~JANUARY~GARNET~

The year 2017 lies before us, unknown and ready for great adventures.  It is an untapped treasure. Who knows what precious jewels lie before us this year?  

It's exciting to think about what experiences we will have.  Will they bring us joy or sadness?  So much depends upon our own, individual choices.  No matter what, by the end of the year, our choices and our experiences will have changed us in some ways.  Hopefully, those changes will bring us closer to each other and closer to the Lord.
So, this year, I will feature the jewels that mark your birthdays.  Birthstones for each of you.
January 2017 has already been such a treasure, from the very first day when Ethan was blessed, and the next day when Jovie Jeppesen joined the family,  to the very last day.
        Our January birthdays are treasures too...rare and precious jewels. Garnet is the January birthstone.  A deep, dark red stone.

Beautiful little Jovie Evangeline Jeppesen, born January 2nd, is a wonderful addition to the jewels on our family crown.  We are so thankful for her safe arrival and that Bethany is well.  Jovie was born to Bethany and Palmer in Glendale at 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 21 inches.  She's going to be tall and good looking like her parents 😃.  

Shad's birthday is January 7th.  Doesn't he look so official??

Deanna's is January 12th

Connie's is January 14th

Reygan turned 19 on January 20th.

Albert turned 17 on January  25th.

Raymond turned 8 on January 29th.

Alonzo turned 8 on January 29th.

Mostly, January has been warm, sunny and very pleasant, intermixed with some stormy, cloudy days. We had a sudden hailstorm one day.  We could hear it pounding against the windows at the temple and I just had to run out to the front and see for myself that it was hailing.  This time, the pellets were smaller than our big October storm, but it covered the area clear from the temple to Artiesia where Isabel took this picture. We've had a combination of clear skies and dramatic cloud formations.  It's been fun just to watch the skies of January.

These beautiful water-color clouds of a dramatic sunset were taken by Esther over the top of her house in Gilbert. 

The cloud-shrouded Gilas from Mary's back deck.

I got these gorgeous pictures on Facebook of the Temple in front of our beautiful January mountain sunsets.

~OUR JANUARY~

January 1st, New Year's Day, was the blessing day of Ethan Charles Richins.  He was blessed in his ward in Thatcher by his father, Tyson Richins, assisted by Grandfathers Tom Biggs and Russell Richins, Uncles Thomas Biggs, Matt Richins and Corey Richins.  Also assisting was Bishop McEwen.  Tyson gave him such a sweet blessing.  It's too bad these newborns can't listen and remember the wonderful blessings their fond fathers bestow upon them.  I'm sure their spirits remember, though, and prompt them as they get older, to bring those blessings to mind.

Ethan in his blessing outfit.  I was a little bit uncomfortable putting black buttons on it and making black shoes and a black bow tie, but it all turned out fine.

Dad and Alex at the luncheon after the blessing.

The very next night, Jovie Evangeline Jeppesen was born!  Here are her proud and happy...and relieved...parents in the hospital in Glendale.

What a princess!

That day, not knowing that Jovie was on her way, we had a putting away Christmas get-together.   The Biggs family came over first and helped put away all the decorations and move them downstairs. They really worked hard.  I have tons of stuff that I have gathered over the years.

Then Rachel came and helped Dad wrap the tree and she and Mary took it downstairs.  They also helped carry some of the decorations downstairs.  Here is Henry.  His job was to keep the gate open.

Then Rebecca and Polly came to put the furniture back in place.  We appreciate everyone's help so much!  If it weren't for them, all our Christmas decorations would still be out...and it's the end of January now.

That night we invited Thomas and Jenn's family to go to dinner with us. They picked Toni's but they were closed for a private party, so we went to Denny's. The food was good, but we were seated for over an hour and a half before they brought the food...and even then,  Thomas had to ask them about it.

    We were assigned to attend the St. David Stake conference on the 7th and 8th.  We knew Elder Jeffery R. Holland would be there and that we probably would not be asked to speak...at the most, just bear testimony.  We stayed in a hotel in Benson, just a 5 minute drive from the chapel in Pomerene.  We were invited to eat dinner with Elder Holland and the stake presidency, along with Elder Maximo Torres, the new Area Seventy and his wife, and President and Sister Passey, of the Tucson mission.  We were excited about even being in the same room with Elder Holland and it was very nice.  I sat next to Sister Torres, a very sweet lady, and Dad sat next to Sister Nolan, the stake president's wife.  Elder Holland was across the table and engaged in conversation with Sister Passey most of the time.  And, you'll be surprised to know, may be relieved to know, that I didn't ask everyone to gather with Elder Holland for a picture.  I didn't want to embarrass Dad.  So we have no pictures of this occasion.  But it happened anyway.  That's why I'm writing it all down.

I got this picture on Google.  I chose this one because of his expressive face and gestures.

    We were especially glad, as we walked through the chapel toward the stand, to see so many Temple workers.  It really gladdened our hearts to greet them and feel their love for us.  After we were seated, President Nolan came up to Dad and asked that he share something at the meeting.  He didn't give any more instruction than that.  Dad gave a wonderful talk, beginning with the sacred calling of Apostleship and then talking about the temple.  He referred to the temple as a place of healing and encouraged everyone to go.  When Elder Holland spoke, he referred to Dad's talk 3 or 4 times.  I took notes on Elder Holland's talk; I wish I had taken notes on Dad's talk.  My notes are at the bottom of the blog.  Since this is my journal, I want to include it, but you certainly don't have to read it all if you don't want to.
   On Sunday, we were totally relaxed, knowing we didn't have any speaking responsibilities, and could just enjoy the meeting.  As Elder Holland came into the chapel, everyone stood, as they had the night before.  Every time he entered or left, the whole congregation stood.  And the chapel, clear back to the stage, was packed.  No empty chairs.  Also, all the extra rooms in the building and all the other buildings in the stake were filled to capacity.  All the speakers were so good, and I took notes, again on Elder Holland's talk...he gave an Apostolic blessing...and a few notes on a talk by Sister Ellsmore, the Stake Relief Society president...also included at the end.  They had a wonderful choir, directed by Brother Hatch, a shift coordinator at the temple.  At the end of the conference, which went 10 minutes over time, after the closing song and closing prayer, Elder Holland stood to leave.  Of course, the whole congregation stood and then the choir started singing, a cappella, one verse of God Be With You Til We Meet Again.  Everyone stood in their places and listened in absolute silence, with tears in every eye.  When they finished, Elder Holland started going down the row of people on the stand, shaking every hand and offering a kind word.  Dad and I were at the very end of the row.  When he got to me, he said, "I'm sorry we didn't get to hear from you, Sister Biggs and when he shook my hand he pulled me close and kissed my cheek.  I was stunned!  I didn't have any words.  Dad said that if he had known that was going to happen he would have had his camera ready!  We drove home in a daze.  Anyway, I was in a daze...still am.

The next day, FHE, we invited the Richins family to go out to dinner, but they said they felt more comfortable being at our house instead of a restaurant.  Alex isn't civilized yet.  We had a good time and it was relaxed and casual and Alex can be just as much a heathen at our house as he wants to.

On the next Sunday, Thomas and Jenn invited us and Parker over for Sunday dinner.  It was so delicious.  Then everyone, except Rebecca's family, who were in Mexico and California, came over to our house to make oatmeal cookies from the recipe Nancy posted.  It was Grandma Hiatt's recipe, in her handwriting.  Her handwriting is what makes it special, because it is actually the recipe that used to always be on the box of Quaker Oats...plain, no cinnamon or raisins or nuts or chocolate or butterscotch chips.  It used to say, "If it's good for them in a bowl, it's good for them in a cookie."

Everyone waiting for the cookies to be done.  Parker mixed them all together and the girls baked them.  The bottom picture is of the kids who worked hard to clean up all the toys when it was time to go home.

The next day, MLK  Day, the Richins' field trip was to come to our house where there is plenty of pavement to ride bikes.  Lindsay is just learning, and took some pretty hard falls.  She is a trooper, though, and kept getting back on.

While they were there, I was struck by how much Ethan and Jared look alike.  I've always thought so, but the photos I took really show it.

The 20th of January was Inauguration Day, and President Trump was sworn in.  The kids watched it in school, we watched it at home and Rebecca and Scott even watched it in Mexico.  Dad and I have high hopes for all he will accomplish.  He seems to be the type who will do what he says he will do.

Dad saw this balloon floating over our house on one of his morning walks.

On the 27th, he went to Mesa to take his car for a tuneup and had the chance to eat lunch with the kids.  It looks like PF Chang's, doesn't it?

He also got to see Joshua, who was in Arizona to visit his friend, Ahlin.

On Saturday, the 24th, we went to the funeral of our friend, Dalton Overstreet.  He was a member of our ward and always had a funny greeting for everyone.  I taught his grandson, Christopher, in school.  Dalton and his wife, Michal, owned El Charro before Joel bought it.  Thomas served with him when he was Executive Secretary and Dalton was Ward Clerk, so he heard about Dalton's wanting to retire from the restaurant business.  He called Joel and the rest is history.

After Dalton's funeral, Mary came over to install a new printer.  I have never liked the one we had, so I finally talked Dad into letting me get a simpler one from Walmart.  It is just like Mary's, so she set it up for us.

On Sunday night, January 29, just before we called Raymond and Alonzo for their birthday.

Since we had a few days off at the end of January, we heated the pool.  Mary's kids and a friend came over to take advantage of it.  It was warm in the water, but freeeeezing cold when they got out!

~NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY~

~NATHAN AND SHAUNA~
Their big news, of course, is the arrival of sweet, little Jovie  Evangeline Jeppesen. She was born January 2, late at night, in Glendale.  Nathan and Shauna flew right out to see her and to help out.  In fact, Shauna stayed for about 3 weeks, I think, helping Bethany and bonding with her granddaughter. I have to say, I feel a kinship with Palmer.  He obviously was taking most of the pictures and that is why we only have one of him holding his daughter.  If I know Palmer, he held her as much or more than anyone, but no one took a picture 😞  The day of Jovie's blessing will be March 5th, in Glendale, at 11:00.  All who can are invited to come.

Josh the Preservationist houses this month.  A couple of them are true castles.

Ellie, getting to know her little cousin, Jovie.  If you look closely, you can see Palmer and Bethany reflected in the window.  That's why I put this in Nathan's section.  I have another one of Reygan and Jovie in Jeremy's section.

Josh in Arizona.  He was only there two days but he sure seems to have made the most of it.  They even went to Sedona.  

I remember the Valley Art Theater before it was Harkins.  It is in Tempe and always showed Adult films :-(  I'm glad it's upgraded now...especially if Josh and Ahlin went there. And a saloon (?) in Flagstaff.

~JOEL AND STEPHANIE~

Joel and Stephanie, Levi, Docker and Crew went to visit Stetson and Lindsay early in January before school started again.  They loved hanging out at the beach and went to Sea World.  At least the kids went to Sea World and Joel and Stephanie puppysat their grandpuppy.

Several of our kids went to the beach this month.  Joel and his family, DeWitt, Deanna and Polly, Rebecca and Scott, Reygan, and Harrison.  

Lindsay, in her home office.

~DANIEL AND CONNIE~

Colorado winter temperature.  Glad to be in Arizona!

The kids' school.

The many faces of darling Theo.

Parker in Safford/Thatcher.  I think he's having a good time.

Aila all bundled up for an outing.

Learning to crawl.

Daniel caught these fish in his stream.

Happy Birthday to Alonzo and Raymond.

Albert on his birthday.

Connie's Amazing Cakes for January:  Albert's bucket of baseballs, Dr. Seuss for Alonzo and a darling rocket ship invaded by aliens.  The Seuss cupcakes were for the boys' party.

So, Connie's birthday is also in January.  Who makes an amazing cake for her?  Her girls, that's who. They made this beautiful necklace, representing the birthstones of all her children and grandchildren. The roses are from Daniel.

~REBECCA AND SCOTT~

Rebecca celebrated the New Year by getting her hair cut.

She also was invited to speak at the 6th Ward New Beginnings.  She did a great job I hear.

Their anniversary was the 7th, so they went to Rocky Point, just the two of them, to celebrate.

Polly's New Year has been focused on soccer.

At the end of the season, at Senior night, Rebecca and Scott were in Mexico, so Rylie and Momo (Rylie and Polly's friend) acted as her parents.

Harvey likes trains, just like Grandpa.

Before and after.

Parley is starting to walk.

While their parents were in Mexico, DeWitt and Deanna took Polly along with them to  California. 

That's true brotherly love.

~JEREMY AND ERIKA~

Hanging out with Hayden.  I have no idea what the situation is, here.  I just copied these from Facebook and so I don't have details.  But it looks like they were having fun. 

This must by Ellie's darling Gryffindor look for school. 😀

Reygan's 19th birthday

Cuddling with Jovie...and Mike.

Reygan and her friends in California.  Disneyland.  I think Disneyland is fun, even in the rain 😎

Oh no! The dreaded wisdom tooth removal...a rite of passage into adulthood. It looks as if she had a lot of loving support from her family and a good friend.

A very comfortable convalescence...if you don't count the toothache...pillows and puppies, remote on one side and her phone on the other.

A beautiful picture of a beautiful family.

~RACHEL AND TONY~
When we took Thomas and Jenn's family to Denny's, Rachel and Tony were there with some of their kids plus a niece.  They were served and out of there way before we were.

Luke going off to a winter campout.  He is so loaded down with necessities that you can hardly see him! Then they hiked all night and went to Denny's for breakfast.

Isabel was so sick with an excruciating headache for several days this month.  Dad went over to give her a blessing and the next day she was up and getting ready to go to school.  She is in scrubs because she had clinicals for her nursing class...and of course, she had to do her nails.

Rachel took her girls to work with her at Ashley and they got to see her magical transformation first hand.  They even got to help.

The bottom picture is of a wall she did for  Cathy Konopnicki.

Rachel was running a hospital ward this month.  After Isabel got better, Tony got strep throat and a bad cough and threw out his back and couldn't move for several days.  Then Luke, then Brynlie got strep throat. We went over there on Sunday after church so Dad could give them a blessing.  

~ESTHER AND SHAD~

Poor Marlie had her wisdom teeth out this month too.  Her friends all came to offer their support for the traumatic event.  That cute boy in the picture is actually her dentist!

Then her friends were there for her after the deed, even when she was in pain and grouchy.

Shad's birthday. A new recliner; his loving family; and an outing with friends.

Harrison got a dream trip with his young, fun Brown grandparents and cousin Sydney. They went to Universal Studios in California.  He loved it.  

These pictures of the fire truck on the left and the cute troll are by Brody.  Talented boy 😀

Miss Esther's All Stars Preschool

Then her kids tried it.  It's called "Elephant toothpaste."

~THOMAS AND JENN~

Patiently waiting at Denny's

I asked Jenn to come over and write "Happy New Year" on my porch post.

An MLK  Day field trip to the Tucson Natural History Museum...in their new van.  A seat for everyone!

They took their kids up to the mountain to play in the snow with Dr. Huish and his family.  The Huishes have moved in across the street and have kids of corresponding ages.

It is so much fun to see Kirtlyn becoming a teenager and acting like one.😃

~MARY AND TYSON~

This beautiful family celebrated New Year's Day by blessing Ethan Charles, their newest member.

The man of the hour.

At the brunch after the blessing.

Dinner at Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Brianna, making something she probably won't even eat.  But she's learning to cook anyway.

Alex's favorite toy at our house...actually 2nd favorite, after Grandpa's tractors...is the lock and key board.

Carson's original pinewood derby car.  It represents a derby racetrack with little handmade clay cars that he and Brianna made and glued on.  It didn't win any races, but was voted the favorite car by all the scouts. 😉

A visit to the Pima children's museum.  Alex, the cyclops pirate and Jared with his girlfriend, Macy...Lillian's Joshua's niece.

When I was taking Jared's picture with Ethan to show how much they look alike, Alex couldn't stand  to not be in the picture.  He ran over and stuck his head in.  Look at Ethan's expression 😕

The Richins girls all got to go see Disney on Ice, courtesy of their young, fun Grandma Richins.

Teaching me about my new printer.

~MISSIONARIES~

From Lillian in the Philippines.

There really is an investigator through that door!  The sisters had their feet up because there were two rats playing under their feet!  The delicious looking meal is half developed boiled chicken embryos.

Lillian was called to be a Sister Training Leader.  DeWitt said that is comparable to being a zone leader.

From Shadrach in California

He says he is working in the Lord's vineyard.  It is actually a stake welfare farm.  I assume that these grapes go for raisins and not wine 😏  Although I remember that the stake welfare farms in North Carolina were tobacco farms.  Tobacco was the main cash crop in NC. I'm sure grapes are a major cash crop in California.

The work seems to be going well among the Hmong.

In authentic Hmong clothes.

~SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE~

Aila is learning to kiss...I wonder if she got a prince?

It always makes me smile to see my boys be Grandpas.  For some reason, I'm not surprised by my girls being grandmas, Rebecca, but my boys surprise me.

Alex and his chair...Read the explanation below.

Rachel and her "puppies." Read the explanation below.

Henry said, "Grandma, take a picture of me being a nerd!" I don't think he even knows what a nerd is, but he sure knows how to look like one 😁

Dad caught me coloring and took a picture.  I have always loved to color.  It makes me smile. Maybe because I'm a nerd too.

Esther and Shad playing a game at a friend's house.  I can't believe...actually yes I can...that Esther would let someone see her like this.  She has always had a hilarious sense of humor, even at her own expense.  It is one of the things that makes people like her so much.

From Will Rogers...These were from the 1930's, still so applicable today:

*"I don't make jokes, I just watch the government and report the facts."

*"The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets."

*"Politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money even to be defeated."

*"Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want to impress people they don't like."

Jaredism for January:

"Mom, there is one thing I know about the end of the world.  It's not today!"

~LAST WORDS~

I am including the notes I took of Elder Holland's talk in St. David.  I wrote as fast as I could and got a lot of it recorded.  So it is long.  Since this is my journal, I want to put it in here, but only read it if you want to.  It will touch your soul if you do.  If you don't want to read it, skip to the end.

Elder Holland’s talk in the St. David Stake Conference 1-8-17

Saturday

Just want to talk with you.  I wish we were in a living room.  I want to know you and bless you and dry your tears.  Just as President Biggs said, the Temple is a problem-solving place.  Whatever our problems, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the solution.  We all have problems, often in our families, marriages, pain over a child, spouse, jobs, etc.  That’s where we live…where our hearts are.  We worry about employments, death, disease, heartache, loneliness.  There are people who want to be married and people who want to get out of a marrieage.  Hard things happen to good peple, but whatever the question, the Gospel is the answer. Everyone will experience something that breaks their heart.  It is part of this life's journey. God loves a broken heart.  It is what brings us closer to Him.  Just as Abraham Lincoln said, “God must love the common man because He made so many of them.”  When problems happen, remember that God has planned for them and can help.  That is what He does.  He fixes things.  It takes broken clouds to make rain, broken earth to make grain, broken grain to make bread and broken bread to get us fed.  When we are broken, don’t panic and flee.  Understand the meaning of faith, trust, testimony.  Don’t go too far because the church is where you get fixed.  We all have broken times.  Understand that it happens and things will be ok.  Adam and Eve had to learn the principle of sacrifice.  They didn’t know why they were told to make sacrifices.  He was taught that his sacrifice was a similitude of Christ.  Jesus will fix every broken thing as we live the law of sacrifice.  The OT is full of problems.  Marion G. Romney said, “I read the OT once, and if God will forgive me, I’ll never read it again!”  The OT sacrifices were not enough, now we must sarifice something more personal: a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  He comes to save the world from sin…to fix broken things.  If something is broken, don’t throw it away because  the Savior can and will fix it.  What God wants is a broken heart.  A broken heart is ok.  Really ok. Don’t have to look for trouble, it will find you.  But have faith in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and stay close to His church.  Be believing, have trust and see the Lamb of God in your life.  He died a terrible death to help us.  The soldier came to break his legs but he didn’t because Jesus seemed to be dead already.  So he pierced His side.  Blood and water gushed out.  Why? Where did the blood come from?  From His broken heart?  He died of a broken heart?  To claim the grace we are supposed to feel a little of what Jesus felt a lot of.  We are His followers but we don’t want to suffer or even have patience.  We don‘t want to wait for a marriage to heal or a child’s heart to turn back.  Is it possible that we have our problems so we can become a little more like the Savior?  The road to salvation always goes through Gethsemane.  Because we are still under covenant to sacrifice.  We have to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  The Bof M speaks of restoration more than of resurrection.  We have to echo Christ by shedding the tears He shed.  Then we get everything restored.  All we sacrifice comes back.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.  He is the light.  One caution: the tendency to say “why me?” or “Why now?”  indicates our reluctance to follow in the footsteps of the greatest sufferer of all.  When things happen, don’t jump ship.  The 1st rule of the high seas when you’re in a storm is don’t jump ship.  When things happen, don’t do a half-gainer into the stormy sea.  Stay in the boat.  The storm will be over eventually and peace will return.  Don’t think that if you suffer that God doesn’t love you.  Jesus, Himself, was a man of sorrrows.  Did God not love jesus?  Suffering is not an indication of the absence of God’s love.  It can in no way compare to the suffering of His only begotten son.  It’s sacriligious to even say such a thing.  God’s love for us is close to His love for Jesus because He allowed Him to suffer for us.  Elder Holland bore testimony of God’s ability to heal everything and that sometimes life requires broken things.  Sometimes our suffering can be our salvation if it brings us closer to God.  This is the 

Messianic Mission.  We should even suffer for each others’ pain.  Elder Holland has had bad days in his life when he thought he could never be happy again.  Endure and save yourself for days of happiness ahead.  (Virgil)  For your sake and the sake of your children, your spouse, those who love you.

Sunday

Sister Ellsmore, young Stake Relief Society President

When she questioned her mother about why she refused to leave her abusive husband, she said, “I know there is a better man inside of him.”  Seek and ye shall find.  What we seek to find in our spouse we will surely find.  Her father eventually changed, humbled himself and now they have been sealed in the temple.  Be patient in building your marriage.  If it seems to take forever, remember that we have forever.  Charity, the pure love of Christ is what is needed to fix a marriage.  President Uchtdorf said “This life is a test, not the reward.”  

Our marriages and our families are worth fighting for.

Elder Holland

Faith, as defined in the scriptures is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  Have faith in difficult times.  Enlarge, exercise your faith.  Jesus calmed the sea.  The Apostles showed their lack of faith because when they had first started across the sea, Jesus told them they were going to the other side.  So when the storm came up, they should have just let Him sleep because they knew they would make it to the other side.  When they woke Him, He said “Do you know who I am?”  Did they not remember that the boat on which He lay would be safe and that they would make it to the other side, just as He said they would?  We should anchor our lives in the certaintly of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the nail in the sure place.  He has a plan from the beginning of time.   He’s not scrapping the plan.  He looks for ways to bless us.  His whole concentration is on His children  Believe it.  Trust.  The ship isn’t going down.   Even when we abandon our covenants, He never will.

Blessing on the stake:

In the name of Jesus Christ and by his Apostolic authority, Elder Holland leaves a blessing on the head of every man, woman and child within the sound of his voice and wants you to know that this blessing is also for the people you love who may not be here.  There is no limit to the depth of God’s mercy.  If there is a child, spouse, marriage, parent, friend you are worried about, this is for them.   I bless the men that they will realize the Priesthood is an order.  The Holy Priesthood after the order of the Son of the Living God.  Be more like Him.  It is a  circle.  Start at home, be better to our wives, children.  When He comes He has to recognize us as His church, he has to recognize Him because we look like Him.  He blessed the women for their faith.  Elder Holland is in the church because of women…mother, grandmother.  Then his wife, who is the light in his life.  He is grateful for the women of faith because they instinctively know more about compassion and charity than men.  He blessed the children to be safe from evil.   We can’t fail in our faith in their behalf.  He blessed the lonely, those who have lost companions or never had companions.  Those who struggle with divorce, death.  Blessings will come.  These promises are secure in God’s own time.  Even when we don’t keep our end of the bargain, He is impeccable at keeping His.  Trust Him.  Stay in the boat.  He gives us peace.

As this wonderful year unfolds, let's all remember to stay close to the Lord and close to each other and to "stay in the boat."  Let's keep each other in our prayers and in our thoughts and in our hearts and remember that we are all in the boat together.  Also very importantly, remember to send pictures to your loving mother/grandma 😍