A planeload from Johannesburg of smiling missionaries who had been serving in Africa, all headed home to North America.  Many will be reassigned to serve in the US. Those nearly finished with their 2 years will be released. African elders will continue to serve in Africa. Most missionaries worldwide have now returned to their home countries. They are wonderful. There are many young women serving throughout the world in safe locations. All are teaching virtually. Elder Weidauer sings as he signs, Elder Richards and Cook, now home...see photo below...those fingers can really play the piano (who have served in our ward/congregation) share Gospel messages through song and word on Facebook. 

We are sheltering at home until May 3, 2020 or longer in the Bay Area. Many of the restrictions are locally imposed, but the guidelines are similar: stay home, keep a 6' distance when outside, wash our hands, exercise In my experience there are many positives: we are developing a greater sense of cooperation, compassion for those with employment and illness and loss, and community, as we are all in this together. We are learning we can do without many things, we can use our creativity, we can learn by internet/outside of school, we can have fun in our own households, with our own families, and can enjoy nature, simple pleasures. What are yours? 
Our playgrounds, parks, libraries, schools (probably for the rest of the school year), and stores except groceries, pharmacies, hardware and other essential services are closed or suspended. Most churches are not holding services ( Buddhist Temple and Russian church in my neighborhood), the YMCA is closed.
We do not meet at church, but have used "Zoom" to hear talks, lessons and prayers on Sundays, which buoy us up, give us hope, unite us in this challenging time. (below a screen shot from a talk given by Marguerite Gong Hancock) to the women on Tuesday.

I have drawn closer to my family and friends through video conferencing, too.

Along with medical personnel treating life and death situations where they are putting their own lives in jeopardy, police, fire , sanitation and food workers and others who keep us safe and well are our postal workers who make deliveries overtime for mail and every internet service.
This COVID-19 crisis has inspired more emails, letters, video conferencing, and creative songs, poems, jokes, and ??

The last week before the Baylands and open spaces were closed, I enjoyed wonderful walks, now I just explore neighborhoods I can walk to.

These ducks should be sheltering at the Baylands, but have chosen my home instead, sometimes on the roof, sometimes in the yard.

As I walk, I enjoy more than ever the gardens, trees and flowers...

The azaleas by my front door lift my spirits as I leave and return home. Working in my garden is joyful.
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, we look forward to the twice a year General Conference broadcast to all the world this weekend. Please join us for the broadcast (this Saturday and Sunday, both days 10-12 and 2-4 MDT) with wonderful inspiring, comforting talks of hope & practical advice from our President Russell M. Nelson, truly a man for our time, and other leaders, for dealing with whatever challenges you are facing at this time.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng

There are also many wonderful videos at this site (and on 
youtube ) as we approach Easter and celebrate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's "First Vision" and the Restoration of Christ's Church for our time. (Below is a tribute to President Nelson).
I know we can all get through this time together as we love and support each other, take one day at a time, and remember that our Heavenly Father promises comfort and peace if we bring our worries and burdens to him.
Happy Easter, too, to you and your loved ones!

“When you have someone like President Nelson,” Elder Jensen said, “who has excelled at every stage of his life, and who has been a world traveler, who speaks several languages, who had experiences in his profession, in church leadership, in community leadership, whose raised exceptional family, to have someone like that as our prophet and seer, it just is stunning to me how blessed we are, how fortunate we are to be able to place our confidence, our faith in someone like him.”

He already can see past decisions by church leaders, such as the ministering program, the focus on home-centered, church-supported learning and the “Come, Follow Me” program to have prepared the church for interruptions like COVID-19.

“I think when we look back,” Elder Jensen said, “we’ll see these threads that will intertwine and give us a sense we were uniquely positioned as a church to weather this storm.”

Sunny California to Sunny Utah and Back

I've let your hair grow waiting for my next blog! Ready??

From sunny California to sunny Utah and back...

Almost everything has been shutting down: concerts, schools, church services, workplaces, gyms, pools, gatherings of more than just a small number of people. Social and work communication is over the internet or by phone or other social media. Stores are out of hand sanitizer, wipes, paper towels, and sometimes there is hoarding of ordinary groceries. Trips and flights and entertainment are canceled for how long, no one knows. What will be the effect of this deadly Corona virus (COVID-19) that has upstaged even the U.S. primary elections that have been so controversial. The first cases appeared in Wuhan,China, thought to have originated in an animal market, but this respiratory flu-like epidemic has become a pandemic, something not seen since the Spanish flu of a century ago. It is advised that hands be washed often for 20 seconds with soap and water, coughing into elbow, or handkerchief and then disposed of. Incubation can be from 2-14 days. Symptoms are coughing, shortness of breath or fever. It tends to affect those with compromised health and the older members of the population, though anyone can be a carrier. My son Peter and family have  spent the last 2 months in Washington DC, but return next week to BYU, Provo, with the interns she has been supervising, "thanks" to the virus. I had planned to visit in April, but, alas, that trip is now cancelled.

Before stronger measures were advised, I left the California flowers and blossoming trees, activities, and friends, for a few days' visit to two daughters and their families in Utah. I wish we lived closer, but I'm not ready to move there yet. While in Utah, my youngest son Marc announced he will be working for the church in digital marketing, so as of June four of my five children will live in Utah. 

Hank Taylor is the youngest 89 year old I know! And Colette one of the best hostesses! Birthday party friends shared "most interesting jobs they'd had", though probably no one has had such a variety as Hank himself. Some were horrific (Norris Finlayson's early pathology experiences) and some scary and dangerous, others just hilarious! 

I always try for a window seat flying over my favorite lake,Tahoe

My daughter Julie and girls whisked me off from the Salt Lake City airport to the University of Utah art museum with some amazing Japanese and other artists' work...

I love these paintings by James Taylor (?) Harwood (above) and still life by his wife.

by a Swedish artist

I always love Diego Rivera's art

Utah had recently had snow but it was warm and sunny when I arrived.  The Carlston kids were in a wonderful Churchill middle school (above, where their dad attended, too....I can't remove the duplicate!) production of the Wizard of Oz. Sixth grade twins John (without his monkey costume) and Luke practiced for 2 months, 7 year old twins Elise and Stephanie and other cast siblings were invited to be munchkins with a short practice at the last minute...a fun gesture!

The next day my daughter Julie took her kindergarten camp kids to find special rocks at Pete's Rock/Mountain

Phoebe and I tagged along and talked mom into returning the next morning to a trail along the Wasatch.

Friday afternoon I took the light rail "Frontrunner" to Provo to visit daughter Emily Taylor and family. We saw a BYU production of "Little Shop of Horrors," enjoyed some Improv Comedy, attended the Provo City Temple, and watched Andrew (#7) score in overtime in the Provo High School basketball gym. 

Sunday morning I was thrilled to attend the farewell talk of Elder Mark Taylor (friends Marian and George Taylor's son, with two of his many cousins: elder on right served in Kenya). They are the other Taylor family in their Provo ward. Mark should now be in the Provo Mission Training Center before serving in Guayaquil, Ecuador West Mission, but his training will be remote, thanks to the Coronavirus

Mark's grandparents are Hank and Colette (the "dwarf") Taylor, my friends in Palo Alto Foothills ward. Tim Schmalbeck (the "giant"), their foster son, came with his family to the farewell. So nice to see Tim, his wife and 6 kids again!

I visited with my Spain missionary friends the Zimmermans who drove me back up to Salt Lake to spend the night with the Carlstons before returning to California on Monday. I hope I don't get tired of my steady diet of reading, writing, walking and cooking, limited by corona virus restrictions. At least the weather is great in this beautiful part of the world. I know all will be well.

California has recently lost a favorite star. Our world is filled with wonderful people who are great role models. May we all be such examples of service, dedication, and hope for others, especially for our young people. We are also worried about actor Tom Hanks (who played Fred Rogers, the wonderful TV friend of children) and his wife who have the virus.

Amazing Los Angeles Lakers basketball star, Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter were killed along with 7 others in a helicopter crash January 26, 2020, are remembered with many murals, memorial service and many tears.