Happy March to the people I love most in the world! Tonight is just going to be a short blog - we got home from Church in time to make some banana bread and put finishing touches on our Temple Prep lesson for tonight. We had a young couple who joined the Church just a year ago - they are amazing with 5 small children (they didn't bring the kids), a young man who is being ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood next Sunday, and his father who joined us tonight.  We have another young man who will be meeting with us next week.  We had a great discussion and were able to keep the meeting to just an hour.  Dad has an Institute Conference tonight so my time in the office is limited but wanted to share a few important items . . .

1st -   Happy Birthday to Grant!       

His birthday is on Saturday, March 8th.  I have so many fun memories of Grant - Grammie Camp, Chicago visits, driving in the Liberty High School parking lot, and traipsing through the Rome Colloseum last summer.    I talked to him earlier this week and he told me that he had to "channel his inner Grammie" to iron his shirt to wear to a wedding he was going to with his beautiful friend Jordan.  Looks like he did a great job😀.  Love you so much, Grant, and hope you have a wonderful day! 

2nd - Kim (and Chris) "Caved" ....  

And Blythe got the puppy she has been dreaming of 😃

He is a Golden Retriever mix and so far without a name.  He is 4 months old and I am sure we will have lots of fun puppy stories in the near future.

This reminds me a little of my favorite story this week - In my group meeting for school on Wednesday we were discussing some of our reading assignments and one section was about fake news, the internet, cell phones, etc., and how they can overtake our lives if we let them.  My friend, Aimee was telling us about how she wanted a dog (their family dog had died) but her husband was very reluctant.  So, she said every morning when he was in the shower, she would get his cell phone and type in "cute puppies", "dog treats", "dog toys", "puppy tricks", and of course, his Facebook feed then became all about puppies. Two weeks later her husband asked her if she still wanted a puppy because he had changed his mind and decided he wanted one too - 😂

3rd - Family This n' That

 I am so grateful we were able to spend a few days last October with Francie and Ray.  Ray passed away early this morning and we will really miss him.  He and Francie began dating when they were in High School so from my perspective he has always been a part of our family.  Jenny wasn't sure when the services would be, but Dad and I will definitely be going.  I will keep you posted ❤

This is a Hawaiian war club and in the midst of our decluttering this week it fell off of JiChan's desk and hit him in the head while he was sorting through things on the floor - He wanted to make sure I showed you how much blood he lost 

 I promise it wasn't me! 

  I didn't do it 😀

This is Sayre looking all grown up!  He had new Church clothes and is growing out his hair a little on top - it makes him look older 😥

AND thank you Kate and Jonathan for always sending me great Sunday Selfies!

Also, a well-deserved thank-you to Eilis and Sammi for always being willing to check-on, feed, and play with Sendai when we are at the Temple. 

She thinks she is queen for a day when anyone walks in the front door and pays attention to her.

        

                        Grant Ellsworth - Mar 8

                       Kimberly Ellsworth - Mar 21

                       Benjamin Hopkins - Mar 24

This morning I watched a short video of Elder Holland speaking to a group in California who had lost their homes in the recent Los Angeles Fires. Attached is the link - it is only a couple of minutes long but so good! Elder Holland

We love you all so much!  Please have a wonderful week ❤