LIFE!

 Yesterday was a difficult day for me in a couple of ways:

1.  At the temple, a friend from the ward told me that he and his wife were struggling in their lives and marriage. I had not expected that admission.  He asked me to stand in the prayer circle with him.  (Brother Ortiz)

2.  At the temple, I saw a friend from Rexburg, and asked where his wife was.  He whispered that she had died.  I didn't see him again, so I came home and looked up her obituary.  She was only one year older than I and it is just so unsettling to see that.  (Elaine Agren Porter)

3.  When I returned home, I received an email from a relative telling me about the death of a cousin's daughter who had died of kidney failure.  (Carma Gee Sorensen)

4.  As Allen and I were in bed reading our scriptures, he received an email telling about the death of a man we had met on our first family history mission.  We had recently reconnected through the Sons of the Utah Pioneers.  (Max Turpin)

But, earlier, I had learned of the death of a man from Rexburg.  I had just listened on YouTube to a talk he gave many years ago, and wanted to find him to tell him what a great talk it was and that it had impacted me.  (Blaine Yorgason)

Life is so up and down.  Life is a challenge.  Life is HARD.  I just need to have faith that all the things we are taught about the afterlife are true.  

EVAN DAVID FISHER Gets Baptized

 

Sunday the day after Evan Fisher's baptism; he played the piano at the baptism on Saturday: I love to see the temple.  On Sunday, the day of this picture, he gave the opening prayer; he was nervous.  Such a great family.  

Houston Texas for the baptism of Evan David Fisher.  After the baptism on Saturday night, the adults went to a place to do country and western dancing.  It was the first time in 8 years that the adults got together without kids.  According to my sources, it was a lot of fun.

The Magnolia Palace

 Three Stars.

Told in two time periods, this story revolves around a true art museum started by  Henry Clay Frick.  Frick collected art and had an extensive collection.  His daughter hired a lady to be her personal secretary.  The lady had no prior experience, and had been, in fact, a model for famous statues in and around New York.  Her hiring was a fluke, but she established herself in the home of Frick.  Frick, in poor health, is murdered, and the mystery is not solved until the end of the book.

The 2nd time period is years later and involves a model who, through no fault of her own, becomes locked in the Frick museum.  It's a rather silly story, but she and a docent at the museum figure out clues which leads to the solution of the murder of Frick many years before.

I was just glad it was over.

A VERY Rare EVENT - SNOW in Houston, Texas

So fun, especially when you have it so rarely.

January 2025; just in time for Evan's 8th birthday and baptism!  
 

Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout

 

What a downer book!

The story is of a minister, his two daughters, and his unhappy wife, who commits suicide shortly after the death of her second daughter.

It's also about some of the members of the congregation who have had sordid sins going on in their lives; a man who has a relationship with a woman (described quite descriptively and disgustingly in the book - totally unnecessary!), his housekeeper who confesses she murdered two old ladies in a nursing home to relive them of their terrible lives, and a school teacher who thought his daughter was pure evil.  It's so dark and gloomy and unhappy and LONG. 

I finally made my way thru the book wondering why I hadn't give up on it, but I didn't.  And, boy, was I glad when it was over.  

I give it .5 stars.  And, even that is a gift.

I"m so hoping the next book is better.   YIKES!  

SO many good books, how did I ever come across this one.

STILL AT IT..

 after all these years; since 2012 according to Josh at the gym he owns.

I often wonder what my life and body would be like if I hasn't gone all these years.  

Has it made a difference?  Does my body care?  And, why do I have an earache right now in my right ear?

The Diamond Eye

 Exceedingly long book based on a real person - a lady from Russia who was a trained sniper during WWII.  She killed over 300 Nazi's and was very proud of her achievements.  

She became a hero for Russia and had a stamp issued for her.

She also was a friend of Eleanor Roosevelt.

For me, the book went on and on for far too long.  I was SO GLAD when it was over, but it gets lots of good reviews.  I give it 2 stars.  I just really couldn't get into it.  It does show the horrors of war and the brutality of the men and women who fight in it.

I need a light-hearted book about now.