An Historic Photo

 For only about one month, this was the quorum of the 12 apostles.  Because of the short time before Elder Holland passed away, this becomes a very historic photo.  I wanted to include it on our blog.

Can you name them?

Jeffrey R. Holland Passes Away

 President Jeffrey R. Holland passed away on Dec. 27, 2025.  Oh how we will miss him.  His funeral was so inspiring.  All three of his children gave beautiful, inspiring talks.

I loved this story his son Matthew told at the funeral:

" As many know, two and a half years ago, my father was in a month-long fight for his life and in an intensive care unit.  One morning we awoke at 4:00 am because of thirst and asked for some juice.  A young nurse on duty responded with promptness.  My father took the juice and then, there in the darkness before dawn and barely conscious and burdened by pain and weakness, began to ask the nurse about his origin and his life.  After a few minutes, I felt something important and personal was developing so I excused myself from the room.  A time later, the nurse came out of the room, crying.  I asked him if everything was okay.  He looked me in the eyes and said, "I have to get back to church.  After an experience like that, how could I not?"

President Holland came from St. George and was buried here the day after the funeral.  The members of the 1st presidency and the quorum of the 12 apostles came to pay their respects.  Many St. George and Washington county residents lined the streets to do the same.  I copied many pictures from the internet to post here.  

The procession traveled by places near and dear to President Holland.  They started at the historic St. George Tabernacle, where President Holland rededicated the building after a major renovation.  They drove in front of the St. George Temple where over 200 missionaries serving in the Utah/St. George Mission were gathered to sing, "The Spirit of God", for the Holland family, the first presidency and apostles to hear.  President Holland also rededicated the St. George temple after its recent renovation.  The procession drove east on Tabernacle to 500 east where they turned north to drive by Holland's childhood home.  They drove by the building that bears his name at the school he loves, Dixie State University.  He was buried by his wife, Patricia, who was by his side until the summer of 2023.  The plan of salvation teaches that families can be together forever.  He is now reunited with his recently departed sister, family, and friends, and of course his eternal mate, Patricia.

Until We Meet Again, President Holland.

Take Me Back to Japan

 Just before Christmas, I went to our local Asian market.  I don't know why we haven't gone before now.  It is only about five minutes from our house.  I wanted to buy Ken some Calpis- a drink he loves from Japan, for Christmas. When I walked in, it took me right back to a Japanese grocery: the narrow, crowded aisles packed with all kinds of foods.  Freezers and fridges- every bit of space packed.  I found the calpis and a couple of other foods that I have missed:

Nato: fermented soy beans.  You put mustard and soy sauce on them and stir.  They have a very slimy texture.  I really grew to like them when we lived there.  I would eat one of these little packs almost every day for lunch.  It is definitely an acquired taste!

Steamed buns filled with a meat mixture.  Every convenience store in Japan has these in a warm glass case near the cash register.  They are delicious.  Ken learned to love them on his first mission.  He and his companion would stop and get them for lunch, especially on the cold days.  I got barbecued chicken ones.  They have several different flavors.

Calpis:  This is a popular drink in Japan.  It is served often at parties, etc.  We bought it often.  Ken really likes it.  I'm not crazy about it.

I have, since Christmas, gone back to this little store and bought steamed buns for our lunch and some Miso paste.  I love Miso soup.  This is a trip down memory lane that took me right back to Japan.

Pop Tarts Bowl

 One of my true joys in my life is watching BYU games "with" my sister Joan.  We text back and forth with the most frequent word being texted is "Wahoo!"  We are both, shall we say, passionate fans of BYU.  It is so much fun to share this with her.

I watched the Pop Tarts Bowl alone as Ken was on a Christmas bird count that day, but I joined Joan and her family in their Pop Tarts Party.  It was a great game.  She sent me this picture after.

2025 Christmas Bird Count

 Ken participated in three Audubon Christmas bird counts this year: Zion National Park, St. George City, and Silver Reef. For many years, he was the director of the St. George City one, but he retired this year and was just a participant.  He served as a group leader in all three counts.  His brother, Don is a nature photographer and shared some of his pictures from the counts.

Female Ladderback Woodpecker

Male Ladderback Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush

Northern Pygmy Owl- this picture was taken by another participant, Miranda Crawford.

Ken doesn't go "birding" as much as he would like, but he enjoys participating in these annual counts.  He also enjoys our backyard visitors and tries to get in some birding when we travel.

2026 Books

 I am excited for reading in 2026.  I like to take a picture of my TBR shelf at the first of the year.  

I have set a goal to read 72 books this year.  I also have set a goal to read more nonfiction books.  I have changed my quite intricate system for choosing what books I read so that it will include more nonfiction.  

I love to read and love what I learn from books.  Happy reading!

Hands Across America

 I remember this day.  Do you?

Eddie Winston is Looking for Love

 

What a delightful book!  90-year-old Eddie has never been kissed.  He forms a most unlikely friendship with a 26 -year-old woman who is determined to help him find love and his first kiss.  I loved Eddie and the other characters and feel like I lost some friends when I finished the book.  This is the kind of book I love most. 4+ stars from me.

Anxiously Engaged

 

Anxiously Engaged: A Biography of M. Russell Ballard by Susan Easton Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Biography Physical book
I just finished this wonderful biography of M Russell Ballard. I loved learning more about the man who called my husband to the stake presidency many years ago. I found his life and attitude to be motivational and exemplary. I loved the many anecdotes and stories from his life. I am so glad I read this 5-star book.


View all my reviews

2025 Book Review

  This is my annual book review for 2025. I read 77 books in 2025: 72 fiction and 5 non-fiction.

 I have read SO many good books this year it is most difficult to choose my favorites.  It has been a very good reading year.  I rated 15 fiction books with 5 stars, and 2 non-fiction books with 5 stars.  I read a lot about books, therefore am now better at choosing what books to read- hence a big increase in 5 star reads.

The fifteen fiction books that I rated 5 stars:

Three books by Rosamunde Pilcher:  The Shell Seekers, September, and Winter Solstice

A Painted House by John Grisham

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

Kinfolk by Sean Dietrich

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The two non-fiction books I rated 5stars:

You Are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich

The Book of Mormon

Each year I try to choose a favorite book in each category.  It is SO hard this year.  I read the Book of Mormon every year and it's always a favorite.  Otherwise my favorite non-fiction book was You Are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich.  This author is an amazing storyteller and this book was hilarious, but also very tender.  I highly recommend reading or listening to this one.

Now the harder category- fiction.  I loved every one of the books that were rated with 5-stars.  Every one. I'm analyzing which one most moved me- made me want to be a better person, I think it is a tie between three:  

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi  This book will make you want to be better and do better.  I loved it.  I bought copies to give to my daughters, and other famly members and a dear friend.  I will say it is my favorite of the year, but these other two a close second.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.  I hated it, but it made me look at life in a whole new way.  It is so good.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.  I loved this book because of the example of the main character.  In a situation that could cause him to become bitter and to give up, he gave up everything to do what was best for his child.  He didn't become bitter against those who were causing him the pain, but just kept fighting for what was right.  That's integrity.  

So there you have it.  My review of books read in 2025!  

The Pecan Man

 

The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Historical Fiction Physical Book
What a beautiful, well-written book. I loved Eddie (the Pecan Man), Blanche, and mostly Miz Beckworth. Miz Beckworth is added to my literary hero list. I loved how this book made me think and, more than that, go inside my own heart to decide what I think is right and wrong. This book is short and oh, so powerful. It is a 5 star plus book.


View all my reviews

Keynote Christmas Season 2025

 We had a wonderful Christmas season with the Keynotes.  How I love these ladies.  It was a whirlwind as we did our final rehearsal and 13 performances and a luncheon in 11days. We have a pretty good system, but still it's a lot of work for me to decide what we are singing at each venue and make performance charts, etc. We only do our entire program once- that's in the Tabernacle performance.  The rest of the performances are shortened versions of the program.  Every member has a narration part and a solo.  

Kim Meyers, Kalynn Snow, Kyla Lawrence, Jen Pusey, Chris Tonks, Tami Peterson, Cindy Alton, Lydia Fisher, Kay Hinton, Val Jones, Connie Spilker, Cindi Witt, Carole Seegmiller (accompanist)

Ken comes to some of our performances.  When he does, he takes pictures.

Meadows FHE  There were about 60 people in attendance

Cool Yule

Performing for the sealers of the Red Cliffs Utah temple Christmas party.

At one of the rest homes:

Pictures from the tabernacle performance:

Songs in this year's program:

Keynote Christmas, 2025

A Glad Noel - with bells

It's Beginning to Look Like Christas/ Pine Cones and Holly Berries- 

Soloists,: Val Jones and Tami Peterson

Winter Wonderland

Soloist: Kalynn Snow

A Holly, Jolly Christmas

Cool Yule

Carols of Christmas

Soloist: Cindy Alton

An Angelic Christmas Medley

Soloists: Kay Hinton and Connie Spilker

Come and See

Soloists: Jen Pusey and Lydia Fisher

I See a Star

Solooist: Kyla Lawrence

Oh, What a Wonderful Child

Soloist: Kim Meyers

Dona Nobis Pacem

Come, Lord Jesus

Soloists: Chris Tonks and Cindi Witt

Sussex Carol

All on a Silent Night

with Cello

Blogger won't let me post videos, but here is the link to our tabernacle performance:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XI8UFTykgflHX95jQCCqoVi2FSVgPx7u/view?usp=gmail

It was a wonderful season, but I have to admit, I was exhausted at the end of it.  It is a relief to enter spring season and just be a singer.  I have already started working on Christmas 2026.  Our tabernacle performance is scheduled for Wednesday, December 16th, 2026.