Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Rendezvous in beautiful St. George
I am quaking in my boots as I attempt this totally new (to me) proceedure. I will now attempt to add photos from our St George rendezvous.
I love the title of this blog "Miles to go before I sleep." Hasn't that been the motto of everyone in our group for a lifetime and the reason that each one has accomplished so much? I just hope that in the coming miles, though we may not go at the same high rate of speed as in previous days, that there will still be many wonderful miles and milestones ahead. Each one of you has so much to give still and it's a thrill to be a witness to that happening.
It was a blessing to be together with those who could come to St.George last week-end. It wasn't supposed to be snowy on the way home...but what can we expect in January in Utah?! I'm glad you made it safely and that you used wisdom in getting off the road in Fillmore. I've been getting more comments about the outstanding group of people that were in church with us Sunday. You all gave more than one teacher heart papitations but it resulted in their very best efforts and we were all thereby blessed.
Last night Dixie State College unveiled their new nickname and mascot which you were privately privy to on Saturday. I'd say the Red Storm was a roaring success and what a show they put on the announce it. The mascot is a friendly bull named Raging Red! (I think he'll fierce up a bit as time goes on and he's not so scared.) So that's the fun part of this assignment, followed by the trip to Hawaii to support the basketball team in four games there this next week.
Our family has been blessed with a new grandson born yesterday to Taylor and AnnDee. We are so grateful that he is healthy in every way. He'll be named Samuel Heaton Nadauld and has two darling brothers. So he is our 23rd. (Wish I knew how to add a picture of him. That's my next project to learn about.)
Thanks to Kaye for creating this blog and to you all for sharing. Love you all. Thanks for the continuing inspiration you are to me.
Margaret
It was a blessing to be together with those who could come to St.George last week-end. It wasn't supposed to be snowy on the way home...but what can we expect in January in Utah?! I'm glad you made it safely and that you used wisdom in getting off the road in Fillmore. I've been getting more comments about the outstanding group of people that were in church with us Sunday. You all gave more than one teacher heart papitations but it resulted in their very best efforts and we were all thereby blessed.
Last night Dixie State College unveiled their new nickname and mascot which you were privately privy to on Saturday. I'd say the Red Storm was a roaring success and what a show they put on the announce it. The mascot is a friendly bull named Raging Red! (I think he'll fierce up a bit as time goes on and he's not so scared.) So that's the fun part of this assignment, followed by the trip to Hawaii to support the basketball team in four games there this next week.
Our family has been blessed with a new grandson born yesterday to Taylor and AnnDee. We are so grateful that he is healthy in every way. He'll be named Samuel Heaton Nadauld and has two darling brothers. So he is our 23rd. (Wish I knew how to add a picture of him. That's my next project to learn about.)
Thanks to Kaye for creating this blog and to you all for sharing. Love you all. Thanks for the continuing inspiration you are to me.
Margaret
Monday, January 26, 2009
St. George "Marathon"?
St. George was wonderful. Good food, good conversation, good study time, good view, good questions, good friends. In fact we who came home to the north ended with a good storm. More about that later.
Thank you, Steve and Margaret, for your terrific hospitality on our wonderful weekend. We loved being in your house and in your church. Your college is fascinating and you are obviously making it even better. We cheer for you and the good work you do every day.
Bruce and Christine, hearing about the temple was heaven itself. We appreciate much more the challenges that come with being temple president and matron. But we are also newly impressed with your preparation to meet those challenges. There's a spirit about you both that is comforting and warm. Thank you for letting us see you while you are still new little chicks in this specific work.
Sharon and Ralph, with your energy and enthusiasm, we think you will be setting the youth on fire. What interesting inroads you are quickly making into the young people of the Church all over the world. We cheer you on with loud huzzahs! We're also sure your creativity will continue to bring new ideas to this project.
Julie, Elaine, Silvia, Carol, and Janet, we missed you, talked about you, gave greetings from you, and want you to know that we love you. You'll be back one day, we know. We hope.
Now, for the last part of the marathon.
Russ and Nina, patient backseat riders with Kaye and Laurie, enjoyed a white-knuckle ride from Beaver to Fillmore, clouds ever-blackening in the west and a few flurries quickly growing up to full blown driving snow. We crept along to Fillmore, noting with irony the new 80 mph speed sign covered with snow while we were barely touching 40. We couldn't help but think of our ancestors driving this same route with horse and wagon and sleeping under the wagon box to keep dry. Instead we chose the Comfort Inn in Fillmore which quickly filled up behind us. Perhaps it was the two cars on their tops with the police lights blazing through the falling snow, or perhaps it was the ambulance, lights whirling, sirens blaring, hurrying to Beaver, or perhaps it was the whisper of the spirit after driving that road thousands of times in my life that made it clear this was not good.
Props to Laurie, Nina, and Russ when I suggested we stop. Good sports all. We had a rousing game of "Up and Down the River" while we talked. We had good beds to sleep in out of the snow---no wagon boxes here---and though the roads were snowpacked and deserted and slow, we got home in a couple of hours this morning, glad on all sides that we had made the right decision.
Blessings.
Kaye
Thank you, Steve and Margaret, for your terrific hospitality on our wonderful weekend. We loved being in your house and in your church. Your college is fascinating and you are obviously making it even better. We cheer for you and the good work you do every day.
Bruce and Christine, hearing about the temple was heaven itself. We appreciate much more the challenges that come with being temple president and matron. But we are also newly impressed with your preparation to meet those challenges. There's a spirit about you both that is comforting and warm. Thank you for letting us see you while you are still new little chicks in this specific work.
Sharon and Ralph, with your energy and enthusiasm, we think you will be setting the youth on fire. What interesting inroads you are quickly making into the young people of the Church all over the world. We cheer you on with loud huzzahs! We're also sure your creativity will continue to bring new ideas to this project.
Julie, Elaine, Silvia, Carol, and Janet, we missed you, talked about you, gave greetings from you, and want you to know that we love you. You'll be back one day, we know. We hope.
Now, for the last part of the marathon.
Russ and Nina, patient backseat riders with Kaye and Laurie, enjoyed a white-knuckle ride from Beaver to Fillmore, clouds ever-blackening in the west and a few flurries quickly growing up to full blown driving snow. We crept along to Fillmore, noting with irony the new 80 mph speed sign covered with snow while we were barely touching 40. We couldn't help but think of our ancestors driving this same route with horse and wagon and sleeping under the wagon box to keep dry. Instead we chose the Comfort Inn in Fillmore which quickly filled up behind us. Perhaps it was the two cars on their tops with the police lights blazing through the falling snow, or perhaps it was the ambulance, lights whirling, sirens blaring, hurrying to Beaver, or perhaps it was the whisper of the spirit after driving that road thousands of times in my life that made it clear this was not good.
Props to Laurie, Nina, and Russ when I suggested we stop. Good sports all. We had a rousing game of "Up and Down the River" while we talked. We had good beds to sleep in out of the snow---no wagon boxes here---and though the roads were snowpacked and deserted and slow, we got home in a couple of hours this morning, glad on all sides that we had made the right decision.
Blessings.
Kaye
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Amazing Women
Today I spent a couple of hours in the Relief Society Building training the new YW General Board in presentation skills. They are an amazing group of women, working so hard to be the best they can be as instruments in our Father in Heaven's hands. They will be wonderful. But the two women I want to report on are our own Elaine Dalton and Julie Beck. I was able to chat with each of them and they both send greetings to the rest of our board. They both wish they could be with us in St. George this weekend, and send greetings to all. They are both working hard on the assignments they've been given.
Seeing them makes me think about what I bring to the altar. What each of us brings to the altar, I suppose. Is it possible to know if our offering is enough? Is it possible to offer enough? Is it possible to offer too much? I think of President Kimball's wanting to wear out his shoes in the service of the Lord. I think of Silvia and her energy and ability to wear shoes out in service better than anybody I've ever seen.
A week ago I spent an hour with Virginia Pearce and her husband, Jim, recently diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. They were called to England on a mission until this intervened and now everything has changed for them. Ready to wear out shoes and everything else in the service of the Lord and now doing a very different very private service of truth and courage for any privileged to see them. What is the value of our gifts? Some gifts we give to many, some gifts we give to one. I, for one, felt greatly the gift they gave me in an hour of visiting, though it is awash with tears shed then and since.
This mortality thing is not for the faint of heart, is it? Surely that's part of the plan. Can a broken heart on the altar be enough of a gift? When I'm willing, I think, to clamber up there and place my whole self?
Weighty thoughts for a midweek, isn't it?
Kaye
Seeing them makes me think about what I bring to the altar. What each of us brings to the altar, I suppose. Is it possible to know if our offering is enough? Is it possible to offer enough? Is it possible to offer too much? I think of President Kimball's wanting to wear out his shoes in the service of the Lord. I think of Silvia and her energy and ability to wear shoes out in service better than anybody I've ever seen.
A week ago I spent an hour with Virginia Pearce and her husband, Jim, recently diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. They were called to England on a mission until this intervened and now everything has changed for them. Ready to wear out shoes and everything else in the service of the Lord and now doing a very different very private service of truth and courage for any privileged to see them. What is the value of our gifts? Some gifts we give to many, some gifts we give to one. I, for one, felt greatly the gift they gave me in an hour of visiting, though it is awash with tears shed then and since.
This mortality thing is not for the faint of heart, is it? Surely that's part of the plan. Can a broken heart on the altar be enough of a gift? When I'm willing, I think, to clamber up there and place my whole self?
Weighty thoughts for a midweek, isn't it?
Kaye
Monday, January 19, 2009
thanks!
Dear Kaye and all!
You may not realize what a miracle you are witnessing. Thanks to about 4 of Kaye's emails to me patiently giving me instructions on how to get into this blog, here I am! This is a first for this very 'old dog' trying this very new 'trick'!
Speaking of, Ralph and I are experiencing steep learning curves these days, as many of us are: Bruce and Christine in the temple, Kaye in retirement, Janet and Wayne in the temple, Julie, Silvia, Elaine--speaking of steep learning curves!!
We love it that we are to report to President Dalton. She is a Great One to report to because we really love her!
We are looking forward to our visit to Sunny St. George this weekend when we can get caught up with the lives of at least those who are there.
The pictures Kaye has published bring back unique, beautiful memories when a 'quorum' of Margaret's board were all together in the Holy Land last fall! It was probably a similar trip Kaye took with Elaine, Julie and Silvia that qualified them for the tasks they have now! Kaye is an inspiring, articulate, sensitive, spiritual, scriptorial teacher!!
I hope those who can't make it to the study group in St. George realize that they will be given the assignments to lead the discussions for the coming months!
Love to all and thanks for creating this blog, Kaye. You really are a genius!!
sharon
You may not realize what a miracle you are witnessing. Thanks to about 4 of Kaye's emails to me patiently giving me instructions on how to get into this blog, here I am! This is a first for this very 'old dog' trying this very new 'trick'!
Speaking of, Ralph and I are experiencing steep learning curves these days, as many of us are: Bruce and Christine in the temple, Kaye in retirement, Janet and Wayne in the temple, Julie, Silvia, Elaine--speaking of steep learning curves!!
We love it that we are to report to President Dalton. She is a Great One to report to because we really love her!
We are looking forward to our visit to Sunny St. George this weekend when we can get caught up with the lives of at least those who are there.
The pictures Kaye has published bring back unique, beautiful memories when a 'quorum' of Margaret's board were all together in the Holy Land last fall! It was probably a similar trip Kaye took with Elaine, Julie and Silvia that qualified them for the tasks they have now! Kaye is an inspiring, articulate, sensitive, spiritual, scriptorial teacher!!
I hope those who can't make it to the study group in St. George realize that they will be given the assignments to lead the discussions for the coming months!
Love to all and thanks for creating this blog, Kaye. You really are a genius!!
sharon
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Dear Friends...
I love the darling pictures of our friends! It reminds me how wonderful it was to see a few of you last fall---thanks again for bringing me goodies from home.
I'm excited to be a part of our new Young Women blog---a great way to keep track of our comings and goings. Right now, Ray and I are not coming or going anywhere. We're still serving here at the BYU Center with our 80 new students who arrived last week, including our very own granddaughter, Whitney. We're loving sharing this experience with her.
So...this is our news for the month. She got a diamond for Christmas and will be getting married on June 27th---hopefully, we'll be home by then. It's hard to believe that we are really this old! Great grandparents? It takes my breath away.
Our other news is that we have a precious, new baby boy in our family. Our Spence and Sarah gave birth to Jacob Spencer Thomas on January 2nd, their third baby. I don't tell people in this country because it blows them away, but Baby Jacob is our 36th grandchild. What a blessing for our family.
This next week we'll be going to Egypt again with our students in a medical capacity. Although the war is just 60 miles away, it is business as usual in this city. War seems to be a way of life here and no one even talks about it much. Ray just mentioned that the cease fire looks like a strong possibility---we pray it will be so. We've been reading from Beirut to Jerusalem, by Tom Friedman, if you want good background for the conflicts in this part of the world.
Ray and I are doing well....we will miss your wonderful overnight retreat but look forward to future get togethers when we return home. We love you all!!!
I love the darling pictures of our friends! It reminds me how wonderful it was to see a few of you last fall---thanks again for bringing me goodies from home.
I'm excited to be a part of our new Young Women blog---a great way to keep track of our comings and goings. Right now, Ray and I are not coming or going anywhere. We're still serving here at the BYU Center with our 80 new students who arrived last week, including our very own granddaughter, Whitney. We're loving sharing this experience with her.
So...this is our news for the month. She got a diamond for Christmas and will be getting married on June 27th---hopefully, we'll be home by then. It's hard to believe that we are really this old! Great grandparents? It takes my breath away.
Our other news is that we have a precious, new baby boy in our family. Our Spence and Sarah gave birth to Jacob Spencer Thomas on January 2nd, their third baby. I don't tell people in this country because it blows them away, but Baby Jacob is our 36th grandchild. What a blessing for our family.
This next week we'll be going to Egypt again with our students in a medical capacity. Although the war is just 60 miles away, it is business as usual in this city. War seems to be a way of life here and no one even talks about it much. Ray just mentioned that the cease fire looks like a strong possibility---we pray it will be so. We've been reading from Beirut to Jerusalem, by Tom Friedman, if you want good background for the conflicts in this part of the world.
Ray and I are doing well....we will miss your wonderful overnight retreat but look forward to future get togethers when we return home. We love you all!!!
Beginning
I've been threatening to set up a blog for us all. So here's one threat that has materialized.
It seems to me we are in such interesting places, hoping to stay in touch to continue to learn from each other, that maybe this is a way. It's easier than email and useful for thoughts and ideas as well as pictures. It also follows Elder Ballard's admonition to use current media for teaching and proselytizing, and developing a new skill is a good challenge for us all, I think.
Have I convinced anybody?
We can talk more about "Miles to Go" when we gather at Steve and Margaret's on Saturday. Until then. . . . .
It seems to me we are in such interesting places, hoping to stay in touch to continue to learn from each other, that maybe this is a way. It's easier than email and useful for thoughts and ideas as well as pictures. It also follows Elder Ballard's admonition to use current media for teaching and proselytizing, and developing a new skill is a good challenge for us all, I think.
Have I convinced anybody?
We can talk more about "Miles to Go" when we gather at Steve and Margaret's on Saturday. Until then. . . . .
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