Easter--2011

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. Sunday evening we had all of our Utah family for dinner. I prepared a ham and everyone brought something. We had a FHE and it was amazing how well Talisa, Grant and James knew the Easter story. Little Kira identified Jesus in every picture. Julie and Jason were responsible for the Easter egg hunt which was fun and exciting. We missed our family that couldn't be with us and hope that they had a good weekend.

In church John sang in a quartet and we sang with the "hymnbook choir." Richard Smith spoke on repentence then Pres. Steve Smith spoke on the atonement. They both brought the spirit. I played the piano for Primary the last two weeks. Monday morning was the Elijah Choir Easter program. We sang 7-8 numbers and Pres. Simmons taught us from the scriptures. "Come Unto Christ" and "This Is the Christ" by the men were particularly moving.

We had call back students last week in the morning then John helped me do some English research in the afternoons so I'm getting some nice citations for my English families too. I'm learning a lot from him! This week and next we will have Church Service Missionaries. We are getting a little tired of the cold weather, snow, and rain and would love to see some blue sky. The flowers are blooming beautifully.

BYU for Carl Bloch Exhibit

Saturday, John and I had a delightful trip to BYU to see the Carl Bloch exhibit of his religious art. It was truly inspiring to see the orginal works because we are so familiar with many of them. It was a lovely day with the trees in bloom. This picture shows the Carilon Tower.

The Museum of Arts.

Magnolia trees in bloom in front of the Harris Fine Arts Center.

It was fun to walk around campus and reminisce. We have a lot of precious memories there. We then drove around Provo and took the back roads out to Lindon. The freeway is in major construction like they did in Salt Lake Valley for the 2002 Olympics. In the evening we attended a nice stake dinner and program.

Ruby Marie Rogers' Blessing

John and I spent 36 delightful hours in Denver on April 9-10, 2011, for Ruby Marie Rogers' baby blessing. The plane we were scheduled to have Friday evening had maintainence problems and after 6 hours of waiting the flight was cancelled and we were put on a flight at 7:00 AM Saturday morning. John with three-year-old Mordecai. Mordecai is a little chatter box who loves cars, trains, and balls. We enjoyed playing with them on the green belt. The weather was great for flying a kite.

Emily's hair is now very long. She reads well with expression and is loves life and family!

Ruby smiles at times and is a snuggly, sweet baby!

Karen Bainbridge created this exquiste heritage blessing (wedding dress according to Emily) ensemble for Ruby. It is made of batiste (100% fine, soft cotton), beaded smocking on the dress and bonnett, large and tiny tucks, embroidery, inserted lace, rosettes, etc. It is to be cherished for generations.

Emily

Desi holding Ruby in their family room with the new fireplace and the TV. The whole house is

beautifully decorated. They are truly making it their own as they update and add new features. Mordecai at church doing quiet work while waiting for the meeting to begin.

Mike and Desi before the meeting in which Michael blessed Ruby with the assistance of both grandfathers and friends in the ward. It was a delight to be in the Gospel Doctrine class that Mike taught and to see his teaching expertise and feel his testimony.

Kathryn Ann and Ruby Marie.

Mike, Desi, Emily, Mordecai, and Ruby. Notice how bright and alert Ruby is.

The family with the Rogers and Bainbridge grandparents.

Karen, Felicia, and Richard Bainbride with Mike, Desi, and Ruby. Felicia graduates from BYU next week and has been accepted into a graduate social work program at BYU in the fall. She is currently working at the State Mental Institution.

John with a sleepy Ruby after her big day!

It was a precious time to play and to love our grandchildren in their own home and to talk face-to-face with those we love so much. Mike and Desi have created a wonderful home. We were so blessed to be able to feel of the loving spirit there.

Naomi Jergensen (1930-2011)

My beloved friend, Sister Naomi Nokes Jergensen, died on April 6, 2011, following a full, regular day's work at the Training Zone. She had gone to dinner with a favorite cousin and they were in the car. She admired the beautiful evening and then, in an instant, died of heart failure. It was a great shock to the mission because she has diligently served for the last 15 years, three times as director of the Elijah Choir. She had missed a few days the previous week with an infection but was back at work as usual. As for myself, I mourned and often wept during the day that my precious Sister Jergensen was gone. John and I had sung under her direction in the Elijah Choir since the beginning of our mission then Naomi and I served together at adjoining computers as well as in adjoining cubicles in the Training Zone for about the last 20 months. Finally, in the evening at home, the sweet spirit of the Comforter came to me with the message that "Naomi is safely HOME." My heart was changed and I was filled with peace and joy that I had the privilege of associating with this amazing woman. She was an incredible musician and her soaring soprano voice was magnificent to the end. Even more important than her music was her devotion to the Savior and serving others. She was a treasured friend and confidant. We shared music, computer frustrations, family, gospel insights, and details of daily life. I was grateful that the Elijah Choirs were invited to sing at her funeral on Monday, April 11, 2011. Three of her mission presidents and Elder L. Tom Perry were at the funeral. Naomi will be missed but her legacy is eternal through her family and those of us who loved her.

General Conference--April 2011

Mark and Kristilyn Eliason had a wonderful trip to Kauai. Mark's mother and aunt tended the boys until Friday when John and I brought them home to West Jordan until Saturday afternoon. This was a desired get-away before Kristilyn gets too far along with the twin girls who are due in August.

The blossoms are out on some of the trees on Temple Square. It was amazing to see the temperatures go from the 70's on one day to 4+ inches of snow the next day.

Some flowers are going inches every day. The hyacinths

delicately perfume the air.

Grant and James Eliason in their Hawaiian turtle shirts with Talisa Rogers.

We had all our Utah families with us for lasagna dinner after General Conference on Sunday. It is always fun to be together. Pres. Monson announced three new temples--Meridian, Idaho; Fort Collin, Colorado; and Canada.

Brandon Roberts has been called to the Ward Clerk. He will do a fantastic job.

The DuPaix family is growing. Jeannie Wade delivered C-section Elijah Thomas Wade on April 4, 2011 at Alta View Hospital. He weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. This is #4 for Jeannie and Brent--1 girl and three boys. Angi announced that she is expecting #3. Debbie will the be next one in the family to deliver. She is expecting a boy, also.