Lian Zhong Yi a.k.a. Christopher

Ya, so two thumbs up and another big sigh because Chris is well again. No fever and is back to enjoying his trip to China. He will be home Tuesday!!

is very grateful!!

Federer Homestead Book - Entry #9

This post is to once again honor Uncle Marion. As I mentioned before, he was killed in World War II. He was only 25 years old.

Can look at this picture without smiling?! What a cute toddler.

This is another picture I just love. Grandma looks so happy with her two oldest sons beside her. Uncle Marion has his arm lovingly around Grandma and is also holding onto Uncle Clarence's arm.

Marion George Federer
August 18, 1920 ~ February 25, 1945

This picture is of Sgt. J.M. Brown. He had the unpleasant assignment of telling Grandma and Grandpa that Uncle Marion had been killed.

Originally Uncle Marion was buried in Holland but Grandma and Grandpa decided later to bring his body home. He was honored with a military service and the traditional 21 gun salute. I have many other stories I will share about Uncle Marion in the Homestead Book. He will always be our hero.

Quote for the week

A woman was asked by a coworker,
'What is it like to be a Christian?'

The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Next, He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'

Chris - H1N1??

I hope that Chris does not have the swine flu. He has been sick for several days but is feeling better. Please add him to your prayers so he can enjoy the rest of his China experience!

Swine Flu....

• fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
• cough
• runny nose or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme

So I have all of these… I was in denial about it until I had chills that led to a raging fever. I’ve also had pretty bad body aches.

I would go to the trade show today but they take your temperature and if so you get quarantined.

Oct 25 ’09

At least 10,000 different garden gnomes.

Yikes!

Yum!

I hope you feel better soon Christopher!!

80 Over 80

I just had to mention that an on-line Magazine called Slate has honored President Monson as the most influential octogenarian for 2009.

The online current affairs magazine ranked the 82-year-old President Monson No. 1 on its roster of "80 over 80," assembled by Slate in order of power and importance and released this week.

From the magazine:

Welcome to the "80 Over 80," Slate's annual list of the nation's silver lions: fourscore elder statesmen, business leaders, cultural icons, and notorious newsmakers who have each remained influential into their ninth decade and beyond. As always, we've ranked these still-twinkling stars according to their power and importance, with extra credit given for energetic achievements post-80 and for being really, really, really old.

In addition to guiding more than 13 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson now leads Slate.com's annual list of the nation's most powerful octogenarians.

President Monson was ranked ahead of former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and "60 Minutes" personality Andy Rooney.

Ranked second behind President Monson was U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, 89. Stevens ranked first on the list last year, when President Monson wasn't ranked at all.

Rounding out the top five were Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, 85; journalist/media personality Barbara Walters, 80; and former MIT professor and linguist Noam Chomsky, 80.

Also making the list at No. 49 was Earl Holding, the 82-year-old Salt Lake City native who owns Sinclair Oil (and continues to serve as its president and CEO), Snowbasin ski resort near Ogden and the Grand America and Little America hotels in Salt Lake City.

From a talk given by Elder Holland:

"Over the course of his many callings in the Church, President Thomas S. Monson has moved from office to office, location to location. With every move he has carefully taken with him a particular painting. He has had it since he was a bishop in the 1950s. He took it with him when he presided over the Canadian Mission, headquartered in Toronto. It now hangs in the office he occupies as President of the Church. The painting is a striking image of the Lord Jesus Christ by famed artist Heinrich Hofmann.

The painting is more than a decoration for the office wall. It is more than a reminder of who is the “chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is more than a declaration that the man called to be President of the Church is expected to be chief among the living witnesses of the Savior. The painting represents an ideal—the Master after whom Thomas Monson has modeled his life. “I love that painting,” President Monson said as he gazed at it yet again. “I feel strength in having it near me. Look at the kindness in those eyes. Look at the warmth of expression. When facing difficult situations, I often look at it and ask myself, ‘What would He do?’ Then I have tried to respond accordingly.”

Through his many years of service, President Monson has kept the pledge he made on October 4, 1963, the day he was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Speaking in the Tabernacle for the first time as a General Authority, he said:

“My sincere prayer today, President McKay, is that I might always obey you and these, my brethren. I pledge my life, all that I may have. I will strive to the utmost of my ability to be what you would want me to be. I am grateful for the words of Jesus Christ, our Savior, when he said:

“ ‘I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him. …’ (Rev. 3:20.)

“I earnestly pray, my brothers and sisters, that my life might merit this promise from our Savior.”

In leading the Church now, perhaps President Monson might say to all of us what he said to the sisters at the September 2007 general Relief Society meeting: “Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks. Then the performance of your tasks will be no miracle, but you will be the miracle.” For those who might protest their lack of qualification or their inadequacy, he might add what he taught in the April 1996 general conference: “Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” It is obvious to all who know him that the Lord has qualified President Thomas S. Monson for his present call.

In 1985, the year he was called to the First Presidency, he gave to family members his personal memoirs. In that volume he wrote: “Looking back on my life, I acknowledge readily the guiding influence of a loving Heavenly Father. I testify that His watchful care and promised blessings have been welcome gifts to me. His words have lived in my life: ‘I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.’ (D&C 84:88)."

After expressing gratitude for his beloved Frances and their children and grandchildren, he closed, “May I always be found ‘on the Lord’s errand.’ ”

That prayerful hope, expressed 23 years ago, has become a certainty now. Thomas Spencer Monson, by divine call, will spend the rest of his life “going about doing good,” as the Savior he loves so much did before him. He will walk in His footsteps, and he will do so with the inspiration of a favorite painting that will guide every day of that sacred ministry."

I feel blessed to be led by a living prophet~an inspired man who speaks for the Lord, as did Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, Nephi, Mormon, and other prophets of the scriptures.

Food Critic Christopher

Food is our common ground, a universal experience.

~ James A. Beard

Food critic: A writer who analyzes food or restaurants and then publishes the results of their findings.

Perfect little dumplings ... as Stu said, " Like little pillows." And some watermelon juice.

Beef noodles ... the noodles are shaved with a knife. A little vinegar makes them even better.

This and the mint-lime Mentos are things to avoid!

This is what a real Guava looks like. Bitter outside and sweet at the center with the seeds.

So my self-taught food critic, continues his sweep of all the best restaurants in GuangZhou, China! Looks like fun to me!

Federer Homestead Book - Entry # 8

Clarence Russell Federer
with his brother Marion George

Uncle Clarence was born June 22, 1918, about two years after Grandma and Grandpa's first born son, Ernest passed away. Imagine the joy they felt to welcome a healthy baby boy that would go on to live a long life. I am sure that he always held a special place in their hearts. Grandpa chose his name, one that he had always liked.

I absolutely love all these old pictures. Clarence and his new bride Helen Ames. They were married December 23, 1939.

My Mom Nelle and Helen are sisters. Aunt Helen drove a school bus for many years. She got us safely to school and was so kind. She always gave us treats for special occasions and would sing along with us on our way to town. She came to our home first and we were the last ones dropped off. It took us nearly an hour everyday to get to school. Rain, wind or snow she delivered us to town and back home without ever having an accident.

Uncle Clarence with his little family, Janet, Jerry, Cathy and Aunt Helen.

Uncle Clarence and Aunt Helen lived nearby to where I grew up. They also work very hard on their farm. Uncle Clarence was a carpenter and help build many buildings around Cheyenne. He served for a time in the military. I remember he was very tall and had a dry sense of humor. Aunt Kay called him Fed and he called her Red!

Uncle Clarence passed away on November 18, 1983. Aunt Helen passed away October 13, 2004.

Chris/China Trip

Chris arrived safely in China. Big sigh!!

I accidentally washed his passport awhile back. We were worried because it looks a bit hammered. When we went to the airport to welcome Aaron home from Mexico, Chris asked the TSA agents if it would pass and they said it would be fine. But, when he checked in at the Salt Lake airport last week the TSA agents said they didn't think the China agents would accept his passport! Good grief.

So this is the follow-up:

So I finally touched down in China and the thought on my mind is “They might not accept your passport…” I get in the long line and I’ve had about 3 hours of sleep in 24 hours.

I get to the booth with the security guards and they are all wearing masks because they are afraid of the H1N1 flu. I show them my passport and of course it sets off some red flags. I get passed around to a middle manager then to another guy and to another. So finally after three people look at it they let me in.

Of course he is having a great time. He LOVES the food!

Oct 19 ’09


First meal in GuangZhou China. I just ate a 10/10 (ten out of ten) meal at the Beliago. It's a Taiwanese restaurant. Twice cooked pork, sausage, dumplings, cabbage and rice. Then for desert was shaved ice and mango. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I might not come back…

China does not allow any social media. So no Facebook, Youtube, Tumblr, ect… I had to download a VPN proxy so I can post stuff here on a US ip address. It really is China.

Oct 17 ’09

Well I went to the GuangZhou branch today. We had people from Guatemala, Spain, Nigeria, England, Italy, local Chinese, Japan, and Korea… It really is an international branch of the LDS Church. We had about 100 people attend.

Quote for the Week

"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." (Mosiah 4:27)

A few weeks ago I was minding my own business while serving during my shift at the Mount Timpanogos Temple. The shift coordinator, Sister Whatcott told me that President Garrett, a counselor in the temple presidency wanted to talk to me. I nervously went to his office. Why do we always assume we have done something wrong?! President Garrett asked me how things were going at home and I said, couldn't be better. He said, good and would you be willing to serve for 18 months as a shift coordinator. Oh boy, I have great respect for our coordinators and know that it's a BIG job. But I know when your helping your happy, so I said yes. He then told me to pray about who I would like for an assistant. I did pray and told them my choice. She had to decline because of a family problem. I understood and started the process again. Soon after I could not get my dear friend Susan's name out of my thoughts. I pushed it aside because she had only been home a few days from her mission to Ecuador. All day long I fought this prompting. I finally gave in and told two of the the temple matrons my decision. They know Susan and were thrilled. When they asked Susan she readily accepted and she was so excited we would be serving together.

A friend of Susan's told her that coming home from her mission was like putting your saddle on a different horse and that she would continue riding at her usual pace. Susan is much like this beautiful Arabian. She loves to serve, always cheerfully and with grace.

I am more like this pony, a little clumsy and continually running faster to keep up with her. I was just so grateful she was willing to take this ride with me. I told Susan I was so happy to serve but apprehensive about all the new things we would need to learn. She reassured me by saying, Eileen this is not our first rodeo! Susan and I are a good team, everyone wants Susan on their team!!

Dora's ~
Marsha Whatcott, Pam Wright, me and Susan Savage

Susan told me that the Spanish name for coordinator is coordinadora and I shortened that to Dora! We have had several days of training. We have learned about rainbow pages, lines, Excel, and lots of other details. Marsha and Pam, the former coordinators have been so patient and kind. They have been amazing examples to us!!

Our first official day as Dora's was this past Tuesday, October 13. We had a wonderful day. Susan was able to use her newly acquired second language! I was so focused on the tasks at hand that I forgot to take a lunch break. Certainly I can miss a meal but you need a little something to make it through the day. Susan was kind enough to cut her lunch short so I could grab a quick bite! That's my assistant Dora for you!

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."
(Doctrine and Covenants 123:17)

Federer Homestead Book - Entry #7

The next few posts will feature Grandma and Grandpa Federer's children.

Their first born son was Ernest Cecil Federer.

I mentioned in a previous post that little Ernest died of "crib death." It is called SIDS now (sudden infant death syndrome—an unexplained death of a normally healthy infant less than one year old.

I am sure that in time Grandma was blessed with peace and comfort because of her faith.

Joseph Fielding Smith’s Doctrines of Salvation, in the section on exaltation teaches that: “Children who die in childhood will not be deprived of any blessing. When they grow, after the resurrection, to the full maturity of the spirit, they will be entitled to all the blessings which they would have been entitled to had they been privileged to tarry here and receive them. The Lord has arranged for that, so that justice will be given to every soul.”

Grandma holding Ernest
September 7, 1916 ~ November 18, 1916

The little crib is empty now
The little clothes laid by

A mother's hope, a father's joy

In deaths cold arm doth lie

Go little pilgrim, to thy home

On yonder blissful shore.

We miss thee here, but soon we'll come
Where thou hast gone before.

Chris + China = Entrepreneur

Chris is off to China, AGAIN!

Guangzhou, China

He went to China last year to check out business opportunities, take advanced Chinese language classes at the Beijing University and attend the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

This trip he is going to the 106th China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou.

As fate would have it, one of his mission companions lives in that very city. How great he will staying with Stewart Dean and his family.

I will miss him terribly but am excited that he has this opportunity. I hope it's a great experience for him.

Hurry home son!!

Lee Boy

So we couldn't let this milestone birthday go by without a celebration. We enjoyed dinner with family to celebrate Lee's 60th birthday.

Who knows what will happen when we get together. Always lots of laughter for sure!! Tiffani and I just sat back and enjoyed the show!!

The iPhone at the dinner table ~ my grandparents would turn over in their graves! It is very entertaining.



Lee enjoying his stack of one dollar bills ~ one for every year of his life.

Can you turn sixty without some chocolate?!

I think not.

As I have said before,
you're never too old to make a wish.

Tim ~ Lee ~ Mike

Crazy brothers who have been through a lot together. They often speak their minds and analyze things to death. They worry about each other and I know they love each other.