Dear family,
It's back to the temple tomorrow.  WE had such a nice vacation, but we are
excited to be back to that routine.
Our trip to San Antonio was short but nice.  It is an unusual city - old and
dirty in some parts and very interesting and colorful in others.  John's
wedding was small and sweet.  Beth is a lovely girl.  WE wish them
happiness.
It was fun to visit snowy northern Utah and see our first great grandchild,
sweet little Natalie.  We relaxed and played games at Laurin's and loved it!
It was fun to see Morris' home coming into shape and all ready for great
grandchild number 2.  WE are so glad he is safely here and look forward to
seeing him.  WE feel so blessed with wonderful posterity.  That is where we
find our joy.
(In reading the supplementary material for SS I came across 2Ne2:23.  It
struck me as funny.  Sometimes it seems like we do know misery through our
children, but they are so precious and worth all the work and time.)
Our trip to northern CA was so nice.  WE throughly enjoyed the drive up 680,
across the Golden GAte and on up 101 through the redwoods.  I had forgotten
how magnificient they are.  They are truly awe inspiring!  WE enjoyed our
short visit with Dad's first cousin once removed, Irene Hinckley Trageser.
She couldn't identify the pictures we inherited, but she reminded us so much
of Grandma Johanson.  Her home was filled with plants and memorabilia.  On
our way home we stopped at Ferndale's library and found some family trivia
that was fun.  There was a picture of Dad's grandpa as a young man, his
brother and sister and his Mother and Grandmother!
We couldn't resist driving through Golden Gate Park and parking at the beach
for a while.  Then we drove past Dad's home near the park and then both of
our homes in Lomita Park.  They are all still there.  WE even had ice cream
at the Shaws where Dad worked as a teenager.  It was a real trip through
"memory lane".
WE about froze in San Jose visiting Dave and family.  And it happened to be
in the 70's here in Georgia at the same time.  Dad and Dave played golf one
day.  WE tried playing partners in hearts.  That is different.  Dave and
Jenn beat Dad and I both games.
I found this by accident in my files.  It is dated April 1987 and is written
by Vaughn J. Featherstone.
"The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of
mankind.  Satan has unleashed every evil, every scheme, every blatant, vile
perversion ever know to man...We and our wives and husbands, our children,
and our members must find safety.  There is no safety in the world; wealth
cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership in this
Church alone canot bring it.
...we must come to the temple for light and safety.  In our temples we find
quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us.  There are
hosts of unseen sentinels watching over and guarding our temples.  Angels
attend every door....
Before the Savior comes the world will darken.  There will come a period of
time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples.
The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel
secure within these walls...  They will long to bring their children here
for safety.
I believe we may well have living on the earth now or very soon the boy or
babe who will be the prophet of the Church when the Savior comes.  Those who
will sit in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles are here...  WE must keep them
clean, sweet, and pure in an oh so wicked world.
...Our garments worn as instructed will clothe us in a manner as protective
as temple walls.  The covenants and ordinances will fill us with faith as a
living fire.  In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren
wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruciton, and death, we as a people
will rest in the shade of trees.  WE will drink from the cooling fountains.
WE will abide in places of refuge from the storm.  We will mount up as on
eagles wings.  WE will be lifted out of an insane and evil world..."
What a wonderful and comforting thought!
WE love you all so-o-o-o much.
Mom and DAd, Grandma and Grandpa, Lee and JoAnn

February 2002