Rocklands Hummingbird Sanctuary -Jamaica

This Monday, Feb. 28th - Preparation Day three of the senior couples, four missionaries, and Sister Russells daughter Linda and son Brandon (former Jamaican Missionary) visited the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary just outside of Montego Bay. It was really fun - several of us had birds land on our fingers and eat the sugar water from the small bottles that they gave us. Pictured are Elder Smith, Elder Russell and Elders Fangulua (Ocho Rois) and Elder Randel (MoBay). We had lunch at a great Chinese buffet, then afterward went to Wendy's for Frosty's - did you know they have oreo, m&m, cookie dough, ones now! yummy!

last of the branch activity!

Here Bro. and Sis. Richardson did a cute dance to something about Airplanes - just want you to see the shirt that she cut up to make a baby sleeper!! The food was yummy! Pot of spaghetti, buttered bread, and pepperoni, cheese, ham/pineapple and supreme pizza's.

More branch activity

Sis. Richardson's showed some of her drawings and pictures, also a baby sleeper and hat she had sewn out of one of her husbands old shirts! Then Paul did a funny skit about reading the Book of Mormon, having to hide from his mother to do it...too true.
Here are the only two Primary children that came - they led us all in "Following the Prophet" - it was fun.

Friday Branch Activity - Talent Show

We had a fun branch activity last evening - Young Men in charge. The first picture is of the Richardson's - he is the YM President and she is the YW President. They will be married a year in May and are trying to get to the temple on their anniversary..they are expecting their first child in July. Next is Elder Fangulua playing his guitar and singing an original song: "Choices" - Elder Peterson was the 'opening' act - going over to the light switches and flashing them on and off as he introduced Elder Fangulua!! that was fun! Then the 1st C Elder Grant, gave a poem - The Touch of the Master's Hand - great. Elder Smith and I learned from the Children's Songbook - how to sign "Love One Another" - it is pretty simple and we enjoyed doing it.

English - Spanish Battle site 1658

This is the Rio Nuevo Battle Site Historical Park - near Ocho Rios. We went there on Monday, Feb. 21st - The English beat the Spanish and took over Jamaica because of this battle! There were a few artifacts in the small museum that were interesting. The Spanish fort consisted of many young Mexican boys - some who never held a gun before. The Spanish fled to Cuba and the English developed the island.

My Dad's Mission Companion

Hello world,
On Sunday, February 20th, we had the Caribbean Area Auditor from the Dominican Republic come to Ocho Rios - an Elder and Sister Snow, from Roosevelt, Utah. His father Alva Snow, was one of my Dad's, Glenn Smith - mission companions in the Eastern States Mission, 1941-43. What a small world! By the way, the Branch passed the audit with flying colors!! Elder Snow was an accountant and served a Spanish speaking mission when young - Sister Snow is struggling with Spanish - but has mastered it enough to say prayers! They travel to the whole area and have to change what side of the road they drive on, their currency, etc. Their kids told them to enjoy because at home (Roosevelt) they were shoveling 8 inches of snow!!
Elder Snow remembered Gramps (my Dad) coming to Roosevelt to deer hunt with his dad. He even remember that famous Deseret News picture of the 5 hunters, 5 big bucks, opening day!! Uncle Harold was one of the five, Dad, Gene Gibb, Alva Snow and I don't know the other one - I told Elder Snow that I have a copy of that picture and he wants one - in a year and a half when I get home. They just began their mission in Janaury but are out for 18 months so we should be home around the same time....The Church is such a 'small world' - go halfway around the globe and run into a person who knows your family!! Always mind what you are doing - ala Granny!

More Game Night

Here is a serious Dominoes game - the whole room of games - and a good Scrabble Game by two of my Seminary students... it was a fun evening - especially the donuts!

Branch Game Night

We had a fun Friday Night Activity - Branch game night! The Elders Quorum was in charge and here are the Primary kids on the stairs with their donuts and punch, the cirlce of people playing "Go Fish", plus the Richardson's - a young couple who are taking the Temple Preparation class.

Caramel Shortbread Squares

Hi - who ever is interested, I have had a request for the recipe for the stripped cookie bars and I'll put it here (because I can't figure out how to post on the family recipe site!) 2/3 cup butter, softened - 1/4 cup white sugar, 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup backed light brown sugar, 2 Tbl. light corn syrup, 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1 1/4 cups mile chocolate chips (I use the whole 2 cups)

Preheat oven to 350 - 175 C
In a medium bowl, mix together 2/3 cup butter, white sugar, and flour until evenly crumbly. Press into a 9-inch square baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

In a 2-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Pour over baked crust (warm or cold). Cool until it begins to firm.

Place Chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, then stir and continue to heat and stir at 20 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over the caramel layer and spread evenly to cover completely. Chill. Cut into 1 inch squares. These need to be small because they are so rich.
Enjoy!

three layered cookie bars

Before they take away my Betty Crocker Award I won in high school - I thought I would share a picture of these yummy three layered bars - shortcake, caramel, chocolate! I also made three puddings and layered them in glass cups - vanilla, butterscotch and chocolate - turned out very good. Thought I would add a picture taken from our patio of the Ocho Rios harbor - pretty huh?

Noni Cruise Ship

We had a fun day on Tuesday - the cruise ship in dock was full of Taithan (sp) Noni people! We first met these Japanese Young Men - all returned missionaires - they saw our name tags and came up to us! Then we met Bro. Johnson - from Orem - he told us the whole ship was Noni representatives - they had to sign up a year ago and then earn the right to come on the boat. I took a picture of him with Elder Smith. His parents served a mission here in Jamaica 19 years ago! They served in the south at Mae Pen - but he was happy to come and see the island. We then drove across town to the craft market that a member of our branch has a shop in...and met Sister Johnson - so Elder Smith took a picture of me with her... but then her husband came and he wasn't the same Bro. Johnson we had met earlier. He is an attorney and they are from Pleasant Grove - - it was such fun to meet and talk to these Saints - the Church is truly WORLDWIDE!! Nice to hear Utah accents.

Black Forest Cake disaster!

So for dinner yesterday I tried to make this Black Forest Cake - it didn't work out very well - I don't have round pans, the square ones didn't cook very even, the whipping cream turned into butter, and as you can see - the whole top layer split and slid off!! It tasted great! so I will never enter a cake baking contest!!

Valentine's in Primary

In Primary on Sunday we made paper Valentine's for our families and frosted cookies! JuShane was confirmed and received his new scriptures! I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it makes people so much happier!!

critters

So - outside our door we found this huge slug - I took a picture then decided to get the ruler so you can see how large it is! Then our little 'house' lizard that is usually on the wall and ceiling eating bugs - was on the microwave - Elder Smith went to get him off only to have the lizard jump and land on Elder Smith's tie!! Both of them jumped - the lizard to the wall where he hid above the kitchen curtains and watched me fix dinner.

critters

chocolate plant

This is a 'chocolate' plant seed pod - the small seeds inside are sweet and when dried and smashed taste like chocolate! the sign at the gas station made me smile - did you know lights could be naked?

Senior Preparation Day

We had a great time today with the senior missionaries couples that came from Kingston to Ochie - we went to Green Grotto, the caves - swung on vines by the roadside and had lunch at Evitas - great people and great fun!

Baptism and Blessing

This is JuShane, a 10 year old Primary boy, who was baptized by his Uncle on Sunday, Feb. 6th ... in the swimming pool at our apt. complex. This is his family that were there. Sister Thomas and her one year old daughter and one month old daughter- Elder Smith blessed the baby on Sunday February 6th, 2011.