Memories and Thoughts

What a wonderful day ThanksGiving was this year.  Short of one thing, we truly missed, Bryce and Shersti and TJ.  It was wonderful to see each smiling face.  The love that kids share and spread throughout the house.  The kids young and old bring a warmth and cheer with them, that will last all year.  I an so thankful for all of our children and grandchildren. 

Many are thankful for what that have. Many are thankful for what they have given.  Many judge unfairly. They should be ashamed of themselves for judging,  especially when they have not even walked in the shoes of those they judge.

It was a great day at school with Landon and Jaxton. I am so glad they invited me.  I had to split my time between going to Landon’s and Jaxton’s class. 

So when I got there I went to Landon’s class first.  We did not have much time there.  The kids had the chance to introduce the grandparents. They were all so cute.  Then the teachers asked if we could share any thing we might remember about grade school.  In short I told them the things we did not have that they do . We had no Computers, we did not get to pick between different menus at lunch, Boys wore long pants and girls all wore dresses. we could walk and not worry about strangers.  Other grandparents talked and it was time for recess.

Landon and I walked out to recess with several of his friend and met up with Jaxton and his friend’s. At the Hoops we started a great short game of basketball.  There were many awesome shots and we ended up with a tied game.

After recess it was off to Jaxton’s class where the Teacher had the students and the grandparents writing stories based on how the music made the feel.  There were some very tall tells that came out of that experience. The teacher had the students and the grandparents share their stories. So Jaxton told me to go up and read mine.  So I did.  After the writing we went to lunch,  to an exciting and yummy meal of corn-dogs or a BBQ sandwich. mmmm yummy.  The kids really enjoyed it.  Some of Jaxtons friend saved us a place at a table it was great fun.  We couldn’t  see landon any where he had not come to lunch. So I walked back to Landon’s room and he was just on his way to lunch.  Landon and I scarfed down a lunch meal and hurried out to play a quick game of basketball before the bell would ring to go back to class.

It was a great and memorable day.

Thanks for asking me to go Landon and Jaxton.

Back in the day when I was about 10 to 12 years old, our parents let us go out on wild adventures.  One such place that we used to venture off to was right here in our own back yard.  Well we used to go exploring like this because,  in the little city of Orem there was no fear of being taken away by predators or bad guys of any kind like there is now days. We would tell our parents where we were going and about how long we would be gone and off on a adventure we would go.  At least I thought that was the way it was.

On the east edge of Orem there is area called the River Bottoms.  I would say this was 2 or 3 miles away from where we lived.  My friends and I would get on our bikes and off we would go. During the summer vacation this is one of the funnest places that we would go.  On one trip we found a location that we thought was the greatest hide out ever. Next to the winding Columbia Lane Rd, we would drag our bike up the hill about 100 feet out of the sight of the any and all cars driving by,  where  we found a little clearing in a small group of tree that was nicely shaded and cool,  with a spring and a small trickle of water running through it. Man were we set we could bring our lunch,  sit back, relax, eat and enjoy the day away.  No one would every see us in this secret hide away.  We would talk for hours about how great this hide out was.

On another trip to the River Bottoms we found another great place about a half a mile to the north of our other location.  I think this was even better it was more concealed in the trees and the bushes.  We would never be found if we didn’t want some one to find us. To find the place where this is located take 400 north in Orem east unit the road splits take the road to the left the road begin to go down hill and bends to the left around the hill.  At that point on the right side to the east of the road there is a stream, well it is a big ditch but we thought it was a stream.  Here there was a lot of undergrowth, bushes and trees along this ditch. Great cover to hide in. Here the terrain still sloped slightly to the east away from the road and the stream.  It was here we would ditch our bikes in the bushes, cross the stream and wiggle in through and under the bushes to large open area under a very large old apple tree.   A great hide out if only Butch Cassidy would have know about our hide out, he could hide there forever.

Unbeknown-st to me at the time, one of our friends that found the place with us, packed up a backpack with food and road off to the hide out to live. He ran away from home. Well it was a great place .  I think he spent 2 or 3 days there and then he decided that he should go home.   I hope he did not get in to much trouble.

That was one of our greatest places for adventures. Those were great times for kids

I posted this blog on the abc Lost web site it was removed with in 15 minute. What are they hiding?

I believe the TV show LOST, is a well organized and orchestrated plan to destroy America. Those of the secret society of the LOST people have created a diabolical story with-in and behind the hypnotic story of LOST. It is fairly simple plan with vast repercussions and a devastating effect on the people of American. Look at the underlying story. There is no plot, every one is LOST, there are no answers

Every one that watches this show becomes LOST in life. The story is a fiendish scheme to bring a new evil messiah into control over the people of the United States of America. This Messiah will simply help all those that have lost there way watching LOST to find them selves. The Messiah will say you were lost and now you are found. All those lost souls will follow him. All having hope that he will tell them the answer to the end of the series of LOST. This is a diabolical evil plan to lead America in to communism and destruction.

Saturday 18th Oct 2008

It was Taylor’s and Tia’s weekend to spend with their Dad. Troy had made plans for them to go to Lagoon, a local amusement park for the next day. Taylor didn’t want to go to Lagoon. So he spent the night at Grandpa and Grandma Kumps, that’s us His cousins, Keegan, Eliott, and Jaicee, were also sleeping over. We had a great night of games and movies.

Then breakfast, each of the children got their turn, helping grandpa stir the the pancake batter and pour the batter in to the pan and cook up a few pancakes before we started eating. Taylor decided he was going to prepare a plate of pancakes and serve them to Grandma in bed. She was in heaven, what a treat for her, she was so pleased. This made her whole day.

Later on, around noon, Taylor and I got dressed and went out to work on closing the pool. There was a chill in the air and the house cast a shadow over half the back yard. Fall had come and gone and the first chills of winter were upon us. I was standing away from the house in the sun because it was warmer; Taylor was standing close to the house. He was standing out of the sun in the shadow of the house. He was being very patient waiting my instructions. Taylor said, “Grandpa, what do we need to do, lets hurry it is really cold out here”. I looked over, he was standing with his arms wrapped around himself try to warm up. I notice he was standing in the shade, where I knew it must have been colder. I turned and said a simple phrase, “Taylor come and stand in the sunshine, stand in the light, it is warm here.”

It came to me this was a great lesson, that I needed to remember and to share. Standing in the shade was like drawing yourself away from your Heavenly Father. Not doing his will and falling away from his teaching. If we want to be in or move to the light, we need to hold our Heavenly Father close to us. This is why we go to church, pray, study and learn his teachings, so we can be close to our Heavenly Father. This is how we get out of the shade and stand in the light .

” Warm your life stand in the sunshine stand in the light.”

2008 Christmas Party

Our 2008 Christmas party was one of the greatest Christmas party’s we have had over the years. It was really too bad and unfortunately that not all of our kids could be there. TJ was back on the mountain, Bryce and Shersti were in Texas working . They hope to move back to Utah in the spring. We miss them so much. Every one else was there, Clay with his big smile. Nelson and Andrea were there with Jaxton, Landon, Brenna, Alisia. Jared and Taysha were there with Keegin, Jaisee and Elliot. Troy and Nat were there with Taylor and Tia. We all so invited Greg and Vickie and there children Hayden, Kennedy and Kalynn. Of course Cindy and I were there with many smiles and great joy.

As many Christmas before, we had a Christmas dinner . The food was most awesome. The Turkey was moist and tasty as it could be. Jared made yams, oh, man were they the best . Drea brought my favorite cookie salad and the pink salad. There were veggies and hot rolls . There were olives, the kids would put on their toes and each others nose. The present were wrap and waiting just so, waiting for Santa to come through the snow.

The grandkids were lined up around the great table, building with ginger bread squares and frosting with maple. They built houses small and some that were tall, but you could tell from their faces they were having a ball. They finished the houses and it didn’t take long, then Grandpa tried to lead every one in some good old Christmas songs. Everyone sang on tune that day and sang of the baby Jesus asleep in the hay.

Then we heard the bells jingle and the rush of a sleigh, we knew Santa must be coming our way. Then what to the children’s wondering eye should appear but Santa with all his 8 little reindeer. Ops, he forgot those little reindeer. He was a great Santa, all jolly and plump. He laugh and jiggled and made us all jump. He talked of the blessing of giving and Christ. The children’s eyes twinkle as on to his lap they would go. As spoke to them of Christmas they faces would glow.

Well after the carols and Santa was done, he took one final present into our dear mum. She unwrapped the present and we sang a song and Santa held her hand for what seem quit long. She smiled and thanked each as they went on their way and said how this was the most wonderful day. Then Santa said thank you and blessed us all and then went out the door and off to the mall. The Christmas spirit was strong within us this year and we gather to help a family so dear.

It was a Christmas party that will not soon be forgotten, because our hearts were filled with giving, love, and the joy that we had gotten.
As we watched all the families drive out of sight, we jumped for joy that they didn’t stay the night. But we were full of joy as we stood in the light and new we wouldn’t forget this wonderful night.

To all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

My friends, Gordon, Tom, Gary and I road our bikes down to the river bottoms one day on a great adventure. In the woods next to the river we found the greatest swampy pond. We were so excited to find this little swampy pond was full of animal life.  There were all kinds of little fish, frogs, toad, and snakes and many other creepy crawlies waiting to be caught. It was located at about 400 North and about 1500 east next to the river on the west side of the river. Unfortunately, homes have been built on this location and it’s no longer there. My friends and I had so much fun there. It was great.

After we got home, I was so excited; I had to tell my dad all about this awesome frog place. It didn’t tale me long to talk him into taking me to catch some frogs. On the next nice spring Saturday afternoon we dressed up in our water boots, light jackets and hats. We gathered a few coffee cans for the creatures we caught.  Dad grabbed my little brother Greg who was about 4 or 5 years old at the time and off we went. We jump in the car.  Dad drove what seemed like forever, but was just a few minute to this secret place we had discovered. He pulled the car up next to the river. Jumped out of the car grabbed the cans and prepared to go on our adventure.

We walked a short distance to a barbed wire fence. Being very careful, Dad held the barbed wire open so we would not be cut to shreds by the fence as we climbed to the other side. We walked about fifty feet through the few scattered trees to the edge of the pond. It was a hug pong about 20 feet across and 2 feet deep at the center. We were so excited to see what we could catch. Greg was just a jumping up and down. We all got down on out hands and knees at the edge of the pound and began to hunt down those slimy little frogs. We had to be very careful trying catching them. The frogs would see us, get scared and jump to the middle of the pound beyond our reach.

In the mist of the excitement and the adventure of going to hunt wild life, we failed to consider what the fence was for and that the fence what not holding people out, but it might be for holding some thing in. We had spent only a few minutes catching fogs and what ever else we could get our hand on when Dad saw some thing out of the corner of his eye that caught his attention. He turned around to see a bull as big as a house standing between us and the path way out. The bull obviously had his eyes on us. Dad slowly gathered us up. He pointed to a small group of trees a short a distance away. All of a sudden he yells run for the trees. We took off like lighting with the bull right on our heels. The small of trees were large enough that we could keep them between us and the bull. But that bull kept trying to get to us. I am not sure how many times that bull chased us around and around and around those trees. Dad was pushing me to run faster and dragging Greg behind him. I was scared to death. That bull wanted us pretty bad. Dad kept us just out of the reach of the bull’s horns. Some how during the excitement; Dad figured out if the bull was on the far side of the trees, we should be able to beat the bull to the fence. Round and round we went and then we dashed for the fence, when we reach the fence Dad threw Greg and I over the top and he climbed through just in time to get out of the way of the charging bull. What excitement, what fun, what an adventure.

You know I do not recall catching any frogs that day, but we did take home the greatest adventure ever.

Yes I know riding the bus is a good thing,  I keep telling  myself  that every time I ride the bus .  This is a good thing.  It saves money, it saves pollution, there are so many nice people to  meet .  You actually have extra time to read books,  listen to books or music, you can hook up to the internet, do emails, surf the web or chat with your family and friends. You can watch movies and play games.  You can do work,  the list goes on and on, of what you can do on the bus.

Even with all those positives things about riding the bus there is just some thing  about commuting on the bus I just doesn’t like.  Maybe it is the length of my commute. Did  I tell you my commute is  38 miles one way , an average of about an 1 hour and 15 minutes in the bus each way.

Maybe it is because, It seems like  all these people riding the bus including me, are more in a rut than ever.   Like a heard of people, everyone gets on,  then every one gets off the bus. Then some one you don’t know sets next to you.  Some times you talk, but most of the time the person next to you does not want to be spoken to.  You are sitting so close to each other, some times that person keeps bumping into you. Some times that fall asleep and lean on you. Then there are sick people.  Why do they even get on the bus at all, do they want everyone on the bus to get sick. They cough and sneeze and spread germs. eeeeouuuuu.  Last but not least,  what  do you do if you get sick on the bus and need to get off the bus.  Luckily I have not seen any body get sick on the bus.

Well despite this, I guess I will save a little money, read a bit and ride the bus

Round about 1961
After Mom was at the hospital for some time, Dad began changing around the furniture in the front room. I soon found out Dad was making room for and setting up, what I thought, was one of those really kwel hospital beds. This was one of those really new ones that you can turn the handles and the foot and head of the bed moves up and down. I figured out just how to turn those handles to make the bed move up and down, down and up, up and down, down and up. Until Dad told me to quit . You know, now that I think about it it seems strange and I am not sure why, but Dad set the bed up in the front room. Well we called this room the front room, but actually it was in the back part of the house, this was the room with the nice furniture. The furniture had to be moved around so the bed brought in would fit in the room.

After every thing was all set up they brought mom home. She lay in that bed for several months. At list I don’t recall seeing her do much of any thing except lying in that bed. Dad still needed to go to work . Mother could not care for the house or us kids, so to help us make it through this situation Dad was able to hire these ladies to come into our home. They helped take care of the house and the kids. I think he hired these ladies from the states care. These ladies were handicapped it help them and they helped us. Little did we know how grateful we would be for the help we would receive from the ladies. I remember 2 of the ladies, their names were Ruth and Barbara . Basically they did all the things my mother would have done. They fixed the meals cleaned the house, and dealt with us kids during the day when Dad was at work. I am not sure how long this went on but is seemed like for ever. I don’t remember much about that time. It was a strange time and a strange arrangement for our family. If you know my family, now you know why we grew up a little strange.