Picture by: Sam LeVan/ Philadelphia, PA.

The declaration of America’s Independence on July 4th 1776, the day the wording of the declaration was APPROVED by congress, was proclaimed inside this building, preparing the way for the birth of the “United States Constitution” which was in later years drafted, debated and signed within these walls.

Click on  the picture, “Independence Hall” to view a very special card!

Now sit back and click on the flags below to enjoy the following slide presentation and music presented by high school students, playing impressive trumpet sounds and singing the “Battle Hymn of The Republic.”

This song, written by Julie Howe in 1861, contributes to the overall theme of this article, declaring the continued fight for freedom. This fight wears many hats that are ultimately shelved to collect dust indicating, as the history books confirm, man’s constant struggle for freedom, power, and independence. The journey is ongoing until man learns how to WIN the war FOR All the inhabitants of the earth! Before he can do this, perhaps he needs to remove his hat…….

Click on these flags, photo by Paula Brewer from New York, to hear the words of the song below. (After, read the little note at the bottom).

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:

His truth is marching on.

Chorus:

Glory, glory, hallelujah

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:

His day is marching on. Chorus

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:

“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,

Since God is marching on.” Chorus

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on. Chorus

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:

As He died to make men holy, let us die (now “live”) to make men free,

While God is marching on. Chorus

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,

He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succor to the brave,

So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,

Our God is marching on. Chorus

Quick note: I want to give you a little more time to study the current art/photo spotlight (videos and links) before I share my experience with you. By the way, I hope you enjoyed my previous articles on the monastery and the song of the magpie. Thank you to those who took a moment to comment! I’m in love with that baby magpie, so I will do some more filming of “Benny Monk!” I’ll be out of town for a few days, so here’s an early happy 4th July to you!

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The song of the magpie will haunt you as you embark on this journey with me. A baby magpie was found in the grounds of the monastery (just after we came out of the building). There were birds frantic in the tree tops as a hawk was feasting on their young.  At the base of a tall tree stood the little bird. For the first few moments he appeared fearless; however, I could see that his heart was pounding. I knew he wore a cloak of bravery as he remained still even when I got very close to him. The bird’s sibling nearby, did not survive the fall. 

I could see no parents in sight! I wondered what had happened, because magpies are aggressive in nature and can defend their young very well (little birds have to protect their young from them). The trees were very tall and the nest was very high up; however, I was sure that a hawk nearby could have encouraged the free-fall.

So there I was, crouched down, eye to eye with this baby magpie.  I took a picture and started filming as well. The bird remained perfectly still. He seemed to know that he would be rescued and loved. Perhaps he already knew the outcome and was waiting for the rescuer to realize it. I told my friends that we couldn’t leave him there as his parents were gone and the hawk was still around. Therefore, one of my friends tenderly picked him up and we made our way back to the car.

We tried to think of a name for the bird and after discussion, “Benny Monk” was the end result (St. Benedict for Benny, and the monk we spoke to). We stopped at a few places on the way home and, as you can tell from the video (towards the end of the trip), he adjusted well to human companionship.

Life offers its many symbols and lessons. I believe this was another one of those. 

Both birds fell out of the same nest but one was taken and the other wasn’t. Perhaps that has a symbolic sound to it. In my own words, one was taken to a peaceful place, and the other was taken westward bound.

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For those of you who wanted to go on our recent day trip to the monastery but couldn’t, this video clip was taken with you in mind! We’ll soon go again as a group. It’s a beautiful drive to Hunstville (a small village with Scandinavian influence).

The monastery, “Abbey of the Holy Trinity,” was founded in 1947 by some Kentucky monks from the “Abbey of Gethsemani.” This community of monks is of the Cistercian Order, who call themselves Trappists, having originated from the “Abbey of La Trappe” in France.

Their way of life is governed by the rule of St. Benedict which involves strict adherence to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They also make a vow of stability, promising to remain for life in the community of their profession. Their chief activity is prayer; they gather together seven times a day to supplicate their God for the needs of the church and the world.

They are very hospitable monks offering a place to stay for males who seek solace and direction in their lives. Visitors are welcome to attend their mass or pray privately inside the beautiful abbey. You can hear them chant, usually in the evenings (5.30 pm).

There are about 18 monks who mark their presence at the abbey; the youngest is in his 50’s and the oldest is 92 years old. I was very impressed interviewing the kind monk who assisted us in the tiny shop. The monks make their own special kind of honey, flavored with raspberry, or roasted almonds, rum, dates and pecans, etc. They also sell different types of jam, jelly, and marmalade; however, these are imported all the way from a nunnery!

The monks are to be commended for their sacrifice, and hard work. I think it would be nice if we could include them in our prayers as many are stricken with old age; upkeep of the land and buildings probably gets harder for them! Actually, when you are done reading this article, take a moment and say a little prayer for them.

There will be a little surprise for you in the next article (as I certainly was), when we continue more on this day’s trip!

By the way, did you view the video clips in the Art/Photo spotlight? If you haven’t yet, I’ll give you another day before I share my experience. Remember to get through all the videos including the link on the rice experiment.

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Click on the above picture to view your Father’s Day Card

Happy Father’s Day! All you fathers out there deserve a special treat, and I have found a way to shower you with a few! It begins with viewing a special recipe in the “Recipe” Spotlight (that you can get your wives to try out). Let me know how good it tasted! After, it may be a good time to visit the “Health Tip” section for a boost of energy (actually this form of energy will truly fascinate you).

Another treat for you is to view the “Inspirational” spotlight that will set the tone for a few days (and assist you with your challenges of work, projects, etc.). Then, for a break, listen to some fabulous instrumentation in the ”Music” category. The music goes right along with the “Art/Photo” section; again, this may fascinate and astound you.

I actually tried an experiment after all the research, and lo, it worked- immediately! I did not do the rice experiment (as it already had been done) but I wanted to try something else that would possibly have an effect on my body. My gosh, and did it ever!  The results were astounding. I will let you know in the next blog article so be sure to read and view the video clips in that spotlight (Art/Photo).

I pulled a product out of the Hall of Fame as there is a You Tube video revealing additional information for that particular product. I thought it too valuable to ignore. I, myself, use this product because of its tremendous benefits (keeping my youth in tact).

I’m not sure if I mentioned the “Vision” Spotlight in a previous article, but it would be worth a visit.  I had a lovely chat with this fellow last week and will reserve some hugs for him when we get together!

So, you wonderful dads out there (including mine), give yourself some time to enjoy these treats. You deserve recognition for the roles you play, and for your protective and loving nature. I salute you!

List of new spotlights waiting for you: Recipe, Health Tip, Inspirational, Music, Art/Photo, Wholesale Product, and Vision.

Drop me a line and let’s see how your day/weekend was spent (i.e. list of activities, celebrations, etc.)

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We have arrived at the hot springs at last! Enjoy viewing the above video clip. When viewing the video below, notice the difference between the two. In the video below, the blue sky and sunshine add to the growing joy of the entire experience. Notice the discovery of a baby rattle snake and what was done to protect all concerned (including the snake).

Hope you enjoyed the journey with me and my family. Think about sharing your hiking or hot spring adventures. We’d love to hear about them. Also, write us a note if you have previously visited these hot springs.

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(Please read The Journey in its entirety for you to truly grasp this hot spring experience. There is also a video clip at the bottom of this article. You will understand the subsequent videos if you read this article first).

We passed through some beautiful scenery along our journey to the hot springs. I held onto that thought even though we couldn’t find or recognize the exact turn off to the Diamond Fork hot springs (there were so many turn offs next to the stream). We drove and drove along the winding road through the picturesque landscape of meadows, forests and stream. The above short video clip shows you our little diversion.

The little kids were excited to discover, what they believed, to be a huge dinosaur bone. Had we found the correct turn off, we would have missed this fun experience. Shortly after the dinosaur discovery, we headed south again to give the “Three Fork” parking entrance a try (even though it looked a little different)! I rejoiced as I became more familiar with the area (after its makeover), and announced that this was indeed the place!

The hike began with 5 adults and 5 little kids under the age of 6. Each adult was responsible for a child. There would be times I wanted to film because I had to find a way to capture this whole experience for everyone, including family back home. I received some grimaces when I would stop to film (a camera man never has it easy..I had to run uphill a lot, either to catch up or get ahead of everyone to film). I had my work out for the day! Interestingly, I never felt the exhaustion as I was too excited! The roles were reversed and I enjoyed being a kid again, taking everything in.

Quietly, along the trail, I said a prayer asking for a beautiful experience with my children. I knew we would all soon part (Europe, Seattle, and Colorado). I remembered the prayer when EVERY person, who passed us in the opposite direction, warned us about the rattle snakes on the side of the trail. I had to be more cautious now while also observing the dark looming clouds ahead. These people were trying to escape the impending storm, and we were hiking into it.

My children became very concerned especially as I was the first to discover a big snake slithering across the path in front of me. I remained still (I forgot to film this) and waited for the others to catch up so I could warn them. The snake also decided to remain still on the other side by a tree for shelter (it knew the storm was coming). I wasn’t afraid because I was faced with the knowledge that the snake just wanted to get out of the way and be left alone. I was amazed to experience this kind of assurance. My kids hesitated and were very afraid. They had little ones with them, and I fully understood their concerns. I made the first move and walked past the snake demonstrating that there was indeed no threat. I knew there would be no need to fear, as long as all we moved at a steady, cautious pace with our focus on the trail.

We overcame that hurdle and kept close together. At times, I had to stop and film and deal with the looks again. I knew I was doing the right thing and they would be happy to have some concrete memories. Well, I wondered if the memory would be short-lived because those dark clouds had their final say, and thunder was heard. My kids realized why the other hikers were coming down in the opposite direction. I knew my kids were fearful. If we had to turn back, I would, at least, be grateful for the wonderful time we had experienced during our picnic, half way up the incline.

We pressed on ignoring the angry shouts of the sky; however, we couldn’t ignore its insistence when the clouds’ tears fell upon us. I thought that a little rain would make it fun to soak in the hot pools.  When one of my daughters saw WHITE tears on my shirt, she cried out in alarm, “Sleet, and possible hail!”

Disappointed, everyone was ready to turn back. Remembering my prayer, and all our efforts of the hike, (we were only 15 mins. or so from the glorious springs) I encouraged my kids to take shelter under the tree branches and wait it out for a while. It would not serve us to hurry and hike DOWN the trail.

My kids thought I was only thinking of our goal and destination. Two of my daughters wanted to remind me that they were mothers themselves and have little ones to protect. I smiled, ENJOYING THAT MOMENT, and mentioned that I was still a protective mother myself (to all of them). I decided to back off about the shelter and allow others to make their decisions. I smiled when they decided to get their towels out and create a canopy under the trees for the little kids. I was reminded of the prayer again, but said another one for good measure hoping the rain, sleet, etc. would stop.

It only lasted a few minutes. I was happy! We continued on the hike, and I took more video clips as we approached the hot springs. You’ll see in the video, what kind of a welcome we received at the hot springs. The clouds broke, and the blue sky and sunshine peered through. No one was there, and we had the whole place to ourselves.

I realized that the storm had to occur to make this a pleasant experience for everyone. The storm had cleared out the people, nudists (we met a gentleman on the way down who was a nudist and had enjoyed some liberation at the springs), and snakes. Wow! A storm had to be part of the journey for us to receive all the benefits! It is true, there were obstacles we had to face, but prayer and faith made it possible to overcome them. We could have easily turned around, but our focus was to stay on the true journey.

That day, I not only realized I had captured a memory, but also recognized the hand of God. He had given me a special gift to use for the rest of my life. This experience is the gift I am sharing with you. I hope it will serve you well as it will for me.

Walk along the trail with me now by clicking on the video below (also pay attention to the scene displaying the dark clouds above the trail, just before the stream scene) . After, continue the video trail in the subsequent articles listed above.

More video clips of the hot springs in the next article.

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You are in for a treat! I’m going to be showing you a few video clips in this Diamond Fork Hot Springs series. It’s the season to soak in the sun or should I say, mineral water! Actually, there’s more to it. One can call it, soaking in nature’s offerings (along with its lessons).

Let me talk about the lesson first and, wow, what a lesson it was! It actually turned out to be one of nature’s lifelong offerings!

Life is full of choices, and sometimes they are not easy to make. What do you do when you have to make a decision and both choices seem to be just as good as the other? You know that you would prefer to make the best choice. Perhaps, this would then be the time to decipher what your desires are regardless of the current landscape surrounding you. Let me share with you the birth of a choice and where it took me.

My family and I decided to get together to spend the day embracing sun, water, and each other. We were to start early, prepare food for picnic, and gather our gear for swimming and hiking. The original intention was to hike to Diamond Fork Hot Springs, up Spanish Fork Canyon. During this preparatory period, other people (not going with us) advised against the Hot Spring choice. The factors we had to take in consideration did have value. The hike itself would be 2.5 miles each way on a gradual incline (we had little kids as young as two years old) with some narrow, washed away parts of the trail. The hot springs, as well as the trail, could be dangerous (slippery, snake infested, deep & raging waters, etc.) and harbor nudists!

My kids paid attention to these concerns, and the morning of indecision opted for early retirement allowing the afternoon to take its place- we were still home! I really wanted to go but if I pressed it, I knew my children would seek other options so I offered them another one. I mentioned a visit to Cascade Springs instead, which would be equally fun but without the water to skin embrace. Offering this additional choice created more clarity for my children as they determined what they really wanted to do- the embrace meant more to them. Happy at the direction it was going, I reassured them that we could always turn back if the journey proved to be too challenging.  If anything, soaking in the scenery along the way would be well worth the attempt!

I knew there would be challenges, including finding the place. They all relied on me to remember the exact location. It had been a few years since I last visited the hot springs, during which time I heard the access had been closed down and parts of the area renovated. I wasn’t going to worry about it. I was just glad to finally get out of the house and stake a claim on adventure, ready to enjoy its landscape along the way.

 Of course, in the back of my mind, I hoped that we had made the right decision considering all the possible challenges. I was the guide, but a student at the same time. As a student, I had to pay attention, keep my eyes and ears open, and be fully aware. As a guide, I had to rely on the whisperings of the spirit as I ventured into the unknown with my children. I had no idea what was coming…

More to come, along with a video clip..

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Metal archway at the entrance to the War Memorial commemoration

Click on the picture above to view the online card.

Observe this as a special day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day was first observed in May of 1868. Arlington National cemetery was adorned in flowers, which were placed upon the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. After World War 1, the official recognition included any American who died fighting for his nation’s freedom.

Which was the first state to honor the holiday originally called Decoration Day? Write me your response without doing the research. It’ll be interesting to see which states are thought of first.

This officially concludes our War and Peace series. May there always be room in your heart for those who have gone before you. 

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Karl Jenkins- Benedictus.  

Put all your distractions on hold to listen to this wonderful piece of music that Karl Jenkins presents. Also pay attention to the slides shown in the concert. Think of the journey you have walked with me and the historic landscape we have seen together. Did you learn something new? Perhaps you have learned what is the greatest sorrow  and the greatest joy.  You may also have learned what it is that we need to protect.

War and peace permeate the universe and are the pulse of creation.  They are punctilious in nature and follow a pattern. It is hard to discern the pattern when we are part of it. We can, however, be grateful to our forefathers who left behind records for future generations, allowing us to see the eternal knot of which we are a part. We can be grateful for our historians today as we weave our own experiences as a nation for the benefit of those who are yet to come.

Here is an excerpt from some historical records that were translated from metal plates (600BC-400AD). “Behold, I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.

And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed. And my father was also killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfill the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not. Therefore, I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.

Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. And my father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.

Behold, 400 hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior. And behold, the Lamanites have hunted our people, the Nephites, down from city to city and from place to place, even until they are no more; and great has been their fall; yea, great and marvelous is the destruction of my people, the Nephites. And behold, it is in the hand of the Lord which hath done it. And behold also, the Lamanites are at war with one another; and the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.”

Witnessing such utter destruction and loss, Moroni was able to stand outside of the pattern and express hope for the future, looking to a God of miracles. His pain brought him to his knees but he ackowledged the important process of getting up. Those who stand the tallest are the ones who’ve encountered the fall.

Standing tall with parental concern, he adds: “Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead: for I know that ye shall have my words. Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before me; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.”

Let’s remember those who’ve gone before us. From out of the dust their cries are heard. Composer, Karl Jenkins has heard these cries, and reflects their feelings in his work.

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Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream

Words and Music by Ed McCurdy

Last night I had the strangest dream
I’d ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war

I dreamed I saw a mighty room
Filled with women and men
And the paper they were signing said
They’d never fight again

And when the paper was all signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands and bowed their heads
And grateful pray’rs were prayed

And the people in the streets below
Were dancing ’round and ’round
While swords and guns and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

Last night I had the strangest dream
I’d never dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.

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