Thanksgiving

 Michelle and Brian and family came over the river and through the woods to be with us for Thanksgiving.  We had such a marvelous time.  We made a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Gabbi

Michelle made the rolls.  They were delicious and everyone's favorite part.

Stuffing

Yams

Turkey, of course

Potatoes and Gravy

Rot Kohl

Kenny

Jaron (he is starving!)

Grammy

William

Brian

William was so careful with Grandma's china and crystal

Later, we had pie

Over the weekend, Kenny tried every kind of pie.  He didn't like any of them.  He especially disliked the Key Lime pie.  He was so determined to find a kind he liked.

We had fun playing outside and at the park.

Our basketball wouldn't pump up.  So, we got a new one and the kids broke it in.

I love the method Gabbi resorted to to guard her dad.

We have a lot of toys downstairs and the kids had a lot of fun with them, especially Marbleworks.

The Princes brought their bikes and went on several bike rides.

Jaron's tire kept going flat and wouldn't hold air.  Finally, Ken told him to ride home as fast as he could.  I guess he flew like the wind.

We played lots of games.  This was Kenny's favorite.  I can't remember the name of it, but he got a near-perfect 0 score, so we had to take a picture.

My favorite was Ticket to Ride.  I think I won every time.  Pure luck!

The kids had so much fun raiding the costume box and putting on little plays for us.  It reminded me so much of what our kids would do with their cousins at my mom's house.

We read lots of books.

William is learning to read.  He LOVES his daily reading lesson. He loves to sound out the words and his comprehension is amazingly high.  He asks for his lesson every day.

On Friday morning, we visited both of our temples.  First, the Red Cliffs temple under construction.

Then we went downtown to the St. George temple which is being renovated and walked around it.

William learned to skip as we walked.  It was so cute.

The Princes even did some Black Friday shopping.

And finally, finally, after trying every other kind (pecan, blueberry, apple, and key lime,) Kenny found a pie he liked!!  Pumpkin is the winner!

 

It was such a fun weekend!  Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Edge of Lost

 

The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The theme of this book is, I think, loyalty and integrity. The main protagonist has both, despite what it costs him. He is not perfect, but he is a good person. Because it made me want to be a better person, I give this the highest rating. This author has a gift for an imaginative plot and for characterization. I feel like I know well each of the characters. I will seek out other books by this author.

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Outside Beauty

 

Outside Beauty by Cynthia Kadohata
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great book by this amazing author. This one, from the point of view of Shelby, one of four daughters (all by different fathers) of a mother that believes all that is important is outside beauty that attracts men. Despite her upbringing, Shelby learns that inside beauty and commitment to family are of far greater importance.

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Two Lives

 This was a powerful and sobering story. It is kind of a dark tale, but it really makes you think.  It is mostly in subtitles.

Backfire!

 The other day, I was finishing preparing my lunch and Ken was finishing up his exercises, preparing to take a nap.  The doorbell rang.  It was our five-year-old neighbor boy with a bouquet of flowers- flowers he had picked from our yard.  Ken thanked him.  A minute later, the bell rang again.  More flowers.  A minute later, the bell rang again.  This time I answered.  Yep, more flowers.  I thanked him and told him that that is all we needed- that we had a lovely bouquet and didn't need any more.  He said, "No, I am bringing more."  Sure enough, a minute later, the doorbell rang again.  Ken answered.  But this time, there were no flowers.

Just a cute, homemade turkey.

Ken thanked him.  Then Ken told him that he was going to take a nap now.  So the next one that rang our doorbell would have to take a nap with him.   This always works with our grandkids. Unexpectedly, the little guy leaped for joy with his hands up.  "YEA!"  That caught Ken off guard.  "You want to take a nap with me?"  "Yes!!"  What a surprise!

The next day, Ken went outside and the little guy asked him if he could take a nap with him.  Ken quizzed him and he reaffirmed that he loves taking naps.  He has asked when he can take a nap with Ken many times since!  I guess you would call that a backfire!

A Pool in the Neighborhood

 Our neighbors across the street are putting in a pool.  It has been quite the process.  The day the huge truck pulled into our circle with the huge pool on the flatbed was exciting.  They unloaded the pool onto their next door neighbor's front yard.  It sat there for a day.  The next day the huge crane showed up with lots of workers.  

Many neighbors gathered on our front yard to watch the show.  Actually, several more came after we took this picture.

The crane lifted the pool up and over the houses and placed it in the prepared hole in the Adam's backyard.

We then went out onto their deck and watched them place it in the hole.

What a fun afternoon of entertainment for our neighborhood!

Increase Your Capacity to Receive Revelation

 I have been asked by our Relief Society presidency to prepare an 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 December's article.

 Because of the words of our prophet, I have been looking for everything I can find on how to better receive personal revelation.  President Nelson said: "In the coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

President Nelson gave us the step-by-step formula for receiving personal revelation:  

1. Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph:  Find a quiet place where you can regularly go.  

2. Humble yourself before God. 

3. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. 

4. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.

5. Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses- yes, the very longings of your heart. 

6. And then listen! 

7. Write the thoughts that come to your mind. 

8. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. 

Another Happy Chalk Message

 It touches our hearts to come out and find these precious chalk messages written by our neighborhood children.  Nearly every day we hear the sounds of children playing in our yard for much of the afternoon and evening after school.  They never seem to tire of playing in our yard.

Living Proof

 This movie depicts the true story Dr. Dennis Slamon and his quest to find a cure for breast cancer.  It is a moving story.  I appreciated his persistence against all odds and his wife's loyal support.  Because of his determination, he has saved many, many lives.

Ice

 If I am being completely honest, I have to list ice as one of my favorite things.  I love ice and use a lot every day- year round.  It is especially essential for me in the summer.  I fill my "jug" half-full with ice before adding the liquid.  I love ice.  It is one of my very favorite things.

We Got Our COVID Vaccination Boosters

 We are so happy to report that we got our COVID vaccination boosters on November 15th.  We both got very sore arms and I didn't feel well for a couple of days.  I was overwhelmingly sleepy.  But it is so worth it.  We are so very grateful for the vaccinations.

A Mother Never Lies

 

A Mother Never Lies by Sarah Clarke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a sad mystery novel from an unusual perspective. Usually, in a mystery novel, everyone is figuring out together “who done it.” In this story, the reader doesn’t even know what has happened- only that there was terrible tragedy. What that is unfolds slowly throughout the story. Our narrator, Phoebe, knows, but she only lets us know little by little. I have never read mysteries before and am finding I enjoy this genre. This one was a bit dark and plucked at my mother heartstrings.

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The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion

 

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a great author! I really enjoyed this story and the characters in it. I loved that it was clean, entertaining, and historically significant, as it taught me about life for a woman during WWII. I give it 4 stars. I enjoyed it enough for 5, but in order for me to rate it 5, it has to make me want to change- to be a better person. It really didn’t do that, but it was a very fun read. I will look for other books by this author.

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The 15:17 to Paris

 This was the exciting true story of some real-life heroes that confronted a terrorist and saved a lot of lives on a train in Europe. We thought it was a good movie.

Funeral for a Cousin

 Is it gruesome that I blog funerals?  I hope not.  Funerals are somber occasions, true, but I always go away wanting to be a better person.  I like to record what life lessons I learn.

Ken's first cousin, Linda Larsen passed away.  Ken's mom and Linda's mom, Jennie Hintze were sisters and very close.   Jennie's family had a child the ages of each of Ken's family.  Linda lined up in age with Ken's oldest brother, Jim.  The Hintze family and Ken's family have always been very close.  Ken's family is almost all boys and Jennie's family is almost all girls.  They are a delightful group.

Linda and her husband were great examples to us.  They served five missions together.  They loved serving in Africa and for their last mission hoped to go back there.  But the call came to go to Texas.  Linda was devastated.  She wanted to go to Africa so badly.  But she dried her tears and went to Texas.  Just a few months into her mission she had a heart attack and had to have open heart surgery.  Had she been in Africa, she would have died, as the medical care she needed is not available there.  But she was able to have the surgery and eventually go back to work, never leaving Texas.  The Lord watches out for us.  That story really touches me.

I actually didn't go to the funeral.  I woke up with a doozy of a headache that morning, so Ken drove alone the hour or so to Parowan, Utah to attend.  I watched the funeral online.  All of Ken's siblings were there, except Clark.  The day before, Clark fell off a ladder, breaking three ribs and puncturing a lung.  He spent the day of the funeral in the hospital!

 

Linda and her husband raised a fine family and faithfully served the Lord together.  The funeral was a beautiful tribute to her.

When the Prophet Speaks, the Debate is Over

 When the prophet speaks, the debate is over.

August 12, 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic. We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.

To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.

We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders. Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children.

The First Presidency

Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks

Henry B. Eyering

Never in my lifetime have I seen the prophet so blatantly disobeyed.  Ken made the analogy comparing looking at Moses' staff. to this current situation.  All the people had to do was to look to live.  But, though simple, many would not look and perished.  Just as Aaron and Hur did then  President Nelson's arms are being held up by his counselors.  The solution is so simple.  Follow the prophet.  Follow the prophet. Follow the prophet.  He knows the way.

In 1979, President N Eldon Tanner gave a talk called "the Debate is over."  This statement has been made by many, but it it is a powerful mantra:

When the prophet speaks, the debate is over.  

Though I certainly understand that some are frightened of the vaccination and it's side effects, I think this statement from the first presidency should quell their fears.  I believe the vaccination was provided by the Lord for us at this time.  We prayed for it.  He provided it; he vetted it; we should not be afraid of it.  It is just that simple.  It doesn't matter what you think about it any more:" when the prophet speaks, the debate is over.