Some Things Have Really Changed....

Merry Christmas from the MagPad! 

2021

You can see the other MagPad Christmas cards through the years by clicking here.

For the Beauty of the Earth

Welcome to our world here in Utah and see what we've seen this fall...

The colors

 The beauty

God's creations 

The brightness

The sunrises

The sunsets

Cuteness  

Oquirrh Mountain Temple   

Come to God's own temple, come; Raise the song of harvest home.  

All things denote there is a God; even the earth and all things that are upon the face of it....do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.  Alma 30:44

Come Ye Thankful People Come

Henry Alford

1 Come, ye thankful people, come, 

raise the song of harvest home; 

all is safely gathered in, 

ere the winter storms begin. 

God our Maker doth provide 

for our wants to be supplied; 

come to God's own temple, come, 

raise the song of harvest home. 

2 All the world is God's own field, 

fruit unto His praise to yield; 

wheat and tares together sown 

unto joy or sorrow grown; 

first the blade and then the ear, 

then the full corn shall appear; 

Lord of harvest, grant that we 

wholesome grain and pure may be. 

3 For the Lord our God shall come,

and shall take His harvest home; 

from His field shall in that day 

all offenses purge away, 

give His angels charge at last 

in the fire the tares to cast; 

but the fruitful ears to store 

in His garner evermore. 

4 Even so, Lord, quickly come

to thy final harvest home; 

gather thou thy people in, 

free from sorrow, free from sin, 

there, forever purified, 

in thy presence to abide; 

come, with all thine angels, come, 

raise the glorious harvest home.

Road Trip - Fall 2021

Where did we go?  

1.  Boise, Idaho
2.  Wenatchee, Washington
3.  Snohomish, Washington
4.  Olympia. Washington

Paper maps?  Google Maps?  

We used both.  Scott preferred paper maps.  Kathleen preferred Google Maps.

Who did we visit?

1.  Kathleen's childhood friend since kindergarten.  (That means we've been friends for 60 years!) 

Janna, Kathleen, Scott

2.  Kathleen's brothers and sisters-in-law.

Lynn, Craig, Douglas, Kerri, Kathleen, Scott

3.  Douglas' chickens

We enjoyed some of their eggs for breakfast.  

4.  Scott's sister and brother-in-law

Scott, Kathleen, Karen, Stan

5.  Scott's BYU roommate

Dave and his wife, Sue, Kathleen, Scott

What did we do?

1.  Picked and ate homegrown tomatoes

2.  Visited and learned about a pre-historic geological wonder.

Dry Falls State Park

3.  Toured Aplets and Cotlets candy factory.

Please pass the, "deliciously soft fruit & nut candy".  

4.  Practiced our shooting skills

5.  Toured Douglas and Kerri's physical therapy practice  (The best in Wenatchee) 

6.  Picked out the cutest pumpkin in Snohomish  

7.  Spent some time at the Columbia River

Some of our road views

1.  Driving through Idaho

2.  On our way to Snohomish

3.  Bypassing Portland, Oregon 

4.  We followed along the historic Oregon Trail on the way home. 

 See you next trip!  

9/11: Coming Together, 20th Anniversary | Music & the Spoken Word

I have such sad memories of this day 20 years ago. It was healing to watch, through my tears, this special program of music, words, and visuals.  

From the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Youtube page:  

The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square present this Music & the Spoken Word special broadcast commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11

It has been twenty years since the devastating tragedies of 9/11 but what continues to give us hope for the future are the compassionate stories of people who came together to help one another. When we remember, it deepens our gratitude for those who willingly chose to raise us up by the sacrifice of their own safety and causes us to forget the things that divide us. It helps us concentrate on the things that connect us and reveals to all of us what we’re actually capable of doing to help one another.

“Having had a front row seat as a journalist” said Johnson, “it is an honor for me to be part of this ‘Coming Together’ special commemorating human kindness during the tragedy of 9/11. In a way, this special parallels the challenges in today’s world and reminds us that embracing each other with love and respect can help heal the human heart."

Angels Among Us

It's nice to be reminded that we are, at times, surrounded by angels.....

...including my angelic mother-in-law.  

Magnusson Reunion 2021

We were blessed to be able to gather at Bear Lake, Utah, this past weekend for our family reunion.  

Having our six children together--gathering from Utah, Idaho, and Montana--was a treat for Scott and I.

Some of the grandchildren weren't excited to have their picture taken with Grandma and Grandpa! 

...But, all twelve were excited for the Cousin Gift Exchange!

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the latter-day Twelve Apostles, recently had this to say about family reunions: 

"This summer I attended three (!) family reunions in St. George, Utah. It was wonderful to celebrate with siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. 

"In our busy lives it is crucial that family members spend time together. Whether it’s making memories, sharing stories of our youth, or passing on tales and traditions of ancestors, these moments together cannot be replaced. It’s something we need to do a lot more of, keeping traditions alive for the next generation. 

"I am extremely grateful for the special bond that was shared with me by my family. The kind of love that parents share with their children is unequaled in a world that needs a lot more love, not less. While no family is perfect—certainly ours was not—moments of grief, pain, and trial, as well as the joyful, happy times have brought members of our family closer together and forged even stronger ties than we might have dreamed possible. The key to happiness—and to hanging on when times are difficult—is to unitedly rely on each other as family members and on the Lord.

"When Pat and I were raising our family, we always assured them we would rather be with them than anyone else we knew, and we genuinely meant that. I still feel the same today. I love my family beyond expression, and I’m thankful that we can be together for eternity."

Elder Holland's family picture from his Facebook post

What Kids Need and Don't Need

A friend of mine posted Cindy Ketron's words of advice from her FaceBook page.  As I read Cindy's words,  I agreed with everything she said.  I am happy to post her words of wisdom here to help parents navigate through many of the things that weren't even around when my husband and I were raising our children....such as social media, cell phones, too many extra activities outside of school, etc.  

As a pediatric therapist for more than 30 years, I have come up with a list of what I believe kids need and don’t need. I wish I could have a do-over on a few of these.

What kids don’t need:

1. Cell phones when they’re in grade school. Over the years, I cannot tell you one good thing that can come from this.

2. Unlimited access to social media. There is very little that is healthy on social media for children and it is getting worse.

3. So many toys that they can’t even think of something to want at birthday or holiday times. Too much of anything leaves children unable to be full. They become like buckets with holes in them.

4. Televisions in their rooms. Rooms are for sleeping. Good sleep hygiene is a dying art for too many children.

5. To be able to control the emotional climate of the home. Moody kids should not be allowed to hold the whole house hostage. If a child wants to be moody, he can go to his room and be moody by himself. Everyone else need not suffer.

6. Too much indoor time. Our kids have become hermits with social media and high tech games. It is ruining their social skills. It’s also taking a toll on their physical well-being.

7. Too many activities outside of school. No wonder this generation is so anxiety-ridden. They are overloaded. If we want to teach them to take care of themselves as they age, we must teach them to do that by our example and by limiting their extracurricular activities. Scripture even recognizes the need to rest.

8. To be able to disrespect any authority. Even authority that you as a parent dislike or the child dislikes should still be respected. There will always be an authority in your child’s life even when your child is 50.

9. To always call the shots. Children who get to always choose where to eat, where to play, and what the family does end up being brats.

10. Constant approval and pats on the back. You will not always be around to do this. Children need to learn to be proud of themselves when they do something good whether anyone tells them or not.

What children do need:

I. Rest. They play hard. Their bodies need rest to grow and develop.

2. Uninterrupted family time. The most important people to a child are those under the same roof. Make family time purposeful and protected.

3. Outdoor play time where they can explore and create. All kids need free time to imagine.

4. Rules and expectations. Be clear. Be concise. And don’t be afraid to give them.

5. Consistent discipline. If a rule is broken, a child needs to know what to expect. All fear is not a bad thing. There is a fear that can represent respect.

6. Parents who love them and love each other. Security begins here.

7. For you as a parent to say “no” sometimes. Your child does not need a lollipop or a new shirt every time you go to Walmart.

8. Hugs. Physical touch affects the development of children.

9. The ability to share their feelings about anything as long as they are respectful.

10. The most precious gift that a parent can give any child is to demonstrate a personal relationship with God and consistently teach that child through your actions what having faith in God really means. In the toughest times of their lives, they will learn in large part to rely on God by the example you display for them.

Post cred: Cindy Ketron

Happy Father's Day

I woke up this morning and saw that President Russell Nelson did a Facebook post talking about fathers on this Father's Day.  As I read his words, "...imperfect, yet devoted and loving fathers who tried to do their very best", I immediately thought of my dad.  

Enjoy reading President Nelson's complete Facebook post.  

No mortal father is perfect. I am not; neither was my father, nor his father before him. The scriptures are filled with true accounts of imperfect yet devoted and loving fathers who tried to do their very best, including Adam, Moses, Abraham, and others of the finest men who ever lived.

On this Father’s Day, I look with joy at my children, grandchildren, and ever-growing number of great-grandchildren. I am a personal witness of the multigenerational impact of a father who loves his children—and who loves the mother of his children.

There are few things more tender to children than the example of their caring father. What fathers say and do lasts forever in the hearts and minds of their children. Kindness, fidelity, honesty, patience, and devotion to God, country, and family are all defining characteristics of a righteous father.

Father’s Day is joyful for most but sorrowful for some. Gratefully, each of us can communicate with our Heavenly Father in prayer. He is never absent but is ever-welcoming. Our Heavenly Father is perfectly loving, perfectly understanding, and perfectly capable of helping us rise to meet any challenge we face. On this day, may we honor Him and strive to emulate His example, doing our very best, day after day.

Happy #FathersDay

Russell M. Nelson 

FaceBook

June 20, 2021

Marion C. Nelson, Russell M. Nelson, Russell Nelson, Jr.  

Running Towards the Light

Two days ago a friend of mine posted this video on her FaceBook page.  Because the video is 17 minutes long, it took me a couple of days to find the time to watch it.  After I watched the video, I had to desire to share this video with all my friends.  .  

So.....to all of my friends out there in the world wide web:  I invite you to watch this very touching story.  Peter Johnson found the peace that I have had throughout my life as I have  followed the light that Jesus Christ gives us.  

This is what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Youtube channel said about this video:  

For a young Peter Johnson, Christmases were never the same after his parents divorced. He felt a deep hole in his soul that he longed to fill.

Like Peter, all humanity longs to live in love and safety. Such a desire is basic in all of us. But finding that peace isn’t always easy. Often, we seek peace and security from the very people, who themselves, are struggling. The world is filled with many distracting and deceiving voices that claim to have the answer to the happy life. 

But, as Peter learned, when we come to hear His voice—the voice of Him who overcame the world, whose voice is pure love—then we come to discover our true identity. We gain a glimpse of our eternal self. We sense our nobility as a son or daughter of God. We have new personal power. We are no longer distracted and deceived by fake voices. We hear the one true voice that heals aching hearts and wounded souls—voice of Jesus Christ.

 

He is eager to help. He knows each of us. He awaits our invitation.

“When you’re running from the darkness, it’s a feeling of fear,” Peter said. “But when you’re running towards the light, it’s hope. You know you’re running to strength and peace and happiness. We all need to be running to the light.”

Here are a few YouTube comments from the comment section to the video. 

I love the symbolism of the scene as his younger self is on stage looking at the man he has become, Great video and message, thanks...

"When you're running from the darkness, it's a feeling of fear. But when you're running towards the light, its hope. You know you're running to strength, and peace, and happiness. We all need to be running to the light." Standing face to face with echoes of our formers selves, we can evaluate today, where am I going ... and why am I running? Loved this, thank you.

Reply to the above comment: 

That part got me. I have been trying to break away from my addiction for a few years without any success, and after Elder Johnson said this, it clicked in my mind that I have been running away from the darkness, but not running to the light. Whenever I have run towards the light, I find the safety that I want and need.

Our Visit to Arches National Park

We recently drove four hours south to Moab in southeast Utah for a walk back in time...several million years back, that is.  Our daughter, Rachel, as well as Kathleen's brother Craig, his wife, Lynn, and their son, Brian, made this an unforgettable visit to one of the most spectacular areas of the country.

We first ventured out to Dead Horse Point State Park, that boasts a vista that rivals that of the Grand  Canyon. 

Dead Horse Point overlooks the winding Colorado River far below, a geological lesson itself of erosion on solid rock occurring over millions of years. 

The next day, we entered Arches National Park, visited by thousands annually.  Of course you recognize this rock formation! Delicate Arch, an icon of Utah that appears on many of the state's license plates. Easy to get to? Not really.

Leaving the parking lot to hike to Delicate Arch, we passed the original, weathered log cabin of disabled Civil War veteran John Wesley Wolfe and his son who settled here in the late 1800's. It's evidence of the primitive ranch they operated for over 20 years. 

We continued our 50 minute hike upward for a mile and a half beyond the Wolfe cabin. The trail is rugged and over slick rock at times. We were relieved the temperature was in the 50's this time of year. In the summer it's brutal with no shade. (From left to right) Scott, Rachel, Brian, and Craig pause to catch their breath. 

Delicate Arch is one of two thousand cataloged arches of the area. 

Scott and Kathleen are dwarfed under its lofty span.

We enjoyed a brief snack before starting our descent. In the foreground, guests to the park line up to get their picture taken under Delicate Arch.

A most unique rock formation is Double Arch, on the left side of the photo. From inside it appears as a three-dimensional, open stone cavern. 

Double Arch was formed over millions of years by water seeping through large puddles formed in stone.  And here, puddles formed on top of each other...the rock giving way to the forces of nature...

...to what is left-- a heavenly-sculpted arch, seemingly out-of-this-world.  

Now, in modern times, humans scramble over the remains of rock that testifies that there is a Creator of all of this. 

Fiery Furnace Viewpoint overlooks the hundreds of mute stone monoliths that comprise Fiery Furnace, so named for their reddish hue, similar to weathered iron. 

It's a short, half mile walk to Skyline Arch.

What's interesting about this arch is that it was a much smaller opening until 1940, when with a crack, an enormous section tumbled below.  

I really enjoyed being with my brother Craig on this trip.

Here, Scott stands atop some of the boulders that came loose from Skyline Arch. He's just glad he wasn't underneath when nature decided to dislodge them!

Back to civilization and a lovely dinner in Moab at Dewey's. We were tired but in awe of what we had just seen during the day.

Our trip to this beautiful part of God's creation and of His handiwork will forever remain in our hearts.