Soothing Saturday

Today was a beautiful day. The weather has been hovering around 100 for the past few days and today it was in the mid 80's. It was partly cloudy and the sky was blue. There was an Ansel Adams photograph display at the Hansen Museum in Logan so I decided to drive over to take it in. I was driving my age with my window down. I drove by a field where someone was turning fresh cut alfalfa. I don't know if you know that smell, but it is a good smell. It also reminded me of time with my Dad.

Alfalfa was feed for my Dad's cattle. When I was very young, around 8-10 years old, Dad needed help picking up hay bales that were in the field. This involved stacking the bales on the pickup and driving to the location where the cattle would later be fed and making a large stack of bales there. Well it is time comsuming to drive 25 feet, stop, get out, throw on a bale, get back in the truck, drive 25 feet, get out, and do the whole process again. I guess Dad thought if I could reach the pedals, it was a stick shift, I could be helpful by being his driver. The first gear was geared so that you could not go very fast and even if you let the clutch out too fast the truck would probably go along o.k. The biggest challenge was driving it straight. I remember feeling like pretty hot stuff. Dad would set on the tailgate, I would get it started chugging along, and he would walk along and pick up the bales and throw them on the truck. Pretty young? Probably. Pretty special? You bet.

Right now the countryside is just beautiful. We have had many rains and the grass and crops are green.

On the way back from Logan I saw a doe and twin fawns at the edge of a milo field.
This evening Maddie and I went for a ride to Republican City. I had thought about watching the sun go down at the lake. When we got there it was still pretty early and the place I wanted to stop and soak in the evening was occupied. The lake is nearly full and people were enjoying the water, the beach and fun machines on the water. I did not stay until sundown, but it was a nice drive.


The wheat is just about ready to cut. I am sorry, but right now there are few things that do not remind me of my Dad. Harvest was a big time for him. We always talked about the wheat crop. We talked about the combines. Seeing the golden fileds today just reminded me of cutting wheat with my Dad.



It was just a peaceful relaxing day. Got to see some world renown photographs. Got to see some of, in my opinion, the most beautiful country in the world. Got to think about good times in the past. Got to think that God made it and to count the blessing of being able to be a part of it all.

Father's Day 2009

This post has been rated I

This was a kind of different Father's Day.

I do not know if it was the only time, but it may have been one of the very few times in 30 years that I have not had one of my girls with me on Father's Day. I guess it was my own choice that things happened this way but it was very different. I was able to talk to Annie, Pamela and Jacqueline on the phone. I talked to my sweetheart wife, who was the other half in making me a Dad. So I know, like times when we have been together, that I was loved. I will try harder next year to be with someone when my day comes.

I did put on my most conservative Hiwaiian Shirt in honor of my daughters for the afternoon. I usually get comments about the shirts when I wear them, so I thought today would be a good day to put one on. In honor of myself, I have not done the day's dishes yet. They will wait until tomorrow when it is not my special day.

On a scale of 1-10 I may not be very high but I would not be the father that I am without a few other factors in my life. First, I grew up in a home where respect, love and family meant something. I think my home and heritage helps me as a Dad. Secondly, we have three daughters who love their parents and were easily molded and have become beautiful young women of whom I am very proud. And thirdly I am an o.k. Dad because of the helper that lives with me. Sharlene is the rock that helps me be a better man. I have said it many times and I mean every single syllable: I hate to think where I might be if Sharlene and I had not met and married. She is the blessing! Whoever I am I owe to her. And lastly, God has blessed me so much. He has blessed me with my heritage, my girls and my wife. He has blessed me by taking care of us all.

I heard a man say on the radio yesterday that the richest men in the world were the ones who get to be called Dad. Man, I am rich!!

This one is mine, "Four of the greatest words I can ever hear are, I Love You, Dad."

I am very blessed, my girls tell me that all the time.

And one other note...This was my first father's day without my Dad. You know, I really am o.k., I just miss him a lot. He enjoyed his kids so much. It did not matter if it was Father's Day or just June 21. He loved to be with each of the kids who called him Dad.

I had a nice father's day. It was not the same as when surrounded by my girls, or to be with my own Dad, but I was able to count my blessings and that was o.k.

My little blue car

This week has another memorable day in it for me. Every year on the 22nd day of June there are special moments that come to my mind. It was on June 22, 1972, that I bought my 1972 Plymouth Duster. Every year I think about my little car. Here are a few of the facts:

The saleman's name was Ralph Power.

The cost was $2,300.00. Actually it was $2,369.oo including the 3% sales tax.

Don't remember the miles. I think less than 50. It was brand new.

The loan was from First National Bank

The loan officer was Andy Andrews

The payment I think was $76.00 per month.

I could not have bought it without my Dad's help.

It did not have air conditioning. Many times I regretted that.

It did have a nice radio.

It had a 225 slant six engine.

I was on cloud nine.

What memories I have with my car.

I changed the oil every 2,000 miles. My first road trip with it was to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico with Jon Weinman and Steve Henderson.

I could write many stories about it but today I am just remembering it.

Today it sits on a hill east of town. One of my millionare dreams would be to restore it.

There are many things that need to be done before that happens.

I just think of it every June 22 and nearly every 22nd day of every month.

Beautiful Girls (Part 2)

As I said earlier I feel I have always been surrounded by beautiful women.

Thirty three years ago I was introduced to another beautiful young woman. She has helped me become a much better man than I would have been if she had not come into my life. She is now my partner, my wife and my love. She is tender. She is kind. She is sincere. She is strong. Doing things for people around her is something she enjoys. She teaches class at church and loves the children that she teaches. She went on a mission trip to Japan last summer. She serves God daily. She is my idol.

Because of her we were blessed with three beautiful daughters. Aside from genetics, which Sharlene did have a big part of, ( I know I am biased, but I think my girl's physical beauty is hard to match), she helped make these daughters of mine beautiful people. They are tender, kind, loving and more words than I can say, just very special. Sharlene's example and guidance has helped make them who they are.

Now, my beautiful girls have found some pretty special men. Jacqueline's Jordan, Pam's Jeremy and now Annie's Jared. The boys are welcome additions to the family and they bring a new beauty to my girls.

To complete the circle, Jacqueline, with Jordan (of course) has, through the wonder and miracle of birth, brought to us by God another beautiful little girl named Chloe Mae. Such a tender sweet little girl. I know Grandpas (and Pappys) are biased, but she sure is something. She is communicating in many ways right now, but I can't wait to hear her say, "Let's go for a walk Pappy!" or "I sure would like some ice cream, Grandpa."

God has always blessed me with beautiful women. With my new little granddaughter the blessing is continuing.