We finally made it to Pasadena

Weather, The Corner Bakery and the next three photos are the big attractions for us t0 travel to Pasadena.

Sitting in the fig tree

He's one hundred percent boy plus handsome.

Portrait of blue eyes

Taking time for a photograph at her school's open house.

Light for the night

While most sleep, there are important people who do great things at night: just to list a few, nurses, policemen, moms with sick or scared children, midnight shift workers, drivers and Teancum (a Book of Mormon Navy SEAL)

What's Going on Here?

Choice Number 1: The formal event just got out.
Choice Number 2: It's a protest as part of the Arab Spring.
Choice Number 3: The Singing Nuns are in concert.
What do you think?

Perspective

As these three photographs of the same flower illustrate, perspective, or how you view the event or subject, is key to understanding it. A flower viewed from above is a much different perspective than is gained by viewing it from underneath or focusing upon a single unique feature of a many faceted organism.

Life, often, is about gaining perspective. For example, my view or perspective of what happened to us in the airport in St. Louis a week ago has changed considerably from that moment when we go up off the floor covered with dust and glass. Then, and I still do, I felt that the Lord had protected us. Now, in addition, I perceive the great wisdom of inventors who designed safety glass and engineers who designed sturdy building features. I now have a greater sense of the fragility of life and how important spouses and families are. My perspective of what happened to us is dramatically changed by the photographs and stories of those who lost lives and homes in the recent tornados and storms, not only in St. Louis, but throughout our Southern States. My perspective now is that we had an experience, they suffered a tragedy.

There are many angles. You can look down, across, around, from underneath, from the heart, from the point of view of others, or from a selfish point of view when considering a subject or event. Perhaps, our goal is to come to view life and its events from our Heavenly Father's perspective. What a work to expand our understanding and view of things! Then, we are gaining true perspective.

We were there when the tornado hit the St. Louis airport

We were in the terminal waiting for a flight. Suddenly the wind came. Glass, insulation, clothes, chairs and building parts were flying through the terminal. This picture was taken minutes after we got up off the floor. The following pictures were taken of the damage while we waited for Andrea to come pick us up.

Saturday Storms and its time to cut the grass

April 16: The lawn is overgrown and my mower in the shop. Borrow a mower (thank you Ben) and decide to cut the grass at 10:30 a.m. before another rain storm comes through. How can it be a windy, cold day in the middle of April while I cut the lawn? It is, but the job must get done today or be ostracized for having the worst looking lawn in the subdivision, without a doubt. I have to cut it twice, and three times in the front, to make it look presentable. At the end of the day, guess what? The storms have passed and it's time to enjoy some chocolate chip cookie dough that I discover in the refrigerator while I warm up.

Covered Bridge

Whenever I am in the Hillsboro, Missouri area, I take a five minute detour off Highway 21 to visit a little park that features this covered bridge. This day I found a few bikers eating their lunch in the park and this couple enjoying a stroll and the Spring weather.

FINAL STAGE

The dogwood is now fully developed. The flower is much like we are. Each stage of our life is interesting but the last stage is the most beautiful.

Bumble bee, one more time

How does he hang onto the flower? Look at the hooks on his legs.

Dogwood and life in full bloom

A few days ago I posted a picture of a bud on our dogwood tree. The tree is now in full bloom. This is the most beautiful time of the year - green plants, blossoms, warm weather, children playing outside, yard work and General Conference. It is a time of renewed optimism and energy.

Cherry pink and a bumble bee

How fortunate was I to capture this image of a bumble bee among the cherry blossoms? For those interested in photography the shutter speed was 1/2000th of a second to freeze the motion of the wings.

Dogwood bud

The buds on our dogwood tree are just beginning to open. Here is a glimpse into the interior of one of the buds. Also, upper left on the bud, you can already see on the edge of the pedal the beginnings of the distinctive dark stain, which tradition says is a drop of Christ's blood.