EIGHT MINUTES TWENTY SECONDS

It takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds for the light of the sun to reach the earth. It takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds for the cycle of blood to flow through the body and return to the heart. This is not a coincidence. God as our creator uses wisdom and order in all things.

As the Savior took his final breath on the cross at Calvary, light was taken from the earth. Darkness consumed all existence and it is recorded that one could not even see the hand in front of the face. I have always associated the light of the Sun with the light of the Son.

In this respect it is interesting that time travel for the flow of blood and light of sun is identical. The flow of blood is what keeps the human body alive. The light of the Savior is what keeps the spirit alive.

Something else interesting - According to Wikipedia, “the shape described by the Sun's position is called the analemma and resembles a figure 8 aligned along a north/south axis.”

That’s a subject for another blog post…

FIRST PITCH

Rick Berry, General Manager of the St. George Roadrunners, asked me to represent KCSG by throwing out the first pitch of the game tonight. FUNNY! We're soccer people around here and I can't remember the last time I threw a baseball. But I agreed.

By way of explanation, due to the many cart wheels I turn at KCSG, my rotater cuff doesn't work too well anymore. So I threw an underhand pitch. That should, as the joker would say, "put a smile on your face."

OUT OF FOCUS

Today I am sick. I am sitting at work looking at my list of things to do today, but all I can focus on is the pain I am feeling from the knocking of a head cold that wants to be let in.

I never get sick but yesterday I felt the unfamiliar ache of a sore throat pain so I started my I-refuse-to-get-sick regimend. The cold is fighting back.

I'm certain I will be victorious but at this particular moment in time I feel all the aches and pains of clogged nasal passages, sand paper throat and throbbing head. I want to crawl back into my bed and sleep the day away but that fantasy is not to be.

The daily demands of life will always take presidence over the things we want most.

SIMON SAYS

"What I want to do and what I do do are two seperate things.

If everyone went around doing what they wanted all the time

there'd be chaos." - Simon Birch

DISCOVERY

There are things in life that we do not control. It is the constant worry, longing (whatever you want to call it) over these things that will cause unnecessary stress and anxiety in our lives.

I am guilty of this.

I have discovered that this is what triggers and then feeds the migraines that plague my health. The trick now is to have the self discipline needed to dismiss those things from my life.

Do not worry about things we cannot fix and do not long for things that are out of reach. This is wasted energy.

PLACE OF MORNING

It's quiet and peaceful.

Everyone sleeps but me.

Morning is my favorite time.

The light of day falls gently across the landscape.

The cool breezes brush across my skin.

The tranquilizing song of nearby birds.

Add to this morning delight...

Monsoon season in St. George.

Feels like Hawaii outside.

All that's missing is the ocean breeze.

One day I will retire in the South Pacific

and enjoy my mornings in a tropical sort of way.

LIVING IS HARD WORK

Life is all about work. Work to get ready for work. Work all day at work then come home to work all night. I asked a friend his thoughts on work. The answer came in scripture...

"...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...work for his good pleasure." (Phillipians 2:12) He sort of paraphrased...okay he paraphrased alot. But I started thinking about the words.

My first thought - "why would God take pleasure in seeing me work myself into mental and physical exhaustion." Then I thought about God as my father, me as His child and me as a parent.

As a parent I have taught my children work ethics. I take pleasure in knowing that my children know how to work and that they work hard. In opposition to that, I become most frustrated with my children when they have too much leisure time on their hands. Lessons are not learned in leisure activity they are learned in the challenge of work. Then I realize that being a parent makes me a better child.

That being said, I need a break from work.

My only refuge is in the 6 minutes it takes me to drive from work to home. The fantastical thoughts of my mind rejuvenate my energies so that when I face the domestic challenges at home, I can transition from work to work and not even skip a beat.

MAKIN' MEMORIES

Since my family is all together we took a ride up north to spend July 4 with anyone from my Scoville family who could be there. As it turned out Mark, Garry, me, Robert and our families managed to pull it together. Only 2 were missing - Paul and Moana - they live in Arizona.

We went hiking to Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon. SOOO MUCH FUN! If you look in the picture above you'll see that the water fall disappears for a minute. (click on the photo to view it in a larger way) It actually flows through a whole in the rock. In the past we have been able to walk right into the cave and stand under the water but the spring runoff this year is out of control. We ventured out onto this rock and took a picture as the water flowed frantically around us.

After the hike we paused to capture the memory. For those of you who know my brothers you'll be able to pick them out...Garry is not really a giant...he's just tall and then he's standing on a rock which makes him even taller. All toll my parents have 6 children and I think 23 grandchildren. On this day 4 of their children and 17 of their grandchildren celebrated July 4 with a hike to donut falls. Grandpa and Grandma are in their 80's and this was not a walk for them.

We watched the July 4 fireworks in an untraditional way and decided that we missed our St. George Sunbowl fireworks display. But everything else about the day was fabulous! It will be a wonderful memory in years to come when we find ourselves spread out all over the world.

STAMPEDE FEVER

It's that time of year again, the Calgary Stampede, and I'm not there. My most fun summer job. But the best part was hangin' with my dad and the cowboys...so much fun!

Every year I worked the grandstand and on the fourth of July the announcer would have everyone stand and the Americans would sing The Star Spangled Banner before the show could begin. I thought it was cool being as I sang O Canada every day of my life all the way through my school years.

This Friday is not just July 4. It's the first Friday in July which means the Calgary Stampede Parade...the best ever memories, and they'll be singing The Star Spangled Banner in Canada.

Other stampede memories
::late night concerts::
::cowboys::
::carnival rides::

::parade watchin'::

::cherry pit spittin' contests::

::building bleachers::
::red pants::
::white hats::
::supertramp::
::cowboys::

::stampede breakfast::
::fleetwood mac::
::indian pow wows::
::tom thumb donuts::
::cowboys::
::midnight fireworks::

This year Sugarland performs on July 11. If only wishes were dreams come true..