The Guns of Navarone

The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A picture of the cover of the copy of the book I read isn’t here. I think I got my yellowed, worn copy on the 50- cent table at the library sale, then had to laugh when I saw the original price of the book was 35 cents. It even smelled like an old library when I opened it. But it was exciting, page-turning action from start to finish! Beyond the action, the characters were also well developed and their relationships real. Alistair McClean is an excellent author. Though wartime novels are not my favorite genre, this one kept me enthralled to the last page.



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Personal Progress: Faith

I completed my Faith value for Personal progress.  I did the value experiences, as required.  For my faith value project, I read my great-grandfather's missionary journal (before that I helped transcribe it under the direction of my sister, Patty).  His name is Isaac Fox.  I wrote a review of that book and published it on this blog.  I will republish it here.  I then sent my review to my mission president, who is the great grandson of Joseph F. Smith who my great grandfather served with on his mission.  I got back a very nice reply from him.  The project took me well over the required 10 hours.

Review:
My great-grandfather was a faith-filled man.  Reading his journal was/ is a blessing in my life.  It made me realize and ponder the fact that I am part of grand family.  I stand on his shoulders.  One of the last things I did before we left on our mission to Japan, was to finish transcribing the part of his journal that I had been assigned.  I was privileged to transcribe what I think was the hardest part of his mission.  He and a companion were sent to the Big Island of Hawaii.  He got extremely seasick on the way there.  The conditions and food were deplorable.  He had to hike over lava rock, live in unsanitary conditions, and often eat rotten food, if there was any food at all.  He was very homesick for his wife and family and longed for letters from home, which didn't come.  He couldn't communicate, as he didn't speak the language well, and people were often rude and unaccepting.
All of that was fresh on my mind when we embarked on our mission.  We had difficulties, but I often compared our conditions to his, and recognized how blessed we were.  We had a nice, new, and very American apartment with good heating and air conditioning.  We traveled by car.  We had access to good, clean food- and were able to shop at Costco occasionally to purchase even American foods.  The people were accepting and loving.  We could communicate by texting and skyping with our family regularly and by email frequently.
As we served, I felt Isaac's support.  I don't know how to describe it, other than I truly felt I was standing on his and my other great-grandfather's (Andreas Peterson's) shoulders, and that they were helping me serve.  I especially felt Isaac when I worked in the music and started a little branch choir.  I didn't speak the language and it took everything I had ever learned to do what I did.  I felt him helping me, as he had done the same thing- organizing a band and a choir in Hawaii in a foreign tongue.  He knew what to do and helped me.
I loved his sense of humor.  Even in his difficult circumstances, he found ways to laugh and make jokes.  I loved his tenacity.  He struggled learning the foreign language.  Boy, could I relate.  But he kept at it, and in the end, was leader over the whole island of Oahu.  He conquered.  I loved his integrity.  He stayed true, even in trying circumstances.  I loved his diligence.  He wrote in his journal most days.  Most of his entries were repetitive.  But he kept at it.  What to him, I'm sure, seemed like a boring journal, has become one of the foremost sources in the history of the church in Hawaii.  His day to day writings are the foundation for many papers written about that period of time.
Some of those papers and historical reports are included in the back of the book.  Reading those, gave me a sense of the power of this humble man's journal.  Because he served with President Joseph F. Smith (who was in the First Presidency at the time and was in Hawaii to avoid authorities seeking him because of polygamy charges) every detail of what he wrote has become very important in the history of the church.  He was with President Smith when he finally obtained the Spaulding Manuscript for a short time and Isaac helped copy it for the church.  That alone is a huge contribution to the history of the church.
I think this has taught me that simple, everyday work and ministering can make a big difference- an eternal difference in peoples' lives.
I have to think that Isaac and Joseph F. are still friends in heaven and that they had a hand in our serving in Sendai, Japan.  Let me explain.  You probably know the story of our mission call.  We had arranged with a mission president in Wisconsin to serve there.  We thought it was a done deal.  Then we got our call to Sendai, Japan.  Our mission president was Jeffrey Smith, the great grandson of Joseph F. Smith.  Isaac and Joseph F. served together.  They wanted their great grandchildren to serve together.  It may be a coincidence; but I think not.
I am so very grateful for the worthy example of my great-grandfather, Isaac Fox. 

This is the reply I received from our mission president, Jeffrey R. Smith
Sister Hinton,

Reading this brought chills to my spine!  Thank you so much for sharing your blog and your thoughts!  I too think it was no coincidence we served together in Sendai, Japan!  What a blessing you are and were to us!  

Sincerely,

Jeff Smith (Kaicho!)

A Fun Day of Fishing

On Friday evening, the Princes came up to go on a fishing trip on Saturday.  We had a delightful time up at Yankee Meadows Reservoir.  Brian, Ken, and Gabbi all caught fish.  Jaron hooked one, but it got away.  It was a fun day.  We came home and had a fish fry/ spaghetti dinner before the Princes headed back to Las Vegas.

Grandpa teaching Gabbi how to cast.

Success!

Ken with the fish he caught.  I stayed up in the shade, so didn't get really great photos.

Gabbi reeling one in.

Jaron was a great fisherman.

When the shade moved, Michelle and I moved down closer to the lake.

After a dinner of fresh fish and spaghetti, baby William opened his presents from us.  His birthday is while we're gone in Hawaii.

It was a fun day of fishing with the Prince family!

Young Women's Personal Progress Award

I'm old.  I'm 62.  I earned the Young Women Personal Progress award about 20 years ago when I served in Young Women.  When I was called to serve as the 1st counselor in Young Women now, I decided I would earn it again.  It helps me see what the girls are doing and helps me offer suggestions to the girls who are working on it.  The church recently announced that the program will be replaced at the end of 2019.  I plan to earn the medallion well before then.  If a young (or old) woman really, with integrity, achieves each of the goals in this book, it will bless their life as well as those around them.

This is the book that describes the goals and activities to be achieved.  It, along with my journal, are my frequent companions now.

This is a picture of the medallion I earned twenty years ago.

This is a picture of the medallion and how it looks now.  I hope to post a picture with me wearing one before too long!

The World Lost a True Hero

The world lost a true hero in July.  Brother Hendrik Ombach, a member of our ward, passed away.  Hank was from Holland.  When he was a young boy, during World War II, he and his family harbored a Jewish family in their home when Germany occupied Holland.  He was a kind, good man.  He was always meticulously dressed and had a big smile for everyone.

I led the music, and Ken spoke at Hank's funeral

One of our treasured possessions is a copy of the book Hank wrote about his experiences in German-occupied Holland.  He and his family were true heroes as they harbored a Jewish family in their home, keeping them safe for the duration of the war.  Hank's father admonished him to never tell anyone what they had done . . . and he didn't- not even his wife- for many years.  Not until the Jewish Yad Vashem contacted him.  He and his wife were flown to Israel where he was presented with an award for  his family's bravery.  After that, he, along with David Green, wrote the book.  It is honestly one of the best and most memorable books we have ever read.

We love Hank and his wife, Ginny.  We feel blessed to have known a true hero.

Shonna and Kids Come for a Visit

Blake had to go to Miami for continuing education for his dental license.  Shonna decided to bring the kids down here for a visit while he was gone.  We had a delightful few days with them.

Lily Kay

Whenever Shonna comes, we like to play and sing duets

The kids had so much fun playing dress up.

Hannah and dessert

I made ice cream cake.  It was really delicious.

I read LOTS of Care Book books.  These Care Bear books were well-loved my our kids, and now our grandkids.

Ready to go to the splash park

Ready for fun in the water

Mom also read Care Bear Books.  The kids have them memorized.

Running through sprinklers

You guessed it- reading a Care Bear book.

Cute brothers.

Thank you, Shonna for the great effort you made to come and visit.  It was so fun!