Eyes Open to Gifts at Hand

 Dear family and dear friends,                                                             24 April 2026

Over a month has past (and it came to pass!) The blessing of watching spring bloom amidst frost and cold spells  freezing fruit blossoms and chilling hands can be enhearting to our souls as we watch our mothers navigate “la tercera edad”  

(Latin description of “the third age,” or golden years) 

and celebrate engagement of our eldest granddaughter to her childhood friend with a light and flame rekindled as she finishes in her first year of college receiving an associate’s degree.  

Prayers are ever in order for the “youth of the noble birthright!” 

When my eldest brother visited to attend a funeral for our dad’s 91-year-old eldest brother, Laurence,.  

(cousins, cousins, don't we LOVE cousins?)

the last of my father’s brothers, David’s first self-claimed duty was to attach on the wall for view upon entrance to our home, the picture of last year’s wonderful family gathering, of which momentum has grown and is blossoming to secure another in early summer. 

Ocean waves and old houses, sand and firepits aim to collect and connect children, cousins, grandparents and gather stories and security as “all is safely gathered in!” 

Easter approached and departed, ushering in hope of fullness or immortality (things to last and last) along with promises that “Things will work out, Grandma Lolly!” (Words flowing from a 15-year-old piano student assuring that setting “first things first,” offering heart and soul to heaven, then reaching out to others, offers confidence not much else can.) 

Guatemala office missionaries sometimes wondered about having a cup overflowing with “commandments not a few.”  Together, we are discovering the makeup of the word (Spanish, or Latin) is derived from com (together) with man (mano, or hand) and dare (to give.) Other enlightening synonyms follow:  to send forth, commit to one’s charge, entrust, recommend, a binding connection, direction on a journey, to have within the range of one’s influence (of resources), a view of, overlook in reference to an elevated place (vision, point of view) beseech, bid, adjure (bind by oath, question under oath), injunction, order, authoritative precept. 

Speaking of “authors,” regularly, our home and phone can be charmed by a daughter narrating an entreating series of books with her daughters--including us.  Some light can be carried by torch.  We are grateful for friends and admired souls who continue to kindle and extend light in whatever their capacity and sphere may be.  This does not go unnoticed.  It offers courage as other lights begin to flicker.  A returning young man from a mission to Arkansas Sunday decidedly announced his greatest success came as he worked to open others’ eyes and help them recognize what they did not know they were missing.  Thank you, for helping heavenly works appear evident in who you are and what you do. 

 Sincerely, Laurene and Val  

"Tell Me in Accents (of Wonder!)"

 

Dear family and dear friends,                                                                         12 March 2026

 

Oh, what a beautiful morning!  Val and I walked the LONG walk, rejoicing in the two-year window that we were granted after his stroke 24 months ago.  What a blessing it has been to reconnect with children, grandchildren; rejoice and empathize with dear ones who have difficulties in their health and varying aspects of their lives.   

What we are learning:  From Grandson #5:  In French there are many accents.  Accents can be useful.  What will I accent today?  What motivates, lifts, teaches, inspires my heart? 

From Granddaughter # 7: (creating barbecue sauce from scratch: “Amy Cross says, ‘Measure with your heart!’”   

(This picture shows what her family does with vegetables with Amy Cross's tips—add vinegar water for freshness.)

The cooking granddaughter also responded to my question – “Will God really remove our stumbling blocks, to be NO more confounded (confused, befuddled, perplexed, tripped up?)  “Well,” she says, “you KNOW, stumbling blocks CAN be made into stepping stones!”

From granddaughter #3: (responding to the story of Ben Kjar, a youth experiencing a genetic cranial difference): “His parents had him try EVERYTHING, before he chose wrestling to excel in!” Could variety invite breadth and confidence to preference?  (Hoorah to a busy reader and student, who won her first Davis Academic League invitational, (where students are quizzed about many subjects)  last Thursday!) 

From Grandson #6 (about the puzzle we were piecing that included mostly sky, a little cloud and more ocean): 

 

“Grandma, look for the gentle curve.”  Are there any gentle curves in your puzzle today?  Also, “Watch for the obvious line.  Subtle colors.  Can you match them?”  This grandson invited us to hear him speak to his neighborhood congregation about new starts.  Is springtime offering you a new start? 

A woman who spoke afterwards explained a message from a movie she had seen remembering a Biblical account of animals pairing, side by side.  If I want to develop patience, I cannot ask for an easy day every day.  If I want to develop love, it may require more than just a fuzzy feeling. Perhaps we can learn from passing notes:  playing one notes directly next to another can provide dissonance--a less than harmonious sound-- tension, discomfort.  Difficulty. Challenge.  We are learning some days, the greater our difficulty, the more welcome and glorious the resolution, with marvelous overtones.  Thank you, each for adding to our overtones.  For helping add accent, stepping stones, gentle curves, variety and a little heart measure to our bonus earth hours.  We love you!  Laurene and Val  

What is Your Beacon in the Dark?

 “In the winter, I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark!” 

 What I heard at choir made me think of pioneer Brigham Young who reminded pioneers to do good, even in the dark.  

Obscured paths can be daunting--but what happens when we find an occasional beacon

(Who says you can't regrow hair?)

 

                                  (Ninety six and counting, connecting sisters!)

(Firsts in trying new things--temple time, Davis Academic League, poetry books, sleuthing schedules)

   

What are your new year’s vistas?  January meadows unfolded after a plane ride to Orlando 

and a jaunt east to join a daughter’s family acclimating to new home, school, and career close to Cape Canaveral.  A new job is none less than rocket science—with no flinching!  

Viewed up close and personal, our daughter and spouse watched Artemis ii roll out from yards away (while grandpa and grandma danced to folk songs with lively littles at home in an empty front room.) 

 

Our three-year-old explains that soon we can “Watch the ‘locket raunch!’” 

Morning and afternoon walks near palm trees and wetlands, 

we watched anhinga reach colorful black wings to dry feathers by the pink rose spoonbill counterparts, while alligators lazily sunned their snouts. 

Lingering alongside gentle Atlantic waves lapping layered ripples of sand, we collected clam and snail shells, eyes reaching outward, wondering how far is far. 

Sandhill cranes, immigrating from Alaska or Canada delicately danced across backyard grass. Children chased and jumped and caught photos, after which we blended our walks and games with the magic of working puzzles. 

Grandpa and preschooler with two eight-year-olds joined a rocket engineer, archeologist and organist, to collectively contribute-- piecing together jig-sawed edges.  Focus and synergy elicited Drama Llamas at Machu Pichu and Animals of the World 

dotting a map and emerging from a mismatched mess to collaborate convincing colors filled with life. 

The reason for the season?  “I like to look for rainbows!”  

A small room full of grandparents, cousins and aunties and friends far and near 

sang and watched eight-year-old duplicate daughters 

dressed in white and glowing: “I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.”  Remembering, “I [can] walk with you, [and] talk with you, that’s how I show my love for you!”.

                              

Earlier, on the airplane from Denver to Orlando a friendly Puerto Rican boutique owner and insurance broker asked about “mi Libro de Mormón,” which she downloaded and borrowed.   Between her English and my Spanish sharing stories of heaven’s hand in bringing friendships together, we wonder, “Can heaven be denied as we feel connected with a “common denominator” of faith, family, or friendship?”

As family members safari in Africa and dot the continent in career capers,

it feels good to land, to enjoy creativity in cooking (open link to find Grandpa's new find) 

and music,

 laud a a visiting brother and daughter(s),

 as we prepare to meet the blossoms of Utah’s springtime and appreciate vigilant citizens monitor efforts in safeguarding citizen rights and responsibilities in a year celebrating 250 years for a land of liberty.  

               

What will I do today to help our path grow bright, “like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day?” (Proverbs 4:18) Thank you for choosing to shine.  Love, Laurene and Val