A Beautiful Day

It was a beautiful day in Ukiah for Cheryl and Jim’s Open House on Saturday October 25th. The temperature was 88°; it was our last very warm weekend. It was wonderful to have Cheryl and Jim here along with Jim’s parents, his brother Joe and his wife Tiffany, Bonnie, Greg, Jacob, Austin, and William and Skyler and our beloved Ukiah friends. Bonnie in her blog gave a good description of the Open House. The Open House was held at the lovely home of the Morgensens. Their new patio was perfect for people to comfortably sit outside at tables. Sharon prepared the delicious food: shrimp nachos, veggies with dip, strawberries Romanoff, fruit salad, phyllo with sausage, meatballs, ham, turkey, and tri-tip, Greek Easter bread, wedding punch, and black bottom cupcakes. Leanne, Barbara, and Nina helped Sharon with the food on the day of the Open House. Marjorie Fowler earlier went to Santa Rosa with me to buy flowers and created the table centerpieces. Bonnie arranged the flowers on the cake; it was a double layer full-size pumpkin spice sheet cake from Schat’s.






When I woke up Monday morning, it seemed bleak. After all the excitement, everyone was gone. The family had arrived Friday night and was gone by Sunday. I would love to have everyone in the family live closer to us. We're looking forward to flying to Texas two weeks from Monday so we can be with Suzanne’s family for Thanksgiving and Breanne’s baptism.

On another beautiful day during the week following the open house, I thought what more can we want in life than a beautiful day. Then I thought I would add people we love and who love us. Further I’d add something to believe in and something to do. Then it dawned on me that my list is the same as what President Hinckley said new converts need: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with “the good word of God.” His list was only lacking a beautiful day compared to my list. A beautiful day is a gift from God which we perhaps appreciate more because we don’t have one all the time.