Experience the true pioneer spirit in California through
photography, painting, textiles, drawings, and more.
823 Sutter Street, Folsom, CA, 95630.
The Folsom History Museum has a wonderful exhibit now through May 9 titled "California Pioneer Spirit in Art" sponsored by the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation. Shenna Mealy, on the Art Exhibit Committee, says that it is well worth the $4 adults, Youth 12-17 $2, under 12 - free, to go there and take a look at the art that people from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have done depicting the pioneer spirit in California.
The exhibit includes painting, photos, textiles and sculptures done by 70 LDS artists living in the Sacramento Temple District. There are 3 categories of participants – 8-11 years, 12-18 years, adults. The Best of Show winner – Sarah Croft – was in the Youth category and will attend BYU in Provo this fall.
An eleven-year-old primary boy was watching the LDS news broadcast between sessions of the recent General Conference. When he saw a story about "Mormon Helping Hands," he said to his mom, "I want to be a Mormon Helping Hands!" It was just too cute.
Linda Kraude, Lodi Stake Primary President, ran with it. Within two days there was a photo shoot, a poster created by Lodi Stake Communications Director Kathy Marshall, and 16x20 prints made at Costco for each ward in the stake to use in their Sharing Time.
Sister Kraude said, "I want all the children in the stake to know that they are welcome to participate in the Renewing California Parks project, and that their service will be valued." She also expressed the belief that if the children are excited about being involved, their parents will want to come and work with them."
If anyone wants to use the poster, they are welcome. You can download it from HERE.
Holidays are a time of joy and celebration for most families. For those who have recently lost a loved one the onslaught of holiday cheer may seem too much to bear.
Andrea Gessell, 64, from Clements, just faced her second Christmas alone after her husband Glade died of a sudden heart attack on the racquetball court a year ago just before Christmas. Her faith in God, and the support of countless people, have helped her cope and be able to appreciate and enjoy the holidays.
As a young girl Gessell was already an accomplished horse woman and rode in many equestrian jumping competitions. She recalls learning to ride at age seven on the old family horse, "Lady."
"My Dad would saddle her up and I would coax Lady forward and hope she'd walk politely where I wanted her to go," Gessell recalls. "But often a mysterious invisible cue would change her mind and she'd gallop off. I quickly learned that my main job was to hold on tight and enjoy the ride!"
"Life can be that way. Sometimes it's all we can do to hold on tight and ride the ride that's ours. It's been that way for me since Glade died."
Gessell recalls the things that helped her most. One was Hospice of San Joaquin County. She learned that Hospice doesn't just help those who are dying, but is a tremendous aid to those who have lost a loved one. Under the direction of Carey Vanderkar, she joined an adult bereavement support group which met once a week for six weeks. Some of the women in the group had lost husbands. Others had lost a mother, father, or sister. There was a commonality in the group although each had a different experience with death.
Vanderkar gave them a story about how an airplane headed for Paris, France was rerouted to Holland. Nobody wanted to go to Holland--the passengers had their hearts set on Paris. But Holland wasn't a "bad" place to go. Just a different one . . . just as a widow's life will be very different now from what she had hoped it would be.
By the end of the six weeks, the nine ladies in the group had bonded like sisters and wanted to continue meeting. They gathered at a park, their homes, restaurants--and took a peek into each others' lives. "Because of the Holland story, we called ourselves the 'Dutch Girls,'" Gessell says.
The women are still friends. They all belong to different churches, but are united in faith and have a single purpose. They have learned that "You can't change the past, but you can take charge of the present and shape the future." The group still meets, and more women have joined them in the past year.
Gessell's faith in God was instrumental in helping her cope with death. Professional counselor Janice Harris Lord says that "Faith offers serenity, a quiet presence and healing wisdom.”
This proved to be true for Gessell. As she prayed that first night after her husband's death, she asked God to guide her heart. What could she do when everything hurt so badly? "The answer came," she says, "that I was to offer prayers of thanksgiving. This was the first thing that helped me hold on. I could be grateful."
She was grateful for friends who came to her in a time of need. Some came unexpectedly into her life. While in a feed store getting supplies for her horses, she met an old friend whom she hadn't seen for many years. She discovered that this friend's husband had died on the very same day that hers had. They were able to give comfort to one another.
Service in her church has also been a blessing. Gessell is President of the Lodi Stake Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She works and serves women in ten local congregations in Lodi, Galt, and foothill cities. "Serving others brings me a great sense of peace and brings me close to the Spirit. It brings love back into my life," she recounts.
Finally, Gessell is grateful for the things she knows how to do alone. "I am glad that I know how to hitch up a trailer and head for the dump. I'm glad I know how to care for the horses. I am grateful for Lady, that old mare who taught me how to hold on tight, with all my might, for the unpredictable ride back to the hitching rail."
Gessell now approaches holidays with joy in the blessings she does have, and gratitude for "the 42 years I had with a wonderful husband."
Picture: Andrea Gessell with her horse Daphne. Caring for her beloved horses has helped give her life meaning and helps her relive fond memories of life with husband Glade.
TECH TALK - PRESENTATION AND Q&A WITH JOEL DEHLIN, LDS CHURCH CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICE
Thursday, March 4, 2010 7:00 p.m. Palo Alto Ward Building 3865 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto 94303
Join LDS Church technology leaders Joel Dehlin (CIO) and John Edwards (Director of Emerging Technologies) as they discuss what the LDS Church is doing through technology and social media, and how you can get involved. A 60-minute presentation will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A.
All adult Church members in the Bay Area are invited to attend. Please contact Derek Andersen (PA1) at 650-703-3807 with questions.
The BYUMS/LDSBA are publicizing their April "Networking Luncheon" presentation by Dr. Gary Lawrence, author of "How Americans View Mormonism." A detailed flyer is linked here.
Date: Tuesday, April 14 Time: 11:45 am to 1:00 pm Location: Capitol City Hotel, 2600 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento Cost: $20 online by April 13. $25 at the luncheon
Register online at http://ms.byu.edu/sacramento by finding the event on our chapter calendar. Please invite your friends to attend.
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