Fall Break in partly-sunny-with-a-chance-of-RAIN St George

 hikes, bikes, walks, talks, freezing dip in a hidden pond, treats from our favorite stalks...

It wouldn't be a day in St. George without this walk

cycling through Snow Canyon--what a day!

a friend in need is a friend indeed

the trail from my parents house to snow canyon

taking the plunge

the singing bush

cant visit st. george without a visit to this place

even in the rain...

... still Georgeous!

これは私たちの新しい友達です

May I introduce Akira, our Japanese exchange student! He spent a little over a week with us, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  Here are some of the things we did together:

It took him a couple of days to agree to visit our bees...but then he really enjoyed it!

The American hamburger and fries at the local drive in (first meal)

"Americans are...different?"

the Byu Tip-off Game--first time he had ever been to a live sporting event

The Warren Miller Film debut--this he slept through :) (still recovering from jet lag) It was amazing, though! Even showed scenes in Japan!

long lines for entertainment--definitely an all American experience

This happy family joined us for dinner

at Malawi's

the all time Gill favorite!

home cooked chicken sundaes--he loved the rice

helping hands in the kitchen

hiking Stewart Falls

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too
 (and Christopher Robin)

Akira joined in our annual family pumpkin carving--he carved his favorite pokeman character--wearing his traditional lounging robe, which i learned is NOT called a kimono (that is for women...oops!)

on my morning run...

I love provo! what a beautiful place. I love running through the lower end of campus, seeing all the zoobies..i mean students husseling to class while they obliviously txt on their phones.  i especially love running along the creek (7 waterfalls!-- 7 wow! I counted them) and ending up at brian's great grandfather's park.   that engraved stone marks his home site which now is the lovliest little park full of happy children and very YOUNG mommies swinging their babies while the daddies are studying on campus.

if you look really closely, you will see home sweet home right under the Y and over the corner of the shed at the park--another reason i love this park!

and this has nothing to do with my run other than thoughts of seeing this reflected next year on the streets of what is  now the busy campus rush hour

!82 nd Semi-Annual Session of General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

20,000 men and boys ages 12 and up as they leave general priesthood session. find out more here

Gramps and Holden enjoying the Sunday morning session in the hotel

notice President Monson's reflection to Brian's right

why is Holden eating a pickle? Find out here

entertained with gramps' tie

 Some of the Highlights from conference are:
President Thomas S. Monson  announced that young men may now serve at age 18, young women at 19.  For more read here

From one of my favorite talks, Elder Bednar said,  “But earnestly coming unto Him and giving our whole souls as an offering requires much more than merely knowing. Conversion requires all of our heart, all of our might and all of our mind and strength.”

I loved Elder Holland's powerful, emotional plea for us to answer the Lord's question, Lovest thou me?
 “[T]he voice of Christ comes ringing down through the halls of time asking each one of us, while there is time, 'Do you love me?' And for every one of us I answer with my honor and my soul,'Yea, Lord, we do love thee.' And having set our hand to the plough, we will never look back until the work is finished and that love of God and neighbor rules the world.”

Then, from President Monson's closing remarks:
May we ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need. Let us not be critical and judgmental, but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior's example of loving kindness. In that vein, may we willingly serve one another. May we pray for the inspiration to know of the needs of those around us, and then may we go forward and provide assistance. "