An Effectual Door: "Perpetual Alegria!!

Dear family and dear friends                                                  31 May 2026

As we prepare for a summer season of celebrating a country’s 250^th birthday, what do YOU do in the summer time, when all the world is GREEN?  Perhaps summer will be less green (limited water) but April showers did bring May flowers! 

  

Our last letter was penned on my way to volunteer at a convention to choose local primary election candidates. Funny story:  after hearing a powerful Brahms Requiem at a nearby cathedral, I toured a new office for a brother beginning a business using adept skills of his wife, college son, and others.  Nestling into a basement guest room in his home, an hour south of ours, an 11:15 PM phone call alerted me to an aide car attending my husband at home, gratefully reporting only increased blood pressure (probably from a move from hot shower to cold temperatures.) Stroke symptoms dismissed by paramedics, we heard fees ONLY accompany an (unused) ambulance.  Grateful for safety on all fronts! 

5:15 AM came early, next morning.  Struggling with cell reception, Laurene headed to Utah Valley University, Orem, only to learn upon arriving at the UVU HEBER campus, that it is useful to review directions typed into GPS systems BEFORE traveling over rivers or mountains--even if paths reminisce of long ago train rides, sibling jaunts, or fruit pie refreshments after four-wheeling reparations. 

Highlighted moments of Springtime: 

Directly after my Heber/Orem adventure, our day began with an early drive to visit Spring City friends, 

to revisit a Spring City farmhouse, worship, and rest.

Peering over pristine valley views, our friend shared a brilliant idea on which he had been cogitating for a decade--only to learn it had been patented by another prior to his fully preparing his idea of “Quantum Entanglement:” the relationship of particles so intricately and intimately connected--when one is removed from another (even at interplanetary distances) a message can be transmitted.  Wow!  I wonder:  could such a thing occur with interpersonal entanglement?  (Is there an individual connected to you in such a way that when separated there could continue concrete communication? )  I wonder if such might be manifest with an “effectual door” of prayer, of caring, of discovering or reclaiming a new or forgotten friendship? 

                                  (Amazing, the happiness that can come from one set of hands!)

After a day’s drive through canyonland

 to visit a “Three Musketeer” (buddy) cousin of Val’s in Dewey, 

 

we cherished a few restful days with an Arizona daughter, our young adult grandson, 

 

Val’s niece’s family, 

and time to reminisce about Val's first time in the temple (Mesa, Arizona) as a missionary headed for Central America

We got to visit relatives of Laurene’s father and mother on a roundabout wander home.

Landing offered time with grandchildren’s music, sporting and other special events,

 

watchingVoices of America:  "What Does Freedom Sound Like?" (beginning minute 2:15:20)

And observing a younger brother choose NOT to prepare for immersion (with a plugged airways) being moved to see an elder brother, noticing a struggle, offer a steadying arm, and ask "Are you okay?"  (Isn't that what siblings and loved ones do?)

 Making Memorial Day moments,

 

and inviting neighbors to learn of upcoming county/state/national choices 

adds to the anticipation of gathering with graduating grandchildren and more.   

Preparing to leave for said family adventure, a 10-year-old coached me to pronounce

 “happy” in French:

                                         

Examining “etymology” (“the origin of words,”

 which her siblings caution me not to mix up with “entomology,” “the study of bugs”!) 

 

we are studying the words perpetual (to aim at something thoroughly, continually) and alegria (cheerful, vibrant, joyful).  Both ideas shall be included in our hope for individuals whose paths have been blessed to “entangle” with ours.  May your aim may be continual and its reach rejuvenating! 

Love, Laurene and Val

 

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