Personal Discovery

I had some emails from MyHeritage.com telling me I had some discovery records.  Although I am not fond of the site, it had been awhile so I decided to go check it out.  As I looked through different records, I ended up at FamilySearch.org.  I was looking through my Mom's siblings one by one.

When I arrived on Aunt Lucy, I noticed that she had a child listed.  They don't list living children so I thought this was a mistake.  I went it and looked closer and to my shock, I discovered that y cousin, Joann, had passed away in March of this year.  No one had notified us to let us know this had happened.  Joann was 77 years old.

Patriotic views

Memorial Day, Flag Day and 4th of July

Nice thank you notes

I received this thank you note earlier this week:

Carol,
Thank you so much for the cute, inspiring book!  Thank you for the money and the kind words inside the book also!  You are very thoughtful!
I wanted to thank you for being such an amazing fourth grade teacher.  I didn't like to read before your class but after your class I loved to read!  Thank you for the animating the books you read to us. I know not that my love for books is because of you, so thank you for opening that incredible door for me. 
Thank you again for the sweet gift!
Karissa

That note means so much to me.  Reading and books are the key to being successful in my opinion so I am thrilled to know that I helped make a positive difference in her life!

McKay sent me this note:
Miss Snapp, thanks for my book and cash.  I really appreciate you thinking of me.  I have a lot of good memories from your class.

Joslynn wrote me a thank you note earlier as well:
Altamont has the best teachers.  Carol Snapp has always been one of my favorite teachers. Thank you for such a cute book and thank you for helping me become the woman I am today 💛💛

Jed wrote:
Thank you so much for the book and money.  You've always inspired me to pursue a quality education and I will never forget your positive example in my life.  I wish you well!

Again, what sweet messages!

Honoring a Special Lady

Honoring a special teacher as she retires. Thanks for your countless hours of service, Paula Pierce Jenkins! You have helped to shape the lives of many children. May you only find happiness , joy and success as you press forward in this new chapter of your life. We love and honor you! Wishing you the very best!

Activity Day

We learned about and discussed Joseph Smith and the First Vision today.  He learned by reading in the Bible James 1:5, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  He wanted an answer so decided to ask God.

We, too, can ask whenever we need an answer.  Heavenly Father will answer us which way He feels is best for us.

Going to church

Blue Moon

I don't know how to take decent photos of the night sky with my cell phone.  The moon was a full moon - in fact it was a blue moon.  As it rose in the sky, it was enormous and so beautiful.

These two images were taken from the internet....

Great Saturday: Matilda

I got a text asking me if I wanted to go on the "faculty field trip."  

Of course, so here I am ready to go!

 Here we all are in the Hale Theater before the production began.

We already had gone to the Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner.  Yum - so much food!

My career

Recent reads

Some of the books that I have read in the last couple of months:

Watch Your Back by Clair Poulson

When local radio personality Bronson Melville is accused of murder, the crime appears to be one of passion. The case should be open and shut. But as Detective Gage Tipton soon discovers, this homicide is just one piece in a diabolical puzzle that will test his instincts to their limit. As Gage struggles to uncover the evidence that will bring down the suspect once and for all, he finds his efforts frustrated at every turn by the ruthless interference of Melville's big-shot attorney.

When a second body is discovered, the shocking identity of the victim strikes dangerously close to home, and Gage's investigation gets personal. With his theories turned upside down, Gage is back to the drawing board— but this time, with the assistance of a beautiful woman as intent on finding the truth as he is. Time is running out as Gage tracks the twisted trail of a murderer who will not hesitate to kill again . . .

I usually love Clair Poulson's books, but this was not one of my favorites.  For whatever reason, I had a difficult time getting into this story and sustaining my desire to keep reading.

Sanctuary by Traci Hunter Abramson

Kristi Hartinger has come to terms with her life as a single, thirty-something woman. She was in love . . . once. But following her boyfriend's tragic death, no one else could capture her heart. And nothing else could fill that void, though the serenity of the ocean came close. Two years ago, Kristi left the craziness of her Wall Street career behind and embraced a simpler life on her family's private island off the coast of Maine. As a resident of the small beach community, she anticipates a quiet future until she comes face-to-face with her past.

Ace Samson is dead, or so the world believes. As a member of a secret organization known as the guardians, he was forced to fake his death years ago, leaving everything behind when he became an agent. So when he is selected to offer a potential new recruit a job with the organization, Ace braces himself: for the first time in more than a decade, he must face the woman he loved and left.
Kristi's world is rocked by Ace's sudden reappearance, and she's soon drawn into his world of danger and cover-up. But when Kristi herself becomes a target, Ace will do whatever it takes to protect the only woman he has ever loved.

I really enjoyed this book.  It kept my interest and was fun to read!

Mormon Girl: Incognito by Kari Iroz

Hilarious heroine Jacklyn Wyatt is back this time in a dicey Vegas adventure!Jacklyn Jack Wyatt is just your average Mormon girl—other than her brief stint with the FBI, her subsequent brush with death, and her dreamy boyfriend, Special Agent Damon Wade. But in the eight months since she helped save a kidnapping victim, Jack's life has returned to its mostly stagnant state. She's still trapped in a dead-end job, and even her relationship seems to be stuck in a rut. These days, adventures are few and far between.
So when Damon heads to Las Vegas on assignment, Jack sees the perfect opportunity to surprise her boyfriend and rekindle the spark in their relationship. But the surprise is on her: she has just landed herself in the middle of a high-stakes operation involving Russian criminals. Unwittingly drawn undercover once more, Jack is all too aware that the survival of Damon and his associates depends on the success of her charade. In the unfamiliar world of luxurious limos, exclusive nightclubs, and gambling, Jack must convince the high-rolling hustlers that she is a terrifying international arms dealer. If only she knew anything about poker. Or guns . . .

This actually is book 2 of a series and I didn't read book 1, but it refers back to some things that happened in the first book.  I liked this book.  It was just a delightful, enjoyable read.  It was a lot of fun.

Bloodline by Kathi Oram Peterson

France, 1371. The old Queen of France lies on her deathbed with a secret she will take to her grave: there is one true heir to the throne, one who would have the power to ally France and Scotland. But after her death, all that will be left are a few shreds of evidence revealing the stunning identity of her successor.
Flight attendant Skye Armstrong has heard the voice of warning before, and as she's returning home from London, she recognizes the feeling of dread that accompanies her sixth sense. Walking from the airport terminal to get to her car, she pauses in the middle of the road. Her hesitation gives a Good Samaritan the split second he needs to pull her out of the path of a speeding car, saving her life. But her misfortunes are just beginning. When she arrives home, she discovers that Auntie Marjorie has been kidnapped, and cryptic instructions have been left behind: Skye must retrieve the contents of a safe deposit box and deliver it to the captors . . . No police. Her feelings of dread return.
What Skye discovers in the bank box is baffling: a single page. The ancient document is certainly valuable, and with no time to lose, she goes to the rendezvous to discover the next step. A cell phone rings beneath a park bench. She answers the call, and on the screen is a picture of Auntie, unconscious. Now the kidnapper demands Skye find two more pages or her aunt will die.
What secrets are hidden within the illuminated pages, and who believes they are worth killing for? And what role does the Good Samaritan play in all of it?

I enjoyed this book.  A couple of things that have happened recently made the book more interesting. I have received the results of my blood test from ancestry.com and Skye is awaiting her results as the book begins.  Secondly, part off the story takes place in the Notre Dam Cathedral in France and as I was reading that part, Notre Dam Cathedral was on fire.  Both of those things brought an extra intrigue to the story,

Come Home

Activity Days Again

Making a gift for Mom on Mother's Day!