May 2010: Gila Valley Temple & Other Events

Today was one of those days that falls into a category of "awesomeness due to simple pleasures." I guess every day could be considered such, but I'll just tell ya a little about it. First, there was kayaking. We had a great time at Saguaro Lake Ranch. Some friends and I have been thinking of getting into kayaking and this is the first attempt. It was a beautiful sunny morning, starting out at 8:30 a.m. The trip took about 2 hours downstream with a few class I rapids. We saw wild birds along the way. I was hoping we would see some wild horses, and just before we hit the take out point- there they were. Eight large silent horses wading into the cool water under some palo verde trees. They were white, brown and darker brown. A local guy told us they wander down from the indian reservation.
After lunch at In-N-Out (it wasn't my idea of healthy, but gotta be a team player, right?) we ended up at Yogurtland. We found out two food scientists out in California come up with the various flavors, and this week they had a new winner. I love, love, love, love frozen yogurt at Yogurtland. This combination of In-N-Out and Yogurtland plays itself out much in my life and I am grateful!
Tonight was the celebration broadcast from Eastern Arizona College to commemorate the temple dedication that will occur tomorrow out here in the desert. The dancers were youth from that area. During the opening number they played, "I am on my Way to Zion," while hundreds of youth marched out onto the field and formed large moving circles that moved quickly, quickly into formation. I immediately felt the Spirit and was very pleased to enjoy the performance surrounded with a few friends here at the ASU institute. The other musical numbers had themes of dancing cotton, miners "working in the coal mine, going down down down," Mexican and soccer playing, 50's swing dancing, country western ho-downs, and hymns of praise. It was a true worship service to me & made me feel like a local!