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.

fun with Old Friends

Last night we wound our scarves around our necks and headed of into the cool night to meet some old friends of ours from West Point. Dianna(Page)Farr has been a friend since we started 1st grade. It has been fun over the years to touch base with she and her husband,Wynn. SOoo we had tickets to the Hale Theater for the musical "Curtains". We went to dinner first and just talked about what was going on in our lives etc. But laughed over stuff in the past.I've never heard of the play but it was so funny that we all were laughing out loud. The music was really fun and we had a delightful time. I came home with a huge smile on my face. Dad loved it too but he thought I talked way to much. Got to watch that.

BYU Homecoming pictures

BYU Homecoming 2009

Our annual Homecoming tradition is to have whatever family that is available, go to the parade in the morning, eat free pancakes, go to the BYU bookstore and then have the boys go to the game and the girls go shopping. So this year we jumped out of bed and zoomed to Provo in time to see the fun parade with all the bands and dancers and floats. We stood in line FOREVER to get the free blue pancakes. We went to the bookstore and picked up BYU sirts and footballs etc. We hadn't purchased the tickets and this year because they were ranked TCU they were all VERY expensive. But, it was rainy and dark clouds hovered overhead so...Clint was able to buy from those whose family were fair-weather fans...for $10 each. Clint, Andy, Coby and Grandpa took their blankets and umbrellas and went to the game. The girls headed to Gardner Village where the witches were everywhere. It was so fun! THe girls had their faces painted and we snooped in each store. Great time was had by all.