Winter Running

Winter Running 

I am not resigned to staying in my cozy house in the cool winter months.
Paved streets, trails, red rock canyons or black lava rock, call my name, await my arrival.
Steady climb and a variety of sights, volcanic rock so dense.    

Red dirt and the wild smell of rosemary fragrant from the night's rain. 

The freedom, the euphoria, the peace, the runner's high--

To conquer, to cry, to commiserate with, to laugh.
This 3, 5, 8 miles: the hill, the injury, the wind. 

In one direction I see the seventh hole on a golf course, ruddy brown.

Another, the palm tree dotted streets. Or farther on, red sandstone cliffs.

The cacti, the yucca plant, blue sky through clouds.

And twice, the orange-gold-black tarantula, with its slow shift.   

Golf course on the left and the farmer's field

The exhilaration, the pesky hamstring, as the golden sun glistens

on the dew rock as we run up the mountain. Cold hands,

the howling gap in the sandstone. Bikers pass. Hikers with dogs.

The deep camaraderie, nod of the head, the hello's, the good mornings.  

We pass the rock climbers, hear a bell of a bike, stumble a time or two.

Running requires conquering fears, requires trust. The group text the night before...

This is it. The red rocky landscape. The beauty, the focus, the friends. 

Rock Climbers

Cairn

Cross Country Skiing That Day

Cross Country Skiing That Day

Skis and trees and happy smiles
As we ski skate, single file
A small chickadee with style
Cross country skiing that day

Firsts and thirsts and rosy cheeks
Criss cross laces, styles to tweak
At first the day seemed bleak
Cross country skiing that day

Pines and times, sweet laughter binds
Aspens and a chairlift find
Daughter-in-law so fine.
Cross country skiing that day.

Silver Lake, to give and take
Warming hands, a short lunch break
Grateful nature let us partake. 
Cross country skiing that day.

Converse and nurse, present stories
Learning to ski, tales and glories
Sharing, caring, snow, birds and trees
Cross country skiing that day.

Hoping to pass this bliss along
To anyone who will hear our song.

What Can We Offer God First?

 

Old Testament is a message of the law and the promise and prophets. 

I will be your God and you will be my people. 

Deuteronomy 7:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.

Deuteronomy 7:7-9

God keeps his covenants for a thousand generations. 

Malachi 3:3 Offering in righteousness

D & C 84:3, 128 Joseph Smith gives a different idea for the offering. Let us therefore, as a church and a people holy temple, work for the dead. That is something we can offer. 

Malachi 3:7 Return unto me. How should we return? Will a man rob God? Tithes and offerings. If we want to return, the first thing to start with would be tithing. Return unto me and I will return unto you. Did not introduce any of the other laws of the 631 laws or whatever, let's start with tithing. 

Permutation Exercise

Writing Exercise

 From Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady:

She was a neat, plump person, of medium stature, with a round face, a small mouth, a delicate complexion, a bunch of light brown ringlets at the back of her head and a peculiarly open, surprised-looking eye. 

What I think of as a "permutation exercise" is to keep the syntax but vary nouns, adjectives, and/or imagery, etc. For example:
He was an imposing, bony person, of gigantic stature, with a squarish lantern of a face, teeth like disarranged pegs, a moon-white complexion, not a single hair on his well-oiled head and a peculiarly intelligent half-lidded stare.
Do as many permutations as you can in five minutes. When you've finished, circle the one you like best.

He was a loud, heavy person, of short stature, with a chubby face, teeth too big for his mouth, a ruddy complexion,  a shining bald head, with too close of eyes.

She was a timid, frail child, small in stature for her age, with a perfect heart-shaped face, a pink complexion, blond French braids twirled when she turned, as she looked at me with her bright eyes.

He was an intimidating, strong person, of gigantic stature, with a florid face, pinched lips, teeth stained with tobacco, and beady eyes.

A Birthday Memoir in Eight Minuscule Chapters

1. December 15, 1977. 16 years old. Mom asked me to go get a loaf of bread in the downstairs freezer. Surprise! Michele, Connie, Mark, Curtis, Rod, Richard...maybe some others I forgot? Playing pool around our vintage table and eating hot dogs. Ten days later I would faint from a high temperature related to the chicken pox.

2. December 15, 1981. First birthday away from my parents. I am 20 years old in London, England eating chocolate cake at the Hard Rock Cafe with my study abroad friends. Earlier that year, we all watched as Lady Diana, who we all took notice was only twenty years old when she became a Princess, married Prince Charles. My friends gave me a nesting doll from Russia, which later turned into a collection by accident, and the next day I left for home after living away for six months.

3. December 15, 1987. Rick and I celebrate our fifth anniversary earlier that year as we navigate through job changes and moves. Jacob welcomes his new little brother as Rick and I maneuver through denied insurance claims and physical therapy for Brett. Books about Down syndrome pile on my nightstand. The next year is looking bright as Rick accepts a job with L.A. Gear. I turn 26. 

4. December 15, 1990. Eight months pregnant and 29. Earlier that year I am trying to be hopeful as we enter and exit infertility doctor appointments with negative results. Living in a suburb of San Diego close to my brother Mark and Chris, I try to smile as I count all the ladies in our ward who are pregnant. We finally conceive in May. Both Jake and Brett are doing well; Jacob has been put in a higher reading class and Brett loves his pre-school. His teachers, classmates and parents welcome him with open arms.

5. December 15, 2001. Bittersweet year. I am 40 years old, and our family has grown from three to five children. From 1995-2000, we muddle through adoption mess with Lositika. She arrives in our arms not as an infant, but an almost four year old. My dad passed away at Christmas time the previous year, and the world is still mourning two massive twin towers which fell to the ground. So, at this birthday, I sit on my couch looking at my Christmas tree missing my dad so much, pondering our future, and realizing that terrorists are real.  

6. December 15, 2004. At 43 years old, the kids are in school and I am working at Rick's College, soon to be BYUIdaho. Running in the mornings in the crisp Idaho air brings me joy and peace. Both Rick and I are teaching gospel doctrine classes. Jake is on his mission in Limerick, Ireland. My mom experienced a heart attack, and there were two major earthquakes in the world, Asia and Thailand. Taylor and Tika receive their citizenship. Oh, and we own a log home company, Snake River Log Homes and a restaurant, The Smokehouse.

7. December 15, 2011. Another surprise birthday party....because I am 50. My sweet husband set it up at Liisa Frei's house. Our lives are crazy as I have just finished up my masters, living at Lu and Scott's house, working at a charter school and we become grandparents for the first time! Earlier in the year, I hiked Rim to Rim with my brother Rob, Katie, and others. 

8. December 15, 2019. After ten years of teaching at Dixie High school, I switch to the new high school, which has just been built, Crimson Cliffs. Being Department chair brings new responsibilities and challenges. In June, I travel with Amy to Ireland, Wales, and England in June for 10 days while Rick works in Orem. We celebrate December with a new granddaughter, Sophie on December 10th, and a new backyard. Fifty eight doesn't look too bad, but the older I become, I spend more time reminiscing and missing my parents. 

9. December 15, 2020. Covid 19 took over our year. I tried not to think like that. Being grateful for all that we have. Our health, our jobs, family, faith, but the virus did kind of rule. The month of April and May were really weird. Everyone in lock down, masks, and no travel. People hoarding, riots, no school. On this day of my birthday, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, I was just getting over Covid 19. Headaches, no taste or smell. I first noticed that I could not taste my toothpaste. Then, I could not taste chocolate chip mint ice cream, or smell mentholatum. Strange. Very grateful that it is not worse. I am still very tired. 

10. December 15, 2022. Life is going so fast. Working from home now with Utah Online and loving every minute. I have been "healthy" eating for almost 8 weeks, so I go get my blood drawn for a wellness check at 8:00 in the morning. My friends come over around 5:30 p.m. to visit and give me a gift. Liisa, Lisa, Sheryl and Peg came later. Maileg castle with King and Queen from Liisa's store. All of us have received Maileg mice for the last 3 years or so. The world is a scary and beautiful place! War broke out between Ukraine and Russia on February 24th of this year with hundreds of refugees fleeing the country and hundreds of elderly or others who cannot flee left with the ravages of what is left when a country is bombed. 

The Geese

The Geese

The Geese, flew overhead-
Such a noise they made
During my run swooped up & down
I stopped, such a tirade.

The wheat stalks, tall as I
Flanked the gray riverbed
But my gaze was still on the geese
White mountains silhoueatted.

Wind, blowing in a storm
Thanksgiving a day away.
Grateful my legs, my eyes, my ears
River rush, my Heart gay.

The Geese, flew up again.
Stone grayish sky swirling
I turned around, my heart was full
White crusts of snow crunching.

Their wrinkled black v-shape
Same course year after year
Sun, Stars and Earth's magnetic field
Such Golden Guides to steer.

Black, strong v formation
A boat's bow through a storm
Strong as a mother's constant prayer
No deviation, comforting, warm.

Triangled super strength
Like a horse driven plow
Leading, cold to warmth, dark to light--
Light leads to truth, here and now.

Stay the course, like the geese.
Honk for encouragement
Keep steady on your path, unwavering
Of least sorrow & resistance.

Listen, they are calling.
Stay close to truth & light
Leave dark thoughts and places behind

Like the geese-
Keeping truth always in sight.

Jordan River

     
              

Geese -possibly Canadian

             

                   

Angels Unawares

Hebrews 13
2 Be not forgetful to ^aentertain ^bstrangers: for thereby some have entertained ^cangels ^dunawares.  (Sometimes "strangers" are people who we think are different than us) I definitely think that Brett has entertained angels.

Angels unawares
Sing a song of joy and pain
While images of the past ingrained 
With hymns that chant the sorrow in their souls.

Incandescent light
Despite delays we cannot right
Speech, motor, and even sight
With unconditional smiles that melt cold hearts.

I must do my part
To see you in full capacity
Surrounded by the elect and I hope, me
With your perfect love that sets us free.

Let us consider,
sometimes we forget
Like our Brother's debt.

Angels unawares
Eager embraces, arms accept 
Mischievous grin, ungainly step
Appointed for a wise, worthy purpose

Such a sacred service 
Others observe and often stare
Cutting and completely unaware
But soothed by easy nonjudgmental ways

Some still cannot love you
Even when your love is true
For when Jesus descends again
A perfect frame you will obtain
Family and fond friends will stand all amazed
Awestruck arms stretched and raised
Cleansing with a perfect rain.

Angels unawares
A sacred sphere of influence
For us all to be our best selves
Your abundance of love we can't forget

Even from strangers that you've met
Centuries of dust, dirt and blood
Literal descendant, even the flood
You'll rise joyously to meet your Brother.

I must do my part
To see you in full capacity
Surrounded by the elect and I hope, me
With your perfect love that sets us free.