This Great Work

 One advantage of being an online branch is that little to no money is ever expended on organizational activities.  So, the entire budget can be spent flying the youth to Hong Kong for youth conference.  Youth from all over China (our branch+Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou branches), and from the English speaking branches in Hong Kong and Taiwan met up.  The girls were quite hesitant to go, but they had the very best time.  I am still amazed at how good this experience was for them.  Online church has been so very difficult for them.  (I will just say that I have been so grateful for Come, Follow Me to keep them engaged in the gospel this past year.)   Meeting and connecting to people in real life changed everything for them.     Tom and I also flew to Hong Kong with them, but then we went and did our own thing.  (Two reasons:  I didn't feel comfortable letting my girls fly to Hong Kong by themselves and *I* wanted to go t...

 I got a new grandbaby the other day.  I'm so happy for Cache and Taylor.   His name is Ira Dean.  There are Deans on Taylor's side of the family, but I'm claiming him as my Grandpa Bingham's! It cheers me so much to have this connection with him. My Grandpa, Dean Bingham, has been one of my most frequent unseen companions over the years.  He's helped me through so many rough spots. And I'm happy that so far he's been a pretty good sleeper for them. Big sister Harriet was born wide, wide awake and didn't want to miss anything, so sleep was hard to come by for all of them in her first year (and more). But I'm also sad.  Super sad to not be there doing this: And this: Missing them all so so so much. (photos by Amber Young) I did have a good cry the other day.  A good lungs-shaking-in-the-rib-cage kind of cry.  This is one of the hard parts.  If you see these cute grandbabies of mine, give them an extra hug and kiss from me.  I am than...