April Action

Springtime is probably the most popular season in the written word throughout the ages. It is budding flowers, fresh colors and breezes, new baby animals. It is new beginnings. Perhaps I was in an intoxicated mood of spring when I spotted this Jay Strongwater bowl and spent some of my 80th birthday gift money that I have been saving, for it. I have always said that green is my favorite color and the green of this bowl is THAT green! It is right in front of me when I sit in my favorite chair and it lifts my mood every time I glance at it! I love the sweet hyacinths and the sparkly butterfly!

By far, the most intoxicating event of spring every year for us is our church's April Semi-Annual General Conference! The encouragement we receive from the speakers, who comprise our many wise General Authorities, and especially the words from our Apostles and our Prophet, recharge our batteries and we so look forward to listening to it every year!

Another wonderful thing that happens every spring is my sister, Kay's, Keynotes Concert in the St. George Tabernacle. She is and has been Keynotes music director for many years and she spends countless hours selecting the beautiful music they sing, then rehearsing the group. The music is always memorized, beautifully harmonized and very entertaining. This year the 250 Years of Freedom for the USA theme was so engaging as they sang many familiar favorites, many of them with new harmonic arrangements, and the audience couldn't help but sing along!

I am so proud of my sister, Kay!

A Blockbuster Event time for our grand-daughter, Maddy, began with her graduation with her BS in marketing degree at BYU. The Marriott Center was filled with the graduates and their guests in the School of Business.

They called her name before the one in front of her, so she was off to the races!

Here is our beautiful Maddy with her handsome finance, Dane. They are set to get married in the Gilbert Temple May 9.

Mom Stacy and Dad Tom are so proud of her! She has worked so hard and has been an A student.

Dane's parents, Greg and Kaile, are such lovely people and they came for all the festivities.

We have always been so proud of this special girl!

Tom's parents, Grit and Sherry, were able to come, too, and Cousin Ben and Maddy grew up together in Arizona and have always been super close.

We all enjoyed dinner afterwards at Cubby's.

Roger and I have given each of the BYU grad grandkids this embroidered pillow.

Saturday morning, Aunt Jodie and Aunt Mindy hosted a bridal shower for Maddy in Rick and Jodie's pool house. Over 30 friends and family attended. Maddy was so excited to have her friends and family and new family members meet each other.

Jodie has been so kind and gracious to host many family showers. North Salt Lake is such a centralized location for our family, especially with so many grandkids going to BYU.

Grandma Pam and Grandma Sherry with Maddy

Rick and Jodie's cute daughters, Abby and Sadie, with daughter, Ellie, were able to come. Their other sister, Katie, was born a week before Maddy. She and her husband are in NYC while Katie is getting her Masters at Columbia and she couldn't be there.

Mindy's daughter, Fiona, loves Aunt Maddy, who has been her babysitter many times through the years.

Blake came over to say hi to everyone and give a quick hug to Mom!

While I was at the shower, Roger drove to Plain City, where there was a graveside memorial for WHS classmate, Larry Maw, and his wife, Pam. They died within a month of each other and they were buried there. I would normally have been with Roger, as I love his high school class and Jerry and Pam were in the Lake Powell and Montana Ranch Gang.

Saturday evening at 5, Maddy's fiance, and her parents, Dane's parents and both sets of grandparents went through a session at the Provo City Temple for Maddy to receive her endowments.

Restored from the old Provo Tabernacle after a major fire, the Provo City Temple is truly lovely and we enjoyed our endowment session together.

We were treated to a yummy Japanese sushi dinner at The Happy Sumo in The Riverwoods in Provo.

We drove home to St. George from Rick's in North Salt Lake on Sunday, and Monday night our ward hosted a fun picnic. It was so well-attended!

The next evening, we attended a lovely, small 70th Anniversary Wedding Reception for Roger's golf buddy, Derral, and his wife, Annie, at their daughter, Joanne's, beautiful home in Divario. Roger plays golf every Monday morning in a foursome with Derral, and his wife, Annie, was born in Holland and lived through WW2 when Holland was occupied by the Nazis. They're such a wonderful couple!

To close out the month, our Party Animal Game group met at Steve and Viki's home for appetizers and games. Each host comes up with the games we play, and the dice game and the Getting To Know You Better game were both extra-fun!

Amy brought these flowers she picked from her mom's garden, and when I noticed the sunlight hitting on them, Roger took a pic. Aren't they beautiful?

Roger participated in the Veterans PGA Hope Golf Academy about two years ago, and he and other past-participating veterans golfed with the latest graduating class.

Roger has taken golf lessons from the Pro, Rod Krieger, and he learned so much that improved his game. He is in the middle with the stars and stripes shirt.

Hooray for springtime! Graduates and soon-to-be newlyweds with sacred promises and new beginnings, lovely flowers, both real and created by an artisan, beautiful music, friendships, gatherings and sport - the world is abundant with its offerings!