Celebrating Pioneer Day in our Own Back Yard

Because of COVID-19
the Pioneer Day activities in our town were canceled
so we had our own celebration in our own backyard.
Emma and Christian riding the 4-wheeler
around in the back pasture.

April bringing sunshine where ever she goes.

Christian's smile melts your heart.

Cousin table

Grandpa taught everyone who wanted to learn
how to drive a 1950's tractor.

We served Dutch oven pork ribs, corn picked out of our garden, scones, cobbler, and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Couple of cowboys/pioneers and a little princess.

Daniel on the tractor.

Emma drove the tractor around the pasture by herself.

Beautiful smiles from beautiful people I love.

Lunch outside under our mini pine forest.

Grapes are almost ready to eat.

Jacob and Zander.

Hollyhocks.

Jake on the tractor.

Eating lunch around the camp fire.

John enjoying the day with his brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews.

Kate was the first granddaughter
to drive the tractor for the first time.

It is so nice to have Josh home from his mission.

BYU buddies this Fall.

Princess Ellie finally decided to be brave enough
to take a 4-wheeler ride with Mom.

Beautiful Martha and Ellie.

Ring toss game with Mitch and Matty.

Matthew ready to take off on the tractor.

Mitch loving the tractor driving.

Rachel picking leaves.

Sunflowers from the garden for a centerpiece.

Happy Grandpa.

John made the fresh scones.

The oldest pioneers . . . Ross and Jan.

Dallan on stilts.

Grant Alma Wolsey - Christ Lives Inside Each Of Us

My brother Grant Alma Wolsey died this week. 

Though he lived a troubled life and there were times when it wasn't safe for me to be around him, 

I never stopped loving him. 

Through the years I have enjoyed many pictures of Christ. 

This particular painting of the Savior touched me profoundly 

because it looked like my brother. 

Grant often wore a beard and long hair. 

Every time I looked at this image of Christ I wept because I love my brother and I miss him.

I have since come to understand that Christ lives inside each of us 

and when we see the Savior in each other we catch a glimpse 

of the grandeur of each soul 

and more fully understand 

the price that was paid 

so that we can all return 

to our Heavenly Parents some day. 

Goodbye Grant. 

I love you.
Here is a link to the tribute wall on the funeral web page.
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/17543585/Grant-Wolsey/wall

The following is what the creator, Brent Borup, said about this beautiful painting:

"For my whole life, the one painting that I wanted to create the most above anything else was a portrait of Jesus Christ. I worked on many different portraits of Christ through the years, but I was never quite satisfied with any of them until I painted "Light of the World". I have since based many paintings off of this one image. You may find it interesting that I painted this portrait during a very low point in my life. I had been really struggling to see any success as an artist, and after a few weeks of particularly trying circumstances, I was very close to making some major "career choice" changes. I believe that my Father in Heaven wanted me to stay the course. When I decided to use some new reference material to alter a previous similar looking portrait that just wasn't quite right, everything seemed to fall into place. I do believe that I had Divine help that day, because this was one of the easiest paintings that I have ever created. I feel that what sets this painting apart from any of my previous work, is the fact that I wasn't trying to paint what Christ looks like, but I was trying to paint what He feels like, because although I have never seen Him, I have felt Him, and I believe if you can somehow capture that feeling into a work of art, then you can't go wrong. This is my way of sharing my testimony of Christ with others. He is real. He loves you. I want people to look at this painting and know it." 

Grant Alma Wolsey

Grant Wolsey with his mother Fay Parrish Wolsey.

Grant Wolsey with his father Heber Grant Wolsey.

Grant with his parents at BYU graduation.

Grant playing the guitar and singing with his sisters Lori and Dawnene.

Heber and Fay Wolsey family in the 1960's.

Fay Parrish Wolsey with her four children: Diane, Mary and Grant.
Janene is the baby is Fay's arms.

Mary Eliza Wolsey with her grandchildren: Diane, Janene, Linda, Mary and Grant.

Heber and Fay Wolsey with their children: Diane, Janene, Linda, Mary, Grant and Joy.

Grant, Mary, Janene, Diane and Linda Wolsey.

Grant, Mary, Linda, Diane and Janene Wolsey.

Grant, Diane, Janene and Mary Wolsey.

Grant, Diane, Mary, Janene and Linda Wolsey.

Grant, Diane, Mary, Janene, Linda, Joy and Dawnene Wolsey.

Grant Wolsey Year Book photo.

Celebrating the 4th of July

I am so grateful to live in America!
This flag represents the freedoms I enjoy -
the freedoms that were fought and died for.
If we all join together in building America
by living unselfish lives of service and love
we can keep these precious freedoms
and offer them to our children and grandchildren.
Celebrating the 4th means celebrating
Faith, Freedom and Family!