"My Shoes To Walk In A Foreign Land"

I recently visited my former ward in Lindon, UT. There was an announcement about an Eagle Project regarding donations for sports-type shoes for people in Haiti, Central and South America. They said some of the people never had a pair of shoes. The young man doing the project requested donors give new or in good condition kinds of tennis shoes for the needy. It was a very good idea anyway.

The Scout's family was going to take the shoes donated to California and then the shoes would be sorted out to go to the designated country. I heard the call for shoes and promptly forgot about it. Aaron and Candice and the kids went through their shoes and culled the ones they could give away.

I had brought only one pair of outdoor shoes to work around the house and even wore them on the plane when I came from Washington. The shoes pictured above are the ones I am telling about here. They were New Balance shoes and used to walk in them which still had a newer look of not too badly worn. They were actually the best pair of tennis shoes I own and would wear them to go walking, in my opinion, of course.

I decided to work and weed in the garden at Aaron and Candice's before I left. The shoes attracted some dirt on the bottoms of them, so I took them off outside on the deck. I then had used some old Crocks I had left there before on the same deck after setting the tennis shoes aside.

The chore of packing to return to Washington made me realize i needed to decide if I was taking the shoes back, (all dirty) or clean them up and leave them in Utah in the guest room closet to wear when I returned. I then began scraping off the dried dirt left on the soles of my shoes. I got most of it and decided I needed to wet them down and finish the cleaning. Then, all of a sudden I heard "the still small voice" tell me to donate them to the poor and needy in Haiti for the Eagle Project.

I didn't even have to think about it twice. I thought "Okay,Lord, you got it." Then I had another thought come back and tell me that "my shoes would walk in a foreign, even if I wasn't wearing them." Well, that was kind of different, but I could not agree more and followed the prompting.

So, on the way to the airport this morning we ran the pair of 'Grandma tennies' to give to the young man, Nathan H., the shoes to take for his Eagle Project.

What a novel idea and felt the sweet assurance that someone would get them and appreciate the gesture to give them to "a stranger.." It felt right and it made my day. Really.

Grandmother Siting in Utah

This is the most precious bundle of Joy you can ever imagine. Her proud parents cherish her and very grateful for her safe arrival. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. She is such a tiny thing, only 19 1/2 inches long. As you can see she had dark brown hair. She has a rosy skin color and the cutest tiny rosebud-like lips.

Her name is Gentry. Her name is Candice's grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth maiden name. She, Gentry had another paternal great-grandmother named Sarah Elizabeth Hunt McIntire, and was given her middle name as Elizabeth. Gentry Elizabeth. A beautiful name to live up to.

I am visiting in Lindon and get to help Aaron and Candice with the other children. W have gone to the public pool and enjoyed a cool afternoon on Friday. We took in the Pleasant Grove Strawberry days Parade on Saturday morning. They kids are enjoying Grandma's cooking too. It is a blessing and a joy to serve them and have this time with them.

Welcome to the Family, Baby Gentry.

Father's Day

It is so fun to "spoil"my husband and surprise him when it comes to gift giving. This Father's Day his eyes light up with that youthful smile and he beams with exuberance when he opens his presents from me. It is not so much what he gets as the thought and love put into it.

He is happy with even simple things, for example: a sweet note with a handwritten message and a Hershey's chocolate almond candy bar! I love him for that.

We went to our meetings at church, then came home for a simple lunch. Ronnie and Adrienne invited us to visit them for dinner in Yakima. We went and they fixed barbeque steaks. Ronnie grilled a huge (16 ounce) Porterhouse steak, for his Dad.

New Granddaughter

This is Candice with their new daughter, Gentry Elizabeth McIntire. She was born yesterday, she weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 0z. She is 19 1/2 inches long. What a sweet baby beauty. We are thrilled all went well with her delivery and both Mom and baby doing well.

Her sisters and brothers are all happy and excited to have their baby sister finally here. They have been waiting a long time for her to come and get to touch her and talk to her and be there to help Mom and Dad.

Aaron is as pleased as a father can be. He is thrilled and so grateful for her safe arrival and that Candice is doing well.

I get to go tomorrow on Tuesday to Salt Lake from here to help out and get to hold and know this precious little spirit and baby girl.

Sweet Opportunity to Serve In The House Of The Lord

Yesterday was our regular day to work in the temple. Each week brings a new and exciting experience with a sweetness of the Spirit that pervades there. Whether it is in prayer meeting and or the actual service, the Spirit bears witness of the sacredness of this work and the good that comes from being there.

I had the opportunity to help a Spanish speaking sister come for the first time and assisted in giving her the initial ordinances. It was so sweet and rewarding to see her face light up with the Savior's love all around her and the glow.

The neatest part is that we prepared ourselves, those of us assisting her and read and practiced the work in Spanish. We about had it down and when she came in and was ready, she told us we could do the work for her in English. It was a relief in a way. But those ordinances are so beautifully written in Spanish.

It was a wonderful feeling helping this good sister and guide her through as she finished and visited with her friends in the Celestial room. It was pay back time for her friends who helped her get to that point that day, and felt joy in being in the House of the Lord.

And we found much joy too, as Ron also participated in helping at the veil to the guests that were there for this good sister who needed assistance with the ordinances done in Spanish. That is the reward of knowing both English and Spanish and allow those the opportunity to hear it in their native language. What a blessing it was and is.

Our Trip to Madras, Oregon

We were off to Madras, Oregon the first of the week. Ron's work takes us there about once every three weeks to inspect the mint growers' fields. It is a nice getaway and time we spend together.

It takes about three and a half hours to travel from West Richland to Madras, Oregon. It surprises me that the geography of Oregon from here to there is very dry and desert-like. We stay at a nice hotel when we go and are able to have some quiet time at the indoor pool and spa hot tub. We look forward to that and the relaxation that it is since that is the only place we can enjoy the diversion.

The weather was great too. We took a short walk from our hotel to the "Mazatlan" Mexican restaurant for dinner. Ron likes for us to get some exercise after we are in truck for hours at a time. Other times we have had Chinese food in Madras and get fun fortune cookie messages. We drove further on to Redmond, Oregon this time and last time had lunch at a favored Chinese eatery too.


Another highlight when we go to inspect the mint fields is to get some of the fresh mint right out of the field and make mint tea when we get back home. The tea is great tasting and gives a refreshing scent to the truck and house when we bring it back home. We even chew on some of the leaves and it is a delightful, natural treat.


A side benefit was we when shopping at a couple of thrift stores to check for canning jars. We got lucky and found about two dozen quart jars for .25 cents apiece. Some of the stores here sell the jars for .99. We see no advantage to buy them at that price and pay more than retail at Wal-Mart! Only one of the stores had any jars so we were pleased to find what we found. The jars are nice for making a lot of tomato juice.

We Must Know and Remember Him

"We must know Christ better than we know him.

We Must remember Him more often than we remember him.

We must serve Him more valiantly than we serve Him."

Howard W. Hunter



I am so thankful for My Savior.

He gives me such strength when I need to be strong.

He guides me when I am unsure of myself.

He carries me when I am unable to carry my burdens.

He gives and brings me Hope;

He lifts my pain from my human infirmities and takes it away.

He is my rock and my salvation.

I know He Lives and blesses me each day. I know He Loves me unconditionally.