Meet Me In St Louis louee

So Tuesday started with more volleyball, which as the weekend proved out was a mixed blessing; the team had shining moments and put together threads of consistency and power, yet could not keep enough threads together to gain traction. On a positive note, the last game of the season, though a loss, was truly a high note for mackey in effort and impact. She played her best and left it on the court. The end of the cacophony of thousands of girls playing volleyball in a very large yet confined space - the cheers, squeals, yells that are unique to masses of girls playing sports - what a tournament.


Following the day's game we hopped in the truck and headed west through St Louis and ultimately Kansas City. Southern Indiana is pleasant, nigh unto beautiful country to drive through. Fortunately the drive was uneventful other than slow traffic as we slowed through downtown St. Louis making sure we could see the Gateway to the West.

SJ & Dale welcomed us to their beautiful home for a few days. I highly recommend a visit; the hosts are gracious, the food tasty, and their home is worth the trip. Tastefully decorated, an ideal layout and verdant views.I love their place - look what we found!

A Day In Louisville

Louisville is area pleasant city with plenty of open space and green. The river front is nice and they clearly have invested in it but the Ohio doesn't have the charm of the Mississippi and downtown Minneapolis. The have a very enjoyable downtown walking a where one finds the core of their museums, we dropped by the Louisville Slugger factory and museum for a quick tour.

As St Paul has its Snoopy's and Chicago its cows, Louisville quite naturally has its horses to bring a artistic flare and continuity to the sidewalks.

For dinner we found a delightful part of town - Baxter - which has an Uptown type of feel full of eclectic shops and restaurants. We tried a quaint Mediterranean place which found us sharing fresh and flavorful greek salad, falafel and kabobs; followed by a drop in to a homemade dessert place. A grand tour.

Louisville Temple

We drove out of town a bit to see the Louisville Temple which is quite like the St Paul Temple only squeezed into a smaller space. Still peaceful. Mac and I discussed how we appreciate the economies of scale and appreciate even more the custom touches found in Nauvoo, Palmyra, Winter Quarters, and the western temples.

Louisville

Mackenzie, Evan, and I loaded the suburban for a road trip to Louisville for a national volleyball tournament. We left early Saturday morning and made it easily. Interesting notes:

• Listened to Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet as our book on a tape driving down. An interesting story, I simpling didn't recall its anti-mormon sentiment and biases that are core to the story.
• Stopping for gas and a Sonic burger outside of Louisville (Indiana-side) and my oh my the southern accents and influence were strong
• Volleyball was not good, we started against a team that clearly out-powered us, and then we underplayed to our capacity for our next games.
• Louisville 6th ward is very friendly and embracing. perhaps the most greetings I've ever had as a visitor; and in stark contrast to our last trip though Kentucky

Hopefully, the team does well today and we will have a chance to play tomorrow.

Dancing

years ago with many a many varied style and step my mother taught me to dance in the kitchen. we waltzed, we cha cha'ed, we rumba'ed and we samba'ed; we twisted, we bugaloo'ed, and we disco'ed too. I loved to dance with my mom, it was fun, it was loving, it was grand, it was expanding; whether i was 5 or 50. it is a delight to have this clip of my mom and our son parker dancing together. we all need to dance more.

"To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful." ~Agnes De Mille

Uncle Evan

Knowing you are led

1 nephi 17 tells the story of nephi building a ship and the opposition of his brothers to the endeavor. Similar to many a BOM chapter it is laden with rich lessons and promised blessings. One which struck me as truly a powerful blessing is verse 13: wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

The required behavior: KEEP commandments
The two-fold blessing:
1) you shall be led towards the promised land - i think that applies to us be driven toward the fulfillment of the lord's promises to us. Not necessarily to a physical place but truly a location of blessings, an arrival not perpetually a journey; and
2) knowing that one is being led - it is one thing to dedicate a prayer in terms of "thy will be done" it is quite another to more than sense or feel but to know you are being led by the lord and hence are indeed keeping his commandments and being aligned with his will. doing what you should be doing and receiving the blessings you should receive.

Ability to progress

Two quotes which I enjoy but have yet to find the source:

1) Elder Faust: Many in this life are in stages of progression

2) Joseph Smith: all spirits born into this world are capable of improvement

any body have the sources

Five Guys

So a most pleasant father's day surprise: Blair, Julie, Eden, Lucky and Duncan dropped in Friday evening for a 24 hr visit. They arrived shortly before a major storm which knocked our power out and wasn't restored until the wee hours of the night. We slept in. Saturday was hot and sunny, until our power went out again Saturday night.

We enjoyed an enjoyable walk along the river into downtown and ate at Five Guys, which clearly is a favorite with Eden. Before they left Mackey return from girls camp. It is great to have her back.

Mac & Dad

Blair, Evan, Parker, & Mac have all been able to spend time with Dad while he has been in Northridge. This weekend has been Parker & mackey's turn. We started with a game of Quiddler, where I was destroyed, Mackey pulled off a come from behind victory, as father narrowly lost. Then Mac & I took father for a ride in his wheelchair up and around the block - on the outside sidewalk in the 80 degree summer air. We measured the distance at it is almost exactly 8/10ths of a mile.

Great weather. Great chat. Great company.