VIEW FROM THE JACOB'S LADDER TRIAL/TRAIL

photo overlooking Utah County on September 3, 2012 on our hike to the top of Lone Peak.

A VIEW OF LONE PEAK SUMMIT

photo taken on Labor Day 9-3-12 of our first good look at our destination:

to the Top of Lone Peak

VICTORY OVER PAIN AND FEAR: ASCENDING LONE PEAK

photo taken  yesterday on Labor Day (09-03-12) on our ascent to the top of Lone Peak.

Some things can never be understood unless you actually experience it yourself. No matter how much one might describe an experience even using the best vocabulary and photographs, it is almost impossible for another to comprehend the range of emotions one felt on their journey…. from pain to joy, from sorrow to peace, from fatigue to exhilaration, from hopelessness to victory. Above is a photograph taken from yesterday's 13 hour and 50 minute hike up to the Top of Lone Peak.  If you look closely you can see the people on the top of the summit.  I hope to share more from the insight and lessons learned as well as some more photos.

PLACE OF SERENITY

photo taken on hike on the Jacob's Ladder Trail on August 25, 2012 

CLIMBING TO GREATER HEIGHTS

Photo taken of my wife standing on a rock ledge on our early morning hike up towards Lone Peak

SKY ABOVE AND THE EARTH BENEATH

photo taken on our early morning hike with my wife on August 25, 2012

Below you can see the housing development of Suncrest in the foothills above Draper.

AWAKING EARLY TO SEE THE ARISING OF THE SUN

photo taken this morning on August 25, 2012 on an early morning hike ascending Jacob's Ladder.

My wife and I woke up at 4:00 AM this morning and went for a hike. I will write more about the symbolism shortly.

SILVER LININGS: BALANCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK

photo taken from our front yard of the evening sun rays behind darken clouds

WHITE AND GOLD: Brigham City Temple

photo taken of our trip to the Brigham City Temple Open House on August 18, 2012

photo of my parents and my family in front of the gold east doors of the Brigham City Temple

JOY OF SWIMMING ON A HOT DAY

Photo of Eden swimming on August 16th, 2012

Part of celebrating our anniversary, we took all the girls swimming.

I AM A LUCKY MAN

photo taken on August 16, 2012 celebrating our anniversary at a park

SUNRISE ON OUR ANNIVERSARY

photo taken of sunrise this morning on August 16, 2012 between the Mt Olympus Peaks.

Today is our 18th Wedding Anniversary

Happy Anniversary Kat!

This photo is extremely symbolic. The risign sun between two Mountain Peaks and/or pillars is an ancient symbol for creation and union.

BEAUTY STILL TO BE FOUND IN A SWAMP

Photo taken of a butterfly that had died in swamp of dirty water taken on August 3, 2012

GOLDEN EAGLE ON POWER POLE

Photo taken of Eagle on top of  power pole on trip to Manti August 3, 2012

(courtesy of my friend, Kevin Carlston)

REWARDED WITH BEAUTIFUL WINGS TO FLY

Photo of butterfly taken on top of a seven tiered mountain named "Shem's Altar" near Manti

on August 3, 2012

OPENING OF THE HEAVENS

Photo taken on August 3, 2012 of the morning sun breaking through over the valley neat Manti

TORNADO? BOMB? OR FIRE?

photo taken yesterday from Wasatch Boulevard in Salt Lake looking south at the Herriman fire

SYMBOLS AND SACRED LOCATIONS NEAR MANTI TEMPLE

photo taken on August 3, 2012 of the Manti Temple

left photo taken of an Eagle on top of power poll taken on August 3, 2012

right photo taken of aspen trees in the mountains above the Manti Temple on August 3, 2012

photo taken of an Eagle flying on August 3, 2012

photo taken of a rattlesnake on August 3, 2012

STANDING ON WATER WITH MY GIRLS

CAMPING IN OUR BACKYARD

photo taken on July 27, 2012 of our tent lit from within when we camped in our backyard over the weekend

(That is the moon peaking out from the clouds)

HAPPY 24TH of JULY

Photo taken with the family playing with sparklers tonight on the 24th of July 2012

TWO HAWKS

photo taken up Provo Canyon

GOLDEN SUNSET

photo taken on July 4, 2011 from Utah County. Same day as the Alpine Fires. The smoke in the air created a golden amber glow as the sun went down.

LAST SUNLIGHT OF THE DAY SHINING ON PEAK

photo taken on July 4, 2012 of the north part of Mount Timpangos mountain range above Alpine

LONE PEAK

photo taken from our neighborhood on  July 11, 2012 

THE END OF THE DAY GLORY

photo taken on 7.11.2012 from our street

WATER MEETS LAND

photo taken near Laguna Beach on June 18, 2012

OVERCOMING FEAR AND OBSTACLES

Photo taken jumping off the Lido Bridge in Newport Beach on June 21, 2012 

Photo taken of a horse jumping competition on June 22, 2012 near Newport Beach

I will write more shortly

SUNSETS: RED AT NIGHT

photos taken of two differents sunsets down on Newport Beach - June 2012

The old adage in North America is:

Red sky at night, sailor's delight,

Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.

In Great Britain and Ireland:

Red sky at night, shepherd's delight,

Red sky in morning, fisherman's warning.

We know this old folklore has been around for some time and might have some truth to it. In Matthew 16: 2-3 Jesus replied to some Pharisees and Sadducees that wanted to "test" him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.'And in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."

It might be hard to see in the bottom photo, but there are three birds flying to the left of the sun.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

photo taken on June 16, 2102 on Balboa Island.

 (If you look carefully.. there are  3 American Flags in this photo.)

"And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it

— In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—

and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.....and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren,

so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land.

Alma 46: 12-13

.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

May we appreciate the liberty that was given to us, and be courageous enought to continue fighting for it.

................................................

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence ?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;  another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or  hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.  Eleven were merchants,  nine were farmers and large plantation owners;  men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the  British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.


So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and  silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: freedom is never free

ABOVE THE FOG AND CLOUDS

photo taken on a morning hike in Southern California on the Summer Solstice

You have to travel some distance and hike to greater heights if you want to see the sunrise on the coast of Southern California. However, it is worth the effort to be able to rise above the dark clouds and fog to see the beauty of a new day dawning.  

Below are some of the lyrics to this song by Matt Redman called Ten Thousand Reasons:

Bless the Lord, O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

NEWPORT BEACH HARBOR

photo taken from Jetty View Park over looking Balboa Bay at Newport Beach on June 19, 2012

"They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd;

yea, they were led even by God the Father. But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves,

 without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her;

Mormon 5: 17-18

I will write more shortly.

STANDING FOR LIBERTY

photo taken of a Statue of Liberty replica on June 16, 2012 on Balboa Island in California.

"Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free; entangle not yourselves in sin,

but let your hands be clean, until the Lord comes.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:86.

The above photo is a small replica of the statue of Liberty. The original stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and was a gift to the United States from the people of France. The statue is a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a “tabula ansata” (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue has become an icon of freedom and of the United States.

Today was a significant day. I voted in the primary elections to select the best candidate for the highest office in the country. There is no need to worry about voting for the lesser of two evils in this election, because there is a man on the ballot who truly knows what it means to keep the oath of office by upholding, defending and preserving the Constitution of the United States of America. This might be the last chance we might see such a man on the ballot one who supports a limited, constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, honest money, and a pro-America foreign policy. One who feels that our American troops should only go to war when necessary, have proper tools, and clear objectives. One who favors balanced budgets and not letting corporations control the President.

The man I voted for described himself at one of the Presidential debates as.. CONSISTENT.
The man I voted for has never been accused of being a flip-flopper.
The man I voted for is the closest man we have to one of our Founding Fathers.
.
Joseph Smith said, "... we shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have acted conscientiously, and have used our best judgment. And if we have to throw away our votes, we had better do so upon a worthy rather than an unworthy individual who might make use of the weapon we put in his hand to destroy us." (Joseph Smith, Jr., Times and Seasons, IV:441)

HAPPY SMILES

photo taken on June 15, 2012 of Eden's first trip to Disneyland.

"And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him;

and his countenance did smile upon them,

and the light of his countenance did shine upon them."

3 Nephi 19:25

Smiling is an expression denoting pleasure, joy and happiness. Smiling is something that is understood by everyone despite culture, race, or religion; it is internationally known. Newborns often exhibit smiles within the first three days of their lives, especially while sleeping. However these early smiles are spontaneous and are not a response to outside stimulation. These early smiles are referred to as "reflex smiles." Between 6 and 8 weeks, most babies begin to exhibit "social smiles", meaning the baby will smile at his/her caregivers or in response to stimuli. 

Our daughter Eden just turned 8 months old. Smiling comes naturally to her. We just returned from our family vacation to California. We took her to Disneyland for the first time. Many call it the "Happiest Place on Earth". Most tend to rely on entertainment to make us happy. However, true happiness comes from within.

SANCTUARY

Today is June 18, 2012. Three Days before the Summer Solstice. The day of most light.

These photos were taken a few weeks ago up Provo Canyon. Last time I went up there I had company as I sat along the bank of the river:  a hawk, a golden warbler and a robin. While not the best of pictures, I post them as a reminder.  

Birds find sanctuary high in the trees usually in peaceful and serene places. A sanctuary is defined in the 1828 dictionary as a place consecrated to the worship of God, a place where divine service is performed. It is a place of protection.

Here is some interesting things I learned about the robin:

Robins have a powerful significance in ancient myth and lore. One tale has its origins in European mythology, in which the bird of Spring is linked with the New Year and symbolises divine sacrifice and the rebirth of the spirit.

Medieval Europe lore often depicted the robin attending the Christ child, an emblem of the Passion to come. The tiny robin flew to Jesus' Crown of Thorns, striving bravely to pluck the thorns away with his beak. Unfortunately, the bird only tore his own breast on the thorns. Since then it was thought that robins wore red feathers on their chests as a badge of honour.


Robins are good parents like many birds are. One facet of this power animal their ability to nurture themselves into true adulthood. This is signified by the robin's red breast - it symbolizes the activation of creative energy, inciting growth. This is also linked with the Robin's traditional connection to spring - the season of renewal. When we let go of our past - a lot of which stems from childhood experiences - we are refreshed and renewed, thus unburdened and free to nurture and serve ourselves as well as others.
If there is an abundant food supply, robins will live the year-round in an area. This can show us that when our heart and soul feels gloomy and cold, we are able to thrive if we possess sufficient inner strength, courage and trust. Therefore, the robin is an especially good ally to have through the winter months.

One part of growth is learning how to deal with conflict in a mature manner. Male robins immersed in territorial disputes sing to each other.  Their song is a happy one, reminding you to let go of your personal drama and learn to laugh with life.

DAY OF WONDERS IN THE SKY

photo taken on June 5, 2012

 

 

A Recap of yesterday's wonders in the sky:

• Simultaneous sunrise and moonset
• The Transit of Venus
• Magnicent Burning Red Sunset

 The day was a living parable of sorts for me.

  

The first top two photos were taken in the morning of June 5, 2012... just after the break of dawn around 6:00 AM. The end of the fourth watch. The left photo is of the sun rising between two mountains. I took these photos near Elk Ridge. The right photo is tof the moon setting. As the greater light ascended, the lesser light descended simultaneously. Then, starting at 4:30 PM the symbolic planet of Venus began its transit across the sun. This will not occur again for over a hundred years. This is the 2nd eclipse of the sun this year. A winterlike cold front moved into Salt Lake that afternoon causing the entire city to be covered with clouds. The sun was not visible at all. Since this event was important to me, I needed to leave work, and left the valley and drove southeast over Traverse Ridge up to Eagle Point where I found the sun shining. I took many pictures as I witness the planet Venus aligning with the Sun.

 

Later that evening, right around the peak time of the eclipse, the sun came out at my home. I quickly took more pictures. The center photo was taken outside my house on my driveway. I then took my family and drove up towards the mountains on Wasatch Bouvelard to watch the sunset. The photo on the bottom is a taken with solar filter on. It was a beautiful red sky.

MORE SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS

photos taken tonight on 06.03.2012 of the Full Moon rising over the Wasatch Mountains.

Tomorrow evening there will be another very important occurrence happening in the sky. The planet Venus will "transit” or eclipse the disk of the sun for almost seven hours from roughly 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The entire event will be about 6 hours and 40 minutes. The planet will be closest to center of sun at 7:30 p.m. It is a very rare occurrence and won't happen again for over a century. From the naked eye, it will appear as a little black spot going across the sun, but it's really rare. There have been only seven transits of Venus since the invention of the telescope in 1610, according to NASA. It will be visible all across the United States. It can be considered another “solar eclipse” of the sun. It will be the second solar eclipse this year, and third total solar eclipse will occur on November 13, 2012. One more thing that I came across that I thought was interesting. The path of Venus over the past 8 years will make a perfect five pointed star (pentagram). between the transit (that happened in 2004) and the second transit which is tomorrow (8 years later).
………………
In addition, in case some of you missed it, there was a full moon last night. I took these shots as the moon was rising over the mountain ridge near Lone Peak. Early this morning, there was a lunar eclipse that occurred but unfortunately not visible for those of us who live in Salt Lake.. Whenever there is a solar eclipse (which occurred on June 20), usually a lunar eclipse follows about 2 weeks later because of the alignment of the sun, moon, and earth.