Fall has arrived officially, but warm summer weather continues.  This fall in Palo Alto no school buses run, no kids ride to school on bikes, no laughter is heard from the neighboring elementary school. Students are at home behind computer screens, hopefully learning something?

I was sad to lose several friends this past week, along with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, powerful voice for justice and women's rights. One final barrier broken: She is the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol. Who will replace this remarkable woman? President Trump is determined to have his choice confirmed before the November 3rd election.

I left with smokey skies in the Bay Area and headed to Pinecrest, a 3-hour drive from here, in the Sierra, where the smoke cleared early this week. Nearby Yosemite National Park is closed due to the many area fires still burning. I spent 4 wonderful days hiking, swimming, boating in the lake and relaxing with 2 siblings, spouses, and family, all from San Diego. My sister Irene and family have not missed their Pinecrest week in 29 years!

My cup, as well as my brother Brion's, felt full...so nice to be in the mountains with fun people! and 4 lively dogs! and very few others.

The lake is being emptied through the dam leaving just enough water  to freeze, so the level is lower than in the summer, and the crowds have left. So refreshing is the sound of the river rushing down the hill. The national forest & park were closed recently due to fires.

A fellow senior missionary in Ecuador shared a photo of the young women of our ward performing a traditional dance. May we build positive and uplifting memories and treasure our positive images of this strange and challenging pandemic time. I'm grateful for more time for re-connection with family and friends, albeit virtually, more time for reading and reflection on what is truly important to me: justice, mercy, commonality, the ways that differences can help us grow. I am especially grateful for small and simple things that bring me joy. I recognize that many are suffering greatly, but hope they can find a measure of peace also.

None of us will forget 2020. This barbed wire hula hoop is an interesting metaphor! Ouch! Covid pandemic, fires, hurricanes, economic crises, election divisions, racial and civil unrest, education challenges, and more....

School days are not what they were in the 1950's or even in early 2020. Whether to go to school or learn on-line is a tough question!

In Palo Alto and many places it's online education.

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Children, adults and especially teens are social creatures

In Indonesia (and elsewhere), students reported the home-learning program to be even more stressful than regular classrooms. Some of the common reasons for this went along the lines of: "Normal classes may have been difficult, but having friends makes it so much more manageable and less stressful. Online classes take out the benefits of having friends to socialize with and being stuck alone with nothing but assignments." Teachers also struggle to manage online learning.

Below, the remains of our beautiful local church Camp Lehi in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

A message from our local leaders:"When you combine the fire, the quarantine, the civil unrest, and other personal losses that many of us have experienced, it can be overwhelming. In the last general conference, Apostle Elder Holland gave a talk entitled “Perfect Brightness of Hope.” This quote from his talk captures our testimony, 'I testify that the future is going to be as miracle-filled and bountifully blessed as the past has been. We have every reason to hope for blessings even greater than those we have already received because this is the work of Almighty God, this is the Church of continuing revelation, this is the gospel of Christ’s unlimited grace and benevolence.'   While these are turbulent times, we know the Lord continues to be involved in the little details of our lives. He knows what we are going through individually and as a church, and He will use the circumstances and experiences to strengthen us individually and collectively."  We love you and hope that you and your families continue to see the Lord’s hand in your lives."

If you or someone you know is struggling with discouragement or depression, especially at this time, here is a short (11 min. video)

https://youtu.be/IrNqGqy5kbQ

Smoke has polluted our skies, though pollution makes for spectacular sunsets...the sun is a giant red ball each evening before a red moon arises.  Where are the clouds with a silver lining?  Again generous donors step forward to help  evacuees and those many who have lost their homes. Added to the smoky skies, Labor Day weekend temperatures in the San Francisco Bay Area were record-breaking. In Palo Alto we had 2 days of 106-7 degrees!

My first get-away during the pandemic has been a trip to Reno. 

Notice the smoke layer, the fire progressing eastward and the blue of gorgeous Lake Tahoe...

         The El Dorado fire near Los Angeles added to the air pollution

The first day at the Truckee River, the second day in the morning on Mount Rose with the smoke coming, then Lake Tahoe cloaked in smoke (normally one can see across this crystalline blue lake). We swam anyway...so refreshing.

We loved having the chickadees eat seeds out of our hands

We swam and paddle-boarded and enjoyed the lake despite the smoky skies. And met people from all over, including Brazil. Coincidentally 

my son's grandmother-in-law, Aurea Lima, just turned 97. She is full of life, and love for family and friends. It is unbelievable that she had the coronavirus and was able to recover. She is an amazing lady who lives in Curitiba, Brasil! I was honored to stay in her home in 2006.

In California, the skies are all cloudy/smokey all day

In Utah, the skies were mostly blue....

The Carlstons...some of my Utah grandchildren with my son-in-law