Gulch Adventure
Surprisingly, just 30 miles out of Homedale is the Succor Creek-Leslie Gulch Wilderness that provided a day of exploring and reponding to exquisite beauty at every turn of the head and every blink of the eye.

The Lord continues to paint masterpieces and place them right before our very eyes.

Classic Desert Butte
Cloudy Skies In An Azure Sea
Succor Creek  Idaho

No, It Isn't The Garden Tomb In Jerusalem!
Bet It Made You Look Though, Didn't It?

This Mammoth Cliff  Was Within Throwing Distance From Us As We Passed By.
Okay, That May Be A Bit Of An Exaggeration, But It Was Really Really CLOSE!

Eat Your Heart Out,Grand Canyon. This Is Awesome!

Look At This Volcanic Rock.  At One Time It Was Really, Really Hot Here!

Elegant And Stately

Streaks Of Color Focal Point

Leslie Gulch And Succor Creek Idaho

Emerald Bliss



Peek-A-Boo

Happy Day    Happy Hearts
Elder Norm And Sister Christine Masters
Leslie Gulch Idaho    April 21, 2014

Happiness Is A Day In An Idaho Gulch!
Elder And Sister Masters

I'm A Marbleized Wonder!

Beautiful Little Rachel       Beautiful Yellow Chick
Rachel Anne Masters   Easter   2014

Sammy Masters    Easter 2014
Wow, Look At Those Cool Shades Of Blue!
 

Eyes That See
When we look beyond the ham for Easter dinner, beyond the coloring of Easter eggs, beyond the Easter egg hunts, beyone the bunny cakes, okay beyond even the Easter Bunny himself, we see Our Resurrected Lord, triumphant with His victory over sin and death.  What a boon for us this great event has accomplished! Now we have the opportunitiy, contingent upon our keeping the commandments, to live eternally with Our Maker, the Lord God Almighty.

Like all who preceded Him, He lived, but unlike all who preceded Him, He rose from the dead!

It would be well to recollect that Jesus doesn't make up the difference, He IS the difference! The debt has already been paid for our sins, faults, and failings.

Too many of us give up because we keep making mistakes.  At this point, it is critical to remember that our God is understanding and long suffering to those who are trying to do good. Perfection or giving up are not the two options.

Always reflect on the fact that Jesus is not waiting for us at the finish line. 
Rather, He is with us every step of the way.

This is the reason for the season.

Happy Easter!  Happy Spring!

Spring Fever
It's spring fever.
That is what the name of it is.
And when you've got it, you want -
Oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want,
But it just fairly makes your heart ache,
You want it so.
Mark Twain

 Stretching For The Sunlight

I'm Just Flat Out Beautiful, Aren't I?

Pretty As A Picture

Reaching Out To Touch Someone

Two Beautiful Days
When Ellen was baptized in Homedale, Idaho on the day before Easter, we thought it couldn't get better than that.  But when she was confirmed on Easter Sunday, it just brought things over the top.

Ellen's Baptism Day
Saturday, April 19, 2014  Homedale, Idaho

Carol, Ellen, and Bishop Christensen Homedale 2nd Ward Idaho

Bishop Christensen, Elder Masters, Ellen, Sister Masters
Ellen's Baptism   Saturday, April 19, 2014   Homedale, Idaho
Ellen was confirmed on Easter Sunday     April 20, 2014

Beautiful Icelandic Horses
The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland.

Although a small horse, they are hardy and are used for farm work in Iceland as well as for leisure, showing and racing.  Would you believe that this is the only breed of horse allowed in Iceland!  Icelandic law prevents any other horse breed to be imported into Iceland and exported horses ae not allowed to return!

It takes mere moments to fall in love with these small, but amazingly beautiful horses.
The Icelandic horse pictured here is in Wilder, Idaho.

A Beautiful Icelandic Horse

Icelandic Horse     Notice The Face Cover To Keep The Flies Off

Although Small, The Icelandic Horse Is Hardy

Icelandic Horses Are Long Lived

Lizard Butte
Lizard Butte is near the town of Marsing, Idaho and is in Canyon County.
From a certain angle, this butte resembles a lizard! 

A beautiful white cross sits atop the butte and can be seen from miles around. 
Every Easter Lizard Butte is the scene of an Easter Sunrise Service. It overlooks the Snake River.

Lizard Butte       Marsing, Idaho

A White Cross Graces The Peak Of Lizard Butte And Is Visible For Miles

Rachel Anne Masters
Rachel is turning six years old this April of 2014. She loves kindergarten and especially her birthday party this past Saturday!  Check out her amazing cake!  It's one in a million.

Rachel Anne Masters     Happy 6th Birthday  2014
Wow, What A Beautiful Cake And A Beautiful Girl!

Rachel Holding Grandma and Grandpa Masters Birthday Card To Her

Check Out The Plastic Snakes Spelling Rachel's Name
Six Years Old   2014

Spring Break Jaunt
What shall we do during spring break?  Lots of families muse over this question!

Becky, Diego, and family decided to head for Monterey, California where natural beauty abounds.  Good choice!

Rebecca, Elijah, Nicholas, Timothy Rodriguez
On The Road Again

Nicholas, Timothy, And Elijah Rodriguez  At The Carmel California Mission

Nicholas Rodriguez and Mom Rebecca Rodriguez     Carmel California  2014

A True Missionary - Heart And Soul
"You need to know that your calling as a missionary is going to take the very best you have ever given.  You are going to have to be the best you have ever been...Live as faithfully as you can, and make your mission count.

Make your mission successful, create great memories, and come home without regrets."
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Choices
"We make our own destiny....We can satisfy ourselves with mediocrity.
We can be common, ordinary, dull, colorless....
Or we can so channel our lives to be clean, vibrant, colorful, and rich."
President Spencer W. Kimball

This Little Light Of Mine
I'm Going To Let It Shine
"When you feel joy in your heart, don't forget to tell your face!"
Elder Jay E. Jensen

Brothers and Boxes
Sometimes an expensive toy or gadget just can't compare to a plain old fashioned box as a source of childhood contentment!  Hurray for boxes!

Kevin and Ryan Masters        Brothers

Kevin and Ryan Masters  A big brother is great to "show you the ropes."

Kevin and Ryan Masters    It's great to look up to a big brother.

Step Right Up
The Treasure Valley seems to provide an unending show of glorious clouds day after day.  Just when you think it can't get better, it sure does.  No doubt about it.  And the amazing thing is that the show consists of a 360 degree view - just like Cinerama of days past!
Wow, how lucky can we get?

Treasure Valley Farms On A Magnificent Afternoon  

A Treasure Valley Afternoon Breaks Forth In Beauty

The Heavens Once Again Declare The Glory Of God

Aussie Hat And An Idaho Mission
Elder Masters' Aussie hat has become the external trademark of his mission.  At first, he was not certain how his hat would go over in these parts.

The good news is that the hat is exceptionately well received.  In fact, now when he isn't wearing it, people ask where it is!

Elder Norman L. Masters   Idaho Nampa Mission    2014

Elder Masters On The Snake River Just After Teaching A Lesson At A Neighboring Home

The Aussie Hat     Elder Masters' Trademark of His Idaho Mission    2014

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go, Dear Lord

Sister Missionaries In Our District      Idaho Nampa Mission   Friday March 28, 2014

Elders In Our District     Idaho Nampa Mission     Friday, March 28, 2014
  
  
 

Our District    Idaho Nampa Mission Right Before Transfers   Friday, March 28, 2014

Lazy Day On The Snake River

Afternoon On The Snake River

Reflections

Lazy Day

Making The Desert Blossom Like A Rose