Let's Have a Look-See

I didn't forget my challenge to find God's hand in my life, but time gets away from me. So I have two this week.  My son wrote me an email about his feelings about church. While I respect his thoughts, I was overcome with sadness as he talked of not being able to forgive his leaders and the Church for some mistakes that gave been made.  I realized that his judgment of these things was a lack of faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He will take care of all the injustices of the world. Its not our responsibility.  I felt a need to respond to his email and as I typed, I felt the words come from God's hand. No doubt in my mind that those words were not my own and more of a testimony for me than for him.  The second one has to do with my Ward Choir. I have this young couple leading it. They choose a song that did not get approved for our assignment to sing in Stake Confrence. They were a little bent out of shape. I didn't hear from them for a few days and was worried t...

It's a new year. I was watching Music and the Spoken Word this morning. I would like to take the challenge to See God's Hand and record it.  I had a new student this week; a second grader from Mexico.  Every time I have a New Comer I know how hard the first weeks are for these little people. I try and make them comfortable, but I only see them 2 times in a day. As this child came to the New Comer group I was touched as the other students welcomed him and befriended him. As he left, He turned a gave me a hug, but it wasn't me it was the kindness of the other students.  Kindness begins with me

We paid our respects to Grandma Hall.  Her children were all there (Joseph has already passed away). None of them really talked about her.  All of mine made it. It was a miricle. All their flights were on schedule. So happy to be with them even it was only for 24 hours. I was proud of them too. They talked to people and were very polite.  Here are all their cousins.  A few didn't make it due to the Southwest Airline fiasco this week and others just couldn't get here. They get along well with each other. I'm so jealous of my kids. I have two cousins.  The pallbearers represented her sons families. Joseph's son Joseph, Mike's son Thain, Pete's boys Chris and David, Wes's boys Keith and Todd and Rich's sons Peter and James. So many honorary pallbearers.  Kinda funny to me.  Happy to see Andrea. We need a chat. My kids were also able to visit with my parents. It...

Callie. Spencer and Scott were home for Christmas. They each bring something to the party.   Calie brought the Menora. She is trying to learn more  about Spencer's Jewish heritage.   Spencer made Halla.  It was delicious.  Scott wore his Santa hat again. I really can't tell if likes Christmas, but he always looks  festive.   The dogs were nice enough to pose. It was a good day  I spent the week delivering gifts to some of my many single friends.  I used some pillows, quilts and homemade bread.  Life is good. Jesus is real. He matters.  Merry Christmas sweet friends.

Raona Richards Hall Raona was born in Oakley, UT, to Ralph Ashton and Ida Naoma Laney Richards on 30 June 1930. She passed away peacefully while sleeping on 7 December 2022. Raona grew up on a dairy ranch as somewhat of a tomboy. She worked hard and loved to read, often lying on the back of a horse with a book while tending the cows. After graduating from South Summit High School, she moved to Salt Lake City to work. In 1950 she married Howard Gallatin Hall, and together they reared eight children. In 1953 they settled in Yuba City, CA, where she lived the remainder of her life. Raona was an intelligent, caring person who served in her church and in the community in a variety of ways for decades. Her service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints included leading women’s and children’s organizations, maintaining instructional materials, and serving for many years in the Oakland and Sacramento temples. She also served full-time missions for the Church: first in Alabama with ...

Wes's mom passed away on December 7 2022. Although Wes claims that it wasn't a surprise, it was to me. She had been healthy and living in her own home. Wes's brothers checked on her and feed her every day. She had extreme dementia and was very confused.  This is the last time I saw her, June 2022. Her passing has been hard on me and some of my children, as our relationships with her were strained. I don't know how it is on Wes because he has not said one word about her since she passed.  She was always different.  She watched a college football game during our wedding reception. Thirty years later she introduced me at church as Kay Empeys daughter, not her daughter in law. Im mot sur she ever excepted me. She really had no relationship with Callie and Richard ever. The truth is that she had Social Anxiety and never reached out for help.  I thought how awkward it must have been for her to reunite with her family on the other side of the veil. I hope that m...

My daughter loves to visit New York and go to shows. She has become very familiar with the city as she and her friend that lives there have spent days walking and enjoying sights.  She really wanted me to go to The Music Man with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. I put it off until I recently found that airfare was more than reasonable and that the show would close in January.   So we left Idaho and flew to another land... far, far away. Here are the highlights and the pictures. We walked about 13 miles The weather was mild We spent a much on 3 Uber rrdes as airfare The show was fabulous.  Everything she said it would be and more.  World Trade Center Memorial  Fancy breakfast  First park Mood A little bit of heaven Yes please Another park  Rockefeller center Busy sidewalks; dressed in holiday style American Girl doll store; great p...