Stay Positive

 A very timely mantra:

How I loved President Hinckley.  

Five Elect Women

One Sunday I came into Sunday school class and sat on the back row.  I looked up and saw who was sitting in front of me.  I realized I was in the presence of greatness.  Tears sprang to my eyes as I thought about each one of these five elect women in front of me.  I had to take a picture.  These are five of my very favorite people.

 

Sadie- beautiful Sadie and her family moved into this ward when she was a youth.  After serving a mission, she married and lived elsewhere for awhile, But later, she and her husband and family moved here and bought a home in this ward.  She is a faithful, wonderful person.  She and her family feel like family.

Sherrie- dear, dear Sherrie.  Sherrie is one of the oldest members of our ward and is such a loving, cheerful person. For many, many years, she has sent me a birthday card every June.  Last year it was a beautiful paper flower bouquet.  She is thoughtful and kind. When she gets to church each Sunday, she finds me and gives me a big hug. How I love dear Sherrie.

Ginny- I think Ginny is the second oldest person in our ward.  She and Sherrie are good friends.  Oh how we love Ginny.  I think she is 92.  She is strong, happy and faithful.  We are her ministers.  A couple of months ago she fell and broke her pelvis.  Remarkably, she has recovered.  We have prayed earnestly for this dear sister.  How I love her!

Terri- Terri is a pillar in the community and in our ward and stake.  When I need a substitute for any calling I have had - Any calling - Terri is the first person I think of: teaching, playing the piano, leading the choir, etc. She can do everything (way better than I can) and she always responds so cheerfully and willingly.  She has served in every leadership calling: ward RS president, ward YW president, ward Primary president, and on boards of all of the stake auxiliaries and currently is stake Primary president.  She is amazing.  I love Terri.

Meredith- Meredith will do anything for anybody.  She is so service oriented.  I admire her love for others.  When we're asked to donate a bag of groceries for the food bank, she donates five bags.  When her neighbor needs help, the first person they call is Meredith. She is the first to sign up to take in a meal when someone is in need. She serves so faithfully and is so kind.  She was a stellar YW president for many years. She was my minister for a while.  I got to know her well then.  I love Meredith.

I am so grateful for the examples of these five elect women. There are many others that could have been on that all-star row about which I feel the same way.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful people. 💓

Hinton Sibling Reunion 2026

 March 5th - 8th was the Hinton sibling reunion.  Don and Ada were in charge this year and it was held in southern Utah.  The southern Utah residents hosted out of town guests.  Some of the activities we enjoyed: 

1. Ken's parents were avid journal keepers.  There are volumes upon volumes of journal binders.  We each took a binder and spread out and read from it, taking notes.  Then we gathered together and shared some of what we read.

2. We had a quiz about each of our love stories.

3. We watched the Elder and Sister Rasband video from Roots Tech. then shared ideas about how we can be good grandparents and keep our families close.  This was my favorite activity.  So many good ideas were shared.

4. We learned about sharing ordinances through family search.

5. We visited.

6. We watched a couple of movies.

7. We ate delicious food.

8. Jim reviewed a book that included history of one of our ancestors.  It was very interesting.  Jim is an excellent teacher.

9.  We got very sore bottoms!  At least I did.  The chairs were hard and I am still suffering from what I like to call my family reunion injury!

The 8 Hinton siblings: Mark, Clark, Ken, Lorene, Rick, Don, David, Jim

Their spouses: Kathy, Nan, Kay, Sherrie, Ada, Gerri, Leslie

It was a nice reunion with great people!!!

The Blue Bistro

 Modern fiction/ Chic lit    Physical book  2 1/2 stars

It seems that the 3-star rating is a catch all for the medium books.  Some of the books I give 3 stars to I really quite liked.  Others, like this one, are okay, but in the lower part of the 3-star rating.

I didn’t like Thatcher.  What did Adrienne see in him?  I honestly didn’t love Adrienne that much either.  I spent a lot of time with these people.  I wish I had liked them. 

This book didn’t have much of a plot.  Trying to summarize the story made me realize there wasn’t much of a story.

Sipsworth

 

Modern Fiction    Audiobook 

What?  An old lady who is friends with a mouse?  It sounds like a book I would not want to read but it ended up being a delightful book about so much more.  The audiobook was very well done.

 

March, 2026

My husband and I just relistened to this on a road trip.  We both enjoyed it and lessons it teaches.

Dybantsa

 Dybantsa, just a freshman at BYU, but a super star.  He is a true super hero.

8:02 AM (0 minutes ago)

While the celebration erupted across the Marriott Center following BYU’s gritty 82–76 victory over Texas Tech, Red Raiders star Christian Anderson sat alone on the bench, shielded by the shadows of the arena.

Head bowed. A towel draped over his face to hide the raw pain of the loss. The weight of the defeat—and the realization that their late-game comeback had fallen just short against their new Big 12 rivals—was crushing him.

Anderson thought he was invisible to the world amidst the sea of white-out fans and the deafening cheers for the home team. He was wrong.

In a move that stunned the cameras, BYU sensation AJ Dybantsa broke away from his team’s high-stakes celebration. He didn’t run to the "ROAR of the Cougs" cheering fans. He didn’t join the huddle of his teammates jumping for joy after securing a crucial conference win.

He crossed the “enemy lines” to find the leader of the team he had just battled for forty minutes.

AJ knelt beside his rival and offered the one thing no one expected in the heat of such a fierce, physical rivalry: Brotherhood.

In a world fueled by social media trash talk and the mockery of those who fall short, AJ Dybantsa chose grace. He whispered words that made Christian Anderson lift his head, wipe his eyes, and finally stand with the dignity that a competitor of his caliber deserves.

It was a brief moment—but it silenced the chaotic energy in the building for those who saw it.

This wasn’t just about sportsmanship in a box score. It was a reminder that leadership isn’t measured only by points per game, NIL headlines, or the final score. It is measured by how you treat a fellow warrior when they are at their lowest point.

BYU won the game, but AJ Dybantsa proved that the Cougars are building a culture of character that far outweighs any trophy or ranking.

The Holy Sealing

 

Religious Non-fiction   Physical Book

I loved this little book that gives so many insights into the crowning sealing ordinance.

Choir President

 

Choir President

At the end of each high school year, elections were held in choir for the next year’s officers in choir.  It was an exciting time.  The elections took a couple of days in choir class.  People were nominated for the different positions and then we voted.  There were several offices, and I had no thought that I would be nominated or elected.  The election process started with treasurer, I think, and worked their way to vice president and then president.  I was surprised when I was nominated for treasurer.  After the nominations, the candidates were sent out of the room, the candidates were discussed and the vote took place.  When I came back in, I found I did not get treasurer.  That was okay.  I was just pleased to be nominated.  I was then nominated for the next office and sent out again.  I didn’t get that one, either.  I guess while we were out, people could say what they wanted for the different candidates.  I was nominated for every single office.  Really.  Every, single one.  When I came back in after the vice president vote, a cute girl that I sat by in choir, Renee (a cheerleader and popular girl) whispered that they were saving me for president, and that is why I wasn’t winning any of the other offices.  Really?  Me?  I was so surprised and so very pleased. 

Sure enough, I was next nominated for president.  Margo Jensen was also nominated.  The class period was just about over.  Mrs. Schmidt, the choir teacher, suggested that we hold the election for president the next day and that each of the candidates should give a short speech before we voted.  I walked out of there so happy and so pleased that my fellow choir students thought that much of me. 

I went home and prepared my speech.   I liked to give speeches and I thought I prepared a pretty good one.  I carefully chose my outfit for the next day: my favorite lavender empire-waist knit dress and my white clogs.  I practiced my speech.  I was ready.

The next day I gave my speech and, I thought, did it well.  Then Margo gave her speech.  It was really good.  Really good. It just seemed more mature than mine.  We were sent out while the choir members voted.  I was so nervous, I was shaking.  When called back in, it was announced that Margo was our new choir president.  I put a smile on my face, but I was so sad.  I was so disappointed.  Renee whispered to me that the vote had been very close.  They had actually taken the vote twice to be sure.  That was a bit comforting.  I have to admit that Margo did a great job as president the next year.  I still really enjoyed being in the choir.  But there is still a little ache in my heart that I didn’t win that election. 

 

I’m not sure of the value of this story.  It is a sad story.  But maybe it is good to know that not every story has a happy ending.  Life is full of disappointments.  But the good always follows the bad.  That’s an important life lesson to learn.  There are ups and downs.  We need to survive the downs, knowing the ups are next.

 

This is a picture of the choir.  I am on the front row and Renee is to my left.  Margo, the one who won Choir president is on the top row.  She signed “Marge.”

 

Easter Decor at Our Houses

 This last Christmas we gave our children and families sacred Easter decorations.  We all collect Christmas nativities.  Now we are collecting Easter tomb scenes to display in our homes at Eastertime.  Here are some pictures of our homes all decorated for Easter.

May you have a glorious Easter celebration!

He is Risen!

Practicing Medicine in My Hometown

 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book written by Ken's good friend, a retired doctor.  He told many experiences of being a small town doctor- one who does everything.  It reminded me a lot of my own father and his life as a doctor before hospitals and insurance companies ruled the business.  I loved his attitude of truly wanting to help and heal others.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

 

Fiction   Physical Book   2 1/2 stars.  Disappointing.

Moon Turned to Blood

 Earth recently experienced a Blood Moon.  We got up and viewed it in the middle of the night.  It was beautiful.  I have been fascinated with the beautiful pictures posted from all around the world. I have copied and pasted some of them here:

Pamper the Pink 2026

 I recently( March 4th) attended the Pamper the Pink luncheon.  It is an annual affair with invited guests being those who are battling and who have conquered breast cancer.

My friend, Karen Esplin heads this every year.  She has battled breast cancer twice.  She says it's her way to pay forward all of the kindness shown her during her battles.  Karen just lights up a room when she enters it.  She is an amazing human being.  She creates a spirit at this meeting every year that is powerful and fills everyone with determination and joy.  She is in the pink dress seated in the very middle of this picture.

This was our keynote speaker.  She has recently battled this insidious disease.