Our Happy Trails: Leadership Change, Music, and Family Fun

We had a special meeting on Monday June 26 with Elder Durham and Elder Raymond Cutler. Elder Durham was given a new assignment in the church and Elder Cutler is now our Seventy over Deseret Land and Livestock. We will miss the Durham's but know that we will grow to love Elder Cutler and he in turn will love this beautiful and spiritual place.

Elder Durham and his last day at DL&L

Elder Raymond Cutler first day at DL&L

For FHE on Monday night we had Michael McLean come and sing and play his songs, tell his stories and talk about his book M 2 B Happy (Mission to be Happy) I made Dinah Shore Rice pudding and snicker-doodles and we also had yummy chocolate cake for Sis Clarks birthday. The Stake Presidency from Evanston and their wives also came.

Michael McLean with Bob and Debra

The skies and sunset here on the ranch are so amazing! Arizona and this ranch has to have the best skies I have ever seen. The thing here is, the night skies are so clear and the stars are unbelievable! The Sego Lilies are in full bloom. I can honestly say I had never seen them before in my life. They are plentiful this year and so beautiful.

A beautiful Sego Lili blooming in a rough climate

Just another gorgeous sunset!

Unbelievable sunset!

They moved the cows this week and now we are not mooed to sleep each night.

Cows on the mooooove

We manned the gate the first 2 days of trek this week. It was fun getting to stop and talk to each vehicle as they came onto the ranch. We have to make sure they stop at the railroad tracks as this is a very busy and fast crossing.

One of the railroad trucks being loaded onto the tracks.

We meet the nicest people on trek. We also water and take care of the grounds and Debra painted the furnace room upstairs in the trek center. On Friday and Saturday we helped on trail 6 with the St. George North Stake. We worked with the Ekins whose daughter was on that trek. On Friday night we picked up Elder Kukuchi, an emeritus 70, at the gate and attended his fireside for the St. George Stake. He told about his conversion in Japan and the pioneers in that country. It was a very cool and great night.

Elder Kukuchi speaking to the St George North Stake on trail 6. Notice Sis Kukuchi bundled in a warm blanket.

We left for Salt Lake on Saturday as soon as we got our group into staging. We were meeting up with Heidi, Wynn, Alea and Weston at the Tabernacle for an amazing concert of the combined MCO (Millennial Choirs and Orchestras) called, "Be Still, My Soul". They had several standing ovations and with good cause. You could not stay in your seat it was so good. On Sunday we attended Music and the Spoken Word at the conference center and I believe the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has met it's match! It was so fun to run into our dear friends Tom and Connie Larsen from Mesa. He and his daughter Mandy also sing with the choir.

Heidi and Alea with the Millennial Choirs singing in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake

Music and the Spoken Word June 25, 2017

The Christensen family then came to the Ranch for a couple of days and we had more fun than any family aught to. We hiked to the arches on the ranch, rode trail 29 (soooo dusty!), played pickle ball. rode a bicycle built for two, threw axes at a wooden target, and played games. It was so great to have them here with us. They left us with a fun surprise as the TP'ed our trailer and left fun notes for us. This has been a great week.