We spent the weekend in Cincinnati at the terHorst home. It snowed overnight on Saturday such that church was cancelled on Sunday morning. John got permission to have the sacrament at home so he and Russ prepared, blessed, and passed the sacrament then we had a testimony meeting. We were fasting for greater stability in Iraq so the meeting was even more uplifiting. All of the kids, including 2-year old Jarin, bore their testimonies. (For the benefit of those who might be somewhat cynical, none of the kids were coerced even a little bit.) After our sacrament meeting, Janna (7 years old) was appointed to be nursery leader and took her little brother downstairs to play while the 4 adults and two older girls (11- year old twins) read and discussed the lesson out of the Spencer W. Kimball manual. After that we watched a DVD about the pioneer handcart companies and the Sweetwater River rescue and were quite humbled to be sitting, comfortably warm and sheltered with a delicious dinner cooking away upstairs in a crockpot, while watching a re-enactment of the suffering that hundreds of good-hearted, valiant people went through to reach "Zion". We managed to overcome our sorrow for the pioneers enough to heartily enjoy our meal at the end of our fast then added our traditional Sunday night popcorn and ice cream. We are truly grateful for the comfort and ease of our life, along with the freedom. Our two sons-in-law will be leaving for Iraq soon. We just can't seem to pray enough.....