...the final frontier...

Been anxiously awaiting the Space Shuttle launch. I've never seen one in person, but saw one on a big screen live at the Griffith Observatory once. It was, surprisingly, nerve wracking and moving.
I've always been a space nut. One of my earliest memories is watching the moon landing on tv. I don't know whether the moon landing itself left the impression or the fact that we were staying in a motel (something we never did) was more exciting. But anyway, I remember it. And here it is 40 years later! If you would like to travel back in time to re-experience man's exciting adventure to the moon, go check out this website that is re-creating it in real time.

Also, click the button on the sidebar at the bottom of my page to see today's Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Then, tonight, go outside and look at the stars for awhile. I have a lot more philosophical stuff to say about the heavens, but today I'm just posting the fun stuff and crossing my fingers for that launch.

...dancing...

You need to PAUSE the music at the bottom of the page before you watch this one...

Oscar the Meyer's Parrot dances to his favorite tune...Listen as he declares himself a "good boy" before and after...

...land of the free...

Seen on Independence Day...

...flag raising by Boy Scouts...

...lunch in front of "Independence Hall"...

...even the bugs enjoy a beautiful 4th at the water park...

...floating down a lazy river...

...viva multicultural America!...

...finally FIREWORKS!

D&C 134:4-5

...new life experiences...

I had a new life experience a couple days ago. I visited an hospice. A family friend is now in hospice care and busily making arrangements for her own funeral. She has asked me to sing and wanted to make sure I knew which songs, what order, etc.

I wasn't sure what to expect when arriving at the hospice and was really quite surprised. It was a regular looking house on a regular looking street, but when you went inside what a different spirit you find. Right away you knew that there was something special going on here.

Our friend's small room was filled with people, including small kids running around and visiting "Grandma". The room had the bed, a chair and couch, an armoire, french doors that looked out onto a garden, and two pictures on the walls. After discussing her plans for her funeral, she told us about the pictures on the walls.

One was of a garden gate. The kind you see in old English gardens that have actual walls. It looked like a wooden door. This picture was facing her bed and she told us when she first came into the room she couldn't see it very well and wasn't sure what it was a picture of. By the next day she could make out that it was some sort of door way and soon she said it looked to her like a veil. Now she could see it. It was the veil she would be passing through soon into the next part of her life. And look, couldn't we see that there was the shadow of a person on the other side of the veil. So you see, when you go through there is someone there waiting for you. The other picture was on the side wall and she finally could make out that it was a bench. That was where the Savior came and sat beside her during the long nights. Waiting with her until she walked through the veil.

I am so thankful to have been able to have this experience with the Spirit. Another one in many to help strengthen my faith and remind me of the tender mercies of the Lord.

Ether 12:19

...happy links...

It seems that much of the World Wide Web tends toward the trite, vulgar, or the very least, cynical; but occasionally I come across a happy link. (Okay, sounded a little Pollyanna there--but I am going to declare "a little Pollyanna" a needed and necessary thing today!)

Here is today's Happy Link: The World Of Beatrix Potter

ENJOY!