Families are Forever

Dear Family & Friends,

Sunset with Angel Moroni on left.

Kitty writing this week:) It's interesting celebrating your birthday in the mission field. You miss the simple things like being surrounded by family, them singing you Happy Birthday, and dishing up cake and ice cream to a crowd. We arrived in Anchorage one year ago on my birthday. The year before that we were flying back from Seattle after going on an Alaskan cruise. The last three birthdays have been very quiet. I miss our large family gatherings. It was great talking to one of my sisters and almost all of our children. Farrell made a delicious ribeye steak dinner with all the trimmings and an angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. We picked up beautiful fall roses at Costco. I appreciate all the friends and extended family who texted and reached out on Facebook. It is nice being remembered, but getting older is not as much fun as it used to be as a kid:) 

Sun halo on Legacy in Anchorage AK.

I was talking to one of my daughters while walking over to the temple site Tuesday and saw a sun halo in the sky right in front of me. I am always appreciative of the beauties of the earth. The sunsets here are incredible and I love the trees,  flowers, and clean air. The snow is also beautiful, but we still have a few weeks...we hope.

Family at Saint George UT marathon. 

Yesterday several of our dear children, their spouses, and a granddaughter ran and cheered in the Saint George Marathon in memory of their oldest brother and father, Jared. The granddaughter is one of his identical twin daughters. They have been training hard. Our youngest daughter holding the sign is 8 months pregnant. Her husband is on the other side in green. I wish I could have been there to cheer them on. They are motivating us to get is shape and exercise more again. 

Jared passed away tragically 10 years ago today. He was charismatic and looked a lot like my mom, had hands like my dad, was brilliant like his father, and I loved him the moment he was placed in my arms. We all miss him terribly, but know he is watching over us from beyond the veil. 

I am always so grateful October General Conference comes this time of year to buoy me up. I am always reminded that because of our Savior's atonement and His resurrection we will see our loved ones again. A version of this picture hangs in our Anchorage Alaska Temple Visitors' Center. It is one of my favorites.

Our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, age 100, declared repeatedly in his address during the semi-annual General Conference today, "Now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ." His full address:  

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/sunday-afternoon-session?lang=eng

Birthday roses.

It's the end of fall here. We had our first overnight freeze this week. Farrell dumped out the pots and took the flowers inside. Most of the fuchsia flowers fell off, but there are new buds and the lobelia is coming back. There are only a few leaves left on the trees. It was really windy Friday. After our paid lawn helper raked the leaves from our yard there were seven huge black bags.

We were glad to have a quiet weekend. We loved watching General Conference. Elder Wada spoke again about some of the experiences he told us about during Stake Conference. It took me a minute to figure out where I had heard that story before:) If you haven't listened to General Conference I highly recommend it. It is one of the most inspiring, hopeful, encouraging things we have the privilege of participating in. We try to listen to a talk again every night. The last talk by President Nelson was especially inspiring. He is truly a prophet.

I did take and pass my AK driver's license test on Friday so I am officially an Alaska resident and can vote in the election next month. I have had a little cold with a sore throat, headache, and my hearing has been muffled for about 3 1/2 weeks. I was given a blessing last weekend.  I am grateful it is finally doing a little better this evening though not completely gone. I feel very blessed and will try to be patient.

Hope you have a wonderful week! Keep in touch:) We miss you. #ThinkCelestial

Love always, Elder & Sister Badger