"OH, THAT I WERE AN ANGEL"

Ever since Elva Jean Carter Macpherson was born 26 July 1925 in Porterville, Utah she has brought joy to those who have known her! She was the youngest of 13 children! Although her father was strict and often impatient she could melt his heart in a second with a simple love note.  Often, she heard her father say of her: “I wish I had a whole acre lot full of girls like you.” She continued writing notes the rest of her life; Love letters during her courtship with her husband, Alex; notes of encouragement to her family &  notes included in birthday cards. Uplifting and loving others is what Jean did best! LOVE is what defined and still defines Our Dear Friend, Jean Macpherson!
Jean graduated from Ogden High School in 1943. she married Alexander Macpherson 20 June 1945 in the Salt Lake City Temple. The example of their happy and loving marriage is a tremendous gift to their posterity.  She worked in the LA & San Diego temples; served as a teacher in Sunday School, Primary, Mutual and Relief Society and served in Stake positions as president of Relief Society, Primary & Young Women's!
She devoted her life to her Church and her family. Her love and her life are written upon the hearts of all her posterity.
Jean enjoyed cooking & baking & sewing. She made many beautiful dresses for her five daughters, all of whom learned the art of sewing from her.
She was also an active member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers in the Bloomington, Utah Camp & loved serving with them.
Jean was preceded in death by her daughter, Jody, granddaughter Kayla, & her husband, Alex! She is survived by her four daughters: Pam (Barry) Costa of prescott, AZ; Susan (Jack) Boden of American Fork, UT; Julie Wheeler of Santa Ana CA  & Nancy Taylor of St. George; her 16 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren & all of us who have known & loved her.
Come join us in celebrating her life at the Bloomington LDS 3rd Ward chapel located at 3519 Manzanita Road in St. George, Utah.  Funeral services will be held there on Saturday April 2nd at 1 p.m. Viewing will be held the night prior, Friday April 1st, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Metcalfe Mortuary located at 288 West St. George Blvd., St George, UT.  Graveside services and interment will be held for family members and friends at the El Toro Memorial Park, 25751 Trabuco Road, Lake Forrest, California where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Alex.  Date to be determined 

MORE SCOUT NEWS

As if they haven't been busy enough all week, our Boy Scout Troop 383 provided the flag ceremony for our local precinct caucus this last Tuesday evening at the Tonaquint school. I don't know about you, but when I see the scouts presenting the colors, my heart just swells with love for them & for our country!!!

The scouts are in the middle of their fund raising efforts right now. Every dollar donated stays right here in this troop! $40-$100 is the average donation. This entitles the donor to have the scouts display a flag in their yards on major holidays; it also includes help with yard work, etc. If you have not been contacted & you wish to donate, please call Scoutmaster Aaron Carey at 435-229-0276 or Young Men President, Carson Hunt at 435-668-6994.

BLOOMINGTON ELEMENTARY SCIENCE FAIR WINNER

Gracie Green, daughter of Jake & Annie, won third place in a Science Fair at Bloomington Elementary! Gracie is in the 5th Grade & she demonstrated how to make Gluten Free Cookies!  Many people are allergic to gluten so this was very timely; Way to Go, Miss Gracie!!!

NEW BABY GIRL ARRIVES

Greg & Rosine Simpson's baby girl arrived  Friday, the 25th of March and Rosine was at the Easter Egg Hunt with her children the very next day!!! Our new little member's name is Gwen; Gwen Simpson! She joins her sisters, Ellie, Brooke & Jenna, & her brothers, Grayson & Abram. Welcome to our Ward family, Baby Girl!!

EASTER EGG HUNT

In spite of a cold cold wind, many Young families & others of the 7th ward congregated at the pavilion to participate in the Ward's annual Easter Egg Hunt.  The Young Women had 'hidden' plastic eggs in the bushes & trees & on the lawn around the pavilion & those little ones made short work of finding them. Donuts, juice & fresh fruit were served

CUB SCOUT PINEWOOD DERBY

The boys that participated in the Pinewood Derby on Saturday, March 19th,  were: Garrett and Gavin Bishop, Paris Lamb, Beau Broadbent, Carter and Hunter Nelson and a fairly new Cub Scout,  Cole Schnaubelt.  Hunter Nelson, son of Nikki & Andrew Nelson won Primary President's Favorite Pick and his twin brother, Carter Nelson, won Best Theme Car.  Congratulations to All who participated!

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT

There are 5 YM who have been working hard on their Eagle Scout projects. Michael Mullins, Guy Ludlow, Noah Sato, Lucas Ashton and Max MacDonald. They all helped or are helping develop a trail at the Historical St. George Sandstone Quarry. (Many ward members have been out on trail helping as well.)

The trail was built as a cooperative effort of the Dixie Encampment Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, the City of St. George and local businesses along with local scouts from Boy Scout Troop 383. They constructed the two-pillared entry, numerous informative plaques, a stone monument and the trail itself, which is where the scouts put in their efforts. 

The quarry site was an important location where blocks of sandstone were chiseled out of the hillside and used to construct numerous local buildings of significant importance such as the Tabernacle, the St. George Temple, the original courthouse and numerous other buildings in St. George. 

Dedication of the trail was March 19th and it was covered by St. George News as well as ABC4 news. Here is a link to the article:  http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/new-trail-takes-hikers-to-pioneer-quarry  Our scout troop provided the Flag Ceremony at the Dedication.

RELIEF SOCIETY BIRTHDAY DINNER

 Wednesday, 23 March, Relief Society sisters of the  BL 3rd ward celebrated the 174th birthday of the Relief Society Organization.  A great feast of chicken salad croissant sandwiches and wonderful fresh fruit of all kinds was enjoyed, along with tasty chocolate & vanilla cake for dessert
Our seemingly strange theme for our celebration was “PURSES”.  Pat Chappell gave a wonderful presentation on the content of our Purses vs the content of our lives.   When you get a new purse or clean out your purse everything is so neat and organized, then as you go through your life you fill it with stuff, good stuff, but sometimes so much stuff that you can't find what you need or you don't have room for things that you need.  
Sometimes we fill our lives with so much good that there is no room for the important things in life.
Do our purses reflect who we really are?  Do we need to de-clutter & Spring Clean our lives?
What are some important things we can do to de-clutter our lives?
·  De-stress & figure out how to simplify our lives. (learn to say no)
·   Find the higher spiritual plane
·  Simplify our relationships w/ friends & family
·  Expect less
Do we spend more time planning and executing a lavish Sunday dinner for family members than we do studying the scriptures that day? Do we value a perfectly clean home over spending time teaching and loving our children? The story of Mary and Martha, observes Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “reminds every Martha, male and female, that we should not be so occupied with what is routine and temporal that we fail to cherish the opportunities that are unique and spiritual.” (Ensign, Nov. 1985, p. 61.
In Luke 10:42, Jesus speaks of one thing being needful: “And Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” What in our own lives have we chosen that is good, lasting, and eternal? Have we separated the trivial from the important? Do we really understand the differences between “nice to know,” “want to know,” and “need to know”? In an age when information virtually explodes around us, are we developing the skills to sort out what we will choose to take into our hearts and minds, and what we will discard? Have we developed an eternal perspective so that “the good part” is clearly visible now?

Two tables were set up in the Relief Soceity
Room showing articles that could/should be in our 72 hour kits. (see bottom photos)

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RETURNED MISSIONARIES - THE MIKESELLS

L. Vaun and Renee Mikesell served a mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission from September 2014 to February 2016.  The DRC is a French speaking country.  Vaun served as the mission medical doctor and Renee served as the mission financial missionary.  The people are accepting the gospel in great numbers and they are striving to learn and live the gospel culture.  
There is great anticipation for the completion of the Kinshasa temple (The ground breaking was in February), it will bring light and hope to the country.  The people will no longer need to go through the expensive and difficult process of flying to Johannesburg, South Africa to receive their temple ordinances.
Sister Mikesell tells us: “We have a great love for the Congolese people; they are happy, loving, and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  They are survivors and have gone through much tribulation as other countries have sought control of this country with vast natural resources.  They taught us that material things are not what bring happiness, for they are a poor people as to the things of the world; their natural resources have been and are being taken out by other countries without the proceeds going to the people.
This mission was truly an adventure and we will always be grateful to have served among these people.  Our friends in the gospel would have given their lives so we would be protected.” 

SCOUT MILK JUG CAMP CONTEST-Scout Expo

Do you remember all those milk jugs we threw into that trailer in front of Aaron Carey's home?  Just look at what was done with them at the Washington County Scout Expo! Our own Troop 383 won 3rd place overall.  They also gave out 400 snow cones of Different flavors and were busy up until 1230 when they ran out of cups. Thanks for everything you do, Scouts! We couldn't be more proud of you!

Til we meet again, Christine Baresco

After a 2 year battle with Cancer, this beautiful woman was finally taken home to that God who gave her life!  She leaves behind her two children, Hart, who is a Senior & Gage, 13.
Christine was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada 8 November 1967 to Richard and Anne Gailey. She attended Ricks College (BYU-Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho and then Utah Valley College (now UVU) in Orem, Utah. She married Kevin Baresco in 1991 and he predeceased her. Christine, Hart & Gage moved to St. George in 2005 where Christine graduated from Dixie State College with a teaching degree and taught at Bloomington Elementary for several years.
Funeral services were held 14 March at the Bloomington Stake Center.

Bloomington Third Ward Relief Society Luncheon

Eight members of Bloomington 3rd Ward's Relief Society met Wednesday 16 March at the home of Marilyn Pearson for a "Pot-Luck" luncheon. To quote our Patty De Vitale “The food was delicious, the company delightful and the conversation fun. What a great time we had getting to know each other better while sharing our life's stories. Next month it will be held at Dawn Baxter's home on Wednesday, April 13th. I hope to see more of you there. It is a perfect way to spend a mid week lunch hour or two.”  Those attending were Mabelle Lopez, Kam Capick, Glenda Hacker, Michelle Robinson, Patty De Vitale, Pat Truitt, Lyla Smith, Dori Wilkerson, and of course our hostess, Marilyn Pearson!

Madyson Mac Arthur

  Madyson is driven. She has been given a talent to dance (her forté,) sing, and act--a triple threat--and she works hard to develop these talents to the fullest. She is  passionate about the performing arts and is a beautiful performer. She attends classes 5-6 days a week, 6 hours a day. Sometimes she teaches, but she is always a student.  Since the age of 14, she has also sacrificed her summer vacations for intense and focused training.  She has auditioned for and been accepted to summer intensive workshops in New York City, Iowa City, and Boston.




For her senior year, Mady decided to do online school in order to get a job to earn money toward her college ambitions and still be able to dedicate long hours at her dance studio. She has learned in an intensified way how to manage herself as an adult and to pursue her goals and dreams with extreme belief and focus.

Madyson recently completed a long run of auditions for acceptance to top performing arts schools, including Julliard (and others New York City schools,) Boston Conservatory, Dominican University in San Francisco, and Oklahoma University. She is still waiting to hear back from some of the schools, has received acceptance and scholarships from others, and will soon be ready to make the decision as to which school she will attend this fall. She feels very good about her performance at each audition, no matter what the outcome may be. 

A warm Welcome to Pat and Nate Truitt

From Pat Truitt:  My husband, Nathan, and I are two of the newest members of your amazing Bloomington Ward Family. Our new home is located at 1464 Jones Circle (between the Lambs and Nydia and Mabelle) with my father, James Hanks. Nick (Nathan) and I were both born in Sacramento, California, two months apart. We first met at a youth conference in Squaw Valley (near lake Tahoe) when we were about 16 years old. We were married in the Oakland Temple almost 36 years ago. We've been blessed with five children (four girls and one boy) and (soon to be) six grandchildren. Nick and I love cycling (both pedal and motor), gardening and spending time with family and friends. Nick telecommutes to Edward Jones in St. Louis where we moved from.  I try to be a domestic goddess for him and my Dad during the week. We are thrilled to be here and looking forward to getting to know everyone and enjoying the beautiful St. George area.