FEBRUARY 2026 - Birthday, Valentines, Wedding and BYU sports

 

Happy 70th Birthday

I begin this month with a bit of nostalgia as I welcomed in my 70th year.  For some reason it brings a new realization of aging.  My 60's were some of the most adventurous of my life.  I retired from my work with The Church Educational System, served a Mission in the Alpine German Speaking Mission giving me the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful people of my life and survived Covid-19 with the rest of the world.  We sold our home of 28 years and after 42 years in Arlington, Texas we moved to Lindon, UT.  We moved to The Czech Republic for three months and served at Cumorah Academy as the Advisory Couple.  We celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary and enjoyed many gatherings with friends and family at our new home.  We have traveled and were able to attend many BYU sporting events, music performance, Religious Symposiums, and checked off many bucket list places.  

Many of you have followed these past years as I shared most of these adventures.  It has been a project dear to my heart and has become a part of my personal history.  I am not sure what the next decade will bring - I don't think it will be filled with as many adventures that will be so life altering, but I look forward to new experiences with friends and family and continuing to serve in our Church.  

70TH BIRTHDAY

Having a Birthday the same week as Valentine's Day has some advantages for several days of celebrations.  I planned the day and told Russ he could not ask any questions - he just needed to come along for the ride and enjoy it.  I was afraid he would not go if he knew what I planned:).  

We started the afternoon at the movie SOLO MIO.  As it turned out we both really enjoyed it - love stories filmed in Italy are usually a win!

We then went to our favorite, Texas Roadhouse for an early dinner.  It turned out to be a wonderful day that we both enjoyed.  Who doesn't like a Steak Dinner.

My Sister, Pam has her Birthday on February 12 - the day after mine and it is so nice to live close to her so that we can celebrate together.  She was not happy when I was born.  For many years growing up I heard the story of how I almost ruined her birthday party when she turned 9 years old.  He party was planned on the day I was born.  She was so unhappy that our Mother was heading to the hospital when her friends would be coming for a party.  A kind neighbor came to the rescue and took care of the party for her.  I always had cherry pie for my birthday instead of cake and she had the Birthday Cake.  I still prefer the Cherry Pie or Cheesecake.  

This year Pam and I celebrated at Tucanos Brazilian Grill with Russ, Emily and her friend, Joe.  Great food and company to enjoy the afternoon.  

VALENTINES DAY

The week of fun continued as we celebrated Valentines Day.  Emily gave me my favorite flower - Tulips!  They are so beautiful and the first sign that Spring is coming.  

I made a Chocolate cream pie topped with cherries with a drizzle of chocolate - these are Russ's two favorite flavors combined together.  Fifty-One years ago on Valentine's Day Russ gave me flowers, we went to a BYU Basketball game and he told me that he loved me for the first time.  I have been making him chocolate and/or cherry pies for a very long time!

This year we celebrated at a BYU Men's Volleyball Match.  It was filled with so much energy and BYU won the match - always makes for a good night with a win.  We even got to say hello to longtime Texas friends, David and Susan Von Bose.  They were one of the first couples we met when we moved to Texas.  They moved to Utah about 8 years ago and enjoy BYU sports just like we do.  

We ended the night at Culver's for an Ice Cream treat - Chocolate covered strawberries in frozen Custard with Hot Fudge.  It was a great way to end a wonderful week!

Delicious food, romantic movie, flowers, new ear buds to be able to listen to e-books, and time with friends and family - It was the BEST!

LOGAN

Logan planned for over a month that he was going to save his money and order a 6 ft. long Subway Sandwich and eat it within an hour with his friends watching him online as he ate it.  He scheduled the date and time and would only tell me that I needed to help him with a special experience he had planned and could I be available.  I did not know what I was committing to but I was in.  He was so excited the few days ahead as he anticipated putting his plan in action.  He found out Subway no longer did their large catering 6 ft. subs but could do 6 individual footlong ones.  He ordered his sandwiches and then texted me it was time for the pick-up.  He spent $70. for this experience.  I can think of a lot better food to spend that money on, but this was his dream.  So with friends watching and gaming with him, he began the quest.  Well, he did not do it in 1 hour - but by the end of the day he was able to finish them all.  He has not requested a subway for the past two weeks!

It was fun to see him organize, plan, save and put it all together even with friends.  His happiness was worth the challenge.  

WEDDING BELLS

One of the benefits of serving as Senior Missionaries is getting to know so many amazing young people that we served with.  We have enjoyed getting to be a part of their lives the past 5 years and love when we get to gather for special occasions.  

Mckenzie and Benjamin were married on February 6th.  We served with Mckenzie when we were in Freiburg Germany.  She is a ray of Sunshine and we loved P-Days and District Meetings when we were together.  

It was so nice to spend time with Spencer and Cambree (one of her companions) at the reception and also the Andreasons who we served with.  

So nice to share in their special day.

Spencer and Cambree Duce

UVU MUSEUM OF ART

MUSIC ROOM

One of my desires the past few years was to see the UVU Museum of Art that is housed in the former home of Bruce and Melanie Bastian.  I wanted to see the house as much as the museum.  Bruce and I both grew up in Twin Falls, ID and  our families knew each other well.  

Melanie Laycock Bastian was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and spent her childhood on the family farm where she learned the virtues of hard work, humility, and gratitude - all attributes that guided the remainder of her life.  

She and Bruce were married in 1976 and had 4 sons.  They built there home in Orem and then they divorced in 1993 and she resided there the rest of her life.  She passed away August 29, 2016 from leukemia.

At her core, Melanie lived the principle of charity, and found purpose and happiness in giving of her time and resources to numerous local charities, church organizations, educational boards, and community associations.  She was a champion for several causes, including women and children in need, music and performing arts, and public education.  She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Utah Valley University.  She preferred serving behind the scenes, and felt most content in supporting the success of others.  

DINING ROOM

Melanie's four sons donated Lakemount Estate to UVU for use as an art museum in 2017.  It continues to offer free admission and free public programming.  

In the permanent collect is the Oscar Wilde room.  While he is most known for his plays he was an accomplished Poet and his poems were put to music and also Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted scenes to express the beauty found in the poetry.

"Le Jardin", by Oscar Wilde

The lily's withered chalice falls

Around its rod of dusty gold,

And from the beech trees on the wold

The last wood pigeon coos and calls.

the gaudy leonine sunflower

Hangs black and barren on its stalk,

And down the windy garden-walk

The dead leaves scatter, - hour by hour.

Pale privet-petals white as milk

Are blown into a snowy mass:

The roses lie upon the grass

Like little shreds of crimson silk.  

Also on the main floor is the artwork from the Bastian private collection.  Many showcased women working in various circumstances.

The woman hanging nets by the Sea

One of my favorites was of the women helping to harvest the wheat.  

Upstairs houses the curated collection that UVU administers.  We were not allowed to take photos of that collection.  It was a collection of art from a Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha from the 1860's  - 1930's and was fabulous.  His art was used mainly for theatre posters, biscuit and chocolate tins and commissioned works.  

We had a fabulous time and look forward to returning to see the new works of art that will be displayed.  Another nice place to take friends when they come and visit!

COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS

DIE SCHONE MULLERIN

The Fair Maid of the Mill

Song Cycle, Op. 25 . Franz Schubert (1823)

Poetry by Wilhelm Muller

Brian Stucki, tenor  -  Vedrana Subotic', piano

We had a delightful evening with Emily and Joe going out for a delicious dinner at the new Magleby's Pleasant Grove and then attending the musical in German with English translation of The Fair Maid of the Mill at The Covey Center in Provo.  

I felt like I was in a concert hall in Vienna Austria but with the added benefit of the English translation.  It was fun to hear the German again and to actually be able to understand some of the words!

The music was superb and so beautiful to listen to.  Brian Stucki is a music professor at Snow College and Vedrana Subotic' teaching music at the University of Utah - both very accomplished musicians.  Oh how we enjoy being surrounded by so many opportunity’s for cultural experiences.  

PRESIDENT DALLIN H. OAKS 

We had the opportunity to hear our new Prophet, Dallin H. Oaks when he gave his first public address since being sustained as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when he spoke at BYU this month.  

I liked this quote: "We are all a work in progress . . .We need to be patient with one another, and occasionally, even with ourselves."

He left us with Four Impressions that will draw us closer to our Savior:

FRIENDS

We ended the month attending a concert in Layton, UT with the Davis County Celebration Orchestra.  Our good friend, Sharon Lloyd is a cellist in the Orchestra and we enjoy when we get to go see her perform.  The music tonight was from the Scandinavian countries and was so delightful.  One of the pieces contained the original Finish music of the hymn Be Still My Soul and was so beautiful.  

Sharon Lloyd, Cellist

A special surprise was having my dear friend Lisa Brinkerhoff living just a few miles from the concert and picking her up and taking her with us.  Just like old times in Arlington.  It was the cherry on top of the cream being with her and ending the month with enjoyable music and friends.  I am looking forward to spending more time with the Brinkerhoff's in the coming days.  

LINDON TEMPLE OPEN HOUSE

We would like to invite our friends and family who will be in Utah anytime from March 12 - April 11 to come and visit the Lindon Utah Temple while it is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC before it is dedicated on May 3, 2026.  

If you will let us know when you will be here, we would love to have you for lunch or dinner or just a snack  - whatever works with your schedules. I already have the menus ready! We live just a short walk from the Temple and would love to host anyone who would like to come and see with us.  

For the first time in our lives we have had the privilege of watching the construction of a Temple from the excavation to the foundation pour to the steel beams being erected to the stone walls and then the beautiful stain glass windows and the spires and then the landscaping to this time of completion.  We call it OUR TEMPLE - along with all of our neighbors!  Russ and I look forward to serving in the Temple starting on May 5th.  It will be a new experience for us and we know it will truly be a blessing in our lives.  COME AND SEE!

RECIPE

Just tried this new recipe and had to share - just in time for all things Green in March - they are SO Good!

FROG BALLS (Pickled Brussels Sprouts)

1 lb. Bussels sprouts

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup water

2 Tbl. sugar

1 tsp salt

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp black peppercorns

Directions:

1.  Trim Brussels sprouts and remove any loose outer leaves.

2.  Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch Brussels sprouts for 8-10 min. until just tender.

3.  Drain and let cool slightly.

4.  Pack Brussels sprouts into a clean jar with garlic, mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, and peppercorns.

5.  In a saucepan, heat vinegar, water, sugar, and salt until fully dissolved.

6.  Pour hot brine over Brussels sprouts, fully submerging them.

7.  Let cool to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate.

Tangy, crunchy, and shockingly addictive.  I add them to my salads or eat straight out of the jar.  

The Dark days of Winter are coming to an end and we look forward to Spring.  In Utah we are still praying for snow but those days are numbered.  The Taxes are filed, Russ had another hand procedure and is recovering and life is good.  February really was a special month for us and filled with many blessings.  

May Hope and Peace abide in your hearts.

Linda and Russ