Sweet Valentines

 We have the cutest little family in our neighborhood.  They have four darling children.  The two youngest brought us sweet Valentines.

The Four-year-old pointed to this and said ,"This is your name."  If you are discerning, you can see it says "brother."

Their sweet love notes brightened our day.

The People on Platform 5

 

The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fiction. Physical book.
This book has some modern underlying themes and vocabulary that I am uncomfortable with, but overall, I liked this book. I loved how people broke down cultural barriers and chose to care about one another, creating a sense of community and friendship. The characters are well-defined and memorable. I finished the book a couple of weeks ago, but still think of them and have to remind myself that they are not real. 3 ½, okay maybe 4 stars from me.


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What You Are Looking For is in the Library

 

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fiction Audio Book
I admit I have a weakness for books written by Japanese authors, set it Japan, that immerse me in Japanese culture. This is one of those. I lived in Japan for 1 ½ years and love “going back” through books. I loved the wisdom of the librarian and the theme that books can help us overcome our problems and challenges and help us move forward. I listened to the audio version and loved the different voices. It was so well done. 3 ½ stars.


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Considering this for my epitaph

 This is so me . . .

A Painted House

 

A Painted House by John Grisham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Historical Fiction
My dad was an avid reader. He was a doctor and would always get up early in the morning and read before work. After his retirement, he would walk to the library, check out a bag full of books, bring them home and consume then. He always had two books going at the same time. I once asked him what his favorite book was. He named three:
1) The Education of Little Tree
2) The Grapes of Wrath
3) This one.
I finally read this one- even his copy of it. I see why he liked it so much. It is well-written from the perspective of a seven-year-old boy. It is full of memorable characters. It is a page-turning story, immersing the reader in the life of poor southern cotton farmers: their family life, their struggles, their tragedies and triumphs. I would give it 5 stars, but lowered it to 4 because of the violence.


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Little Free Library Hopping

 I have a new favorite hobby:  Little Free Library Hopping!  Little Free Library is a program set up by San Jose' State University.  People can register with them, put up a Little Free Library box, and fill it with books to give away.  Little Free Library sends them a plaque to put on their box, making them part of the system. 

  You download the app.  On the app is a map that marks the locations of the Little Free Libraries in your area. You can just go from box to box, taking any books, you are interested in, and leaving any books you would like to donate.  It is so fun!  I just have a bag full of books in my trunk that I want to donate.  Whenever I am out and about, I can check the app, choose a location, click on it, and GPS will guide me to that box.  When I find a book I might be interested in, I check my goodreads app and see what it is rated and read about it.  If it looks good, I take it.  I always get in my trunk and leave at least as many books as I take in each box.

This is a well-maintained/ stocked one close to our home.

Thanks to my friend, Jen who got me started on this.  She has a free library by her house (I keep forgetting to take a picture of her cute box) and loves to go Little Free Libary hopping, too.

This is my idea of FUN!  

Flood

 

Flood by Richard Martin Stern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It started a little slow and I had a hard time keeping the characters straight at first, but it ended up being very exciting and very good story. This is a novel, but it could and it has happened. This is an old book. It was my mother’s. It even still smelled like our basement bookshelf. That was a nice bonus!

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Prepared Meals at Costco: Stuffed Green Peppers

 It has been a while since we tried a prepared meal from Costco.  We really liked these stuffed green peppers.  And they were great leftover too.  

Advice to Writers from One of the Best Ever

From C.S. Lewis:

 

Lisi Makes Dinner

 Five-year-old Lisi got a children's cookbook for Christmas.  The other night, she made dinner for her family of eight.

Looks delicious and healthy!  Good job Lisi!

A Delightful Phone Call

 On Martin Luther King holiday, I was in the other room when I heard excited voices on a phone call with Ken (he had his phone on speaker.)  It was our grandsons Jaron and Caleb calling their Grandpa.  The Princes went up to spend the day with the Camerons in Logan.  Jaron and Caleb were out exploring when they saw a fox.  They followed and tracked it back to its den.  Near the den, they saw a Northern Pygmy Owl.  They took pictures and sent them to Ken and then called him.  They were SO excited!!! 

See the owl?

The fox den

It truly made our day!

Stellar Dance Teacher

 Michelle teaches dance to little ones for tutu school of dance in Salt Lake. She is much loved.  She didn't tell me about this post- I just ran across it on Instagram.

Aren't they cute?

Spelling Bee Star

 Hannah got fourth in her school spelling bee, so advanced to the district spelling bee.  She won 6th place at district.   Her mom texted us throughout the bee, naming the words she was spelling. They were difficult words.  I would have been out long before her!  She kept advancing to the next round.   We are so proud of her.

We talked to her after.  She said she was very nervous.  That's a lot of pressure.  Way to go Hannah Rose!!!  You are supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!  (Spell that one!)

Our Ward is Building Temples

 As the 1st counselor in the Elders quorum presidency in our ward, Ken is also the ward temple and family history leader.  He faithfully meets with his excellent committee each month.  To encourage people to work on family history and attend the temple, they decided to have the ward build Lego temples this year.  You earn a brick by doing one of the things on the list, such as do an ordinance at the temple, etc.  The goal is to have both temples built by the end of the year.  They are hoping that it will inspire people to keep gathering Israel at the front of their minds.

Fridge magnets for everyone

Don't Put it Down; Put it Away

 My mantra for 2025:

Thoughts on the Atonement of Jesus Christ

 In the last general conference, our Prophet encouraged us to make time to study the atonement each week for the rest of our lives.  We have shared ideas on how to do this in our family.  Kristen recently sent us this beautiful graphic she created displaying some of her thoughts on the atonement.  

I love how she has used different colors to categorize the effects of the atonement.  And I love that "joy" is sprinkled all over in it.  

I love to study this during the ordinance of the sacrament and ponder all the atonement means to me.

I am so very grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His atonement.  And I am grateful for my beautiful daughter, Kristen who helps me to understand and ponder that gift.

Steve Staheli Passes Way

 Our friend in the ward, Steve Staheli passed away recently.  He has battled cancer for a few years now and done so valiantly.  Ken and Steve have been ministering companions since we got home from our mission.  He is a good friend as is his sweet wife, Connie.

Oct. 22, 1954 — Jan. 2, 2025

Steven Elias Staheli, passed away on Jan. 2, 2025 at home in St. George, Utah. He was born Oct. 22, 1954 to Elias Elwood Staheli and Gloria Rasmussen Staheli in Provo, Utah.

Steve was raised in the Provo/Orem area. He worked side-by-side with his father and brother in their family construction business. He has always been a strong and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He is survived by first wife LaPriel Mae Curtis. They had two sons, Daniel Steven Staheli, and Jacob David Staheli (Jacob preceded Steve in death). Steve and LaPriel divorced in May 1997.

He married his 2nd wife, Connie Withers Staheli on 22nd of December 1998 in the Manti Temple, Sanpete County, Utah.

He has two beautiful granddaughters and one grandson he loves so very much, Brooklyn Michelle Staheli, Manhattan Staheli, and Matthew Staheli (Matthew preceded Steve in death); brother Stan Staheli, sister-in-law Joanne; sister Karen Staheli Stubbs, brother-in law Russell.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 at 1 p.m. at the Santa Clara Cemetery, 1950 Ancestor Way, Santa Clara, Utah.

Connie asked Ken to give the prayer at the graveside service.  He was buried in the Santa Clara cemetery.  The day was Very windy and cold.  They had intended to have people share memories up there, but it was just too windy.  So, we all went back to the church and had a lovely memory sharing before the family partook of the luncheon that the ward provided.  

This is Ken sharing his fond memories of his friend, Steve. 

A New Temple- Goer

 We have a new temple-goer in our family.  Audrey turns 12 this year, so recently went to the Fort Collins temple to do baptisms.  I am excited to have another girl to do baptisms for the female ancestors that I find.  We have had more boys than girls that can go in our family.  This will help even it out.  Congratulations Audrey!!

First Boy

 

First Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bit outlandish, but an exciting and attention- grabbing story. I listened to the well-done audio version.

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Where the Forest Meets the Stars

 

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved holding and reading this beautiful book. I liked the characters and loved seeing them grow and change as they grew to love and trust each other. It is a well-written and imaginative story. There is one character (Jo’s roommate) who, though a good person, has a foul mouth, bringing my rating down a star. Otherwise, this was a 5-star read for me.

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