Here in Utah, 2026 was the year of no winter. We hardly got any snowpack. And now, our mountains and open spaces are highly susceptible to fires. Currently, there are several fires burning in northern Utah. The skies are hazy and full of drifting ashes falling all over the place. So scary.
Usually our mountains are so beautiful with the pines and aspen trees, plus the waterfalls and lakes.
We pray constantly for rain to come our way this summer.
Usually our mountains are so beautiful with the pines and aspen trees, plus the waterfalls and lakes.
We pray constantly for rain to come our way this summer.
Still, I love where I live, just as I have loved all of the other places I have lived in the continental United States - Los Angeles, Monterey, Denver, Houston, Dayton, and Baltimore, to name a few. One summer I remember driving up to the summit of Pikes Peak to the elevation of 14,115 ft (4,302 m) above sea level. We looked out over the plains in one direction and the Rocky Mountains in the other direction. Spectacular and breathtaking!
View from Pike's Peak Summit
My young self wondered why "America, the Beautiful" with text by Katharine Lee Bates was not our national anthem. Bates got her inspiration from ascending to Pike's Peak in 1895. Her poem was published in a magazine on July 4th, 1904. She always said that she thought her poem became so popular because Americans are inherently idealists.
One line became especially poignant for me just after the bombings of 911. "Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears." That always brings me to tears because of the deeper meaning we have now.
Years ago, I wrote this trio arrangement for me and my two sisters to sing in Church on the Sunday near the 4th of July. We love singing it as a trio, as well as singing it with others of our family. I especially enjoy singing it with my daughters and many granddaughters.
Looking forward to a beautiful celebration of our country's 250th Independence Day.
One line became especially poignant for me just after the bombings of 911. "Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears." That always brings me to tears because of the deeper meaning we have now.
Years ago, I wrote this trio arrangement for me and my two sisters to sing in Church on the Sunday near the 4th of July. We love singing it as a trio, as well as singing it with others of our family. I especially enjoy singing it with my daughters and many granddaughters.
Looking forward to a beautiful celebration of our country's 250th Independence Day.
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