A Saturday Blog of thoughts

Looking back over this week I again think of some of the things I have read as much as the things I have done. I have been reading about a number of the Apostles and leaders in our Church and likewise about some of the authors that have stood out over the years. Two authors, B.H.Roberts and Hugh Nibley both caught my attention this week. Roberts was discussing the idea in a book I was reading that was taken from the scriptures that "there must be an opposition in all things" as really something that is a blessing. Of course that opposition is often between good and evil but it is also a little basic to everything. That opposition helps us learn. Pleasure and Pain are in opposition and both can serve good ends as well as not so good ends. We learn from opposition. All of it isn't about good and evil of course. Opposition exists "in all things" is the point.

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Then Nibley in a book was discussing "Contention". His point was that contention is not a good thing. People get mad at each other over points of view and differences (opposition) and then it ends in "contention". His point was that we should listen to others points of view without a spirit of contention.

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It seems to me that the goal to avoid contention is often in opposition to the reality that there is opposition in all things. Galatians got it right in it's definition of Gentleness.

more about growing things

Yesterday's blog focused on the "type" of cactus that I found a lot of in the High Desert area near the mountains to the East. These at times appear almost white and are really pleasant to look at. I found my trip to an area full of these as one of the points in the last week that I thought was worth capturing. Course the week itself was much more than one trip. I finished a book I enjoyed. Now the issue is to finish off a couple of others I am working on and to figure out what to order next. I suppose I could focus on today and mention how great it was to get a pair of suspenders hook up to my dress paints. Then I might add a disclaimer. Having typed about sage brush, reading and suspenders as "highlights" I have to mention that I don't think I really am "old" in the sense of having lost any perspective. Blue Skies this week were good too and I am aware of a perfectly wonderful person upstairs that takes about Blue Skies all the time. She puts pictures of a lot of neat plants on her blog and for that matter suspenders are just cloths and what is wrong with mentioning clothes? Heard on the news that some teacher had been fired for mentioning that she didn't like her students or their nutty parents on her blog and it was found and her claim was that she was just recording things for herself. Well I am pretty safe in making that claim. Another highlight this week was the blog of KJ. Great Blog.

Brown is Beautiful

Sagebrush this week was one of the highlights. I drove East to a meeting with those that I work with and went into an area called "High Desert". It may be one of the most stunning areas I have seen in New Mexico and it is about 3 miles away. None of these particular pictures really capture what I saw and I wish I had my camera. Course you know who would have had one with her. The sagebrush in the area was almost white and it just created even through a neighborhood a unique feeling of "high desert".

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Brown seems to be far more interesting than we thought when we first came here.

more events

This picture is from last summer and was taken in Temple Square. It was a good trip and we enjoyed our time with family and together. Today I was wondering what else I should have included in my brief "Round Up" last week. For some reason I looked back over months instead of weeks and this moment came to mind.

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I just finished reading the Book "Spencer W. Kimball" by Edward Kimball. I had recently read "Lengthen Your Stride" by the same author. I have had this book on my self for a long time. In the inside front cover is written, in my mom's handwriting, "Brent: Happy Birthday from Mom & Dad 1980"............. I am really not sure if I read the book back in 1980 or even since then? I might have, but I might have just skimmed it, or maybe I didn't read it. It has been on my shelf of important books ever since I got it) I am pretty sure I would not have thought about the book in the same way even if I had of read it then. On the other hand, if I could go back in time and read it in 1980, and get the same things out of it I did with this current reading, (that probably is the real challenge) I know it would have been a real help and a blessing. To see the human side of such a strong individuals as both President and Sister Kimball, and to see through their actions what was most important on a day to day basis is such a valuable insight. Even though President Kimball had a big impact on the church as a whole it was his personal "day to day", never ending focus on just showing love, that I thought was of most importance in looking closely at his life through this book. As I read a variety of books that touch one some of the same individuals I realize that we really can come to know them. What a good experience that is.

a roundup of sorts.

Who is this guy and what did he do this month? ( some folks might call this a roundup as a label to put on all the stuff done)

Well first off the last week is well worth rounding up, but as a whole this roundup will include all of January and through today in February.

Looking back at the week, first.

Post from the NM Gas Blog: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GAS OUTAGES
When gas will be restored: We will keep you informed as soon as we know when
we can begin to restore service.( good news here is our gas did not go off)

Quoting from my favorite blogger, about our weather, she said this: "So let's recap - Tuesday was a "snow day", Wednesday was an "ice day", Thursday was a "too cold to start the buses day", and Friday is a "no natural gas" day. Welcome to the "bizarro world"."

Well then to keep the week interesting Saturday was the day the church was found flooded with water from broken pipes in the ceiling. The fire system broke and a 3 inch water pipe pushed out water at 100 lbs of pressure all night. The building floors, all of them, are gone. The ceilings in the hall are gone. It will be a real project to get this back to being able to use.

I enjoyed a couple of movies. Victoria and Albert, and Social Network.

I have especially enjoyed reading a lot of books this month. I finished "Lengthen Your Stride" about Spencer Kimball. I am well into another one on the first part of President Kimballs life. I re read N. Eldon Tanner his Life and Service, and read An Abundant Life, The Memories of Hugh B. Brown, a biography of James Talmage, a biography of B.H Roberts and my favorite for January was The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley.

Yesterday KJ pulled up this picture of me. She took it from a family group picture and it in some ways becomes one of my more current pictures. When I first looked at it I saw it side by side with one I use more often when a picture is needed. It was taken before this one and it, unlike this one, does not show the face wrinkles and what I see in myself is just a little less zest than what I have had over the years. It wasn't a picture that I would think of first when I might "picture my self in my own "minds eye". Course I suppose no one would envision them self as they really are. Nevertheless this reality is part of my roundup.

Lots of progress this month in finding names of ancestors.

Spent several nice weekends with the boys and KJ.

Some Sunday morning stuff

Ancestors are interesting. Two parents, and 4 grandparents mean you come from at least 4 locations, or lines. Both of my Grandparents on one side come from Wales. Llanllwni, to be specific. Course that town is just for one of them. That is my cousin Bob standing by the sign a few years ago.

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Today I had some time on my hands, which is rare on Sunday's, so I was looking through some old correspondence and sent off a few notes to folks I had not connected with in a long time. Passed on some pictures too. I cam across a story about Malad Idaho so just for the blog of it, here it is.

William Cole (aka known as Billy The Kid) rode into Malad in the spring of 1869. He was wounded and suffering from severe wounds. He fell in love with a widow lady with four kids and married her. Her name was Susan Palmer Debuke. They built a cabin in the St John area. The cabin still stands on Tom Palmer property. They had one child after being married for a year, but he suddenly up and left town without warning. The little girl child and her mother left Malad and joined her parents in Peru Nebraska where she died in 1924. Jesse left a poem for his wife titled: GRASSHOPPERS AND CRICKETS:

Things look desperate and awfully sad.
For we are just about to bury the city of Malad..
Their long melancholy faces with their sad frowns
To see the last shovel full thrown on the town,
Their will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth
If the revolation fails to give them relief.
Oh! what a burying it would be,
It would break many a heart
When boys from their true lovers will have to depart.
They will wander througth the valley among sage brush and thickets,
To leave old Malad to the grasshoippers and crickets
They must throw aside lieing with others deceit,
for the devil make take them all in a heap.
Remember old Malad has drawn its last breath
And all we can do is announce its great death.
For the devil has charmed them by some unknown spell
For the first thing we know we are all heaped up in hell.
If the people don't try to make some resistance
I will bid farewell and disappear in the distance.
I will hoist my sails and hoist my banner
And bid farewell to my own dear Anne.
For I think for our move we are the devils relations
And he can't help us by his revelation
And all we can do is to buy our traveling ticket
And leave old Malad to the Grasshoppers and crickets.
William Cole Year 1870

(original spelling and words in the poem)

Another interesting picture

I posted some pictures yesterday of KJ and today I will follow up with one that I like of us. Again I borrowed it from her blog.

A day to remember..............

A couple of nice pictures to post in honor of "her" birthday. I like the one on the bench. I was not there when it was taken. Zach and KJ went to the bio park and took pictures and I "borrowed" this picture from Kathy's blog. I like the colors and it sort of "says" Kathy. I also like the one in the woods. A favorite outing last fall. We enjoyed a morning walk along the river.

With all our heart

A quote I liked very much from this book was originally one from Stephen Ambrose who said, "The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future".

In order to really know who we are we often have to look closely at our heritage and our roots. Roots can be found in a lot of ways. People of course, our own lives, and the core of our beliefs.

This book brings all into focus and helps us draw even more on our faith.

Today is January 1st, 2011. I finished this book today. When I think about it I have a lot to be grateful for today. Kathy of course. One son is back where he went on his mission visiting with people he learned to care about. The other is helping someone who needs the help move. Those things are worth being happy about. Our daughter is with her good family and serving them with all her heart. Again something to feel good about.

Not a bad start for a new year.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A3RX9706A2ZP8F?tag2=bjsran-20

looking back, again

I remember living in the little house behind this one and then when this one was built by my dad moving into it. My guess is that this picture was taken before the house was completely finished. I have no idea where this window is in the picture above but find it interesting to not the less than total happy expression I had on my face. Perhaps I didn't like looking out that window. My expression in front of the hose does not seem to be one of just being glad to have my picture taken either but then I seem to be serious. I had plenty of hair on my head which was and would be a good thing. I remember last week sitting in church next to a little boy about the same age as I was in this picture and he had hair much like this. He seemed to be pretty cool in my opinion. He too just sort of went about his little project of laying out some toy army guys and sort of had a similar expression on his face.

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I started out trying to pick a couple of "favorite" pictures from my group of pictures for a year end post. I quickly found that it was too hard to do. In fact I need some new pictures so I hope to find a couple for tomorrows post. I did like this old picture of Pocatello showing the 1st ward building where I went to church from about year 7 to 14 or so. The picture is a little older than I remember. In back of the Chapel to the right in the picture was a recreation hall that must have been added later. To the left across the street at an angle was the old library. I used to go in that library when ever I could and really enjoyed it. The kids part was downstairs and the the main floor and upstairs were where the more interesting stuff was. Off to the base of the mountains to the a point about a third of the way from the right edge was the area where our house was. Back the other direction from the mountains, not shown in the picture accross the street the other way from the chapel was the Bannock Hotel. Just going into this hotel made you think you were in a city and anywhere but in a rural community. Then going back for a few streets was downtown, the movie theaters and some stores. When I was as young as 9 or so I would walk to primary and likewise to the show on Saturday. Of course we had a river running by the house but that would be a long story. All in all I think it was an interesting period of time and place to grow up.

In the countenance of others we see the face of the Lord

Looking back at this year one area to consider would be to consider the books I have read. Wondering if the books as a whole indicate anything about the particular year. I guess that could be the case. I think this year has been one where more time was spent on trying to improve "inside" rather than "outside".

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I am not sure that this is a full list and most likely I have missed some things that would have been worthwhile to have listed and thus reflected on some.

Of all of these books the one that I have reread again and enjoyed was the one about the life of David O. McKay. Enjoyed may have been the wrong word to use on this. I understood things more completely and felt that it was important to understand what was presented. It made a difference. All of these books this year or at least these that I recall have had an impact and made a positive difference.

I like what Harold Bloom said in his book "How to Read and Why"". He first answered the question, "Why Read?" His answer: "It matters". He suggests that one of the uses is to prepare ourself for change, the final change. To weigh and consider. He suggests to not attempt to improve your neighbor or your neighborhood by what or how you read. He says that self-improvement is a large enough project for your mind and spirit. He also adds that A scholar is a candle which the love and desire of all men will light.

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Prince & Wright... David O. McKay and The Rise of Modern Mormonism

Alexander, Thomas... Things in Heaven and Earth, The Life & Times of Wilford Woodruff

Durham, G. Homer... The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff

Parry, Peterson, & Ricks... Revelation, Reason and Faith

Kennedy, Edward M.... True Compass

Widstoe, John... A Rational Theology

Widtsoe, John A... Evidences and Reconciliations

Madsen, Truman... G Eternal Man

Nibley, Hugh... Nibley on the Timely and the Timeless

Muhammad, Ali... The Soul of a Butterfly Reflections on Life's Journey

Ferrell, James... The Holy Secret

Ferrell, James... The Peacegiver

Tamale, posole, doughboy Christmas thoughts

Merry Christmas is the correct post for today. We started it all out last night with Tamale's and Posole. If we went back 10 years and imagined a Christmas started out with this food it would have been "hard" to imagine. Things turned out odd. I actually find the tamale and posole a very festive treat for the holiday. Today has been been good too.

I was looking through a journal that had some good memories of past special occasion. It had one of my favorite "Far Side impressions. A guy on a big roller chasing a little doughboy. The caption " The Pillsbury Doughboy meets Franks Asphalt and Concrete Paving Service. The little doughboy was running fast. Guess this must be where he went. (to see the doughboy shrink)

That said, Merry Christmas, again.

Eve Day

Christmas Eve has been a nice day.

Went for a walk. Talked to SB on the phone. Read a book. Tonight we will stop by some friends house for a short visit. Ahead of last year on this one.

1940 something but still a memory

I understand that some people can remember every day of their lives. I suppose it is just a small handful of folks who have that talent. I have thought some about memories this Christmas season as I have looked at pictures of Christmas going back to 1970. On the one hand I hate to not remember more clearly some of the good things we have done and time we have spent together. On the other it might be a little easier to not have to remember the mistakes and the mis steps. It is interesting that I can remember standing in this yard in front of this little house. I suppose it might explain why it was always sort of a special little house in my opinion. When we were first married we lived in this house for a short time and it was a time I value and glad I can remember. I remember a lot about the lawn out front of this house back when the picture was taken. I sort of can see the green and remember how it was to lay down on it.

Tree stores

This past week I came accross a couple of Trees that surprised me a little. My aunt, I guess, made up a tree with some of my cousins pictures on it. I found myself on it for that matter. Another surprise was getting to see the London Temple through a Christmas Tree thanks to another cousin who is working there for a few more months.

ho ho ho, 2010 or the real and the pretend

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Christmas 2010 is coming together in New Mexico. Today has been a casual day. Not much planned. Walked with KJ this morning. I did come home early yesterday to help out. Didn't decorate the tree by the way, nor did I do the mantel. Great job in both cases of course.

inside the Pit

Miss the Karl and John show. Sports is not the same. I sent pictures of the Pit to some old Utah Friends just to let them see it. It is still the most exciting sports deal in town.

BYU and Utah, in my opinion, are two great teams to root for. On the other hand I don't think I have ever done a sports related blog.

A fireside will be held at the Albuquerque West Stake Center on December 17th, 2010 at 7pm. Members of the Church who are also on the Brigham Young University football team will speak and provide musical presentations.

"Just" for Trudy

The little girl on the right is sure cute. Course the one getting a drink makes me remember that day.

In Proverbs 22:1 it tells us that "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

Our parents gave us a good name which we will always share. "There" name goes with us. We honor them by remembering and sharing and caring.

For your birthday I wish for you that yours and Gary's name is always honored, and remembered and shared.

Love Brent

Giving Thanks this Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving and it is a good day to think back and ponder all the things that one should be thankful for. There are many more than I have found in this group of pictures but looking through a long file of pictures is a good way to focus on things to be thankful for.

The guy up in the top left hand corner is me back in the late 1940's I think. I posted it because I am thankful to have had a nice head of hair for some of my life. The guy in the opposite corner is again me back in the early 90's and I am indeed thankful for many years of running.

The collage has twenty pictures. In the center is Kathy taking my picture while below you see me taking hers in the Bosque along the Rio Grande a couple of weeks ago.

A picture of Mike as a little guy watching a parade, and Zach as a very young boy, and Katie helping us on our first big move to California as a very young girl are some of my favorite things to remember and be thankful for.

This group of pictures has a picture of the Sandia's which are just to the East. If I had room for another few pictures on this the Wasatch Mountains, Mt Olympus, and Millcreek Canyon would be here and they indeed are on the list of things I am thankful for. The extra room could also have been filed with both Kathy's and my extended families.

Deeper than could be shown by pictures is my thankfulness for the hand of the Lord in our lives.

Us, this week.

Favorite pictures of the week.

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Something about trees and walking on a dirt trail and leaves all around that are just addicting. I love to walk through areas like this. These pictures offer two different views of a place and one captures the other.