A rose by any other name...

Remember when Porter was five and decided that he needed a more grown-up name and became Jim?

Meet Isabella.

And Cliff.

Amazing!!

The Mothers Without Borders Boutique raised ........ $42,000 last weekend!!!! That is such an amazing accomplishment and will go so far to help the orphans of Zambia. I came away with a beautiful carved nativity that includes two hippos (not many sheep in Africa I guess) and some cool things they call monkey balls. They are the seed pods of the mahogany tree that are dried and dyed and then images are scratched into them. I also got a sweet picture painted by Liz Lemon Swindle.

Isn't it beautiful? All proceeds from this piece of art will go to sweet children like this one in Zambia. The boutique had so many neat things! I am going to have to start a savings fund now for next year. You really need to check it out!

Dear friends,

It was June 25th and our bus had driven about 30 miles west of the capital city of Zambia . We left the main road and turned onto a bumpy path for the final mile or two. On both sides of us were vast expanses of golden elephant grass and a vista of beautiful trees in full bloom. There were no huts or people in site. The bus slowed to a crawl in an effort to prevent a flat tire from the rocky - makeshift road. Most on the bus had no idea what lie just around the bend…….the ‘new land’ as we had come to refer this little piece of heaven where a wonderful dream would someday become reality. The dream was one of hope. It would include housing for as many as 200 orphans, a primary and secondary school, an HIV testing center and medical clinic, a vocational training center to foster self-reliance, staff housing, a warehouse, and of course a soccer field and fishing pond!

I wish you could have all been there when the bus rounded the final bend and I saw for the 1st time the large warehouse and the first of many children’s home standing erect in a field where last year only brush grass existed. A new water tower (life!!) also welcomed us along with an ablution block (toilet) and rows and rows of newly made brick. I was overwhelmed with emotion. So much had changed since I was in this exact spot just 11 months earlier. As one of team leaders said, ‘if you are quiet, you can almost hear the voices of the children on the land’. I hope each of you will take a minute to do just that.

I share this with you because much of this progress was made possible because of you and others like you. The warehouse, children’s home and the new well were built with money raised at the Fund-raising boutique. Can you believe it! I joke and say they were built ‘one crocheted booty’ at a time. The truth is not too far from that!

There is a saying that I love that goes: Never doubt that a small group of caring individuals can change the world…in fact that is the only thing that ever has. Well, I’ve had the joy of seeing the truth of that saying first hand and many of you can say that you have been a part of it. Thank you for your past efforts and for your continued –or new- desire to put your handprint on this great project. We could never do it without you.

There is plenty of opportunity to go around. Please share this flyer with all you know and invite them to a part of this little miracle. As always, I am here for any questions you might have.

Thanks in advance to all of you, BJ


Looking at the flyer, it is kind of hard to read. The boutique is Friday Nov. 7 from 9 to 9 and Saturday Nov. 8 from 9 to 6. It will be held at Chantilly Mansion 170 North Main in Layton.

Use Me Up!

I was profoundly struck by a comment made in general conference last month by Elder Christofferson. He said, "Let us look after one another the very best we can." My thoughts have been centered around this idea for awhile now, long before conference. I have been made aware of all my blessings and the incredible need of others. We have so very much and I can't help but believe that a loving and merciful God wants us to do something with all that we have been given beyond just languishing in our abundance. I believe I have a responsibility to share what I have with others. To reach out to those in, and maybe even those seemingly without, my circle of influence. I believe so strongly that none of us are placed in the life's path of others without a purpose. I can look back on my life and see that individuals were placed in my path by a loving Heavenly Father at precisely the time I needed them. I marvel at His awesome orchestration and must believe that something is required of me for the people in my life. It is said that we are God's hands to accomplish His work on earth.

I recently had the opportunity to take part in a project sponsored by Mothers Without Borders. This organization is involved in the education and betterment of the people in Zambia. I don't know a whole lot about it but I know that these people are very poor. Many children are orphans because AIDS is so rampant and has taken their parents. They lack the education to prevent this and other diseases. I also know that they are children of God and that He loves them just as He loves you and I. Mothers Without Borders is holding a boutique this next weekend in Layton. There will be lots and lots of handcrafted items for sale that have been donated to raise money to help the people of Zambia. There will also be items for sale that have been handcrafted by the African people and brought over just for this weekend! I am really excited! A couple of friends and I have been working on some cute little crafties...

I think they turned out so cute! It was a great reason to get together with good friends and create something. I will post more information about the boutique for those of you in the area that might be interested. I am looking forward to participating and to buying an African nativity!

And next on my list? I just listened to the inspiring story of one of my friends who has a project of her own. She recently returned from Guatemala, where she was distributing special underclothing worn by those of our faith to the members of our church there. She served her mission in Guatemala 12 years ago and had the opportunity to live with the 'chechi' mayans in that area. These sweet people live in the mountains in extreme poverty. They usually only get to make a trip to the temple once. They have one pair of garments and that is all. They will wear them on Sundays to church but washing them on rocks in dirty streams wears them out in a hurry. This friend organized for the purchase and distribution of over 600 pairs of garments to the 'chechi' people, one pair to each endowed member of the church! Incredible! And she had the priviledge of traveling there to personally hand them out. She told us of one particular district in which the people had walked 6 hours, with their little children, to meet at the church to receive their garments. They were anxious to leave by noon to repeat the 6-hour hike back to their homes. How humbling to those of us who have so much! She is continuing her project and I want to be involved. In our stake conference recently, our visiting authority Elder Collister said, "There is no greater feeling than feeling used by the Lord." I want the Lord to use me up as His hands on earth!

The Science of Salami

I had to take Aleise to the doctor the other day so I left the other kids at home doing science with Grandma. When I came back, I asked them what they had learned. Noah was excited to tell me. He said, "We learned about salamis. Do you know what salamis are? They are giant waves that start in the ocean in an earthquake and they are as tall as five of our houses!" So beware of the giant salamis!