Vacation: Churches through the Centuries

Our recent vacation took Debbie, Mandy, and I, to Santa Fe and Chimayo, New Mexico, and to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Not only did we enjoy five great days together, but we also enjoyed great food and took in some fantastic visits to some wonderful churches. One very old, another old, and one new.

400 years old, the San Miguel Church (upper picture) located not far from the Plaza of Santa Fe is the oldest church structure in the United States. The original adobe walls and altar were built by Tlaxcalan Indians from Mexico in 1610.

200 years old, the Santuario de Chimayo (middle picture) is in Chimayo, New Mexico. Known as the "Loudes of America", where people from afar have come to the shrine seeking cures for their ailments and the fame of their cures have led the faithful to make pilgrimages to Chimayo.

50 years old, the Cadet Chapel at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, (lower picture) is awe-inspiring in modern architecture. The aluminum, steel, and stained glass Chapel has seventeen spires, each seperated with the stain glass windows that allows a fusion of colors lifts one's eyes upward.

Yankee Stadium - The Final Season

Today, my son Chris and I, were able to travel to New York City to see an afternoon game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. 2008 is the final season that the Yankees will play in the historic Yankee Stadium, the "House that Ruth Built" prior to the Yankees moving across the street to their new home. As you know, I have the lifetime goal of watching a game of each of the Major League Baseball teams in their home stadium. Having not seen the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, I absolutely wanted to see them this year prior to the historic Yankee Stadium being razed. Everyone knows the Hall of Fame Yankees that have played at in this stadium; Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yankee greats such as Roger Maris, Casey Stengel, Whitey Ford, Thurman Munson, Phil Rizzuto, Billy Martin, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Mariano Rivera.

Root, Root, Root, for the home team Yankees was difficult for a Dodger fan. No teams are more despized by Dodger fans than the Yankees and the San Francisco Giants. I believe their hate for each other goes back over 50 years, when the Dodgers were at Ebbets Field, the Giants at the Polo Grounds, and the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The first place Rays and third place Yankees were tied 1 to 1 in the bottom of the ninth after the "finisher" Mariano Rivera did not allow the Rays to score in the top of the 9th inning. The Yankees in the bottom of the ninth were unable to score leaving a runner on third. Again, in the top of the 10th, Rivera held the Rays from scoring. In the bottom of the inning, the Yankees were able to score, winning the game 2-1. Chris and I had a great day in New York City watching his favorite team, the Yankees, in their final season at historic Yankee Stadium. Thanks Yankee Stadium for a great day, the memory will last forever! As Chris would say, "Lets Go Yankees!"

Give me a "P", Give me a "T", Give me an "A"

Debbie is off to San Diego attending the National PTA convention. Debbie is the Hunter Council President for the 2008-2009 school year. It has been 8 years since Gabe graduated from High School, but Debbie is serving stronger than ever in her PTA activities. For eighteen years, Debbie has served in some leadership capacity for the PTA, and has been a voice of support for our teachers and more funding for our public schools in the Granite School District. Debbie is respected by both our State Senator and State Representative for her support of public schools, and each year attends the Education Luncheon at the State Capitol. Debbie is very much respected for her diligent and unwavering support of the PTA and all the good that they have been able to accomplish.

Debbie and the "PTA girls" were able to go to Sea World, and attend a session in the San Diego Temple while attending the convention.

Zoo Adventure

Dear Mom and Dad,

While you are on your own adventure gliding along the canals of Venice, Italy, we too were on our own adventure with Grandma and Grandpa Guymon at the Hogle Zoo. We had a great time seeing all of the different animals, especially the white alligator. Cai was our leader, leading the way with his map, making sure that we never took a wrong turn. Cole made sure that we saw all of the animals, and was the bravest of all when he touched the snake! Cate reminded us when it was time to break-away from the animals for an ice cream cone and a ride on the zoo's train. We had a really fun day with Grandma and Grandpa at the zoo. Hope you had as much fun today as we had. We are excited to welcome you home from your trip next Tuesday.

Love you lots,

Cai, Cole, and Cate

So-long to Shea Stadium

Two trips to the Big Apple in 5 days;

that's what I have done this past week. Today I went to an afternoon game between the NY Mets and the AZ Diamondbacks. One of my lifetime goals is to attend a home baseball game of all the major league teams, and since this is the last year that the Mets will be playing at Shea Stadium, I wanted to attend a game at Shea before it too is demolished by the wrecking ball, suffering the same fate as Ebbetts. What a great game! At least the first seven innings were great as I cheered on the Mets. Johan Santana pitched a masterful game; a two hit, ten strike-out shutout through seven innings prior to being taken out for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the seventh. The Mets had a 4-0 lead going into the top of the eighth inning when the Diamondbacks striked-back to show why they are leading the National League West. The Diamondbacks were too much for the Met's bullpen, and the Diamondbacks won the game, 5-4, in ten innings. Two-time Cy Young Award pitcher Johan Santana showed why he is among the best pitchers in the major leagues.

Shea has been one of the great baseball stadiums of the last forty-six years. Baseball greats like Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver, Gary Carter, Tug McGraw, Dwight Gooden, and Mike Piazza have all worn the blue and orange uniforms of the Mets. And who can forget the 1986 Mets beating the Red Soxs in seven games becoming the World Champions. Shea has a storied place in baseball history, and today, I was fortunate enough to see the Mets in their final year at Shea. At the end of the season, the wrecking ball will destroy Shea, but like Ebbets Field, Shea Stadium will live on. Shea will forever have a lasting legacy of baseball in New York City.

Finding Ebbets Field

For a Dodger Blue fan who only knew them from their days at Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles, Ebbets Field in Brooklyn is a legendary place where previous Dodger greats like Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Lou Campanella, Gil Hodges, Duke Snyder, and the World Champion 1955 Dodger team played. From 1913 until 1957 when the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Ebbets Field was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Completing a life-long desire, today I set out on an adventure to find what remains of this legendary stadium.

Taking the subway to Prospect Park and the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, I knew would get me within a couple blocks of Mckeever and Sullivan streets, where the above historic picture of Ebbets Fields was taken. Exiting the subway station, it was easy to see the 22 story projects of the Ebbets Field Apartments which replaced the demolished stadium. I knew that the only reference to Ebbets Field was a small plaque that was placed into one of the walls of one of the project's buildings. So off I went to find the last reference of the legendary stadium.

Walking up McKeever Place, which was the third base side of the stadium, there was no sign of any plaque. Rounding on Montgomery Street, the left field wall of Ebbets, proved the same, no plaque to be found. Turning onto Bedford Avenue, the right field, again provided the same results. The last hope was that the plaque must be on Sullivan Place, somewhere along the first base side of Ebbets. But...no plaque, somehow I had missed the elusive plaque, so, turning around, I retraced my steps. Walking back around what would have been the right field wall on Bedford, hidden behind an overgrown bush on a corner of one of the project's buildings, was the small plaque stating "this is the former site of Ebbet's Field." The small plaque, overgrown with bushes, was not what I had hoped to find. The nondescript epitat on the plaque seems so inadequate, so lacking, for such a historical place as Ebbet's Field. For this was the sight of a black baseball player, Jackie Robinson, breaking the color-barrier of professional sports in 1947. This was the sight of the 1955 World Champion Dodgers, their only world championship in Brooklyn. Somehow, Ebbet's Field deserved better. Ebbet's represents to me the golden era of baseball, our national pasttime. Only Wrigley Field in Chicago, and Fenway Park in Boston have survived that era.

Walking away from McKeever and Sullivan streets left me with a sadness. My pilgrimage to Ebbet's Field, was now complete. My desire to walk on the legendary field had now been fulfilled. I could cross another item off my life's to-do-list. In my mind I could hear the cheers that filled the air in a bygone era, and I could envision the ghosts of the Brooklyn Bum's as the players of the Dodgers were affectionately known as. With one final look, I realized that sometimes nostalgia may best be left for the mind to envision, and not for the eyes to behold.

Uncle Gabe and Cai

Uncle and nephew relationships are really special, so think Gabe and Cai. This has been a mutual love for each other since Gabe returned from his mission and first saw 7 month old Cai. Gabe continually asks Cai, "Who's your favorite uncle?" to which Cai always replies "Gabe!" From the smiles on both their faces, you can tell their is a mutual love affair. No doubt, theirs will be a friendship forever. From bullet bike rides to sword fights, they are inseparable, and its hard to tell which is having the most fun. This picture was taken after Cai and his soccer team, the Loopies, won their last game of the season, and of course, Uncle Gabe was there on the sidelines to cheer him on.

When Gabriel Comes Marching Home

Gabe provided a great Mother's Day present for not only Deb, but for the rest of our and Mandy's family. He arrived home from Iraq for a three week leave. Gabe is assigned to the 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, New York. His battalion has been deployed to Northern Iraq, an hour north of Kirkut, where his platoon patrols and searches for Al Quaida insurgents with arms from Iran. Gabe was met at the airport by 19 family members who had welcome home signs, yellow balloons and american flags. While our family members were welcoming Gabe home, Jeff Hornacek, former Utah Jazz and NBA star came up to Gabe and Mandy and thanked Gabe for his military service. Gabe and Mandy will be going to San Diego for some well deserved time together during his three week leave. Gabe looks terrific, well chiseled, and well tanned. He will be returning back to northern Iraq on May 30th, where he will continue to be deployed until early December, when he will be returning back to Fort Drum. Gabe says that he will be promoted to Sargeant prior to his returning home in December. All of us, both Mandy's family and ours, are proud of Gabe!