Some Last Words

We had broadcast Stake Conference for Southern California a couple of weeks ago. It was a good day because for the first time ever the boys were good enough that we were able to stay in the cultural hall the whole time (minus several jaunts out with Jack). And it was a great treat that the prophet spoke! He's never spoken at one of those broadcasts before. He looked like he'd lost a lot of weight and like he was really fading, but his talk was one of my favorites I'd ever heard. It seemed so focused and powerful. But maybe that was because he really had my attention. I hadn't woken up that morning expecting to hear the prophet speak.
He spoke about marriage, which is so timely, with people seeming to divorce as often as they buy new cars. He talked about the permanence of the marriage covenant. He repeated a quote: "Love is not blind. It sees more. And because it sees more, it is willing to see less." He said how wonderful to have a partner who forgives your faults and focuses on what is good in you. He said a happy marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is a sincere concern for the comfort and happiness of the other person.
He'd been asked about communication. He replied simply that communication was talking. That couple should spend a lot of time talking and their talking will be most effective when voices are soft.
He extended that council to parents towards their children. He said that parent's voices in the home should be as God's voice. And as Elijah learned, God's voice was not in the whirlwind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but in the still small voice.
I think we left that conference a different family. We were touched and changed. And we were so glad we were present and alert and not distracted from hearing what was one of his last addresses. We're so happy for him that he's reunited with that great lady (and one of my personal heroes) Margorie. There's no doubt where they both are.

Cole asks the darndest questions

Cole was a bit slow on putting large sentences together, but he took a huge leap about six months ago and it's been interesting seeing a bit of what goes on in his head. For a while he was asking such obvious questions I was at a total loss as to how to answer them. Like:

Cole: Mom, why do elephants live?
Me: uhhh.....???

This one came yesterday.
Cole: Mom, what are 'boobies?'
Me: (Panic. How can I give out the least information possible.) Where did you hear that word?
Cole: Is it a scary trap?
Me: Yep! It's a very tricky trap that is hidden. (Phew!)

Tal's Bo Staff Skills

O.K. Tal doesn't have Bo Staff skills. But his studio does offer a Bo Staff class. (There definitely is that element.) Here he is practicing some of his karate skills for his yellow belt test tomorrow.

Clint's promotion

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Christmas Day

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Navy Children's Christmas Party

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Tierrasanta Home Light Display

In the desire for efficiency, I've decided to create my blogs (at least those with photos) on Publisher, so that I can print them out for our scrapbook. The non-efficient part is--now you have to click on the picture in order to read the text.