In case you didn't know-

Apparently there are resorts around which are under-utilized. As we headed from northern Utah back to Sun City, AZ, we decided to take a break in Las Vegas. Russ did an internet search and found a resort open to single night stays for considerably less than $100. We looked at the pictures but were aware that they could have been taken anytime from any angle to look good. When we got there we were thrilled!

We had a lovely suite with a king-size bed for Russ and me, a memory-foam pull-out couch for Ellie, a tv in both the bedroom and living room, a full kitchen (although we just walked to Denny's for dinner and breakfast), and a lovely bathroom with a jetted tub. (We used the shower but not the tub.) Outside there was a lovely pool with a waterfall, a hot tub, and a little waterpark. So, if you're ever traveling, even if only to spend one night somewhere, it may be worth your time to search the internet for something even better than a Motel 6 but at the same price!

It's all in what you want......

As I have traveled around the world and most of the states in the US, I have learned that not all Americans are perfect. In fact, not even all Americans are good. Not all Americans are American by "choice"- some by birth. However, I have read enough about the formation of this country and the documents related to it to know that the principles upon which it was founded are really good- maybe not perfect, but at least really good. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are about as lofty goals as humans can aspire to. An ideal, no matter how difficult to attain, is nevertheless worthy to pursue.
Early in the 1800's, a young man in NY was confused by all the Christian churches and their teachings. He read in the Bible that God would "give liberally and upbraideth not" to all who sincerely sought His wisdom. He got a unique response just as promised to his honest prayer. Within a few years, he had obeyed God and re-established a church on the earth in the pattern Jesus Christ had first set centuries before. That church has apostles, teachers, and a living prophet and has been designated by the Lord as "the only church with which [He is] well pleased", referring to the church collectively, NOT the individual members.
Being American does not make me, or any American citizen, superior to any other person on the planet. I may have great blessings due to being born here. I did not have to sacrifice anything to get to this "land of opportunity". It must be my choice to use my efforts to make the best of the opportunities available and to be grateful for what others have provided me. By the same token, being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not make me superior to any other of God's children. Unlike my citizenship by birth, I was not born into the LDS Church. Just as hordes of people have struggled and sacrificed to arrive in a land with great opportunities, I have spent many hours searching for who God is and what He would have me do. Just as it grieves me to know so many Americans take the blessings and opportunities available here for granted, I am greatly saddened by many Latter Day Saints who were born into the Church and have never made the effort to appreciate what they have. I can't understand people who would join foreign militia for the purpose of killing Americans. I can't understand people who claim to be ashamed of this country. I can't understand people who have been given the fulness of the gospel and are willing to throw it away because they find the world and its teachings more attractive. I understand the citizens as well as Church members are not perfect. There have been mistakes made. But that is NOT the fault of the basic government or the gospel principles.. We do NOT need a new constitution to fix  problems here. We also do NOT need to keep looking for a better religion. If we sincerely want to be free, succeed in being happy, and know all that God knows, it is available to us. But we have to be willing to pay the price then make good use of what is available to us.

Dear friends

During the past couple of months, we have traveled around the country and been welcomed in so many places with loving open arms. We have been so been so bad about taking pictures. We have visited and stayed with friends who are like family and family who are some of our best friends. This is the only picture I have of friends we were fortunate to spend time with. This is Sue and Jim Simmerman, brother and sister of a family that we have loved for decades! They are the only remaining members of their immediate family. We miss their parents and brothers.

It seems that life is full of hellos and goodbyes. Some goodbyes are for longer than others. Sometimes we get to know people well and spend a lot of time with them before their life takes them on a totally different path so we may never see them again in this life. Sometimes we aren't sure how long it may be before we see someone again, and sometimes the goodbye is a permanent departure from mortality. I am grateful to know that mortality is not all there is. The loving relationships I have developed here will not end when I die or the one I love dies. It's always sad to not have them with me anymore, but I can go on and develop relationships with other people just as I would want them to do if I were to leave. My emphasis for now is to learn all I can about being the best person I can be- kind, helpful, forgiving, considerate- so they will be as happy to be reunited with me as I will be to be with them again.

Family

The catalyst for this trip Russ and I are taking around the country was the death of my mother. Lest you feel you need to feel sorrowful, it was not an untimely death. Mom had been fading away for years before her body finally quit. It was truly a relief. A Sun City neighbor made the lovely ceramic urns in the picture below. Now Dad and Mom are together in their final earthly resting place in cemetery in McLean, NY. The weather cooperated and we were able to gather a sizable intimate group of family members at the gravesite.

We had a short, sweet, casual ceremony. It was nice to be with people who could rejoice with us in remembering what good people Clayt and Gerri Bowker were. It was a loving gathering.

Did you know?

Agency involves more than just the freedom to make choices. If offered without explanation the choice between a bar of chocolate or a bar of Ex-lax, an innocent, unsuspecting person could easily choose the Ex-lax. The person doing the offering may find it funny to deceive someone in that way but the recipient of the Ex-lax would be pretty unhappy about the choice made without having a full knowledge of the consequences.
With a concern to avoid making any kids feel bad, school have expanded award ceremonies to the point that the student who has barely managed to simply show up for class gets acknowledged for something as well as the diligent student who put forth his best effort. Lack of effort is rewarded as much as effort.
Either due to the well-meaning generosity of hard-working parents or enforced socialistic government programs, an able-bodied couple can have children, a house, car, and food supported by very little employment by their choice to not work (I'm not referring to someone who has been unable to find a job) while next door may be a couple who both work full-time and have little more than their neighbors. There is no accountability for lack of effort.
I am grateful to live in a country where I am free to enjoy my God-given agency to the fullest. Nearly every day I make choices to speak and do things that would not be allowed in some places, even though I always do my best to make considerate, helpful choices. I have chosen where to live and how to live without government interference. But the freedom to make choices is not all that matters. If I don't have knowledge of the consequences of my choices or I am not accountable for the consequences of those choices, my greatest enemy has scored another point. According to the scriptures, Satan's goal is to take away our agency. The devil is not a red-skinned evil demon with pointy horns and a pitchfork to prod us to do wicked things. He is a son of God who has the desire to have God's power and hopes to win the "war" by enticing us to join him. He does not rely exclusively on coaxing people to murder, steal, or rape. He is very good at deception to pacify us into thinking that things are just fine. "All is well." He lulls us into ignoring our conscience until we are willing to accept just about anything as long as it doesn't interfere with our own little happy world. He scores points when people look the other way while saying, "There are worse things than this" or "I would certainly never do that but I wouldn't interfere with someone else's choice". I don't claim we have to picket or demand laws or force people to do what our conscience would say is a better choice. By simply being willing to keep still.... to not speak up for fear of offending someone our silence is a vote. Does anyone truly think that the violence (sexual or otherwise) on tv, video games, or movies has nothing to do with the increase of looting (we have a right to be angry!), loosened sexual morals (there is no such thing as ultimate right and wrong, I can have sex with whoever I want), or disrespect of others (how dare you say what I like or do is unhealthy or immoral?). Does it really not matter if the entertainment figure or politician we support lives an immoral life? Do we really think someone could lead well if they are dishonest in their personal life? Do we idolize those who don't care about standards to the point that we help make them millionaires and more?
We have intelligence and freedom to choose. We don't have to be ignorant of consequences nor do we need to refuse to demand accountability. If we are seeing the world decay around us, maybe we need to recognize that if we are not thinking about it enough to care, if we are not striving to be a voice of reason, if we are not working at a solution,
then we are part of the problem.

Revealing

It was exciting to be in NY for my niece's "reveal" party. This is kind of like a baby shower, for those who may be clueless as I was. I loved being with these awesome women in my family to celebrate the expected arrival of JoAnne's SON and Deedie's grandson, my great-nephew.

Even if we do live far apart and don't see each other regularly, we are happy to be together when we can.

A Busy Summer, Con't.

Almost immediately after our lovely trip to Hawaii, we got to spend a couple of days with another two of our grandchildren, Aaron and Ellie. Their dad, Keith, had just returned from an overseas deployment in the Air Force. The kids were going to spend the summer with him in Spokane, WA so we met him at the Grand Canyon with the kids who had flown to Phoenix. We celebrated Aaron's 10th birthday as well as Keith's promotion. We spent a day hiking in the Grand Canyon and some time in our motel swimming in the pool then each went our separate ways.