Wildlife

I am so often delighted by what I see here in Florida, especially the wildlife, which is so different than what I have seen throughout my life!  The other day, I was driving down the street when a big iguana started to cross.  There was an iguana near the canal at the temple site and an iguana sitting in the window sill of the temple. 

Several weeks ago, I saw a beautiful white egret on the bank of the canal.  At girl's camp, I saw an armadillo.  I love it!

The picture of this egret is not the exact one I saw, but looks like it.  So beautiful!

Girl's Camp

From left to right:  Me, Heather Mueller, counselor in the Stake YW presidency, Allison Tolbert, Stake Camp Director, Karen Workman, Stake Certification leader, Mindy Christensen, Stake YW President

I was called to serve as the Stake Assistant Camp Director of all things at the end of last year.  I've been in the Young Women program, but I was willing.

It was a great experience.

The theme was "Your Happily Ever After" based on President Uchtdorf's talk to the Young Women in 2010.  Everything was princess themed.

Girl's camp here in Florida is held the end of March during Spring Break.  I asked someone once why it was not in the summer.  Her answer was because it's too hot, muggy and buggy.  Makes sense.

The camp was awesome!  We stayed at Camp Flaming Arrow, a boy's scout camp. There isn't a church girl's camp here so we schedule and pay for one close by.  As camps go, this one is pretty comfortable.  There are buildings with beds for the leaders and adirondacks or heavy duty tents for the girls and their leaders.  The only thing was it was COLD!  The temps got down into the low 30's and even though we told the girls that it was going to be cold, many still came very unprepared!  Most hunkered down and were okay, but we ended up putting the YCL girls (5th year leaders over the girls) in one of the buildings because it got so bad.

But there was a huge lake with swimming (after it warmed up at the end of the week), boating, climbing wall, shooting and archery for activities.  And, of course, certification, great food, awesome camp songs and inspirational speakers and testimonies.  I think everyone had a good time.  It was a lot of hard work and little sleep for us as leaders, but really the girls did most of it.  We had a Junior Staff group of 6th year girls.  They pretty much ran things and they did an amazing job!

One of the best parts, aside from the food was a fabulous video one of our girls made.  She had filmed the boys in our stake singing "What Makes You Beautiful."  I love, love, loved it!!  And so did the girls:  You should have heard the screaming!  They loved it so much in fact that we watched it many times during the week.  Well done, Jenna Workman!!  Here's the link so you can see it:
http://karensphotographix.smugmug.com/Category/Stake-Youth/Stake-YM-Video/28672193_SV2Wxn#!i=2432670362&k=pjqnQGv

The highlight of the week was when we wrote our dreams on paper sacks and put candles inside and floated them on the lake.  It was a beautiful, spiritual experience watching the lighted bags floating on the lake.

We were all exhausted when we got home, but all in all, it was a great week and I'm glad I got to be there.

Mist coming off the lake early in the morning.

Gorgeous sunset

Fort Lauderdale Temple News Story

On January 20th, 2013, WPLG channel 10, ABC new affiliate aired a news story about the new Fort Lauderdale Temple.  The person interviewed was the Stake President from Miami Lakes.  I thought it was a very positive, tastefully done story.  Here is the link:

http://www.local10.com/news/Massive-Mormon-temple-being-built/-/1717324/18205368/-/qltcllz/-/index.html

Catching Up Part Two

Eva Nancy Carbine

In January, I flew back to Salt Lake to be with Ashley when she had her first baby.  I flew out on the 3rd and baby Eva was born on Sunday, February 6th.

Ashley had been having quite a few contractions when I got there and actually went in early Saturday morning at 1:30am but was sent home around 4:30am.  But by 4:30pm she was having contractions so hard they made her cry, so she and Joe went back to the hospital.  Thank goodness for epidurals.

Jameson and I went over to the hospital and later went for a food run, for us and Joe.  But I'd been sick and was still coughing a lot, so we ended up going home around 9:30.  I was pretty conscientious about spreading any germs around.

Eva Nancy was born at 5:55am Sunday morning.  She weighed 7lbs 1 oz and was 20" long.  Ashley and Joe stayed at the hospital for a couple of days.  Naturally I had to go to hold and cuddle her!  I put a mask on most times, just to make sure I didn't spread any germs.

Both families are ecstatic!

Eva Nancy, isn't she adorable?

Eva is the sweetest baby!  Ashley is so lucky that she is so good.  Joe is a wonderful dad. He adores Eva and is so willing to help wherever he can. They'll both be good parents.

 I stayed for two weeks, helping out.  What I tried to do mostly was clean out our storage room and go through boxes, putting things away, cleaning and cooking.  That was probably the most helpful.  Ashley and I actually got her craft room put together before she went into the hospital.

I found by the end of two weeks, I was really ready to go back to Florida.  It was almost too long.  Not that I don't love being with my kids, but I missed Mark and our life in Florida.

I was scheduled to fly out on Jet Blue's red eye.  Joe and Jameson took me to the airport, and then I flew through the night and ended up in New York around 5am.  I had a hard time sleeping on the plane before, but I got something to eat and then was able to sleep until we landed in Ft. Lauderdale.

I was so glad to be back.  I have to admit when I saw Mark waiting for me at the airport, I almost started to cry!

Because it was winter and so many germs around, Ashley stayed away from church for several weeks.  They finally blessed Eva the end of March.  Ashley made Eva a beautiful blessing dress.

Nancy Roberta Street Berry

Mark's parents at Chris and Charity's wedding reception Nov. 30, 2011, Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Mark's mom passed away January 20th.  I had actually just gotten home the day before from helping Ashley. We received the phone call Sunday morning.  It was 4:10 our time.  She had passed away at home in Dad's arms around 1am. 

She has had many health problems over the years and had turned 85 January 11th.  While I was in Salt Lake, Mark's siblings got together to celebrate their parents' birthdays.  We met at Mike and Beth Ann's home in Draper and had a lovely dinner and evening visiting and just spending time together.  I'm so glad I got to be there to spend that time with her.  By the end of the evening she looked exhausted and I wondered how much longer we would have her.  I think everyone was grateful that we had all made the effort to get together.  Mark's sister, Mary Alice and her husband Kim had driven from Rigby, Idaho to bring Mom and Dad to Salt Lake just for that occasion.  They ended up driving home that night.

Rick and Kay and Brett had come up from St. George, and Rob and Sheila had come from Park City.  Everyone made the effort.

That next week she ended up in the hospital again, but had been able to go home.

After the news, Mark and I flew back to Salt Lake on Tuesday in order to be with his dad.  We received a couple of tender mercies:  One was from Brother Workman, who is a member of our bishopric and also one of Mark's home teaching families.  He called and insisted on driving us to the airport and picking us up.  What a blessing that was, saving us gas money and money for leaving our car at the airport, especially since we had originally been scheduled to fly out on Wednesday, so when we changed our flight, it cost us extra money.

The other was Christopher offered to let us drive his car.  This saved us over $400.00 in rental car fees.  What a blessing and help this was to us as well.

We got to Salt Lake around 9pm.  Chris picked us up, and we went straight to his home in Ogden. He and Charity had given up their bed so we could sleep there.  It sure made it nice to get up and be so much closer to Idaho.  We got a nice early start the next day.

I know Dad was really glad to have us there.  I had brought pictures we had of Mom so a collage could be made for a display.  I was able to help Mary Alice pick out the best ones.  Mark spent time with Dad.

The hardest time was at the viewing in Rigby, seeing Mom in the casket for the first time.  That's when both Mark and I broke down.  She looked so lovely and natural.  I'm grateful we had those few first minutes before everyone came.  It took a few minutes, but we were soon both okay again, as friends and my family came to express condolences.

My parents, my brother Doug and my sister-in-law Cristie, my brothers Dave and Steve came.  It is difficult to express the gratitude I feel for the support of people who love me.  And, of course, they all knew Mom so they had come to express their condolences to Dad and Mark and the family.  It meant a lot.

The other wonderful surprise was seeing Jay and Sally Ellis.  I sang with Sally for years with Peppermint Sunshine and have known them both since high school.  They are both dear friends.  We all lived in Salt Lake the same time and hung out with each other.  It was great to see them!  The support of friends and family means more than I can express.

The best part of that time in Idaho was having us all together, having meals together, being able to visit, being able to reminisce about Mom.  I know it meant a great deal to Dad too.

We stayed until Friday, then drove back to Utah.  Mark worked at the Church Office Building Friday afternoon, while I was home.  That night Zac and Rebecca came over with the girls and we played "Just Dance 4" on the kids' X Box Connect device.  It was really fun and challenging!  I could totally get into it for exercise!

Saturday, was the funeral.  Because Mom and Dad had lived in the same house in Salt Lake for 50 years, they were very well known.  The line for the viewing there was very long.  I know it meant a lot to Dad and the family to see everyone who came.

The funeral was lovely.  All the siblings spoke and Chad, Mary Alice and Kim's son sang a beautiful hymn Mom had requested. I think she knew her time was coming.

We went to Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park where her grave was dedicated.  All of the grandsons were pall bearers.

From left to right:  Robert, Mike, Mary Alice, Dad, Rick, Mark

Grandsons from left to right:  Christopher, Jameson (Mark), Brett, (Rick) Mick, Dave, (Rob) Chad (Mary Alice), Jake, Taylor (Rick), M.J. (Mike)  Nana was always so proud of her grandsons.

The Relief Society sisters provided the family with a lovely luncheon.  After it was all over, we all went back to our own families.  Ours met back at our home and we bought pizzas for everyone for dinner.  Later, we watched hilarious Carol Burnett sketches, then "The Private Eyes" with Don Knots and Tim Conway.  I had forgotten how funny it was.  It felt so good to laugh and laugh.

As I reflect on the person Mom was, I think of how giving she was.  She loved to serve; she cared for her parents as they grew older and their health became poor, she served friends and neighbors and she loved her family so much, especially the grandkids and great grandkids.  I remember how she sent Easter candy to the kids every year and always remembered their birthdays.  She loved it when we all got together and she was instrumental in the special Christmas and Summer reunions we had each year.  She loved making things.  I will always treasure the beautiful set of plates she made us for Christmas one year.  One year she knitted caps for every one of us!!  And she made something special for each of the kids for Christmas.  She loved ceramics, so one year it was an animal bank.  She was always doing thoughtful things like that

Her and Dad made a special effort to be to the kids' sporting events, baptisms, marriages etc.  She loved to travel, especially to Hawaii and Disneyland.  One of the best vacations we had was going as a family to Hawaii and staying at the Ko Olina resort.

I will remember her as a kindred spirit.  She was a fun-loving, sweet spunky woman.  I will miss her.

One of the most precious truths we have as Latter-day Saints is knowing that temples seal and bind families together.  We will see our beloved Nana, Mother, Wife, etc. again.  We will be able to be with her forever.  She is no longer suffering from the pain she dealt with for years and years, nor the eyesight and hearing loss.  She is in a beautiful place reunited with loved ones gone on before.  What a joyous and wonderful reunion it will be one day.

Chris took his car back when he left Saturday night.  Jameson drove us to the airport the next day.  We have awesome kids!  Our flight was uneventful and I think, especially for Mark, it was good to get back to work.

Dad has been doing all right.  He wrote his history and sent it to me before Mom died.  Since then I have had questions for him, so he has been answering those and sending them back to me.  He has been doing genealogy and other things.  Slowly he has been going through Mom's things.  I have been a grateful recipient of some of them.  Mary Alice lives nearby so she checks on him frequently.

So life goes on and with time and God's tender mercies we are able to move forward. 


  

Catching Up

The sweet baby who played "Baby Jesus."  Isn't she adorable?

 Savior of the World Part I

So many things have happened.  Before Christmas, our stake performed "Savior of the World Part I"  about Christ's birth.  It was a marvelous experience.  Again, I stood in the back and directed the music.  I also choreographed a simple dance number, which was really fun for me.  But everything was so well done; we had a wonderful director and I was amazed at the talent in our stake.  We did three performances. 

While naturally impressed with the story of our Savior's birth, I was particularly touched by the story of Zacharias and Elisabeth, the parents of John the Baptist.  It's not one I had ever thought much about.

Luke 1:6 says this about them:  “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were not well stricken in years.

So our play portrayed the ache that particularly Elisabeth had in her heart to have a child and Zacharias’ desire to draw the lot to burn the incense in the holy temple. 

What an incredible blessing then, that both in one day received the desired blessings of their hearts!  Zacharias is so astonished at the amazing good news from the angel Gabriel that he can’t quite believe it and is struck dumb as a sign.

Elisabeth is, of course, thrilled that Zacharias has finally drawn the lot as he desired, but naturally is concerned that the experience was too much for him.  What I found most poignant about the story was how Zacharias tried so meaningfully to convey to Elisabeth that she was finally to be given the greatest desire of her heart--a child.  How amazed and overjoyed then, she must have felt when she finally understood the message!  How blessed and grateful they both must have felt! 

Perhaps it is because I am around the same age Elisabeth must have been; the age where children are no longer possible that  I somehow understood how she must have longed and ached for children.  I could picture in my mind's eye what it must have been like for her when she finally knew; I could never watch that tender, powerful scene without crying.  

Zacharias tries to show Elisabeth she will have a child.

 There is a quote from The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles,” which tells the rest of the story:

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:

‘When Herod’s edict went forth to destroy the young children, John was about six months older than Jesus and came under this hellish edict, and Zacharias caused his mother to take him into the mountains, where he was raised on locusts and wild honey.  When his father refused to disclose his hiding place, and being the officiating high priest at the Temple that year, was slain by Herod’s order, between the porch and the altar, as Jesus said.’

“Zacharias died, then, to save his son: he died a noble martyr, perhaps the first of the Christian era.”

Zacharias sacrificed his life to protect his son, while Elisabeth sacrificed her life as she raised her son without a father.  Both made tremendous sacrifices for the one who would one day baptize the Son of God.

I’ll never think of Zacharias and Elisabeth quite the same way again.

"Savior of the World, Part I," also brought so many aspects of the story of Mary and Joseph; what they both must have gone through.  The part the shepherds played in Christ's birth; it has all added so much to my appreciation of what happened so very long ago.  I don't think Christmas will ever be quite the same for me again.  

It will be much more meaningful.  

Here are a few of my favorite moments in the production:

Dance number after Mary's engagement.

 

 

 

      

  

Gabriel tells Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary to wife.

We had a real baby for our "Baby Jesus."