THE POWER TO FLY

photos taken of a F-15 Fighter Jet

I don't particularly like dressing up for Halloween... but if I had to, I think it would be really cool to be a F-15 Jet Fighter Pilot for the day. I took this pict on a AF Base about a week ago. I have always wanted to fly, and for some, it is reality. Man has accomplished the incredible technology to fly through the sky... however, it pales in comparison to the Power of God. 

Sidenote: This is a really cool video that one of my friend sent me.. flying with birds. 

 

FIRE, SMOKE, VAPORS, AND CLOUDS

photos taken near Klamath Falls, Oregon on Oct. 22, 2012

fire

vapors of smoke

clouds of heaven

Doctrine and Covenants 45: 40-44

"And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath.  And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke

And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off."

JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOOD FOREST

Photos taken on October 19, 2012 of large Redwoods Trees

(hard to comprehend how enormous these trees are until you see someone stand next to the trees)

Fallen Tree with exposed roots.

LIGHTHOUSE: A GUIDING LIGHT IN THE STORM

Photo taken on October 19, 2012  St. George Lighthouse off the coast

of Battery Point in Crescent City, CA.

About ten miles from the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, is the coastal city of Crescent City. A storm was coming in when I arrived. I learned a little history about this lighthouse and harbor. I think it is extremely symbolic.
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In 1855, the ship 'America' burned in the harbor at Crescent City. Three cannons were salvaged from the wreckage and mounted nearby on the point at the northern side of the harbor's entrance. The cannons, which were often fired during Fourth of July celebrations, resulted in the point being named Battery Point. Although the cannons have since disappeared, the name remains affixed to the point.

In that same year, Congress appropriated $15,000 for the construction of this lighthouse at Battery Pont which now provides the needed the harbor light required for safe nighttime navigation.

ONE TRIP.. FOUR SEASONS.. MANY SYMBOLS

"SPRING"

photo taken on drive from Klammath Falls to Medford on October 22, 2012

"SUMMER"

photo taken on a hike in Stout Memorial Grove in the California Redwoods on October 19, 2012

"FALL"

photo taken along the highway near Klammath Lake on October 20, 2012

"WINTER"

photo taken on the rim of Crater Lake on October 21, 2012

CRATER LAKE and WIZARD ISLAND

Photos of Crater Lake and Wizard Island taken on October 21, 2012

I just returned home from an amazing trip to Oregon to visit my "brother" before he and his wife leave the country for a few years. The only bad thing about the trip was that my wife was not with me. She would have loved it, and I hope to take my family up there soon.
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I will be posting several pictures from the trip over the next week or so.
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These photos are taken along the rim of Crater Lake. It had just recently snowed which made for some dangerous driving conditions. Crater Lake is in the bowl of the Mt. Mazama volcano. This volcano erupted many thousands of years ago and over time, the inside of the volcano filled up with water from rain and snowmelt ..thus, creating this beautiful blue lake. It is considered the deepest lake in the United States. I was hoping to jump in to say I swam in the deepest lake, but the weather didn't permit it. :(  All the more reason to go back up there again.
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Hugh Nibley in his memoirs has mentioned that he used to go swimming out to Wizard Island when he was growing up.

DADDY DAUGHTER DATE

I look forward every year when I take my daughters out on a date for their Birthday. Last night I took my daughter Brooke always picks the really fun and adventurous activities. Dinner at In nOut Burger and then we went racing on an indoor track with go-carts that reach the speed of 40 miles per hour.

She is a great driver for only being 12. Watch out Danica Patrick.

EDEN TURNS ONE YEAR OLD!

Hard to believe a whole year has passed since Eden came into our family.

She has been such a joy to us.

Happy Birthday Eden.

HARVEST COLORS

photo taken on October 11, 2012 near American Fork Canyon

on my way to a friend's wedding in the mountains.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROOKE!

Today my daughter Brooke turns 12!

Happy Birthday.

I Love you

Dad

GUIDING "STAR" IN THE MORNING SKY

photo taken on September 15, 2012 on a morning hike

Venus is classified as a terrestrial planet and is sometimes called Earth's "sister planet" owing to their similar size, gravity, and bulk composition (Venus is both the closest planet to Earth and the planet closest in size to Earth.  The name changes from the "Evening Star", visible after sunset, to the "Morning Star", visible before sunrise

ABOVE THE TREE LINE

photo taken September 15, 2012

HONEYCOMB CLIFFS

photo taken of Honeycomb Cliffs up Silverfork Canyon

in Big Cottonwood  Canyon on September 22, 2012

GOLDEN TRAIL

photo taken on the morning of the Fall Equinox on September 22, 2012

FALL EQUINOX SUNRISE

Photo taken on top of Honeycomb Cliffs on the sunrise on September 22, 2012

THE CHANGING OF THE SEASONS

photo taken up Big Cottonwood Canyon on September 15, 2012

ON TOP OF THE HONEYCOMB CLIFFS

photo taken on September 15, 2012

SOLITARY TREE

photo taken early morning on September 15, 2012

on the ridge of Silverfork Canyon near the summit of Honeycomb Cliff

THE COLORS OF DAWN

photo taken on a Saturday morning hike on September 15, 2012

RUBBER DUCKY

Photo of Eden with her favorite bath toy taken on August 27, 2012

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Photo taken of the "BlueMoon" on August 31, 2012

 Blue Moon is defined as the second full moon in a calendar month. The first full moon was August 1. The second full moon was on August 31, 2012. The second full moon is called Blue Moon. Because this occurance doesn't happen very often, thus the coined phrase, "Once in a Blue Moon"

I realize that the above photo is not the best quality (blurry and overexposed)... but it was the best I got with the camera I had.

CONQUERING ONE BOULDER AT A TIME

photo of our ascent to the top of Lone Peak on 9-3-12

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.