Old WWII gunnery installation - now a park

While out on the coast M'liss and Trent decided to scout out this area to shoot the next Knuckleheads catalog...great photo potential here.

The purpose of the fort was to be on the lookout for Japanese subs trying to get up the Columbia River.

great old color on the wall

hmmm, maybe I should help with the photo shoot M'liss

A day when you can sit and make clover blossom chains with your granddaughter is a great day!

Washington coast

One trip at a time.

Before I put more photos of Holland on (the country, not the granddaughter), here are some photos of a recent trip to the beach with the grandkids. Walks on the beach are soooo relaxing and invigorating all at the same time.

Lily just has to be in the muck and the gunk of nature.

A day at the beach makes all other days easier to deal with.

Photos from Holland trip

Cutest LITTLE house in Rotterdam.  The house looks to be just one room and a tiny room at that.

If you want to see tons of photos of cute, quaint, old Dutch country houses then keep checking back. I have some awesome things to show.

aaarrrhhhgg!!!

So...I have been on 9 flights, count em' 9!!!!!  in one week, including one over-niter in the kids play area of the Seattle airport...me and 4 other men on various benches!  

Not me..you knew that right?

There were no hitches. Even though I was toting two heavy carry-ons, I managed to transport a small bag of "Old Dutch all dressed" potatoe chips (spelled the Canadian way)  for Trent. I'm sure they are smashed to bits but I get an A for effort.

 So...my tote bag was searched and the dumb TSA guy left out my make-up bag, with my meds in it!! So here I am in Vancouver...the other one...with no make-up AGAIN! The last 2 trips here I forgot my new hanging makeup bag on the bathroom wall. It was not my regular routine! I was inspired by Melanie's make-up bag and I found the perfect one in Birmingham.....the top opens like a suitcase and has elastic loops for makeup brushes and a zippered pouch for a toothbrush, It's awesome .....and now it's gone...with ALL my best makeup!

I called TSA in San Francisco and they may have it...I'm waiting to hear.

4 hours later.....they found it!!!! yay! So even though it wasn't my fault that it was left I have to pay $30 + to have it overnighted before we go to Holland on Tues. What a pain.

Vancouver temple dedication

These are some of the youth from the temple district that met Sat morning for a special meeting with Pres Monson. They put on a wonderful cultural celebration event that night.

The dedication was....can't quite think of the right adjective. Tears were streaming down my face so that about says everything.

I love Vancouver. I guess I feel at home here like Dad does in Holland.
I met people that knew my mom and dad. That was special to me. I felt close to them this whole trip. I can only imagine the celebrating going on with the Kyle's, Jensens, Oxsprings, and many others.

One cool thing that happened was meeting Bobby Burgess, a returned missionary from Salta Argentina that served with Brett.  His grandfather served as Bishop of the Vancouver 2nd ward at the same time that my dad served as Bishop of the 1st ward. It dawned on me that these 2 Bishops who had served a lot together in many ways, had grandsons that were also serving together. I think that's cool. Those two Bishops were probably watching over their grandsons at the same time and talking to each other about it!  I think Bobby texted Brett right away to say he just met me. It's really small world sometimes.

Springtime in my garden

There is nothing like being in the south in April. It's so beautiful everywhere. 

Creating a garden at this house has been one of my great joys in life.

Welcome to my garden...

Belle, my garden guardian

Dad bags a big one!

It's not everyday that you can say you shot your own son.....during conference! Brett got up off the couch and decided on a little target practice with the BB gun. Dad joined in and said "Brett why don't you run over there and see if I can shoot you - it won't hurt"

Brett trusted his father - ran across the lawn - and got shot in the back of the thigh....right through two layers of clothes. It hurt...it really hurt.

Brett was hopping all over the lawn like an Easter bunny. Dad looked a little sheepish and said "it couldn't hurt that bad". It did. Brett hobbled back to where we were laughing hysterically, pulled up his shorts and we saw this....

Yup, Dad bagged a big one. It wasn't a good day for Brett. First his dad shoots him, second, his schools's arch rival, Duke won! Not a good day.

"Read all about it. Brett gets shot in the butt by Dad"

stay tuned for photos and story.

Follow up on Chilean earthquake

As Dad and I teach the Bk of Mormon in institute this year, we are vividly reminded of the parallel between those days and our day and why the Bk of Mormon was written for us...to warn.

 But of what? Earthquakes  in diverse places? ?(Chili, Japan, Haiti) certainly, natural disasters : tsunami's, hurricanes and typhoons? (India, New Orleans, Indian Ocean and countless others) Well certainly we need to be physically prepared but there is a more important preparation - spiritual - to be able to receive of the Spirit to be able to have the "peace that passeth all understanding" There is nothing more important than to live our lives so as to deserve the gift of the Holy Ghost  to warn, protect and guide us!!


Chilean missionaries tell their stories      There is a lot to learn here

from a missionary mom:
 It was 7:30 a.m. on February 27th when I was awakened by my husband, who said, “There has been an earthquake in Chile.”  I jumped out of bed and ran to turn on the television to CNN. My husband, three daughters and I stood in disbelief.  
The pictures of the earthquake were devastating and my heart sank in deep despair.  My son Jacob arrived in Chile Concepcion South Mission on January 18th and was living in the city of Camilo. The first thing I did was run upstairs to call the mission office but there was no answer.  Then I sent an email to the mission president’s wife to see if she knew the whereabouts of my son.

The feeling of helplessness filled my whole body  as I  realized there was nothing I could do for my son but pray.  So as a family, we got down on our knees in prayer to ask our Heavenly Father to protect our son, the missionaries and all the people in Chile.  After the prayer there was warmth that filled the entire room. We all felt at peace and were comforted by the Spirit that Jake was safe. We identified that feeling to our daughters and told them that the Holy Ghost was sending us a message of comfort.


We had many calls that day, family, friends and neighbors all expressing their concern for our son’s welfare.  Our response was pretty much the same, and they were often surprised that we weren’t hysterical.  I tried to explain to them that we could not find the peace and knowledge from the world.  We had to go to a greater source, our Heavenly Father, who is all knowing and could give us the answers we needed.  Our knowledge was so sure, so real, and when I felt myself doubting that comforting feeling filled my whole body.

It wasn’t until Tuesday morning I received a phone call from my son. He could only talk for a moment, but he said, “Mom, I am doing really well.  I have food to eat, water to drink and a safe place to lay my head.”  An overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards my Heavenly Father filled my soul.

and this...

The First Presidency sent the missionaries water bottles with a built-in water filtration system and water filtering tablets.  The water bottles have been a life saver and all the missionaries are using them.” (this occurred a few weeks prior to the quake)

and this...

Elder Logan Law (Chile, Concepcion Mission): “Sunday morning, we entered the chapel, and tried to organize things.  I felt revelation from Heavenly Father which we needed again in that time; then I knew what we needed to do.  The Spirit was such a great help as it enlightened my mind to the things that we should do.  What a great blessing it was. We stayed in the chapel, and later that night... saw what a tremendous blessing it was to be protected in the church as thousands of people went to the streets to loot all the stores.  It was such an awful sight.  But really we could feel the protection of angels.  We knew that no harm would come to us.”

and this...

I have learned lessons that I didn’t even know existed.  During the earthquake, I have never felt so close to death and a number of people and thoughts ran through my mind in that moment of apparent doom.  One of those thoughts was my family and what would happen to them if I died. I thought of friends and people who I have made promises to and bonds with and the fear of losing those bonds in an instant.  I wondered what it would feel like to be crushed underneath a concrete building.  It was a terrifying experience.  But then I thought of prayer...so I made the quickest most important prayer of my life and then was when I went into action.  I suddenly had a firm idea of exactly what I needed to do...protect myself, help my companion and when possible, leave the building as fast as I could...and we did just that.

and this...

Elder Christopher Morgan, (Concepcion Chile Mission)  In the past few days I have learned a lot about God's plan for me and the plan for all of us. These really are the last days. That was a confirmation when I woke up and 3:34 in the morning last Saturday. Slowly the earth shook, and slowly I realized that I was experiencing an earthquake. Then the earth shook more violently. And it didn't stop, it seemed, never. Even now. After that came the tsunami and the looting and the fires and, etc. A lot. During this time of trial and chaos, I have observed many foundations fall, literally and spiritually speaking.

I have seen that a people full of fear will do almost anything to survive. If we prepare spiritually by living the Gospel and by keeping a year's supply of food storage we shall not fear. Ever. I have a feeling that this is just the beginning. We must prepare.
From this moment on we must decide whom we will serve. This earthquake has divided this people in two. The line is more apparent between good and evil. As for me, I chose to serve Jesus Christ. I believe that that has been and will be the greatest decision I make. I have seen the alternative and it is nothing. I am His disciple. I am safe and well, I/we are going to get there. I know it. Pray until your knees hurt.

The day the earth REALLY shook...in Chili

Every once you read about something that brings flat out proof of the spiritual things that you believe.

Such is the case with the amazing account I just read of the experience/miracle of Pres. and Sister Laycock of the Santiago Chili, East mission of the LDS Church regarding the recent earthquake there which was "500x worse than the one in Haiti".

Here are snippets of her account. "Pres. Monson teaches ...When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to His help. When we were set apart for this calling, Elder Scott of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, told us  ...."At times, during your mission, you will be awakened in the middle of the night or in the morning hours with thoughts of specific things you should do...do not ignore thee thoughts. They are promptings from the Holy Ghost who will communicate with you in the stillness of the night or in the peace of the early morning hours. He will speak to you then because that is when you are still enough to hear." (a lesson for us all...we ask and ask, but when do we make time to listen?)


"Elder Scott further instructed us to keep a notebook beside our bed so that we could record these precious promptings... we may forget by the morning." (also good advice) 


Well.... Nearly 3 weeks ago, Sister Laycock was awakened around 4 am....


"Nearly two-and-one-half weeks ago, I was awakened at around 4:00 AM by just such a prompting. I did not hear a voice, but the thought was as clear as if it had been in the form of spoken words: "There is going to be an earthquake. Prepare your missionaries." I sat up in bed and immediately remembered Elder Scott's counsel. That morning I told Larry what had happened. He immediately set to work organizing our missionaries to prepare for an earthquake.



We set a goal and arranged our schedule so that we could visit every apartment in the mission to check for safety and to review with our missionaries what to do in case of an earth quake. What a wonderful experience we have had as we have met with them and shared scriptures with them about being spiritually and physically prepared. "...if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:30).

We instructed every missionary to have a "go-bag" (36 hour kit). We reviewed our emergency action plan with them of where to go and what to do if they had phone service and in case they did not. We gave everyone a paper with all instructions in English and Spanish, and we reminded them that "this life is the time to prepare to meet God" (Alma 34:32-34). We shared with them our thoughts and feelings about the need for spiritual and physical safety.

Some of them became frightened and asked us if we knew something they didn't know. We smiled and repeated "...if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." We didn't want to unduly alarm them, but we did want to impress upon them the need to be prepared.

Then we knelt with them in their apartment and dedicated each apartment, asking for a blessing of safety and security to be upon every apartment
.
When the earthquake came, we were prepared. We did not experience the panic that many felt. We knew we were prepared. Because of the words of the Lord's chosen Apostle, Elder Scott, we had listened and heeded the quiet, but clear promptings of the Holy Ghost. We were blessed with peace in the midst of chaos. We learned an important lesson: our preparation helped us to avoid panic and fear, but the Lord, in His wisdom, allowed us to experience enough discomfort to know that He has all power. He is in charge. We are nothing without Him. We are dependent upon Him for every breath we take. Only He can save us from death and destruction. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our perfect example. If we follow Him, we will be saved through obedience to the laws and ordinances of His Gospel.

As the earthquake became more violent, the mission home groaned and wailed. The power died, so the whole city was black. The windows made a hideous screeching sound, and flying objects banged against swaying walls. The printer/fax machine, books, book ends, and fifty-pound television burst from the entertainment center and crashed to the floor, cabinets emptied, drawers flew open, the refrigerator moved, water sloshed out of the toilets, the floor jolted up and down as we ran across it trying to hold onto the walls to keep from falling down, and the piano toppled over like a small toy. As we made our way to the back yard, I remember thinking, "God is all-powerful. He is our only refuge from this horrible mess." I prayed and prayed for Him to still the earth.
When we reached the back yard, we watched in terror ".....read more here

                             

The lessons are many

Obey the counsel to be prepared...NOW

• Have confidence that the Spirit can and will warn us of dangers.
• Create still time to just listen
• The Lord gives warnings to those who have ears to listen, so that they can be calm help to those around them!
• Why didn't the Lord give the prompting to the mission president? The Lord gives promptings to those who have certain stewardships. In this case, every "mission mother" has the job of overseeing the health and welfare of all the missionaries in their mission.