Patriotic HYMNS....No MORE?!?!?!?!?!?!

Miles Scott Hackworth was ordained a deacon on July 1, 2018.  He had a lot of people come to support him, which was such a great blessing.  Including Jenni and Brent, who got up at 4 to get there for 9 am church services.  It was a great day.
And, I'm so thankful for family!

Yesterday, in a wonderful Sacrament meeting in Provo, Utah, the opening song was, "The Star Spangled Banner." 

As we all stood to sing this beautiful patriotic song, I was getting all goose-bumpy, and my son whispered, "I wonder if this song will be in the new hymn book?" That took me back for a moment. 

No, it isn't likely, because the whole idea of a new hymn book is to make it more world centered. 

When would I ever get the chance to sing those beloved American songs if not in church? 

The closing hymn was Battle Hymn of the Republic and again, it aroused my feelings of patriotism, love of God and Country. In my lifetime, about the only times those songs have been sung by me is in church, and I have loved that.

 It's possible that the singing of American songs is over in our church. But, it's all okay....going world wide with hymns is healing and wonderful and inclusive. 

HA, it makes me even more thankful for Alexa. So, sing away, Alexa; with all my favorite patriotic hymns, and I'll belt them out right along with you! 

Also, let me just say right now....there are a lot of problems, but I LOVE AMERICA!

Weekend in Coronado

No wonder it costs so much money;

It's a perfect place to live.

Or VISIT....

Which we did when Sayre got the Aaronic Priesthood.

And, it was great to be a part of it.....

Lemon Tree Very Pretty - especially with ALLEN and SAYRE just before church!

He was so excited to become a deacon.  So proud of him for wanting this!

Loving Grandson, Sayre; handsome Grandfather, Allen

Sayre wanted to walk downtown to get some Candy on Saturday morning,
so we had a great chat as we walked home from Orange Avenue.
Just a little while before he got a new haircut.....
He was pretty surprised when it was cut so short, but thankfully, he said, it will grow back!

The plants are Coronado are just stunning.  Every year, every street is filled with great beauty!

Kaeylyn went thrifting and found these funky shoes at the thrift store.  I love that she would be willing to wear these!

The Sunday Visits

I do so love visiting people on Sundays...

On Mother's Day, I visited three wonderful mothers:

Jessica Stout - expecting her 4th child - a girl, to match her other three.

Bobbi Jo Forsyth - wedding, mission report, mission farewell, high school graduation coming up!

Sheryl Sullivan; Home Decor Extraordinaire!  Every month she has a different theme coinciding with a holiday.  She does it up BIG.

Now, I would not necessarily do what she does, but I've got to hand it to her; she's very creative and her creative juices (and pocketbook- ha ha) are always flowing.

Here are pix of her decor for Mother's Day; she went with a butterfly theme and mothers, as you can tell.

Shoes galore; just like a mom, right?!?!?!

About six months of the year, she puts up her tree and decorates it with the theme of the month.  Even the pictures on her walls are changed to reflect the theme.  It's really quite remarkable.  

Every month, she uses different plates, flatware, and goblets.  New table cloths, and accessories.
What a lady.  She invites six ladies over once a month for her monthly dinners.  Two are regulars, and two are new missionaries for the family history mission.  She's one-of a kind!  Thanks, Loretta Allam, for the pictures.

Eat More....Move Less

Ha HA HA HA...

that seems to be my mantra the last few months.

I just keep getting bigger.

Because I LIKE food, snacks, goodies, gum drops, chips, chocolate, and other tasty not-so-good-for you-weight-gaining foods.

YIKES.

Gotta change the mantra to what it is supposed to be:

EAT LESS..MOVE MORE!

Okay, so, can I?

There is Beauty All Around

Very early this morning, I awoke to the beautiful sounds of many birds.

The chirping was intense and plentiful.

Later on in the morning, I realized there were no more birds singing, and I sensed a loss.

But, there are birds that fly around our yard a lot.  They drink from a water thing in our back yard; they light on the big fence between our yard and the Ivey's, the flit from flower to tree to fence and all around.

It's a beautiful sight to see and so delicious other them early in the mornings.

Back against our fence, there are roses galore, flowers in our flower pots, green grass in front and back, little buds flowering on our pomegranate bushes.

It's so beautiful.  It makes my heart happy to see and hear it all.

What a wonderful world.

I Write Letters to the Dead - Part Two

Dear Dad,

This is such a great picture.  I never knew you to have a mustache.  But, the hat, that's classic!

Last night was the Saturday night session of our stake conference.

WOW!  What a marvelous meeting it was.  From start to end, it was so inspiring.  The music was magnificent and EVERY talk was given by people filled with the spirit of the Lord.

The theme was the church's new program of ministering as the Savior did.  One lady told about how members responded when her house caught fire, destroying everything; another lady told of her brother's death in Iraq as a green beret, another talked of her father-in-law returning to activity after many years away. We were spiritually fed for one hour and a half, leaving little time for the stake president, who is a wonderful speaker.

And, then he got up to speak.  At that moment, I thought about you as the Stake President.  I thought of how the people in our stake love President Mike Thompson; he's energetic, a good speaker, a man of GOD.  And, I realized that the people of the Pocatello South Stake would have revered and honored you.  They would have felt the Stake was in good hands, that they were being led by a man of God.  They would have respected your wisdom, insight, Gospel teachings, and I was overpowered with a feeling of such great love and admiration for you, dear DAD.

Oh, what a great blessing it was to have been raised in your home, filled with laughter, music, and most of all LOVE.  Thank you, President Gee, for those rich beginning18 years.

Love,
Your daughter, VaLonne, Valon, Lonnie, Loni (but I think you know who I mean!)

Dear Mom,

OH, dear mom, I love this picture of you in your youth.  You always loved style, class, and beauty!  You are so beautiful!

Nearly every Thursday, I go to a YOGA class at the Senior Center - it makes me feel so old, but that's the target audience.

And, nearly every week, I think of YOU, dear MOTHER.  I think of how you took Yoga classes in California before it was so hip.  And, then, how you came to Pocatello, Idaho and taught a community class at a school close to your home.

I didn't even know what YOGA was when you told me you were teaching it!

I'm so proud of you, Mom.  You were always giving of your time and talents, no matter what stage of life you were in.

Oh, what a great blessing it was to have been raised in your home, filled with laughter, music, and most of all LOVE.   Thank you, Dorothy Gee for the rich blessing of being your daughter!

Love, your only daughter, so man, was I blessed!

I Write Letters to the Dead

Dear Dorothy,

This morning, i went to the temple.

As I was folding my dress to put it away, I thought of you and Hubert.  I thought of how you went to the temple every Friday for over 20 years.

It could not have been easy towards the end when you were in such pain from your osteoporosis.

In my mind's eye, I can still remember visiting on a Friday afternoon and you had the ironing board out, ironing yours and your husband's temple clothing so lovingly EVERY FRIDAY!  (I cannot remember the last time I ironed my temple clothes!)  Every week, you took the widows in your ward who wanted to go to the temple, but didn't feel comfortable driving the long drive from St Anthony to Idaho Falls, especially in wintery, icy conditions.  But, weather didn't ever stop you...you went faithfully.  How pleased you would be now if you could go to the Rexburg Temple, which is so much closer!

Your faithfulness always inspired me over the years.  Now, my goad is to go every other week, but sometimes, even that goal is not met, so it makes me realize how truly faithful you were.

Oh, my dear mother-in-law....in every way you were so faithful and you have raised children that you can be so proud of.  Donna goes every week, and I think Regina does also.  I don't know about how often your other family members go, but they all have recommends and honor the life you led and taught them in your humble home.  And, I'm grateful to be a part of that good family.

Love, Loni


Dear Sylvia,

I absolutely LOVE This picture of you working in your father's drug store.  You know what?  You still looked like this the day before you died, when I went to visit you in the hospital.  You just had youthful genes, Ms. Sylvia!

This morning, i went to the temple.

As i put some names on the prayer roll, I thought of how many times over the years, I had put your name in that little brown box.

I thought of our temple trips together and how you were always willing to go, even though it was difficult with your situation.

How I miss taking you and going with you and Allen to Nelson's for your beloved ice filled-Pepsi!  You always had some great story about being in St George in its very early days.  You were such a part of it.

And, you were always HAPPY!  Never complaining; just grateful for each good thing in your life.

Oh, my dear friend, you cannot know how you have inspired me as I continue to think of and miss you greatly.

Love, Loni