This is the Memorial Wall

This is the "pillar" at the entrance to Memorial Park with the plaque commemorating the founders of the park and the quotation at the bottom of the plaque.

Dear Family (and maybe some friends?),
Nearly two months have gone by since I promised to get into posting more often! My intentions were (and still are) good, but you know what they say about 'good intentions'? They are the main ingredient in the "asphalt" used to pave the highway to the "nether region". But, the same old excuse, we have been busy! See Stacey's blog for some of our activities. And, we were called on another "mission" by our Bishop back in mid-January. It is a three month mission to 'read good literature', the classics. And we get to choose what those classics are. Most of our 'spare' time has been spent in pursuing that "mission call". In the meantime, and probably as a result of our pursuit of the 'classics', Grandma and I are heavily engaged in a project that will likely take the rest of our lives to complete. It's a mystery to be announced later but here is a clue: In a little park in the center of a city not far from here is a plaque with a quotation engraved on it which reads: "A people who takes no pride in their ancestors will never do anything worthy to be remembered by their descendants." Soooo.......??????? We love you all.

I promised that we would get caught up with blog-hopping and posting but time has a way of slipping by when your busy. Thank you all for being patient. I have been able to get through all of your Blogs and am fascinated with what all of you have posted showing your family life. I am very impressed by your values and how you express your love for your spouses and children. I even got Grandma to sit with me and read through all the new postings. We both feel so blessed to be allowed a glimpse into your family life. It brings us closer together and gives us a warm fuzzy feeling toward you. Hopefully, we can post a few pictures soon to give you a look into our life (Which seems quite common-place when compared to some of yours!). Keep those cards and letters (and comments) coming! It helps to know that someone is interested enough to visit. I guess that works both ways doesn't it? We love you!

Dear Family and Friends (especially those in far away places!!),

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything for such a long time. I've been a little busy (working on a secret project with Grandma!!??) Sherry posted the pictures of our grow boxes while we were in Mesa for Thanksgiving. Thanks to Sherry and Trudy for the ride to Mesa and back! We had a wonderful time and I got to play with the grand-kids and hold some of the cutest great-grand-kids in the world!! I am so happy to be a part of the greatest family in the world!!

We love you. (I'll get caught up on blog-hopping and posting in the next few days.)

Grandma and Grandpa Nicoll

Grandpa and Grandma and all their grow boxes (almost all).
We have 12 boxes, some of them permanently planted, such as asparagus, strawberries, grapes, blackberries,
boysenberries and herbs. That leaves 6 that we will rotate our seasonal vegetables in. They vary in size from
4 @ 12x4 to 1 @ 8x4 and 1 @ 24x1.5. They vary according to the space we had to plant in. This year was experimental: we planted way more than we could use for ourselves , but we gave a lot away. Next year we will have a better idea of how much to plant. The developer of this system says that a family of four could live all year on the produce from 4 boxes 30x4 (or equivalent). (You have to learn to can or otherwise preserve your harvest.) We found this method more productive and less labor-intense than traditional soil gardening. It is cleaner and a lot easier to weed.

Grandpa and Gus.

Gus is getting old: 14! He is blind in the left eye and nearly so in the right eye. He doesn't hear well and has no teeth. (Grandpa is not quite that bad off.) Gus still loves to run and play (slowly) and wants to be in the middle of things.

Grandma and Grandpa's zucchini. We gave a lot of zucchini away! But Grandma learned that she could grate the zucchini and freeze it fresh and it thaws and can be used in salads, soups and zucchini bread just like fresh! Now, how do we keep our electricity from failing??

Grandma's sunflower. Actually a bird planted this sunflower next to our fish pond but we let it grow. It added a little color and spice to the landscape

Grandma's flower garden. Grandma takes a lot of(justifiable) pride in her beautiful flowers.

HELP!!

I NEED HELP!! I have been looking at a lot of your blogs lately and have been impressed that the younger generation is a lot more "savvy" than I am on all this "high tech" Blog-Spot formatting business. I don't (as yet) do any video posting, however, Grandma takes a lot of photos that you might enjoy seeing. I don't want to fill up my blog page with a whole string of pictures. I think I know how to do that!! But what I would like to do is put them (photos) in a SLIDE SHOW format. Will those of you who are adept at that sort of thing please tell me how to do it? PLEASE? Is it some sort of widget or gadget that I have to import from somewhere at great expense? Or is it out there in cyberspace for free (I'm chintzy!)? Blogger.com doesn't seem to offer a PHOTO SLIDE SHOW, at least I haven't found the way, if they do. HELP! HELP!! HOW DO I DO A SLIDE SHOW???

YEAH, GORDON!!

Gordon got his Mission call today!! ( See sidebar - Special Events) Washington Kennewick is the greatest mission in the world!! (Sorry, Nick [Elder Blount], Washington D.C. North is "the best", also, just like Illinoise Nauvoo was!)

I'm just having fun!!

Anyone who thinks that it's always green trees and beautiful flowers in Ephraim has not been here in the wintertime!

Right now, the trees on the mountains are just beginning to show the fall colors and the rabbit brush along the highways in the valley are beginning to bloom. (I have learned that when the rabbit brush begins to show its yellow flowers fall is on its way!)

(This is a test! This is my first attempt to post a photograph! Pretty cool, huh? [A little "play on words" there!])

COULDN'T WAIT

I couldn't wait 'til Sunday to give you something else to think about. This was the closing hymn at our Stake conference last Sunday. It has been on my mind constantly since then. I guess I had better share it.

LORD, I WOULD FOLLOW THEE

Susan Evans McCloud

LDS Hymns, # 220

Savior, may I learn to love thee, Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another, Finding strength beyond my own.

Savior, may I learn to love thee -- Lord, I would follow thee.

Who am I to judge another When I walk imperfectly?

In the quiet heart is hidden Sorrow that the eye can't see.

Who am I to judge another? -- Lord, I would follow thee.

I would be my brother's keeper; I would learn the healer's art.

To the wounded and the weary I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother's keeper -- Lord, I would follow thee.

Savior, may I love my brother As I know thou lovest me,

Find in thee my strength, my beacon, For thy servant I would be.

Savior, may I love my brother -- Lord, I would follow thee>

TESTIMONY

Our Stake, the Ephraim, Utah Stake, held it's semi-annual conference today. It was very inspiring and motivational on the subject of Missionary work. We are all missionaries; good, bad or indifferent. Our Stake President asked us to think of one thing we could do to be better missionaries in our work place, or our community or neighborhood, or our families. The thought occured to me that I could bear testimony to my family of the truth of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and invite your comment. I have had sufficient experiences in my life to know that it is true. And that knowledge has been attested to and confirmed by the Holy Ghost. Over the next few Sundays I will post some thoughts for your consideration.

Mosiah 2:41 (read the whole chapter!)

"...Morover, I would desire that ye consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

More Sister's Weekend Pictures

These are some of Laury's pictures of the Sister's weekend back in January. How cute are Ashley, Annabelle and Maggie with their cousin's cake?

Emotional Maturity

I am regularly reminded that Heavenly Father is in charge of the world and our lives. It seems that the "conventional wisdom" of the world sooner or later "discovers" or accepts what Father has told us, through the scriptures and His prophets, all along. A few years ago a leader in mental health and psychiatry, Dr. William C. Menninger, posted the following as:

The Criteria of Emotional Maturity

The ability to deal constructively with reality.

The capacity to adapt to change.

A relative freedom from symptoms that are produced

by tensions and anxieties.

The capacity to find more satisfaction

in giving than receiving.

The capacity to relate to other people in a consistent manner

with mutual satisfaction and helpfulness.

The capacity to sublimate,

to direct one's instinctive hostile energy into

creative and constructive outlets.

The capacity to love.

William C. Menninger, M.D.

1899-1966

FAITH

When you are walking the path of righteousness, in humility and with faith in Heavenly Father, there will be times when you are required to go beyond the light and knowledge you have. You have come to the end of the light and see nothing but darkness ahead. Step bravely forward - the leap of faith - you will either step on firm and solid ground or Father will teach you to fly!

-Anon-

Another Family Blogger

Hey , Everyone,
Brian and Angie have started a blog! Check their link: http://angieandbrian.blogspot.com.

"... And That's The Way It Is!"

Dear Family.
I received this poem from a missionary couple who served with us in Nauvoo. They got it from a friend who got it from a friend etc., etc., etc. You may have seen it before. I think it's kind of humorous, but tells it pretty close to the way it is. Let me know what you think.

The Way It Is

I was shocked, confused, bewildered,

As I entered Heaven's door.

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights nor it's decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alchoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who stole my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

And George! who I always thought

Was rotting away in Hell!

There he was on Cloud Nine,

Looking incredibly well!

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get in here?

God must have made a mistake.

'And why's everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you!'

-Anon-

"Judge not, that ye be not judged..."

Remember -- just going to church on Sunday is not what makes you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car!!

What you are is proven by what you choose to do when no one is compelling you to do anything.

Any thoughts or comments??

We love you all, Gma and Gpa Nicoll

Thanks!!

Thanks be to Cari, who got us up and running (well, mabe limping along and dragging our feet) on this blog spot a year ago. We are sincerely interested in all of you but we are so slow in learning that we have neglected this "hi-tech" way of communicating. Please forgive us and bear with us while we learn and above all, "keep those cards and letters coming".