Dutch Carribean Cruise with Michelle and Brian

Last week, we went on a cruise with Brian and Michelle.  We had such a fun time.  We ate LOTS of yummy and beautiful food:

Home away from home: The Palms Dining Room!

Michelle trying escargot.

Oh, the desserts!

One must cleanse one's palette.

We had fun dancing- especially MIchelle.  She and Brian are AMAZING swing dancers.  They stole the show.  This is Michelle in the Disco Nightclub. 

 We watched Les Miserables on a huge screen under the stars (and in the WIND!!!)

I don't have pictures, but I think our funnest evening was one spent up in the pool near the spa on deck.  We went up in the evening after dinner, and I think they forgot about us.  They close the front of the boat every night for safety reasons, but I think they forgot we were up there.  So for over two hours we had the pool and front of the ship to ourselves. We swam and sat in the hot tub and looked at the stars and the ocean.  It was just wonderful!  When we came down, it was all roped off and they looked surprised to see us.  

We stopped on three beautiful islands:

The Princess Cays

Curacau

 On Curacao we hired a taxi to give us a tour of the island, including Hato Caves.

 Iguana Soup anyone?  They say it's delicious and tastes like . .. you guessed it!

 Hato Caves

 View from the very high bridge.

 Curacao is one of the most colorful places I've ever been.  Our taxi driver told us that everyone paints their house a new bright color each New Year's Day to bring them good luck in the next year.

Aruba

 This is supposed to be voted the 2nd most beautiful beach in the world.

 This tree is famous in Aruba.  It's just out there in the middle of the ocean.  It's been blown almost flat by the tradewinds., but it still lives.  I think there's an object lesson in there somewhere!

Ice Carving demonstration

 A passenger had to be taken off the ship by helicopter- a medical rescue.  It was amazing to watch as the helicopter just hovered near the ship for about an hour.  They first dropped a Coast Guard guy who then strapped in and sent up the patient, then the spouse, then he went up.  It was pretty amazing to watch.

The sunsets were beautiful.  

 When we got off the boat in Ft. Lauderdale, we took a tour of the Everglades on a really noisy boat.  We saw alligators in the wild.

This guy is on a television show on Animal Planet where he works with alligators.  He was pretty fearless.

 We went to a nature preserve called Flamingo Gardens.

We had such a wonderful time!  Thanks, Brian and Michelle!

October, 2012 Conference Report

I recently finished reading, then studying last October's General Conference talks.  It was such a great conference.  Historically, it will be remembered as the conference when the missionary ages were lowered: 18 for young men, and 19 for young women.
 I felt that an oft-repeated theme was family.  It seems our leaders are wanting us to strengthen our families.
 I've been reading, studying and reviewing conference for many years.  I found Elder Oaks talk, "Protect the Children," to be the most unusual talk I've seen.  He quotes many non-church experts (eighteen, to be exact) to show the great need in our society to protect and properly teach children.  It was really profound and a strong statement to the world of the need of society to protect it's children.
Another quiet "first" that wasn't mentioned much, but is very significant in this conference is the talk by Elder Echo Hawk.  He was sustained as a member of the 70 in March, the first Native American general authority in a very long time.  His is a unique and powerful voice to the Lamanite descendants of this generation.
We also heard from our new Relief Society presidency in the General Relief Society Meeting.  I appreciated their Christ-centered talks.  Our new presidency's focus is:
1- Understand the atonement
2- Cleave to our covenants
3- Unity

Favorites:
I loved Elder Craig C. Christensen's comprehensive talk on the Holy Ghost.  The footnotes contain a great list of scriptural references that teach about the Holy Ghost.
I loved Elder Ballard's talk, "Be Anxiously Engaged" where he encouraged us, "In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen. If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible."
Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk to the priesthood "Brethren, We Have Work to Do" was powerful and motivational.  
I was profoundly affected by the talk by Elder Don R. Clarke on "Blessings of the Sacrament."  He suggested we write down what we thought about during the sacrament each week.  "If we properly prepare for the sacrament, we can transform our lives."  He also suggested that we memorize the sacramental prayers in our minds and in our hearts.  Taking that challenge was a most sacred experience for me.  
Tally of Resources Quoted or Referenced:
Book of Mormon: 170
New Testament: 149
D&C: 124
Apostles: 84
Literature: 53
Old Testament: 31
Pearl of Great Price: 13
Hymns: 9
Proclamation on the Family: 5
Preach My Gospel: 3

The talk that used the most references was Elder Anthony Perkins who quoted or referenced 79.  Second was Elder Marcus Nash (he's a lawyer- he knows how to document everything!) with 62.  Elder Quenten L. Cook was the apostle with the most with 35 references.  Why do these statistics matter?  They don't.  It just interests me.

I express my gratitude for general conference and the powerful influence it is in my life.  

Keynote Spring Concert: A Sentimental Journey

On April 17th, the Keynotes performed an hour-long concert in the tabernacle.  The theme was "A Sentimental Journey," with that timeless song being the theme song.  In spite of some difficulties in some of the Keynotes' lives right then, the concert went well.  I think what is unique about us is that we think of ourselves as a service organization rather than a performing group.  We try to invite the spirit through our music.  I love these dear ladies and their commitment to our common goal.  We are now on break for the summer.  So it's time to start choosing Christmas music!!!!

Up a Road Slowly

Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm so sad that I finished this book. I love the characters and really miss them. That is the mark of a great book. The theme is growing up, but it also deals with death, poverty, alcoholism, mental illness, and, of course, love... mostly love.
When Julie is just seven years old, her mother dies and she and her brother are sent to live with their spinster Aunt Cordelia. Aunt Cordelia gives them structure and security, but is not warm and loving. We watch Julie grow up and live through her life's traumas and experiences with her, learning much about how to deal with our own. It is a very character-driven book, and each person nestles their way into the reader's heart. The book ends as Julie graduates from high school.
There are some powerful and wise excerpts in this book that are so thought-provoking and have the potential of being life-changing. I felt the wisdom of the author spoken through the characters in the book. I marked them and have already re-read them.
I highly recommend this Newberry Award -winning book to young adult and adult readers alike.




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