The party's over...

It's been a great few weeks off of school for our oldest twig!

He had lots of adventures with this sweet girl,

and a visit from one of his favorite mission companions. 

They even got in a day of skiing together.

Last semester was sweet. 

It was his first semester back at college 

since sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Carolinas 

and he had a good balance of hard and easy classes. 

The new semester starts tomorrow 

and it's a different ballgame.

There won't be any classes on shootin' pool.

That's okay though. 

He will do well. 

He's a hard worker and the fastest reader I know. 

Gordon B. Hinckley said

“The pattern of study you establish during your formal schooling

will in large measure affect your lifelong thirst for knowledge.”

“You must get all of the education that you possibly can.

… Sacrifice anything that is needed to be sacrificed 

to qualify yourselves to do the work of [this] world.

… Train your minds and hands to become an influence for good

as you go forward with your lives.”

Hugs to all those starting classes tomorrow.

You'll do fantastic!

<3

An Indian Name from a Catawban Chief..

Our oldest twig, Zac, is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

with people of the Catawban Indian Tribe in South Carolina. 

He wrote home a while ago that he'd been given an Indian name 

by one of the Chiefs. 

How neat is that!!!

I love all things Native American! 

Many years ago, when I was a little girl, I'd spend the night with my cousin 

and study display case after display case on their walls, full of arrowheads 

that her Dad had come across in the deserts of Idaho. 

They were beautiful and so interesting!

When I was 6 months pregnant with Our Girlie, 

the Mr. and I climbed up, down, around, and through Mesa Verde 

with these two little guys.

It was a life changing experience! 

Now, every night when I lay my head on my pillow, I'm grateful 

for a soft bed and warm blankets, 

grateful I don't have to worry about a 40' cliff just outside my door 

when toddlers or sleepwalkers are in the house. 

(Look in the top right corner of the picture above

 - what an amazing little community in that alcove.)

About two years ago we found pictographs in this home.

 Dig that rockin' skylight!

It seemed a gift more than a coincidence 

when just after hearing Zac's Indian name was Red Woodpecker, 

this little couple showed up in our yard. 

They spent a lot of time behind a boulder digging in the snow.

They also spent a lot of time in our neighbor's tree. 

I couldn't see why until I got the pictures on the computer. 

We're enjoying these woodpeckers 

and are grateful for messages and pictures 

from the dear people in Catawba 

who tell us they're enjoying our Red Woodpecker, Elder Branch.   <3