This last weekend we zoomed up to Boise for a fun-filled time with grand kids. Melinda called and said that it was Homecoming at Centennial and that Tom would be playing. And Clint said that Andy would be running cross-country in Boise. AND Melinda said she was hosting the Homecoming Dance dinner for 12 couples and could I come and help. We were excited for the fun and went. We had a fun time with the family at the game. Tom did really well and it was fun to watch him play and interact with the team members. We wore special shirts and everything. The next day I watched Luke and Tara play soccer. We also set up the decorations for the dinner. We were busy the whole afternoon. At 4 we went to see Andy run. We saw him at the beginning then RAN over the park to see him come down the hill. Then we RAN from there back to see him finish. I was exhausted by time I got back. But we were there for him. Melinda and I cooked the dinner and set the tables. It was fun to see the couples all dressed up. Dad and Mike had gone to the exciting BSU game. We had a busy but fun time with the family. They are all involved in good things and that is fun to share.

Granddaughters

This weekend we had a real treat. Kate and Savanna came to stay for a couple of days. I had a whirlwind itinerary for them. We picked them up at 6:30, I had pizza in the car and we zoomed down to Salt Lake to the dollar movie. It was Karate Kid. I think they loved it! Not many in the theater on Thursday. Next morning after waffles, we were off to the Church History Museum. Now it wasn't as boring as you think. We saw a huge Angel Moroni, the actual Book of Mormon printing press. (do you know where the saying "mind your p's and q's comes from???) We saw the personal affects of almost every prophet. We saw how they build the tabernacle roof. Then we were off for lunch at the Joseph Smith Building. They thought it was so beautiful. Next we rode the Trax trolley for a few blocks. Then we zoomed home to get ready to go to the Clearfield High School Homecoming football game. CHS won of course. At 10:30 pm we were roasting HUGE marshmallows for somemores. Saturday we went to Michael's and picked out supplies for headbands and necklaces. Then the rest of the day we used our creative talents to make ACCESSORIES. We had a great time! Love those granddaughter times.

new friend

We were hosts to a new friend a couple of weeks ago. While attending the LDS Dental Convention in Provo, we had a lady from Israel stop by our booth. We chatted for a few minutes and she told us that she was a visiting professor from Hebrew University in Jerusalem who was teaching Arabic at BYU. Her name is Jael Cohan. She said she loved music and would go to the Jerusalem Center for their concerts. We asked if she would like to hear the Tabernacle Choir. She said she would love to. On Sunday before Labor Day we called and made arrangements to pick her up and host her for the day. We went to the Conference Center for the Choir concert. It was wonderful, of course. Afterward, we took some pictures and went down front to see the organ. At the front of the center we saw Elder Scott. I ushered her over and introduced her and myself. He shook our hands and talked to her for a few minutes. Afterward I explained about apostles and told her what a privilege it was to see and talk to one. THEN we walked up to the next level and saw Senator Orrin Hatch. OK well, I just marched up to him and introduced him to her. She was delighted when he opened his shirt and had a chain with a Hebrew insignia. He said he had worn it for 34 years to remind him of his responsibility to Israel. She asked him if he knew Marvin Goldstein, the composer and pianist. He said that he was a very good friend and were in the process of writing a symphony together. He said he had the first movement written. Senator Hatch also told her that he had written a Hanukkah song. We brought Jael to our ward for church, then we went back to Temple Square to see all the buildings and exhibits. It was quite the day. We loved to hear about her life and family and she was enthralled with all we had to show and tell her about. She had lots of questions about the temple. We loved being able to show her the new temple exhibit in the South Visitors Center. It was great to make a new friend.

Antelope Island

Last Saturday Gordon and I had errands up in Layton and Farmington. So that morning we decided that while we were in that area we would take a side trip to Antelope Island. Now that island is what looks like a mountain from this side of the lake. It is hard to realize that on the other side is the largest part of Great Salt Lake. I had lived in West Point for 20 years and watch the clouds and storms come over that island. In fact I saw it every day. But I never had gone there. We found out that it is now a State Park. It only took us a few minutes on the causeway to get there. They have little tables and facilities to shower after going in the water. There is a sandy beach which I was totally not expecting. There are antelopes, buffalo, deer, tons of seagulls. It was a very relaxing experience. I want to go again when we have more time to explore. BUT... there are these nasty little nats that flocked to my hair and bit my head. I must have had a zillion bites because I was scratching my head for 2 days. Next time I will be better prepared and have BUG SPRAY!!! Dad and I had a little picnic from KFC. It was a great day together.

CAF display

We have had lots of opportunities to talk to people about Charity Anywhere Foundation but one of the exciting ways is to attend and display at the Dental Conventions and the college international fairs. We are able to show some of the pictures of expeditions and teach them about what the foundation does. A little over a week ago we were able to display at the Utah Dental Convention. It was so fun to meet people and see their desire to serve kindled by our display. God blessed us with 4 important connections. 1) A professor from the UofU said she wanted to meet together to design and program of international experience for her International Health students. She would develop the curriculum and we would handle the out of country expeditions. 2) A gentleman talked to Gordon about a sizable donation. 3) We received some offers of equipment that could really be used 4) We were informed about an international eye program that we might be able to work with that is supported by Sears Optical, Lenscrafter etc. Dr. and Mrs. Zambrano were here as well as an orthodontist and a pediatrician from Ecuador. We worked hard on our display and I thought it looked pretty good.

Amoung prophets and apostles

One of the things that is hard for me to get used to here in Bountiful is seeing important church officials just walking around. People here are used to that but I'm always so amazed and feel like I should bow to them or something to show in what high regard I hold them.
Elder Enzio Bushe lives about 2 blocks from our house. He is just such a sweet and delightful man. When he talks...we all listen. You can actually see the light of Christ in this man.
Elder Earl Tingey has his home in our ward and often went to church here. He was the President of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy until about 6 months ago when he turned 70. At that time he was released and called as the Temple President in the Washington DC Temple. It was always hard to make a comment when he was in the classroom. Everyone would say..."How do you see this Brother Tingey?" And then we'd listen REAL hard and get out our notepads. Of course they are in DC now.
Just recently President David Beck was made President of the General Young Men's program. He lives around the corner from me. He is an amazing man and has come from an amazing family. I introduced Clint's family to him when they were here for Homecoming.
Last spring Suzanne and I went to see the tulip gardens at Thanksgiving Point. As we were walking along, we passed Elder L. Tom Perry with his wife and family. I greeted him with a smile...but I really wanted to bow.
Last week I was at our Costco and President Ukdorf's wife was just ahead of me in the line. Did you ever think that apostles's wifes had to buy groceries and cook?
We went out for clam chouder at a restaurant with Leon and Suzanne on Friday night. In walked Elder Hollon and his wife with some friends. Leon and Suzanne knew them quite well while they were in Chile so they smiled and said hello.
Yesterday morning we went to the Tabernacle Choir broadcast and concert with Natalie Cole and David McColough(?) It was fabulous. There were the Choir, the Orchestra and the Bells of Temple Square plus dancers and childrens' choir. But at the end, our Prophet went on stage to personally thank all the participants, expecially the guests Natalie and David. The spirit there was like being one of the shepherds at Christ's birth and hearing the choir of angels. At the end, the Tabernacle Choir sang what they always sing at the end of their performances...God Be With You Til We Meet Again. Even Natalie Cole had tears in her eyes.
Anyway, two things I want to say about this. 1. I know that they are who they say they are...leaders of the latter day church of Jesus Christ. You can feel it as you get in the range of their spirits. They are good, kind, humble people. 2. They are still real people who have to do their wash and shop for groceries and clean their sidewalks. I see that they have grown into great people by their simple actions and search for the truth.
This has made me want to work and do better. I want to search deeper and repent more and spend my time better.
Just thought you'd like to know.

Halloween 2009

I don't exactly know why I love Halloween, but I do. Always the fun stuff, never the bloody or gorey stuff. I love the fresh fall nights with leaves scattered your feet and the whoosh in the trees that makes you wonder if there really are ghosts. I love dressing up, pretending I am someone else. I think it's the way I pretend that I am someone else.
After going to the Wee Witch Weekend with Melinda and Deanna and kids, I just couldn't stand it that I didn't have a cool witches hat. So when I found a cool one at Walmart, I snatched it up. The friend that I was with made me get the stockings and wig and so I was set to be a witch. Blake had invited us to come to a dinner party at his house and Gordon and I decided to go in costume. He was the Phantom. We were just silly about it but it made us smile. The party was great fun and we got to see Blake and Estee hand out the Halloween treats at his house. They were so cute. Blake had decorated so nicely. He had beautiful glasses filled with different kinds of candy corn. (kind of like you Rachael). He had a really cool vase that was large on the outside with an inner vase. He filled the outer vase with orange and yellow candy corns and the inner vase was beautiful yellow roses with orange tips. The food was good and so was the company. We had a great time.