I have nothing even remotely significant to say today. But in church today Ross Farrer shared this poem b y Helen Mallicoat and it was sort of what I needed to hear. I worry about everything that "might" happen to all of us in the future. I want everyone to be blissful always. Ain't gonna happen! I want you all to know how much I love you and I just know we're all in it forever so...

I was regretting the past and fearing the future.

Suddenly my Lord was speaking.

"My name is I Am"

He paused. I waited. He continued.

"When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WAS.

"When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard.

My name is not I WILL BE.

"When you live in this moment it is not hard. I am here.

My name is I AM."

It's been a really long time since I posted to my site. You know how in Seinfeld Kramer tells Jerry "You know it's my busy time!" and Jerry replies "You've worked there three days!" Well, sometimes that's all it takes--three days. You've just gotta be in the mood. It's fun to read, but sometimes not as fun to write. But--every smile you send out comes back. At least I hope so. So here goes.
It's so easy to think that you've got things so bad, when really things are so good. We're healthier than we probably deserve to be, and happier than we deserve to be (most of the time). Sometimes when I feel weak, I look around and there are so many of you so much stronger then I am. If we hold each other up once in a while, we get stronger and we can face so much more together than alone. I'm grateful you're there and grateful for your strength.
"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason; bringing something we must learn; and we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them and we help them in return. Well, I don't know if I believe that's true, but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you..."

Well, I've given up sports, again. This time for good. Raylene asked me the other night if I'd rather go to the symphony or a Jazz game. I'd much rather go to the symphony. The Utah Symphony is undefeated, they've never lost a concert they should have won, they've never been ranked last in the conference, they've never blown it in the ninth, fumbled on third and one and never given up a fall-away jump shot in the fourth with the clock running down. The trombonist never breaks you heart by striking out with the bases loaded. He never makes the Monday headlines for using steroids and never advertises beer. If he takes more money to play for the Los Angeles orchestra it never makes the news and no one really knows if he's playing hurt.
So from now on, I don't care who won or lost, I'm not glued to ESPN and my symphony can play in the same league with yours. I'm feeling better!
I wonder what the score is...

Since so far I'm only attracting family to read my blog anyway--but I guess that's okay. If you've read books about John Adams, Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin you just have to be amazed at how many letters they wrote. Since we don't write letters anymore, the blog must be the modern equivalent.
I know we've said it before, but it sure is fun to have you all together. My mind is quickly slipping into senility I know, but I don't believe you were this much fun growing up! What happened? You actually have ideas, dreams, opinions. It amazes me in a really great way. The saddest thoughts I have are the ones that remind me that like it or not, there's an end ahead, and I already lament what I've missed and what I'll miss in the future. Isn't the thougth of eternal family comforting!
For the girls I thought I'd summarize the Priesthood session of conference, at least what I thought were the highlights.
President Uchdorft (sp!) compared church service to moving a piano...stand close together and lift where you stand. He said people often fall into two camps, those who don't like their callings because they feel it's beneath them and those who just don't want the responsibility. His counsel: cease to aspire and cease to retire.
Pres. Eyring talked about feeling overwhelmed. He said Pres. Faust counselled him: "I can't help you, but He can!"
And Pres. Monson said we should learn what we need to learn, do what we need to do and be what we need to be.
I know you can read these yourself, but I thought I'd note them before I forget them for my own benefit.
Ryan, Bethany & Audrey: have fun on the boat! All the rest of you...just have fun!

Passing of a Legend

Two of my all-time favorite movies are Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid and The Sting, both co-starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, so I was naturally sad when I heard Newman had passed away. It seemed like he was a good guy. And he didn't seem to be all carried away with himself. He gave a lot to charity, a lot that he could have kept for himself. And he provided "Hole in the Wall" camps for kids with cancer. He was married twice, but he made the second one stick. And I don't think he sold out in the movie roles he took. They weren't all commercially successful, but he didn't stoop to filth or crude movies just to get money. It was said that he worked hard at being a good actor. I'll still enjoy his movies and I'm sorry he's gone. Sometimes I feel like the people who die are the kind of people we can't replace. I hope for every decent person who dies, a decent person is born. Or even 1 1/2 or 2 decent ones for every one we lose would be great. That's the optimist view. And it's the way I'm praying!

FINE ART

Who says I'm not cultured?

Last week I got to attend the Monet to Picasso art exhibit at the Utah Museum of Fine Art. It was awesome. Some Monet, Picasso, Dali, Degas, Van Gogh and others. To0 think that someone many years ago painted, sculpted, created this world of art...it's just mind-expanding. I was there for three hours and it was well worth it. It was more meaningful than I expected it to be, although I'm not reporting the why very well. It was just very, very cool. I should expose myself to such quality of life more often. The painting shown is a Van Gogh (not hard to tell) and has just vast quantities of paint on it. There's almost a feeling that he had the picture in his head and had to hurry to get it out. I don't always know great art from bad art, but the peiceds in this exhibit were all wonderful. I just barely got in before the show left Salt Lake, and I'm so glad I did! I'm now debating going to the BodyWorlds show at the SL Library. Should I?