Witches Bluff, a sight on the road to Flaming Gorge

 

Witches Bluff

I'm a member of the DUP (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers).  We meet once a month, have a lesson on pioneer history, listen to someone give a lesson on their personal pioneer history, sing a couple of pioneer songs, and have refreshments and visit.  I learn a lot.  This past DUP, the lesson was about a Utah artist who documented the journey across the plains to Utah.  I can't remember his name, but he was a great artist.  One of the paintings was of Witches Bluff, and the teacher described approximately where it was.  I thought that it must be somewhere between our home and our cabin and I was right.  Actually, we see it every time we make the trip, I'm just not very observant.  Roy and I made another trip up to the Gorge on Thursday to pick up some beef.  Roy had ordered half a cow from a friend (Keith) up there.  It wasn't Keith's cow, but a friend of Keith's.  We got the beef for $4. a lb, regardless of the cut.  It's good that Roy makes friends with everyone!  We took an exit to get a little closer to these witches and snapped a picture.  

These bluffs are found near Echo Canyon and have long been used as a main throughfare between southern Wyoming and northern Utah, first by Native Americans, fur trappers and explorers, then by wagon trains on the way to Salt Lake City or other points west.  Before the interstate highway was built, passengers on the Overland Stage and then the Union Pacific Railroad also made their way through the canyon.

We had to hurry back early Saturday morning to attend a funeral.  Dad's cousin, David Berry, passed away from a heart attack a couple of weeks ago.  He was in Carmel, California on a golf trip with his stepson.  He leaned over to take a shot, then fell back.  There wasn't an autopsy, but it appeared to be a heart attack.  His stepson, who is a doctor, gave him immediate CPR and then used a defribrillator, all to no avail; he didn't make it.  Knowing what my brother Dave has been through this past month made me very grateful that he was able to get the help he needed.  David Berry's wife had recently had a stint put in her heart and David had been very worried about her, but had no idea he had heart problems of his own.

The funeral went a little long.  My brother Phil has trained me that a funeral should only be 1 hour (maybe 1 hour 5 minutes).  I think I've trained myself, too, since I have a hard time sitting still.  This one was probably close to 100 minutes.  David's first marriage (and I think 2nd, too) was unsuccessful.  He had one son, Nick.  His most recent marriage came with five stepchildren, and it seems he was very happy.  Several of his stepchildren spoke at the funeral along with his stepson in-law.  They all loved him and had wonderful things to say about him.  He married Julie about 20 years ago.  David looked very much like his father, Bill Berry, but he wore a beard most of the time.  There was one picture where he had no beard, and at first I thought it was his father.

The casket was placed in a crypt, which was different than I've experienced before.  Left: Steven Carlile, Roy's cousin; Nan and Evan Theobald and Shirley Piper (Mary Jo Carlile, Steven's wife, had her back to me).

Steven and Mary Jo, Laurel Carlile Steele, Nan, Shirley, Kathleen Carlile, Elaine Berry McKay, Elaine's granddaughter, Ella Buckalew,  Kelly Buckalew (Elaine's daughter) and her husband, Noah, Catharine, Roy, Mike McKay, Charlie (Chris McKay's son, Chris McKay, two of Chris' daughters, Burk Berry (Roger Berry's son), and Noah Buckalew.

Burk Berry, Roy and Laurel Steele 
I mentioned that Burk is Roger's son.  Roger, brother to David Berry and Elaine McKay, passed away more than 20 years ago in a car accident.  Elaine is the only sibling left.  Roger, Laurel and Roy were very close to the same age and were great friends growing up.  All 3 cousins have experienced the loss of a child. 

Following the funeral we dropped by Charlotte's and Phil's home to pick up some cocoa powder and had a nice visit with them.  We didn't go to the meal following the funeral because we hadn't known in advance and dad had his taste buds set on Korean food.  Not going also allowed us the time to stop at Phils.  

Nearby Phil's house is a little theater called Parker Theater.  Ben Lowell starred in a play there, so we made an effort to go check it out.  The play was called Woman in Black.  It was very creepy!  Ben did an excellent job.  It was only a two man play, so a tremendous amount of energy was required of the actors (especially Ben).  It's fun to watch Ben's talent improve over the years.  He was our neighbor in Bountiful while he was growing up.  He's Elise's age.  I've mentioned him before in these letters.  Ben also has an excellent singing voice, but didn't use it in this particular play.

My kids were great about letting us know--last minute--about the primary programs this year.  We got a Zoom link this morning at about 8:55, letting us know about the Vance's primary program in Logan this morning.  I missed taking a screenshot of Todd because he was the very first speaker.  I didn't think about a picture until he turned around to leave the podium.

Small primary!  I counted 14 kids, though I know there were a few missing because the leaders read their parts.  Todd is on the front row on the left.  Bridget is far left on the back row, Ruby is on the back row in the middle, and Greta is right in front of her.

Bridget

Greta

Ruby

I'm not sure, but I think Adrienne commissioned Jieun to do this bear cub for our darling Cub.  It is now finished and hanging in Cub's room.

It's nearly Halloween.  I've had my witches out for a month already.  Roy and I will miss Halloween trick or treaters this year since we're going on a guided trail ride in Ticaboo.  We will have three guided rides: Thursday evening, and Friday and Saturday day (wish me luck).  We'll return on Sunday since Ticaboo is a 6 or 7 hour drive. 

 I received some pics of the Jackson kids in their costumes.  I think they're ready!  

Harvey

Maverick

Beverly

Max

I forgot to put these pictures in last week:  Foster had a cavity (or a couple) and had her first major trip to the dentist.  Apparently she did great.  Both Caitlyn and Jennie were impossible at the dentist!  Jordan and Elijah are waiting patiently.

I like to share a spiritual thought in my weekly letter, though sometimes I am too hurried to put one in.  We have a young man in our ward who is probably close to Jennie's age.  He is confined to a wheel chair because of cerebral palsy.  His brain is perfectly active, but it's extremely difficult to understand him when he talks.  He wrote his testimony down using a computer (painstakingly typing letters out one finger at a time).  He had his mother read his testimony in church.  This was not today but several fast and testimony meetings previous.  Roy asked his mom for a copy of his testimony.  His name is Josh.  

My testimony!

I was supposed to give the opening prayer today, but because of how my body works, I wasn’t able to. So instead, I wanted to write down my testimony and have one of my family members read it for me. Thank

you for reading this for me—I really appreciate it.  There are three things that have been on my heart a lot lately: hope, faith, and charity. I’ve realized how important they are, not just in how I see the world, but in how I live every day.

First, there’s hope. Without hope, life would be so much harder. Hope gives us something to hold onto when times are tough. It’s what pushes us forward, even when we can’t see the whole path ahead. Life is full of challenges, and I’ve faced my fair share, but hope has always been that little light guiding me through the hard times. 

Then there’s faith. You can’t have hope without faith. I love the scripture that says, “Faith without works is dead, and works without faith is also dead.” That scripture has been stuck in my head lately because it reminds me that faith isn’t just about believing—it’s about acting. And when we act without faith, it’s just going through the motions. But when we have faith and put in the work, that’s when we grow closer to Heavenly Father. Every step I take, even when it’s hard, is an act of faith in Him.

During a recent Sunday School lesson, I was really excited to share something, but when I get excited and I’m in a room full of people who are trying to understand me but can’t, my speech gets worse. That’s why

I wanted to write this down—to make sure I could share my thoughts clearly. What I wanted to say in class was that I have faith that one day I will have a family of my own. I don’t know if it will be in this life or the next, but I know that I will have a wife and children. That’s something I believe with all my heart, and it’s part of the hope that keeps me moving forward. 

The third thing is charity. Charity is more than just love—it’s understanding, compassion, and seeing people for who they really are. We never truly know what someone else is dealing with, and that’s why

trying to understand others, to have empathy, is so important. Charity isn’t just about giving; it’s about connecting with people in a way that reflects Christ’s love. I’m so grateful for my Heavenly Father and for the family He’s blessed me with. I’m thankful that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take away my sins and to give me a path back to Him. I also want to share a personal experience I had at Lake Tahoe, one of

the most spiritual moments of my life. We were getting ready to leave the cabin early in the morning, and my dad took me outside into the fresh, cool air. As I sat there, I found a spot in the sunshine and started

reflecting on my life. I had so many questions in my heart—about my future, about a beautiful girl I wondered if I had a future with, and about whether I was making the right choices in my life. I was desperate for answers.  As I sat there, praying silently in my heart, I suddenly felt this warm

presence behind me, like someone had wrapped a warm blanket around me. It wasn’t just the sun; it was something deeper. I wasn’t cold anymore, and in that moment, I heard a message in my heart: “Don’t

worry, Josh. Everything will be okay. I love you.” I knew it was Jesus Christ speaking to me. I didn’t get specific answers to my questions, but I didn’t need them. His love filled me completely, and I knew that whatever the future held, I would be okay. I felt His presence so powerfully that day, and it’s stayed with me ever since.

I know that hope, faith, and charity are gifts from Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ lives, that He knows me personally, and that He loves me. I’m grateful for His love, His guidance, and the peace He

brings into my life.

And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

If you knew Josh, you would see how amazing it is that he can even express this testimony.  I happened to be teaching the Sunday School class on faith that he mentions in his testimony.  I knew how badly he wanted to share his thoughts.  He was sitting by a man in our ward named Tony Hill.  Tony was trying hard to understand and to repeat what Josh was saying to the class.  I was so touched by his testimony that I wanted to put it in what is effectively my journal.