Happy Independence Day, U.S.A.!!!!!!!

The American flag has evolved over time along with the nation. The first official red, white and blue flag bearing 13 stars and 13 stripes debuted in 1777. Today's familiar 50-star flag dates back to 1960, the year after Alaska and Hawaii became states. 

The end of June 2021 has been a happy beginning of summer, a time to reflect on blessings, take stock of where and how we live, and what we can do to make life better for others by giving more of ourselves. I'm grateful for all the July 4 festivities (and Provo goes all out for many days) and will report on them next blog!

June 27 is World Refugee Day. This day requires some reverence and reflection on our parts. According to latest UN statistics, the number of people fleeing wars, violence, persecution and human rights violations in 2020 rose to nearly 82.4 million people. “Behind each number is a person forced from their home and a story of displacement, dispossession and suffering. They merit our attention and support not just with humanitarian aid, but in finding solutions to their plight,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. I will begin teaching English to some refugees, the least I can do to help! The Quito, Ecuador Temple, with beautiful Andes backdrop, is nearing completion.  I would love to go to the open house (later this year?) When I served a mission in The Guayaquil, Ecuador Temple I was impressed with the dedicated members who frequently brought their families on the 12-hour bus ride from Quito area in the north. Our Palo Alto Bradshaw friends finished their large reunion in Park City, with a concert in Provo by Rob Bradshaw's (in red) band performing at The Orchard at University Place, Orem. My daughter Emily was happy to renew friendship with her childhood friend Tauna and family. Also on the program were some great Polynesian dancers and fire throwers. This week at the same venue I really enjoyed Clog America's performance. The group is celebrating its 30th anniversary. A smaller contingent will be the only Americans allowed in Russia this week for the World Folkloriada Festival in Ufa, Russia. They had to pull strings to get there! Also on the program and trip were five sisters (3 are triplets) singing patriotic songs, and the fabulous Keller brothers (2 served missions in Russia so speak the language) and sister playing banjo, guitar, fiddle and singing favorites.  Saturday June 26, we drove to the small ranching community Peoa (near Kamas and Oakley) for the Kids' Stampede, a small rodeo with activities such as Cow Dobbing (?), sheep riding (funny but dangerous?), chicken, kitten and greased pig catching! This is a new culture for me; Fernanda's dad had never been to a rodeo. My grandson Luke managed to catch a chicken (which he gave to a cousin) and a cute kitten (which he is still lobbying to keep). It was an enjoyable, hilarious, warm afternoon. We left after the beautiful big horses and carriage circled the arena with Star Spangled Banner playing, introducing the real rodeo. Marc, Fernanda and I went to an Indian Bollywood festival in Daybreak that evening. This week my across the street neighbor, our stake president, and former Madrid mission president (when I served there) Scott Jackson retired after 45 years as an orthopedic surgeon. It's sad to say a temporary good-bye to Scott and Ruthanne who will begin soon be serving as Mission Training Center leaders in Lima, Peru. I doubt he will have much time to engage in his favorite leisure activity, golf!  When it's not too hot (some evenings) I'm enjoying my back yard, now that I have eliminated a lot of the rocks and planted some trees and flowers. Lots of watering! Also LOTS of birds at my bird feeders! They also like the bird bath and waterfall. I love my evening walks with the sun's glow on the mountains. It is desert, but the early pioneers made the desert bloom and so do all the residents today. My grand-daughter Kelly introduced me to Moon's Rare Bookstore in Riverwoods mall down the road. There are amazing and very valuable Bibles and Books of Mormon (original King James, Tyndall, Pilgrim, Joseph Smith), Lincoln's sword, relics from Henry VIII), Shakespeare originals, Dickens' desk, doors from English castle, etc.., etc. Very fascinating! (above is a replica of Grandin's press that printed the first Books of Mormon in 1830)  May we all respect our inspired Constitution, our heritage of liberty and freedom, and use wisdom and good sense to preserve them. It is up to all of us as new or long-time citizens and residents of a great nation. Here are some quotes I like from Jodi Picoult's new book Small Great Things: "Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are." (Benjamin Franklin) "Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced." (James Baldwin) "The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind." (Maria Cristina Mena) "People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love." (Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom) Let us try harder to love, to follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and other good people throughout our world who put love and inclusion before selfish interests. Let us be doers, giving small acts of service wherever we can, with whatever means we have available to share with others near and far.