White Sands, New Mexico

This is so beautiful! Thanks go out to Patty Palmer for her efforts in getting this to me so quickly after our talk in Relief Society about collecting dirt and how to use it in our daily lives.....(haha) !No, not really, but we did discuss my LOVE of collecting dirt in a lesson I gave in Relief Society some time ago. This is from White Sands , New Mexico. This sand sample was obtained, (Patty wanted me to point out) COMPLETELY legal.

Apparently, you are not aloud to remove the sand, but nothing has ever been mentioned in regards to the removal of said sand out of your shorts, socks, shoes, or anywhere else that may have accidentally gotten stuck. Thank you to Patty, who so bravely and boldly went where no other sister dared to go before! (Into the shorts to find some sand)

More info on White Sands, New Mexico, and the COOL place it really is can be found here.

Box 158...Hey that's ME!

This is the box I got in the mail on Friday! Ain't it a beautiful thing...Dirt, just for me. This is what it looked like on the outside, and in and of itself, is a wonderful thing....But WAIT! There's more...

the stuff below is what came on the inside of the box... 5 samples from all over the place!

The letter along with it reads as follows:

The letter is from my sister Sue Harrington. The dirt traveled from Tonopah, Nevada to Indian Springs, to Tehachapi, to Baker and then finally to Boron. Oh, and least us not forget to Orem, Utah and my personal favorite spot...BOX 158.

Thanks sis! For thinking about me on your journey, and for just being my sista!!

Ione, California

Ione, California

During the days of the gold rush, miners knew the town of Ione by the names "Bedbugs" and "Freezeout". Unlike other communities in Amador county, Ione was not founded as a mining town, it was founded as a supply center, stage, rail stop, and agricultural hub. Today, the town is home to the Mule Creek State Prison. According to the prison's website, there are 3,782 prisoners residing in the facility, well above the design capacity of 1700, and they account for well over half of Ione's population.

This sample was taken from the home of my friend Joe Reyes. I actually know 2 people that work at the prison in Ione! Turns out Joe's wife and my sister - in - law both work there. So, dirt, is truly, the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of us all.