Gift for a Friend

A friend is being baptized this evening and this is a gift I made for her. It is so amazing to me that Savita has embraced the Lord and the teachings of the Church as her homeland of India doesn't have many Christians, it is a Hindu and Muslim nation. Savita is a beautiful, tiny little lady and it has been wonderful to try foods she prepares to share with everyone at various church activities. Okay, they're a bit spicy hot for me but who knows, I may take more of a liking to it in the future - old dogs and all. I have added tumeric to my spice cabinet and love, love, love adding a bit to fried cabbage! Yum. Just don't mix the spices in a little bowl or plastic bag then reach in with your fingers to sprinkle over the cabbage. Yucky yellowed fingers really aren't too cool.

I love you Sevita!

Five Temples

It is just amazing to me that Arizona will soon have five temples!

Shortly after becoming 16th President of the Church, President Monson announced there would be two new temples built in Arizona; one in Gila Valley and another in Chandler. The two locations piqued a good deal of interest - Gila Valley being in Graham County, third smallest of Arizona Counties in population and Chandler being just a couple miles from the existing Mesa Temple.
News Release: President Monson Announces Two New Temples in Arizona

Spencer W. Kimball was 12th President of the Church and he was from the Gila Valley, growing up in Thatcher and living as an adult in Safford. The entire area has a rich heritage of LDS roots - Mike's own grandfather was born there, and Henry Green Boyle settled there (in Pima) after leaving Utah. The Saints in that area have traveled many, many miles often to visit the temple in Mesa. It's so good to know a temple will be constructed there, they've waited a long time.

The Chandler locale seemed odd at first. It is just a couple miles from the Mesa Temple. News reports have indicated there are more than 100,000 temple-worthy members in the East Valley! Wow, I hadn't realized the numbers were so high. It will be good, really good for people in the expanding East Valley to have a temple in their area. It will be especially good for growing communities like Queen Creek, where John and Kelly live.

Now, just a bit less than one month later another announcement is made - a temple is to built in the West Valley, in the Glendale area!
News Release: New Temple for Phoenix Arizona Announced

Oh my stars, that is just amazing! Our missionaries must be doing a phenominal job!