Sweet Caroline

Today I'm in Arizona and missing sweet Caroline on her birthday. I'm grateful for this little angel in my life. I love her sparkle, shine and spunk. She is so much like her Mama Missy - smart, capable and beautiful. I can't wait to get home and celebrate with her.

Happy Birthday Caroline!
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Fancy Francie

Our sweet little Francesca celebrated her birthday in grand style. She met her "Daddy-O" for lunch and rode the carousel in Bryant Park. She looked so "Fancy" that many people passing by stopped to smile and comment. They could see she had a special sparkle and was celebrating a special day.
Francie loves to sing and has a beautiful voice. We celebrated that evening at the broadway play, Annie.
Love you so much!!! Happy Birthday.








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Location:Manhattan

Morning Run

A great joy of my life is a morning run. Getting out the door is often difficult but the rewards never disappoint. I love to feel my heart pumping, my lungs expanding, my body working and give thanks to be alive.

I love to see the sun rise and feel fresh air on my skin. I love to watch clouds moving through the sky, changing seasons and weather, relish rain on my face, wind pushing me along, leaves falling, feet crunching through piles, snowstorms and fresh tracks-the pure white sparkling like diamonds-All the beauties of the earth just outside the door!

Running bestows clarity, comfort and peace of mind. I become stronger, happier and more productive. The struggle builds self-reliance and confidence and reminds me of my mortality.

Many times I pray as I go and have received precious whispered answers and guidance. I love to sit on the bench after running past the zoo and look out across the Salt Lake Valley. This is the Place Monument is across the way and I always feel grateful for my life here. I say a little prayer, ponder a minute and run downhill toward home.

I treasure many happy memories running my favorite routes from home and wonderful places throughout the world. I've run with friends and family but these days my runs are usually solo.

Even though my pace has slowed, I'm grateful I'm still able after all these years!




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Location:Central Park

Mama Missy

Happy Happy Birthday to sweet little Melissa, my honeybee.  

She is beautiful, strong, determined, talented, competitive, capable, hard-working, smart, and diligent.
I am so proud of all she has accomplished.
 I'm grateful for her strong will and for her love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Melissa has been greatly blessed with a sweet little family and I love her new nick-name:

Mama Missy -   a sweet wife and mother!

  I know this will be another wonderful year for the Hardy Family. 

Small and Simple Things

Dave and the Lopez-Canales Family - Baptism October 5, 2012

Two months ago while we were serving in the Cannon Branch, Dave and the ward mission leader, Carlos Sanchez made an emergency trip to the Supermercado de Las Americas to purchase a cake for a baptism.  There were so many in attendance that the cake we brought would not feed everyone.  While they were waiting in line, the woman ahead of them was counting coins to pay her bill. The store was ready to close and the cashier was impatient; it seemed as if she did not have enough money.    Dave quietly told the cashier he would take care of her entire bill.  When she realized what had happened, she thanked him and thanked him and noticed his missionary tag.  She said she had seen the missionaries and had talked to them but had moved and lost contact.  Carlos Sanchez got her address and said the missionaries would contact her.

 We were released from our calling as missionaries a few weeks later and were surprised to receive a call this week;  Sandra Canales wanted Dave, (the white-haired missionary) to baptize her.  She told them she had met him at the Supermercado and that he had been so kind and inspired her to learn more about the Church. It was such a sweet experience last night as Sandra and then her daughter entered the waters of baptism.

Even though our mission has ended, the blessings keep coming. Last night was a sweet and tender mercy and we rejoiced to meet again with the sweet people of the Cannon 6th Branch.  We were also reminded that the Lord has a plan and that through "small and simple" things he accomplishes His work.