What are men, compared to rocks and mountains?

The faster we goes the more behinder I gets...

It is really impossible to know where to start this post. Daniel's Graduation from High School and the typhoon of activities around that. Concerts, recognitions, awards, receptions, etc. Of course a huge thank you to everyone who came to wish Daniel well at his graduation. We were so pleased to see friends and family (as well as friendly family) from all over the country come.

Then there was the small window of time after graduation and before the family reunion at Cody, Wyoming. We spent a fantastic week with Dustin and Jennifer and their family while the boys went to Cedar Badge Youth Leadership Training. Dustin, Jennifer, Tyler and Caroline came all the way out to our house. We made a mad dash with the boys to Driggs, Idaho, to the scout camp, then spent a good part of the week relaxing in anticipation for the big family reunion.

It wasn't over, however. Amanda and I took Daniel to college where he has a dorm room and an all-you-can-eat meal plan.

Meanwhile, the entire clan was gathering at Cody, Wy for the big Family Reunion.

We certainly missed Daniel, Jarvis, Dave, and Joel. But everyone had a great time.

Yellowstone

Towards the end of that trip Dara Dee and Heidi conspired to travel to the Sacred Grove, Kirtland, and Nauvoo for a grand whirlwind tour!

Aaron hitch-hiked the family camper behind Brandon & Goldie to get home. Fortunately for Aaron, they (and many other friends) also took pity on him during his extended bachelorhood; Thanks to everyone who fed or otherwise took care of him!

With everyone finally home, it was time for Dallin to go on the Scout High Adventure trip to the Sawtooth Mountains. Aaron went along for the 20 mile hike through some of the most rugged country in Idaho. They climbed from 7200 ft to 9500 ft at one point. The trail through the snowyside area led them past some beautiful and undeveloped country anywhere. Under full packs, they went seven miles the first day, one the second, and twelve miles the final day of the trip. Being a primitive area, there was only foot-trafic and pack animals allowed on the trail (they were both), and they had to pack out everything that they carried in. It was the most amazing and exhilirating thing in the world to fish and swim in lakes fed directly from snow run-off.

The summer is already half-full! Let's see what the second half has in store.

Sawtooth Mountains

Unbridled exuberance

Finally a warm week-end.

Friday was quite a whirlwind of a day. Aaron drove from our house to the Salt Lake Temple to attend the sealing of Erik Hall and Shellie Linford. Shellie's grandfather performed the sealing and had been her patriarch for her blessing. It is always so wonderful to see the promise in the eyes of two wonderful youth embarking on an eternity together. After the 11:50 sealing (they keep a tight ship at SLC) and pictures Shellie's parents hosted a luncheon at the Lion House, then it was back in the car for a return drive.

Saturday morning found each little Wells awaking to the candy and hidden eggs of our spring celebration. Spring Celebration is a holiday of our own design. It comes each Saturday before Easter Sunday. The bunny brings baskets of candy and he hides colored and candy eggs in the yard for our children to find.

Easter, on the other hand, finds those same children at Church listening to lessons and testimony of The Lord, resurrected and living after three days in a borrowed tomb.

Saturday, was not complete with just the candy and eggs. There were soccer games to play. David had two games, one and 9 and a second at 1:00. Daniel's team was in Mountain Home at 1:00. Because the Prom was also Saturday, many of the team didn't go to the game. However, there were five U16 players who came to the game (only four could play). It was also nice to see Tyner play again. Daniel and David both were playing well. Mountain Home, while sunny, was windy and cold (like always). In the end, the boys teams won all three games.

Daniel and Amanda attended Prom with six other youth from the area. Amanda and DaraDee made Amanda's dress. Her date's name is Phillip. He is a nice, quiet and respectful young man who attends a performing arts charter school. He dances and is very accomplished in piano. Daniel went with Michelle, a very lovely and nice young lady from school.

Spring is worth being exuberant about, even if unbridled.

The 5000 Year Leap

DaraDee bought me a book a couple of months ago. Somehow, I didn't realize that she had purchased the book specifically for me, I thought that it was something for her book group. They've been reading the Federalist Papers. Anyway, I glanced at this book and the title "The 5000 Year Leap" and didn't persue it with much enthusiasm.

A few weeks later, I realized what she had purchased for me. W. Cleon Skousen's work on the Constitution and Bill of Rights and the reasons why they are different and revolutionary. I'd actually read part of these books as a teen because my father actually met Dr. Skousen back in the 1980's and was part of a multi-week study course containing his material.

So, when the realization hit me that "this was the book", I dove in reading with earnest. Unfortunately, the biggest change that this book has had in my life is to render me quite upset and dissatisfied with those in pollitical office who are either unknowingly, complicitly, or explicitly breaking the supreme laws of the land. I'm left with questions that don't have good answers:

• Why, after 200+ years of amazing achievement, do the polliticians still want to model our government after those in Europe that have given us two world wars?
• How did the states become convinced to ratify the 16th and 17th amendments, effectively removing the States' checks and balances from the Congress and giving an unlimited ability to tax the individuals of our country?
• Why was I taught in US History that the new deal saved our country from the great depression, and other socialist propaganda rather than simply shown the facts of increasing federal spending and programs, and worsening unemployment? It was only the manufacturing boom of World War II and the increased saving (via war bonds) that pulled us out of the great depression and led to the economic prosperity of the 50s and 60s.
• Why was John F. Kennedy allowed by the states to mobilize the State Militia to fight in foreign wars? This clearly illegal act has never been challenged by any state governor, and continues to this day in Iraq and Afganistan.
• Why does the President legislate through executive orders?
• Why does the Supreme Court legislate through wildly creative interpretations of a very clear and simple document (our Constitution)?
• Why do we have all kinds of federal agencies that (via personal taxes) appropriate our money, then blackmail our states into fulfilling the mandates of bureaucrats by withholding the same money if their programs aren't implemented?

What do I do about it?

So I wrote my congressmen and representative a nice letter telling them that I am very concerned with the actions of all three branches of government; that I support repealing the 16th and 17th amendments, and that deficit budgets should only be allowed in the case of war or specific emergency as ratified by congress, and then only if the debt is repaid in the generation (within 20 years) of the deficit.

I still don't feel any better.

Where can I join the "federalist party"?

learning to blog

Thanks to my friend I am learning

Danny boy and Abigirl are the sweetest of friends. This was taken fall of 2008.