David Kenison & Family

Happy birthday, Aunt Anna!

2010-10-30T17:38:00.001-07:00

Today was a special day for a member of our extended family. It was the 90th birthday of my Aunt Anna! Bonnie and I were thrilled to be invited to share in the family festivities:

Aunt Anna is a remarkable person, and has been a special woman in my life. She was born in Talmage just a year after my Dad, and eventually married my Dad's brother (Uncle Albert). The two brothers moved their families near each other in West Mountain and helped one another on their farms until my Dad's death in 1964. Uncle Albert and Aunt Anna had six sons and two daughters, plus a son who died in infancy. Their older children were quite a bit older than us, but then the youngest was younger than Judy. So we did have quite a bit in common with them, and spent many holidays and family occasions together. As we've grown into middle age, I've been grateful to live in Utah; it's been wonderful to interact with that family and become even closer.

When Bonnie and I were married in the Washington D. C. Temple in 1987, Uncle Albert and Aunt Anna were just completing a temple mission and were able to participate in the ceremony, with Uncle Albert serving as a witness to our sealing. It was a thrill to have them there as "surrogate parents" since neither mine nor Bonnie's parents could participate. (We have a wonderful photo of them on that day, but unfortunately I can't find it right now.) Uncle Albert passed away in 1994, and Aunt Anna continues as the wonderful matriarch of the family.

Today started with a family meeting and temple session in the Manti temple. Aunt Anna's first birthday desire was to have as many of her family as possible together with her in the temple! There were probably at least 60 there, including all of her children except Karen who was ill.

Following the temple session, we all drove back to Levan for the traditional family lunch and party in the church building. That's when things got lively with all the children! Aunt Anna told us she has 55 grandchildren and 117 great-grandchildren, and she thinks there are three more on the way. The oldest great-grandchild is 15 years old, so she may live to see the next generation as well! They fill the whole cultural hall as they gather to eat — looks like a ward social:

This clever cake was made by Laurel, Blaine's wife; the decorations included many symbols and memories of her life:

Alan is the "acting patriarch" of the family and offered a tribute, along with leading everyone in singing "happy birthday" to the honored guest:

There was time for some formal photographs, too. I tried to take a few on the side while the official photographer was getting his shots. Here's Aunt Anna with 7 of her 8 children (Karen was stuck in Magna with bronchitis). I think Gordon wasn't quite ready for this one:

And here are the children with spouses:

This photo shows Aunt Anna's grandchildren who were in attendance (out of the 117 total):

Unfortunately, for the whole combined family photo, they insisted Bonnie and I also be in the picture, so I only got this photo from the side as I was coming to join the group:

Wow, what a posterity! And what a day — we were very grateful to share it with dear Aunt Anna. Happy birthday, and many more!!

A visit home

2010-05-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

On Saturday April 24, my sister Angie and I spent a few hours driving around Payson and reminiscing about the people and places we knew those many years ago. So much has changed over the decades, but it was fun to see the things that are left.

We started in West Mountain, where our Payson experience began. Our Dad purchased a small farm in 1959 and moved the family there from Salt Lake City. The home we lived in still stands, though it has been dramatically remodeled. The big box elder trees in the yard (the ones showing green in the photos) were there in our childhood, though the other trees have been added since. Here's a photo of the home approaching from the east:

While we were looking at the house from the street, the current owner noticed us and came out to talk. He was very friendly, shared his memories and experiences, and eventually invited us to come in the yard and the house for a tour!

This is the front view today. The nice covered porch is new, and the fireplace on the left. The gabled windows on top are among the few things that are still like we remember.

I like this view across the front lawn, looking west towards the chapel we attended in our youth. We remembered playing on this lawn (there was very little back yard), and recalled the really old push-mower that we used to cut the grass of our lawn.

In the back of the home, they raised the level of the ground (which naturally sloped away from the house) and made a much larger back yard. The changes to the house are much more dramatic from this angle. The original house is the smaller part on the left side of the photo. The two stories with the patio and balcony extending out are all additions. I think the current owner said they raised 7 or 8 children in the home? Probably if we had stayed, we would have needed more space than we had too.

I took only a very few photos inside the home; there weren't a lot of things that I could remember, and I didn't want to invade the privacy. I do wish I had taken a photo upstairs — those little rooms nestled up under the rafters were my sisters' bedrooms, and they are as small and tight as we both remembered.

This is the one picture I did take, of the steep narrow stairs leading up to the second level. In our time, there were some shelves under the stairs facing out where there is now a bulletin board. I remember once finding my Easter basket behind some things on that shelf!

This next view from the house across the yard to the shed evoked more memories and emotions. It seems there was always machinery scattered about, and an old sheep wagon (a kind of primitive camper trailer with a rounded top, silver I believe) off to the left. There was a haystack to the right. I remember our Mother standing at the kitchen window after our Dad was killed and crying, looking out across the yard for long stretches, maybe desperately hoping she would see him emerge from that shed again.

The field to the west was part of where our Dad farmed. Our section of land stretched along that road to the south where Tom Larson's home was.

This is looking southeast from the yard near the shed. I remember having sugar beets growing in this field, and having Indians and Mexicans hired to thin the beets and weed the plants. I also remember peas and wheat in our fields, and a big section of alfalfa down near the Larson home. This is a beautiful view to me; I wonder if my Dad enjoyed looking at the mountains as much as I do.

Saving the best for last. Though I enjoy walking the yard and fields where my Dad walked and worked, this fence is one of the few very personal "treasures" that still exists in the farmyard. It's bowed and aging, but still very functional almost 50 years after our Dad built it. When I touch it, I feel like I'm touching a part of him. It will be a very sad day to return to visit in the future and find it gone.

Headstone in Payson Cemetery

2010-04-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have not done well in keeping up this blog. But today I feel motivated to try to restart. We'll see if I can do a little better in keeping up, at least occasionally.

Since Sarah's wedding in August (and my last post to the blog), the major event in my life was the passing of my dear Mother last November. We had a wonderful funeral, with almost all of her descendents attending and participating (except for two grandsons, Matt on his mission in Chile and Andrew who could not get away from school at UCLA).

Since Mom died in November, we were not able to get the headstone updated and re-seated through the winter months. They had to wait for the ground to thaw and dry out. Conditions finally were right last week, and today, Bonnie and I went to Payson to see the results. (Click on any photo to view a larger and more detailed copy.)

Note the granite slab between the cement and the headstone — that's something we had added. It makes the headstone more permanent, protected, and durable, and also a little more visible. The cement foundation was badly worn in the original mounting, and looks so nice now that it's fresh and new.

This next picture shows our stone behind Uncle Albert's. You can see that the mounting (with the extra granite) is similar to his now; ours is actually slightly thicker. That was not intentional (no one ever asked me or told me how thick the granite would be); but it does help our stone to be more visible from the road.

This picture shows the Kenison family area. Grandma Kenison is in the lower right, the two children's graves next to her, and then our headstone behind Uncle Albert's on the left:

The other addition we had done while the stone was removed for engraving was to put the names of the five children of our parents on the back of the stone:

Earlier in the winter, I could see through the snow that the ground above the graves had settled very unevenly. I was grateful to see that it had been adjusted and smoothed out. As the grass grows in better this spring, it will look nice.

It was poignant today to remember the many visits I made with Mom over the years to the grave. The last time we came, she seemed disbelieving — "You mean I'm going to be put down there??" But now, it felt peaceful to me to have the stone in its place. I'm sure there will be many visits to this quiet place in years to come.

Oh, Happy Day!

2009-08-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it…"
- Joseph Smith, TPJS 255

As I consider the happiness of my life as it relates to Sarah’s wedding, I can describe it in three phases.

A GLORIOUSLY HAPPY DAY

Today will surely rank among the very most joyful days of my life (so far!). It was absolutely marvelous in every way. We were blessed with wonderful weather (cooler but calm and clear). Everything went according to plan – there were no significant problems or mistakes. We were surrounded by family and friends. And there was a feeling of deep contentment, of shared joy, of eager anticipation for a bright and shining future.

The day began early with a hair-styling appointment, and Sarah transformed easily into Princess Sarah! She was even more beautiful than normal, though that’s hard to believe. We enjoyed our traditional special-occasion family breakfast of cinnamon rolls and omelets. We gathered everything together and reviewed our checklists as we loaded the car. I had the wonderful, sacred privilege of giving one last father’s blessing, and we were on our way to the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

We had arranged for an old friend of mine to perform the sealing. George Durrant was the stake president when I served as high councilor and then bishop at BYU, so we worked closely for about 4 years. Now that he’s retired and working in the temple, we were delighted to have him available to officiate at this event. In his warm and uniquely personal style, he gave Sarah and Brian counsel about their marriage, encouraging them to become each other’s heroes and to be supportive and united in spiritual growth. He mentioned that life will not always be easy, but that prayers for strength are one prayer that God always answers. He told them to build on the best of their shared traditions and find their own new ones. He said to honor covenants, return often to the temple, and create a home full of the Lord’s spirit. I love this dear man; he added to much to the sacred nature of why we were there.

The sealing ordinance itself is brief and powerful. I loved hearing the words today more than ever (except perhaps on my own wedding day). I loved the look of joy and total devotion on Sarah’s and Brian’s faces as they stared into each other’s eyes, and then kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

We have come to love Brian. We appreciate his devotion to Sarah, and the goodness of his heart and spirit. We are completely confident that he will devote himself to making her happy, to growing in unity and love and oneness. We absolutely could not ask for a better son-in-law; what joy that brings to us!

There was quite a crowd assembled to welcome the newlyweds as they exited the temple. Our photographer took some nice group shots, then most of the guests left for the luncheon while we took more photos of the couple. The day was so pretty, pleasant and not too hot; we were greatly blessed!

The luncheon (hosted by the Wrights) was held at Los Hermanos, the restaurant where Matt worked before his mission. There was wonderful food and enjoyment in socializing with extended family members (many of whom we are meeting for the first time). The food was delicious and we all enjoyed chatting.

As a part of the luncheon, when we were all introducing ourselves, I brought out my big surprise. I told Bonnie about this just as we arrived at Los; no one else knew it was coming. As the luncheon started, we went around the room and did introductions, and when it was my turn (very last), I said I had one more person to introduce. I had created a full-size cutout of Matt by enlarging a photograph and mounting it on foamboard. It was in two pieces for convenience, so while I put it together, I told everyone who Matt was (since most of those attending were Brian’s relatives). Then I stood him up in front of the group, had Sarah stand next to the cutout, and read a message to Sarah that Matt had written for the occasion. It was GREAT! It really was a highlight of the day. Everyone was thrilled. I cried the first time I read this note to Sarah when Matt sent it to me last week, but managed to hold it together when I read it at the luncheon. Sarah and Matt have had a wonderful closeness, and have been good for each other.

This was his message (in his wonderful personal style):

Sarah-
I want to quickly let you know that I’m proud of you. I’m proud you found a boy you love who you can spend the rest of your life with (and longer ;D). I also want to say thank you. thanks for always watching out for me. thanks for being my favorite sister. haha :D thanks for all the times you’ve helped me, in school (especially when i was a sophmore) on sundays or other days when there wasn’t a lot to do and you’d make cookies with me. thank you for everything you’re the best sister ever haha :D I love you so much. Brian you better take care of her she means a lot to me and to my family. she is a very special girl to me and i want the best for her. take care of her. let her know you love her haha :D i know you will. thanks everyone for everything you’re the greatest I love you :D
-elder kenison

The afternoon was a little more relaxing. Bonnie worked on setting up the reception center while I completed the "video" slideshow that was shown during the reception.

The reception at Sleepy Ridge was the capstone to the day. It was cool enough to be able to have the receiving line outdoors, and we enjoyed chatting with a steady stream of family and friends. The food (catered by Magleby's) was tasty and plentiful, the decorations were beautiful, the music was good, and everything worked out as planned. We loved every minute of it. I didn't get many photos of this time, since I was occupied otherwise — we'll have to wait for the formal photos to come out. But here are a few:

Sarah saw me shed quite a few tears today — during the sealing, the photo shoots, and the reception. I told Sarah as we danced that traditional "Daddy-daughter dance" that not one of the tears all day long was a tear of sadness or disappointment or regret. They were all tears of joy — every one! That's really how I felt today. I am so happy that my daughter is happy, and progressing in this wonderful new phase of her eternal life.

HAPPY 3 1/2 MONTHS

Bonnie and I totally enjoyed the period of preparation leading to today. When Sarah and Brian became engaged in April, the fun began. There were many, many details to attend to; but we like that kind of challenge. We made “to-do” lists and collected addresses. We designed the invitation and the decorations. We shopped for clothes and considered flowers and cakes. We took LOTS of photos, and enjoyed working with our photographer to take more. We selected a printer for the invitation, printed addresses on envelopes, stuffed and stamped and mailed. We “crashed” weddings at Sleepy Ridge to help us plan our own reception. We tried to anticipate problems and prepare in advance. We prayed for good weather, but made alternate plans. We worked around Sarah’s busy schedule (two summer jobs) and Brian’s sometimes conflicting schedule. We enjoyed getting to know the Wrights a little more.

All of this has been so fun! We have only one daughter, and we wanted to make the most of it! And I think we succeeded pretty well. Looking back now, we can’t think of many things we could have changed. We hope Sarah and Brian feel the same!

Sometimes, the anticipation of a thing is more joyous than the thing itself. I don’t think that was the case this time, but the anticipation and preparation were a joyful time for us regardless. We will miss having the event to look forward to!

HAPPY 21 YEARS

Looking back even further, our 21 years with Sarah have been pure and sweet joy all of the way. She joined our family quickly as a “honeymoon baby”, which turned out to be more of a blessing than we knew at the time, since she would be our only “biological” child. I was battling cancer while Bonnie was delivering, and so Sarah brought immense joy to us in the midst of those trials.

She was a bright and delightful child, full of inquisitiveness and eagerness. She memorized books and pretended to read them; she loved “helping” her Mom and playing with friends. Her twinkling blue eyes and bright smile were always a joy to behold. She became a wonderful, devoted “big sister” when Matt was adopted.

As she grew and matured, she showed intellectual sharpness and ability. Her grades were always top-notch. She would wake herself early in the mornings to study and prepare. She was eventually among the top of her high school class, and earned a full-tuition scholarship to BYU. Meanwhile, she was developing musical gifts, becoming proficient at piano, flute, and piccolo. And her social skills also grew and developed, as she found enjoyment and support in a wonderful group of friends. She was often sensitive and helpful to those around her who needed that support.

Even more important, she grew spiritually. She became aware and sensitive to spiritual things, learned to love the scriptures and the prophets, and found comfort in prayer. She earned her Young Womanhood recognition at a young age, and continued to follow the values she had learned in the process.

She was what every Daddy dreams for in his little girl – beautiful, faithful, obedient, cheerful, studious, helpful, loving.

Sarah and I had a little tradition when she was younger. We eventually collected 5 nicknames for her, and periodically I would ask her (picking one of the five nicknames at random), “Are you my princess?” giggle – “Yes.” “What else?” “Snugglebunny, goose, pumpkin, and prettiest girl in Utah!” I know she will continue to be all of those things for me.

On this day of joy, I consider myself among the most blessed of men to have a daughter like Sarah, and to be able to share her now with Brian. I love you, Princess!

Wedding Eve

2009-08-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

The expected weather earlier in the week mostly has played out as hoped. Today was kind of a yucky day, though; it was still quite hot, but in addition was windy which stirred up quite a bit of dust. And then there was a wildfire to the north, so the air quality and visibility were awful. It would NOT have been a good day to take outdoor pictures! We're hoping for improvement tomorrow.

We did have a nice evening with family members who were in town, and the newlyweds-to-be. We made a large batch of barbecued ribs and enjoyed talking together. Here are some photos:

This one was taken by my niece Rachael, showing one of her gorgeous daughters being entertained by a dignified-looking man:

Well. the time has almost come! Tomorrow will be THE BIG DAY!

Final countdown

2009-08-03T09:57:00.001-07:00

Lest any reader think the Kenisons' life lately has been all about eating, hiking, working, and all that other stuff mentioned in this blog — let me clarify. The major activity and concern through the past several weeks has definitely been wedding plans. Bonnie has done an amazing amount of work in planning or preparing decorations, facility layouts, flowers, cake, food, etc. I've worked on things like photos, music, and the guest book, as well as supporting Bonnie. We've both had LOTS of fun doing this; we wish we had more daughters so we could enjoy this again in the future! But since we have only one, we're trying to make the most of it.

Here's what our kitchen table looked like recently, as we prepared photos — and this is just the beginning:

We're down to the final five days! Or technically FOUR days from about now, I guess, until the wedding. We've been carefully watching the long-range weather forecasts for Friday. We want the sky to be blue but not too hot while we're taking photos. At the evening reception, we'd really like to have the receiving line outdoors — assuming it's not too hot and not rainy. The forecast this morning gives us hope, if it will hold out through the week; what a great break on Friday:

Finally, here's a "sneak preview" of my beautiful princess.

I have a hard time looking at these photos without getting teary! I asked Matt in our emails today how many hankies he thinks I will need on Friday. This was his response:

i'm guessing at least 6 hankies. well that depends are they big or small. if they're small then at least 12 hahaha just kidding. :D

"hahaha" indeed.

Go up to the mountains

2009-08-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

I talked my sweet daughter into taking a little hike with me up Provo's Rock Canyon this morning. It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed the chance to chat about the wonderful upcoming events in her life.

We're continually astonished at the beauty we have within minutes of our homes here in Utah. This little canyon is a good example. The stream isn't flowing nearly as strongly as it did in the spring, but it's still some spectacular scenery.

We've had many wonderful experiences hiking and camping as a family, ever since Sarah was little. She rode in a child's backpack for a while, but she really was a "super hiker" (the label we gave her) before long. She's continued to enjoy that experience through the years, much to my delight. Her annual "girls' backpack" with a group of her friends is a great tradition that I hope can continue for many years.

This afternoon, we added to the sweetness of the day as we went together to another mountain — the mountain of the House of the Lord — the Mount Timpanogos Temple. Sarah received her endowment and we enjoyed the sweetness of being together with her in that sacred place. While Sarah was having her initial instruction, I was able to complete some initiatory work on some family file names, and then we joined together for the endowment. It was a busy day in the temple; there were six first endowments in our session, and we learned there were 35 weddings performed during the course of the day!! Wow!

We are very eager for Friday to come. I only used my handkerchief a little today, but expect to make up for it on Friday!

Bliss Part 3

2009-07-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I talked about my joy in enjoying fresh Utah peas, tomatoes, and peaches. Today, the third part of that succulent triad was realized as I purchased the first box of early peaches. They are called "early red haven" and are "cling" variety (as opposed to "freestone"). They are quite juicy but not as flavorful as later varieties. But when you've been on a 9-month famine, any fresh peach is a wonderful peach!

In years past, our family tradition was to have a peach milkshake at bedtime almost every night. That involves cutting up several peaches, placing them in the blender with vanilla ice cream, and then enjoying. We even had a special set of glasses that were reserved for our peach milkshakes. What a great tradition! However, it's also a high-calorie tradition. More recently, Bonnie has convinced me to go the "peach slushie" route, mixing the peaches with ice cubes and sugar substitute. You get almost the same flavor enjoyment, but at a fraction of the calories. (I confess to "cheating" once in a while and having an ice cream version when Bonnie isn't watching...)

I am convinced that peas, tomatoes, and peaches are among the signs of God's love for His children. I am grateful!

Timpanogos Hike

2009-07-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today was Pioneer Day, and I had the day off work; Bonnie wasn't so lucky. So in honor of the pioneers, I got up early, strapped on my boots, grabbed my hiking poles, and headed for a trek in the mountains.

Not just any mountain, of course. My FAVORITE mountain — Mt. Timpanogos. I long ago lost count of how many times I have been to the summit (fiftyish?), or how many times I have hiked the various trails. I never tire of the spectacular scenery, the refreshing waterfalls, the beautiful wildflowers, the fresh mountain air. I love having the chance to return.

I'm anticipating another Timp hike with friends & relatives the day after Sarah's wedding (Saturday August 8), so I wasn't particularly motivated to go to the summit. This hike was mostly to help me get in shape, to check out the wildflower status, to look for mountain goats, and to play with my new camera. It was a very successful morning, with the exception of the goats, who were nowhere to be seen (unlike last year when I spent an hour roaming amid the herd near Emerald Lake — see photos here).

I hiked up the Timpanooke trail, across the basin and up to Emerald Lake, then back. It was about 15 miles according to my GPS, and I managed to take over 600 photos during that time. Here are two sets (it was hard to limit the selection). The first contains a few general views of the mountain, the hike, the waterfalls, and the vistas:

The second is all flowers; I had lots of fun with closeups. I think I've only once or twice seen more beautiful flowers on Timp than this year (perhaps because of the very rainy spring season). Many of the best flowers were below the basin, so I'm hoping they are still peaking at the higher altitudes and we might have an even better show in a couple of weeks. This was REALLY hard to limit; here are a few of the very best:

If someone really likes flowers and wants to see a larger set of my 78 favorites (including the 22 very favorites shown above) click here.

Bliss Part 2

2009-07-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

I live for three things each summer:

Peas
Tomatoes
Peaches

They come in that order, as the season progresses. Each holds a place in my heart, and brings its own deep satisfaction. Peas come early and are the "firstfruits" of an early garden planting; but their season is relatively short. Tomatoes come next, and last the duration of the summer until some time past the first frost (with care and planning). Then sweet juicy peaches, in their several varieties, and all the goodness of milkshakes, smoothies, desserts, ice cream, etc.

Of course, each of these can be preserved in some ways, and each can be obtained "out of season" thanks to our modern system of national and international supply. But there is nothing that can compare with the fresh homegrown Utah variety, just off the plant or vine or tree.

This week, I was thrilled to enter phase 2 of my summer bliss, as we began harvesting tomatoes from the garden in earnest. I know that for the next three or four months, I'll be "popping" the sweet candy-like cherry tomatoes, enjoying sandwiches with thick slices of meaty fruit, relishing the cucumber/tomato salads, and so on.

Early peaches should be coming soon. Then my summer bliss with be into high gear.

End of an era, start of an era

2009-07-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

When my employment was transferred to BYU about 7 or 8 years ago, I was given an office with most of the rest of the engineers in the IT group in a building located just west of campus on University Avenue and about 1300 North. We knew the building as "B-77" — not a very warm or inspiring name, but that was appropriate for the building. Originally, the campus of Utah Technical College (known as "Trade Tech" in my youth) was here. I remember going there for things like merit badge classes and traffic school.

When UTC outgrew their facilities and moved to western Orem (becoming Utah Valley Community College, Utah Valley State College, and eventually Utah Valley University), BYU purchased the Provo campus. The buildings were used for a number of things through the years; when I started working on the first floor, they were still teaching home economics classes (cooking, sewing, etc.) upstairs, and they still had a preschool as part of the main floor.

The building was old and had lots of issues. But office space at BYU was at a premium and OIT (the Office of Information Technology) didn't have any other options. So we made do, hoping through the years for a better facility. That dream eventually became a reality with the construction of the new Information Technology Building (ITB) which we began to occupy at the start of this summer. It's been very nice to be in new, up-to-date facilities with much more comfort and flexibility. (This photo shows the exterior work mostly completed; the interior is further along. The landscaping and parking will be the last to finish.) The new building is just to the west of the old one, in what used to be the parking lot.

Today, with somewhat mixed emotions, we watched the demolition of the old B-77 building, making space (eventually) for a parking lot for all of us now occupying the new building. It was quite a scene from our viewpoint in the ITB, with Y Mountain and the upper campus in the background. A large backhoe tore through the roof, walls, floors, and ceilings, gradually reducing the structure to a pile of rubble. We watched them moved methodically from north to south, knowing who used to occupy each room that took its turn disappearing into memories. Quite a sight!

I'm sure those who have longer memories than I do of this place (back to its UTC days) are feeling much more nostalgia than I am.

Moon day plus 40 years

2009-07-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today was the 40th anniversary of the day man first walked on the moon. I have vivid memories of that Sunday evening, July 20, 1969. I was 12 years old, and went to a friend's home to watch the events. (It was not a particularly close friend - not sure how I ended up there. I think they were in our ward. I remember two sons, David and Dale Johnson.)

The black and white video was extremely grainy and the audio scratchy, but there was no denying the historic import of what was taking place. We didn't see images as clear as these at the time (the higher-resolution stuff was not able to be transmitted live) — but they convey the emotions that we experienced. This first one shows the moon landing module (Eagle) detaching from the command module (Columbia) and starting the descent, with the earth rising (setting?) over the moon in the background.

There was a lot of drama during the descent; computer errors being reported, fuel gauges running low (they eventually landed with less than a minute of fuel to spare), Neil Armstrong having to land the craft manually. There was discussion of how critical it was to land level; if they came down on a boulder or the side of a crater, they might not be able to lift off again. They didn't know how far they would sink into the dust. Lots of uncertainty — pretty high drama!

They did finally land safely in spite of all those issues ("Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."). I recall the excitement when they decided to prepare right away to exit the vehicle; the original schedule had a rest period first, but there was too much excitement for sleep. That worked great for American TV viewers. It was about 9 p.m. in Utah when the first footstep on the moon was taken. ("That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.")

As I see these photos now, the Eagle looks so tiny and primitive. It's astonishing that men could travel a quarter of a million miles through space, then trust their fate to a little craft like that, to not only get them safely to the moon's surface, but then back to the command module!

What a miraculous event this was. Through my youth, we witnessed five more lunar landings plus the aborted Apollo 13 mission. There was a great deal of "American pride" in having beaten the Russians in the moon race.

The last moon landing happened in 1972. Since then, no human has left low earth orbit.

Grilled Zucchini

2009-07-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

In the ongoing series of "Zucchini Appreciation and Consumption" during the peak zucchini harvest months of summer, this is another family favorite recipe. It works well for all kinds of fresh vegetables. The key is the delicious sauce, and then having a grilling basket to put the vegetables in the barbecue grill and be able to easily flip them over. They get a nice crisp texture and slightly smoky flavor that is delicious.

Grilled Mixed Vegetables

2 T brown sugar

1 1/2 t basil

1 1/2 t garlic salt

1/2 t Season-All Seasoned salt

1/8 t ground red pepper (cayenne pepper)

Sliced ripe vegetables such as zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, squash, potatoes, onion, asparagus, etc.

(Siggestion: mix the above spices in larger quantities and keep it in a tupperware container for quick use.)

Put vegetables in a ziploc bag, drizzle with olive oil. Shake until well coated. Sprinkle sugar/seasonings on vegetables and shake to distribute; grill about 10 minutes.

Here are some photos of the process:

That's a nice pork loin cooking next to the zucchini in the last photo - YUM.

Happy anniversary!

2009-07-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

Bonnie and I have been married 22 years as of today. It's been a wonderful beginning! We have pondered much about the way time has passed, and marvel at the thought that we are already at this phase of our lives together. With Sarah getting married in only three weeks, and Matt well-established on his mission in Chile, we are well into the "empty nest" phase.

The thing that seems somehow surprising to us is that we spent only 22 years in that child-rearing phase. Somehow, that seems way too short. We expect and hope to have much more than that in the rest of our earthly relationship together; and while we already miss the chance to have influence on our children, we are eager for all that's ahead. In the words of the old toast:

“If it's half as good as the half we've known,
here's Hail! to the rest of the road.”

We celebrated this weekend by taking a hike at the Heber Valley Camp, along the Eagle Loop — a relatively new area where we've never hiked before. We have enjoyed the outdoors as a significant part of our marriage, and the HVC has been "near and dear" for the past several years as well. This was a delightful way to spend an afternoon. Here are a few photos:

We spent the evening in a delightful little bed & breakfast in Midway called the "Invited Inn" which is near some of the large resorts but much more intimate and friendly. We were very pleased with these accommodations, and are eager to return in the winter.

For our Friday evening celebration, we enjoyed an incredible seafood buffet at the nearby Zermatt Resort. Good food, and especially seafood, also has many memories in our relationship, so this was particularly nice. Our diets were forgotten as we enjoyed an incredible variety of delicious selections.

I love you, sweetheart, and can't wait for the next 22 years, and all those that will follow those, into eternity!

Walter David Kenison

2009-07-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

Today would have been my father's 90th birthday. He was killed in a farm accident when he was 45; so the years since his birth in primitive Talmage, Utah have been split on both sides of the veil. I have often missed him through the years, wishing I could have known him better, wishing he could have taught me and helped me and guided me. I look forward to that opportunity to get reacquainted some day in the future.

Here are a few of my favorite photos of my Dad. The first was taken as he left on his honeymoon in October 1952:

This shows him in a particularly "manly" outfit. I love the message it conveys, of a man willing to help in the house:

This, however, is a more familiar appearance — hard at work.

This is a great profile shot, with my Mom and two older sisters:

Probably the only "formal" portrait we have:

Finally, the newspaper articles about his death:

He is buried in Payson; I try to go there when I can.

Happy muffin day!

2009-07-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

Having a few minutes to spare this evening, and being eager to make good use of the garden produce that is starting to become abundant, I pulled out a favorite old recipe and made some "whole wheat zucchini honey muffins." I found a recipe along these lines a few years ago, and modified it during a few attempts to fit my liking. I discovered that I really like them with fresh-ground wheat flour - using the coarse setting on the grinder. I really look forward to zucchini season so I can appreciate this opportunity!

Honey Zucchini Muffins

3 c. whole wheat flour (about 2 1/4 c wheat before grinding)
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 T ground cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
2 c. grated zucchini
1 1/3 c. honey
2/3 c. oil
2 tsp vanilla

Mix until moistened. Spoon into muffin cups, filling 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes. Yield: 24 muffins

Here are some photos, first of the batter:

And now the finished product:

Saturday hikes

2009-07-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

A number of years ago, we helped Sarah start a tradition of an overnight backpack trip with her girlfriends. We went along the first few years, but recently they've preferred to go on their own — they are old enough and confident to take care of most problems. They usually only hike in a few miles — just enough to feel they've gotten off the beaten track. They pitch a tent and make their dinner, enjoy a campfire where permitted, and crowd into a tent to chatter away and enjoy each other's company. It's a nice tradition.

My assignment is to find good destinations for them that fit those criteria. So I scouted out a couple of options for her this morning and afternoon, in expectation of next weekend's hike. Sarah often comes with me on these "scout-out" hikes, but today she's still recovering from a bout with flu and didn't quite have the energy today. So I went alone and took lots of photos.

The first hike was a close one — just up the Battle Creek canyon above Pleasant Grove. It's only 10 minutes from our home, and is a delightful little canyon. The first portion, up to a very nice double waterfall, is pleasant and gentle. The trail gets somewhat steeper after that; unfortunately, it's pretty high up before there are some nice campsite areas. So probably a little too far for Sarah's group.

After checking in at home, I tried the second option. I had vague memories of a hike during my scout days to a place called Red Lake, up the mountain from Maple Bench in Payson Canyon. Not having maps or detailed descriptions, I hoped to find directions where I expected the trailhead to be. So I drove to Payson Canyon (ah, so many sweet memories!) and started searching. I eventually found a trail which seemed to head the direction I wanted to go, and followed it to the lake (just under 2 miles away). Unfortunately, the lake has "gone downhill" since my childhood, and was more of a swampy marsh. But it was a delightful hike, nonetheless.

One of the highlights of the hikes was to be able to view an incredible array of wildflowers. Even at this lower altitude, they were present in abundance and glorious variety. I think the unusually wet spring we had was a wonderful gift this year. Now, I need to get up into some higher elevations to see what it looks like there!

Uncertainty, Certainty

2009-07-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Two experiences this week have given me great cause for thought.

UNCERTAINTY: Early Thursday morning, I was returning from the gym when I received a phone call from a bishop about a member of our stake who had passed away. I was close to the neighborhood, and seeing the police cars, stopped to talk with the family. This wonderful brother was 56 years old and lived with his parents. He had a number of physical challenges, and had never married; but was wonderful and faithful in every way. Earlier this spring, he was one of a few brethren the stake presidency recommended be ordained high priests, and he was sustained just last month in our Stake Priesthood meeting. He served as a temple worker, contributed in various stake and ward callings, and was a kind and gentle man. He apparently passed away last evening while mowing the lawn. Since no one else was home until later in the evening, they didn't discover his body until early this morning. His mother was pretty stunned when she went out to the back yard at 6:30 and found him. But they are wonderful, faithful Saints and have great hope and confidence in the Great Plan of Happiness. They know that all is well; they mourn his loss, but they know he has "fought the good fight" and they will learn to move on.

I was reminded how uncertain this life is; no one of us knows if today is our day. No matter our age, no matter our physical condition — we hope to live to a "ripe old age" but there are no guarantees. Today might be the day for any one of us to move on!

CERTAINTY: Then on Friday, we learned the stunning news that a brother who has taught many of our youth in the Orem High seminary had been arrested and was being charged with having a several-month, ongoing sexual relationship with one of the 16-year-old girls at the school where he is now teaching. He had been a dynamic and much-loved teacher at our school before transferring; no one can imagine him behaving like this. Many of the youth are in shock over the situation, and heartbroken about the consequences. It's been hard for some of them to understand and accept, but they've done well in supporting each other. I watched conversations like this on Facebook:

I don't know what to think about it. I still love and respect him.

Always will. He changed many of our lives.

I'm saddened by recent news, not sure what to believe or think. I can only pray for all those involved.

I considered him a spiritual giant. He touched so many people's lives. He was always there to counsel and help those who needed it most. We all loved him then and we all need to love him now, more than ever. Satan works hardest on those that strive the hardest to be good.

Pray for Brother Xxxxx and his family! And for the girl and her family!

While our youth were stunned, they have reacted with compassion and forgiveness. And they've felt the stern reminder of the need to "cling" to the rod.

I was reminded how certain it is that we will all be tempted, that the adversary is strong and subtle and persuasive, and that the battle will continue to rage! No one is exempt; no one is safe. We all need to be vigilant and all need to fortify ourselves spiritually in every way we can.

Invitations in the mail!

2009-07-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

We spent much of the weekend finalizing our address lists and then "stuffing" almost 600 envelopes for delivery! We are very happy with how the invitation turned out. It was a long process getting to here; but it was a lot of fun, and I was glad to be able to contribute some of my skills.

We are all so happy about the photo that was eventually chosen by unanimous acclaim! We had already taken about 400 photos, and scrutinized them thoroughly. There were several that really "stood out" from the bunch. But there wasn't a single one that we all liked.

So last Sunday evening (June 28), we decided to give it one last shot (aided by the fact that I had a new camera!). We went to the Mount Timpanogos temple and took about another hundred photos. The first bunch were on the east side of the temple, where it was shady in the late afternoon; then we headed over to the park west of the temple. On the way, we stopped and took just three shots of the couple sitting in front of the temple near a flower bed. The light wasn't great there, and Bonnie was actually standing so that her shadow protected their faces. We didn't think much of it.

Then we came back home to review the results. There were some pretty good shots, but when we got to the flower shots, we all immediately fell in love with what we saw! The expressions and smiles were wonderful; the colorful background was just enough to give some good contrast and add interest. I did some minor retouching of the photo, but it fit right in, and we are all thrilled.

Shrine to Matt?

2009-07-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

I became aware that Bonnie was spending a lot of time in the kitchen, when I was recuperating in the family room. I knew she was working with candles, but wasn't really sure what she was doing. When I went in to investigate, the photo at the right shows what I found. Hmm... I think she misses that boy. (Click on photo to view enlargement.)

Actually, she was busy preparing some of the table decorations which will be part of Sarah's wedding reception. Bonnie has been doing lots of good things. The reception is going to be just beautiful.

Flu, but is it swine?

2009-07-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

It has not been a good week. I woke up on Monday morning with stomach cramps, diarrhea, weakness, fatigue. I stayed home from work and rested — it just felt like a "stomach flu" or something. On Tuesday I felt somewhat better, and by afternoon, was in pretty good shape - I went to Church assignments on Tuesday evening and was fine. I went in to work on Wednesday morning.

But after coming home at lunchtime, I felt like I was hit by a truck — fever, dizzyness, alternating sweating and chills, various aches and pains. So I made an appointment to see the family doctor. He doctor said it's not classic swine flu symptoms (no sore throat and cough, for example) but that it likely could be anyway, and suggested I treat it as if it were. They made me wear that cute face mask when I was in the office; luckily, I didn't have to wear it around the house.

So I took the rest of the week off. That meant no work on Thursday, and no Church meetings on Thursday evening (I did participate in stake presidency meeting via telephone). I did LOTS of sleeping, which was good for me. Fortunately, Friday was a holiday (July 3) which meant a "free" day off.

It's nice to have some "down time" now and then, but one of my symptoms was a real lack of motivation. I just wasn't eager to read, write, or anything else — and that never happens to me. So it was really some "down time" for me. I guess that was good. I enjoyed watching some Wimbledon tennis matches — that was helpful. The diarrhea eventually ended, but I managed to lose a few pounds in the process.

My sweet wife took good care of me. She got annoyed at how often I nagged her to wash her hands with anti-bacterial stuff, but so far, she's escaped the infection. We'll hope it lasts! Meanwhile, not only was she fixing me good things to eat and watching out for me, she was even performing all kinds of "manly" duties to try to "cover" for me. What a sweetie she is!

Spring sweetness

2009-07-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

One of the sweetest joys of spring is when I first get to eat some sweet peas! I always try to plant some in my garden; they can be planted before most other vegetables when it's still quite cool, and then are among the very first things to harvest. That's a good thing by itself.

This year, I didn't do well in getting peas planted. There were just too many things going on, there was too much rain when I had free time, etc. However, my brother is watching out for me; Keven Stratton brought me a large bag of fresh-picked peas that has kept me very happy!

But my appreciation runs deeper than that. I have distinct memories from my early childhood of my Dad having a great love for peas. I remember one year that there was a field planted with peas just to the south of our house, and he was very happy about it. My memory is that it was fairly large, so I assume he had enough to sell commercially; but I also remember him eating lots of them, and that I picked some once and shelled them for him because I knew he liked them so much. So, every time I eat some fresh peas, I feel a connection to my dear father!

A Dog's Life

2009-06-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

This is a "candid" shot of Molly, enjoying a rest this morning on "her chair." She was fast asleep. I find her in this kind of position more often than I would expect. Is this what they mean when they talk about "a dog's life"??

June stake camps part 3 - YW camp

2009-06-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have loved Young Women camp for a long time. I was privileged to attend camp as the stake high councilor for three years before being called to the stake presidency, and those were marvelous experiences for me. It was such a privilege to be at the camp all week, to be devoted to serving and helping, and to be blessed by the wonderful programs and activities planned for the young women.

Since being called to the presidency, I have tried to continue to participate at an appropriate level. We have the chance to go to camp as a presidency on Tuesday evening to share a fireside with the girls, and we love doing that. But I also really love to just "lurk" on the sidelines or the backs of the classes and watch and listen. There is nothing quite like it.

This week, I stayed over Tuesday night after our devotional until lunch on Wednesday, and then came back up Thursday morning to watch until lunchtime. That was about all the time I could spare, but every moment was enjoyable. Bonnie was at camp all week (as she has been for years) with the stake camp committee, and so it was nice to spend some time with her as well. Here are a few photos from the week's events:

Of course, I have a special fondness for the Heber Valley Camp, a wonderful facility built in the mountains east of Heber City, about 45 minutes from our home in Orem. We've been involved with the camp since it opened in 2003. I created the initial website for the camp (which Bonnie took over and continues to develop), and we also created many of the initial hiking trails in the area. Matt's eagle scout project, along with several others from our stake, involved preparing and clearing hiking trails. I spent many hours on those mountains, and "our" sections of the trail have a special feel to me still. This year, after a very moist spring, the undergrowth was lush and full, and the wildflowers were everywhere. I took an early-morning hike and enjoyed "communing with nature" along "our" trail.

Happy father's day!

2009-06-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today was a very nice day, and I enjoyed having few extra Sunday meetings (hurrah for "Family Sabbath" in our stake!) and some very enjoyable time at home with most of the family. Bonnie fixed me a very wonderful breakfast, including very delicious gingerbread waffles with cinnamon syrup. Yum!

The mornings are pretty quiet now without children around; but I know they are much more quiet for Bonnie when I'm gone to Church meetings. I'm really grateful to have these occasional Sundays to be at home. I very much enjoy serving in my calling, but the time it takes me away from home and family is sometimes a burden. So it's especially nice to have days like today to make up for it.

I really missed Matt today. I wish I had heard from him; it's not the same on Father's Day to have a child "missing" like this. I don't think it's quite fair that missionaries get to call home on Mother's Day but not on Father's Day! But I can't complain much; I am so happy to have him learning and growing the way he is in the mission field.

Sarah and Brian, and Adam, Alessandra, and Andrew came to join us for dinner. We feasted on delicious barbecued pork cutlets, rice, wonderful tomato salad, etc. It was a delightful, enjoyable day! I feel very loved!

June stake camps part 2 - YSA in Logan

2009-06-06T20:17:00.001-07:00

We appreciated the wonderful stake Young Men camp the first weekend in June. It was followed this weekend by a 3-day stake Young Single Adult event held in Cache Valley, near Logan. Bonnie was already in Logan on Wednesday and Thursday for a training seminar, so I joined her late Wednesday and we had a mini-vacation together. The youth came up on Thursday — about 60 of them. There was lots of good food, nice firesides and discussions, a visit to the Martin Harris gravesite, and other good events.

The weather was less than ideal, but it cleared wonderfully on Friday for a day of boating and everyone had a great time. After a service project on Saturday morning, everyone was glad to head for home.

June stake camps part 1 - Canyon View Stake MTC (Missionary Training Camp)

2009-06-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Our stake has held occasional stake camps for young men, often with a Scouting or Duty to God emphasis. We scheduled one for this year (June 4-6), and as I worked with the stake Young Men leaders, we felt impressed to focus on missionary preparation. So the idea of the MTC (Missionary Training Camp) was born.

We chose a location we've used before, at Millsite State Park near Ferron in central Utah, about 2 1/2 hours from home. It's a little far for a short event like this, but the setting is wonderful and gave us privacy. Click the image below for a larger composite panorama view of this wonderful location:

There was some tremendous planning that went into this event, with about 140 young men (from 12 to 18) eventually participating. It was an interesting feeling, to see them all in a remote campground like this, dressed in a white shirt and tie! These first photos were taken by my friend Glen Mella, the wonderful bishop of the young single adult ward in our stake:

So why does that guy who is speaking keep waving his right hand???

At the opening fireside late Thursday afternoon, each boy was given a letter "calling" him to one of 8 missions (led by 8 of the bishops in our stake). They were assigned a companion who was generally not their age and not in their ward. They spent most of the next 24 hours (except for sleeping time) with their companion and mission, not with their wards. For some, it was a push out of their "comfort zone" but with very few exceptions, turned out to be a great part of the learning experience. All this was intended to give them a glimpse of what the mission experience will be — we talked about companion relationships and supporting each other as you serve and learn.

We kept them pretty busy for that day. We had a variety of fun, competitive activities intermixed with study, learning, practicing, and actually teaching a missionary discussion to some "investigators." Even the activities simulated mission experiences and taught principles: how to sew on a button, wash and iron clothes, do laundry, ride bikes, etc. Here are some sample photos I took of the events:

After dinner on Friday, we had a concluding fireside where they were "released" from their assignments. Then they returned to their ward encampments for an evening campfire and testimony meeting. There were wonderful reports of the lessons learned, spirit that was felt, and resolve to prepare better.

Beautiful June

2009-06-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's already June 1. As usual, the year is moving quickly by.

"Then let us, one and all, be contented with our lot;
The June is here this morning, and the sun is shining hot;
Oh! let us fill our hearts up with the glory of the day,
And banish ev'ry doubt and care and sorrow far away."

James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916), American writer and poet

Utah in early June can be spectacular. The hills are radiant green and the mountains behind then are still covered in glowing snow. I love this time of year. (But then, I love Utah all year long!) Here are three examples of the beautiful views:

Cookies

2009-05-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

I've had some strange urges lately. Ever since we got a new cookie jar for Bonnie for Mother's Day, I've wanted to put cookies in it! So I've had a few baking experiments this past week, when I can squeeze a few minutes free. I'm not even close to becoming a Fuji Mama, but I have fun doing stuff like this.

Lemon Ginger Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
zest of two lemons
3 tablespoons golden syrup
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
demerara sugar for sprinkling

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 cookie sheets with a silipat or parchment paper. Place demerara sugar in a shallow bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg, lemon juice, zest and golden syrup and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, baking powder and salt. Slowly add it to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix to thoroughly combine. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll the balls in the demerara sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie slightly with the heel of your hand or a spatula. Bake 8-12 minutes or until set and the bottoms are golden.

Comments:
These cookies may not be the most attractive, but the lemon flavor is intense and addictive. They turned out soft on the inside and a little crispy on the outside. The crystalized sugar gives a sweet and crunchy texture.

Lime Macaroons

Ingredients:
3 egg whites
2 cups sweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
zest of 1 lime

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients thoroughly. Form into small balls and place 1/2 inch apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

Comments:
Simple and quick. The strong lime taste, enhanced by adding the zest, adds a delightful twist to these classic cookies. Naturally sweet and moist. Mine were maybe a little too moist; I might have been too generous in the fresh lime juice, and could have squeezed a little more out before cooking.

Memorial Day

2009-05-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

Since two of my sisters were here this weekend, and it happened to be the Memorial Day holiday, I arranged for us to drive down to Payson to take some flowers to Daddy's grave. It was just a little rainy, but not enough to disrupt our plans. The cemetery was full of flowers and beautiful.

Mom went along somewhat reluctantly (she hasn't had much energy lately), and seemed somewhat puzzled by the experience. But she did recognize the names when we got there. She didn't seem too happy about the possibility of being buried there herself; she wanted to be back in Provo or Orem, "closer to where I live." Somehow, when that time comes, I don't think she'll be quite so worried about the one-time drive. Of course, Grandma Kenison is also buried in Payson, but her husband is out in Talmage; so I guess being closer to the place she lived during her later years had some impact there.

I always enjoy coming to the Payson cemetery and pondering the blessing of my ancestors. I look forward to the future reunions.

Saturday morning breakfast

2009-05-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

With visitors in town (Judy, Chris, Ashley) I was persuaded to "reprise" the special breakfast I made for Bonnie's birthday (or was it Mother's Day?) a few weeks ago. It's called "Strawberry Stuffed French Toast." It didn't turn out quite as well as the first time (I needed to grease the baking pan better and bake a little longer), but at least I took a few photos this time. The recipe follows.

RECIPE: STRAWBERRY STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
4 T sugar
4 - 1" thick slices of French bread
1 cup low fat milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. baking powder
4 egg whites
2 eggs
3 tsp. butter
fresh strawberries
strawberry or maple syrup

DIRECTIONS:
Mix together the 1 cup of strawberries, the lemon juice and zest and 2 T sugar. Set aside.

Cut bread slices in half and cut a slit in each slice to form a pocket. Stuff with strawberries, secure with toothpicks. (I didn't use toothpicks, just put the open edges facing each other, and they did fine.) Place slices in a 13" X 9" baking dish.

In a mixing bowl, combine milk, sugar, vanilla, baking powder and eggs. Mix well. Pour over stuffed bread, turning to coat. Chill for 20-30 minutes, turning bread pieces occasionally.

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease another 13" X 9" inch baking pan. Move bread pieces to this second pan and bake for 6-8 minutes on each side. Broil for a minute or two on each side if more crispy finish desired.

Serve warm with additional strawberries and syrup.

Yield: 4 Servings

Chilean Dinner at Pantruca's

2009-05-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

We wanted to go out for dinner with Judy tonight, and decided to have a Chilean sandwich in Matt's honor. We visited our favorite little Chilean restaurant (actually the only one we know of in the area) — Pantruca's, located in the Edgemont neighborhood of northeast Provo. They make delicious "palta" sandwiches. Judy and Bonnie both had the Churrasco Palta, and I went for Ave Palta. The fresh, home-made bread used for these sandwiches is wonderful.

In addition to my tasty chicken sandwich, I also really liked the fresh-made pineapple juice; very flavorful.

I forgot to take a picture of the dessert we shared: a delicious "alfajor de mil hojas" (thousand-leaf cake). Very sweet and tasty! Ethnic food can be so delightful. And though we haven't heard Matt mention anything like this, we still appreciate the link to him.

Beautiful couple part 4

2009-05-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest installment of "The Sarah and Brian Show." Enjoy...

Balsamic-Gorgonzola Portobello "Burgers"

2009-05-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

With no kids at home, we're a little more free to try creative recipes (two reasons: more time and no picky eaters!). We also love to use our barbecue grill at this time of year — so delightful to be out on our deck. Bonnie found a recipe that looked interesting, and we tried it tonight. Portobello mushrooms are about the size of a hamburger patty, big and flat; so it's a great idea:

Balsamic-Gorgonzola Portobello Burgers
2 large portobello mushroom caps, stemmed
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. minced fresh garlic
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese or blue cheese
2 Tbsp. light mayonnaise
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
2 whole wheat hamburger buns
Romaine lettuce leaves
Tomato slices

Using a spoon, scrape and discard brown gills from undersides of mushroom caps
Stir together vinegar and next 4 ingredients in shallow dish; add mushrooms, turning to coat. Cover and chill 1 hour, turning occasionally. Remove mushrooms and discard marinade.
Prepare spread - stir together mayonnaise and vinegar.
Grill mushrooms, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350-400 degrees) 3 to 4 minutes per side or until tender. Remove from grill, and immediately sprinkle undersides with crumbled cheese.
Spread mayo mixture on bun. Place mushrooms, tomatoes, and lettuce. EAT!

These were very tasty, and unlike typical burgers, very non-fat.

Stand and Stare CLOSELY

2009-05-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I wrote a post about a poem that encouraged us to "stand and stare." Today, I want to expand a little on that theme, and show a few photos on the theme "stand and stare closely" - or should it be "stand closely and stare"?? In the photos that follow, you'll see the "general" view of some plants or trees, and then one or more pictures that get "up close and personal." The pictures were taken yesterday and today in a variety of locations — our front yard, along city streets, in parking lots, and around BYU campus.

There is fascinating, often exquisite detail in God's creation!

Beautiful couple part 3

2009-05-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight's photo excursion took us to the BYU campus, where kind grounds crew officials have laid out a nice little photo area with plants, water, rocks, etc. — just across from the administration building. We were just a little late in the evening, and so the light was a little weak. But some of these are still cute (thanks to the great subjects in the photos):

Stop to look

2009-05-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to a daily mailing about literary events; recently, it contained this poem that I enjoyed:

Leisure
by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Today, I spent some time "standing and staring." It was a spectacular spring day, and I took an afternoon walk up around campus. There was plenty to stare at. Here are just a few samples:

New scripture

2009-05-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Every six months, I go through an ordeal after General Conference. I am always eager to get the printed proceedings so I can begin to study! The talks are available online, but I like having the permanent copy which I will study and carry with me for the next six months. It's hard to wait, while the anticipation builds!

I wait a couple of weeks, then start calling the Church Distribution Center each afternoon. Today was the happy day! On the day they are available, I go in and buy 8 or 10 copies. These are for family members (I sent one to Matt in the MTC), and for those I serve closely with in my Church assignment. They each get a personal copy on the first day the magazine is available. I've done this for a number of years now — it's become a great tradition!

Each cover is unique, and I appreciate the selections because I'll see this image daily for the next half year. Each conveys a unique spirit or message. In this edition, the primary impression is President Monson's joyful greeting to the Church members who love and sustain him. But I love the secondary message — he is not alone. In the "background" we see his counselors and their wives, at least two other apostles, and others we can't identify. The subtle message to me is the concept of a wonderful "support staff" of other men and women that enable President Monson to do his singular work in directing the Church. Most of us are in support roles in some way, often less visible and almost fading into the background. But we know "the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect" (D&C 84:110) and our unified service will enable the work to move forward.

More of the beautiful couple

2009-05-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun last night taking photos, so decided to give it another go tonight with a little more casual attire. We drove up Provo Canyon near Bridal Veil Falls, and took a series of photos along the river. I had more trouble selecting the best ones than last night, so just included more in the slide show!

Beautiful couple

2009-05-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight after visiting Grandma, we drove up to the WordPerfect campus to take some "engagement photos" of Sarah and Brian. They are great looking kids, and many of the photos turned out very nice.

More to come!

Birthday girl

2009-04-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

It was fun to celebrate Bonnie's birthday today. It was "celebrate with meals day" — I fixed stuffed strawberry french toast for breakfast-in-bed, then we went out for a sandwich at Kneader's for lunch, and enjoyed an evening dinner with Sarah and Brian at Goodwood in the evening.

We did miss Matt today; he always added excitement to our celebrations. But we're grateful to have Brian to "fill in" for him!

Bonnie is such a dear. She also celebrated her birthday by accompanying me to a stake youth activity tonight, where we helped "chaperon" as over a hundred Deacons and Beehives in our stake learned to dance. Such fun!

I love you, Bonnie!

It's official!!!

2009-04-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

We had a visit from two very giddy young people this evening. We were hoping this day was coming soon; but it took us by surprise tonight. I was grateful it came on a night when I was at home and available! Sarah texted me a photo of "the ring" at 5:38, and we convinced them to come over in the evening to "show and tell." And "giddy" is certainly the best word to describe these two.

We've been bursting with excitement for the past two weeks, waiting for this day. On April 8, Brian's birthday, Sarah let him know that she was ready for him to propose. Bonnie and I had quite a few discussions with Sarah leading up to that, since it was pretty obvious to Sarah that Brian was already ready; Sarah asked for a Priesthood blessing and considered the question very carefully. We were pretty thrilled to hear she had decided it was time! So April 8 was perhaps their "unofficial" engagement day, and in the two weeks since then, our discussions have been "when" instead of "if." We've been bursting with excitement, waiting for the chance to talk openly and announce it to the world!

The problem was the timing — just in the middle of finals at BYU! It was hard for the two of them to find time for ring shopping, and for Brian to make his purchase and his plans. But when he called to schedule an appointment for a discussion with me, I was pretty happy. He came over on Tuesday and we had a great 45-minute discussion about his (their) plans, philosophy, goals, priorities, etc. Sarah and Bonnie were worried that I would be too hard on him; but I really enjoyed the talk! I came away more convinced than ever that this young man would take good care of my princess.

So now, the fun begins. We're tentatively working towards early August. Wahoo! Congratulations, Sarah and Brian!!

Springtime Surprise

2009-04-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

I woke up Thursday morning to quite a surprise. We had expected perhaps a little snow overnight, but instead were blasted with an unusually wet and heavy spring storm.

Utah is a delightful place to live! The roads can be a little treacherous, and sometimes these storms come at inconvenient times. But there is nothing like the beauty of the trees, mountains, and sky after one of these wonderful storms. And of course, we're very grateful for the late-season "moisture" to help our water conditions in the coming summer.

Daddy's Little Princess

2009-04-15T03:05:00.001-07:00

Can it be possible? Has it really been 21 years already??

I have vague memories of April 15, 1988. Bonnie and I were living in Manassas, Virginia. We had been married for nine months, and she was due to deliver. I was in the hospital receiving chemotherapy, not able to provide much support. We had hoped Sarah would wait until I finished the current course of treatment, but she was in a hurry! When Bonnie started into labor on April 13, her wonderful parents took over providing the transportation, encouragement, communication, etc. The nurses and staff in the hospital would relay messages to my hospital room about what was happening with Bonnie down in maternity.

Fortunately, I was able to wheel my IV pole down to the delivery room and be there with Bonnie through the later stages of labor, and when Sarah was born. It was a remarkable thing to experience, even through my drugged haze. We were so happy! I remember having to write down some of the details so I could answer questions when people called to talk.

Things quickly improved. I soon returned to health, and life moved on. Sarah was a sweet and darling baby, much loved in our family and extended family. We moved from Virginia to Colorado when she was just a year old, then from Colorado to Utah two years after that.

Sarah has always been a darling little girl; she could melt her Daddy's heart with a smile, and the twinkle in her beautiful blue eyes was something to behold.

As she grew and matured into a teenager, we were stunned at how easy it was to be parents. We must have been REALLY good at it, since she turned out so well with such little effort on our part! (Of course, we eventually realized it was in spite of us, not because of us, that Sarah was so good!)

Sarah excelled in high school, developing her intellectual, social, and musical gifts along the way. She graduated high in her class and received a full scholarship to BYU. She's now part-way through the BYU Nursing program, and continuing to do everything she does exceedingly well. She continues to impress her parents and bring them great joy!

Sarah loved her brother from the day he joined our family. It's been fun to watch their relationship grow through the years. They have a wonderful and special bond.

Oh, and another thing has brought even more twinkle to her beautiful eyes in the past few months, for which her parents are also very happy and grateful:

How is this for sweet contentment:

Sarah, we love you, more and more as the years go by! We are SO proud of you and wish you all the best in the continuing adventure of life!!

Springtime in the Rockies

2009-03-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today was officially the first day of spring! In Utah, the date doesn't guarantee anything; we could as easily have a snowstorm as sunshine. But it's been a pleasant, warm week, and today seemed quite delightful. It's fun to see the crocuses popping up, the forsythias in bloom, the swelling buds on the fruit trees, and most especially, the daffodils. I have always loved daffodils!

A happy note

2009-03-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

We are very much looking forward to Friday — P-day for our Elder! We're hoping for an email, though we hear reports that the email accounts aren't getting set up very quickly. In the mean time, we've had to make do with a few scribbled notes from him, requesting items he needs (his other scriptures, clothing items, cookies, etc.). We continue to worry about how Matt is adjusting and how he's feeling. We have visions of depression, discouragement at the study demands, loneliness in missing his friends, struggles with early morning hours, etc.

Today in the mail we got one of those short notes requesting a few things. At the bottom was a tiny "PS" that meant the world to us. Amazing how a few words can convey so much!

We're still eager for the full letter, but for now, our hearts are much more at peace.

A son in the MTC

2009-03-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

It's "the day after." I drove by the MTC on my way to a meeting, and the emotions were strong. My son is in there! He's somewhere in one of the buildings, in a class or a meeting or an activity of some kind. I wish I could see him, or talk with him. I hope he's doing well.

I loved my time in the MTC, and being there for a few minutes with Matt brought back lots of sweet memories and emotions. I hope and pray it will be a wonderful, positive time for him as well.

It was so very bittersweet to drop Matt off at the MTC yesterday, as I'm sure is usually the case for most parents. We have looked forward to this day since he was a child ("I hope they call me on a mission..."). At times, we have wished the day would come sooner; at others, we've wanted to postpone the day and prepare more. But when it's really here, there are way too many emotions crowding together:

Of course, one of the greatest emotions is the joy of having a son who is worthy and desirous to be there. There is not a place we'd rather have him be today, not an activity we'd rather have him engaged in. We know he was called by God and will be greatly blessed by this mission, and will be able to bless and serve as "an instrument in the hands of God" as he does his best. That brings us great joy.
There is sadness in the realization that a phase of our lives has now ended. Sarah is already very independent and not likely to return home; and now, even if Matt comes home for a season after his mission, he will be much more grown up and independent (we assume!). We are basically done raising our children, and will never return to that time in the same way.
I think I am a little surprised at the emptiness I feel in many ways — or is it loneliness? For 19 years, and maybe especially for the last year, we have been so involved in Matt's life. We've been conscious and aware of almost every step and activity; we've tried to help and guide and direct. But now, nothing. Not only do we have no involvement and influence, we don't even have awareness of what he's doing or thinking or feeling! It's such a strange difference, to go from one extreme to the other so abruptly. All we can do is hope and pray and wait.
There is concern in my heart about the challenges and stress ahead for Matt. These next two months will be difficult for him in many ways; making the adjustment from his "former life" to the new regimen (both in schedule and focus), going through the challenges of learning Spanish, missing his friends (and maybe his family), and so on. We'll be praying as never before for the help he will so desperately need!

I have learned much from Matt, and with Matt, during the past 19 years. During this final year I've had to accept that he would not prepare for his mission the way I wish he would; his personality and approach to life are just too different from mine. That was hard for me; I wanted so much to help him but found I wasn't able to, not very much. I couldn't make him into a copy of myself. I had to work with him the way he was.

We've had some wonderful experiences together. We've gone hiking and camping. We rode bikes on remote trails. We've played golf and racquetball. I've bought him music he liked and helped him on the computer. He's helped me in the yard, mowed the lawn, cleaned the cars. When he wanted to get into body building, we joined the gym together and worked with a trainer. There are many sweet memories.

I've tried to tell missionary stories and have gospel conversations whenever we could. We've prayed together. I gave him Priesthood blessings and ordained him an Elder. We home taught together and taught lessons in a fireside and in his elders quorum. We've gone to the temple. Finally, I was privileged to set him apart as a missionary.

I miss my son, my only son. God bless you, my friend.

Family party

2009-03-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

We had an early birthday party for Mom tonight — she will be 83 years old on Saturday. Since Judy and Rachael are in town but will be leaving on Thursday, and since Matt is entering the MTC on Wednesday, this was a good chance for the family to assemble at the Seville. We purchased some "Sensuous Sandwiches" in honor of Mom's preferences from years past, and had some birthday cake too.

Unfortunately, Mom was not very responsive tonight. She's had a couple of tough weeks. There have only been one or two days during the past 10 where she was alert and cheerful. She's so tired and sluggish; she just spends most of the day in bed, and it's a struggle to get her up for meals. I hope with the warming spring weather she'll do better again!

Temple trip

2009-03-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

It was kind of a cold and drizzly day today, but with time rapidly running out, I took the day off from work and drove with Matt to Salt Lake for a temple session. He had only been to the Mount Timpanogos temple previously for an endowment, so this was a good experience. It was wonderful to share the time in that magnificent building, and then to talk afterwards about the significance of the building and the things that take place in it.

I love having these kinds of experiences with Matt. It has not been easy to match our schedules in this last year; but every time we've both made sacrifices to make it happen, we've been grateful and been blessed for the effort. I am not sure he appreciates that as much as I do, but I hope the memories will linger and bless in the future!

No more waiting...

2009-03-03T20:17:00.000-08:00

This is Matt's last week of work (Thursday will be his last day). The countdown is getting intense! Bonnie and I went out to lunch at Los Hermanos for one last time while he was serving, and of course, requested to be seated in his section. He actually came and stood right at the table next to us to talk to another party, not realizing we were there. Then the host must have told him there was someone seated in his section by request; we saw him poke his head around the corner to check us out, and a big grin came on his face.

Matt is a good waiter. It took him a while to really learn the menu and methods; but we like to watch him "in action" now. He has such an easy-going personality and loves to talk with people, so this is a natural setting for him.

We're probably a little biased, but it works out well for Matt; I don't think he has many customers that tip 100% of the check. :-)

Getting wheels

2009-03-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

I took Mom to the dermatologist this morning. She's had a growth in her left ear for some time, kind of a wart-like thing, that's bothered her. The Dr said likely not serious, but recommended he "scrape it off" and send it in for analysis. Then she won't keep picking at it. The process went pretty well.

When we arrived at the clinic, the closest entrance was blocked off for construction, and from where we parked we had a good distance to go. After getting in the building, I suggested to Mom that she sit in a wheelchair. She was pretty resistant to the idea, but once she was sitting and we were moving, she was surprisingly pleased — "This is nice! I like it!" She stayed in the chair for the whole visit — down the long halls, into the doctor's office, then back to the car. It sure made it convenient for me.

This is a mixed blessing — good in that she's willing to accept a new accommodation to her declining abilities, but sad in that it shows how those abilities are declining. She's had a tough week and has not had much energy; and in general, is gradually getting more dizzy and more unsteady on her feet. I worry when I see these trends. I hope she perks up as the weather gets a little warmer and sunnier!

Tomorrow, I'll take her to the dentist; that should be even more fun.

Happy birthday to...

2009-03-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

Today was my birthday. Since it was Sunday, it was a normal "work day" in most ways — meetings and interviews through most of the morning and afternoon. But there was a nice difference through the day. My cellphone would periodically "buzz" in my pocket, and I knew I had received another birthday wish. My birthday was registered on Facebook, and friends would notice the listing and would post a greeting on my "wall" which would be forwarded to my Blackberry. I received dozens of them throughout the day. The little buzzes were regular expressions of love! When I had a chance to stop and read them, they were very heartwarming. It was a delightful new touch to a birthday.

The afternoon and evening were wonderful too. Sarah and Brian came over for dinner, and Matt was in a good mood. We enjoyed the time together. I sure do love my family!

Scout fun

2009-02-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

I like working with the scouts when I can. Scouting meant a lot to me when I was a boy, and I believe in the principles and goals and methods. But lately, I don't have much direct interaction with scouting activities.

Our stake hosts a "merit badge PowWow" each spring, and I had the privilege of teaching a Photography class. The first session was today; the next one will be in two weeks. It was interesting to try to cover concepts like aperture, shutter speed, depth-of-field, composition techniques, etc. Many 12-year-old boys are not quite ready for some of the ideas we tried to cover. But I tried to make it fun for them, and showed lots of example photos to demonstrate the concepts.

It will be interesting to see the projects they come back with for the next class. They're supposed to take about 20 photos and create either a poster board or slide show, telling a story or sharing a common theme. I suspect the quality will very dramatically!

College fatigue

2009-02-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

Sarah came over today to do laundry, and brought her computer so she could study while waiting. See photo to the right of her study technique (click for more detail). Yes, she is fast asleep, and didn't even flinch at the camera flash (usually she pulls faces and yells at me).

Sarah is a very dedicated, hard-working girl. She's tired because she's been working too hard, both at her studies and at the hospital. I am constantly impressed by her commitment and dedication. She's our sweet girl! Go, Sarah!

German visitor

2009-02-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

Mom had a very flat, difficult day yesterday. She spent several hours with us, but was never quite "with it" and had a hard time interacting with the family. It was just "one of those days" for her. We had hoped the excitement of Matt speaking in Church would have motivated her, but she was very eager to get home and get to bed.

Today turned out to be dramatically better. Much to my surprise, she was more awake and alert, and very interactive. We decided to go through with plans for a trip to SLC. She enjoyed going to Siegfried's Delicatessen, the little German store where she used to work; we had a nice dinner of spaetzle and red cabbage, which she absolutely loved. However, she was astonished at the prices for chocolate and other things in the store (as were we...). The store has moved locations since she worked in it, so not much was familiar. But she was very excited about the food.

The real motivation for our trip was to visit an old friend from Germany. Several weeks ago I received an email from Eberhard Rauschenberger asking if we could arrange to meet. Mom was close friends with Eberhard Senior (whom we called "Ebbie") and we got to know his son and family through that contact. They visited us in Utah, and we visited them in Germany. When Mom had her first stroke and I flew to Germany to help, the Rauschenbergers were incredibly helpful for us. We've kept contact with them even after Ebbie passed away three years ago.

Eberhard came to Salt Lake for a week-long ski vacation, and asked if it would be possible to see us and Mom. Bonnie and I planned this trip tentatively, based on Mom's condition. When she was so strong today, the trip worked well and was lots of fun. We visited for about 45 minutes before the drive back. Mom converses so well in German; it was good for her to have the interaction.

Family dinner

2009-02-22T20:17:00.000-08:00

Following Matthew's "farewell address" in sacrament meeting today (see his mission blog for details), we had a nice family dinner. Bonnie had put a pork roast in the crock pot this morning (for Kalua pork, one of Matt's favorites), and Alessandra made a spectacular cake. Visitors included:
- Grandma Kenison
- Adam, Alessandra, and Andrew Wortmann
- Dave & Sarah DeLong
- Julie DeLong and Alex Mic-Podar
- Sam Cannon
- Ken Plaizier (one of my dearest mission companions)
and of course,
- Sarah Kenison and Brian Wright
- Matthew, Bonnie, David Kenison

Rocky Mountain High

2009-02-19T20:17:00.000-08:00

Matt had the day off from work, so I took a vacation day and we headed for the mountains — Park City, to be specific. There was new snow earlier in the week, but today was crisp and bright — one of those perfect Utah ski days we wait for all season! The skies were blue, the snow was soft and light, and the air was so clear. Since it was still midweek the lines were very short and we had an unbelievable day. Matt commented it was the best ski day he's ever had.

We did recognize it was only a few weeks before his mission, and not wanting to cause complications with an injury, we played it pretty conservative. But we certainly had a blast. It's nice to have some father/son bonding like this.

Click on the photos below to view enlarged versions:

This final image is classic Matt. He has always loved striking out into the trees and being adventurous — and hopefully avoiding "close encounters" with pine trees at high speeds!

Video of Matt's fine technique:

Video of spectacular scenery high on Park City's ridge:

Exploring in the trees:

"My boy"

2009-02-15T20:17:00.000-08:00

We're blessed in many ways to be near my mother and be able to give her support and encouragement as she deals with issues related to aging. I visit with her daily, but in addition, we often go to visit as a family on Sunday afternoons following meetings. She seems to really look forward to those visits. Matt and I went over this afternoon, and while we were there, Sarah and Brian came. We enjoyed a really nice chat. Mom loves to talk with Sarah and Brian, and tells Brian that she remembers me saying I really like him (no secrets with her around!). I didn't get a photo of the two lovebirds, but Mom told me later some of the ladies downstairs commented how they always seem to be holding hands!

Mom also has a special attachment to Matt. She calls him "my boy" — "How is my boy? What is my boy doing today?" I remember how much Oma doted on me when I was preparing for my mission, and see some of that reflected in Mom's feelings for Matt. They are cute together.

At one point during our visit, Mom started talking about her German name "Doreanne" and its origins. We got her to talk a little more about her youth in Germany as well, and a few other miscellaneous topics. Click the photo below for a link to the Google Video of the conversation.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

So maybe it's an artificial tradition foisted on us by commercialized interests in the floral, restaurant, and greeting card businesses. But Valentine's Day can be a good opportunity to reflect on the blessings of those we love and the joy they bring to our lives.

Bonnie fixed me an omelet for breakfast and then we enjoyed a pretty normal Saturday, but after Matt left for work (busy day at Los Hermanos for him), things quieted down. I enjoy fixing dinner when I have time, and today was an ideal day to experiment. I made almond-encrusted halibut, wild rice, asparagus with balsamic vinegar (yum), spinach and fresh raspberries salad, and crescent rolls. We enjoyed sharing the meal by candlelight — how romantic!

Bonnie and I enjoyed the dinner, then watched a movie on TV together. It was a delightfully pleasant evening to share, and a great chance to appreciate each other. I'm so very grateful for my sweetie and her part in my life! But I don't have enough chances to show that appreciation. We realized that we'll soon have many more opportunities for this kind of thing, since we're now down to less than a month until "MTC Day."

Love and unity across the miles

2009-02-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

Today was a bit of an emotional day for the family. My sister Doris had surgery at the UCLA Medical Center for her brain tumor, which was discovered almost by accident in November. Doris has had epileptic seizures since her teenage years, usually controlled with medication. With some additional recent symptoms, her neurologist suggested she have an MRI of her brain (having passed many years since the last one), and the tumor was discovered. They said it's quite large as brain tumors go, and was technically a pituitary adenoma — almost certainly benign, but without treatment it would probably make her blind eventually.

The astonishing surgical procedure attempts to remove the tumor her nose and the roof of her mouth, leaving no visible scar. The consistency of the tumor tissue makes a big difference; the "cottage cheese" type is the best, and the "rubber" variety has a much higher risk of damage to the meninges and associated complications. So we had much to pray and hope for.

Many of the members of the family joined in fasting and prayer. It was a wonderful thing to contemplate, joining in that spiritual endeavor across the miles, and gave me an even greater appreciation for my wonderful family. In addition, Bonnie and I were able to take Matt back to the temple for a second visit during the time Doris was in surgery.

We came out from the temple in the early afternoon and there was still no report; but a while later, the good news came. It was a cottage-cheese-type tumor, and the surgeons were very positive about getting most or all of it out during the 5-hour procedure. There were only minor complications with some spinal fluid leakage which they were able to control. They'll be monitoring things closely for the next few days, but it looks like we have much to be grateful for!

Judy noted that each of us siblings have dealt with some challenging issues — Judy: hemangioma surgery; Chris: ruptured uterus; Dave: cancer and glaucoma; Doris: pituitary tumor; Angie: thyroid cancer. But we've all been blessed and still have much life ahead of us!

Fading Fun Family Tradition

2009-02-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

The first Saturday in February is supposedly "National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day" — a lesser known but very significant holiday. The Kenison family (already well-known for their love of ice cream) thought it was an excellent idea, and has joined in the celebration for a number of years. The kids have had fun inviting all their friends to join us, and we've had some lively Saturday morning celebrations in past years.

Now Sarah has moved out, and she took the tradition with her; I was pleased and proud to hear she held a party in her apartment with a good gathering of friends. She forgot to take photos, though, so I guess I didn't train her quite as well as I should have! :-)

Meanwhile, "back at the ranch," I talked through the week with Matt about having his friends come over on Saturday morning. He "texted" a bunch of invitations and had positive responses from a number of friends, some of whom have been with us for the party in past years. I got up early and went shopping to make sure we were prepared with the necessary supplies:

There were at least four or five more varieties of ice cream in the freezer in addition to the ones shown; we always make sure to have a great selection.

Unfortunately, there were complications. Matt had to stay up pretty late with work and helping a friend with a personal issue; so he wasn't very able to get up at 8:00 a.m. as planned. And I guess either he was not clear about the invitation, or else his friends stayed home waiting for confirmation — no one showed up!

Bonnie's diet gave her courage to resist, but I was not willing to let the tradition die, so I had a delicious one-man party of my own.

Snowshoe hike

2009-01-31T18:52:00.001-08:00

Bonnie gave me a "gift certificate" for Christmas, inviting me to go for an afternoon showshoe hike. Today turned out to be the perfect day for it — with time available and gorgeous weather (clear skies, high about 35). I rented the shoes from BYU's outdoor shop, and we drove up to the Timpanogos trailhead above Aspen Grove. The shoes are pretty high-tech things that strap onto your boots. They aren't as big as some I remember from my childhood, but provide enough distribution of weight to stay on top of the snow. And they have little cleats to improve traction.

We went up after lunch, and wished we had been there a little earlier (part of the hike was already shaded by the sun). We were cool in the shadows, but quite warm in the sun (thanks to the exertion).

I love the setting and scenery there above Aspen Grove. It's a pretty spectacular place, any time of the year:

It was a delightful afternoon, and one of my very best Christmas presents! We are eager to return and try this again. It was refreshing and inspiring!

Chilean Dinner

2009-01-30T20:17:00.000-08:00

So far, Bonnie and I are more into learning about Chilean culture than Matt is, but I'm sure he'll catch up. Tonight, we had dinner at Pantrucas, a small restaurant in Edgemont operated by a very friendly Chilean couple. Bonnie had a "churrasco palta" (kind of a flatbread sandwich with steak, avocados, tomatoes, etc.) and I had "ave palta" (same thing, but with chicken). We also had a tasty ham and cheese empanadas, and tried a kind of poblano soup made with beans, squash, and chiles. Delicious stuff! We look forward to trying some of the local delicacies in Chile in a couple of years!

Oh, and the Mountains!!

2009-01-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

Along with the beautiful white trees in the valleys, the snow-covered mountains are absolutely breathtaking. When the blue sky returns after a new snowfall, I can stare at my Timpanogos for hours.

Winter Wonderland

2009-01-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

Winter in Utah can be spectacular! Last weekend's warmer rainy weather, followed by colder snow, made for some very heavy shoveling. But it also coats the trees with whiteness and makes the whole world look like a fairyland. I snapped most of these photos from the car while driving around town.

Tasty dinner

2009-01-25T20:48:00.000-08:00

My sweet daughter felt sorry for her daddy, who was trying to get by with his son but without his dear wife (who is visiting her family in Virginia). Today, she brought her beau over and they made pizza dough for us, and we topped our own little mini pizzas for dinner. Delicious! It was a welcome gift after a long and busy day of Church meetings. Thanks, Sarah and Brian!

Temple Day

2009-01-15T20:23:00.000-08:00

We had the blessing today to accompany Matthew to the Mount Timpanogos temple to receive his endowment. It was quite an experience for me to be there as escort for my son! He and I drove out around 2:30 for the initiatory portion, and had a brief meeting with a member of the temple presidency. Then Bonnie joined us for the 4:00 endowment session.

I really enjoyed the session today. I think part of the "freshness" for me was to see it through Matt's eyes, to imagine that I was experiencing everything for the first time. It was hard to think that far back; I received my endowment in the Provo temple in May 1976. I remember Mom and Oma being with me, but don't recall who else was. Maybe Bishop Dennis Dixon and his wife?

Matthew seemed to respond well and comprehend quite a bit, but admitted his head was spinning when we chatted later! He was looking forward to returning so he could learn more.

We enjoyed a dinner in the temple cafeteria and some more quiet conversation, before hurrying home so I could show up late for my stake interviews and meetings. The other presidency members had expressed gladness to "cover" for me so I could enjoy this afternoon and evening.

Three Survivors

2009-01-15T20:17:00.000-08:00

When I arrived at Mom's apartment today at lunchtime, she was enjoying a visit with her two sisters-in-law. It was fun to see these three great ladies together! Anna is still living on her own and is as perky and on-the-ball as ever. Alene is also doing very well, living with her son Ted in Mona. The two of them apparently do quite a bit together, including weekly visits to the Provo temple.

These three women seem so different in many ways. They come from quite different backgrounds and have lived very different lives. But they are bound together by having married three of the brothers in the Kenison family. It would have been nice to have Vida, the only remaining sister, here as well!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

2009-01-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe our little baby boy turned 19 years old today! "Time flies on wings of lightning" and the years have gone quickly by. This photo was taken by Matt's "foster family" (who hosted him until the adoption was arranged) when he was 2 days old. They were the first to care for him and love him, and wrote a glowing report of what a wonderful baby he was. He was about 2 1/2 weeks old when we received the wonderful surprise phone call (surprise because it was months earlier than we anticipated) from LDS Family Services in Denver inviting us to come down and meet our new son. What a wondrous time that was for us all! We named him Matthew, which means "gift from God" — we truly considered him to be a special gift. And his middle name, Walter, honors my father.

Sarah, who was a few months short of 2 at the time, quickly bonded with her new little brother - this photo was taken on February 25, 1990, when Matt was about 6 weeks old. She loved to help care for him, feed him, comfort him when he cried, and play with him. As the years have passed, they have continued to have a most wonderful relationship; we've loved watching them grow up and learn together, and share their strengths with each other in ways that have blessed them both.

Now Matthew is a fine young man, soon to be a servant of the Lord in Chile. He and Sarah still love and support each other. We're proud of him and continue to appreciate his warm and friendly personality, his kindness to others, and his love of life. He has so much good to offer, and we can only hope and pray he continues on the course he has begun. We believe the future holds wonderful things for this fine son of ours!

Looking forward with hope

2009-01-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

We made our periodic visit to the Moran Eye Center at the UofU in SLC this morning. We first visited them last May after the doctors in Provo were unable to give me convincing answers on my failing eyesight. We've been very grateful that we went there. The earlier doctors said it kind of looked like glaucoma but didn't fit all the symptoms; they were trying to find other explanations for the continued loss of vision in my left eye. But the specialists at Moran quickly diagnosed glaucoma; a very thin cornea in my left eye was making the pressure readings more difficult and creating confusion.

I lost as much as 40% of the vision in my left eye, but since starting the aggressive pressure control treatment with eye drops morning and night, there has not been any further loss. I won't ever get back what I've lost, but I'm grateful the decline was stopped.

I love John Milton's "Sonnet XIX" and can relate to it, though fortunately I'm only partially "spent":

When I consider how my light is spent,
  Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
  And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
  My true account, lest He returning chide;
  "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
  Either man's work or His own gifts. Who best
  Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
  And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
  They also serve who only stand and wait."

Goodbye to a friend

2009-01-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

We learned today that Mom's friend, Larry Cozzens, passed away on Sunday. The family called Seville to make sure that Mom knew — that was kind of them. I was able to track down one of his daughters this evening and confirm the details. He took a downturn about Christmas time (just after we saw him last) and had been put on morphine for the pain, and weakened pretty quickly. He died very peacefully on Sunday. He had talked to us several times about being eager to be reunited with his wife, so this must be a happy time.

Mom got to know Larry at the Seville, where they both lived and became acquainted. Larry lived in Wyoming most of his life and worked as a policeman. But as his health became more fragile, his two daughters (who live in this area) moved him down to be closer to them.

He used to encourage Mom to get out of bed more and walk for exercise. When the weather was good (and while she was more active), he would come in the morning and knock on her door to get her moving. She recalls that much of the time when they walked, he got impatient with her slow pace and walked on ahead. But he still did a lot to help get her moving more. And when he was tired or not feeling well, she would check on him and encourage him. They developed a supportive and positive friendship.

Larry used to walk with a cane, and was quite unsteady. He fell and injured himself a few times, breaking his arm and then his leg and hip. When he was in the hospital or rehab center, Mom would miss him, often going down to his apartment to check on him (forgetting he was not there). Eventually, after his last accident, the family had to move him to a care facility where he could get more rehabilitation and nursing care.

Mom loved to visit Larry and would ask me to take her every couple of weeks. It was sometimes an ordeal to get her into the truck and there, but she "lit up" when we arrived in his room and did a great job encouraging him. Her goal was always to make him laugh or smile, and she always succeeded, even when he was having a hard day. She is such a natural at caring and helping; some of that seems to be left over from her days as a first grade teacher. It's fun to watch her assume that role. Our visits usually didn't last very long, but they were definitely worth the effort.

Mom seems to be taking the loss pretty well. It helped that there had already been the separation of him moving away; if he had still been living at the Seville, I think it would have been much more difficult for her. But she does say regularly, "I'm going to miss him!" I know she will. She's lost a number of men in her life, and I don't think it gets easier.

Here are a couple of videos of some visits we made in December 2007:

ADDENDUM:
I found this obituary in the Cody Wyoming Enterprise newspaper.

Sweet Winter

2009-01-05T20:23:00.001-08:00

Winter in Utah can be so delightful, so uplifting, so inspiring! Today was one of those days. The snow started at midday, and continued steadily and quietly on through the evening. Some of my snooty and spoiled relatives on the west coast have lost the appreciation for what a wonderful thing it is to live in snowy Utah in the winter. I love this stuff.

Traffic was slow and cautious; it took me over 30 minutes to get home from work, more than double the normal.

Once home, it was nice to just sit in our quiet and warm home and watch the beauty accumulate outside. Look how nicely the camera flash highlights the falling snowflakes on our back deck:

There's so much to learn, so much to appreciate in a wonderful Utah snowstorm:

"Slow down, you move too fast!" If you're not in a hurry, it's fun to drive (especially with 4-wheel drive traction).
Courtesy helps; drivers watch out for each other.
Wonderful invigorating physical exercise in shoveling snow from the driveway and sidewalk (forget the gym!).
Be grateful for warm, dry, safe shelter; it's so nice to watch the snow fall from indoors.
Recognize the blessing of moisture that fills reservoirs and nourishes our valley.
Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling...
There's a pristine purity, a "winter wonderland" beauty in fresh snow.
It's wonderful to sleep breathing the cool, invigorating air but lying under the toasty warm covers.

Buffalo Bob and Los

2009-01-01T20:37:00.000-08:00

Our most polite and friendly houseguest, Buffalo Bob Cannon, treated us to "Buffalo Bacon Burgers" for lunch today. We all enjoyed the meaty taste. We've all been eating too much this week... ugh. But this was worth it.

The cook working hard.

Nice looking meal!

A happy customer.

As if that weren't enough food, we all headed out to Los Hermanos for dinner. We had a really nice waiter who took very good care of us.

Happy New Year 2009!

2009-01-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

Bonnie and I have had quite a few "New Year's Eve" celebrations in recent years where we were home alone — which usually means we just go to bed at the regular time. However, we were pleased to host a real party tonight, with the visiting Cannons and a few DeLongs (just missing our own children, since Sarah worked until midnight and Matt worked but made it home about 11). We enjoyed eating all evening (including some Chilean alfajores), playing games and puzzles, and watching TV.

"The Incident"
As "the clock struck twelve" and the new year arrived, there was a small spontaneous and totally unplanned incident that involved several cans of "spray string" and a certain very deserving victim.

After the cleanup, there was a "consolation snuggle" that made it all worthwhile — right, Judy??

Hitting the slopes

2008-12-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

The Cannons came up for a visit and wanted to go skiing. The Kenisons were glad to oblige and accompany! We decided to go to Sundance, for convenience (15 minutes from home) and nostalgia (Judy and I learned to ski there). It was a cool and cloudy day, but the snow was great after the recent storms. Unfortunately, the holiday crowds were intense and we waited in lift lines more than we would have wanted to.

There is some spectacular scenery up there:

I think we wore one person out; this photo was taken later in the evening:

Happiness enhances beauty

2008-12-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

We were at lunch today when I snapped this photo of my beautiful Sarah and her beau. I think she gets prettier all the time; and I thnk some of it comes from the "glow" of her happiness right now.

I don't really look forward to "giving up" my little girl to someone else at some point in the future, but knowing the natural order of life, I'll be eager to make that sacrifice if I'm convinced she will truly be happy. Sarah deserves the very best!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas held a special joy this year, basking in the lingering thrill of Matt's mission call. There was also a little poignancy knowing that it's the last time we'll all be together for a while — between Matt's 2-year absence and Sarah's "uncertain future" that could take her away to in-laws for future holidays. So we were grateful to have this time together this year. Next Christmas, we'll be eagerly looking forward to the wonderful missionary phone call experience!

We had our traditional "Shepherd's Dinner" on the floor of the family room last night, and enjoyed sharing gifts this morning. I was pleased that Mom was willing to come over and stay most of the day — she was here probably from 11 to 5, one of her longest visits in years. I was in charge of dinner, and we enjoyed a nice honey-baked ham, a traditional Christmas jello, and much more.

Here are some photos from the day:

Mission Call

2008-12-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

We've been eagerly waiting for Matt's mission call to arrive, really hoping it would come before Christmas. I was actually on the phone with Matt today when I came home and went out to check the mail. I didn't see the big white envelope at first, but there was quite a feeling of joy and excitement for both of us when I did discover it on the bottom of the pile!

Matt wanted to share the opening with friends, so we waited until about 5:00 p.m. to get everyone together (in spite of it being Christmas Eve). He had 7 or 8 friends here, and we also had a few people (grandparents in Virginia, Adam and Ale in Pennsylvania) listening in via cell phone. There is nothing quite like opening a mission call letter, and reading its contents for the first time:

"Dear Elder Kenison:
"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Chile Santiago West Mission....
"You should report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on Wednesday, 11 March 2009. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."

There was a lot of rejoicing, as we all felt and shared Matt's excitement. As we talked since, we discovered that Matt was MUCH more interested in learning Spanish than we realized. We think this kind of immersion will be essential for him, but we know he'll do great and be blessed.

So now, Dad and Mom will have to work more aggressively on our Spanish skills in the coming months!

Annual Christmas Cards

2008-12-20T18:28:00.000-08:00

The tradition of sending an annual Christmas card, perhaps with a letter detailing the accomplishments of the past year, is an interesting one. At times, I feel like the couple in the attached "Pickles" comic (click for full strip). That probably accounts for the fact that we have not been very faithful in completing the task the past several years — averaging closer to every other year. Part of the challenge every year is to come up with a clever and interesting way to present the "news" of the family. There have been some fun ideas over the years, and occasionally we borrow someone else's good theme; but often we struggle with the composition.

However, we did succeed this year! We sent about 80 copies of our card and letter to family and friends around the country. It's always a good feeling to complete the task and see the stack of envelopes, addressed and stamped, ready for the postal service miracle.

For those who might have missed the letter, or who want a repeat, here's an online copy of our 2008 Christmas Letter. We went for creative formatting instead of a creative theme, and for brevity instead of boredom!

Mission memories

2008-12-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

In the coming week, Matt's mission papers will be submitted and we'll await his call. That will be a happy time! Meanwhile, I had a reminder this week of the joy and blessing a mission can be. One aspect is how much you come to love and appreciate the local characteristics of your mission — even if it's a "stateside" mission.

My memory this week started with a pair of lovely avocados. They were given to me by a friend, also a Brazilian alum, who works for me. These avocados come from Florida and are much larger than the ones we typically get here in our grocery stores — almost as nice as the ones we got used to in Brazil! We would visit the open-air markets regularly and bring home wonderful fruits and produce of many varieties, including some I've never seen of heard of here.

The best thing to do with a large, flavorful avocado in Brazil is to make a "vitamina" — a kind of fruit smoothie drink. Many Americans cringe at the thought, but it's actually pretty tasty. In Brazil they add bananas, mamão (papaya), oranges, etc. — whatever is at hand. We would often add frozen milk to give it more richness. Wonderful stuff!

So when I get lovely avocados like these, that's the first thing I think of. We have some wonderful powdered mamão that I use on special occasions like this. The concoction may not be the most attractive color, but the taste is wonderful and brings back sweet memories!

I hope Matt has many such memories to bless him in coming years from his mission field.

Hometown visit

2008-12-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

Mom had an unusual request yesterday. She wanted to go to Payson and visit the cemetery! I have no idea what planted that thought in her mind. We rarely go except on Memorial Day, and even then it's a struggle for her.

It was a cool but pleasant Saturday, so we drove down this afternoon. It ended up being a 2-hour trip by the time we got back. The cemetery was the first stop:

Mom asked first why there were two Kenison markers, and why the first one was crooked (it has settled unevenly). She had a hard time remembering who Uncle Albert was, but knows that Anna is still alive. We brought some small Christmas flowers, and she spent a long time looking at our gravestone.

Mom was not too happy about the cemetery. She said she didn't want to be put "down there" (in the ground), especially in Payson. She wanted us to move her grave to Provo instead!

She considered the dates on the marker, and was astonished that it's been 44 years since Daddy died. She said she has a hard time remembering much about him. She saw the wedding date in 1952, and couldn't believe she was alive then. She says the only thing she remembers about the wedding was that Harold B. Lee, who performed the sealing, gave her advice and she remembers only one thing: to cook good meals for her husband!

After driving around the cemetery, we did a little tour of town. I tried to help her recall schools, stores, churches, and especially the homes of families who lived in our neighborhoods. She had a hard time recognizing anything at all, but would often remember people once I mentioned the names.

Our own house looked good, and Mom thought it was one of the nicest homes in the area. But she had no memories of living in it. However, as I pointed out details, she remembered them — the landscaping, the neighbors, the clothesline on the side of the house, the area in the back yard where we used to have a garden (now a house has been built on the lot). Sidewalks around the yard are new.

It was a fun way to spend the afternoon. I believe these "field trips" are good for Mom, in spite of her protestations; and I certainly enjoy going back to Payson myself. When she's the one to suggest it, I'm eager to try to support.

I recorded a video as we drove in our neighborhood. It can be viewed by clicking here (it was too large to embed directly in this post). I wish I could have recorded more of Mom's impressions; I'll try to do that more in the future.

Sunday visits

2008-11-30T18:22:00.000-08:00

We've developed a little tradition of visiting Mom as a family each Sunday evening. She seems to love the visit and look forward to it — especially seeing Matt and Sarah (when she can join us). It's amazing how much these visits from her grandchildren brighten her mood. When I visit alone, she often seems unwilling to try to "perk up." But with the younger visitors, she usually immediately brightens and gets more alert and conversational.

Happy with her visitors. Note how she is "latched on" to Sarah!

A little "horseplay" between siblings as we leave the Seville...

Post-Thanksgiving Dinner

2008-11-28T22:02:00.000-08:00

We have been planning this week to have Friday dinner at Los Hermanos, since Matt was scheduled to work and we have never been in when he was serving. Ale and Adam planned to go with us, and then we picked up Sarah and Brian. Kind of at the last minute, the party expanded to include Brian's family from Redlands, who were up here for the holiday! We had a delightful time getting to know Craig and Melinda, and their sons. Matt did a great job as our waiter, earning a nice tip.

The "guests of honor" — do they look like heavy drinkers??

Part of the Wright family just as we were finishing up dinner.

Thanksgiving Day, 2008

2008-11-27T20:17:00.001-08:00

For a while, we thought we might have only the 4 of us for Thanksgiving dinner today. But we were able to convince Mom to come over, then Sarah convinced Brian to come, and then Julie & Alex were able to join us. So we had a nice group of 8 to celebrate together!

As always, Bonnie did a remarkable job with the turkey dinner. It was delicious!

It was especially fun to have Brian with us much of yesterday and today.

Matt did his best to consume prodigious quantities of protein.

Mom endured pretty well, but was eager to get home for her nap.

Happy Birthday Andrew

2008-11-23T19:44:00.000-08:00

We had a nice visit with Adam, Alessandra, and Andrew this evening. Andrew had his 1st birthday last week, and Ale's is coming up next week. It was fun to celebrate with them!

Enjoying birthday cake

Alessandra is a sweet mother.

A happy family moment (I'm never in any photos)