Advice from Mother Teresa

 

The Grapes of Wrath

 

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Historical Fiction Physical book
I like to read book reviews. I sometimes read the phrase, “This book destroyed me,” or something similar, and I think, “Isn’t that being a little over dramatic? But now I understand. The Grapes of Wrath destroyed me. It rocked my soul to the very core. I hated it. Every page was hopeless. And yet I loved it. I loved the characters. I wished I could reach into the book and help them. I have shelves of food. I would give them all I have. They were good people who had very hard times.
My favorite quote from the book that I have pondered much: “If you’re in trouble or hurt or in need, go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help, the only ones.”

This book changed me. It made me analyze myself and my character. Would I be willing to give when I had nothing? Would I share? Who am I? What is my character?
This book now finds a place on my list of my top ten favorite books of all time. I don’t know what book I’ll kick off that list to make room for it, but I’ll do it. Like I say, I hated it. But I can’t quit thinking about it. It makes me want to be better and do better. It is a book that has the power to change.
I once asked my dad (an avid reader) what his favorite book of all time was. He said this one along with two others. I see why dad, I see why. I wish you were still here so we could discuss it.

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Keynotes in Carnegie Hall?

 

We hope people don't come to our concert expecting too much!  This came out in the advertisements for December's tabernacle concerts.  I had submitted our biography, but evidently some other group got ours and we got theirs.  

We've all had a good laugh about this.  The biggest concert hall we sing in is the dining room of assisted living centers!  But we are excited for our concert.  If you're around, come to the Tabernacle Thursday, Dec. 11th 7-8pm.  

Word Nerd

 

Just a Nasty Chant?

 

This touched me deeply.  Our words can greatly affect others.  Be kind.:

Jared and I got to sneak away this weekend for a much needed date night. We went to the BYU vs. Cincinnati football game. This is us trying to move on from the attack on our church two months ago. Trying to do something fun where the attack is not at the forefront our our minds for once. This is us at the game before all the heaviness and fear still found a way to creep in and overtake my emotions and thoughts the next few days as the Cincinnati fans chanted hateful words directed towards us. This has got to stop.

I emailed the University of Cincinnati athletic director and assistant atheltic director yesterday and shared my thoughts with them. I am going to share that email here as well, in hopes the message can extend farther than just this incident because it happens at a lot of football games. It is unacceptable.

“Dear Mr. Cunningham,

I am writing to you from my heart as a disheartened college football fan. More specifically, as a BYU football fan and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commonly know as “the Mormons.”

As a BYU alumni and huge fans of college football, my husband and I took the opportunity to travel 4.5 hours from our little city in Grand Blanc, Michigan to come spectate and enjoy our favorite pass time at the BYU vs. Cincinnati football game at Nippert Stadium last night.

I want to provide a little bit of background for you in order to portray the strength and courage it took for us to travel to this event and really try to enjoy ourselves.

You see, just eight short weeks ago, while attending church, we were attacked at our place of worship simply for being “Mormon.”
Someone with hatred in their heart rammed their truck into the front of our church building, entered the chapel, and began shooting us and setting our church on fire while many people were still hiding inside. As my family (me, my husband, and our three young children), ran for our lives, my husband and my 5 year old daughter were both shot. I was also running with my 15 month old baby and my 3 year old in my arms as I was struck in my back with shrapnel. I will spare you any further details about the nightmare we lived through that day and the recovery that has followed, but miraculously, me and my family all made it out alive.

The anxiety and fear we have felt since that day has been debilitating. We have put in a lot of work in that short 8 weeks so we can try to feel some sort of safety and normalcy again and enjoy the things we used to, including football games.

We had been planning to come see this game for months as we don’t get the opportunity to see many BYU games in person since we moved across the country for my husband’s medical training. We almost didn’t come because it felt scary and overwhelming since the attack on our church. However, we know we cannot live in fear and we need to enjoy the things that used to make us happy. We decided to come and that took a lot for us both mentally and physically. I was nervous putting on my BYU fan gear that day because I knew it would identify me as one of ”the Mormons.” I did it anyway.
I was apprehensive when I walked down to my seat and saw that the nearest exit was pretty far from me. I continued to my seat anyway. We came. We smiled. We cheered. We enjoyed ourselves….Until the University of Cincinnati fans began to chant “F*** the Mormons.”

This is not a new chant. This is not a chant that is specific to your university. This is a chant I’ve heard before while enjoying a football game whether in-person or on tv. It’s always disheartening to hear. However, now that we Mormons have been quite literally targeted, attacked, chased, shot at, and some of us have been killed simply for being “Mormon,” this chant is no longer just disheartening. It’s crippling. It’s personal. It’s unacceptable. Period.

While I did hear the announcer give a warning over the speakers at the game that such chants will not be tolerated, it was simply just that- a warning. It was not just a few fans, it was tens, possibly hundreds of the university’s student fans chanting “F*** the Mormons.”

Please, Mr. Cunningham, do not tolerate it. Remove them from the game. Don’t let them come back. Educate them on the seriousness of their actions. Set that standard and expectation moving forward and enforce it. We are hurting. Badly. We just want to enjoy the things that make us happy again without the fear of being targeted and attacked for our religious beliefs.

I know you have no control over the Cincy fans on the shuttle after the game ranting about Mormons and how awful we are and how we must have just paid off the refs because we’re corrupt and evil. I don’t get it, but I am used to it. It’s not new to me to hear this stuff and these huge misconceptions about my faith. But now it is personal. Now it is me fearing for my life everywhere I go because someone decided to take it there. Someone tried to kill me, my kids, and my husband. Someone killed 4 of my friends. Now the chanting means something more than it used to.

I know you can’t control the actions and words of the fans on the bus. However, I do believe you have the ability to get control of the students’ hurtful and hateful chanting.

If you made it this far, thank you for listening. If I am mistaken about any actions that were or were not taken as a result of the chanting, please feel free to correct me.
I would welcome the reassurance.

Sincerely,

Brandi Hicken
A fellow college football fan
A Mormon
A Christian
A mass casualty hate crime survivor
A human deserving of respect”

On Second Thought

 

On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Modern Fiction Physical Book
I really enjoyed this book and will look for others by this author.


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Books for Uzbekistan Schools

A friend of mine (we've sung in Keynotes together for 35 years) is serving a mission with her husband in Uzbekistan.  They are the first missionaries ever in that country.  They both teach English in public schools.  They saw a great need for children's books in English.  There is no mail system, so they couldn't have them sent.  Their daughter (who is now singing in Keynotes) went to visit them there.  She sent out a plea for children's books.  She created an Amazon wish list, asking for book donations.  Many, many, many books were contributed. She and her sons took suitcases full of children's books to donate to the schools.  

 I love this picture- especially since the woman is holding one of the books I donated.  

Do Hard Things on Purpose

 

When I read this I thought it was a good idea.  But when I started to try to apply it, I realized that, at this age, much of what I do every day is hard.  Some of it very hard.  So I don't need to take a cold shower or go on a long run to do something hard.  But I do appreciate what this is teaching.  We can make ourselves stronger by doing hard stuff.  Okay, okay.

Today I Met the Good Morning Guy

 

Ken goes on a 4-5 mile walk every morning except Sunday. He uses our wonderful trail system.  He is friendly.  He always says good morning to everyone he passes- some walking, some running, some riding bikes.  He often sees the same people day after day.  They are also victims of positive habits.  

He often sees the same lady on her bicycle as she speeds by on her way to work.  A couple of weeks ago, she stopped her bike to talk to him.  He found out she is a local doctor and rides her bike quite a distance to work each day.  She also coaches a mountain bike team at a local high school.  For several years, Ken passed and greeted a young girl who rode her bike to school every single day- rain or shine.  Somehow, he found out her name and would greet her by name. She would never respond to him (probably thought he was a creepy, old guy!) but she knew him.  Turns out, this Dr. was her high school biking coach.  She went on to ride for Utah State University's mountain biking team, taking many medals.  She and her coach had talked about Ken and labeled him "The Good Morning Guy."

So, Ken has a new handle.  Feel free to use it on him!

Ken found his new friend on Strava and saw this post.  I asked him to copy it so I could share it here:

It's kind of fun to be married to the Good Morning Guy!

Your Dad was My Doctor

 I work at the temple with a sister a few years older than me on our Friday shift every other week. There are three of us that work together on that shift.  As we have had time to visit, we discovered we are both from Treasure Valley in Idaho.  I am from Caldwell and she is from Parma, about 20 minutes away.  We both married Hurricane boys that we met at BYU.  In both cases, our spouses were our family home evening brothers at BYU.  We have a lot in common.  I truly love this dear sister.  She has come to be a good friend.

One day she asked me my maiden name.  Then she asked me what my father did.  I told her he was a doctor in Caldwell.  Dr. Gabrielsen. "Your dad was my doctor!"  What?  When she was in high school, my father was her doctor.  She described what he looked like to me and said he was very nice.  What a sweet miracle!  Even as I type this I get tears in my eyes.  She knew my Daddy!  This is such a sweet connection.  I just had to share!

Gratitude

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lerleen Lund, One of My Heroes, Passes Away

 I have loved this dear sister for many years.  We knew each other when we lived in Washington, but really got to know each other when we both moved into our current ward, many years ago.  I served as her visiting teacher for a long time two different times.  She truly was one of my heroes.  She was so intelligent, an avid reader, and a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.  I loved going into her home and feeling the spirit there.  I will miss her.

St. George, Utah - Lerleen Cluff Lund, 87, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on Friday, November 7, 2025. She was born in Pinedale, Arizona to George and Clara Cluff on October 8, 1938. She graduated High School in Panaca, Nevada and later moved to St. George, Utah. 

            Lerleen worked as a professional secretary at a law firm and later became a dental assistant. During this time, she was also a scribe to her Stake Patriarch. She was later offered a job as a typist in the St. George LDS Temple where she met and married her “Prince Charming”, Lamar I. Lund. They shared a beautiful and exciting life together, raising nine children.

            Lerleen was a voracious reader, a beautiful pianist, and an unbeatable homemaker. She was also a valiant member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she served in many leadership positions. She loved her Savior and lived a Christ centered life.

            Lerleen loved and accepted everyone that crossed her path in a loving and charitable way. She had an incredible talent to see every human being as a child of God, and they could feel that. Everyone in her family, grandkids included, felt they were her favorite. 

            Lerleen is survived by her children: Larene Reynolds, Tom (Tiffany) Lund, Bruce (Wende) Lund, Marvelee (Brad) Lund-Fuller, Julie (Russ) Hulme, Christina (Kevin) Fitzpatrick, Mark (Shantelle) Lund, and Justin (Kim) Lund; 30 grandkids; and 18 great-grandkids, with one on the way.

            She is preceded in death by her husband Lamar I Lund; parents, George and Clara Cluff; brothers: Vance, Clarence, Leroy, Ira and Gerald; sisters: Vella, Deveen and Delsa; and son, Jared Lund.

            Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., with a viewing prior from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Bloomington Hills Chapel, 750 East Ft. Pierce Drive North, St. George, Utah 84790. Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery located at 650 East Tabernacle Street.

I was honored to lead the singing at her funeral.

Sharon Moss Passes Away

A sweet young mother in our ward recently passed away from a brain aneurism.  She has four children, all of whom are still in Primary.  I really didn't know her well, but I worked with her children and accompanied them to sing for stake conference and got to know her then.  

Her funeral was held at the stake center and many people came to pay tribute to this kind woman.

Our ward and many others have poured out love in so many ways: decorated the streets with purple ribbons and their home, much money donated, many gifts, house cleaning, freezer meals donated, and countless other services.  Prayers for her husband and children in the coming days, months, and years.

Top 50 Favorite Books

 I recently developed a desire to create a list of my all-time favorite books.  I have been a reader all of my life, so that is quite a challenge.  But I created a list on my phone and add books as I think of them.  I started out wanting to narrow it to my top 10, but it seemed impossible.  Just impossible. So here are my top 50. I am constantly adding to the list.   If I wait until my list is "complete," I will never publish it.  I will publish this list of 50 now and maybe do it again when I have a top 100 favorite books. That won't take long!

* I decided I was being ever so wimpy to not give a top ten.  I have sweated bullets over this, but I put an * by the ones that I say are my top ten.  If I did this tomorrow, I make put an * by different ones.  But * these are my top ten today.  

They are in no particular order:

*The Book of Mormon

*Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

*Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery

*Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wiler

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawles

*A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

*Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

*Winnie the Pooh by A A Milne

Surprised by Joy by C S Lewis

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurie

*Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Christy by Catherine Marshall

Julie by Catherine Marshall

Follow the River by James Alexander Thorn

Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman

*The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Two Old Women by Velma Walls

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Charlotte's Webb by EB White

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

The Help by Katherine Stockett

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Jesus the Christ by James Talmage

Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

Preach My Gospel

Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Educated by Tara Westover

The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor

Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata

A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

*The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

The Last Mile Home by Di Morrissey

The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich

You Are My Sunshine by Sean Dietrich

September by Rosamonde Pilcher

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

*The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

My View Every Morning

 This is my view every morning.  Ken has a daily exercise routine that rarely varies: 20-22 push ups, 30 sit ups, and a 4-5 mile walk every morning except Sunday. One day a week he walks with his brothers Mark and Don.  On another day he walks with his friend, Greg.  The other days he goes alone.  He also rides his bike 2 or 3 times a week, riding 24-26 miles each ride.  I sit there and watch and give an occasional hurrah or good job.  

Hurrah!

Good job!

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

 

Religious  Physical Book

November, 2025  I read from this book every day and will continue to do so all of my life.  I am grateful for the influence and guidance it gives.  It teaches and testifies of Jesus Christ on most every page. 

Elder Mackrory's 1'st Baptism

 Our Nathan has been in the mission field for about six weeks.  He and his companion just had Nathan's first baptism.  What a sweet day!  Another baptism is scheduled soon.  

My Phone's Wallpaper is Better Than Yours!

 

Such an amazing shot!  I had to use it for my phone's wallpaper.

Go Cougars!

Jaw Surgery Again!

 Shonna had major jaw surgery last year.  Both jaws were broken and realigned.  When she went back for her one-year follow up appointment, it was determined that she would need to have another surgery as things had not healed properly.  You can imagine how devastating that was for her.  But she bravely went forth and had it done.  It was nowhere near as intense this time.  She is healing well.  And even smiling!

We love you Shonna!!!!!💓

Kinfolk

 

Fiction  Physical book

I love this author. In this book we meet Nub- a scoundrel with a huge heart.  We meet a lot of wonderful characters and, despite their flaws, love them all.  I am a Sean Dietrich fan.  His ability to turn a phrase just keeps you smiling throughout his books.  He is a master at characterization.  Ya, I’m a fan.  5 stars from me.