The Watchman

This time of year brings fall break and fall break to me is hiking and camping in Zion National Park.  From the middle of October to the middle of November, you can walk along the Virgin River and watch the leaves change from their summer green to the golds and reds of autumn.

 

As a child, we would often sing in church a hymn titled "Israel, Israel, God Is Calling".  The refrain of this song repeats the phrase "Come to Zion, come to Zion".  Zion is promised to be a place where the Lord can be found and the individual is encouraged to rejoice as "Zion's walls shall ring with praise."

I think of the joy our family has found within these canyon walls, I know that we have been able to draw closer together and the memories and connections we have created here have been the good times that have helped us through the hard times.  We have rejoiced.

Zion National Park has been home to many.  While these individuals had diversity of culture, they all shared a belief in the sacredness of this place.  Its beauty is a testament to a loving Heavenly Father who wants His children to be happy and find joy and peace.

At the entrance to Zion National Park stands one of the more distinctive features of the canyon; The Watchman.  At its base is the campground that bears the same name.  Many mornings I have sat by our fire and watched as the sun revealed this majestic peak and at night I have tucked by children nestled at its feet.  To me the name calls to mind that hymn from my childhood.  

I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over me.  He wants me to be happy and has provided a way for me to find that happiness.  I am grateful everyday for that knowledge and the peace and joy it brings to my life.  

To learn more about the joy found in God's light, click here.

Happy Independence Day

I spent the morning celebrating the freedom we enjoy in this great nation with our town.  It was a perfect day with children running and playing games, entertainment by home-grown talent, hot dogs, ice cream, cotton candy,  a parade and neighbors just spending time together.  This is the America I love!

My son posted the following poem as his status on Facebook today.  Reading it reminded me of these two pictures from our parade this morning.  I thought of how much we owe to our veterans and how our future depends on our youth.

That Ragged Old Flag!

Written by Johnny Cash

I walked through a county courthouse square.

On a park bench an old man was sitting there.

I said, "Your old Court House is kinda run down."

He said, "No, it will do for our little town."

I said, "Your old flag Pole is leaning a little bit.

And that's a ragged old Flag you've got hanging on it."

He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down

"Is the first time that you've been to our little town?"

"Well," he said, "I don't like to brag,

But we're kinda proud of that ragged old Flag.

You see, we got a little hole in the Flag there,

When Washington took it across the Delaware.

And it got powder burns, the night Francis Scott Key,

Sat watching it, writing 'Oh, Say, Can You See.'

And it got a bad rip at New Orleans,

When Packingham and Jackson took it to the scene

And, it almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas Flag

But she waved on through

She got cut with a sword at Chancerville,

And she got cut again at Shilo Hill

There was Robert E. Lee, Bouregard and Bragg

The South wind blew hard on that Old Ragged Flag

On Flanders Field in World War One

She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun

She turned BLOOD RED World War Two,

And she hung limp and low a time or two.

She was in Korea and Vietnam

She went from our ships upon the briny foam.

Now they've about quit waving her back here at home

In our good land she's been abused,

She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused

And the Government for which she stands

Is scandalized through out the land.

She's getting threadbare and she's wearing thin,

But, she's in good shape for the shape she's in,

Because she's been through the fire before,

I believe she can take a whole lot more.

So we raise her up every morning, and we

Take her down every night,

We don't let her touch the ground,

and we fold her up right.

On second thought, I do like to brag,

Because I'm mighty proud of that ragged old flag!

And the Word of the Year is .......

Cherish

cher·ish/ˈCHeriSH/

Verb:

Protect and care for (someone) lovingly: "he cherished me in his heart".

Hold (something) dear.

Synonyms:

nurse - nourish - foster

The word of the year is a concept that my friend Cynthia Bee (aka Cindy) introduced to me in her blog Creative Chaos.  The idea is that rather than making resolutions that we know we will never keep past the first weeks of the new year, you choose a word that can help you focus your actions throughout the year.  It seems such a simple concept, but as I have thought about it the last few weeks I have realized that it can become a life-changing exercise.

So why did I choose "Cherish" as my focal point for 2012?  Because life can move fast and at times my life has been trying to set a new land-speed record.  I need to slow down and take time to smell the daisies or the roses or the tulips.  (Maybe I need to tip-toe through the tulips?)  So here are some of the things I plan to cherish during the coming year.  I know this list will be added to as the year progresses and some items will vary in their priority,  but like any goal you need to start.

1. My marriage and my husband - More and more I am reminded how truly blessed I am to have such a wonderful partner in life and for eternity.  There is no one I would rather be with.  He can always bring a smile to my face and his support for me is limitless.  I want to insure that he knows how much I appreciate him and support him.

2. My children - 2011 really brought home the point that times in the Wixom house are changing.  This is good, but I don't want to look back and regret that I just let these days pass me by.

3. My family - Same reasons as above.

4. My friends - Just as I have been blessed with a wonderful family, I have also been blessed with amazing and supportive friends.  Life can so easily take us apart.  Through Facebook I have been able to reconnect with many friends I thought I had lost.  I want to continue to nourish those refound relationships.  And I want to take a time to let be there and not lose those friends I have now.

5. My community - I love where I live.  It is the best place in the world for our family.  It has given us so much and it is now time for me to focus some time and energy on giving back.  Whether it is volunteering in the schools, making myself knowledgeable of issues in the community, serving on activity committees; I know I can contribute to this place.

6. My church service - I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ as my Savior.  He has sacrificed so much that my life can be better.  In return, He asks for so little in comparison.  Often when we are asked to give service, we refer to it as work.  Yes, it can be hard at times.  Yes, it can take away from other things we would like to be doing.  But right now I have been entrusted to serve a very choice group of young girls and provide them with experiences that will help them grow closer to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  In time this may change and the Lord will find some other way for me to serve, something else he will entrust in to my care,  but now it is twenty-three amazing and bright daughters of God.

7. Myself - I know that I will not have the energy or strength to give to anyone or anything else, if I do not  take care of myself.  Last year, I tried "to get in shape", and it was as you would expect such a goal to be.  I hope that a new perspective will help me gain a greater appreciation for myself.

So here is to 2012! No resolutions to break!  Nothing to feel guilty about not accomplishing!  If you were to pick a Word of the Year, what would it be?  Something to think about.