2023 Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas from the Magpad 2023

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

Game: Find Someone Who.....

Download the document, print up copies for everyone, 

take it to a party, have fun getting to know everyone.

 

Our Grand Time in Arizona and Southern Utah

Since moving to Utah seven years ago, Scott has wanted to see the Grand Canyon. The North Rim would be the most convenient trip for us.  Due to the 8,000 ft. altitude and resulting snow, the North Rim is only open from May until October.   

Upon arrival, a ranger gave us an overview of the park and what to look for.   

The North Rim is less visited than the South Rim, but the view of this natural wonder is still beyond description. 

Millions of years ago, the Rocky Mountains and the entire Colorado Plateau, which the Grand Canyon is part of, rose up from tectonic activity. The Colorado River grew powerful and began to cut its way through the ancient rock, leaving the stunning canyon we see today.

The landscape to the north (right) had been pushed up due to the forces of nature, much higher than the south side (left). Evidence of ancient water falls can be detected on the surrounding cliffs.

Binoculars helps take everything in.

We're glad we could finally see the Grand Canyon together.

As we were leaving the Grand Canyon, we noticed bison warning signs

...and, the bison did appear

...and crossed the road.

We stayed a couple nights at the historic Parry Lodge in Kanab, UT. Built in the 1930's, it became the place famous actors stayed while shooting Western movies and TV shows. (No, that's not our green car!) 

Kanab is in Kane County. It earned the title of "Little Hollywood" for it's spectacular vistas, perfect for movie backdrops of the Old West. 

After we left Kanab, we met up with Kathleen's two brothers and sister-in-law in St. George. We saw "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in the majestic outdoor Tuacahn Amphitheater, set adjacent to Snow Canyon State Park.    

The next day, Russell and Christy led us on an e-bike tour of Snow Canyon State Park.  

We took a break from our bike ride and hiked to this slot canyon on "Jenny's Canyon Trail".

To learn more about Jenny's Canyon trail click here.  

Check out Christy's production of our adventures on the trails!

You can also see the video by clicking here.  

The timing of our trip coincided with the first day of the St. George Temple Open House. Dedicated in 1871, this was the first temple built by the pioneer settlers of Utah of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

The St. George Temple has closed for renovation several times. This last closure, however, was for some necessary mechanical upgrades as well as to restore the interior to much of the original look. Because it will be re-dedicated in November, it is opened now to the public for tours.  

 

Temples do not exist merely as architectural monuments. Rather, we consider them the House of the Lord, just as they were regarded in Biblical times. Here, sacred covenants are made with God that empower our lives in mortality and keep couples and families together through eternity.   

To learn more about temples in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here. 

 

We very much enjoyed the time we spent with Craig, Christy, and Russell. 

Farewell, beautiful Arizona and Southern Utah!

Childhood Memories

I was telling my son-in-law, Dave, about some of my childhood memories I had with our Trailer Boat.  As you can see in this picture, it is a small trailer with a boat on top.  The inside of the trailer was a full size mattress.  The back of the trailer had a drop down tailgate that served as a table.  Behind the tailgate was storage area.  

During the summers we had the Trailer Boat, we would pull it to Utah from California and my Grandpa, Dad, and brothers would take it camping/fishing.  

In these pictures the Trailer Boat is being pulled by our Ford convertible.  How cool is that?  

My Dad was always looking for ways to have adventures when we spent our summer vacations in Utah.  As you can see in this picture, there is a mini-bike attached to the front of our station wagon and the Trailer Boat is hooked to the back. 

Imagine my delight when after Dave heard my memories, he sent me this link. 

It is totally worth the 3 minutes to watch this video.

You can also see the above video by clicking here.  

In the Youtube description, it says:   It is a 1962 Trailerboat built in California. Only 15 are known to still exist. The roof of this 9 ft. mini camper lifts off and is a boat! There is a fiberglass ceiling under the boat....  

Only 15 are known to still exist?!?!  To whom and why did my Dad sell our trailer boat???   I think he sold it so he could get this bigger camping trailer. 

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the many happy childhood vacation memories. 

This picture was taken on one of our yearly trips to Utah.  

Magnusson Family Reunion, 2023

Scott and I gathered with our children and grandchildren at The Inn At Owl Hollow, near Lava Hot Springs, ID. It was a beautiful setting for our family reunion. 

It was a great occasion to have everyone there.  Our thoughts turned to how blessed we are to have such a wonderful posterity. 

Our son, Sam, our only boy, now has five brothers! 

Ryan, Sam, David, David, Bryce, and David. 

(Do we see a pattern here with Davids?!)

Lisa, Renee, Kristine, Rachel, Janelle, and, Makelle.

The three Dave's! 

You can also see the video by clicking here.

Families Can Be Together Forever

Words: Ruth Muir Gardner

Music: Vanja Y. Watkins

I have a fam'ly here on earth.

They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

Fam'lies can be together forever

Through Heav'nly Father's plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

Gladstone High School's Last Graduation

We were invited to Gladstone High School's last graduation ceremony. The campus will be converted into a middle school in the fall and all Gladiators will be attending Azusa High School. 

This was our first experience of graduation on the beautiful, new Gladiator football field. All our previous graduations were held at Azusa Pacific University. 

Scott served as GHS principal for fifteen years, retiring in 2016. One of his assistant principals eleven of those years was Sam Perdomo, who now is GHS principal and will guide the new Gladstone Middle School. Sam and his wife Teri, an art teacher at GHS, are beloved by the students.

Dick Hart was on the first GHS faculty when school opened in 1963, and was the first athletic director. Mr. Hart was the interim principal who welcomed Scott to GHS in 2001. 

Shown below are the past and present principals who attended the graduation. (left to right) Sam Perdomo, Gabriel Fernandez-former GHS principal and current principal of Azusa HS, Scott Magnusson, Dick Hart. 

Rosa Bullock and Anthony Contreras were two very successful GHS assistant principals.

JoAnn Gomez was secretary to Scott from 2010-2016. JoAnn made everything at GHS run very, very smoothly. She's currently principal's secretary at Azusa HS, helping with the schools' merger.

Phyllis Contreras, our legendary campus security aide, recently retired. Her walkie-talkie call sign "G-10" was retired with her. 

Andrew Mendez, Azusa City Councilman, reminded Scott of their encounter when Andrew was a student in 2004. It was fun to see and hear how successful Mr. Mendez is.

To hear the audio of Mr. Perdomo's 3-minute recognition of the graduation guests click here or onto the link below.  (Scott is recognized at 1:00)  

Congratulations, final Gladiators, Class of 2023!

The scoreboard reminded us that this is a date to be remembered:

6/7/2023

Living in Duarte from 1983-2016, we walked, biked, and ran this trail along Royal Oaks Drive constantly. It felt good coming "home" and literally walking down memory lane.   

Everything Janice Kapp Perry

Songwriter Janice Kapp Perry, sits at her piano in her home in Provo, Utah, on Oct. 20, 2004   

Photo credit:  Keith Johnson, Deseret News

I listened to Janice Kapp Perry this week as she was interviewed for The Church New Podcast.   As I listened, I was reminded how much I love Sister Perry and how much she has touched my life.  The Church News webpage says this about the podcast.  

Janice Kapp Perry joins this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss the power of music, sharing her testimony of the Savior and the profound lessons she has learned during her remarkable and varied life.   

Sarah Jane Weaver introduces Janice Kapp Perry for the  interview with this monologue:

Janice Kapp Perry has composed 3,000 songs and hymns beloved by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her well-known repertoire includes Primary hymns, “A Child’s Prayer,” “I Love To See the Temple” and “I’m Trying To Be Like Jesus.”  She started her music career later in life after two lucky breaks — a broken TV and an injury — took her from the sports court to roadshow music writing.

Her work has been featured in the Church hymnbook and Primary songbook and translated and sung around the world. From 1993 to 1999 she performed with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, often singing her own music. In 2020, Brigham Young University conferred upon her an honorary degree, a Doctor of Christian Service in Music. Her acceptance speech, “Filling the World With Music of Faith,” was posted online due to the pandemic.

Janice Kapp Perry joins this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss the power of music, sharing her testimony of the Savior and the profound lessons she has learned during her remarkable and varied life.

You can listen to The Church News Podcast that I listened to this week by clicking here. (Be sure to click onto the 49 minute interview) 

I first learned about Sis. Perry's life experiences by listening to an interview that was aired April 10, 2014 by the LDS radio program called Everything Creative.   The website says this about the interview: 

Janice Kapp Perry is our special guest for this episode of  Everything Creative.  She shares stories about how her music service began with helping those around her.  The music spread to other wards and stakes and eventually was published in songbooks such as the Children's Songbook and even our LDS hymnal.    

Click here to listen to the  Everything Creative interview.

Through these two interviews and the videos below, I learned that Sister Perry is a very humble, inspired, and talented songwriter.  

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Youtube webpage featured the history of three songs Sis. Parry wrote:  

History of A Child's Prayer

You can also view it by clicking here 

A Child's Prayer

1. Heavenly Father, are you really there?

And do you hear and answer ev’ry child’s prayer?

Some say that heaven is far away,

But I feel it close around me as I pray.

Heavenly Father, I remember now

Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:

“Suffer the children to come to me.”

Father, in prayer I’m coming now to thee.

2. Pray, he is there;

Speak, he is list’ning.

You are his child;

His love now surrounds you.

He hears your prayer;

He loves the children.

Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav’n.

History of Love is Spoken Here

You can also view the video by clicking here 

Love is Spoken Here 

1. I see my mother kneeling with our family each day.

I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray.

Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears,

And I am thankful love is spoken here.

2. Mine is a home where ev’ry hour is blessed by the strength of priesthood pow’r,

With father and mother leading the way,

Teaching me how to trust and obey;

And the things they teach are crystal clear,

For love is spoken here.

3. (ending) I can often feel the Savior near

When love is spoken here.

The History of I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

You can also view the video by clicking here 

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

1. I’m trying to be like Jesus;

I’m following in his ways.

I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,

But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

[Chorus]

“Love one another as Jesus loves you.

Try to show kindness in all that you do.

Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,

For these are the things Jesus taught.”

2. I’m trying to love my neighbor;

I’m learning to serve my friends.

I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.

I try to remember the lessons he taught.

Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:

We All Need the Savior: A Lesson from The Prodigal Son

In Sunday School recently we discussed Jesus's parable of the prodigal son.  (Luke 15:11-32) We were reminded of a modern-day depiction produced by the Church in 1990. This video was a family favorite as we watched it over and over again on our VHS player. 

Usually when we think of this parable, we correctly celebrate the without-conditions, compassionate welcome of father to wayward son. However, there's another part in this parable Jesus taught--what of the other, "good" son? How do we all need the Savior? 

The Prodigal Son is worth watching...and pondering. Enjoy!

You can also see the video by clicking here

Children's Bible Videos

These children's videos were posted on the YouTube webpage in 2016.  I ran across the video of the Good Samaritan the other day and was happy to be reminded of these  beautifully portrayed scripture stories through children's eyes.   Enjoy! 

 

 

You can visit the YouTube Children's Bible Videos channel by clicking here.

Our Belize Friends Experience Utah

Our friends, the Gomez and Lopez families from Belize, came to Utah for their first time to attend the worldwide General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City.  

Also pictured are Derrall Adams and Forrest and Jolynne Flake

As soon as they arrived, they found out that Utah has been experiencing the most unusual spring weather.  Just for the fun of it, I took a screenshot of my phone's weather app for Belize City and South Jordan for one of the days they were here.  

Do you think they had to deal with any adjustments because of the weather?  

They made a snowman friend while they were staying with Derrall and Julie Adams in Farmington, Utah.  

The Monday after General Conference, we hosted a senior missionary reunion and dinner with our visitors.  These couples who had served in Belize were:  Acosta, Alico, Derrall and Julie Adams, Eric and Cheri Adams, Flake, Hintze, Jensen, Magnusson, and Sandburg—28 people in all.   

These senior missionaries served in Belize over a period of time spanning from 2007 to 2019. 

Thank you, dear friends from Belize, for making our gathering  possible.

Leovany and Jenny Lopez, René and Nellie Gomez, and Cristy Reinoso (Cristy is a recent BYU-Idaho graduate)

Eric and Cheri Adams served as mission president and companion of the El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission from 2016-2019, while Kai and Diane Hintze served from 2013-2016.  I'm sure they had a grand time visiting about their service as mission leaders for Belize.  

As the adults visited, the Lopez children were entertained by making Froot Loop rainbows.....

 ....and highlighting their names with colored dots.  

An interesting outcome from the reunion is that we learned about a senior couple, the Sandburg's, who served in Belize a few years before we did.  It turns out that Michelle Sandburg is a second cousin to Scott. They have a common great grandfather-George Martin Haws. A few days after the reunion we went to their home, visited, and purchased an autobiography written by her father.   

We were honored to host the Gomez's in our home the next two days after the reunion.  

René and Nellie requested to attend the temple each day they were with us.  Since there's no temple in Belize, they have to travel 14 hours by bus to the Guatemala City Temple.   

On Tuesday, we worshipped at the Jordan River Temple which is two miles to the east of our home.  

The next day we attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple a mile and a half to the west of our home.  

To learn more about Latter-day Saint Temples, click here.

It was a thrill visiting with the Gomez's and reminiscing about common friends and the time we spent in their beautiful country.  

From this photo in our mission book, we learned that we have a common friend from San Ignacio:  Lee, the proprietor of Helen Supermarket.  

Below is a photo of Scott and René from one of our mission experiences in 2017.  The entry from our mission blog: Our church's Humanitarian Program donated the funds to have library bookshelves constructed by the Belizean Mennonites for the St. Matthews Government Elementary School. Here, the elated school principal, Michelle Gordon, meets Paul Woods (center), church temporal affairs administrator in Belize, René Gomez (right), church public affairs director, and Elder Magnusson (left), first counselor in the El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission presidency.  

For more photos and additional information about our Church's bookshelves donation, click  here.  

After the Gomez's left Utah for California, the Lopez family was hosted by several other former senior missionary couples. They had many exciting adventures from Idaho to Southern Utah's National Parks over the next two weeks.  (You can visit the Lopez's FaceBook page to see their other amazing experiences.)

The day before the Lopez's left for home, we were able to be with them, the Flakes, and Jensens as we attended an Old Testament exhibit in Springville, Utah, the BYU Bean Life Science Museum with it's amazing animal displays, and tour the BYU campus complete with lunch at the Cougareat and a game of bowling.    

My son-in-law commented after we sent our family this photo: "That's a great action shot!  I don't know how you were calm enough to pose for a picture with all that going on behind you."

BYU Bookstore

Bowling

Thanks for the exciting times together Gomez.... 

... and Lopez families.  

Until we meet again....