St. George Bird Festival 2018

Ken is involved in the local chapter of the Audubon society.  Every year in January they host a bird festival.  This event brings people from all over to attend and learn more about birds.  This year, Ken was asked to teach the "Introduction to Birding" class.  He borrowed pictures taken by his brother, Don, who photographs birds, and prepared a power point presentation.  

The day before his presentation, we went to the Tonaquint Nature Center (one of the best birding spots in St. George) to see a little Western Screech owl that was roosting there during the day.  It is difficult to see in these pictures as it blends in with the tree.  Can you see it?

The pond there attracts all kinds of water fowl.

Following are a few shots I took during Ken's presentation. These are ones I posted on our family's texting app.  I took a lot more, but they have just vanished from my computer. I have spent way too much time searching for them.  I was glad I posted these few pictures, as they are all we have now.  They are a bit grainy, as they are copies of copies, but at least we have those!

Ken did a great job of Introducing birding to a crowd of people who had a lot of interest and questions.

The Prayer Box

The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This a beautifully written book-almost poetic. The writing style and characterization were the book’s stellar points. The story was also a really good, and I think realistic, one. As the protagonist, Tandi uncovers and reads the story of Mrs. Poole, her own life slowly changes and improves. She finds her own worth, finds true friends, and most importantly, focuses on her children and their needs. I loved reading and “watching” that evolution and rebirth. The book is must read for any woman struggling to free herself from an abusive relationship. Much as Tandi found help from Mrs. Poole’s words, a struggling woman can find help from Tandi’s. I would love to read other books by this author. Now if you will excuse me, I want to go and eat a beignet.



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Our New Little Friend

One of my Christmas presents has become our new, little friend.  

This little guy runs around our house and cleans our floors.  It is just amazing and fascinating to watch.

I remember when I first heard about a robot vacuum cleaner that would clean your floors, I thought it was just amazing and, well, unbelievable!    Oh, the changes we have seen in our lifetime!  I really like our new little friend!  Ken named him Sambo because he does what our dog, Sambo used to do- keeps the floor clean of crumbs and dropped food!  But this Sambo doesn't have to fed or walked or cared for when we leave town (and he doesn't eat a whole pound of chocolates which are wrapped and under the Christmas tree!)  Ya, I really like our new, little friend!

When Hope Springs New

When Hope Springs New by Janette Oke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Fourth in the series about Elizabeth and Wynn, this book is the continuation of the story of this courageous and faith-filled couple. Placed in a distrustful, if not hostile Indian village, Elizabeth has an extreme challenge to win over her new fellow villagers. She does so, in a most unexpected way. She even finds the Indian chief of the village taking orders from her. Courage, determination, and love are the themes of this most-satisfying book.



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New Callings

On the plane ride home from Japan, I asked Ken what calling he would like to have next.  His answer was, "I have always wanted to be the finance clerk in the ward."  Ken has served most of our married life in priesthood leadership callings.  He had a short stint as a cub master and, just before our mission, as a Gospel Doctrine teacher.  But other than that, he has always been in priesthood leadership.  Being a clerk sounded just perfect for him.  He then asked me the same question.  My answer?  I don't want to be put out to pasture and I want to teach adults.

Very shortly after we got home, Ken was called as the ward finance clerk.  The bishop later told us the story.  He had gone to the temple to ponder about who should serve as the young women president.  As he was leaving, he felt the strong impression that Ken should be a ward financial clerk.
My calling came a few weeks later- after that young women presidency was reorganized.  I was called to be Laurel advisor.  That is definitely not in any pasture, and it is teaching, and they are almost adults.  Perfect.

So that's where we have served for the last six months or so.  It was almost like, "Thank you for your missionary service.  Here is your reward."  But, the party is over, I guess.  Ken, just before Christmas was called back into Priesthood leadership as the first counselor in the high priest group leadership.  He is excited to work with a long-time friend, Don Steck.  Then, just a couple of weeks ago, my calling was changed to 1st counselor in the young women presidency.  At first I didn't think it would be that much of a change, but I'm finding it is- a whole new learning curve and a lot more time and responsibility.  But that's okay.  We are both happy to serve wherever called.

We had fallen into the habit of watching a movie or show on Netflix most evenings.  But now with me having Young Women activities every Tuesday evening and he having high priest leadership meetings and visits every Wednesday and serving in the temple on Thursdays, we are watching less movies.  But again, that is okay.  We are grateful to serve and happy we're not in a pasture somewhere!

My Favorite Things- Acrylic Cup with Straw

Several years ago, we were visiting BYU campus.  In the bookstore, xfinity company was trying to get new customers and had a wheel you could spin and then win a prize.  Ken spun and won this acrylic cup with an acrylic straw.  I took it over as my own.  I have loved this cup.  I do rinse it often and wash it occasionally, but it is almost always full of water or pop or something.  I haul it with me everywhere I go.  I remind myself of a baby with their security bottle.  It is just perfect, it has a lid and a straw and it makes me happy.  

Well, it has been showing signs of wear.  The lid is cracked and leaks and the rubber washer in the ring will no longer stay in.  I have been so sad, realizing it would soon be unusable.  I told Ken I wanted it's replacement for Christmas.

I felt so lucky to finally find this set of acrylic cups on Amazon.  I now have four!!!!  Oh, happy day!
They aren't quite as big as my beloved xfinity cup, but they are insulated and you can take the straw out and close it, and there are four!!!!!  Now they get washed a lot more often and I am happy.

Acrylic cups with straws- one of my favorite things.  To view more of my favorite things, click here.

PS  I was completely happy with my new cups until I went to Keynotes last week and one of my Keynote friends had a quart-sized one with her with ice water.  Now I'm on a quest to find a bigger one!  Sigh!

When Comes the Spring

When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The second in the Canadian West series by Janette Oke is When Comes the Spring. It reminded me a lot of the book Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freeman. Similar to the story of Mrs. Mike, Elizabeth marries her Mountie, Wynn and then accompanies him to northern Canada to live in an isolated Indian settlement. It is devoid of other white people, the conveniences of life, and even a school in which to teach. But she loves her husband, her God, and she soon loves the Indian women. I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of going on a mission: submersing yourself in another culture, learning to love another people and accepting their ways, and helping them in any way you can. Now on to the third in the series!



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A New Prophet

With the passing of Thomas S. Monson, we needed a new prophet.  On Tuesday, January 16th, 2018, a special meeting was held where it was announced that our new prophet is Russell M. Nelson.

He chose as counselors Elder Dallin H Oaks and Elder Henry B Eyering.  These pictures were taken during the press conference as Ken and I watched on our computer.

We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet!

Capeless Superheroes

Since returning from our mission, Ken and I have become superheroes!  I know! It's pretty exciting at our age.  Actually, we don't have capes or fly around, but we do save people.  We sit side by side at our computers and find ancestors that need saving temple ordinances.  We check them out carefully, then print ordinance cards for each one.  We then go to the temple to perform those ordinances.  Ken did 92 baptisms one day and 106 about a month later.  We feel overwhelmed to get them all done- especially the endowments.  We have sent cards to many family members to help with the work. We are so very grateful for their help.  If you are reading this and would like to do endowments or other ordinances for family, please let us know.  Have we got a deal for you:  Take the cards, do as much as you like, then send back the cards in the self-addressed envelope we will provide. You don't even have to be family.  We have our neighbors helping out, too!  So, you can be a capeless superhero, too!  Well, you can wear a cape if you want.  No rules here.  I tried to capture with the camera the need.  It is hard to photograph stacks properly, but you get the idea.

Here's a stack of cards that we have completed.  Patty and Hal are serving a temple mission in Kona, Hawaii and have done a lot of the ordinances for our ancestors. Tears spring to my eyes when I think of all the ordinances Patty and Hal have and are performing.  They are blessing many.

See- Super Heroes!!!

So, come join the ranks!  We have cards for many in the Gabrielsen, Peterson, Tolman, and Hinton lines.  You can choose which line you want to help with.  You can be a Super Hero, too!