HOW I RECEIVED MY NAME

Pekka and Leena Maria Tolvanen, 1923

My father's little sister, Leena Maria, tragically died at age 2 from diphtheria. When I was born many years later, my dad wanted to name me after his baby sister. Mother loved the song, "Maria Elena" so they compromised and named me Marja-Leena. That's why that song means so much to me, and why I was SO delighted to find this beautiful, sentimental version done by Los Indios!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rQheOglFos

PLEASANT VIEW 4TH WARD RELIEF SOCIETY

PLEASANT VIEW 4TH WARD RELIEF SOCIETY

Left to right: Freda McKell, Carol Gaile, Barbara Ingle, Peggy Andersen, Gail Clark, Joyce Parker, Julie Aidukaitis
Pam Nelson. Missing Jane Bryner, Barbara Sandberg, Diane Babcock, and Barbara Hiese.

JOURNALS

“Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies.” – Spencer W. Kimball 

I was very good at this for many years and have some great journals to show for it. Now, NOT so good! Very sporadic journal keeping so I often miss recording important occasions. Plans are to do better! This blog is my attempt to catch up on events I've missed putting down in black and white.

GENERAL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 6, 2012

SALT LAKE CITY — Thomas S. Monson opened the first session of this October's LDS General Conference with a historic and unprecedented announcment: Women may now serve LDS missions at 19 and men at age 18.  "I am not suggesting that all young men will — or should — serve at this earlier age," Monson said. It is now simply possible for young people who meet the strict requirements set out by the LDS church to leave at a younger age. 

"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19." –President Thomas S. Monson

THOUGHTS ON JAN-MARCH 2011

What a momentous year 2011 was! We started out the year with Francis having radiation therapy two two months, January to March, for cancer. We're grateful that the radiation treatments proved to be successful. Francis is recovering well and we have much to look forward to.

Millionaire Terminal, Provo, Utah

Cheree Elise Rogers Boyarsky. Getting ready to fly!

While Francis was receiving his radiation treatments, all the children rallied around. Phone calls, visits,  and lots of love. Chaunine and Jason, and Dave kept us supplied with welcome goodies during Francis's stay at the Orem Timpanogos Hospital. Cheree, Arnie and the kids flew in from California to spend a few days. There was time out for fun, as we celebrated Benjamin's 3rd birthday on March 2nd while they were here. Benjamin loved his pirate-themed birthday party at Pirate Island! It was hard to say goodbye and watch their plane disappear into the clouds.

PALM SUNDAY

My mother came from a devoutly religious background, and she instilled that tradition of devotion into her children. In my childhood the week leading up to Easter Sunday always became a time for quiet inner reflection as we pondered upon the the Savior's earthy ministry.

This weekend, in churches worldwide, faithful Christians will celebrate Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. It marks the last week of Lent, and commemorates the final week of Jesus' earthly life. Falling the week prior to Easter, the faithful remember the Savior's triumphal entry into Jerusalem only days before his arrest and crucifixion — an event recorded in all four New Testament Gospels.

According to John 11, Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead in the small town of Bethany. Jesus and his disciples returned to Bethany and Bethphage, slightly east of the Mount of Olives. He sent two of them ahead to a nearby village with instructions to fetch a donkey's colt. The disciples did as the Master requested and returned with the young animal. After the disciples had placed some of their clothes upon its back, The Savior mounted the colt and rode into the city.

"All this was done," states Matthew (21:4-5), "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way" (Matthew 21:8).

"And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest" (Luke 19:37-38). "Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest" (Mark 11:10).

NEW BABY

We have a new member of our family! An adorable Savannah kitten that belongs to our son, Chris. He is friendly, intelligent, lovable, playful, curious, and altogether delightful. What joy our pet bring to us!

Savannah cat is the name given to the offspring of a domestic cat and a serval—a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. The unusual cross became popular among breeders at the end of the 20th century, and in 2001 the International Cat Association accepted it as a new registered breed. Savannahs are much more social than typical domestic cats, and they are often compared to dogs in their loyalty. They can be trained to walk on a leash and even taught to play fetch.