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| Chalk Block at Riverwoods |
SPRINGVILLE MUSEUM OF ART ANNUAL QUILT SHOW
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| Sheriff Stetson 2025 |
"In 2024 I was blessed with a new adorable grandson names Stetson. With a name like that I knew I needed to make him a quilt with a hat. This is appliqués with embroidery and piping on the hat. "
Christi Babbitt, Mapleton, UT
NO ALOHA O HAWAI'I (FOR LOVE OF HAWAI'I) 2026
"My visits to the Hawaiian Islands have created a love in me for their beauty, people, and culture. I combined this with my love of hand sewing to create this quilt using traditional Hawaiian hand-quilting techniques. This quilt depicts the following flowers found in Hawaii: Red Ginger, White Ginger, Protea, Orchid, Night Blooming Cereus, Pua Kukui, Heliconia, Lokelani and Ulu.
Helen Butler, Alpine, UT
LAVENDER AND SAGE 2026
"This hand-quilted quilt was first conceived as an orphan block. I next added multiple borders of piece work plus lots of white space to showcase hand quilting. The name is inspired by fresh herbs of lavender and sage."
Rhonda Montgomery, Orem, UT. JOY TO THE WORLD
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| JOY TO THE WORLD 2025 |
"This is made with machine appliqué for appliquéing the pieces down. It was also machine pieced and long arm quilted. It is highlighted with some embroidery as well"
THE UNRAVELING 2026
"I created this quilt to express my feelings concerning the unraveling of the fabric of society we as a nation are currently experiencing.
The sorrowful drawing of the Statue of Liberty is from Craiyon, which I painted with acrylic paint. The patchwork is a collection of scraps leftover from assorted sewing projects. The use of these scraps seemed appropriate to represent the diversity of our country and how together we can become kind and welcoming again."
The following is an exhibit in the museum:
Andrew Smith
Mixed media sculpture
CONCERTS
BYU VOCAL POINT AND NOTEWORTHY
We had a wonderful night in the park - a little hot until the sun went down. Vocal Point is a 7-9 member, male a cappella group at BYU. Noteworthy is a 7-9 member, female a cappella group at BYU.
It was lively, entertaining and just great music.
LINDON Concert in the Park
FIRE AND RAIN TRIBUTE BAND
John Denver & James Taylor/Carole King Tribute
What an evening down Memory Lane. We could not have asked for a more beautiful night. Some of my favorite songs from High School and our early married days.
MILLENNIAL CHOIRS AND ORCHESTRAS
Over 500 singers and orchestra members performed at the BYU Education Week Concert celebrating AMERICA 250
The choir members came from Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Texas, California and Missouri. It was a delightful patriotic evening. My sister, Pam joined us for the concert and we had a wonderful evening together.
One of the songs performed was GEORGE WASHINGTON
Music & Text by Janeen Brady with additional text by Ashley Stewart
George Washington was a very good man,
A very good man indeed!
He could have told a lie but he said,
"Uh-uh! The truth is what we need"
An honorable man for his work was sure;
A an of great faith, for his heart was pure.
He was a very good, very good,
Very good, very good man indeed!
George Washington was a very brave man,
A very brave man indeed!
He cold have stayed at home, but he said,
"Uh-uh! A gen'ral's what we need."
He wouldn't give in to adversity;
His strength led his men on to victory.
He was a very brave, very brave,
Very brave, very brave man indeed!
George Washington was a prayerful man,
A prayerful man indeed!
He could have lost his faith, but he said,
"Uh-uh! God's help is what we need."
A steadfast man, for his heart was rue;
He turned to the Lord to know what to do.
He was a prayerful, prayerful,
Prayerful, prayerful man indeed.
George Washington was a very wise man,
A very wise man indeed!
He could have been the king, but he said,
"Uh-uh! A king's not what we need."
He wouldn't be treated like royalty;
He wouldn't be called "Your Majesty"
He was a very wise, very wise,
Very wise man indeed!
If you have not seen the movie YOUNG WASHINGTON it is worth seeing. Gives a broader perspective of Washington and events of the early days of our Country.
CHALK THE BLOCK FOR CHARITY UTAH
It rained the night before we went and many of the chalk art murals were washed away. You could see parts of them and could tell they were really well done. Below are a few of the amazing pictures that were chalked on the parking lot.
The first one was a photo op and Russ was the star of the picture.
It was a nice evening and so fun to enjoy all of the amazing artwork.
The theme was Holidays.
HIGH SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE
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| Grand Champion 2025 |
During that time she started throwing up and then laid her bike down on a curve. She did not let any of that stop her and she continued riding. She did really good for her first race. It was so fun cheering her on and watching the skill and precision of all of the riders.
We had the opportunity to drive to Idaho Falls for a Business Meeting and decided it would be a good time to visit family and attend the meeting. It had been two years since we had been to Idaho Falls.
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| Rosie |
We hope we can attend more of these events in the coming weeks.
It is not the kind of riding I would ever attempt - these kids are tough and brave and have sheer grit.
IDAHO FALLS
We had the most delightful visit with Russ's sister, Marcia and her husband, Dave - and we can't forget the two cutest dogs.
It was so nice staying in their home and catching up on family and so many memories.
A few months ago, a former missionary companion of Russ from 55 years ago reached out to him. He lives in Rigby, just outside of Idaho Falls and serves in the Temple Presidency of the Idaho Falls Temple. Russ let him know we would be in town on that Saturday and they made arrangements for us to meet for lunch. Cliff and Carol Beesley became quick friends and we had the best time with them - three hours at lunch and could have stayed longer but we needed to get on the road for home. Amazing how 50 years can go by and they picked up right where they left off. We had so much in common with the things we had done in our lives. We found that we had many friends in common from Europe - they served in the Berlin Mission and we knew several people they had served with. Such a small world.
MELALEUCA ADVANCE
We attended a product open house on Friday afternoon and then a Business meeting on Saturday morning to learn the latest information on our favorite Shopping Club. We have shopped for 38 years at the Wellness Store and it continues to be the best value and quality for the products we use.
Melaleuca was just awarded #2 by Forbes as BEST BRAND FOR VALUE, Quality for the Price with COSTCO voted #1.
This was out of millions of companies being recognized. The study was based on 4.7 million ratings by about 160,000 consumers that reviewed more than 5,500 brands between June 2025 and May 2026.
Forbes defined "VALUE" as "having the best quality at the best price".
The slide below shows the categories of the products that are available to shop. It is an added bonus to go to Idaho Falls and get to shop at the Melaleuca Store. I like the convenience of my products shipped to my home - wouldn't be without them, but it is also nice to go into a store that is filled with healthy and chemical free products that I can enjoy shopping - I have to stay away from the soap and laundry aisles at stores because of allergies to fragrance.
You cannot be on campus for a week and not eat at the Creamery! Best Hamburgers and Ice Cream to end the week.
We attended another class - "Achieving Personal Peace through Divine Principles in the Constitution by Hilary J. Weber from Frisco Texas
Now it is not common that the
According to the laws and "I see divine inspiration in the
I don't cook the week we are at Education Week. We stop for dinner each night on our way home. We wanted to try a Salvadorian restaurant in Downtown Provo and so we ventured out to give it a try. It was a little family run restaurant that looked like something you would find in El Salvador. We ordered Papusas and Tamales. SO DELICIOUS! We were stuffed with 2 Papusas and 1 Tamale each. They were so big and we ate it all! We talked to a young couple who were eating there. I thought he was showing her what to order and found out he served a mission in the Fort Worth Texas Mission Spanish speaking and ate Papusas and Tamales regularly and she was from Mexico and actually telling him about the food. They were really cute and we will try what they ordered next time.
Getting ready to roast tomatoes and peppers from my garden to make a pasta sauce. I just halve the tomatoes, add chopped onion and red and green peppers and roast at 400* about 30 min. Then I purée in my blender or food processor and use as a really good sauce. I add Italian herbs and a little salt.
Neighborhood Ladies Lunch. It is always fun getting together with friends and neighbors for lunch. Emily and Preslee joined me. It is a nice time to get to know each other better and have some great conversations. One of the few times I am not with Russ! haha. He goes to lunch once a month with a group of men in the neighborhood as well.
My 85 year old cousin, Shirley fell and broke her femur and was in the hospital for almost the whole month of August. She had recently had a knee replacement and was scheduled for the other knee in September. That will not be happening at this time. We visited her several times in Salt Lake. She has always been our favorite cousin since I was a little girl. We visit her every year on Christmas Day. She is single and has dementia and she really enjoyed our visits. She does not remember the here and now but she loves to talk about the past and all of the memories. We loved hearing her stories about family. While she was in the hospital she was diagnosed with Kidney cancer. We do not think she will be with us much longer and are grateful for the time we have been able to be with her this month.
I will conclude this month's BLOG with a special Temple story I experienced this past week.
AUGUST WALKS
With Love,
BYU EDUCATION WEEK
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| BYU CREAMERY |
We were able to Host again this year and we were able to attend a diverse range of classes. So much to take in and enjoy.
We were able to attend a special class on Monday. THE MIRACLE AT GAPYEONG by Brad Taylor
He shared his story of being a Mission President in South Korea and being introduced to the story of the Utah Soldiers Monument in South Korea close to the North Korean border. "Jesus is a God of Miracles"
He and his wife went and visited the memorial that honors the miraculous 1951 stand of the Utah National Guard's 213th Field Artillery Battalion during the Korean War.
Roughly 240 southern Utah soldiers found themselves isolated on the front lines near Gapyeong. They were there to be artillery support to the allied soldiers positioned ahead at the North Korean enemy line, but with critical miscommunications there was no buffer between the Utah soldiers and the enemy.
They were attacked by an estimated 4, 000 Chinese and North Korean troops be outnumbered 16 to 1.
Through fierce artillery fire and tactical counteroffensives, the Utah guardsmen successfully repelled the enemy force. Astoundingly, not a single Utah soldier was Killed in the intense battle.
Many of the Chineses and North Korean soldiers that had been taken prisoner were asked how they could be so completely defeated by such a small battalion of only 240 young men? Their reply was "we shoot them, but they don't fall down."
One of the man spiritual aspects of this valiant group's battle was that this 213th Battalion had been promised by the president of the St. George Utah Temple that they would return home safely if they lived true and faithful to their God. They were recognized as a standout group who lived their lives with exactness and courage.
Brad Taylor came home and decided he wanted to make a documentary movie about them. He met with the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Pres. Oaks actually knew many of those men who served as he grew up in that area of Southern Utah and served in the National Guard. He was all in on having a movie made. He assigned Elder Jeffery R. Holland to assist. Pres. Holland was not well at the time and had just suffered the loss of his wife. He lived long enough to be a part of the documentary and to see the project finished. You can watch the 12 minute documentary on YouTube: The Miracle at Gapyeong.
The Photo above is a satellite picture of North and South Korea at night. South Korea is one of the most Christian, God-Loving and Faith-filled Countries in the world.
North Korea is the extreme opposite
South Korea is what Liberty & Freedom look like. Think of a couple of the basic freedoms we enjoy, but almost take for granted? I love how the Lord is Light and can shine bright in our lives.
She recommended four Books that she used for much of her lectures.
I really enjoyed her discussion on The Principle of Majority Rule of Law
Rule of Divine Law Principle of Majority Rule of Law
Irrevocable = Predictable Majority rule = through layers
Applicable = Equality
Outcomes = safety, freedom + "Congress is expected to frame for progress the future, the president is expected to act in the present, and the courts
are expected to assess the past."
voice of the people desireth
anything contrary to that which is
right; but it is common for the
lesser part of the people to desire
that which is not right-
Mosiah 29:26
Rule of Divine Law Rule of Mortal Law
Written down = Predictable
Applicable = Equality
Outcomes = safety, freedom +
progress
constitution of the people, vital purpose of the entire
which I have suffered to be Constitution. We are to be
maintained for the rights and governed by law and not by
protection of all flesh, according individuals, and our loyalty is to
to just and holy principles the Constitution and its principles
Doctrine & Covenants 101:77 and processes, not to any office
holder. In this way, all persons are
to be equal before the law."
Pres. Dallin H. Oaks
Everything we do and experience is based upon divine or Mortal Law. Our hearts beat according to laws, or truths, that govern it. Russell M. Nelson, renowned Heart Surgeon said, "if we could discover those laws and then obey them, the results wold be positive. It was the very idea that absolute truths, or divine laws, exist - and that following them would produce desirable results - that gave me new hope about discovering ways to repair a defective heart." Heart of the Matter, Russell M. Nelson
One of the highlights every afternoon was hearing T. C. Christensen, filmmaker and director share insights into some of his movies. Miracles and Lessons from Making True, Faith-Based Films
If you want to watch uplifting insightful movies you should check out his movies.
He shared Only a Stonecutter: The Story of John Rowe Moyle
The Fighting Preacher; Standout: The Ben Kjar Story; Love, Kennedy and The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd.
I did not get as many tomatoes this year as I would have liked, but the ones I got had a great flavor.
TEMPLES
TEXAS FRIENDS INVITATION
We have waited many years to have a Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on this side of the Metroplex. We have watched the progress on the building of it, love the design for this area and it is finished! We look forward to coming to Texas and would love to take anyone who would like to go with us. It will be opened to the public from November 5-21 except Sundays. It takes about 1 hour for the tour. Please let us know if you would like to COME AND SEE with us and we will coordinate our schedule with you. This will be a special experience for all who attend.
We serve in the Lindon Temple every Tuesday morning. I am getting more comfortable with all of my assignments and truly enjoy this time every week.
We decided to attend the Temple on Friday evening as patrons.
When we go for an Endowment Session we take a name of an ancestor who has died and do their Temple work for them. There are a few things associated with the name that we have to remember.
I was really looking forward to being in the Temple after our time at BYU Education Week and learning more about Moses and the purpose of the Temple. While we waited in the Chapel I read from Psalms in the Old Testament and just enjoyed the peace and quiet.
As we entered the Instruction Room I went to sit down and the Sister next to me had on really strong perfume and I knew I could not sit there. The front row was empty and so I moved forward. The officiating Sister smiled at me and noticed we had on the same dress and said, "cute dress". I smiled and we laughed. Just as the session was starting I realized in my quiet pondering in the chapel and the entering of the room my mind went blank and I could not remember the information that had been given me regarding my family member. I started to panic. At the beginning they ask "if anyone has forgotten the information, please raise your hand." That is when PRIDE set in and I was not going to do that - I would pray that I would remember it. It totally sidetracked me from having the experience I was hoping for. I prayed that I would receive the name. During the instruction we watch a Video on the Creation, Fall and Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Video has closed captioning at the bottom of the screen. I prayed that the name would appear just for me on the screen among the letters. I could see certain letters in my mind glowing - well that DID NOT HAPPEN. Then I am thinking, I am telling the Lord how to answer my prayer. I tried to remember something similar that would spark my memory. NOTHING. I was trying to figure out how I was going to get through this without being embarrassed. PRIDE AGAIN. I knew they would ask one more time if anyone had forgotten the information - I had a second chance. I was praying really hard to have recall and then it came to me - this is not about perfection, there is already a system in place to help you, they will ask again if you need help and you can accept the help.
So, the question came. "If you have forgotten the information, please stand". The movie stopped and I looked around and saw others had forgotten and needed help. This does not happen very often. I then realized that I was not alone and that I could stand and receive assistance. The sister next to me then stood. The Lord answered my prayer through others. I received courage and strength through them and did not need to be embarrassed. More often than not the Lord answers prayers through other people. Jesus Christ had me covered the whole time. He was with me and used what was already in place to solve my lack of memory by having others need the same help. It was a small thing, but once again showed me that HE is always there and mindful of each one of us. We just need to ask.
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| neighbors grapes |
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| Setting Sun |
With Love,
Russ and Linda
