“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
