My friends and family in Australia are watching the political process in the USA with great interest. Having been raised in Australia, I suspect that most Australians would find it interesting, even romantic, that a black man in the USA could rise to the top of his political party...and possibly become President. And it is romantic; it is also historic.
The problem for me, and social conservatives like me, is that Barack Obama does not live in, or believe in, the same USA that I live in, believe in and love. I don't want to change it. Barack Obama can say with a straight face..."The USA is the greatest country in the world...help me change it." The trouble is that he does NOT believe that the USA is a great country...and he wants to change it dramatically. The USA that Barack Obama wants us to live in would destroy all that we hold dear, especially if we end up with Democtrats controlling the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court.
Obama has zero executive experience. He has never run a business or managed anything. And we should turn management of the USA over to him? Obama has served only 140 days in the US Senate. Prior to that he claims to have been a "Community Organizer"...which is a nice way of saying "a rabble rouser". He took time to obtain a law degree, but he has spent his entire career reminding people how bad their lives really are...how government should be helping them more...and how bad the USA really is...all in support of his own political ambition and power. He has THE most radical, left-wing voting record in Congress...he is way left of John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. I liked John F. Kennedy, but Obama would not be able to support the Democratic Party of JFK who said "Ask not what your country can do for you...rather, ask what you can do for your country". Obama has already reversed that premise...he wants to create a growing class who will vote for anyone who will support the premise that government should take care of them..can take care of them...all through the redistribution of wealth. New Orleans, for example, is a sad microcosm of that world of dependency, created by the liberal Democtratic party. They shamelssly blamed the negative effects of Katrina on President Bush...not on a sick, dependent society, devoid of individual initiative.
The USA that I live in and appreciate, is an ensign of freedom, liberty and opportunity to all nations. People from many nations are still lining up to get in legally... except for Mexicans ...but they will risk even death in the desert to get in illegally. The founding fathers had a sense that Providence was directing them. They united the individual states as "One nation...under God". They were men of principle. They believed in individual liberty...freedom to pursue personal happiness through their own initiative....and freedom of religion. They drafted a Constitution and a Bill of Rights which govern our Democtratic Republic and guarantee our rights.
The Mormon perspective is even more conservative that that of the Republican party. Mormons and liberal Democrats are hardly on the same political planet. The differences in our perspectives can be explained in one example: Conservatives want freedom OF religion...the left-wing liberals want freedom FROM religion. The Constitution guarantees the former...it does not guarantee the latter. Freedom FROM religion, taken to the extreme, would eliminate freedom OF religion...but that is the objective for many liberal social progressives. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. So-called social progressives see the Constitution as an outdated, outmoded, archaic document, which is out-of-touch with the reality in which they live...out-of-touch with their USA.
The Mormon perspective is based upon scripture, which declares that this nation is, in fact, the work of God...that God raised up and inspired men of principle and goodwill, such as the incredible John Adams (and his equally incredible wife Abigail), to create a nation where men and women would be free to participate in government...free from the tyranny of government. In particular, it was to be a nation in which a young man like Joseph Smith could declare the heavens open, that God had again spoken to man on the earth, as he had in ages past, without being burned at the stake for heresy. That he was murdered at age 39 by otherwise Christian men is only a sad commentary on the fragility of Constitutional guarantees to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Mormons and their conservative friends, are dedicated to the preservation of the Constitution. While to some it may appear to be the work of men...to us it is the work of God...it is not a document which may be changed to reflect the social decay of the times.
John McCain, who will soon be the nominee of the Republican Party, is not paticularly our man either. But he is much preferred over Obama. McCain is a self-proclaimed maverick...he is a middle-of-the roader. He satisfies neither liberals nor conservatives. To date I have not contibuted a dollar to his campain. The platform of the Republican Party proves that the Party has left conservatives like me behind. I was almost at the point of deciding not to vote in the November election. My thinking was that if enough conservatives refused to vote for McCain, he would surely lose...the country would go-to-hell-in-a-hand-basket so-to-speak...the Republican Party would need to regroup and rethink its core principles. I thought that the one thing that might reverse my position was if McCain chose Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts as his running mate.
But then McCain announced his choice for Vice President and stunned us all. He chose Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, who is possibly the most socially conservative candidate he could have found. It was thrilling. I was aware of her accomplishments through an interview which she had with TV commentator Glenn Beck, about a month back. The liberal press, of course, never had cause to follow a social conservative like Governor Palin, who even challenged the ethics of her own Republican Party in Alaska. And she's a mother of 5...mother of a young army volunteer, who will be in Iraq in ten days...she's pro-life...she even gave birth knowingly to a child with Downs Syndrome. To me...she's an angel. Well...she fits my definition of an earth angel, which includes any woman who loves and nurtures a child with special needs.
In the weeks to come the liberal press, will tear Governor Palin apart. They have moved from any semblance of independent journalistic coverage, to openly campaigning for Obama. Sarah Palin will be viewed as a threat. The liberal press is already promoting the premise that if the US citizenry does not select Obama as its President, it will be because he is black. That is so sad. It is not true. Most Americans would vote for a black candidate, if he/she was the right candidate. Democrats, of course, made an historic choice; they selected a black man over a woman as their presidential candidate. Obama had the opportunity to make a woman his running mate. Instead he chose an old white male, whose left wing, radical views are second only to Obama's. On the other hand, McCain, the maverick, chose a woman as his running mate. Maybe we should suggest that a vote for McCain would be an historic vote for women in US politics, while a vote for Obama would be a vote against women.
If the race should come down to women vs blacks in US politics, maybe we should point out that Governor Palin is demonstrably 100% woman, while Senator Obama is only 50% black.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Kirtland, Ohio
August 23, 2008: We drove north from Pittsburgh to Kirtland, Ohio, close to Lake Erie. Kirtland was home to early Latter Day Saints from 1831 to 1838. In 2003 the LDS Church developed, restored and rebuilt some of the historical sites in and around Kirtland. They have done a great job with the restoration...but they have not done a great job publicizing their efforts. Nauvoo, Illinois gets lots of attention, but Kirtland is wonderful; it deserves more publicity. There is a great visitor center...lots of full time missionaries, especially young sister missionaries, to guide visitors through the sites.
I think we forget what happened in Kirtland...and I was not in touch with the context of the place. Less than a year after organizing the Church in New York state in 1830, Joseph Smith announced that the Lord had instructed him that the Saints should move to Kirtland. Kirtland was pretty much on the frontier in those days. Sidney Rigdon was a popular Cambellite (Baptist) minister in Kirtland. He had been preaching about the need for revelation from God and a restoration of the primitive church. When four LDS missionaries arrived in Kirtland, Sidney recognized one as his friend Parley P Pratt. He invited them to preach to his congregation. Sidney and almost his entire congregation were converted and baptized. Newell K. Whitney and his wife were among those new members. Shortly thereafter Joseph and Emma Smith arrived. 1,500 new Saints moved into Kirtland, severely straining the capacity of the community. Newell K. Whitney was one of the stallwarts who helped the new Church survive and thrive in Kirtland. We visited his store. It was built in 1826 and still stands today...now well restored.
Our son Jeff thought that the Whitney store was the highlight of the Kirtland experience. There was a special spirit about the place. Joseph and Emma had lived above the store for at least a year. Much of what we regard as revelation contained in the Doctrine & Covenants was received in that building. What we know as the School of the Prophets was held in one small room in that building. It was there that Joseph instructed his brethren in Church organization and their Priesthood responsibilities. In that room they studied the scriptures, learned Hebrew, Greek and other languages...studied the sciences, etc. I recalled from Joseph's personal writings a note which said simply..."Met with the brethren...taught them about the universe." That was astounding to me at the time. And this was a young unschooled farm boy. I'm convinced that Joseph was taught and instructed from on high.
We also visited the Kirtland Temple, which was the site of many significant Pentecostal type spiritual experiences for the early Saints. It was completed with much faith and great sacrifice, in 1836, when Joseph Smith was 30 years old. How remarkable is that? The Temple is an incredible structure, still in use today by the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The majority of the Saints had gathered to Missouri by 1838. Most of the 2,000 Saints in Kirtland joined the 15,000 in Missouri that year. Martin Harris, who was a witness to the Book of Mormon, was one who chose to stay behind. Many years later he moved out to Utah. He is buried in Clarkston, just north of our home in Logan.
While talking with the sister missionaries, Kathie asked if by chance they knew a Sister Redd. Surprisingly they did. Myrna Redd is a good friend from our Ward in Logan. Her late husband Frank was our Bishop... I was his counselor. After Frank's passing Myrna volunteered to serve another mission. We were not sure which mission she was in...it was just a good guess on Kathie's part. (OK...I stand corrected...Kathie has a great memory) We attempted to call Myrna, but could not get past the mission office answering machine. It was actually their day off.
Monday, August 25, 2008: Kathie connected with Myrna this morning and had a long chat. Myrna confirmed the special spirit which exists in the Whitney store. Apparently new missionaries are taken to Kirtland by the Mission President. Each is allowed to spend some private time in the upper room which was the School of the Prophets. There they are encouraged to pray and dedicate their mission to the Lord. Myrna also said that at the end of their missions, missionaries are invited to return to that room in private to report their missionary experience to the Lord. So it is still considered a very special spiritual place. Jeff was very perceptive.
I think we forget what happened in Kirtland...and I was not in touch with the context of the place. Less than a year after organizing the Church in New York state in 1830, Joseph Smith announced that the Lord had instructed him that the Saints should move to Kirtland. Kirtland was pretty much on the frontier in those days. Sidney Rigdon was a popular Cambellite (Baptist) minister in Kirtland. He had been preaching about the need for revelation from God and a restoration of the primitive church. When four LDS missionaries arrived in Kirtland, Sidney recognized one as his friend Parley P Pratt. He invited them to preach to his congregation. Sidney and almost his entire congregation were converted and baptized. Newell K. Whitney and his wife were among those new members. Shortly thereafter Joseph and Emma Smith arrived. 1,500 new Saints moved into Kirtland, severely straining the capacity of the community. Newell K. Whitney was one of the stallwarts who helped the new Church survive and thrive in Kirtland. We visited his store. It was built in 1826 and still stands today...now well restored.
Our son Jeff thought that the Whitney store was the highlight of the Kirtland experience. There was a special spirit about the place. Joseph and Emma had lived above the store for at least a year. Much of what we regard as revelation contained in the Doctrine & Covenants was received in that building. What we know as the School of the Prophets was held in one small room in that building. It was there that Joseph instructed his brethren in Church organization and their Priesthood responsibilities. In that room they studied the scriptures, learned Hebrew, Greek and other languages...studied the sciences, etc. I recalled from Joseph's personal writings a note which said simply..."Met with the brethren...taught them about the universe." That was astounding to me at the time. And this was a young unschooled farm boy. I'm convinced that Joseph was taught and instructed from on high.
We also visited the Kirtland Temple, which was the site of many significant Pentecostal type spiritual experiences for the early Saints. It was completed with much faith and great sacrifice, in 1836, when Joseph Smith was 30 years old. How remarkable is that? The Temple is an incredible structure, still in use today by the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The majority of the Saints had gathered to Missouri by 1838. Most of the 2,000 Saints in Kirtland joined the 15,000 in Missouri that year. Martin Harris, who was a witness to the Book of Mormon, was one who chose to stay behind. Many years later he moved out to Utah. He is buried in Clarkston, just north of our home in Logan.
While talking with the sister missionaries, Kathie asked if by chance they knew a Sister Redd. Surprisingly they did. Myrna Redd is a good friend from our Ward in Logan. Her late husband Frank was our Bishop... I was his counselor. After Frank's passing Myrna volunteered to serve another mission. We were not sure which mission she was in...it was just a good guess on Kathie's part. (OK...I stand corrected...Kathie has a great memory) We attempted to call Myrna, but could not get past the mission office answering machine. It was actually their day off.
Monday, August 25, 2008: Kathie connected with Myrna this morning and had a long chat. Myrna confirmed the special spirit which exists in the Whitney store. Apparently new missionaries are taken to Kirtland by the Mission President. Each is allowed to spend some private time in the upper room which was the School of the Prophets. There they are encouraged to pray and dedicate their mission to the Lord. Myrna also said that at the end of their missions, missionaries are invited to return to that room in private to report their missionary experience to the Lord. So it is still considered a very special spiritual place. Jeff was very perceptive.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Impressions of Driving Across the USA
On August 17, the Wegener Family Reunion ended at Bear Lake. At 2:00 PM, that same day, Kathie and I commenced our cross-country trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Jeff and Kimi, who are off to dental school for four years. They drove a Budget rental truck...we drove their car. That night we made it to Cheyenne, Wyoming, the next to Des Moines, Iowa, the next to Youngstown, Ohio...and next morning to Pittsburgh. The first item of business was to close on their home...then unload the truck. 5 dental students, all members of the local LDS Ward, came to help. The Church in action is most impressive.
Wyoming: Wyoming is also impressive...it's big...it's wide open...it's mean. Between 1846 and 1860 about six thousands Latter Day Saints died on the trek between Nauvoo and Utah. Wyoming took the largest toll...especially during winter. People still die in Wyoming during winter crossings, even on modern highways. Wyoming weather must be respected...even feared. We have driven across Wyoming a number of times, but after this crossing, I commented to Kathie..."I'm sorry...if I had been a Mormon pioneer, and had they told me about Wyoming...I would not have gone." It is just as well that only a handful of men in the advance party of 1846/47 knew about Wyoming...and they obviously were not telling. Our admiration for those marvellous, faithful Saints has only increased.
Wind Mills: We saw hundreds (maybe thousands) of windmills in Wyoming and across the Great Plains. They were the huge kind...they must cost a fortune to purchase and install. We even saw windmill blades loaded on semis rolling down the highway to their destined spot on the landscape. The sight of endless rows of windmills was so impressive that it might make a skeptic like me believe that T. Boone Pickens and Barack Hussein Obama may be on to something that will save the planet. Well...maybe not. We did not see a single windmill turning during the entire trip. I guess the wind has to be blowing. So there were millions of dollars sitting on the plains doing nothing...not generating even a single watt. By contrast, I thought of the Intermountain Power Plant (IPP) down by Delta, Utah. Miners are employed 24/7 digging coal which, while it may be a finite resource, will never run out before science actually comes up with another reliable source of energy. The coal trains are running 24/7, transporting coal to power plants like IPP. The power plants are producing power 24/7. The whole industry employs thousands of people. Power is made available to consumers nationwide 24/7. No-one has to depend on either the wind blowing or the sun shining. That is far more impressive to me than huge windmills standing idle on the Great Plains. On the bright side, if the windmills are not turning, there would be no chance that they would be killing birds. That would actually make some people feel all warm and fuzzy, even as they sit in the dark.
Mid-Western Farms: One impression driving across the Great Plain states, was the beauty of the farms. Utah/Idaho farms, by comparison, are messy...visually unattractive. Utah/Idaho farmers have saved every piece of farm equipment and every automobile that they have ever owned. One day they are going to need something out there in the mess, I guess. In contrast, the mid-western farmers appear to take great pride in the appearance of their homesteads and groupings of farm buildings. They may have developed without much planning, but their traditional white color against surrounding green trees, fronted by acre after acre of corn fields, presented us with post-card type beauty mile after mile. We were impressed by the industry and pride of the mid-country farmers.
Truckers: Truckers are an interesting breed. They live on the highways. They own the highways. During some legs of the trip, trucks outnumbered cars 10:1. Even so, these interesting blokes, tolerate long lines at the diesel pumps, where they pay $4:50/gal...and they tolerate the rest of us who are not professional drivers. Jeff's rental truck was huge and he was obviously a novice truck driver...he had a hard time holding the truck in his lane a number of times...really scared us a few times. The truckers, on the other hand, have to know that rental trucks are being driven by novices. They gave Jeff a wide berth. Not once did we see an aggressive move by a trucker...not even a honk. Truckers deserve our respect. Who would want that job?
Budget Rental Truck: The highlight of the entire trip, from Jeff's perspective, was getting rid of the rental truck. It was not all that bad to drive on the highway...we stayed in touch with walkie-talkies...the truck did not go much over 65 at any time...but it was a pain driving in the city. It did not help that Jeff took a wrong turn into Pittsburgh. The streets were narrow...one time we did not think that he would even make it between the cars parked on each side of the road. It was more than close...from our perspective following behind, it was breathtaking. Then it was impossible to turn corners without running the rear wheels over curbs. Jeff only hit one telephone pole...it was a glancing blow, which did not damage the truck. Kathie and I held our breath at one point when Jeff had to back up to make a turn. He actually backed between two parking meters ...there was no skill involved...he had no idea that they were there. The next trial was finding a service station in Pittsburgh which had diesel fuel. We drove from station to station without luck. At one point Jeff held up a line of traffic, jockeying the truck out onto the road while Kimi guided him around a parked car. The owner of the car just stood there daring Jeff to hit it. He missed...and Kimi had to run down the road to catch Jeff...who was mightily stressed. When we finally found a service station with diesel, it was on the opposite side of a median...of course...and it was dark. When Jeff found an opening he cut through and we followed...trouble was there was nowhere to go. We thought we were turning into a street, but no...Jeff was stuck jockeying the truck back and forth...holding up traffic again. Pittsburgh drivers were not as kind, courteous and understanding as the highway truckers.
Welcome to Pittsburgh: The highlight of that evening was Kathie's attempt to go to the ladies room at the service station. This was an introduction to life in the big city. The restroom was a uni-sex type outside the station. The door was locked and a women's voice said pleasantly ..."Just a minute." Kathie waited...and waited. There was a car parked close by, with a driver in it. Kathie asked if he was waiting for someone. He said yes. Kathie continued to wait. Kimi joined her. I was watching all this unfold from a distance. I was thinking that Kathie was not going to want to go into that bathroom for a while. Finally a man ducked out of the restroom. As he went by he said "She will be out in a minute." Kimi says that she would have loved to have had a photo of Kathie at that point...her jaw had dropped...her mouth was open. Then a women walked out casually smoking a cigarette. The guys drove away...the woman got into another car...she went her way. Kathie was incredulous...she looked at Kimi and said..."They were in there having a quicky." Welcome to life in the big city. We live a sheltered life in Logan, Utah, by comparison.
Pittsburgh: The city reminds me of Sydney; the downtown area is full of interesting highrise buildings on a waterfront, the suburbs are all hills and valleys, with buildings constructed on the most unlikely sites. Of course, that makes it visually attractive, but an absolute nightmare to drive through. Coming from the west, as we do, where Brigham Young's colonizers laid out about 500 cities on a grid pattern, Pittsburgh is a nightmare of narrow roads with twists and turns. It has all of the big city freeways...even tunnels...all of which apparently exceeded their capacity about ten years ago. The areas huge steel mills closed down years ago and those sites have been redeveloped into major shopping/dining destinations...all very well done. The city is a melting pot of ethnic groups. Jeff and Kimi's neighbors came to introduce themselves. We noticed that they were proud to flaunt their ethnicity..."We're Polish"...or..."I'm Tony, your Italian neighbor." We think Jeff and Kimi are going to enjoy Pittsburgh.
The Locked Door: Would you believe it? We had not been in Jeff and Kimi's new home a day before someone forgot the key. Well...we all walked out, and as Kathie shut the front door she said... "I hope someone has a key". It was good thinking, but a tad late. We looked for an open window...borrowed a couple of ladders to check out second floor windows. It became a neighborhood project. Then we discovered that the kitchen window was unlocked. But there was a problem. It was a single-hung type...it only opened a few inches. Jeff borrowed a screw driver from a neighbor and succeeded in gaining a few more inches. Jeff tried but did not fit. Kathie made some comment about the size of his head. It was one of those situations where all eyes flashed from body to body...then all settled on Kimi. Still it was questionable. Kimi is...shall we say...well endowed...but who knew...she managed to squeeze her top half through. Jeff and I then took a leg each and pushed. Jeff was pressing down Kimi's rear end and she made it. It was interesting watching her rotate the body in the kitchen sink, but it was a painful experience which left her legs bruised. Kathie took photos and people would ask "Kimi...how did you do that?" Jeff and I decided to embellish the story, along the lines of the old BYU coed joke. We told those who asked... "It was easy...we just threw a twinkie through the window and greased her hips." I know...that's terrible.
Wyoming: Wyoming is also impressive...it's big...it's wide open...it's mean. Between 1846 and 1860 about six thousands Latter Day Saints died on the trek between Nauvoo and Utah. Wyoming took the largest toll...especially during winter. People still die in Wyoming during winter crossings, even on modern highways. Wyoming weather must be respected...even feared. We have driven across Wyoming a number of times, but after this crossing, I commented to Kathie..."I'm sorry...if I had been a Mormon pioneer, and had they told me about Wyoming...I would not have gone." It is just as well that only a handful of men in the advance party of 1846/47 knew about Wyoming...and they obviously were not telling. Our admiration for those marvellous, faithful Saints has only increased.
Wind Mills: We saw hundreds (maybe thousands) of windmills in Wyoming and across the Great Plains. They were the huge kind...they must cost a fortune to purchase and install. We even saw windmill blades loaded on semis rolling down the highway to their destined spot on the landscape. The sight of endless rows of windmills was so impressive that it might make a skeptic like me believe that T. Boone Pickens and Barack Hussein Obama may be on to something that will save the planet. Well...maybe not. We did not see a single windmill turning during the entire trip. I guess the wind has to be blowing. So there were millions of dollars sitting on the plains doing nothing...not generating even a single watt. By contrast, I thought of the Intermountain Power Plant (IPP) down by Delta, Utah. Miners are employed 24/7 digging coal which, while it may be a finite resource, will never run out before science actually comes up with another reliable source of energy. The coal trains are running 24/7, transporting coal to power plants like IPP. The power plants are producing power 24/7. The whole industry employs thousands of people. Power is made available to consumers nationwide 24/7. No-one has to depend on either the wind blowing or the sun shining. That is far more impressive to me than huge windmills standing idle on the Great Plains. On the bright side, if the windmills are not turning, there would be no chance that they would be killing birds. That would actually make some people feel all warm and fuzzy, even as they sit in the dark.
Mid-Western Farms: One impression driving across the Great Plain states, was the beauty of the farms. Utah/Idaho farms, by comparison, are messy...visually unattractive. Utah/Idaho farmers have saved every piece of farm equipment and every automobile that they have ever owned. One day they are going to need something out there in the mess, I guess. In contrast, the mid-western farmers appear to take great pride in the appearance of their homesteads and groupings of farm buildings. They may have developed without much planning, but their traditional white color against surrounding green trees, fronted by acre after acre of corn fields, presented us with post-card type beauty mile after mile. We were impressed by the industry and pride of the mid-country farmers.
Truckers: Truckers are an interesting breed. They live on the highways. They own the highways. During some legs of the trip, trucks outnumbered cars 10:1. Even so, these interesting blokes, tolerate long lines at the diesel pumps, where they pay $4:50/gal...and they tolerate the rest of us who are not professional drivers. Jeff's rental truck was huge and he was obviously a novice truck driver...he had a hard time holding the truck in his lane a number of times...really scared us a few times. The truckers, on the other hand, have to know that rental trucks are being driven by novices. They gave Jeff a wide berth. Not once did we see an aggressive move by a trucker...not even a honk. Truckers deserve our respect. Who would want that job?
Budget Rental Truck: The highlight of the entire trip, from Jeff's perspective, was getting rid of the rental truck. It was not all that bad to drive on the highway...we stayed in touch with walkie-talkies...the truck did not go much over 65 at any time...but it was a pain driving in the city. It did not help that Jeff took a wrong turn into Pittsburgh. The streets were narrow...one time we did not think that he would even make it between the cars parked on each side of the road. It was more than close...from our perspective following behind, it was breathtaking. Then it was impossible to turn corners without running the rear wheels over curbs. Jeff only hit one telephone pole...it was a glancing blow, which did not damage the truck. Kathie and I held our breath at one point when Jeff had to back up to make a turn. He actually backed between two parking meters ...there was no skill involved...he had no idea that they were there. The next trial was finding a service station in Pittsburgh which had diesel fuel. We drove from station to station without luck. At one point Jeff held up a line of traffic, jockeying the truck out onto the road while Kimi guided him around a parked car. The owner of the car just stood there daring Jeff to hit it. He missed...and Kimi had to run down the road to catch Jeff...who was mightily stressed. When we finally found a service station with diesel, it was on the opposite side of a median...of course...and it was dark. When Jeff found an opening he cut through and we followed...trouble was there was nowhere to go. We thought we were turning into a street, but no...Jeff was stuck jockeying the truck back and forth...holding up traffic again. Pittsburgh drivers were not as kind, courteous and understanding as the highway truckers.
Welcome to Pittsburgh: The highlight of that evening was Kathie's attempt to go to the ladies room at the service station. This was an introduction to life in the big city. The restroom was a uni-sex type outside the station. The door was locked and a women's voice said pleasantly ..."Just a minute." Kathie waited...and waited. There was a car parked close by, with a driver in it. Kathie asked if he was waiting for someone. He said yes. Kathie continued to wait. Kimi joined her. I was watching all this unfold from a distance. I was thinking that Kathie was not going to want to go into that bathroom for a while. Finally a man ducked out of the restroom. As he went by he said "She will be out in a minute." Kimi says that she would have loved to have had a photo of Kathie at that point...her jaw had dropped...her mouth was open. Then a women walked out casually smoking a cigarette. The guys drove away...the woman got into another car...she went her way. Kathie was incredulous...she looked at Kimi and said..."They were in there having a quicky." Welcome to life in the big city. We live a sheltered life in Logan, Utah, by comparison.
Pittsburgh: The city reminds me of Sydney; the downtown area is full of interesting highrise buildings on a waterfront, the suburbs are all hills and valleys, with buildings constructed on the most unlikely sites. Of course, that makes it visually attractive, but an absolute nightmare to drive through. Coming from the west, as we do, where Brigham Young's colonizers laid out about 500 cities on a grid pattern, Pittsburgh is a nightmare of narrow roads with twists and turns. It has all of the big city freeways...even tunnels...all of which apparently exceeded their capacity about ten years ago. The areas huge steel mills closed down years ago and those sites have been redeveloped into major shopping/dining destinations...all very well done. The city is a melting pot of ethnic groups. Jeff and Kimi's neighbors came to introduce themselves. We noticed that they were proud to flaunt their ethnicity..."We're Polish"...or..."I'm Tony, your Italian neighbor." We think Jeff and Kimi are going to enjoy Pittsburgh.
The Locked Door: Would you believe it? We had not been in Jeff and Kimi's new home a day before someone forgot the key. Well...we all walked out, and as Kathie shut the front door she said... "I hope someone has a key". It was good thinking, but a tad late. We looked for an open window...borrowed a couple of ladders to check out second floor windows. It became a neighborhood project. Then we discovered that the kitchen window was unlocked. But there was a problem. It was a single-hung type...it only opened a few inches. Jeff borrowed a screw driver from a neighbor and succeeded in gaining a few more inches. Jeff tried but did not fit. Kathie made some comment about the size of his head. It was one of those situations where all eyes flashed from body to body...then all settled on Kimi. Still it was questionable. Kimi is...shall we say...well endowed...but who knew...she managed to squeeze her top half through. Jeff and I then took a leg each and pushed. Jeff was pressing down Kimi's rear end and she made it. It was interesting watching her rotate the body in the kitchen sink, but it was a painful experience which left her legs bruised. Kathie took photos and people would ask "Kimi...how did you do that?" Jeff and I decided to embellish the story, along the lines of the old BYU coed joke. We told those who asked... "It was easy...we just threw a twinkie through the window and greased her hips." I know...that's terrible.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
XX111 SUMMER OLYMPICS
Michael Phelps: Winning 8 gold medals in a single Olympics, 7 in world record time, was an incredible achievement. His hero should be Jason Lezak, who anchored two relays, once overtaking the world record holder from France and then holding off the new world record holder from Australia. But give Phelps his due, he won one gold medal by .01 seconds in what was possibly the most unlikely outcome of the Olympics...not even his mother thought he had won that race. Touch pads and overhead cameras could not lie...Phelps won the race.
Our many years of attending swimming meets taught us that reaching for the wall at the end of a race would be preferable to taking one last short stroke. So Phelps took a short stroke, slammed his hands on the wall and won by .01 seconds. He has probably rewritten the coaching books.
Kobe Bryant: I've never paid too much attention to Kobe Bryant the person...Kobe Bryant the basketball player overwhelmed the man. But during this Olympics, Kobe, the Dream Team member, showed another side.
Bryant is a super star, and he was the darling of the Chinese basketball fans...they called him "little lightning", or something similar. It was interesting to me that Kobe did not conduct himself like a spoiled super star; he conducted himself like one of the boys who was just glad to be at the Beijing Olympics...just glad to be part of the team. I was impressed that he speaks Spanish fluently...at least he was interviewed by the Spanish press and he was answering their questions in Spanish. What was most impressive was the way he handled his interview with NBC's roving reporter Chris Collinsworth....who asked "What does it mean to you to be part of the Dream Team?" Kobe made the typical reponse, but ended with..."It is an honor and privilege to play for the USA, which is the greatest country in the world." The reporter looked smug and said..."Don't you think that is a sort of outdated expression?" Kobe just looked at him and responded .."Not to me it isn't". So, thank you Kobe...you are a Patriot...Collinsworth was a Pinhead.
Our many years of attending swimming meets taught us that reaching for the wall at the end of a race would be preferable to taking one last short stroke. So Phelps took a short stroke, slammed his hands on the wall and won by .01 seconds. He has probably rewritten the coaching books.
Kobe Bryant: I've never paid too much attention to Kobe Bryant the person...Kobe Bryant the basketball player overwhelmed the man. But during this Olympics, Kobe, the Dream Team member, showed another side.
Bryant is a super star, and he was the darling of the Chinese basketball fans...they called him "little lightning", or something similar. It was interesting to me that Kobe did not conduct himself like a spoiled super star; he conducted himself like one of the boys who was just glad to be at the Beijing Olympics...just glad to be part of the team. I was impressed that he speaks Spanish fluently...at least he was interviewed by the Spanish press and he was answering their questions in Spanish. What was most impressive was the way he handled his interview with NBC's roving reporter Chris Collinsworth....who asked "What does it mean to you to be part of the Dream Team?" Kobe made the typical reponse, but ended with..."It is an honor and privilege to play for the USA, which is the greatest country in the world." The reporter looked smug and said..."Don't you think that is a sort of outdated expression?" Kobe just looked at him and responded .."Not to me it isn't". So, thank you Kobe...you are a Patriot...Collinsworth was a Pinhead.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Angels
Grayson Wegener, son of Nate and Becky, came into this world prematurely, in 2000. That, coupled with oxygen deprivation at birth, resulted in his cerebral palsy. He is essentially quadraplegic, in that he does not have full use of his arms or legs and cannot move independently. He talks and is very bright, but he is fully dependent upon his parents and his big brother Jordan; they are angels in his life.
Grayson was one of our three grandchildren who were baptized on August 1, 2008. It is safe to say that no-one was ever more excited about being baptized than Gray. He was thrilled. He talked about that coming event for a long time. He was ready when the big day came. He was so excited when the moment arrived, that he was giggling when he went under the water... giggling when he came up out of the water... probably giggling under the water. He obviously felt safe in his daddy's strong arms.
Grayson's baby brother Jacob also had a hard time getting into this world safely. Becky again tried to deliver early. She was life-flighted from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City and spent three months on full bed rest at the University Medical Center...followed by another month to ensure that Jacob, who was born a month early, was safe. He is now a really healthy boy. Some of his uncles even call him "Tank".
During those four months Becky's parents Ray and Rita Minkler were Grayson's earth angels. They shared those duties with us part of the time. It was a privilege to have Grayson in our home for one week intervals. He is a delightful child and Kathie and I enjoyed getting to know him better. One thing that we found interesting about Grayson was that he was always happy to go to bed. It was always humbling to kneel by his bed as he said his prayers. He always started out with "Father in Heaven... I thank you for my many blessings...". That never failed to elicit a tear. He never went to sleep immediately; he would just lie there and...talk. One night we stood by his bedroom door and listen as he talked...and talked. We had to admit to each other that Grayson was not just talking...he was talking TO someone...he was having a conversation with someone. He was answering someone's questions...there were pauses...he would laugh out loud...then talk excitedly. One night we asked Gray if he had a friend. He just smiled and said "Yes". We hesitated to ask him who the friend was; it seemed somehow sacred. Maybe he had a ministering angel.
When we told Nate about this experience...he said "We asked Gray who he was talking to one day." His response was "You know dad". Nate said "No we don't Gray...why don't you tell us." Grayson said "It's the lady with the red hair." That left Nate and Becky speechless. It stunned us also.
The only lady with red hair in our family was Kathie's mother Floris, who passed away in 2000, just before Grayson was born. That made a lot of sense to us. Floris was a woman with a wonderful sense of humor...she was a real stand-up comic... so that would explain why he would be laughing so much during some of his "conversations".
We have quite a few friends who have children with special needs. It is humbling to acknowledge the real earth angels in the lives of those children. It is especially comforting to know that our Savior, who especially loves little children, also provides additional help for the earth angels, in the form of real angels from the other side of the veil. It is beautiful to think that Floris spends time with our Grayson...helping to make his life just a little brighter. We understand that Grayson is also talking with Grandpa Ellis, who is Becky's grandfather. So, it is possible that they knew each other before Gray was born and that they are permitted to be his angels in his life.
What Kathie and I find somewhat unnerving is to realize that Grayson, and others like him, are living a different reality to that which we accept as reality. While we believe in the reality of the resurrection and life after death, our reality does not permit us to see beyond some veil that is drawn tightly across our vision. We are taught that there is a grand purpose to the veil; it forces us to live by faith during our earthly experience. Grayson on the other hand, who is unable to enjoy our reality to the fullest, is permitted to see beyond the veil, and to communicate with those who love him on the other side. It is really a beautiful thing.
Grayson was one of our three grandchildren who were baptized on August 1, 2008. It is safe to say that no-one was ever more excited about being baptized than Gray. He was thrilled. He talked about that coming event for a long time. He was ready when the big day came. He was so excited when the moment arrived, that he was giggling when he went under the water... giggling when he came up out of the water... probably giggling under the water. He obviously felt safe in his daddy's strong arms.
Grayson's baby brother Jacob also had a hard time getting into this world safely. Becky again tried to deliver early. She was life-flighted from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City and spent three months on full bed rest at the University Medical Center...followed by another month to ensure that Jacob, who was born a month early, was safe. He is now a really healthy boy. Some of his uncles even call him "Tank".
During those four months Becky's parents Ray and Rita Minkler were Grayson's earth angels. They shared those duties with us part of the time. It was a privilege to have Grayson in our home for one week intervals. He is a delightful child and Kathie and I enjoyed getting to know him better. One thing that we found interesting about Grayson was that he was always happy to go to bed. It was always humbling to kneel by his bed as he said his prayers. He always started out with "Father in Heaven... I thank you for my many blessings...". That never failed to elicit a tear. He never went to sleep immediately; he would just lie there and...talk. One night we stood by his bedroom door and listen as he talked...and talked. We had to admit to each other that Grayson was not just talking...he was talking TO someone...he was having a conversation with someone. He was answering someone's questions...there were pauses...he would laugh out loud...then talk excitedly. One night we asked Gray if he had a friend. He just smiled and said "Yes". We hesitated to ask him who the friend was; it seemed somehow sacred. Maybe he had a ministering angel.
When we told Nate about this experience...he said "We asked Gray who he was talking to one day." His response was "You know dad". Nate said "No we don't Gray...why don't you tell us." Grayson said "It's the lady with the red hair." That left Nate and Becky speechless. It stunned us also.
The only lady with red hair in our family was Kathie's mother Floris, who passed away in 2000, just before Grayson was born. That made a lot of sense to us. Floris was a woman with a wonderful sense of humor...she was a real stand-up comic... so that would explain why he would be laughing so much during some of his "conversations".
We have quite a few friends who have children with special needs. It is humbling to acknowledge the real earth angels in the lives of those children. It is especially comforting to know that our Savior, who especially loves little children, also provides additional help for the earth angels, in the form of real angels from the other side of the veil. It is beautiful to think that Floris spends time with our Grayson...helping to make his life just a little brighter. We understand that Grayson is also talking with Grandpa Ellis, who is Becky's grandfather. So, it is possible that they knew each other before Gray was born and that they are permitted to be his angels in his life.
What Kathie and I find somewhat unnerving is to realize that Grayson, and others like him, are living a different reality to that which we accept as reality. While we believe in the reality of the resurrection and life after death, our reality does not permit us to see beyond some veil that is drawn tightly across our vision. We are taught that there is a grand purpose to the veil; it forces us to live by faith during our earthly experience. Grayson on the other hand, who is unable to enjoy our reality to the fullest, is permitted to see beyond the veil, and to communicate with those who love him on the other side. It is really a beautiful thing.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Bike Ride
When my sister Beryl sent me the story of The Tea Cup, which was posted on July 27, 2008, I promised to find and send her a similar beautiful metaphor about Life and the Love of God. Our daughter-in-law Missy found me a version on the Internet. I also found a version, but each version had been modified to suit a particular viewpoint. So I have taken the liberty to reword it here and there.
The Bike Ride
Author unknown
When I first met Jesus, life became rather like a bike ride. It was a tandem bike; I rode in the front and steered...Jesus rode in the rear and helped pedal.
I always knew He was there, but sometimes I got distracted by the journey and forgot. On ocassion, when the trip became difficult, Jesus would lean forward and gently place His hand on my shoulder and remind me ..."I'm still here." I grew to love and expect His gentle touch...those little reminders of his presence. Sometimes, when a hill loomed in front of me, I could actually feel Him helping to pedal all the way to the top. I learned to expect His help. One time, when things became really difficult I felt comfortable turning and asking..."What should I do now?". He smiled and respond quietly ..."just pedal".
I don't remember just when it happened, but one day Jesus suggested that we change places. Life hasn't been the same since.
I felt comfortable when I was in control. I generally knew the way; I always took the safe and predictable routes. I was always looking for the short-cuts. It was generally boring. But when Jesus got on the front seat, He knew delightful "long-cuts" up mountain roads and down again at breakneck speed. It was all I could do to hold on. I didn't want to question His judgement, but once I could not help myself. "Don't You think we should slow down just a little? I'm scared." He turned...smiled...touched my hand and said... "You're OK...just pedal."
At first I didn't trust Jesus to be in control of my life. I thought He would wreck it. Sometimes I got worried and anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He would laugh and say "It's a surprise". Sometimes I could not resist asking, "Are we there yet?"...He would smile and say... "Not yet".
Gradually I learned to trust. I'm learning not to worry. I'm even learning not to want to get back in control. I 'm learning to relax...to enjoy the ride...and the view...the cool breeze on my face...and the delightful company of my constant companion...Jesus.
I still get tired sometimes, because it isn't easy; it really is a long, hard ride. But Jesus is always there with me...He always smiles and says..."Just pedal".
The Bike Ride
Author unknown
When I first met Jesus, life became rather like a bike ride. It was a tandem bike; I rode in the front and steered...Jesus rode in the rear and helped pedal.
I always knew He was there, but sometimes I got distracted by the journey and forgot. On ocassion, when the trip became difficult, Jesus would lean forward and gently place His hand on my shoulder and remind me ..."I'm still here." I grew to love and expect His gentle touch...those little reminders of his presence. Sometimes, when a hill loomed in front of me, I could actually feel Him helping to pedal all the way to the top. I learned to expect His help. One time, when things became really difficult I felt comfortable turning and asking..."What should I do now?". He smiled and respond quietly ..."just pedal".
I don't remember just when it happened, but one day Jesus suggested that we change places. Life hasn't been the same since.
I felt comfortable when I was in control. I generally knew the way; I always took the safe and predictable routes. I was always looking for the short-cuts. It was generally boring. But when Jesus got on the front seat, He knew delightful "long-cuts" up mountain roads and down again at breakneck speed. It was all I could do to hold on. I didn't want to question His judgement, but once I could not help myself. "Don't You think we should slow down just a little? I'm scared." He turned...smiled...touched my hand and said... "You're OK...just pedal."
At first I didn't trust Jesus to be in control of my life. I thought He would wreck it. Sometimes I got worried and anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He would laugh and say "It's a surprise". Sometimes I could not resist asking, "Are we there yet?"...He would smile and say... "Not yet".
Gradually I learned to trust. I'm learning not to worry. I'm even learning not to want to get back in control. I 'm learning to relax...to enjoy the ride...and the view...the cool breeze on my face...and the delightful company of my constant companion...Jesus.
I still get tired sometimes, because it isn't easy; it really is a long, hard ride. But Jesus is always there with me...He always smiles and says..."Just pedal".
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Wegener Family Reunion Continues
Richard Johnston finally caught a stand-by flight out of Minneapolis. Quincey Rose Wegener was not so fortunate. Quincey was on stand-by using a friend's buddy-pass, out of Houston, but after two days she had to give up...her luggage made it to Salt Lake City. That was a big disappointment for Tara and Paige. But, with Quincey's blessing, the planned baptisms went off as scheduled, at the Logan Utah East Stake Center.
August 1, 2008
Three Wegener grandchildren were baptized...and one baby was blessed. It was a great day.
Logan Thomas Johnston, of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, son of Richard and Shelly, was baptized by his father.
Tara Rose Wegener, of Houston, Texas, daughter of Steve and Quincey, was baptized by her grandfather Tony
Grayson Nathan Wegener, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, son of Nathan and Becky, was baptized by his father.
Skye Isabella Wegener, daughter of Dan and Kayce, was blessed by her grandfather Tony.
The baptismal service was attended by lots of extended family members. Bishop Tom Lee presided. The whole crew then gathered at the Logan East Stake Bowery for a wonderful meal...and lots of youthful activities, which were exhausting just to watch. One little guy got tackled hard by 5 year old Asher. By the time he found his mother, blood was dripping from his nose and lip...and he was crying, of course. Asher exhibited his dual personality...on the one hand he patted the little guy tenderly on the shoulder and said: I'm so sorry...it was an accident". That was follwed by "You just need to shake it off".
August 2, 2008
The family gathered at the Wegener home for family photos in the back yard...on the rocks...with the snakes. Kathie tried hard to keep snakes out of the conversation as the photographer organized the mob. The truth is we have pulled eleven snakes out of the rock garden this summer. They are harmless water snakes, but the mere possibility of their presence was potentially distracting to certain people...especially during a photo shoot. All survived the ordeal like good sports. (We practice "catch and release" with snakes as well as rockchucks...unless they die accidentally...of course.)
August 1, 2008
Three Wegener grandchildren were baptized...and one baby was blessed. It was a great day.
Logan Thomas Johnston, of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, son of Richard and Shelly, was baptized by his father.
Tara Rose Wegener, of Houston, Texas, daughter of Steve and Quincey, was baptized by her grandfather Tony
Grayson Nathan Wegener, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, son of Nathan and Becky, was baptized by his father.
Skye Isabella Wegener, daughter of Dan and Kayce, was blessed by her grandfather Tony.
The baptismal service was attended by lots of extended family members. Bishop Tom Lee presided. The whole crew then gathered at the Logan East Stake Bowery for a wonderful meal...and lots of youthful activities, which were exhausting just to watch. One little guy got tackled hard by 5 year old Asher. By the time he found his mother, blood was dripping from his nose and lip...and he was crying, of course. Asher exhibited his dual personality...on the one hand he patted the little guy tenderly on the shoulder and said: I'm so sorry...it was an accident". That was follwed by "You just need to shake it off".
August 2, 2008
The family gathered at the Wegener home for family photos in the back yard...on the rocks...with the snakes. Kathie tried hard to keep snakes out of the conversation as the photographer organized the mob. The truth is we have pulled eleven snakes out of the rock garden this summer. They are harmless water snakes, but the mere possibility of their presence was potentially distracting to certain people...especially during a photo shoot. All survived the ordeal like good sports. (We practice "catch and release" with snakes as well as rockchucks...unless they die accidentally...of course.)
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