February 2011

Time is flying by so fast that we can hardly keep up with this blog or anything else, it seems.  I write every day in our little missionary journal, and we call  or Skype the kids once in a while.  Don't know what we'd do without Facebook, though!  That's how we learn what our kids and grandchildren are doing.  We're doing well, and we're happy and busy.  We love our mission but look forward to going home on July 15!



Some of my ward friends at our Stake Relief Society Women's Conference



Sister Heaton (on my left) and I enjoyed driving to Moraga for the women's conference. Several sisters went from our ward, including this group of great women at our table.  The theme was "Joy by Design."



Every month the senior couples get together for a home evening.  This one happened to be on Valentine's Day, and we had a wonderful spaghetti supper and a great time being with each other.  We look forward to this special time and have grown to love each and every one of the couples.  Elder Ernstrom, on Ken's right, was recently released.  Elder Broadbent and his wife work at the Visitors' Center, and Richard Hunter is president of the Oakland temple.

Senior Elders at Family Home Evening




Spring Outside Our Kitchen Window


We were delighted to see this plum tree a few days ago, laden with white blossoms.  I still enjoy looking out our kitchen window - it's always changing and always pretty.


Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf


Yesterday was the Chinese New Year's Parade in San Francisco, one of the top ten parades in the world, and we went with the director of the Visitors' Center and his wife to see it.  Couldn't wait to practice my newly-learned "Happy New Year!" in Mandarin, but it was pouring rain and very cold, so after walking around Pier 39 and eating a great meal at Fisherman's Grotto #9, we drove back to Oakland and played a card game and had a good time.  Maybe another year we will come back to San Fran and see the parade.

Elder & Sister Brighton and the Jacksons



Ward Conference, 20 Feb 2011

Today was our ward confernence and it was wonderful.  Every talk was super spiritual and we were touched by them.  Our ward is very unique, because of the many cultures and nationalities represented - Asians, Polynesians, Central and South Americans, Africans, African-Americans, etc.  After the conference we all gathered on the bleachers in the large cultural hall for a ward picture.  Andy, one of our ward members, took pictures of everyone at the linger longer.