On Our Way To Carthage

Today we are taking a day trip to Carthage, Mo.  This is the view on our way!  Beautiful!  We began at the banks of the Mississippi River!

After leaving the Mississippi we came across many corn fields. Evidently corn is one of the biggest agricultural crops in Illinois.

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I loved the many farms that we passed.  I couldn't resist taking pictures of this one.  I LOVE the windmill!

Nauvoo Pageant

This evening we attended the Nauvoo Pageant that is literally across the street from the Willard Richards Inn where we stayed during our visit.  It was a beautiful walk to the pageant, with the wind blowing.  We had the privilege of watching the United States Flag and the British Flag being ushered in while the bag pipes and drums played "Praise to the Man".  It was a beautiful sight.  Unfortunately, it began raining about 30 minutes into the program.  So, we got rained out!

Mark Twain ~ Hannibal, MO

We are on our way to Nauvoo and made a side trip to visit our friends that are serving on a mission in Hannibal, MO.  We met at Mark Twain's Diner.  It was a nice lunch and visit.  Afterwards we had this picture taken in front of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn

July 4th on Temple Square

Today Doug and I decided we would go to Temple Square.  It's been several years since we did and wanted to take advantaqge of the holiday.  The traffic was light, parking the car was a breeze, there wasn't a lot of people to have to manuever around and the weather was beautiful.  What more could we ask for? At the end of our visit I asked Doug if he would like to go to the Visitor's Center.

We did and decided to go upstairs to the Christus.  Again, there was not a large crowd so we were able to sit in front of the Christus for some time.  I then said to Doug that it's time to go, however Doug felt differnetly and asked if we could stay a little bit longer.  There was no reason to leave so we remained for another 10 - 15 minutes when two sister missionaries came into the room. They approached us and Doug always asks, "Are you from Arizona?", one said yes she's from Surprise Arizona and the other said she was from Russia. The Sister from Russia said she was looking for the missionaries that taught her grandmother when she herself was five years old.  One of the missionaries she's looking for is "Elder Hendershott" from Mesa Arizona.  Well, Doug's good friend is Bart Hendershott and his son Broc went to Russia on his mission fifteen years ago...the same mission and time this Sister spoke about.  Doug could not believe it and called Bart immediately.  He told Bart that he found the grand-daughter of a an investigator his son was teaching while on his mission.

This is a picture of the two missionaries and Doug.  The Sister from Russia is in the middle and the Sister on the right is from Surprise Arizona.  It truly is a small world! 

Look Up!

October General Conference 2011, Carl B Cook

"It Is Better To Look Up"

"At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Auhority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question "How can I possibly do this?" I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building.  As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor.

The door opened and someone entered, but I didn't look up.  As the door closed, I heard someone ask, "What are you looking at down there?"  I recognized that voice - it was President Thomas S Monson.

I quickly looked up and responded, "Oh nothing."  (I'm sure that cleaver response inspired confidence in my abilities!)
But he had see my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward.  "It is better to look up!" As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple.  When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, "Now, remember, it is better to look up."

Walking...why is it that when were walking we always look down?

What are we missing when we look down?  When we focus downward we cannot see the beauty all around us.






As I began pondering this I started to focus on what I was missing because I was just looking down. As I glanced around me I began to see the beauty that was surrounding me! All of God's creations and beauty were engulfing my senses. The colors, the smell, the sounds were everywhere.  So, as I walked I realized what we are missing when we put blinders on making it impossible to see all the blessings that we have to enjoy.

Now this talk has a total different meaning but I took it literal! As I was walking, here on the Metcalf Family Farm, I thought of the words, "It's better to look up!" So that's what I did!  As I began to look up I noticing the view around me.  I saw the cows in the pasture grazing.

The mountains came into my view.  The light made the mountains stand out majestically in the distance. The beauty overwhelmed me as I continued on my walk.  I began to notice the birds singing and the crickets chirping as I listened to all that surrounded me.  It's a piece of heaven on earth.

While walking I remembered my favorite Primary song, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me".

Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by

Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by a lilac tree
I'm glad that I live in the beautiful world
Heavenly Father created for me

In the distance family life came into view.  Homes, farms and community.  I loved what I saw.  It was glorious and beautiful. The simple country life of these families.  As I've been in this community, I've been welcomed even though I am a stranger. It's comforting to know that a friendly face will greet us wherever we may be here in the Cedar Valley.

As I'm walking another song comes to my mind.
"For The Beauty Of  The Earth"

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

[Chorus]
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each our
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.

The lone tree...barren and withered showing it's struggles.  Oh what stories this tree would tell!  I can imagine the history of those that rode their horses and pulled their wagons down the dirt road. The cold harsh winters and the glorious summer time!  I can also imagine the birds that built their nests there to lay their eggs, feeding their babies and watching them take flight.  Oh the stories this tree could tell.












Then I see the horses feeding in the pasture. The grandeur of the horses...big and strong!  As I walked by they came up to me.  Oh the excitement of a child jumps into my heart. I cannot resist to pet them on their noses.  I love these gentle giants!

As I rounded the corner this came into view.  The green grass, green trees and the bounty of the lushness.  In contrast to the weary tree, life was plentiful.  The beauty engulfed me and I was overwhelmed with the sight of a glorious world that we are blessed with.  Our Heavenly Father gives us everything and are we truly grateful?  I pondered that question.  Am I truly grateful for all that Heavenly Father has given me?  Do I take it all for granted?  I took some time to reflect and ponder my thoughts. Sometimes life takes me into such a busy place that I may not be as thankful as I should be.  I must stop and see what is around me for life will pass me by if I do not take these moments to enjoy what is around me.  I'm so thankful for this walk to see deep inside of myself to bring to my mind the need to slow down and be in the moment and not pass the moment that is before me.  We are so blessed to have all that we enjoy here on earth.  We have a loving Father in Heaven that loves us and it's important to always remember that he wants the best for us.

God's Love

We do not see the wind;
We only hear it sigh.
It' makes the grasses bend
Whenever it goes by.

We do not see God's love,
But in our hearts we know
He watches over us
Wherever we may go.

We do not have to see
To know the wind is here;
We do not have to see
To know God's love is near.

Little Chicks At Grandma's House!

When we arrive to Linda and Dan's house in Cedar Fort, Utah we are greeted with a galvanized tub with 14 chicks inside.  I don't ever remember being around that many baby chicks or even the last time I held one.  I've come to discover that there is nothing cuter than a baby chick!  They're soft...and to hear them cheep is the sweetest sound ever!

I soon discovered I wasn't the only one that was enthralled with these little creatures.



Here's Savannah and Miranda (Linda's granddaughters) holding chicks. I love the expressions on their faces.  The wrinkle on Savannah's face tells it all!

Each of them are holding their chicks to insure they don't get away. Precious memories at grandma's house!

It's Summer Vacation Time!

We left home yesterday going up to Utah to see Sabrina and Family, Dan and Linda, Brandalee and Family, go to a Scentsy Family Reunion, travel to Nauvoo and return back to Utah to continue our vacation.  It will be a full July with a lot to see and do.

This morning we left Kanab moving our way to Provo then up to Cedar Valley.  On the way we always stop in Manti to see the beautiful Manti Temple.  This is my favorite temple!  It's beautiful outside and inside the workmanship is incredible!  This is the view from the park across the street! Breathtaking!

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