Life goes by so quickly. We need to enjoy the moments.

When my mom turned 75 years old, she said to me, "I'm three quarters of a century old and my life has passed by as if it were a dream." (There's a similar quote in the Book of Mormon).  I'm only 56, and it seems as if my life is passing by as a dream also.  Time goes so fast.  Every week when I sit down to write this letter, it's all I can do to remember what I've done during the week.
This past week did have a few memorable moments.  Ollie turned 4.  Roy and I wished him a happy birthday on Sunday when he was over, but dad didn't feel very good when they had his party, so we stayed home.  He has a wonderful Aunt Jennie, however, who made a special effort and took him to Build A Bear and Chick-Fil-et to celebrate.

Ollie and Jennie

Roy and I made a quick trip to Flaming Gorge to winterize the trailer.  We made it in the nick of time.  It was actually lightly snowing when we drove the last 30 minutes to Dutch John.  Because of a little blunder on my part, we were able to go on our walk to the overlook.  The blunder was this:  I made reservations for Red Cliff's Lodge.  They said they only had an opening at 7:45.  So, I took it. They asked me if I was staying with them.  I said, "No."  Then they asked if I was in Moab.  I said, "No, I'm staying at Pine Forest Campground."  It didn't register with me that they had asked about Moab until were nearly finished with our 60 minute walk (which we were able to take because of the late dinner time).  I said to Roy, "I think I made reservations at the wrong restaurant." Sure enough, I had.  The restaurant I wanted was Red Canyon Lodge.  So, we hurried and called the correct restaurant, only to find it was only open on weekends.  We drove over to the Flaming Gorge Lodge and got seated--just before closing.  We both had beef.  I had beef medallions, and Roy and a rib-eye steak.

Thankfully, everything was tasty, so it all worked out.  It's not like there are a lot of dining options up there, so it's good there was something open.  If everything had been closed we could have had pancakes.

View from ouy walk

View from our drive

On our drive home we had hail that was heavy enough to lightly coat the road.  It was quite beautiful.  

Friday night Crista and Matt came down and spent the evening with us.  They were down for the wedding of one of Matt's cousins as well as our Rasband family reunion on Saturday night.  I was able to pick a few raspberries on Sunday morning for my breakfast--which Ruby loved.  Crista sent us this picture from her babyhood--picking raspberries in Grandma Cook's raspberry patch.  And I thought Ruby didn't look like her.  I admit I was wrong.  

Crista as a baby in grandma Cook's raspberry patch

As I've probably mentioned before, my calling right now is Senior Primary Chorister.  I LOVE my calling.  Friday we had the practice for the annual primary program, and Sunday we had the program.  There is not a more wonderful meeting all year.  My kids sang great, knew the songs, and had fun.  We added bells to one of the songs at the last minute (they practiced a few times on Friday) and it went well.  I made one mistake.  I put the words up for two groups of kids to each sing a verse.  The boys had verse one and the girls had verse two.  On the day of the program, I put the words for verse one on the girls side, and verse two on the boys side, and then had the boys sing first--as usual.  I saw a few questioning looks on the boys faces, but they sang the song (2nd verse), and then the girls sang the song (1st verse).  I don't know how many people knew besides the primary and myself.  Probably not very many.  

I have spent several hours this week studying the most recent conference talks.  It seems like every one that I have studied so far is on being more grateful for the incredible blessings of the gospel and the plan of salvation.  I am studying them, and at the same time, planning my primary singing time for the next couple of weeks.  I will read all the talks from the 1st presidency and the quorum of the twelve, and then correlate these talks with primary songs.   Then I'll have the kids match the message/song with the apostle.  I love how there is always a primary song that teaches the doctrine of any of the talks that are given.

Speaking of conference, and gratitude for the gospel (and the Book of Mormon) Jacob Christensen wrote to his parents this week about an experience he had in Georgia (not Georgia, USA).  I wanted to include it because it went along with the themes of October's conference.

"They really did put an emphasis on the Book of Mormon.  That is the word of God, and not taking it for granted.  In Georgia, they don't have the Book of Mormon fully translated.  They have a couple verses and they are currently finishing up the translation, but it's a long and daunting task (Yes, I just wanted to use the word daunting).   The missionaries up there use pamphlets, that are translated, and Russian copies of the Book of Mormon, but not everyone reads Russian and Georgians in general don't like Russians, so it doesn't always go well. There are members that have testimonies of the Book of Mormon, but have never read it because they don't know Russian! How amazing is that!

Well last week, when I went to Georgia, I saw an unexpected surprise.  As we arrived at the church, President pulled out a package and handed it to a Georgian member that was there.  When he opened it, we found out that it was the Final Draft for the Georgian Book of Mormon.  They only have to read through this once and then they will start printing the Book to be passed out. As soon as he saw what it was, he started crying.  The way he opened it, the way his eyes feasted on those words, was incredible.  I've always had the Book of Mormon in my life.  In English, always available. I always took advantage of that Book.  But this man, has never had it in his native language, he has never had that real opportunity to read it like we have. And now that it's so close he can barely wait.  And it made me really think of my testimony of the Book of Mormon.  So I would just like to add my testimony to all those who have testified of it before.  That it is true.  The Book of Mormon is the Word of God, it was translate by Joseph Smith with the Power of God, and it is the most true book on this earth.  I know it to be true.  I know it, I know it, I know it.  And I know that nothing can change my mind.

We truly are blessed to have the Book of Mormon whithin reach at all times.  The same with Temples, with Prophets and Apostles.  Things that some people have never even heard of, things that people would sacrifice all that they have to see, or hold in their hands.  I am so grateful for the Church. I love you all."