"FILLED" FEBRUARY WEEK

This was a week with lots of commitments and appointments, challenging sessions at work, lots of phone calls--and more phone calls and emails and texts.  And Jena had her usual packed full weekend with skiing, theatre, bowling, ushering, and watching a play (Peter and the Starcatcher--not one of my favorites.) and then heading home to grocery shop and then sit and watch the BYU basketball game.  I am so glad that  it is finally Sunday again.  To slow down, quiet down, and breathe.  I feel so blessed to have a Sabbath day each week.

Few photos from the week (no pictures from any of the commitments, phone calls, etc,) 

Jena at Snowbasin, posing after 2 hours of hard, cold skiing--She said she had "too much fun."

View coming down from skiing on Friday.

Yesterday after I returned from the grocery store at dusk, I saw the moon coming out over the mountains to the east.  By the time I got to our house, parked and came out to take a photo, clouds had covered up a lot of the moon and the moment was gone--just a pretty memories of a beautiful moon.

This was the sky to the west as the sun was setting---

A few minutes later after I carried in the groceries, the full moon was above the clouds.  A photo with my phone camera does not do it justice.  It was so gorgeous through the evening as it made its way across the sky.

I have had a bit of a week, but it seemed like a gift to me that Saturday was a full moon and I was able to notice and enjoy its beauty.  We are so loved and cared about by our Heavenly Parents and our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, and the world testifies of that in each small action and view.

Thanks, I needed that!

Mission--Newest Update

Last weekend, our stake president reached out to us and invited us to come in and talk about Jena.  He had gotten the information from the mission department and wanted to review with us the questions that he needed to address in the letter that he needed to send back to get the exception for Jena to serve with us.  He has only met her a handful of times and just for a minute or two at a time.  Of course, we are happy to talk about Jena and we had an enjoyable conversation with him.  The only question that stumped us was: "What problems or concerns do you have about taking Jena with you?"  We looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders--neither of us had worried about that at all.  Once we felt she should come, then of course she should come.  We do think that she will be a blessing to wherever we serve, and perhaps in ways that none of us understand at this time.  We joked about Jena wanting to serve in Nauvoo and that we will know who is "the favorite" if we are called there, because our talents are not in that direction.  The stake president in his soft way said: "You will be called where the three of you can move forward the work of the Lord."  Yes, that is what we want--to move forward His work.  In the middle of the paperwork and the excitement, it was a sweet reminder of the reasons behind it all.

Hoping the letter got submitted this past week and that we will hear this upcoming week.  That would be a great Valentines's Day present.

Meanwhile, on our end, we completed our medicals (passed and got two shots to start that process) and got those turned into our bishop and he has forwarded the bulk of the recommendation to the stake president.  (He still needs to scan in the medicals and dental.)  As soon as the stake president received the clearance for Jena, then we will meet with him and submit our papers.  Maybe that will happen next weekend--with a little bit of luck!

They are saying that calls are coming in 4-6 weeks for senior couples so we are hoping by the end of March!  Waiting is not my best quality so we will see how it goes while we wait for such a life changing call.

A Snowy Walk

If you know me, you know I am not a snow person.  Snow on Christmas Day or on the mountains (as long as I am not driving in that direction) is all well and fine.  I understand that snow is critical for our water supply and I can respect that.  I am just not a fan of dealing with it.

We haven't had a lot of snow until the past few weeks, but late in January, the weather was slightly more moderate and I decided to try a morning walk at Jensen Pond.  Snow clouds were forming along the mountains but there were some blue skies to the west so it was a pretty day to be out (if you were dressed warm.)

The sun peeked out between the snow clouds .....

...and the reflections on the dripping snow was magically.  I took lots of pictures to try to capture the view, but it didn't work, so you will have to use your imagination or your memory of a similar event.  Snow and frost covered the dried plants along the path and in the fields along the way.  Due to the increasing temperature, there were tiny drops of water on the end of many of the tiny branches or tufts of grass and as the sun hit them, they all glistened like diamonds everywhere.  It only lasted for a minute until the clouds covered the sun--another sweet moment in nature that you only can see if you are out there.

This one almost captured the reflection of the sun in the water drops---

Nature--got to love it!

UDSF Retreat

Once again, I headed up to Bear Lake the last weekend of January for our annual board retreat to make plans and develop a vision for the foundation.  It was a bit bittersweet as it is my last one as a board member.  I will be stepping down at the end of March after our next board meeting and already my replacement is engaged and ready to go.

This time, Gary didn't go with me as someone needed to manage Jena's crazy weekends, so I enjoyed a beautiful drive through Logan and up Logan Canyon to Bear Lake by myself.  We had all had some snow that week so the scenery was stunning.  It was hard to get good pictures while driving of course, so I pulled off at one point to get pictures of the stream running with snow covered banks.  The chill of the air and the beauty was truly breathtaking.

 

Okay, I was driving when I took this photo and it is a very disappointing photo.  As I started over the top of the mountain into the Bear Lake area, the view was amazing.  There was lots of cloud cover as you can see, but then a strip of blue sky and the shoreline across the way, and then the lake itself--it looked like clouds had laid down in the 'bowl" formed by the lake.  The reflection of the clouds in the water was so perfect.  However, this photo didn't capture the lake part.

This is the house that we held the retreat at.  I got there early and went on about a 30 minute walk in the area while I waited for others to arrive.

Here is a view of the north end of the lake which shows a bit of the cloud-colored lake.

This is a house along the way.  Can you imagine sitting in the glass area room between the two sections of this house in the middle of a storm (rain or snow)?  That would be spectacular!

 

View down to the lake from the top of the hill.

It was a good start to a great weekend as we talked about plans to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families in Utah.  Glad there are passionate people to take care of this part of the cause while I am serving a mission.