College Football Picks Week 14 Results

1. Clint -14 tiebreaker 52
2. Rex -15 tiebreaker 67
3. Lisa -16 tiebreaker 54
4. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 61

actual tiebreaker 49

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!  It's hard to believe that another Thanksgiving has come and gone.  I just want to express my gratitude for all the blessings that God has bestowed upon me.  Including all of you.  I am so incredibly blessed.  

No matter what we do we will always be indebted to God for all of our blessings.  I don't have the words to express how thankful I am for the wonderful life I have had.  Especially for the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm so grateful to belong to His Church.  And I'm so grateful for loved ones who care for me and have blessed my life so deeply.  

We would all be wise to ponder on all our many blessings and give thanks daily to God for them.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 13 Results

1. Clint -17 tiebreaker 52
2. Lisa -18 tiebreaker 37
3. Rex -19 tiebreaker 37
4. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 43

actual tiebreaker 20

College Football Picks Week 12 Results

1. Clint -12 tiebreaker 58
2. Rex -13 tiebreaker 59
3. Lisa -14 tiebreaker 52
4. Tammy -16 tiebreaker 50

actual tiebreaker 83

College Football Picks Week 11 Results

1. Clint -15 tiebreaker 58
2. Lisa -17 tiebreaker 53
3. Rex -18 tiebreaker 59
4. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 55
5. Michael -22 tiebreaker 57

actual tiebreaker 36

College Football Picks Week 10 Results

1. Rex -17 tiebreaker 62
2. Clint -17  tiebreaker 52
3. Lisa -18 tiebreaker 62
4. Tammy -20 tiebreaker 49
5. Michael -22 tiebreaker 49

actual tiebreaker 59

Happy 56th Anniversary

Today would have been my parents' 56th wedding anniversary.  Dad died three months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.  Dad was always very proud of every anniversary and was very much looking forward to their 50th.  Six years later I'm sure they're celebrating together on the other side of the veil.

I am so blessed to be born of goodly parents.  They took the responsibility of parenting very seriously and dedicated their lives to raising their children.  Shortly after they became empty-nesters I had my accident and they cared for me for the rest of their lives.  I will always be eternally grateful to them for that and for their willingness to go the extra mile and serve me in my time of need.  I know there is a special place in the Celestial Kingdom for them.

Happy 56th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad!

I love and miss you so much!

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 9 Results

1. Rex -13 tiebreaker 63
2. Clint -13 tiebreaker 65
3. Lisa -17 tiebreaker 57
4. Tammy -18 tiebreaker 63

actual tiebreaker 47

College Football Picks Week 8 Results

1. Clint -12 tiebreaker 49    
2. Rex & Tammy -18 tiebreaker 51
3. 
   
4. Lisa -19 tiebreaker 62
5. Michael -20 tiebreaker 49

actual tiebreaker 45

It's crazy how people are picking the same tiebreaker score.  So we actually have a tie today.  I came so close to picking the tiebreaker in the upper forties, but I didn't.  Oh well, a tie it is.  Michael and Clint even picked the same tiebreaker score.  It was a fun week.

College Football Picks Week 7 Results

1. Rex -15 tie breaker 52
2. Lisa -17 tiebreaker 57
3. Clint -18 tiebreaker 48
4. Tammy -20 tiebreaker 55

actual tiebreaker 60

College Football Picks Week 6 Results

1. Rex -15 tiebreaker 41
2. Lisa -16 tiebreaker 54
3. Clint -17 tiebreaker 68
4. Tammy -18 tiebreaker 63

actual tiebreaker 35

RIP President Nelson

Our beloved prophet of 7+ years died on Saturday night, September 27, 2025.  President Russell M. Nelson became our Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint on January 14, 2018 after the passing of President Thomas S Monson.

Shortly after he was ordained Prophet and sustained as President of the Church, President Nelson went on a stadium tour to meet and speak with members of the Church.  In the fall of 2018 he came to Safeco Field in Seattle.  One of my fondest memories is going up to Seattle to see President Nelson along with President Henry B Eyring (Dad's favorite apostle) who happened to be President Nelson's speaking partner that day.  This was only months before Dad died.  It was a very special event.

President Nelson was a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon who, in the 1950s, pioneered  the heart-lung bypass machine which made open-heart surgery possible.

Present Nelson was called as an apostle and sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 7, 1984.  Where he served until he was ordained as Prophet on January 14, 2018.

President Nelson also announced 200 temples to be built, during his seven years as Prophet and President of the Church.

President Russell M. Nelson was born on September 9, 1924 and had just celebrated his 101st birthday.  He is the longest living prophet since the restoration of the Church.  He was 93 when he became prophet.  Interestingly, that's how old President Oaks is, who will be our next prophet.

President Nelson and his wife Dantzel are the parents of 10 children.  He has 57 grandchildren, 167 great-grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

President Nelson was the 17th President of the Church.

I love President Nelson.  He lived an exemplary life of service to the Lord, and to his fellow man.

"Well done thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." – Matthew 25:21

RIP President Russell M. Nelson

September 9, 1924 - September 27, 2025

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 5 Results

1. Clint -11 tiebreaker 62
2. Tammy -12 tiebreaker 61
3. Rex -15 tiebreaker 55
4. Michael -20 tiebreaker 57
5. Lisa -22 tiebreaker 57

actual tiebreaker 90

College Football Picks Week 4 Results

1. Rex -14 tiebreaker 67
2. Michael -18 tiebreaker 49
3. Clint -18 tiebreaker 52
4. Lisa -18 tiebreaker 62
5. Tammy -23 tiebreaker 49

actual tiebreaker 47

Happy 24th Birthday Dallas

Today is Dallas' 24th birthday.  It's hard to believe he's been gone for over four years.  Thinking of you today, Dallas, and wishing you a happy birthday in heaven.

my favorite picture of Dallas

Happy birthday Dallas.  We love you and miss you!

That's my two cents.

Thank you, Charlie

I cried when Charlie Kirk died.  I didn't know him.  I certainly knew of him and heard many of his exchanges with college students over the past few years.  He's the only political guy I followed on Instagram.  Not only did I cry when he died, I have cried several times since.  I've heard many people say that Charlie's death affected them more than you would expect and many have said that it changed them.  Some even said they're going back to church after not going for a long time.

In reflecting on why Charlie's death has affected us so much, I have concluded that there are several reasons.

First, it exposes the evil world in which we live, and the evil nature of so many people.  Unfathomably, many people are celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination.  Many people are posting their glee on social media and reveling in the gruesome murder of a good man.  This is pure evil.  All these people are exposing themselves as the evil people they are.  And it makes us realize how many people we associate with are evil. And how evil so many in our society have become.

Second, even though we didn't know him personally, Charlie felt like a friend because we've heard him speak so much and felt like we knew him and were familiar with him.  Charlie was a wonderful example of Christian discipleship.  Charlie epitomized my values.  I heard him tell college kids not to drink alcohol, not to be promiscuous, to get married before living together, to get married and have kids, to keep the Sabbath day holy, etc.  He taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and spoke truth.

Third, Charlie did what, perhaps, most of us wish we could do in fearlessly and courageously speaking truth and defending what's right.  As I just mentioned he taught moral values along with defending all truth regardless of how unpopular his opinion was with some people.  Yes, his focus was on politics, and defending and preserving our country.  But in doing so you must defend moral truths because that's what our country is founded on and built on.  Charlie was very gifted at always politely and calmly teaching and defending truth in his debates.  He was very quick-witted and quick thinking – something I wish I was.  Public speaking was certainly one of Charlie's greatest talents.

Fourth, most of us were not around during any other previous political assassinations such as Abraham Lincoln, JFK, and even MLK.  This is the first political assassination we have witnessed in our lifetime.  Yes, I witnessed Reagan being shot  – but he lived.  Most recently we witnessed Trump's miraculous survival of an assassination attempt.  But this is the first actual political assassination of my lifetime.  And probably yours.  And it hits hard.

Like Charlie's wife, Erika, mentioned – Charlie died as a martyr.  He died for what he believed in.  He died for speaking truth.  He died in the very act of exercising free speech.  They didn't like what he said, so they killed him.  All Charlie ever wanted was to politely converse with people.  To have a civil dialogue.  The left couldn't debate him, so they killed him.

Although Charlie wasn't a member of my faith, my church, he was a fellow disciple of Christ.  And a very good one.  We can all learn from Charlie's example.  He stood up for what he believed in, he stood up for truth and he acted.  He shared truth with others.  And for that I have mad respect for him.  Charlie was a force for good.  Unfortunately the evil forces knew that all too well, and silenced him through cold-blooded murder.

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul…" – Matthew 10:28

Evil conspiring men may have killed Charlie's body, but they cannot kill his soul.

"… for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."  – Alma 34:34

Charlie may have crossed through the veil to the other side, but his spirit hasn't changed.  He still has the same convictions that he had here on earth.  And I'm sure he's continuing his work on the other side.  For those of us who remain on earth, we need to follow Charlie's example to teach and to defend truth.  Don't fear those who oppose us or who oppose truth or who even want to kill us.  Evil surrounds us, we must continue the fight for right.  As President Trump said immediately after his assassination attempt, "Fight, Fight, Fight!"

Charlie didn't fear those who kill the body.  Charlie fearlessly and tirelessly fought the fight against evil.  Even though evil won the battle in killing Charlie's body, evil will not win the war.  Truth and right will prevail.  Charlie's work will continue through others.

Thank you Charlie for sharing your wisdom and for teaching and defending truth.  Charlie was wise beyond his years.  His loss creates a big void.  Perhaps we will all try a little harder in our own efforts to teach and defend truth, to help fill that void.

God be with you till we meet on the other side, Charlie.  Then, perhaps I can thank you for all you have done to preserve our nation, and society, and to teach and defend truth.

RIP Charlie Kirk.  October 14, 1993 - September 10, 2025

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 3 Results

1. Rex -9 tiebreaker 66
2. Michael -10 tiebreaker 73
3. Clint -12 tiebreaker 46
4. Lisa -12 tiebreaker 57
5. Tammy -13 tiebreaker 51

actual tiebreaker 37

RIP Charlie Kirk

Yesterday Charlie Kirk was assassinated in my hometown of Orem, Utah for speaking truth.  Charlie did so much good for our country.  Charlie was instrumental in helping President Trump get reelected.  

Charlie worked tirelessly in teaching truth, especially amongst the youth on college campuses.  Charlie was also a man of faith and a devout Christian.  Charlie was extremely smart and talented, but also very kind and compassionate.  He always spoke calmly and kindly to those who disagreed with him, who yelled and cussed at him and spoke so cruelly to him.  Charlie just wanted to help people understand truth.

Charlie was a wonderful example of Christian discipleship.  Charlie was also a husband and father to two young children.  Now his wife is a widow and his children are fatherless all because he stood up for truth and right.

I will miss reading and listening to Charlie's words of wisdom.  But his legacy will live on.

Charlie was only 31 years old and had already accomplished so much in his short life.

Such a tragic and senseless loss at the hands of evil conspiring men.  Charlie was viciously murdered – shot in cold blood – by an evil assassin.  I hope they find the assassin and those who conspired with him and bring them to justice.

In the meantime, please pray for Charlie's widow, Erika, and their two young children.

Charlie has now gone home to that God who gave him life.

RIP Charlie Kirk.  Thank you for your efforts to save America and make the world a better place.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 2 Results

1. Lisa -11 tiebreaker 54
2. Clint -11 tiebreaker 56
3. Tammy -13 tiebreaker 53
4. Michael -14 tiebreaker 47
5. Rex -15 tiebreaker 72

actual tiebreaker 30

College Football Picks Week 1 Results

1. Lisa -12 tiebreaker 47
2. Tammy -13 tiebreaker 59
3. Clint -13 tiebreaker 62
4. Rex -14  tiebreaker 40
5. Michael -15 no tiebreaker

actual tiebreaker 44

The Best Is Yet to Come

The Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is coming soon.  Prepare your lives now for that glorious day.  Turn to Jesus Christ by building and increasing your faith in Him.

“My dear brothers and sisters, in a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the millennial Messiah. So today I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ. I call upon you to help gather scattered Israel and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord. I call upon you to talk of Christ, testify of Christ, have faith in Christ, and rejoice in Christ! …

“… The best is yet to come because the Lord is hastening His work. The best is yet to come as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ.”

President Russell M. Nelson “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” general conference, Oct. 2024

I love this quote by our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.  A lot of people look at the Second Coming and the last days prior to it negatively, and fear it.  But President Nelson said the best is yet to come.  We are living in the last days.  We are in the last minutes of the final hour before His glorious return.  If we are prepared, and have faith in Christ, we have no need to fear.

I, for one, am excited and very much looking forward to our Savior's Second Coming.

The best is yet to come.

That's my two cents.

Awards for 2026 Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Two Mile Run

We just got the awards for next year's Memorial run.  I'm super excited.  They turned out awesome!  I did the same trophies as last year – even though I had to design each one separately.  Also, this year I was able to upload the design for next year's race and put them on the medals!  So I'm pretty excited about that as well.  We didn't take pictures of the ribbons but there will be ribbons for 4th Place through 10th Place, as usual.  Here are the photos of the trophies and medals for next year.  Ribbons will be the same as previous years.

I hope y'all are as excited as I am about next year's race.  Start training now so you can earn one of the awesome awards.  There will also be a drawing as usual with some fun prizes.

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Eatonville High School Track

Eatonville, Washington

10 AM

Be there or be square!

That's my two cents.

2026 – Seventh Annual Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Run

I know we just finished the Sixth Annual Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Two-Mile Run.  Thanks again to all who participated.  It was a blast.

I would like to announce next year's race date to give people plenty of time to mark their calendars and plan ahead.  

Next year the Seventh Annual Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Two-Mile Run will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Eatonville High School Track at 10 AM.  Same time, same place.

Mark your calendars.  Start training.

Already looking forward to next year's race/reunion.  Hope you can all make it!

That's my two cents.

Reach Your Potential

"Sometimes we feel discouraged because we are not “more” of something—more spiritual, respected, intelligent, healthy, rich, friendly, or capable. We may not see ourselves as good enough. But our Heavenly Father sees us as His children and sees our potential of who we can become.

If you trust God and start to become the person God intended you to become, you will see God’s hand in your lives.

God will take you as you are at this very moment and help you become your true self, even greater than you ever thought possible. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and courage to trust the Lord, Jesus Christ."

– Dieter F Uchtdorf, July 27, 2025 Instagram post

I love this quote by Elder Uchtdorf.  Many people get discouraged because they have wandered off the covenant path and don't feel like they can get back on it.  But Elder Uchtdorf reminds us that God sees our potential of who we can become. We are His children.  He loves us infinitely.

Heavenly Father will help us reach our potential, and become greater than we ever thought possible, if we turn our hearts to Him, desire to believe, and trust in our Savior.

The Lord loves effort.  And with a little effort and hope, desire, and courage, He will help us reach our potential, and become our true selves.

That's my two cents. 

Festivities from Sixth Annual Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Run

Lisa sent me more pictures from Dad's memorial run on Saturday so I posting them to my blog.  We all had such a good time.  The run was fun then we came back to the house and ate hoagies as per tradition.  Rex made smash burgers for dinner and Lisa made potato salad, Aunt Evelyn Jell-O, and fruit salad.  Everything was delicious and we had a great time visiting with everybody.

Stephanie, Weston, and Dylan along with Preston and Amelia drove up from California for the memorial run.  And Michael drove down from Lynnwood to participate in Dad's memorial run and actually ran it two days postop!  Juliet drove over from Idaho with Kylee and her friend, Arianna, and spent the week with us prior to the race.  Kingston flew in and spent the week with his cousin Brandon.

We all had a nice time visiting with lots of laughter making memories.  The kids made fast friends with each other and had fun playing together.

Poor Michael wasn't able to eat any of the good food except he did enjoy some ice cream.

Thanks to everyone who made the effort to come honor Dad.  And thanks to Lisa and Rex for doing all the hard work setting up, officiating the race, and preparing all the food.

As usual, we all had a great time and look forward to next year's race!

That's my two cents.

 

Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Two Mile Run – Photos

Yesterday we held the sixth annual Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Two Mile Run at Eatonville high school track.  Again, this year we had family travel in from out of state to participate in the event and festivities and honor Dad and his legacy.

Congratulations to all who participated, especially to our overall winners Preston and Juliet.  Everybody did a great job and fun was had by all.

Here are some photos from the race.

And they're off
Amelia, Weston, Ariana, Brandon, Elijah, Michael, Kylee, Savannah, Juliet, Preston

Awards table

Overall winners – Preston and Juliet

Group shot
Rex, Tammy, Lisa, Weston, Stephanie, Dylan, Savannah, Arianna, Kylee, Juliet, Michael, Brandon, Elijah, Preston, Amelia, Kingston

Rex, Tammy, Lisa, Weston, Stephanie, Dylan, Zach, Savannah, Arianna, Kylee, Juliet, Michael, Brandon, Elijah, Preston, Amelia, Kingston

Top three female finishers
Kylee – third, Juliet – first, Amelia – second

All female participants
Stephanie, Arianna, Kylee, Juliet, Amelia, Savannah

All male participants
Dylan, Weston, Preston, Michael, Elijah, Brandon

Top three males
Preston – first, Elijah – second, Brandon – third

Thank you to all who came and participated in Dad's Memorial Run.  A special thanks to Lisa and Rex for all their hard work in making this event happen.  Without them this special annual event would not be possible.  Thank you so much, Lisa and Rex!  And thanks to all who traveled from near and far to come and honor Dad.  It was sure fun seeing you all again.

Hope you can all make it again to next year's race!

That's my two cents.

Sixth Annual Myron Hampton Stone Two-Mile Memorial Run – Results

Men's Results

1. Preston – 12:56
2. Elijah – 14:04
3. Brandon – 19:01
4. Michael – 19:13
5. Weston – 21:45 (completed 1 mile)

Women's Results

1. Juliet – 15:12
2. Amelia – 17:29
3. Kylee – 21:44
4. Savannah – 22:30
5. Ariana – 23:19
6. Stephanie – 21:45 (completed 1 mile)

Six Years

 Six years ago today Dad graduated from mortality.  Life is not the same without you, Dad.  I miss you so much!

Dad left quite a legacy.  He is loved by all.  I feel so blessed to be his daughter.  

I love you and miss you so much, Dad!  God be with you till we meet again.  

Today also marks the 32nd anniversary of my mission homecoming.

Service

This quote was in the "Come Follow Me" lesson for this week.  I liked it enough to post to my blog.

“When our lives are filled with purpose and service, we avoid spiritual apathy; on the other hand, when our lives are deprived of divine purpose, meaningful service to others, and sacred opportunities for pondering and reflection, we gradually become suffocated by our own activity and self-interest, risking losing our savor. The antidote to this is to continue to be involved in service—being anxiously engaged in good works and the betterment of ourselves and the society we live in.” Elder José A. Teixeira “Bonded to Jesus Christ: Becoming the Salt of the Earth,” general conference, Oct. 2024

This quote from Elder Teixeira is a good reminder that focusing on serving others rather than ourselves and our own interests, is how we stay close to our Savior and avoid spiritual apathy.  More and more the world is focused on selfishness and self-serving activities.  The more we focus on ourselves and what's in it for me, the farther we drift from our Savior and our divine purpose.  True happiness is found in trying to be like Jesus, in serving others and following His commandments.

That's my two cents.