What a wonderful summer! Some highlights (before the smoke of western wildfires polluted the skies) include a day hike with my daughter Julie and her girls at Albion Basin at Alta Ski resort.

A great week at Neskowin on the Tillamook coast of Oregon with college friends. We stayed in the beach house of Wendy's (on left) brother and spent time in the gorgeous home of Heidi (in the center) with a view of much of the coast. She prepared us some gourmet meals. We also enjoyed the meals at the Hawk Creek Inn (the only restaurant in town). Heidi spent childhood summers at Neskowin.

Neskowin is famous for its Proposal Rock (the postmistress' daughter was proposed to there 100 years ago). There is also a "Ghost Forest" on the other side, of ancient petrified tree stumps. seen at low tide.

We enjoyed the Saturday farmers markets in Neskowin and Lincoln City, and lots of galleries.I bought a colorful hand woven rug and a  beautiful painting by local artist Michael Schlichting.

How good it felt to put our feet in the Pacific Ocean at Winema Beach

We stayed across from the golf course, once a swampy wetlands. Often children had to be picked up by boat from the school across the way when it flooded. The village is filled with charming cottages, many from early 1900's, each with a unique story. This one, next door

Some of us enjoyed a hike at Cascade Head through the foggy but luxuriant rain forest. It cleared enough to see the convergence of the Salmon River and the Pacific. The native Americans built huge bonfires on the (now) bare cliffs to welcome in the salmon.

                   Kathleen and Kathie showing off their s'mores.

                                      Could have been us!

I have an ancient book of maps and photos of the explorations from Kowloon to Alaska to northern California in 1788, of my ancestor John Meares. I never guessed we would be able to visit Cape Meares, with its ancient Sitka spruce forest, though we had a hard time finding this beautiful spot with a defunct lighthouse. It is one of two (the other in Hawaii) that used the Fresnel lens.

We spent a little time at the old schoolhouse in Tillamook which houses a quilt and textile museum.

In Oceanside we walked through a rocky wet tunnel, used as gun emplacement (holes in rock)

I flew home to Provo in time for my granddaughter Cordelia's 6th birthday

(With cousins) Cordelia on the left loves cheetahs. She can run almost as fast when she plays a mean game of soccer with her dad and on a team.

And the baptism of 8 year old Evie in Daybreak.

                With her family.......                  and just the girls

Now that we are in Phase 3 of the Covid Pandemic, we can attend the temple by appointment. There are 2 LDS temples in Provo. Provo City Center Temple (dedicated in 2016) was built on the site of and in keeping with the old Provo Tabernacle which was mostly destroyed by fire in 2010. It felt so good to be there last week.

I have an appointment today at the older Provo Temple across the street from the Mission Training Center, where I volunteer with the interpreters on Tuesdays for the devotionals. I am taking over from the Sorensons. These are my cute helpers Ryan Chiang and Alli Chen. We set up the stations for the many interpreters who make possible these messages which go out to missionaries in training at home or serving throughout the world. Technology is a blessing in missionary work, among other things.

It is fun to be in Provo, where so much is available culturally. I really enjoyed the exposition at the BYU art museum featuring works of Brazilian-American Vik Muniz:

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipNIf6i563AErOIefPtxla4NE-d_UpTEd_l_eenU

As I've watched highlights of the Olympic Games, I've felt a strong connection to people all over the world. I think over 200 countries participated, mostly without spectators. What a thrill to see the accomplishments and talents worldwide. 

Stay safe and pray that young people will thrive as school attendance is still a challenge, as are jobs, and many activities, and as lives continue to be restricted almost everywhere. Don't give up hope!!