Once Upon A Time

I came across an old photo of one of the more well known "Mouseketeers." Namely, Annette Funicello.

She was popular as a teenager and had a career in those early years of her young adulthood. However, as she blossomed in those times, I was in Junior High and some in my circle thought I resembled Ms. Funicello. It is humorous now to recall and I post a photo of her and me to see if there is any agreement to that resemblance.

You be the judge.

Scriptures and What They Mean To Me

II Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the away; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.


This scripture and chapter are some of my favorite. I appreciate the messages of the scriptures and the lift they give my Spirit! Chapter 32,, 33 are some I can pick up and read and enjoy as I pass the time waiting for a appointment or at the temple.

The words penetrate my soul and give me great peace. I feel the love of the Savior for me, and it blesses me to share and give that love to others. God bless you all, who read this as well, I pray. Anna aka Grandma Mattie : )

Fine Entertainment

I wanted to take a few minutes to comment about the performance I attended last evening at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

David Archueleta was guest entertainer and it was a lovely evening and the crowd was wowed by this fine young man. He stood there and sang his heart out. He spoke with such confidence and humility. One of the things he said was that he never dreamed that he would ever be standing in front of the (huge) crowd singing like he did.

He expressed his gratitude for being able to be there. His innocence was so sweet! It looked like he was having a good time and I was so impressed at his ability to sing and the quality of his talent and performance.

He sang a number in Spanish. It was beautiful and the crowd loved it. Our seats were not in the main auditorium. The number of tickets given out was over booked and so many people showed up that they had to use the overflow in the Little Theater to hold the many guest who wanted to see David Archueleta perform!!

Imagine that. There were people everywhere waiting in lines that should have been inside already. Only thing was that too many tickets were given out and people actually showed up!!

We went away filled and glad to have been there. We had two great seats on the upper terrace and second row balcony seats. Th screen was marvelous and we were able to see the concert even better than if we were IN the Conference center.

It was truly a fulfillment of the promise President Gordon B Hinckley gave when he dedicated the center itself. He said it would be "a place of enjoyment and entertainment for the world to come to see and witness." [paraphrased] I felt that to be true. Thanks to President Hinckley for his insight and dedicatory prayer.

Even though it took so long to get seated and to get out of the Church office parking garage, it was worth the wait and inconvenience for what we experienced and enjoyed to see and hear David Archueleta sing!

A Good Man, Great Leader's Example Recalled

This short obituary does not even come close to describe the man represented here. He was a leader, father and example as I was growing up. I knew him, his wife, Dell Marie and first three children as a twelve year old babysitter. They lived down the street where I grew up. They were my first experience with a Latter-day Saint family. Brother Barlow was an energetic, hard working man in the insurance business.

Recently I made contact with the couple and was glad I did. I will write about it on another entry. Here is the tribute to him in the newspaper.




Howard King Barlow

1925 ~ 2010

Howard King Barlow, age 85, died December 2, 2010, in Springville, Utah. He was born July 15, 1925, in Tremonton, Utah, to Ona King and Fielding Burton Barlow. Howard was a World War II veteran and practiced estate and tax planning until his retirement. He served as Bishop of the Santa Ana 2nd Ward, as Mission President of the Boise Idaho Mission, and in many other callings in the LDS Church.

On March 6, 1952, he married Dell Marie Rose in the Logan Utah temple. He is survived by Dell Marie and five children: Kathryn Miner, John H Barlow, Paul David Barlow, Robert K Barlow, Mary Agrelius Davis and was preceded in death by daughter Ann Marie. He also leaves 23 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Thursday, December 9, 2010, at the Springville Utah 7th Ward chapel, located at 1785 E. 400 S. Viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. with the funeral at 12:00 noon. For those who may be inclined to send flowers, Howard has asked that you make a contribution to the Perpetual Education Fund instead. Contributions may be made online in memoriam at www.ldsphilanthropies.org/perpetual-educationfund/. Interment will be in Springville, Utah.

Elijah the Prophet, the Promise & Story

Elijah raised a child to life

Elijah had been staying in the home of the widow of Zarephath, and her son. There had been a famine, and God had provided food for them through the prophet Elijah. However, one day the son died, and Elijah raised him back to life. This is described in Kings 17:17-18:1

"One day the woman's son became sick and died. "Oh man of God," she cried, "what have you done to me? Have you come here to punish my sins by killing my son?" "Give him to me," Elijah replied. And he took the boy's body from her and carried it upstairs to the guest room where he lived, and laid the body on his bed, and then cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, why have you killed the son of this widow with whom I am staying?" And he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, please let this child's spirit return to him." And the Lord heard Elijah's prayer; and the spirit of the child returned, and he became alive again! Then Elijah took him downstairs and gave him to his mother. "See! He's alive!" he beamed. "Now I know for sure that you are a prophet," she told him afterward, "and that whatever you say is from the Lord!"

Imagine The "Rush"

This last Saturday I went to the BYU-Arizona game at Energy Solutions in Salt Lake to witness the game where this picture was taken. There was a excitement there that the crowd was ecstatic and electrified by the players. Kay had four tickets for the game and had Aaron and Candice go with us. Actually we rode with them and had a great evening, then went to dinner afterward.

It is fun to be able to go to the BYU basketball games. It has been way too many years since I was last able to do that. I remember the fun times when our family had the privilege to go see Tanise play basketball in her high school and college career years.

Go Cougars!!!! Rah, Rah Rah!!

This I Know . . .

There is such a wondering awe in going up to see the North Visitor's Center at Temple Square. I still feel like a four year old might feel in going with great anticipation to see the Christmas lights displayed there in Salt Lake City on the temple grounds at night. Several choral groups were there to perform and added to the beauty in song.



The weather was perfect and cooperated as thousands, literally were there to see the same thing we were there to see. The (recorded) message from President Thomas S Monson was uplifting.

I loved every moment. Please be sure to take a few hours to go with your families if you are in Utah and enjoy the Spirit and message of the Christ child and Savior of the world.

Amazing Presentation

The show was great. We all had a great time and loved the feeling of the Spirit of Love and the Savior that permeated the show. Michael McClean outdid himself and had added so much to the story for clarification. It has been about ten years since I had seen it.



I like the way the story flowed and how the music was so amazing. The sound effects and background was incredible. I like how at the end of the show the sweetness of the occasion left of all of us with a calm and joy of the Christ-mas spirit.

We all had a great time and enjoyed a fun evening together. A special thanks to Kay, too.

Forgotten Carols~

Michael McLean's touching Christmas tale has become a timeless classic. It tells the story of a nurse whose empty life is changed by her patient, John, who expands her understanding of Christmas. The Forgotten Carols are original songs from the perspective of characters such as the innkeeper who turned the young couple away or the shepherd who slept through the angel's announcement. Their personal accounts, until now, have been overlooked or ignored. Together, John and Constance discover what the world has forgotten about Christmas.

Going to see this with my family this evening....watch for more comments.