March 13, 2013

            Remember that we have two holidays in March this year.  Generally our mental timetable registers with St. Patrick’s Day on the 17^th , but Easter has moved into the last Sunday of March in 2013.  It is a tad early, but will get back on the normal schedule in 2014.  March is usually a pretty staid month but this go-around includes the move to Daylight Savings Time as well.  That always shakes things up a bit and takes some adjusting.

We have had some days with temperatures high enough to start the melting that needs to come before spring arrives.  The ice and snow are slowly creeping backwards.  The constantly dripping water of the daytime hours turns to sheet ice at night, but it does run off during the next day. All this is encouraging.

Aaron Wilde, son of Judy and David Wilde, came home on Feb. 27^th.  He has been serving in the Family & Church History Mission that is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT.  His interest in genealogical work has really grown in the two years he has spent there.

Tammy Beardall enjoyed some vacation in time with her sister and mother.   Tammy and her mother flew to Dallas, TX, picked up a sister there, and then on to Galveston to set off on a Caribbean cruise.  Their ship made some stops along the eastern Mexican coast and toured Grand Cayman island. The temperatures were at least warmer than Idaho.

Dr. Kerry Jepsen’s work as an orthopedic surgeon takes him to many places.  Among these spots is Tupelo, MS.  Recently Kerry was in that area over a weekend and was attending church in a ward. Elder Cody McKay, who is now laboring in Starkville, happened to be there at the same time. What a surprise! It was a nice reunion with someone from home, Mink Creek, for Elder McKay.

Five days after that first report of dripping, we have now had several days running of melting temperatures.  Ice and snow are sliding off the roofs so watch out overhead!  This is causing a need for shoveling the  sudden excess, but who cares, it is warming up!  I have heard geese honking overhead.  None have settled on our icy pond yet, but I am expecting the usual group to gather before long.  I wouldn’t want to put my toes in that water right now.

Elder Leon and  Sister Katherine Noorda, are winding up their time of serving a humanitarian mission in Thailand.  On their way back to the United States they hope to have a few days to visit friends in Indonesia, at Surabaya, where they labored during a past mission experience.

Elder Jimmie and Sister Anna Beth Olson, now serving missions in England, report the fun of celebrating the Chinese New Year with friends.  This happens to be the year of the snake and fireworks and dragon parades, along with special Chinese treats were part of the event.