Time with my sons

Some advice I received recently was to treat each event in my life as if I was seeing or doing it for the first time, or that I knew I would be seeing or doing it for the last time.  I like that for me.  When ever I am with a person who matters to me or am having an experience that I value, I try to experience it as if it was the first (or the last) time I would ever do it.

David, our youngest son, came on Amtrak from Lodi, CA to spend a week with his Mom and Dad and also his oldest Brother, Mark and his family - Pam and Sophia.  We planned the visit so we could go to two Real Salt Lake games and also had time for golf, fishing, back yard BBQs and just time together.  I created a trophy, we have named - The Johnson Boys Traveling Golf Trophy - which David handily won this first year and will carry it home with him on his return home on Amtrak this evening.

What a joy it is to me to be with my family members, to see their growth and the honorable ways they are living their lives and their relationships, to feel their love and to show mine, to see the respectful ways they interact with their mother.

Below are some pictures of our activities this last week.

A hike up Millcreek with our first grandchild - Sophia

One of the many gifts of living at the base of the Wasatch range in Utah, is access to the mountains and the great activities of every season. Another gift is living close to our oldest son, Mark and his spouse Pam, and their daughter, (our first grandchild). Sophia.  Sophia and I hiked the Pipeline trail, up Millcreek Canyon, today. I have included some pictures of our hike.  Then, after the hike, Sophia spent the day with Sharen and me, running errands with Sharen and then all of us spending fun time at the swimming pool where we live.

Another good day with people I love. -:)

Hiking and biking - Jordan River, Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mtns. 2011

I love the mountains.  Every season provides another opportunity to enjoy nature with all the options available because of being close to the Rocky Mountains.  We have had a record amount of snow this year and a late spring, so even in July, there is still snow in the mountains and run off that is filling and flooding the springs, creeks, and rivers.  This morning I hiked Desolation trail up Mill Creek Canyon and spent some time just enjoying the lookout over the Salt Lake Valley.  No crud in the air today so I could see all the valley and all the way across the Salt Lake.  Forgot to take my camera - darn it - but the vision will remain in my head for a long time.  Attached are some pictures of some of my recent biking and hiking.   Life is good.