Surprise!

We had a wonderful surprise in our "inbox" this morning! This picture!!! It is our terrific missionary son, serving in the Philippines and a couple from Fillmore! I didn't even realize they were going to his mission............and maybe, because he is a doctor, they serve several missions there. We will have to ask. But I couldn't wait to share it with all of you!

 He has had a challenging mission.........but don't they all? We are so thankful he has faced the difficulties with faith and courage and continues to smile and testify to the wonderful people of the Philippines of the reality of the Savior and His redeeming love. It is the most needed and important message in the whole world.............. I know He lives! I know He loves us! I know He atoned for each of us! And I know He will save us if we will let Him! The words of a Primary song come to mind:
"I know He lives! I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to Him. I know that my Savior loves me!"

...the calendar says it's spring!

What better way to celebrate the beginning of spring than planting a pot of pansies for the front porch!?! I've always loved pansies...........even before my Grandmother called me her "pansy-girl". When my visit would come to an end she would have me pull my shirt front out and she would fill it full of the beautiful, happy blossoms. I would take them home and "float" them in whatever beautiful bowl Mother would let me use. I love the rich "traditional" colors.......I love the "new" modern colors. They speak to my heart. I'm sure you understand............

Roger and I set up the "benches" in the heat room at the warehouse so we will be ready for the flowers and vegetables when Richard brings them next week............ahhhh, spring............

there's no place like home...

"The moon was a ghostly galleon..."

.....that's the thought that came to mind as I left the grocery store tonight....

Not gorgeous pictures, these, but I'm home............a short visit with a friend at said store, a hug and "checking up" with the sweet lady we bought our carpet from (15 years ago) as I was leaving said store, the view to the east and west, a train growling and whistling through town, the sight as I pulled into the garage.......the wind was not a "torrent of darkness"..........but a nice, gentle breeze........

........yeah.................I'm home

meanderings.....

I've needed to write here for some time now..........you know.....life goes on, and it gets to feeling ordinary and commonplace. But life is LIFE!!! And it's wonderful!! Over these months of being silent......and wondering if this blog is worth the time it takes and what I want it to be (I still don't have answers to those questions) life has continued much the same as for everyone else--busy. I have a new calling in our church. I'm president of the women's organization in our local congregation. It's something I never wanted to do! And hoped it would never come to me--but it has and the blessings have been numerous and wonderful.

We are officially empty-nesters, and have been for more than a year....so I have been able to spend more time with Roger. We have just been in the Bakersfield, CA, area getting the bees out of the almond groves. It has been an amazing experience for me! What a beautiful area of the world!!! the amount of food that comes out of that valley is beyond comprehension! Roger has been telling me for years about the vastness of it all........and I had no idea! There is no way a picture and/or words can convey all that. It's something you have to experience for yourself............but I do have some nice pictures I will share with you. There are lots............but I couldn't decide which ones to leave out!

The grove stretched almost to forever. The trees just beginning to leaf out as they dropped their petals--almost looks like snow.....but just a whiff of blossom scent in the air.

 I drove the truck through the grove while Roger and Michael rode on the back--stopping at every "drop" so they could treat the bees....

I'm glad there were some blossoms left.....can you find the honeybee?

 Some of the nuts were beginning to form. I should have take a picture a week later. It was amazing how quickly they grew--these are about the size of the end of my finger.

 The blossoms were just so pretty--each seemed uniquely gorgeous and the light didn't hit each one just the same! I couldn't stop with just one picture!

Again........it looked like snow........so lovely...........

Toward the east side of the valley--you can barely make out the mountains if you look hard--there are mile after mile of orange groves. Some of them had been picked, some not.......but all beginning to flower............

 Again........I couldn't resist.....the wonder and novelty have never worn off..........

 This grape vineyard had no end........really! I climbed the ladder on the truck and stood above the truck.......I have about six pictures just like this one from my extreme left to extreme right--they all look remarkably the same.........I warned you........even a picture doesn't capture the vastness of it all.

 

 We gathered up the bees from the drops in the grove at night and "stock piled" them in this large empty "field". Just look at all the stacks of bees--three and four pallets high--four hives to a pallet. There is no way a semi could get through a grove--besides, it would take far too long to load it that way. Roger can load a semi in 25:29.76 minutes--yeah...I timed him! Just look through these pictures and notice all the hives of bees.........

 The evening of the last night there.......in this field, surrounded by thousands of colonies of bees, three semis, two 3-ton trucks, men on fork lifts, and all that surrounded by almond trees on every side with the gorgeous sunset in the western sky. I was filled with awe at the wonder of it all......the goodness and generosity of Father in Heaven and the evidence of good, hard, honest work accomplished by men and a testimony of the bounty of the earth............all combined to fill me with reverent gratitude.