My Own Two Feet

 

My Own Two Feet
by 

Beverly Cleary

Kay's review

Oct 27, 2022  ·  edit

really liked it

This book is the second half of Beverly Cleary’s autobiography. It picks up where The Girl From Yamhill leaves off- when she goes to college. It covers her college years, romance, marriage and concludes with the publication of her first children’s book: Henry Huggins.
I really enjoyed reading this. I don’t think I liked it quite as much as the first half, but still really enjoyed it.

The Faith of Ronald Reagan

 

The Faith of Ronald Reagan by Mary Beth Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Faith of Ronald Reagan was an inspiring biography focusing on his faith and belief and reliance upon God. Reagan’s allegiance to and seeking of God throughout his life and presidency was so inspiring. I truly feel that he was born “for such a time of this” to lead our country and bring down the Berlin wall and open the world to freedom of religion. As Reagan said so many times, “May God bless this country.”

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Mrs. Miracle

 Though, as most Hallmark movies are, it was predictable, this was a cute, uplifting movie.  Based on the Mary Poppins story, Mrs. Miracle comes in as a nanny and makes everything better.  It is available on Hallmark channel.

Joseph Smith Memorial in Vermont

 We had a lovely three- week vacation to New England September 24- October 17, 2022.  We flew to Boston and stayed there the first night, then traveled to Vermont to spend a week there at a beautiful timeshare resort.  On the way to our destination in Jackson, Vermont we stopped and spent a couple of hours at the Joseph Smith Memorial site.  This is a monument to the place Joseph Smith was born.

At the St. George airport- ready to go.

The monument is 38 feet tall- one foot for every year of Joseph's life.

This is the original doorstep to the Smith home.  Only the foundation stones remain.

This is the original hearthstone that was in front of their fireplace.  It is displayed in the Visitor's Center.

We loved visiting this site.  There was a special spirit there.  We are grateful for the prophet Jospeh Smith.



Macaroni and Cheese with Garden Tomatoes

 This simple dish has long been one of my favorite things.  You'll probably think I'm crazy, but I really look forward to eating this once or twice during the summer when the garden tomatoes are on.

I just make a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese as instructed (but undercook the pasta).  Or I heat up a Stouffer's frozen macaroni and cheese or I buy macaroni and cheese from the grocery store deli or my favorite, Popeyes.  I put chopped, fresh garden tomatoes on top and sprinkle with Mrs. Dash.  Yum!  It is one of my favorite things.

I am sure this would much more delicious with homemade macaroni and cheese.

Non- Stop

 Wow!  This was intense start to finish.  We really enjoyed it.  

Eat Less and Exercise More

Eat less; Exercise more.  This has been a mantra I repeat to myself for many years.  I used to have it posted on my fridge.  It is one that is easy to say but not so easy to live. 

Shall We Dance?

 We loved this movie.  The acting was excellent and the story engaging, but the dancing was the highlight.  It was SO good.  Jennifer Lopez started her career as a dancer, so needed no training for this film, but Richard Gere trained three hours a day for four months before filming and does all of his own dancing in the film. He is amazing.  We watched this on a borrowed DVD, but I think I want to own it- just so I can watch the dance scenes over and over.  Richard Gere's speech to his wife at the end has got to be one of the best scenes ever in films.  Ya, this was a good one.

Reading

    On each second Friday I do a "fun for me" post.  Sometimes it is something that is fun for me.  Sometimes it is something that is fun for Ken.  Sometimes it is something that is fun for both of us. This is something that is fun for me.  Well, actually Ken enjoys it, too.

It is no secret on this blog that I love reading! As of the date I am writing this, there are 354 book reviews that I have written on this blog.   I read a lot.  I love books of many different genres.  I try to vary what I read.  I read both nonfiction and fiction.  I both read and listen to books.  I also read on my iphone.  But my preference is to read a real book.  I love holding the book, smelling the book, stroking the book.  I also love reviewing the book when I am through reading it. 

Reading truly is fun for me.

What Did the Prophet Ask Us to Do? October, 2022

 

What Did the Prophet Ask Us to Do?  October 2022

Saturday Morning- What is True?

I urge each of us to be alert to anyone who might be in danger of being abused and to act promptly to protect them.

As you listen to conference, please make notes of thought that catch your attention and those that come into you mind and stay in your heart.  Prayerfully ask the Lord to confirm that what you have heard is true.

 

Sunday Morning- Overcome the World and Find Rest

Please ponder this stunning truth:  Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples- and keeps them- has increased access to power of Jesus Christ.

I plead with you to take charge of your own testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel.  Work for it.  Nurture it so that it will grow.  Feed it truth.  Don’t pollute it with false philosophies of unbelieving men and women.  As you make the continual strengthening of your testimony of Jesus Christ your highest priority, watch for miracles to happen in your life.

My plea to you this morning is to find rest from the intensity, uncertainty, and anguish of this world by overcoming the world through your covenants with God.  Let Him know through your prayers and your actions that you are serious about overcoming the worl.  Ask Him to enlighten your mind and send the help you need.  Each day, record the thoughts that come to you as you pray; then follow through diligently.

Spend more time in the temple, and seek to understand how the temple teaches you to rise above this fallen world.

I call upon you to become a righteous people.  Cherish and honor your covenants above all other commitments.  As you let God prevail in your life, I promise you greater peace, confidence, joy, and rest.

 

Sunday Afternoon- Focus on the Temple

I pray that you have recorded your impressions and will follow through with them.  Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, stand ready to help you.  I urge you to increase your efforts to seek Their help.

Let us never lose sight of what the Lord is doing for us now.  He is making his temples more accessible.  He is accelerating the pace at which we are building temples.  He is increasing our ability to help gather Israel.  He is also making it easier for each of us to become spiritually refined. 

I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.  May you focus on the temple in ways you never have before.

61*

 With Judge recently breaking the record for most homeruns in a season (62), we wanted to watch the film about Roger Meris who broke Babe Ruth's record.  We really enjoyed this movie that explores the intense pressure that can be part of sports.  

Rosemary McFadden Passes Away

 Rosemary and Dave moved into our ward about 30 years ago.  They still had three children at home.  Their two youngest were the ages of our two youngest.  Rosemary has always been someone I looked up to and admired.  Years ago she was the PTA president of our middle school and I served on her board.  I so admired her leadership skills.  She served as stake Relief Society president and twice as Young Women president.  Dave and Rosemary catered many event and always opened their home for ward and Relief Society parties.  They were always serving others.  Their example of selfless service will live on.

I was shocked when I heard she had pancreatic cancer.  It took her very quickly.  We were able to attend her funeral while vacationing in Vermont via Zoom.  We will miss beautiful Rosemary.

Obituary

Rosemary Cook McFadden, age 74 died on September 26, 2022 in her home in St. George, UT from pancreatic cancer surrounded by her loved ones.  Rosemary is survived by her husband, Dave McFadden, her six children and 24 grandchildren.  Rosemary loved learning how to drive tractors, raise orphan lambs, catch and gut fish, shear sheep, camp, hike and ride horses.  She also loved learning how to sew, cook, garden, crossstitch, and arrange flowers. In high school, Rosemary was the drill team captain, leader of various clubs, seminary president, and Miss Sanpete County.  While attending BYU as a freshman, Rosemary met and fell in love with Dave McFadden and were eventually married on August 25, 1967 in the Manti temple.  

Rosemary and Dave started out their married life together in Nashville, TN where their first child was born.  From there, Rosemary and Dave eventually settled in Los Gatos, CA where they had six more children and devoted their time to family, church and friends.   As the oldest children began to get married and leave the home, Rosemary and Dave with the three youngest children moved from California to St. George, UT where they filled the time with serving three missions, which included one to Romania, and loving their 24 grandchildren.  

Rosemary has passed on, but not before she and Dave celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this past August. They will forever be eternally bound.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 10:00am at the Fort Pierce LDS Chapel located at 750 Fort Pierce Dr, St. George, UT 84790. This service will be live-streamed click on the link below.  There will be a viewing prior to services at the same location from 9:00-9:45am.  Interment will be the same day at the Fountain Green Utah Cemetery.

Ministering

 I saw this on a bulletin board of the chapel in which me meet to rehearse for Keynotes.  I thought it was the perfect description of ministering.

Tools for Understanding Isaiah

 I recently taught the gospel doctrine lesson on Isaiah.  As usual, I think I learned the most.  Just as it is impossible to cook without kitchen tools, it is impossible to understand and eventually love Isaiah without some tools.  Gleaning from Nephi and other experts, I presented a list of twelve tools to help us understand Isaiah.  I don't claim this is a complete list, but just the twelve I chose.  This has really helped me to understand Isaiah better.

Tools for Understanding Isaiah

1. Slow down-  take your time while reading Isaiah.

2. Know the things of the Jews - this tip comes from Nephi

3. Know the geography of the land he lived in. Another tip from Nephi

4. Know that he spoke in poetic language.

5.  Isaiah used repetition.  He often said the same thing in two or three different ways.

6.  Look for Jesus Christ. Though he didn't use His name, Isaiah spoke of the Savior a lot.

7.  He spoke to his people- like general conference addresses.

8.  He also prophesied of the future.

9.  Expect multiple fulfillments of his words.

10. Look for symbolism.

11.  He speaks to the children of Israel- the children of the covenant.

12.  Write down what you learn so you can remember when you study it again,

I am grateful for the prophet Isaiah and for these tools that help me understand him better.

The Littlest Library

 

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I admit I did it again. I chose a book by its cover. I saw this cute book at Costco and had to pick it up. The cover is so appealing and it doesn’t hurt that it has the word library in the title.
It wasn’t false advertising. This was a sweet, though predictable novel about a young woman who relocates from a big city to a little English village following the death of her beloved grandmother. She makes friends, contributes to the community, and, of course, falls in love. The characters, though some are underdeveloped, are charming and the idea of turning an old phone booth into a library, so clever. I enjoyed this light read.


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Sweet Home Alabama

 How did we miss this cute 2002 Reese Witherspoon movie?  Though predictable, it was a fun watch.  We watched it while on vacation on a movie cable channel. 

 PS  I loved Witherspoon's hair cut in this movie.  Is it still in style 20 years later?  

Ken's Annual Camping Trip on Cedar Mountain

 Each year in the month of September, Ken likes to go camping on Cedar Mountain (because of his knee replacement surgery, he missed last year.)  He sleeps in a tent, cooks simple meals, and fishes, hikes, reads, and relaxes in his favorite place- the great outdoors.  

This year was a very successful fishing year.  He caught 30 fish in the three days,

On the third day, a childhood friend (Clark Fawcett and his brother-in-law) came up to fish with him.  They had a fun day.

A military jet flew over and he got a picture.

I think he said these were tiger trout.

The name makes sense

His campsite.

Ken enjoys this solitary time in nature, and I enjoy the time too- this year to prepare the gospel doctrine lesson on Isaiah.  We are always glad to get back together after a few days.   I enjoy hearing his adventures and seeing the pictures and he enjoys a hot shower.  

Seek and Expect Miracles

    I have been asked by our Relief Society presidency to prepare a short article for each month's Relief Society newsletter on spiritual preparedness.   I thought I might just as well publish those articles here as well. They publish on the first day of the month.  This is October's article.

In April conference, President Nelson admonished us to seek and expect miracles.  Preparing ourselves spiritually would include the things he suggested in seeking miracles.  He said we should do the spiritual work to seek miracles and prayerfully ask God to help us to have enough faith.  As the Burdicks helped us understand in their sacrament meeting talks recently, we must trust the Lord and expect miracles in our lives.