As a Matter of Fact

He lives!  During this week and the first day of April, we focus on Easter and the resurrected Christ.

A phrase came to mind as I thought about Easter and the Resurrection ...  
“as a matter of fact: Telling somebody something interesting, new or important”
— idioms.thefreedictionary.com

As a matter of fact, this is interesting and important to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to other Christians who believe and have faith in the living Christ.  The fact that the Resurrection applies to everyone is one reason we share the good news of the gospel in the Michigan Detroit Mission.

"The universal resurrection became a reality with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (see Matt. 27:52–53). On the third day after His death and burial, Jesus came forth out of the tomb. He appeared to several men and women, and then to the assembled Apostles. Three of the Gospels describe this event.”  
— Resurrection, Dallin H. Oaks,
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 
April 2000 General Conference

I am inspired by the video, “Because of Him - Easter 2018”, found in the Media Library at lds.org

“In the span of one week, Jesus rewrote humanity’s story. This Holy Week, He can help you start to rewrite your own. This Easter, we invite you to follow the example and teachings of the Savior by loving others, loving God, and making changes that will lead to lasting joy and peace in your life.  Because of Jesus Christ, each of us has the chance to become something more.This Easter, how will you change #BECAUSEofHIM?”  — mormon.org

Sunrise over the Wasatch Mountains

Daylight-Saving Gain/Loss in MDM

As we face another time change (aka daylight savings) here in Detroit, 
I recall my post dated March 10, 2014:

My eyes were opened to a different way of looking at Daylight Saving Time.  Last Saturday night, as DST was to begin a few hours later, I complained to Kay that we were about to lose an hour.  Trying to give me a hard time, she explained that, on the contrary, we GAIN an hour when we “spring forward” and ADD one hour to our watches, and Verizon adds an hour to our iPhones automatically.  So it depends on how you look at it!  Oh boy – what a revelation.

On the other hand, imagine being born March 8th [March 10th in 2018] and losing an hour the next day, and not gaining it back until you started crawling six months later.  As a newborn, maybe a "morning person", would you want to lose an hour of glorious daylight at the dawn of day, so you could gain an hour of glaring sunshine in the evening when ready for bed?  That may put DST into perspective.  ( Is our family in Arizona lucky or what?)

Trying to illustrate my view Saturday night, I proposed, “What if DST began in the middle of our three-hour block of meetings at church, and suddenly we were compelled to leave after only one or two hours?”  I knew that would make it perfectly clear … but how would my wife handle the loss?

breakfast nook in children's playhouse (large toy house) for early-morning fun 

in back of a family's historic mansion, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House
1100 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Shores, northeast of Detroit, Michigan

Sister Kay Cannon imagining our little grandchildren
having fun like Josephine Ford may have had

Near the end of a fun, rainy day in MDM, 1 March 2018,
with plenty of daylight left, who needs more?
After our mission, we could enjoy living in a simple home like this playhouse.

Preparation Day Too

A daughter expressed an interest in seeing some details of our life in the mission field.  Today, being Monday, is a good time to start ... a stroll through preparation day.

An early p-day workout at our favorite fitness gym helped prepare us for the rigorous remainder of our mission.  Sister Cannon is the motivator here.

Shopping on the way home was preparation for MDM senior missionaries’ dinner tonight and ward activity tomorrow night. 

Healthy oatmeal raisin cookies (energy food) for me. 

Few people to meet on this holiday morning.

I see mostly convenience (fast) foods. 

“Create a family favorite.” (Knorr flavored rice)

— no, I’m thinkin’ Kay's yam apple casserole!

Here in Michigan it’s Coney Island Hot Dog

— unique, but not a family favorite of mine.

Wish I could hear classical vs. Walmart’s pop vocal, but an iPod would not help me talk to everyone.
Walking in a store feels more productive than walking on a treadmill.  As I’ve said before, I get a lot out of just looking at good food!

Now there’s personal business and laundry to do. 

Prepare ye!

We endured the long drive west to Novi and enjoyed dinner at the mission home with senior missionaries — 
I was in heaven (not just for the great food).  A smoother drive home was an OK way to end the day in the rain.
Oh, and add the final couples' skating – so inspiring and romantic!

National Coney Island – popular, high-profile restaurant
27027 Gratiot (pron. Grashut) Ave, Roseville MI 48066

shopping at the Franklin Cider Mill 4 November 2017
"family-friendly, one-of-a-kind living piece of history"
7450 Franklin Rd, Bloomfield Hills MI 48301

“Very Intentional”

A phrase I have heard several times lately: “very intentional”
– seems to be catching on.  Meaning ...
(Still a work in progress.)

grandson paying attention at Memory Grove, SLC

at RootsTech family history conference, SLC

MDM – a happy place – intentionally!

“No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting!”
— President Russell M. Nelson, "The Sabbath Is a Delight”

family leaving Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve
– a favorite site of very intentional conservancy –

In the Trenches

My idea for this post (a work in progress):

"in the trenches
adverb phrase
In the workplace; in contact with the people or problems in a situation; unprotected by distance or illusion"
(dictionary.com)

"Soldiers in the army ..."

Personal Storehouse Project – part of what we do in Metro Detroit

mittens to keep hands warm and show where we live on lower peninsula

Sister Kay Cannon with 8-year-old grandson on roof of Conference Center, SLC
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Motor City Hosts a Car Show

It would be great to see on our "prep. day".  Get senior tickets and save, they say.  Expect new products to be on display, and plenty of people to meet, by the way.

So ... let's get up and go to the show!  (NAIAS)

(family history – not representative of what we see in Detroit area)

A Calendar Year

The end is near.  Here in Michigan, it's only several hours away – the end of 2017.  Interesting twelve months for Kay and me, as you can see.

Kay at Aztec Ruins National Monument, northwest NM

grandson taking care of bunnies on Arza's camp chairs in the far West

Detroit Michigan Temple

Roseville Ward mission "cookie splits"

no problem with SE Michigan snow at Roseville Ward

Family gathering in front of Provo Utah Temple by our MTC