2nd Post of Today: A Lot of Bryce Canyon Pictures Taken February 12th

These aren't all in order, but we walked along the rim from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point, down Queen's Garden Trail, connected to the Navajo Loop, and went back up to Sunset Point. I definitely want to see more of Bryce Canyon someday.

Pictures I Took At Pioneer Park, St. George, UT

Little Sahara

I've visited these sand dunes many times from the time I was a teenager, but I hadn't returned for about 15 years. There was a tree I sat under from time to time for about twenty years- from when I was single, through when I had babies, to when my young ones were getting a little older. 

The last time I was there, so many obnoxious, loud, off-road vehicles and people made it unbearable. There was no peace. Plus, whoever was in charge of the fencing moved the wooden fence from where it had been for all those years. My favorite juniper tree was now blocked out of the safe zone of the no-vehicle area. It was scary to worry about dune buggies and motorcycles, but I climbed over the fence to visit the spot anyway. I felt like a trespasser. I was so sad about the whole experience that I didn't want to ever go back. 

I changed my mind. Today is my youngest daughter's birthday. When we were trying to decide where to go to celebrate, I thought of this place. Since it had been years and years, my curiosity was up. I wondered if anything had changed. I didn't think it would be crowded in the middle of winter even on a Saturday, though I was prepared for that possibility. I wondered if the fence was still in the same place. It was worth a trip to see.

I'm glad we went. Yesterday, it was not crowded nor very noisy. The wooden fence that blocked me from my old tree area before is now missing or buried in sand. I felt like I could safely return.

Sadly, vandals have ruined most of the bathrooms at the Jericho picnic area, so they are currently closed, but thankfully, there was one small outhouse they spared or repaired in the picnic area. The campsite bathrooms look untouched. Overall, the recreation area doesn't look like it has been well maintained, but it is winter. Also, the sign said it had been 0 days since a severe accident, so maybe it wasn't a good day for the place. Maybe they've had a lot of rough days. The good news is, the dunes and juniper trees and blue sky are still there and worth experiencing.

Here are a few more pictures from our visit:

More Winter Walks

We did two walks last week. On Monday, I went to Hidden Valley Park again with four family members.

I'd missed the Jordan River Parkway. I hadn't been to the portion between 134th and Bangerter Highway. I went there last Wednesday with my sister-in-law.

These pictures are somewhat out of order, but they show the area.

It was a fun walk. I'm looking forward to going back to this portion of the trail in spring.

Winter Walks

On afternoon blustery walks
In winter white and winter wet,
Melting snow fills the creeks, 

Muddy puddles still the path.

Reflecting years and minutes forward,

Sunshine speaks of here.

Blue sky tells of now.

Not Left Comfortless

My third daughter is 28 years old, has Down Syndrome, and is significantly impacted by autism. When she was three, she developed an aggressive rash on her right leg above her knee. The rash was red, hot, and bubbly. She had a fever of 103.6. We took her to the doctor. Even in the short time we were at the doctor's office, the rash doubled in size.

Immediately, the doctor sent us up to Primary Children’s Hospital so she could receive IV antibiotics for an infection called erysipelas. Thankfully, that night, my dad and husband also gave her a priesthood blessing.

My husband stayed with her in the hospital the first night. I stayed with our other children. The high fever and medicine made her sleepy. On the second night, I stayed with her.

She was hooked up to wires to monitor everything as well as to the IV. In the middle of the night, she started to cry, constant and uncontrollable crying, for hours at a time. The autism that makes it hard for her to communicate now hadn’t yet caused communication regression, so she was still able to communicate through a few words and some sign language. She looked at me and signed, “All done now.” She was ready to go home.

My heart broke for her. She didn’t understand what was happening. She just wanted it all to stop, to be all done, and to go home. There was absolutely nothing I could do. So, I prayed. I couldn’t understand why this was happening to her. Or to me.

Then, in the semi-darkness of the hospital, as I prayed, these words entered my mind, “I will not leave you comfortless.” Those words gave me some peace. Comfort entered my heart and mind. I no longer felt alone. It made it possible for me to try to comfort my daughter and to go on.

I later wondered, were those words "I will not leave you comfortless" a real scripture? Or just words to me? So I looked it up.

The words are found in the Bible, King James Version, John 14:18. Jesus was talking to his disciples who were surely concerned about what would happen when He wasn’t with them. Here are verses 16-18:

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Jesus Christ doesn't come to most of us physically, but everyone in the world can be influenced by the Light of Christ and can have the opportunity to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Because of Jesus Christ, we can be filled with the peace and comfort we need. I know He will not leave us comfortless in our pains, trials, illness, anxiety, questions, and fears.

Inspired

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does a Light the World initiative every Christmas season. They have a suggested calendar, or you can create your own. I decided to create one using their list of suggestions. Then they randomly assembled a calendar for me.

My prompt for today is to share someone else's work and say why it inspires you.

My sister made these snowflake earrings for me a few years ago. They are reminiscent of the snowflake ornaments my maternal grandmother gave us every Christmas for years. 

They inspire me because they show my sister's creativity and her love for me and our history. They remind me of my grandma. Also, they inspire me to join in my artistic, creative heritage.

My mother made this.

Her mother made this.

I belong to generations of love and creativity. This is just a small representation of that heritage which encompasses many kinds of creative mediums and includes my life's work.