Pineapple Express?

Pineapple Express?  Sounds like a fun ride in a tropical theme park.  Two weeks ago I found out otherwise!  We experienced our first 'atmospheric River', the actual description for what constitutes the pineapple express.  The torrential rains came from the warm confines of Hawaii and made landfall here.  Below is our local 'Big Creek' as it normally looks:

Now I'll show you what it looked like after 8" of rain fell in about five hours.  No really, it's the same creek.

I don't remember ever seeing rain coming down that hard. And soon the streets of our sweet Groveland were running brown, with poor merchants scrambling to save what they could.

Large sinkholes appeared on several highways and many have been closed to travel 'indefinitely'.  The greatest blessing during this storm was that the dam at the base of 'the grade' held firm.  Had that broken, with all the other road closures, we're not sure how we would have been able to get down the mountain.


But the waters receded, and crews have been a daily presence cleaning debris and mud from culverts and ditches. And life, gratefully, proceeds here in Groveland!

Here's a happier thought.  The Pine Cone performers are making progress toward their May performances.  Look at these wonderful puppets Shirley Horn is creating for a novelty number:

She's an amazing talent.  Every one is completely different.

By the way, she's standing in the EV Free Church where we are now practicing after the community center flooded.

Here's Fred's, made with two socks to accommodate his eight eyes, the puppet's, not Fred's!  Love it.











And here is our President Shirley Brasesco with her 'friend'.  I am becoming so fond of all these people.   Shirley has a great voice .... and she's a tenor.

I've decided to try to bring a gospel truth into conversations whenever possible.
Dennis is easy to talk religion with.  He's on the staff of the Catholic Church in Merced.


We share a common concern for the humanity of people toward one another and a love of the Savior.  Many different beliefs, to be sure, but an underlying realization of the importance of religious freedom and acceptance of all people.










The other day I had a brief time to talk with Sandra (on the left below).  She's the backbone of the Altos, but she (and her mother) are moving to Idaho in June where her  granddaughter was recently born at less than 2 lbs.   Arabelle is now up to 4 1/2 lbs, and Sandra is 

moving there to care for her.

It's such an emotional decision, but we talked about having faith in the Savior to move ahead one day at a time.  We've met some great, unselfish and Christlike people here.

By the way, you'll remember Barbara Klahn on the right, who provided the miracle connection that brought us our piano.

I took this picture at a fundraiser for the Little House where they asked me to be photographer.  I had a great quiet moment as I snapped these realizing how many good friends we now have here.

Linelle Marshall with her partner Bob.  She sings beautifully, plays violin and piano, helps conduct Pine Cone rehearsals, and volunteers all around town.   She says music is her life.  And I just love her.









Below are Denise, Paula and Luci - our 'bosses' at the Little House.  'Southside Connections' is the umbrella company that sponsors all the programs there.

The other day Denise surprised me by asking me about the big event in our church - getting a new prophet.  Fred and I had a chance to talk with her for a minute about how that comes about.   I also got to briefly talk with Luci about it and answer some questions about priesthood and Church leadership.

By the way, Paula actually has an LDS nephew that is on a mission!











On Easter morning Fred talked me into attending an inter-faith sunrise service with him at the Pine Mountain Lutheran church.  It was a very nice gathering of about 25.  And there again, it was nice to be greeted by so many people we knew.

A lovely prelude to the historic Conference that was about to convene.

Here was our little gathering at our chapel Sunday morning. (the rest watched from the comfort of their own homes!) We watched together and joined sixteen million other members in raising our hands to sustain a prophet of God.

What a thrilling Conference.  And just when we thought there could not be one more major announcement - we found we will have a temple in our own city!  Words cannot express what this day did to lift our spirits and strengthen our resolve to follow our Savior.

Well, here's a sweet picture from today to close.  Emma and Bailey, eager to help make Spring birds nests.  We also tried some with Chinese noodles and melted chocolate!  It worked great.

So from all of us in Groveland, we hope your Spring is blossoming and your spirits are high!  We love you all.