Among the changes Dave and Jan are experiencing this year after moving from California to Utah is changing seasons – including snow. It has been over thirty five years since they lived in snow country (though there were occasional snowy days in Tucson), so they are enjoying the beauty of the snow.

Something Dave and Jan have looked forward to with the arrival of snow has been cross country skiing – something they first enjoyed while living in Gallup, New Mexico over forty years ago.  They were able to purchase skis, boots, and poles from someone who has a large collection of them, having taken large groups on cross country skiing outings over the years.  One of the many nice things about the location of their house is the existence of the city’s golf course right across the street – a great place to do some cross country skiing when there is enough snow in the city, as there was just recently.

When there isn’t enough snow in the city, or a change of scenery is desirable, there is plenty of snow up Highway 14 on the Markagunt Plateau.  So Dave and Jan headed up the mountain for some great scenery and large fields of snow suitable for cross country skiing.

The man who sold them the skis also grooms the cross country ski trails at Deer Hollow on the plateau where there are miles of trails with signs at every intersection in the system to help skiers know where they are and where they might want to go.

The Clarion Trail loop leads to a viewpoint which looks down on Navajo Lake – frozen and snow-covered during the winter season.

The family (including Stephen, Meagan, Ryan and Erin) enjoyed watching even a team of Huskies pulling a dog sled during one of their visits to Deer Hollow on the Markagunt Plateau around Christmas.  And, more recently, Caroleen Suzuki (who lived with Dave and Jan for six years after her arrival from Japan to pursue her college studies in Fullerton) tried sledding at Deer Hollow during her brief visit to Cedar City.

Dave and Jan are very grateful to the Lord for the variety of the seasons and the beauty of the snow during the winter months – and for the opportunities and the ability they still have, at their increasing ages, to get out and enjoy what God has done!

Dave and Jan enjoyed their first Christmas season in Cedar City with a welcome visit from son Stephen and family (Meagan, Ryan, and Erin). The city was decked out with Christmas lights in celebration of the season, so the family’s first evening included a drive through the downtown area and the Shakespeare garden area.

On Christmas Eve day the family headed up Cedar Mountain (Hwy. 14), stopping at Deer Hollow so Ryan and Erin could have a little fun playing in the snow.

The next leg of the journey took the family to the east entrance of Zion National Park.

On Christmas day a special breakfast of apple pancakes was followed by the traditional gift opening, then a drive up Cedar Mountain for some sledding on the snow before heading back home for Christmas dinner.

The day after Christmas included a brief stop at Cedar Breaks National Monument on the way for a visit to Bryce Canyon National Park – which Meagan decided was her favorite.

Cedar Breaks in Winter

With several people sick or out of town on Sunday (including Interim Pastor Fred and his wife Teri), it was nice to have Stephen’s family of four join the few who were able to attend morning worship at First Baptist Church in Cedar City.  Stephen’s family headed back to California at mid-day on Monday, just as a winter snow storm was starting to get serious, so the visit didn’t last too long, but the family managed to pack quite a bit into the few days Dave and Jan enjoyed having their “kids” and grandkids with them for Christmas 2020.