and me for ten years. Now isn't that a shame! You have to know that this is a small community here in Zion Canyon.

When I really thought about this I realized I know everyone at my work and at my church very well. What a great opportunity now for me to get to know those in the community that are not part of the current "zion girl" world.

Zion! My Heaven on Earth!

These are just some of the great photos I took yesterday on my drive through the Park!

How in the world does this tree know it's growing out of the rocks?

I always say that Zion has the bluest skies I have ever seen!

Big Horn Sheep Surprise

As I traveled back from the East side of Zion yesterday and while waiting to enter the tunnel alot of the tourists were getting out of their cars. I just assumed they were stretching and visiting. The wait with all the construction is between 15 to 20 minutes. This is the mountain side view from my car.

But these folks were grabbing their cameras and pointing up the mountain. Ok.........so now I have heard that the big horn sheep really do exist here but have never seen them.

So ...............I grab the camera and jump out and sure enough there were three beautiful sheep.

The foreigners were all so excited. This Italian gentleman behind me says " Young lady what are we all looking at" Young Lady! (Wow ....that made my day!)

My Noisy New Visitor!

This cute little female woodpecker was sure making alot of noise the other morning.
Of course as soon as I knew what it was I grabbed the camera and hurried quietly and slowly out the door. I always hope that I am able to get some good photos before they realize I am there.

This little gal didn't even seem to care that I was there. She gave me a little "Good Morning" nod and then went about her business. I did find it interesting that she was at the bottom of this tree and then just slowly she made her way up to the top and in a circular fashion.

Looking in my Peterson Field Guide of Western Birds this morning I find that she is a Three-Toed Woodpecker or Picoides tridactylus. The reason I know she is the female is because the male version have a yellow cap. This species is mostly distinguished by the irregular white patch on the back.

Autumn.........Where are you?

Autumn is a welcome time for me, especially living in the Southwest. Relief from the summer heat brought by the Autumn breezes is much appreciated.

I can feel a hint of it.......but only a hint. Oh please come soon as you are my favorite time of year and I miss you so!

"Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer." Learn to trust your heart.............

Elder Klein seems to be fitting right in ................in the big state of Texas.

"It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about and spend your time on that will make you a happy or unhappy person."
(Dale Carnegie)

IT'S OFFICIAL..........

I'm spending Christmas Eve with Andy! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Did I just say that? I am spending Christmas Eve with Andy Williams!

I love my Bucket List!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom just got tickets for her and I to go to the Christmas Eve show. What? I can't breathe!

My greatest Christmas memories are hearing Andy Williams sing his Christmas songs.

Who doesn't remember his Christmas T.V. specials? Ok......maybe if your younger than me then you might not. But they play them all the time on PBS.

I own every Christmas CD! Oh please Oh please Andy sing .....O HOLY NIGHT!

I LOVE YOU ANDY WILLIAMS! I know ..........I'm a little overly excited here.........

Mama.............You are the best. I am so excited to spend this glorious moment in time with you!

Twilight............It's not an obsession, It's my alternate reality!

The Twins ...Claire and Jenny's Blessing Photo

Thanks Lit'l Becky for this great photo! I hope you don't mind that I borrowed it from your blog. You are such a sweetie!