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TEMPLE TIME – My refuge in the storm of life – May 26 2019 Dear Family, The temple has been a symbol of an eternal family since I was very young watching my mother iron their temple clothes each time she and daddy went to the temple. I had lots of questions about the temple and she would share with me how only by marring in the temple can we be married for time and all eternity. Then when I had my patriarchal blessing the Lord told me to be very careful who I chose for my eternal companion. I did not know then I would find that person when I threw a snowball at Wendell that snowy day coming home from school that December day so long ago. But because Wendell and I eventually began dating and shared the same goals of serving The Lord he accepted a call to serve a mission. We were already engaged, but I promised to wait for him. I was already feeling the importance of what I was told in my Patriarchal blessing. I learned that the Lord would help me while Wendell was away...

THE EYE OF A NEEDLE – May 21, 2019 Dear Family, Grandpa and I see so many challenges in our family and so much good too as we catch glimpses of the ways you help each other in kind and loving ways. We get most of this information in the form of communication via email, phone calls, MarcoPollo and an occasional reply to our family letter. Today I am communicating via email & Family letter to share with you what I learned studying “Come Follow Me” from the May 13 – 19 assignment: “What Lack I Yet?” I will only comment on one part of the whole lesson. That is from Mark 10:17- 27 (I continued for 5 more verses.) “It is harder for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through “THE EYE OF A NEEDLE.” Then qualifies it, “but not with God, for with God all things are possible.” The story does not tell whether he followed Jesus or not. If he did he was blessed even though he did not give ALL his riches to the poor. (Actually today many of our churc...

TOO SMALL – March 17, 2019 Dear Family, “If you think you are too small to make a difference – consider the bite of a tiny mosquito.” That is a quote from something I read or heard and I just jotted it down without a reference. But it has come to mean a lot to me. Today, reading this week's Church news I was so impressed with the article titled, “Events in Rome are a 'hinge point' for the world. It quotes Pres. Nelson, “The church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled. We're just building up to what's ahead now.” It brought to my mind that the world has been preparing for this since Adam (Michael the archangel) and Eve were placed on the earth. Joseph Smith brought The Book of Mormon, The D&C, & The Pearl of Great Price. Our Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Presidents each have added revelations for building the Kingdom of God. The thousands of missionaries have taken “The Word” to tens of thousands of people ...

May 12, 2019 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY  Wendell, Mark & Wendy Rosalie & Wendell Dear Family, On this beautiful Mother's day I can truly say that this has been a “Mother's Day Weekend rather than just one day. It started last Sunday when Wendy and Mark were here bringing two beautiful Plants to go in my flower garden out front to celebrate Mother's day early. We enjoyed a sweet visit with Wendell and took him for a ride. After we got him back to “his home” very tired and tucked into bed. We came to my house where she prepared a delicious meal from all the ingredients she brought.  You know how she is a gourmet cook. Yesterday Julie and Monte came early in the day to take me to the viewing before the funeral for Wendy Gougler English, a very close friend of hers. They brought me home where we had a sweet short visit to celebrate Mothers Day. They brought me a beautiful card that contained many family pictures – some to go in my hall of family picture...

DREAMS THAT COME TRUE Wendell, Mark & Wendy at Wendell's after taking him for a ride around town then having Strawberry Short Cake in his room.  We went to church with him in the morning. Wendell and Rosalie.  Are we ever happy?   Wendy got Wendell laughing as she took the picture. Selfie of Wendell and me while waiting for lunch at the Gables today. Some of the residents watching a cartoon that the characters were like "outer space" critters today. “Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that I heard of that I heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to wish really do come true.” “If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.” This week in our family wonderful wishes were granted three times: once to Rosie Rawlings, once to Kami Dupree and once to Aleah Dupree. Rosie's and Kami's pictures on “Pollo” were so great. And Debby's report about...

Sugar Easter eggs I made when our children were little. More Easter eggs that were blown and decorated.  Along with the Easter Bunny and birdie A WONDERFUL WAY TO CELEBRATE EASTER Today, April 22, 2019 I will share with you some things I learned during Easter Week-end. On Saturday night I was sitting at my counter in the kitchen with both the patio door and the front door open so I could let the fresh air in as I wrote in my journal. After a while I was amazed to hear the loud crashing of thunder and bright lightening lighting up the patio area. It was loud and long – like I have seldom seen. I was thoroughly enjoying it when it suddenly stopped – total silence. So I went to the patio door and looked out expecting that it had just been a thunder storm. But now it was raining a gentle quiet rain.....so peaceful to accompany my writing. It felt like The Lord was telling me, “This is the way life i...

Wendell today - happy as a lark before going to conference.  He did enjoy (slept a bit) the meeting and sang along with the choir. OUR MUSEUM OF MEMORIES This Sunday April 7 th 2019 my heart and mind are still filled with the spirit of conference. I just turned off the last session. This was another conference to remember forever!!! Yesterday Wendell & I watched both sessions together at The Gables and he was so tired that he fell totally asleep as soon as I got him into his bed. He didn't even wake up when I took his hearing aids out and kissed him “goodbye.” Today after the first session of conference and lunch we went to his room and as soon and I tucked him into bed, hoping to leave him not so tired as he was yesterday. However he wanted to talk but his gibberish wasn't making any sense as we tried to communicate. I told him not to worry I'd be back tomorrow. That satisfied him and he closed his eyes. I gave him a kiss (he did kiss me bac...