Fun Times With the Prince Family

 On the way to the wedding in Idaho, we spent the night in South Jordan with the Prince family.  As soon as we got inside, little Kenny challenged me to a game of HORSE.  It was close, but I beat him.  Then he played Ken two games.  Ken won one and Kenny won one.

Kenny- our formidable basketball opponent.

William always hopes we will bring squeaky cheese.  We did this time!  He loves to be read to and now he is learning to read himself.

William showed us how he is learning to read.  Smart little dude.

He's only four.

When Jaron got home from basketball practice, we gave him the rest of his birthday gift- animals from South Africa.  His birthday was earlier in the week and we sent him a new basketball.

Gabbi came up after her shower to show me her special tote that she carries with her at school.  She always has a Book of Mormon with her.  Her young women group is reading the Book of Mormon in 90 days and she is keeping right up on the challenge.  We are so proud of this special granddaughter.

I loved this poster on their wall.  Michelle certainly lives by this motto.

On Saturday, after the wedding, we stopped back in at the Princes to rest and watch the BYU game.  Ken got on the floor to do his exercises.  William was sure he was down there to play with him.

How we love this precious, little guy!

Go Cougars!!!

Michelle can never let us leave without sending something with us.  She gave us each one of Jaron's birthday cupcakes and some delicious homemade salsa.

We always love to visit the Prince family!!

Taylor and Brittany are Married

 Our nephew, Taylor Morris married Brittany Anderson on October 15, 2021 in the Meridian, Idaho temple.  It was such a joy to be there for the ceremony and festivities.

Though they met while they were both living and working in the bay area, they are both from Boise/Meridian.  So there were a lot of people at the wedding, luncheon, and later at the reception.

All of Joan's siblings were able to be there.  It was nice to be together:  Ken and Kay, Tom and Joan, Pam and Roger, Cindy and John, and Patty and Hal.

Joan with her cute granddaughter, Lizzie

Whitney with her nieces Eva and Lucy

Sara's husband,  Jon, Jed and Missy (some of my very favorite relatives!)  There are some great people in that picture there!

Not a great candid shot.  Cindy is hiding behind John, but I got her back in the next picture.

I love Cindy!

This picture is better.  Pam, Hal, John, Cindy, Roger, and Patty

These cousins are both kindergarteners and have declared that they are going to marry each other.

They were having so much fun dancing together.

Lucy, Eva(Joan's exceptional granddaughters- they are both so mature and beautiful.  I love them), and Joan's good friend, Patricia

Lucy with Ty, Joan's newest grandbaby.  Is he not adorable?

Jed, Missy, and Whtiney

Cindy, Patty, Pam, and Me

At the luncheon:  John and Cindy

I got to sit by Missy

The luncheon was such a nice affair at an Italian restaurant.  The speeches were great.  It was really fun to be there.

I didn't take a single picture later at the reception.  We were too busy visiting.  We got to visit with my cousins that live in Boise:  Martha and her husband, Ron Meyers, Linda, and on the Gabrielsen side, Joe.  We also visited with old friends  Bob and Annette Hurst and Rick and Aline Hurst.  The Hursts were in our ward in Caldwell and were good friends when I was growing up.

It was a long trip in a short time, but it was worth it to be there for that very special occasion.

Half a World Away

 

Half a World Away by Cynthia Kadohata
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow! This author really helps us understand adoption from the child’s perspective. It is a powerful little book. It is well read in the audio version. 3 ½ stars from me.

View all my reviews

A Place to Belong

 

A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is hauntingly beautiful. I can’t get it out of my head. It is a story of prejudice, war, culture, poverty, compassion, and mostly family. It will be one of my all-time favorite books, I am sure. I love this author.

View all my reviews

The Man I Didn't Marry

 

The Man I Didn’t Marry by Anna Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed listening to this English novel. The reader was really good. The story explores the marriage relationship in a unique way and really made me think about the importance of marriage and family. I loved Ellie, the main character, and appreciated her view on life. Again, I had to bring my rating down to four stars because of language- a constant problem in these British novels.

View all my reviews

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

 

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book is well named. It is adventure after adventure. Touted as the greatest American novel, it lives up to the promise of being exciting and well-written. I think I started it when I was a youngster (my old book says it cost 60 cents) but couldn’t abide the king and duke, and quit when I had had enough of them back then. I am glad I powered through this time (they get their due) but still liked some parts and some characters better than others. I loved Huck and Jim the best. And now I can say I have read the greatest American novel ever written!

View all my reviews

The Sea Glass Sisters

 

The Sea Glass Sisters by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I listened to this novella. It certainly kept my attention from the first, but the voices of the mom and aunt were grating, making it hard to enjoy. If you liked The Prayer Box, you will like this one.

View all my reviews

Little Pink House

 We really enjoyed this movie depicting the true story of a woman who took a stand to preserve her property against imminent domain law when used by a commercial company.  It is a great story.  We watched it on Netflix DVD.

SAS Athletic Shoes

 

I haven't owned a pair of athletic shoes for years.  Well, I guess that's not true.  I have owned some, but literally never wore them because they were not comfortable.  I love Zappos.com because you can order several pair of shoes, try them on in your home and send back any that don't fit.  Shipping both ways is free. And you have a full year to decide and send them back.

I felt a need for athletic shoes, so occasionally, over the years, would order several pair and try them, but ended up sending them all back.  None felt comfortable.

After discussion with my siblings with similar foot problems as mine, I decided I was going to order and order and order until I found some that worked.  Patty went to her podiatrist and he recommended certain brands.  On that list was SAS.  So, among others, I ordered several pair of those.  I ordered several, sent them back.  I ordered more, and sent them back.  After several attempts,  I finally found some that felt good!  I wore them around the house for several days before deciding these would work for me.  They were expensive, but I have been very happy with my purchase.  It feels like I am walking on pillows.  

I actually found two pair in that same shipment that felt good and fit right: Propet Travelbound Tracer and these, SAS Tour Mesh.  Though the Propets were much cheaper, I decided on the SAS.  I have been very happy.  I finally own some athletic shoes that I wear!

SAS shoes.  Some of my favorite things.

Happy Rain!

 Living in a desert in the midst of a drought is scary business.  We felt so blessed and relieved when we got a total of 1.36 inches of rain according to our gauge in the span of about a week.  We had three storms bringing us much needed moisture.  The biggest day was Oct. 8 when we got .99 inch of rain.  We prayed and the Lord answered our prayer.  We feel so very blessed.

The Song of Names

 This is a powerful, even dark movie set during WWII in England.  It is not a cheerful movie, but it sure makes you feel and think.  We watched it on Netflix DVD.

What Did the Prophet Ask Us to Do? October, 2021 General Conference

 Wasn't that an amazing conference?  After each conference, I go through the prophet's talks looking for what he asks us to do.  Here is my list from October conference.

What Did the Prophet Ask Us to Do?  October, 2021

1.      Saturday Morning:  Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation

·        Thank you for following our counsel and advice of medical experts

·        Listen for three things during this conference: pure truth, the pure doctrine of Christ, and pure revelation.

·        Seek for the ministering of the Holy Ghost to help you hear what the Lord would have you hear during conference.  Please make this conference a time of feasting on messages from the Lord through his servants. 

·        Learn how to apply them in your life.

2.      Sunday Morning:  The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation

·        It is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures- perhaps measures we have never taken before- to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations.

·        If we are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.

·        I invite you to set a regular time to rehearse in your mind the covenants you have made.

·        If you don’t yet love to attend the temple, go more often- not less.  Let the Lord, through His Spirit, teach and inspire you there.

·        To young adults:  I plead with you to seek a companion with whom you can be sealed in the temple.

·        To couples who have not been sealed:  I would plead with you to take the necessary steps to receive that crowning, life-changing ordinance.

·        To all who have made temple covenants: I plead with you to seek- prayerfully and consistently- to understand temple covenants and ordinances.

3.      Sunday Afternoon:  Make Time for the Lord

·        Ask ourselves:  How will we be different because of what we have heard and felt?

·        I plead with you today to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord in your life- each and every day.

·        Seek the Lord through daily prayer and gospel study

·        I plead with you to make time for the Lord!  Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always.

·        Fix your focus on Jesus Christ.  Talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, feast upon the words of Christ, and press forward with steadfastness in Christ. 

·        Make your Sabbath a delight as you worship Him, partake of the sacrament, and keep His day holy.

·        Please make time for the Lord in His holy house.

·        Make time for Him in your life- each and every day.

The Lord Loves Effort

 I love this mantra from President Russell M. Nelson.

I like to whisper this to myself when I am working hard on something.  It is comforting to me.  Just keep trying.  He will make up the difference.  He always does. Thank you, President Nelson for this mantra.

Red Cliffs Temple Construction

 It has been awhile since I have posted about the progress of our Red Cliffs temple.  Here are a couple of pictures that I got on Facebook.

A Five-Year-Old's Thoughts

 

Gabe, our five-year-old grandson, recently called to check on how Grandpa is doing.  He is a smart little guy.  We asked how his sister, Hannah is doing with her gluten-free diet.  He told us that she would not be able to eat gluten for the rest of her life.  Then he thought a minute and said, "but she can eat gluten when she is resurrected!" His mom was very surprised at that statement, as they had never talked about it.  He figured it out by what he had been taught about the resurrection.

He then went on to tell us the order in which his family would die, starting with dad and ending with him.  He then asked how old we were.  When Grandpa told him he was 67, he exclaimed with absolute certainty, "Oh, you are totally going to die first!"

The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock

 

The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock by Jane Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this novel. I grew to like MOST of the characters, especially Oliver. The author has a gift for characterization, I think. The story was clever and I loved the idea of a scented candle that represents a person. What would my scented candle be? Hmmmm. Maybe pool chlorine, my favorite gin and rosewater perfume, baking, and books. In a way, this is a coming-of-age story- only Oliver is 39 years old! It takes some people longer than others! Now that I am through reading, I am missing the friends I made in this book. Because there was an unnecessary scene of immorality, I can only give it 4 stars.

View all my reviews

The Good Cop

 Just seeing this picture makes me smile.  We have really enjoyed the Netflix series:  The Good Cop.  It is about a father/son duo who are as opposite as they can be, but love each other a lot.  There is just one season, but we hope they will continue the series.  It makes good, light-hearted watching.