Sixteen Barn Stars

Niue (pronounced NEW-ay) is a tiny island nation in the South Pacific, best known for limestone cliffs and caves, rock pools and coral reef diving. 1600 people live in Niue, which means “behold the coconut.”  In January of 2004 Niue was hit by a category five Cyclone Heta. The storm caused two deaths and more than $85 million in damage there. In a matter of hours, all of the country’s vital records were completely destroyed. Years earlier, FamilySearch volunteers had meticulously microfilmed many of Niue’s vital records and stored them (along with oh so many others) in granite vaults high above Salt Lake City. These priceless documents include more than 30,000 images of birth, death and marriage records, and an index of Europeans who emigrated to Niue. The documents also include genealogies of Niue women, which are used to determine property rights. All of these valuable records were copied and restored to Niue to help them rebuild their lives.

Twin Stars Quilt

This quilt came together in only a few weeks in early spring 2009. We’d just returned from a house-hunting trip in North Yorkshire. Even though the house we’d chosen wouldn’t be finished for a while, we knew none of the rooms would be large enough for Heather’s double bed. She needed a twin-sized bed and a new quilt to match it. I quickly made two dozen 10” blocks from the charm squares I’d swapped with friends in the Clothesline Club. Most of the prints are reproductions, but a few are actually antiques from the 30’s. Then I let Heather select fabric for the sashing, cornerstones, border, back and binding. I knew she’d choose something green, but the pink was a surprise. She was delighted with the finished product and kept it on her bed until we moved back home. Since then it’s served as a picnic quilt. It’s been washed many times, but is still in excellent shape.

Nine Barn Stars

If you were invited to take a trip with total strangers, would you go? Ten friends from Bristol (on the southwestern coast of England) decided to holiday together on the Spanish island of Mallorca. After the vacation had been booked and paid for, they discovered one friend – Joe McGrath – wouldn’t be able to join them. Joe’s ticket was non-refundable, so his friends did the only sensible thing. They trolled the Internet looking for a new mate with the same name. They found a 21-year-old Joe McGrath living in Manchester (roughly four hours north of Bristol) and asked him to join the party. At first Joe hesitated, but eventually he came around, saying, "Something like this will never happen again. I’d always regret if I didn't do it." He and his new friends had a terrific time. "They’re such a great bunch of people," Joe said. "There might be more holidays in future."

Peekaboo Park

What do you do with a zoo stranded in a war zone? For months, as Iraqi forces fought to reclaim Mosul from ISIS, the Montazah Al-Morour Zoo was stuck in the middle. People living in the area had been feeding the stranded animals when they could, even though they could scarcely find food for themselves. As the fighting intensified the humans were eventually forced to abandon the zoo altogether. One by one, the animals starved or were killed – all but a lion named Simba and a bear named Lulu. That’s when Four Paws International came to the rescue. "Even in the worst hardships there are people who care for animals," said Four Paws International veterinarian Dr. Amir Khalil. After a number of setbacks Lulu and Simba finally arrived at The New Hope Center, a rescue and rehabilitation facility in Amman. “From now on,” says Dr. Khalil, “they won’t have to be part of this war.”

Four Barn Stars

In the museum at Rievaulx Abbey (the locals pronounce it “REE-vo”) in North Yorkshire, there’s a half-ton lump of lead on display. It’s all that remains of the abbey’s roof and windowpanes.  Nearly 500 years ago, Henry VIII gave orders for the lead to be melted down and carted south – partly to fill his coffers, and partly because he knew no building would remain standing long without a roof. The only reason this particular chunk of lead is still here is Henry’s men were in such a hurry they accidentally brought down part of the abbey on top of it before it could be hauled off. This spring I’ve wished for a lead roof, or anything more substantial than these flimsy asphalt tiles. We’ve had several aggressive wind storms this spring, and each one sent more tiles flying. Our 19-year-old roof was patched three times, but this year it's a total loss. The new roof was due yesterday, so of course it's raining. All week.

Boxes and Baskets

“The motivation for raising the warning voice is love; love of God and love of fellowman. To warn is to care. The Lord instructs that it is to be done in mildness and in meekness and by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness, and by love unfeigned. It can be urgent, as when we warn a child not to put his or her hand in a fire. It must be clear and sometimes firm. On occasion, warning may take the form of reproof when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, but always it is rooted in love. Witness, for example, the love that motivates the service and sacrifices of our missionaries. Surely love would compel parents to warn their closest neighbors: their own children. This means teaching and testifying of gospel truths. It means teaching children the doctrine of Christ: faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.” – Elder D. Todd Christofferson

4" Barn Star

Dad had worked hard all day Sunday, so when he got home he went to bed early. Mom sat on the couch with the children but before long she, too, was fast asleep. That’s when the kids got the munchies. The eight-year-old boy grabbed his four-year-old sister, his piggy bank and Dad’s car keys and headed for Mickey D’s. The Golden Arches were a mile away, over the railroad tracks and through four intersections. The novice driver obeyed all the traffic laws, stayed under the speed limit and even  negotiated a left turn. He told police he’d learned to drive watching YouTube videos. He didn’t know he’d done anything wrong; he only wanted a cheeseburger. The story has a happy ending. The kids got their burgers, Grandma and Grandpa were called to take them home, and no charges were filed. I have to wonder, though, if he’s this resourceful at eight, what will he be like at eighteen?