2009 Granite View Stake Theme—Find Joy in the Journey!

2009 Granite View Stake Theme—Find Joy in the Journey!
Pres. Thomas S. Monson Fall 2008 General Conference:
“Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows… May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed."
Last week Brad and Marta and the kids came to Salt Lake. Jed played in the state basketball game on Tuesday afternoon. Much family was there to support him. On Wednesday I got to accompany the Harrs to the Draper Temple for the open house. We have been with Keri, Cliff Bode and Whitney, Heidi and Dave Seth and Emma, Katie came and played the flute with me for the open house and then we went through with Payton Jay and Chase. It has been a special experience with each family. It is great to to be able explain the temple to all the kids.
Thursday Seth and Keri and Val and I and the Harrs (Brad stayed home with Bode and Jakob and Sara until early afternoon) went skiing at Solitude. It was a joy to be out in the sunshine on 6” of fresh snow and ski first with the trio of Sam, Brinley, and Seth and Marta and I and then find Liesl and go the top of the mountain with Val, Keri, Jed, Chandler, and Liesl. The sun was shining; it was what Val’s calls a bluebird day, Everyone did well and it felt wonderful to be together. Keri left the senior team to find Marta and the junior team. She saw that the juniors were doing great and took Marta for a run. They stopped in the trees and talked for awhile and came off the mountain sisters loving each other again. (Trying to buy the Fox Hunt House together has put and rift between them and it had grown bigger.) This reconciliation between two wonderful sisters was an answer to many of my prayers.
Katie and Jeff asked us to go to Moab with them. The week they had chosen was not good for us so they waited for us to go Sunday through Wednesday March 8-11. Then it turned out not to be good for them so Val and I went to St. George without the McNeills. We missed them and wished they could be with us. We did ride the Green Valley loop Tuesday twice and then again on Wednesday. The Sun was shinning and it was just the right temperature. Chandler loves to fly while biking. It was Sam’s birthday and he got a new green bike for Christmas; Brinley did a great job on the ride from the condo to the Harrs but it was long ways to turn around at the Harrs and ride back. She and I and Val were tired when we got back up to the condo. On Thursday Marta rode Jakob on the alley cat, Sara came for her first time on the loop and Liesl got to join us. Another bluebird day. Everyone did great! It was something to follow Marta and Jakob whose feet don’t reach the pedals and he is holding on tight as he flies over the bumpy trail. Val and I feel privileged that our kids and grandkids want to do things with us. These days together make memories that bring great joy. We remember many hikes with Heidi and Seth in the backpack and many days at Lake Powell playing together. Keri and Bode have taken us on several morning hikes recently. We tell the next generation of kids what it was like when Keri was 10 years old and pedaling up hard mountains. Thanks to each of you for including us in your smiling adventures and the joy it brings to us to be with you.