TRIP TO MORMON TOWN

Years ago there was a town in Northern California called Mormon Town. Eventually a dam was erected that flooded the valley. We are having a drought in California and the water in the lake is so low that the foundations of many of the homes are now visible. The Sanders, Bob & January, Robert, Blake and Grace, and Mark and Liz took an outing a couple of days ago and visited the sight. They found it most interesting and enjoyable. The park rangers asked that no one take any "souvenirs" home, so it can be enjoyable for many people to see. It's a good thing they took advantage of the outing at this particular time because the LDS church has asked that this coming Sunday every stake in California is asked to fast and pray for rain. It's going to happen!

AWARD WINNING FOR SOPHIE

Sophie recently won a local and regional award for a script she wrote, directed and produced! Now it is on to the state finals. Congratulations, Sophie. Well done.

 Receiving her award.

With the other winners in their division.

With Nana and Granddad and family.

PS. Elder Agle will have his 19th birthday Jan. 30. If you would like to send him congratulations, here's his new address:

Elder Agle

202 Warbler Court

Paso Robles, CA 93446

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EDDY

Happy birthday to one of THE BEST teachers in Arizona!

A birthday classroom tradition!

MEET THE MAYOR!

Yes, it is official. In November, Julie was elected by a landslide vote to be the next MAYOR of ROLFE. As she is finding out, there are many meetings to attend, and since it is a small town, she gets to act as the sheriff on occasion, the problem solver, the peace maker, the listening ear, and on and on, all for the glorious sum of $100 a month! Woohoo! She does them all very well, and Rolfe is lucky to have a mayor who is very concerned about the community.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LITTLE CLAIRE WHO TURNS 3 TODAY.

Happy birthday Claire. Three is a wonderful age to be!

UPDATE ON ELDER AGLE

Davis has taken quite an interest in German and poetry. He spends some time almost each day in study of this and other things. I was blown away by the depth of this poem. It  is so enjoyable to read a poem like this aloud. I always appreciate the work and thought that goes into finding the right words in rhyme that work. It’s not easy to do. I loved the story line. Couldn’t wait to see what happened and then reread it again - - and again, a couple more times.  Enjoy!

Ms. Sol’s Field

A Poem by Elder Davis McKay Agle

In a village far, far away

An old forgotten field did lay

So ugly all the children say:

“Upon that field the Sun won’t Go

and no matter what you sow,

We all know it cannot grow!”

And so it was until one day

Ms. Sol rolled into town to say

“I will make this field bloom someday”

Now all the people roundabout

Began to laugh, to point and shout

“It can’t be done, there is no doubt!”

But Ms. Sol still went to the field

Despite protests she would not yield

And in the field she humbly kneeled

Said a Prayer then rose right away

And then, right there without delay

She went to work on that dim day

For many weeks Ms. Sol did toil

All the day long to heal the soil

To her promise she was loyal

Though she worked both day and night

Though she labored with all her might

But how could it bloom without Sunlight?

And though Ms. Sol was very stout

For a time even she did doubt

As nothing green had yet to sprout

In despair she looked to the sky

And with a few tears in her eye

She said, “No matter, I still must try.”

Through scorn and failure she endured

Her solemn prayer at last was heard

From its ancient rest the Sun stirred!

The next day in the field of doom

The Sun banished the misty gloom

At last the field began to bloom

The people were amazed to see

A Field as green as green could be

But her words mean much more to me

“It seems people are often lead

To believe people’s growth is dead

But faith and work can mend,” she said

So do your best until the end

To do the work it takes to mend

The barren fields round every bend.

DAD

DOUBLE BIRTHDAY TIME AGAIN

It happens every year since 1993. January and Alexandra share January 15th as their natal day! It's a significant one for Sashy! She can now vote! Happy Birthday to these two beautiful women.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, QUINTON C

There's a new teenager in the family. Quninton C joined those ranks on January 11.  

From Rhiannon:

This is our new teenager Quinton with his birthday breakfast of donuts and milk. He had birthday money to spend and so he went shopping with his mom for four hours. He got to go to whatever store he wanted and spend as much time as he liked. By the end of the night he had purchased: a football, two hoodies, four video games, gum, pens, pencils (he takes after his momma in his love for stationary supplies) and a bottle of mandarin oranges. He discovered he loved them at Thanksgiving. He went to six stores and the new frozen yogurt place. He also got to go to Denny's for his free grand slam. For dinner he picked pizza and watching Atlantis a BBC TV show that is really good! Hard to believe he is 13!

The party continues tonight (Monday) with the Grandparents and Auntie coming in to celebrate!

CHRISTMAS IN MAMMOTH, CALIFORNIA

Here's where the EKBunch spent Christmas time this year.  Erik writes:

These pictures show our trip to Mammoth for our Christmas trip.  We really enjoy our condo because it is right next to a large open space with tons of trees and room to play with the kids and Dexter (the dog) and let him go off leash. Dexter loves the snow and jumps from snow pile to snow pile like a rabbit and loves to fetch pine cones and sticks.  There hasn't been much for snow in Mammoth this year and the mountain pictures show how little coverage there is.  However we love being up there because it allows us time to play games, relax and enjoy the mountain town life style.

 The presents are all under the tree.

 Ah, brotherly love!

 Enjoying TV.

 Family group picture (Erik is the "shadow)!

 Taking a break.

 Running from the snowballs.

 Dexter is enjoying it as well.

 Looks like there is some special help to make snowballs.

 Gottcha!

Pretty ladies.

TIME TO REPLANT THE BIRD BATH

My birdbath needed a redo. The plants had grown too big, so I pulled them all out but couldn't get to replant it until recently. 

 Ken thought that since there was nothing in it, it would be a good place to put his "weird" lemon.

 I went to my local nursery and bought some interesting succulents.

  Placed them here and there to see what works.

The three pots in the back are the cymbidium orchids that Ken helped me re-pot and thin out.  I should have some beautiful orchids in a few months.

Here they are all nestled in the special cactus soil ready to take root.

 My Camellias and Bird of Paradise are starting to pop!

HOW NOT TO GET YOUR TOOTSIES WARM!

In winter at the Agle's house in Springville, Suzanne often helps warm up the kitchen a little more by turning on the oven and leaving the door open. It's so nice to stand in front of it and feel that warmth. What you don't want to do is when your feet are very cold, hasten their warmth by sticking your tootsie inside to warm it up a little faster! If your tootsie should happen to touch the heating element, this is what could happen! 

 How does it get that coloring, you wonder?

 To the ER for some professional help.

 This stocking would explain it all.

 The ER doctor pulling out the threads one by one.

And yes, it did HURT.

 Half way there.

 Success!

 Mama dressing the wound. (For quite a few weeks!)

 Sashy had to wear a boot during those weeks.

Almost all better!