Category: News (Page 26 of 29)

During the Saturday morning session of October 2007 General Conference, President Hinckley conducted the sustaining of church leaders. When he finished and returned to his seat the cameras zoomed out and those of us watching on TV or computers could not see what happened.  Instead, we saw President Hinckley pause before he sat down and we heard the laughter of the congregation.

A few weeks later, my son emailed me this photo showing President Hinckley’s pause to “knight” President Eyring (if you click on the picture it will enlarge). It is one of my favorite photos of President Hinckley. I am going to miss him.

I love winter. For some reason, when it is cold outside I want to eat certain foods, comfort foods. All of my comfort foods are things that I usually only eat when it’s cold outside. The only warm weather comfort food I can think of is ice cream and that doesn’t really count because it’s really my year round comfort food, especially if it’s Bluebell ice cream! Yesterday I was freezing and wanted a big cup of hot chocolate I went to the cupboard and looked at my mug selection.  It was disappointing to say the least.  I wanted a big mug and then I remembered the hot chocolate cup my Texas grandkids made me for Christmas a year ago.  I keep it on the bottom shelf in the bottom cupboard.  (That is not quite as crazy as it sounds…it won’t fall out and break during an earthquake).  I love this cup and made a great cup of hot chocolate.  So now back to my comfort foods; hot chocolate and toast, oatmeal, Cadbury’s dairy milk chocolate bars, Campbells tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches, and tamales.  MMM……..

As I walked to seminary at 5:30 this morning I didn’t even look up at the dark sky. Johnny Huang, who is the first to arrive everyday, came in just before 6 am and announced that it was snowing. I was surprised, I didn’t realize that snow was forecast for today. I was excited and went to look in case it stopped as suddenly as it had begun.

Last year, the only snow we saw was a flurry of flakes for a few minutes in March. I haven’t mentioned how much I love the first snowy day! I especially love them when I can stay in and watch as the snow begins to stick. (There really isn’t much accumulating yet, except in the park). I walked through the park on my way to get groceries and took a few pictures. Now, as I look out my window it is coming down in huge, fluffy flakes. This could call for another walk in the park!

For about 15 years of my life I served in our church’s program for young women ages 12 to 18 and these were some of the best times ever. There was one group of girls that were especially crazy and fun. I still keep up with them by reading their blogs on a regular basis. They are mothers now and it is amazing to see the remarkable women that they have grown up to be.

Two of them, Marisa and Megan, have started a new blog called Backyard Farming. Check it out! They are both very funny and reading it has caused me to ponder the idea of growing something on my 3×5 balcony here in the center of Tokyo…a tomato plant maybe…hmmm.

I left Tokyo on December 13 and flew to Salt Lake to meet up with Alex.  We found him a car quickly and moved on to Christmas shopping, visiting my family in Utah and the stomach flu (only me).  So on Monday, while I stayed in bed, Kristina and Alex set out with my list and did almost all my shopping.  We all headed for Houston on the 20th.  Rick arrived on the 21st. We went to a house on the lake for Christmas week.  It was great to have most of our children and grandchildren there.  We really missed Allyson, Luke, Maddie and Isabelle.  Isabelle was born in London on December 17 and she is just as beautiful as her sister.  Rick and I flew to London on December 29 in time to bless Isabelle Amelie on the 30th.  I am enjoying my time here.  I return to Tokyo via Houston departing London on January 17th and arriving Tokyo January 19.  Crazy but worth it.

I arrived back in Tokyo yesterday after a long flight. Public transportation is generally a great way to get around but once in awhile it causes some problems. On Saturday Luke, Ally and Maddie dropped me off at Paddington Station so I could catch the Heathrow Express for the 15 minute ride to the airport. I already had a ticket and got on the next train. After awhile an announcement was made that all trains had been suspended due to an “incident” at Southall. They had no idea when the trains would be running again and because the underground line to the airport was suspended and they were using a bus service it was suggested that we hop in a taxi. Now, that actually sounds easy enough but a taxi to Heathrow airport costs 60 British pounds or about $120. I knew that by the time I got Ally and Luke and they turned around to come back for me I would probably be late for my flight. So I hurried out to find a taxi that would take a credit card. The third taxi in the queue was able to take my card and I was on my way. Traffic was a bit heavy but we made it and    it only cost 53.40 pounds or about $107. Outrageous!!  

Today it has been raining. I decided to go to Arisugawa Park to look at the leaves anyway. I almost missed them this year, there are so many on the ground.  You can see in the picture how beautiful they are.

I always get so excited to return to London.  The excitement begins when I get on the plane but subsides quickly as the 12 hour flight drags on and on.  How many movies can you really watch in a 12 hour period without going insane and besides that most of them are a complete waste of time.  Reading is the best thing.  The excitement begins again as the plane lands and I have new energy as I charge toward exit.  As I board the train into the city my heart shouts, “I am in London!!!!!”  I get even more excited in the taxi.  I love this city, it was mine for four years!  I love the windows at Selfridges, the double decker buses, mince pies, the accents, my friends here and just walking everywhere.  Most of all I love coming here to see Luke, Allyson and Maddie.  Having them here makes London 10 times better.  Well, I must go and get ready to be out in my favourite city.

Yes, that is right my Christmas tree is up!!!  I have never put my tree up before Thanksgiving.  Now that everyone is away from home, there is a debate inside my head every year about whether I should put it up at all.  Last year we went to London for Christmas, but I put it up anyway for about 2 weeks.  I took it down before we left for London so Rick wouldn’t have to look at it for three weeks in January, when he returned to Tokyo and I went to Utah.  We are leaving tomorrow for London to celebrate Thanksgiving with Allyson, Luke and Maddie.  Alex decided he wanted to put it up last night for family home evening.  It was actually nice to have some help and I do love Christmas trees.  I will arrive back in Tokyo on December 2 only to depart again on December 13.  So the tree will come down on the 12th since Rick returns the first weekend in January and I don’t get back home until the 19th.  So although my trees don’t stay up very long, I decided today that it will be a sad day when I no longer want to have a Christmas tree.

Today it is my most favorite kind of day!!! The sky is bright blue and cloudless. The air is crisp and cold, but not so cold that I need my big wool coat. It is perfect, this kind of day energizes me and I forget how mushi atsui (hot and humid Tokyo can be during the summer). I could live anywhere that has this weather year round. Actually, the place I saw the most days like this was London, no wonder it is still my favorite city.

Unfortunately, this beautiful morning will be spent at the hairdresser getting a cut and then a visiting teaching appointment. I actually like both of these activities so the unfortunate part is that they are inside. This afternoon I must get out, walk and look at the changing leaves in the park and maybe even go to Akihabara (the famous electronics district) and buy a new camera to take pictures of those leaves and this beautiful day.

Alex has decided he wants Japanese food for every meal until we leave for London on Wednesday. That must involve sushi, tonkatsu, and Japanese curry. Then I suppose he will want fish and chips and bangers and mash. It has been so good to have him here for so long, what a blessing for us. We are sad to see him leave but realize that it is time for him to move on.