Wicked

Last week my girls Becky and Esther...

their girls...

Eve and Sydney...

and I...

Attended a Broadway production...

Wicked.

There is such a powerful message there.

I have pondered it this week.

Circumstances have brought it very close to home.

It is so easy to take a circumstance...

Read into it...

Talk about it with others...

Speculate...

Draw conclusions..

The pass judgments...

Judgments that are so far from the truth...

We find we have created...

Something that isn't real.

In ward Conference today our Stake leaders spoke with power.

We shouldn't judge.

We should show forth with love.

We need to forgive.

The Broadway play addresses all of this.

But it first came from the Lord.

Monday...

We picked Becky and Sydney up from Esther's and it was on the road again...

First I took time to take a picture of Esther's garden now weed free.

 Stan cultivated the largest part along with cutting out mallow weeds around the grow boxes.

 I weeded and cleared the straw from the grow boxes...

 Becky and I thinned the strawberry box far left above.

We took the longer route home...

but it took less time the the short way...

The way we traveled to Penrose.

 In the oil fields there is a town...

Sinclare...

 For the most part it was uneventful...

UNTIL...

We came to Bear Lake and Logan Canyon...

Syd is showing the lake...

Split in half by the Utah (below) Idaho (above) border.

 

(Just some information about the lake I found interesting) 

Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Utah-Idaho border in the Western United States. It is the second largest natural freshwater lake in Utah^[1] and has been called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its unique turquoise-blue color, the result of suspended limestone deposits in the water.^[2] Its water properties have led to the evolution of several unique species that live naturally only within the lake.^[3] Bear Lake is over 250,000 years old.^[4] It was formed by fault subsidence that continues today, slowly deepening the lake along the eastern side.^[5]
Originally named Black Bear Lake by Donald Mackenzie, an explorer for the North West Fur Company who discovered the lake in 1819, the name was later changed to the current Bear Lake.^[6] The lake is a popular destination for tourists and sportsmen and the surrounding valley has gained a reputation for having high quality raspberries.^[7]
According to folklore, Bear Lake holds a lake monster: the so-called Bear Lake Monster. Although this originated with Joseph C. Rich, who later admitted to making up the monster,^{[citation needed]} people continue to report sightings of the monster today.^{[citation needed]}

 

We traveled a lot of miles this past weekend.

To come back and travel our own back yard...

We are grateful for the beauties that are here...

That we take for granted.  

Logan Canyon...

Then we came down into Cache Valley...

 four days of 70-80 degrees

What a difference four days can make.

Trees leafing out...

Trees in bloom...

bulbs in all their glory...

 I think I like to take road trips...

When we leave..

Larry comes and works his magic...

the back splash is beautiful.

(Stan has the electrical outlet covers on now)

 Thank you Larry for your talents.

We are so grateful to be the benefactor of these talents.

Then we...

Look out the window and what did we see...

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!

 

 I went outside to start working...

That warmer weather really did it's work

I sprayed before we left for Colorado...

But look at this bucket!

 

 I dig more each day...

Stan Ross and Olivia planted a Contorted Filbert tree...

Blue Colorado Spruce (no we didn't get it in Colorado)

Carnations...

Grapes...

Then as is normal with our Idaho weather...

It can be 80 degrees one day...

The next 27 degrees.

No you can't see the mountain...

That is snow!

Thursday...

I went to town with Chris...

She turned 44 Saturday.

What a blessing she is to this family.

There is so much that she does.

I am proud of her...

Her girls are as wonderful and service oriented as she is.

We had a great day together...

Thank you Christene Ann for being our #1 Daughter.

When I go to the chiropractor each week...

I visit Luana  Barrett in Malta on the way home.

She sleeps a lot...

Forgets to eat...

She is supposed to be having cataract surgery next week.

She is very confused.

I worry about my dear friend.

Saturday

 

I got some yard work done after cleaning the house...

Both felt good.

We didn't have any family gathering this weekend...

We didn't go anywhere...

We actually stayed home.

Well Stan did his home teaching...

Our ward Conference was amazing.

Our beautiful daughter next door...

Ben's wife Melissa...

Along with Marlane Hall and Sheri Lewis...

Sang in the Saturday evening conference...

Beautiful Savior.

Wow!

What a treat.

I love the Lord.

I KNOW HE is in control.

We always need the faith...

Things will work for HIS good.

When we force it...

We will make a mess of things.

I love this thought:

Don't pray for tasks equal to your ability,

But pray for abilities equal to your task.

Then the performance of you tasks will be no miracle...

BUT...

YOU WILL BE THE MIRACLE!