Vacation sighting

Somewhere along the oregon coastline, a huckleberry shake waits for dahv!


- Text on 8/4/11 from Josh & Katie, during the first leg of their trip to the Northwest this summer

Weekend in L.A.

4th of July in Pittsburgh

Little visitors in June

Merry month of May

May 1
At stake conference, son & wife heard H David Burton, presiding bishop from SLC, quote the Savior’s teaching to a woman of Samaria:
‘..whosoever shall drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst..’ (John 4:14)

May 8
Mother's Day flowers from the backyard.

May 7
Celebrating Mom's Day in Clovis with moms and son & wife.

Easter message above all

‘And oh,
what joy,
and what marvelous
light I did behold..’

- Alma 36:20


Grandkidlets ready for church

Love at home

"Many of us create to-do lists
to remind us of things we want to accomplish...
people rarely have to-be lists. Why?
To-do's are activities or events and can be checked off the list when done.
To-be, however, is never done...
May your efforts..be successful...
when your children...feel of your love...
it will remind them of the Savior and draw them to Him."

- Lynn G. Robbins,
LDS general conference
Apr 3, 2011

He 'went about doing good' - Acts 10:38

“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs.”
- Spencer W. Kimball







Be kind to one another

Mar. 21
Dear D,
I wanted you to know how much I appreciate your service to this Ward.
I know your calling is challenging, but you’re giving it your best effort and for that I know the Lord will bless you.
I just wanted to thank you for the service you’re rendering to all the members of our Ward.
I appreciate and love you D, like a brother!
You’re in my thoughts and prayers DAILY.
Love,
(Priesthood quorum member)


Mar. 22
Dear D,
Thank you so much for your help given in setting up for our Women’s Conference last weekend.
We appreciate your service and giving of your time.
Sincerely,
(Relief Society leader)

Early-spring hailstorm

'...if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness,
and all the elements combine to hedge up the way;
and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee,
know thou, my son,
that all these things shall give thee experience,
and shall be for thy good.'

D&C 122:7

Faithful and true

Express Love - and Show It

"Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent, or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God. Such love is a source of strength and casts out fear (see 1 John 4:18). Such love is the desire of every human soul.

"We can become more diligent and concerned at home as we express love—and consistently show it."

- David A. Bednar

"More Diligent and Concerned at Home," , (October 3, 2009)

Giving up the car keys

My mother, 84, gave up her driver’s license today. It wasn’t an agonizing decision that took months. It was done in her kitchen, as humdrum as deciding between baked potatoes and mashed potatoes. The ordinariness of such a major life shift took my breath away.
My mom, a widow living on her own, looked at the renewal notice she got. She hoped she could renew by mail like she did five years ago. She had to go in person, the letter said. Take a written test and a vision test, be fingerprinted and photographed.
Her initial excitement faded. “I can’t go to the DMV,” she said. Bent over a walker due to unsuccessful back surgery a year ago, she’s less mobile and hasn’t driven her car in months.
When I offered to call DMV about options, she cut me off. “If you keep getting my groceries, everything will be fine.” It was her instruction how we’d negotiate life in the coming months.
I felt sorry for her. Health diminished, freedom to drive forfeited, what cherished thing would she surrender next – sewing, baking, oil painting?
She looked at her license, put it in her purse. “It wasn’t a good picture of me anyway,” she said. Both she and I knew bad photography was not the ball in play.
I was overcome by gratitude. To the Lord for allowing me to serve my mom, and witness a profound teaching moment: Learning how a self-reliant woman yields independence, quietly and by choice, to permit others to help her. If fate forced my hand, would I show the same grace?
I left her house wondering how other families face life’s rough patches. Is there more emotion and drama?
Or do most bumble innocently along, unaware in that moment that something gripping and haunting just happened.
Some families fret and squabble for years over when to grab car keys from aging parents.
For my mom it was enough to see it, accept it, and then, put it away.

Fresno LDS Temple

Oct 2, 2010

Oct 10, 2010 Kidlets, 2 & 4, make-believe that tiny leather-bound dictionaries are ‘missionary books.' During playtime, they pretend they run missionary schools, and ‘bapertize’ children when they’re 8 years old.

Feb 20, 2011
I taught today’s priesthood lesson. ‘Life offers two precious gifts – one is time, the other freedom of choice.’ - D. Todd Christofferson. Sunday School examined John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world…’ In Sacrament, a women’s trio number included, “Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, nor can the mem’ry find, A sweeter sound…’ It was perfect. (So too was the homemade taco feast the good Cavanaugh family shared! - - heh, I couldn’t let Elders Tua’itanu, Moreno & Riley snarf it all by themselves:) Sundays are the best!!

Feb 19, 2011
I’m scheduling bishop’s appointments today for Sunday. I enjoy it because it allows me to interact with both members and our local church leader. He’s a wonderful man with a big heart, Bishop Wadsworth. He has an impressive speaking voice with a likeable Utah accent/drawl. He’s also lots of fun to be around.
He inspires me every week as I observe his discipline, energy, intelligence, and personal concern for the struggles of people under his watch.
He reminds me of Luke 6:45 ‘A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good…’
A Logan UT native, he’s professor emeritus of communicative disorders at CSUF, has a master’s in education from Utah State and a doctorate from BYU. I’m lucky to know him.
(Burstall photo. Cake mix by Dahv)

Feb 13, 2011
"The true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others."
Ward conference today was so good. Our choir sang twice, and Relief Society made so many plates of goodies for 'linger longer,' including PB&J on homemade wholegrain! Primary youngins everywhere. Fun stuff. Great Sunday, and there's plenty of Sunday left.