Travelling with Dad

This weekend has found us on the road. My dad and I flew out to Atlanta to attend the memorial service for my late Grandfather’s second wife, Edna. A few years after my grandmother passed away he married Edna.

We flew into Atlanta to ride up with my dad’s brother, Daniel and my cousin Melanie. I’m writing from the road, currently in the middle of North Carolina. It’s been nice spending some extra time with my dad.

Before getting on the road, we visited the Kenesaw Mountain Civil War battlefield near Dan’s house. The Illinois Monument (below) is situated on the steep point of Cheatam Hill where despite the steepness and difficulty of the assault, the Union charged and broke through the line, prompting the Confederate retreat. The survivors of the battle referred to this position as “the dead angle.”

April 1865, Jay Winik Book cover

April 1865, by Jay Winik

The area is beautiful, full of tall, old oak trees, pines and vines that are typically of the deep south. Visiting these sites is so fascinating for me to consider the blood, violence and death of that was had there, and to juxtapose that against the tranquil scene before me. It’s all a little extra poignant as I’m currently rereading through one of my favorite books of all time: April 1865.

Images
Unknown US Soilder, Kenesaw Mountain battlefield. via Instagram
Illinois Monument at “the Dead Angle.” via Instagram
Mornings with Dad. via Instagram

How Firm a Foundation

A personal favorite, mentioned as part of a great talk in a Church meeting (Stake Conference, Adult Session) this evening.

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

E’en down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they still,
Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

Text: Attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
Music: Attr. to J. Ellis, ca. 1889

Isaiah 41:10; 43:2–5
Helaman 5:12

Grandpa and Olivia on the Slide- From Instagram

Elizabeth’s parents came for a quick visit Memorial Day weekend. We spent one afternoon in the park. We took this series of photos and when they were automatically uploaded for my Google Plus account, it automatically created this gif (which, according to the creator is supposed to be pronounced with a “j” sound). Pretty simple but fun easter egg:

D014E745-CCD6-40D2-81DE-0F6E68A515E9-MOTION

Olivia and Mommy reading their books

Getting into the warmer weather has been a lot of fun. For mother’s day we got Elizabeth these chairs for our porch. Since then, we’ve gotten Olivia a little purple chair and two shade umbrellas to help keep cool in the afternoon hours.
Not only that, but today (June 8), we’ve also added some strawberry and basil plants to the gardenias in the corner. It’s become quite the homey space!