Vote for your favorite national park in Utah!

Utah is a beautiful state.  Five reasons for this beauty are the five national parks within its boundaries.  The five National parks are Zions, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef.  All are located in Southern Utah and have red rocks.  Zions and Bryce are the most famous.  Canyonlands and Arches are within a few miles of each other near Moab.  Capitol Reef is located northeast of Bryce Canyon by Fish Lake.

Capitol Reef isn’t as well known as the other five parks, but is just as beautiful in its own way.  The park has stunning red cliffs, a visitor center, campground, petroglyphs, a scenic drive and hiking trails.  Two hiking trails go into the geologic formation known as the Waterpocket Fold.  These trails have steep cliffs on each side.  One has been used for decades to pass through the area and etchings can be seen on the cliffs from the 1800’s. 

Recently I visited Capitol Reef National Park with my family.  I took the picture and video while visiting.  As you can see, Capitol Reef is beautiful in the day and at sunset, too.  Head to Southern Utah and enjoy the beauty!!

 

 

 

 

America's National Parks

I love to visit the America's national parks.  America created its first national park just a few years before her 100^th birthday.  The first national park to be created was Yellowstone National park.  This granddaddy of national parks was created in 1872. 

One of the reasons that I love the national parks is because of their beauty.  Yellowstone has its waterfalls, wildlife, geysers, and hot pots.  Crater Lake is a beautiful, pristine lake in a volcanic crater.  Yosemite has Redwood trees and one of the highest waterfalls in the world.   Teton National Park has the majestic grandeur of the craggy Teton mountain peaks.

Another reason I enjoy the national parks is the learning and education there.  Most national parks have visitor centers with movies and displays to help you understand the park, its history, and geology.  A fun and educational activity at most national parks is the Junior Ranger Program for children.  Children are given a paper or booklet with activities to help them learn more about the park and its environment. 

For beauty, family fun and education the National Parks can’t be beat!   

Motherhood and the Journey

The Family Proclamation states that “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”  This weighty responsibility begins even before a child is born and never ends.  Mothers nurture when they protect their children from harm, both physical and spiritual.  Mothers nurture when they train and educate their children.  They nurture when they support and encourage their children as they learn at home and school.  They also nurture when they feed their children---over and over and over again.

The journey of motherhood and nurturing can be long and hard.  It doesn’t end when children leave home, but continues on and extends to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Mothers can even nurture those who are not related to them. 

In this technological age, when mothers need help with mothering or nurturing they turn to blogs.  Sometimes called Mommy blogs, they have become quite popular, especially in Utah.  In fact the Deseret News reported that “new Moms who blog seem to transition into parenthood with a greater sense of social support and connection.”  (Deseret News, January 7, 2012)

Recently I read about a “Mommy blog” called 71toes.  It is written by Shawni Pothier, the daughter of Richard and Linda Eyre.  The Eyres have taught and lectured on families for decades.  Another daughter, Saren is the co-founder of PowerofMoms.com.  For some candid comments on motherhood and nurturing, log on! 

http://www.71toes.blogspot.com

  

http://www.PowerofMoms.com

 

Fun on the rail journey

Wholesome recreational activities are a fun part of the marriage and family journey.  A wholesome recreational activity can be as simple as a walk around the neighborhood or the local park.  The activity can be a quick visit to a favorite ice cream or yogurt shop.  Putting together a jigsaw puzzle, playing a board or card game, and watching a movie are all simple, fun, family activities.  

 

Wholesome recreational activities can also be planned.  Vacations are wholesome recreational activities that can last for days or even a week or two.  Family vacations can be camping in the forest by a lake or staying in hotels in a large city.  Families can see Mickey Mouse at Disneyland or giant redwood trees in Yosemite.   

 A wholesome activity can even be an “old-time rail journey!”  For a real journey on an old time train try the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train in Colorado or the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad in New Mexico.

Whatever wholesome recreational activity you choose, be sure to enjoy it and your family!!!

 

Working on the Journey

The marriage journey is a long one of work, work, and more work.  Hopefully, when two people marry they have both already learned to work hard.   Besides  employment outside the home there will be cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, gardening, weeding –the list is endless.  When children join a family the work increases.  Then there is feeding, diapering, washing, bathing—the list is endless.

Teaching children how to work should begin early when children are willing to do simple chores around the home.  Even though in many cases it can be easier to do things ourselves, children like to feel and need to feel that they are “helping.” Teaching a child to work sets a good foundation for the rest of the child’s life. 

Knowing how to work hard will also help a child spiritually.  They can learn how to do the spiritual work of praying, fasting and studying the scriptures.  Hard work will prepare them for Church service and for a mission.

We all need to learn to work and work hard.  “We all have work; let no one shirk.”  (Hymns #252)

Compassion on the rail journey

Compassion is an important principle listed in the Family Proclamation.  The dictionary defines compassion as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune and is accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”  

The Savior is the great example of compassion.  There are at least eight references about the compassion of the Savior in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  In the Book of Mormon when the Savior appears to the Nephites, the scriptures record that the Savior “cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.”  (3 Nephi 17:5)

The Savior told them, “My bowels are filled with compassion towards you.”   He then asked them if they had any sick, lame, blind, halt, maimed, leprous, withered, deaf or “afflicted in any manner?”  He instructed the people to bring the afflicted to him and he would heal them.  He told them, “I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.  (3 Nephi 17:6-7)

We need to learn to do as the Savior did when he visited the Nephites.  He observed the people he was with and perceived their need. He then applied compassion and decided to stay with them a little longer and heal their afflictions.

Sister Linda K. Burton, the Relief Society General President, has suggested that we need to “First observe, then serve.” She also said, “What better place to first observe and then serve than in the home?”  As we observe and serve with compassion our marriages and families will be blessed.

The Glue of Love

The word love is mentioned five times in the Family Proclamation.  According to the Proclamation husbands and wives are admonished “to love and care for each other and for their children.”  Parents are told that they “have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness.”  Parents are also told that they need to teach their children “to love and serve one another.”   Love is one of the principles listed that helps to make a successful marriage and family.  Additionally, the Proclamation states that “fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness.”

Why is love so important in marriages and families?  Because love is the glue that holds marriages and families together.  When we love someone we want the best for them.  We are willing to sacrifice for them.  When we love someone we are willing to put their needs before our own.  We are willing to give our time and money and resources to make their life the best that it can be.

The Savior taught, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Surely, those of our own family are our closest neighbors and deserve our most devoted love.