Aquarium at the bay at SF

The aquarium at the bay in San francisco was awesome.

San francisco tour: 1st stop coit tower

Mike Linton
801-671-2849

Thanksgiving and making pumpkin pie

In Fallon Nevada making pumpkin pie until midnight.  

We made this thing from scratch (kind of). To tell you the truth, until about an hour ago, I had no idea that pie crust can be made by hand and that many argue it is better to make it than buy it. Anyway, I had a lot of time to think while I was crushing up the cookies and crackers, and I started wondering about the history of the pumpkin pie. So here is a quick excerpt from wikipedia. Enjoy!! 

 the pumpkin is native to the continent of North America. It was an early export to France; from there it was introduced to Tudor England, and the flesh of the “pompion” was quickly accepted as pie filler. The Pilgrims brought the pumpkin pie back to New England, but it subsequently died out in England itself.^[1]

San Antonio Temple pic

Mike Linton
801-671-2849

Lesson learned from soccer- finding the right position

When I was 10 years I was really good at soccer (That's what my mom always told me and I think I scored several times per game). For some reason since then I haven't played a lot of soccer and my skills have diminished yet I still think my mom would say I'm really good (I have the best mom). So for the last 4 weeks I have joined some coworkers to play in a rec league and it has been really fun for me but painful, as I realize that I am not that good. I run all around, tire after 5 minutes of sprinting towards a ball I can't catch, subbing out, then subbing in, and repeating the process. When I shoot I miss, or it gets stopped by the goally as it pitifully and slowly rolls into his hands. I played goally last week and I wasn't anywhere near the goal box when the other team scored. So I have been thinking a lot about soccer and how I can contribute to the team and help and not hinder them- and a few days ago I decided that maybe I was destined to play defense. So as hard as it was, I decided to just stay back and defend and all of a sudden I am noticably helping the team and not hurting them- the position plays to my strengths. And I was happy and the team was a lot happier and we did better.

So I was thinking how that is like life. We bounce around from job to job or position to position in life and we will always be mediocre or poor unless we find the right position and play to our strengths. When we discover our strengths and then use them, we are definitely happier and more helpful to others. It is usually a better use of time and energy to find and develop our strengths than it is to try to be the best at something we are not fit for.

Beautiful mountain view of fall leaves (Midway, Utah)

The view was amazing, it looked as if the mountains were on fire (not like the Herriman fire)

Mike Linton
801-671-2849

Duke Ellington Orchestra and music appreciation

Last night we went to the Duke Ellington orchestra concert at abravanel hall. It was fun for about 30 minutes. I learned that I don't know much about Jazz or music or orchestras and the less you know and understand something the less you are able to really appreciate it- I think that is a universal principle. Perhaps that is why we are to constantly study the gospel of Jesus Christ. The more we understand the more we appreciate it tand the more we appreciate it the more joy and happiness we receive.