February & March

The first week in February I flew to Kansas City to watch Kristy's kids while her and Wes went to Phoenix to find a house to buy. It was snowing when I arrived at the airport, but my flight still said it was on time. As I was waiting at the gate I kept seeing flights cancelled, but mine still said it was on time. Right when it was suppose to leave the sign came up, "Cancelled." I was worried as Kristy and Wes were flying out the next morning. I immediately called Alaska Airline and they got me on a 6:00 pm flight. I don't think I've ever seen Seattle Airport SO crazy!! There were people everywhere from flights cancelled and long lines to try and get new ones. After close to 12 hours at the airport, I was on the only flight out that day to Kansas City. I felt VERY blessed. I got in at midnight and when I brought my luggage out to the car, Kristy informed me her car wouldn't start. We said a prayer & after it still wouldn't start we asked the guy in the car behind us to give us a jump. Fortunately, he was kind enough to help us. As in many cases, our prayers were answered by another individual.

While I was in Kansas they had an ice storm so we were stuck in the house a few days. We made the best of it though and had fun together. The morning Kristy got home we headed to the Children's Museum and they loved that.

We made our last trip to Kansas City Joes for some great barbecue.

 I'm going to miss going there!!

 Cuties

I was worried I wasn't going to make it home because a big snow storm was suppose to hit that day. Fortunately, it hit as Russ was driving me home from the airport.

Its the first big one we've had in several years & everything looked beautiful.

 At the end of February the piano movers came to move the piano to Kristy's new home in Phoenix. I don't know why, but I was very emotional about this. Maybe its because all my kids practiced and played so much on it, we used it for our hymns for FHE, sang Christmas Carols around it or maybe because its making it real that we're REALLY moving from a place I've grown to love?!?!

Needless to say, I think I cried 3 times that week.

I know our piano is going to get MUCH better use at Kristy's new home.

 In Kansas she had around 17 piano students. 

This was one of her sweet students who made Kristy this blanket and gave it to her on her last lesson. She will be sorely missed there!

Here's the gang at the Phoenix airport. Talk about totally different weather than in Kansas!! They could literally say, "we aren't in Kansas anymore!" 

They've had such a cold winter that I'm sure 70's 

feels pretty darn good.

 Russ and I make two trips to Ivins in March. It had been close to 3 months since we'd been down and checked on our home. It was SO weird to actually see snow in the mountains, but SO beautiful. It was still quite chilly, but we went on a couple of hikes anyway.

This is where the rock was quarried for the foundation of the St. George temple.

                            

 One day we drove to Pine Valley. What a beautiful place and so quaint. They still hold church meetings in this building that was built around 1868.

 We saw wild turkeys running around.

At the last minute we decided to drive down to Las Vegas and see the Donny & Marie show. 

It was really good & amazing they can still sing & dance as good as they can, considering they're Russ and my age! The worst part is walking through the smoky casinos.

 Tyrel, Lindsey and the kids came down for Spring break. We were only home for about a week, but couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang out with them so we went back down.
Halter just got this new 2 wheeler.
 He's been riding one for quite sometime & does a great job at only 4 years old.

 We went on a couple of hikes and the boys did great!!

They loved getting out and riding their bikes, hiking, and putting their feet in the water after all the cold weather in Rigby, Id.

Tyli loved the hikes too!!

 The pool was around 50-60 degrees. Tytyn actually jumped in a few times.

We bought some fake swans, hoping it would keep the ducks away...NOT! Ohhh, and next

to the swans is AL our alligator!  I'm SO tired of 

spending money on things to try and keep the ducks out!!

 Tytyn, Tyrel and Russ took a really long bike ride and loved it.

Tyrel's brother, Collin & his wife happen to be down for the weekend also so they came over for dinner a few times. We had a lot of fun playing games and having some ping pong tournaments.

I love my family!! So glad we could spend this time together!!

Lately whenever we've been flying I've seen some beautiful scenery out the window of the plane.
This is in Northern California somewhere. Below is Mt. Adams and Mt. Saint Helens

Part 2 Israel

Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives

These next 3 pictures were taken in 2011 when it was much warmer & less windy than
when we were just there. 

 Jews believe if you are buried on the Mount of Olives you will be reserructed first.

One morning Jan & John took us to play the Carillon Bells. Russ said it was the first time he'd ever seen me play an instrument. I actually did OK too. I love the sound of them.

Jan dropped us off to do the City of David & Hezekiah's tunnel tour. We were all set to walk through the water & then at the last minute decided to walk through the dry tunnel they used to run water through. It was a little chilly to get wet.

Hezekiah's Tunnel

Old olive tree

River Jordan

We went to a different spot on the River Jordan in 2011

Bet She'an National Park

In the Biblical account of the battle of the Israelites against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the bodies of King Saul and three of his sons were hung on the walls of Beit She'an.
1 Samuel 31:10-12
This city was founded about 6,000 years ago.

Look at all these toilets lined up along the wall.

Talk about "social hour"

We're assuming they just sat between 2 of these stones to do their business.

Amphitheater in Bet She'an

The Magdala Stone was uncovered in 2009. 

The stone stood in the center of the Migdal Synagogue, and is tall enough to have been used as a reading desk or podium by someone in a seated position.

 There's a church there that has beautiful paintings & mosaics to portray miracles that happened near the Sea of Galilee.

I'm so glad Jan insisted we come to Magdala. This was an incredible painting that took up a whole wall depicting the story of the woman with an "issue of blood." This picture doesn't do it justice.
Luke 8:43-48

We liked it so much we purchased one at the gift shop & already had it framed!!

Painted by Daniel Cariola

The next four pictures are the mosaics hanging in the church.

This is Christ casting 7 devils out of Mary Magdalene. Luke 8:2

Jesus walks on the sea Matthew 14:22-33

Calls Peter & Andrew to be "fishers of men" Matthew 4:18-20

Luke 8:49-56

Raises a "ruler of the synagogue's" daughter from the dead.

This was a new statue we hadn't seen of Christ called, "Homeless Jesus"

Notice the marks on His feet.

Tiberius 

Taken in 2011

We were surprise to see the same tree again. 

2019

John & Jan having a quiet moment by the Sea of Galilee

Sea of Galilee 

Sea of Galilee at sunset taken in 2011

These were boats we rode in on the sea in 2011

Dinner with Neomi and Gil

It was nice to finally meet Neomi, as we've heard so much about her. They are a 

lovely couple and we really enjoyed our evening with them.

Qumran is best known as the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Qumran was established 134 -104 BC. It is thought about 200 people once lived here. In 1947 local Bedouins discovered a clay jar containing 7 scrolls in a cave. After changing hands several times they reached scholars who discovered the oldest known existing copy of the Old Testament.

If you look to the right of Russ you can see a small hole in the mountain. 

This is where the scrolls were found.

Scenes along the Dead Sea

En Gedi

En Gedi literally means "spring of the kid." It is an oasis and nature reserve near Masada & Qumran Caves. It was a nice little hike, a mile in & a mile out.

 It's believed that David hid from King Saul here. 1 Samuel 23:29

 Masada

Masada is a rugged natural fortress in the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It was built as a palace complex by Herod the Great, King of Judaea from 37-4 B.C.

After Judaea became a province of the Roman Empire, it was the refuge of the last survivors of the Jewish revolt, who chose death rather than slavery when the Roman besiegers broke through their defenses.

 These were large store rooms where they could store food and supplies 

to last them long periods of time.

This was one of the rooms Herod entertained people.

Overlooking the Dead Sea from Masada

Russ standing in the Dead Sea

Jan amongst beautiful flowers

Russ & I at the Temple Mount standing in front of The Dome of the Rock. The Dome is an Islamic shrine. It was initially built in 691 BC, but destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 BC. It was rebuilt in 1022-1023.

The rock over which the shrine was built is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. The Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, is believed to have ascended into heaven from the site. The Jews believe it was here that Abraham prepared his son Isaac to be sacrificed.

This was one of my favorite pictures taken in 2011.

I admire other faiths who truly live & follow their beliefs & pray all people will do the same.

This statue/painting were in the Church of Flagellation

We stopped off at Jimmie's and Omar's for some souvenirs. 

Both of them cater to members of our church.

Omar

We had a 15 hour flight back to LA & then flew home from there.
I saw this beautiful view of Mt. Shasta out the airplane.

Another beautiful view out the window.

Crater Lake, Oregon from the air.

Elder & Sister Whiting

We were home from Israel one day and had to drive down to Longview, Wa. for a special Conference  for 6 Stakes. Elder Quinton Cook, Elder Patrick Kearon, & Elder Scott Whiting were present.
Russ & 5 other Stake Presidents had lunch with the brethren and a leadership meeting. Next they had a meeting for all the Stake Auxiliary Leaders.
 In the evening we had a nice dinner with them, which included the Stake Presidents wives.
 Elder Kearon told a story about calling a new Stake President.  He and the other General Authority he was with, couldn't get a confirmation on the two they were thinking about. They finally decided to meet with their two wives.  After meeting with one of them they knew immediately who it should be. I loved that story!
Saturday evening each of these 3 men and their wives put on an Adult Fireside that the 6 Stakes could watch in their homes over satellite. We stayed in a hotel that night as we had to drive the Whitings to Elma the next morning. He presided over a special Stake Conference for our Stake. It was SO nice and he was SO personable to everyone. Following the Conference they came to our home for lunch & then we drove them to the Portland airport. I loved visiting with Elder Whiting's wife, Jeri.
I've learned over the years that these men & their families have many trials in their own families just like you and me. It was a wonderful day!!

Sunday at our Stake Conference our Stake RS Presidency was released. I have been serving in this calling for the last 6 years and have LOVED it! Heather, sitting on my right was the President. We've gone through two other counselors & two other secretaries. I will miss serving with Heather! She truly is one of the most Christ like people I've ever met and I've learned so much from her.

Its been an amazing last couple of weeks going to Israel & having this special Conference.

John and Jan were great hosts and we're so appreciative of all the good meals, snacks, taxi service 

and knowledge they shared with us. 

Life is good:)