old neighborhoods

So I was in Hyrum today. I think I have now hit all the cemeteries in the valley, well aside from Trenton and Smithfield but I don't even know were those are located. I have a lot of memories in Hyrum I want to go back and do a chapter with all the houses that my friends grew up in. Maybe the Elite Hall sadly some of those places are gone.

Parables and Temples

Just wanted to look back to Jacob chapter five and give you a little background. This is as you know the parable of the olive tree. It has seventy seven verses so I decided to use temple pictures. There are over a hundred Houses of the Lord so I hope I got the one that is special to you. I took most of the pictures in the first few verses my self. I have only visited three but I am very excited to attend the open house of the soon to be completed Brigham city temple. I was endowed in the San Diego Temple. I attended the Manti pageant many times. I have been to some sealings and a session in Salt Lake and Logan has become my home away from home. I love to look up at the scroll that reads "Holiness to the Lord" as I go in and as I leave.

the cold

It has been so cold that I fear I have gotten behind I am trying to be more creative and keep moving forward.

watch out they spit...

So I got bitten by a camel today, but nothing will stop the work from moving forward! A farmer in Young Ward likes exotic animals and has a few in his field. As I pass these most every time I go into Logan I thought it would be cool to film a chapter there. Things went fine for a while the Zonkey came over and sniffed me. I was cool with that. Then the camel came over and my coat looked tasty so he nibbled on it with his huge lips. I almost dropped my camera. No harm done sept for some funky looking drool on the sleeve of my new birthday coat.

chapled hills

This weekend I went around to some of the chapels of my youth. The first was the one I remember most for when I started Young Women's. I am not sure if I fully appreciated the beauty of this building at the time.

a safe haven

I went to Hyrum and filmed at the seminary building there at Mountain Crest. I always loved seminary and how it was a place of peace from all the wildness at school. I am so happy that my daughter is now enjoying this part of her life too. I can't think of my seminary teachers name but it was a great place of learning were I always felt the spirit. I had forgotten how long the walk was on a cold day.

you put your right foot in...

Today I was inspired to go to the old roller rink. I think I spent every birthday of my childhood here. I'm very sad I could not go inside. Sadly this place has been closed for years. If I had the means I would bring it back to it's former glory. That building has so very many stories to tell.

making up for lost time

I missed my chapter yesterday so even though I already did one on temple hill I decided to do another at Cutler Marsh. We had our first snow a few days ago so things look new and fresh. I also finished reading the Book of Mormon with Abby. We read a chapter while she is eating breakfast before school and we finished this morning. She seems to be all fired up about it and that gives me a lot of happiness.

work, work, lunch

I was at Icon today to bring Casey lunch and I had a small chapter so I figured why not just get it done here. You can probably hear the construction in the back ground, we'll not go into that.

Four!

Today I was at the Logan River golf course. When they first built this place I was a little mad because I once lived across the street in the trailer park. I loved to play in the huge field. Like Willow Park it was one of the few places I could go to be free. I watched one day as some men dressed as knights fought in their straw castle. I also wrote a paper about the big cats that lived there and my English teacher sent it to the editor where it was later published. As I walked down the trail today I was able to see how they really only added to the beauty that was already there. Mead it so more people could enjoy it. They have these cool markers for the distance of the planets and there is a great bridge and benches. Wildlife still thrives very nicely here though I doubt the big cats stayed. I did not make it all the way down the trail so that may be saved for later chapters.

the Park

I went to Ryan's Place to do a chapter. The community got together and built this park in memory of a little boy who lost his life at lake Powell. It is one of my favorite parks but has very little shade. I tried to kill poor Mari with the heat here. I have some great memories of coming here with my friend Diana and her kids. It was bitter cold so I was glad for the small chapter.

eye of the beholder

Today I went over to Wellsville dam. It looks so different now than I ever remember and I can't believe that I did not think it was beautiful when I lived near it. It use to be just this hole full of water down a dead end road. We use to go fishing there sometimes. I guess it has meant more to me as Christopher was in little league here. Which is why I did a verse on each base. The park is really nice now and there is a fishing dock, lots of ducks, paved trail and tons of benches for sitting. Funny that some changes only make things better...

Memory Lane

Today I was on center street. I chose this location for three reasons. First because this is were my grandma use to live. I filmed a few verses at each house as they neighbor one another. We had so many thanksgivings and various other activities here. I remember playing and picking in the orchard in back of the white house. Secondly a dear family friend, the Pages live on a lane off of center. Every holiday they decorate the four lamp posts at the ends of the lane. The third reason is I have just always loved center street. The houses are fabulous and there are so many trees!

Frozen Zoo

Did my chapter today at Willow Park Zoo. It had just opened and let me tell you it was cold. I was not wearing a jacket though so I partly blame my self for freezing. Almost all of the animals were out and up so it was really cool. I remember some brothers of mine chasing and pulling out feather from the peacocks that roam about. The zoo use to be more open then. The tree by the coyotes I am told is very special as my sister-in-law first kissed her husband there. All in all a very magical place.

School Days

Today I chose to do a chapter in the field by the kids school. I walk there so often and I am so grateful that it was built so that my son did not have to travel so far anymore to go to school. It was fun to hear the school sounds.

being a kid

Because it's a Sunday I did not go very far. I sat on the "death" swing and swiveled about. I know how much the kids love the swing even though someone always gets hurt or sick on it, hence the name. I feel like a little kid when I swing on it and I close my eyes to spin I can almost forget the many cares of adulthood.

and so some things change...

Today I did my chapter in Wellsville a place I lived from age twelve to age seventeen. The tabernacle is a beautiful building and I have some happy memories there singing in choirs. I took the kids with me but they played in the park. Leaves were falling from the trees and the sun was shining brightly. A little girl ran for the leaves with her grandpa. It was a very special event to behold. I wish I had started this some years ago when the purple church was still around, for it was in that church were I had my first real witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel. It's clear as day to me now. I was walking in late to a meeting and I heard the young woman singing "If we hold on together" from the Land Before Time movie. A fire burned within my hole being and I knew at that moment I belonged to the true church of Jesus Christ.

The Begining a very good place to start....

So I actually started this journey two weeks ago. Casey felt I needed a better place to store my links and this space was doing nothing.  My goal here is to create a place that those I love can come and share a love for the scriptures.  For now I have only chosen to read to you in different settings the Book of Mormon. I may some day do the rest of the standard works but that is an idea for another day. I will try to put down any insights I gain through this journey and add thoughts and explanations of the places I visit.

Love to all

FranB