2010-02-24 Draper temple

We were set apart as ordinance workers this afternoon by President Egan. We will work on Wednesday evenings beginning on March 9. We'll serve until August when we plan to teach in China.

2011-02-23 We remember Grant

We've been sad as we remember Grant's death one year ago. While he died in utero on February 21 we consider February 23 as his birthday and the day he died. We are hopeful that through the power of the atonement and resurrection of Christ we will be able to meet him.

2011-02-22 Michael turns 40 something

We proud of Michael and all his accomplishments, his diligence, his hard work and his faithfulness to his family and his church.

2011-02-22 LaRue and Louise turn 80

LaRue and Louise turned 80 years old today. They nurtured me and my poor siblings after my mother's death in 1960. They brought us comfort, joy and recreation. In the Spring after my mother died I got an infection in my finger, and LaRue held my hand while the doctor cut off my fingernail.

2011-02-22 Earthquake in Christchurch

We were wandering around Christchurch a month ago. The locals were showing us where the earthquake damage hit them in September 2010 bragging that no one had died in the quake (except for a poor fellow who had a heart attack). The earthquake on Tuesday was an aftershock and killed over 100 folks. We watched a street fair in front of the cathedral in the central square, and we were sorry that we didn't walk up the stairs to the top of the spire which is now in ruins.

2011-02-16 How young is too young to drink Diet Coke?

Sometimes I wonder if Coke falls into the category of 'strong drinks are not for the belly' as prohibited by Section 89. I've had my share of diet Coke and I drank plenty of coke when I was a teenager. Any comments on the value or danger of Coke or diet Coke?

It is the 'real thing'
Things go better with Coke.
I'd like to buy the world a Coke. (basis for the song I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing)
Coke adds life.
Coke is it!
When you have a Coke you 'Open Happiness' and 'Twist The Cap To Refreshment'
And last of all - when you drink Coke 'Life Begins'

2011-02-14 Valentine's Day

Costco sent me an e-mail saying that if I ordered 3 dozen roses they would deliver them on Valentine's day, and I would get a big discount. I placed the order, knowing that Grandma likes flowers. Costco sent me an e-mail telling me that the order was in process, another e-mail saying the roses had been picked and shipped, another e-mail informing me that the roses were on their way with a FedEx tracking number, and then finally on Valentine's Day they sent a final e-mail telling me that no roses would be delivered, but they would give me back my money. So for Valentine's Day Grandma received some chocolates, and I prepared dinner (but since I do this nearly everyday it wasn't much of a present). The flowers arrived on Feb 15.

2011-02-09 What's in a name

Paula and Cleo want to change their names since they never really liked what their parents chose. Paula selected 'Phoebe' as her nom de guerre while Cleo chose 'Chloe' since this is what many people call her anyway. I never liked Grant Thomas. I still get mail addressed to Grant T. Heath. Thomas Grant Heath would have been better. Missy changed to Melissa when she entered BYU; Nan became Natalie at the same time. Kim Lee Young legally changed his name to Kimball L. Young - too much Chinese in the original. Cleo Myrlene Roylance became Myrlene because she thought Cleo was weird. Melanie has at times expressed some dislike for her name. Brian doesn't like 'Roylance' as a middle name (neither does his mom who would have preferred 'Thomas')

So what if we changed our culture to allow every one to pick their own name? I'd be Sean Thomas Connery since when I grew a beard I was often mistaken for him.

2011-02-05 Jazz game

Jack, Will, Benjamin, Joshua, Jonathan and Thomas join us for dinner at Chuck A Rama before the game. Then we watched the Utah Jazz lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2011-01 Australia/ New Zealand/ Fiji

We flew on January 9 to Cairns (pronounced 'cans') for a day of snorkeling, to Sydney to get on the cruise boat, to Melbourne, Hobart, the New Zealand fjords, Dunedin, Christchurch, Tauranga (Rotorua), and Auckland where we got off the boat. We flew to Fiji for a couple of days of sun and then home on January 30. The trip was fun overall, but there were a few stumbles and problems with the tour guides and with sunburn, old folks traveling with us, overeating, bus ride tours, and fatigue. Now we're glad to be home recovering from the change in time and the fatigue of travel.