Peace

**I have to preface this by stating that our trip home from Reno on Saturday was the shortest trip I have ever enjoyed along that road. Not that the distance or time was any less than at other times, but the quiet peacefulness [we had a book on cd we listened to the entire drive home] made it feel like a short journey instead of an 8-hour torture session.**

Now, I recently ran across this quote in my readings:

"There is a world cry for peace; everybody wants peace. In newspapers, magazines, books, [and] from the public platform come cries for peace. As far back as I can remember, there has never been such a worldwide appeal for peace among the children of men.

It is a curious commentary on human nature that men who cry for peace look upon peace as something that may be picked as an apple from a tree, something that lies about within easy reach of humanity. If I pick an apple from a tree, I have first planted the tree, cared for it, watered it, brought it to maturity. Then in due time I may have the fruit.

So with peace. It is not a thing by itself to be picked up casually; but it is the fruit of something precedent. Like the tree, something must be planted and nourished and cared for if we are to obtain peace."

:) I thought about writing a huge essay on how I feel about this quote, yada yada. But really? While I think it is a great reminder to ME to plant peaceful seeds, it may mean something different for you. So I'm going to move on to another subject.

Today in church Jared got to sit by me! Yep, last week he was released from his calling as first counselor to the bishop [he had to sit in front of the congregation for this]. I'm glad he accepted the call, and grateful that he worked hard in it. I'm also happy that he got to sit w/us in the congregation today. I've missed him. He's leaving next Sunday to attend a 3 week training course held in Pennsylvania. *sigh*

Here's a few pictures from our Reno trip:
We visited Animal Ark, and the kids LOVED seeing the animals and reading about them as well.

We visited the park, and the auto museum [lots of car pics I will spare you], and we officially celebrated Walker's 11th birthday on April 30. Just a few days late ;)

The ducks were a hit, as was watching kayak practice in the Truckee River. No pics of that- I was too busy watching. Also, no pics of the trip home.

Gratitude List:
* audiobooks that the kids are interested in listening to.
* sunny weather for the trip home.
* cake balls for everyone!
* our car had no troubles of any kind on the trip.
* family that let us visit, and entertained us as well.
* Jared can sit by me during church meetings again.
* gorgeous tulips in my front yard :)
* rainstorms that water my plants for me [like the storm that just blew in].
* Peace in my heart that is a gift from God.
* we're home again and back in our daily routine.
* some easy sewing projects to do with the kids.


Okay, so the source of the quote? A Norwegian immigrant to the United States; an educator, author, and academician, serving as president of Utah Agricultural College and the University of Utah. He was born in 1872, and died in 1952. He was also a religious man, serving as an Apostle in my church- the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His name was John A. Widtsoe.