Since you've been gone... March 30, 2015

...we're finding our rhythym.

Elise chose our theme this week.

From Dad March 29, 2015

March 29, 2015

Re: Letter 17 of 3

Dear Riley:

Well, another jam packed week has passed.  I’m really looking forward to General Conference and the spiritual uplift it provides.  I hope you will get to participate in all sessions.  

I've been pondering the parable of the 10 virgins.  What we experience through the Spirit and tender mercies of God perhaps can be shared verbally, but we can’t open anyone’s head and pour in what we see and feel spiritually.  This type of spiritual oil is only acquired through proper exercise of one’s agency and careful application of the fundamentals upon which faith and testimony are built.   

This week I plan on getting my bee package.  I’m excited to get started, but have a few items I need to get before I feel confident in thrusting myself into a hive teaming with upwards of 9,000 bees.  A smoker and bee suit which at least covers my upper torso seem a good investment.  With a little luck they’ll be pollinating my apples.  By the way, we’re getting a crop of Golden Delicious in addition to the Red delicious.  Given their usual biannual fruiting habit and the tremendous harvest last year, I expected little by way of the Golden Delicious this year.  So, we’ll keep the dried apples coming your way.

I was so happy to read about the baptisms you had.  Of course there would still be blessings from your service even without any conversions, but the joy that comes from witnessing the transformation in people’s lives and recognizing how God used you as an instrument in His hands is quite rewarding.  My suggestion is to collect contact information for the important people of your mission or take several different measures to maintain contact with them after your mission.  The time will come when you wonder what became of them.  Social networking probably makes this less of a concern, but consider a little advice from someone who regrets not having done this.

Well, it’s late and I’m tired.  Sorry if this seems a little short.  I hadn’t coordinated earlier letters with your Mom and realized you were getting some of the same information from both of us.  We love your pictures and letters.  Keep up the hard work.   

Love,

 Dad

From Mom March 29, 2015 Be not weary of doing good (I'm remembering)

March 29, 2015

Dear Riley,

It’s all the same every week: there is more to do than I can possibly accomplish.  Sometimes I wonder if my bleak efforts are even worth expending, because they ALWAYS fall short of what I WANT to get done.  But I soldier on all the same.

Thankfully general conference is next week and that always gives me a shot in the arm.  In fact as I was in the General Women’s meeting last night, I considered that my sisters in Thailand, even my newest sister who was taught by my son, were seeking and finding answers the same as I from general leaders.  It made the meeting tenderer for me.  I started weeping as we sang the last verse of How Firm a Foundation: 

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I'll never, no never, I'll never, no never,

I'll never, no never, no never forsake!

So the tears started there and flowed easily throughout.

How is the work going for you?  Are you feeling well?  Are you serving your companion?  Is the language coming along pretty well?  How is the food for you?

KE reported on her mission in Ecuador today and of course it was so good.  She spoke of the mercy in the plan and how it extends to us in our weakness as we place all we have and are able to give on the Alter.  And then God reaches down and makes it enough and blesses us and others we can bring to Christ.  I’ve always thought she was exceptional.  Plus our current full-time missionaries spoke.  They were in our home for dinner Wednesday night, so we feel connected to them.  Elder G joined the church in Beijing and has been a member for 5 years.  He joined after investigating the church on his own for six months; there aren’t missionaries in China.  He had asked a friend who had been here in the States for college why he was so different: he didn’t smoke or drink coffee or beer.  His friend accidentally left a Book of Mormon with Elder G.  Elder P is from Denmark and has only been out three months.  His grandparents joined the church first in his family.  He told us today that he had a couple friends who were at the point of deciding should they serve a mission or not.  He and one friend did and the other has not. 

In addition to feeding the missionaries this week, I also took dinner to the E's.  R had a horrible accident this week.  R was doing construction work on a church and was up in the rafters doing something.  He stepped where it wasn’t safe and plummeted 20 – 25’ fracturing both shoulder blades, many vertebrae, and a couple ribs.  But he did survive and he will regain the use of all his faculties as he heals.  That poor little family; what a burden they carry.  I just want to shield them for a little while.

Brother M came home teaching this week.  I so appreciate his faithfulness and his goodness to our family as hometeacher.  None of us has a lease on tomorrow.  But watching a man live true today gives us peace for the tomorrows.

So our family.  We’re doing well. 

Cambry likes a boy.  Maybe even more than likes.  The feeling seems reciprocal.  

Parker likes a girl.  He’s feeling much better.  They had the Spirit Bowl this week and he went for the Lord of the Rings Marathon at the school all day yesterday.  His rose was an assignment in welding.

Elise and Aleah had festival yesterday.  They each played well, though not perfectly which is always disappointing.  Elise made remarkable progress this week and her pieces which fell apart on her last weekend were coming out perfectly again and again.  Aleah is a competitor.  She wanted to WIN festival and perform in the winners’ recital.  When her final piece fell apart, which it hasn’t ever, she knew she wouldn’t.  As we walked out of the house, she had instant tears and sniffles.

Josie is doing well.  She wanted to write her name on a conference activity booklet she got at church today.  She can make several letters.  It’s probably time to begin teaching her to read.  Dad took her and Aleah laser tagging last night and just followed Josie as she fearlessly darted through the course.  If you become distracted for a second, you lose her.  Dad shot all the people she ran into and was the highest scorer.

Dad is good.  Work has been so busy.  And the yard and all the other stuff.

I’m so tired.  I never get enough sleep.  And the hunger around me keeps me hopping.  I had a sweet experience today in sacrament meeting.  I asked Josie to put away her other things and focus on Jesus for the sacrament.  She pulled out the Jesus cards.  She was asking questions about the picture of the Christus statue up at temple square.  That made me remember the card Joey had sent you kids when he was a missionary in the MTC with his hand written testimony on the back.  It made me feel close to him and reminded me how much I love him.  I took a picture and texted it to him with a love note.

There is going to be a printed picture derth.  I decided I would mail the last two with your birthday package which is not yet mailed.  Just so you know they are coming.

I love you so much, son.  Have a good week!

Love,

Mom

Since you've been gone... March 23, 2015

...we're hanging with our peeps.

This is a special Easter edition.

From Mom March 22, 2015 - Spring Fever

March 22, 2015

Dear Riley,

Hiiii.  I’m so sorry to tell you that I didn’t mail a print of our picture this week at all.  I have the print.  But printing an envelope and writing anything else was beyond me.  Sorry!  It’s coming…. Eventually.

We look forward to your letters.  We love you so much and we’re so happy you’re on a mission in Thailand.  I don’t know if you got my paper post this last week about Bro Tate’s talk.  But I thought it a mercy that I’d already sent it after reading last week that though the work is unpredictable, you’re not discouraged.  That’s right!  Go, Riley.

It’s officially Spring here now, but we kind of missed Winter.  We’ve been sleeping with the windows open even.  The kids and I cleaned out the front flowerbeds yesterday while dad worked on the trees and planting peas and lettuce.

We’ve had Spring Fever this week.  I’ve been tearing my hair trying to focus the kids on anything!  I set them to a task and before I can turn around and get involved in anything, they’ve disappeared outside.  So I call them back in and set them at a task… and the cycle repeats.  I’m trying to have a good sense of humor with it.

I usually tell you the funny things about Josie, but this week we also have a sad thing.  It has to happen, I recognize.  But she cut her own hair during naptime.  Parker came home and Josie said, “I got a haircut.”  Parker asked her who’d given it to her.  “The hair-cutter person… don’t tell Mom!”  Josie this week was helping me clean the kitchen while we listened to The Piano Guys.  She commented as they transitioned from the pop song to the classical piece, “Hey! This sounds like Classical 89!”

Parker has mono.  Drat.  He hasn’t missed any school, but he is tired.  That was why his lymph node was so large.  You can even see the swelling in his neck in our library picture.

Elise and Aleah had their recital Friday.  Elise had gotten up at 4:40 that morning and I think she was just tired.  But her piece, which she plays perfectly, started falling apart.  I could read curious horror in her eyes.  She stuck with it, but she was disappointed.  Some performances go that way.  Aleah played well and enjoyed herself. 

Right after the recital I wisked the girls and Dad away to see Cinderella at the SCERA immediately after.  We hadn’t even had dinner.  I ran out to get them out of the car after purchasing tickets, because I didn’t even know when the show played or it would be sold out.  We had the theater almost to ourselves and it was an early showing.  Josie was positively entranced.  She was asking questions as the story unfolded.  I want her to wear the blue dress.  When Dad told her the magic had ended she said, “I don’t want the magic to end.”  That was precious.

PTA is busy.  But we’re almost out of school.  July is the last I’ll have anything to do as President for sure.

Bro M was told there is nothing more they can to and they gave him 3 – 6 weeks.  I’m teary at that.  I love him so much.

I need a list of things I can send you for your birthday.  It will ship this week.  I know dried apples.  Seriously tell me now!  I don’t want to pay to ship stuff you don’t want.  But I will ship SOMETHING.  So what do you want that you can’t get there?

Man, I love you so much.  I think about you all the time.  We miss you.  But we are so happy you’re there.  People ask me how you’re doing and love to hear great stories about you.

So tell me some for this week.

Love you,

Mom

From Dad March 22, 2015

March 3, 2015

Re: Letter 16 of 3

Dear Riley:

Wow! Another week....Gone! I think I've discovered that packing your days with more than you can humanly accomplish makes the time pass at an alarming rate.  All the same, I feel satisfied with what was accomplished. The weather continues to be unseasonably warm for our area while back East they're stuck in an eternal winter. We took advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday to make good headway with the yard.  Working together we cleared the flower beds, mowed the lawn, pruned the Red Delicious apple tree, picked up four yards of composted horse manure, picked up 2 yards of fill dirt, planted the peas, and restocked the patio planter with organic matter. In addition to all this, I also baked sourdough bread, and went to the temple. Needless to say, I was going to bed at 11:30. (I'm still planning on spraying my dormant oil early Monday morning so as not to lose my window.)

I had something interesting happen while I was preparing for planting. It's been nice enough that I could have planted cool weather crops back in February so I've felt pressured to get something into the ground. Last week I pulled out my box of seeds and was shocked to see that some of them dated all the way back to 2006. I wondered whether they were still good and didn't want to plant them in the ground only to find out 14 days down the road that I needed to replant. All the information I could find suggested that the peas and lettuce would likely no longer be viable after three years. I opted to buy some new seeds but couldn't bring myself to discard the old seeds. What if they were still good? I opted to soak them in water overnight and keep them moist to see what happened. To my surprise and delight, nearly all of them swelled up and began to sprout. Now I have more seeds growing than I know what to do with, but the coolest thing was the contrast between the good seeds and the few which were no longer viable. A small percentage remained small and wrinkled and did nothing even though they had been soaked in the same water for the same amount of time. The metaphor in Alma 32 took on new meaning as I watched a good seed enlarge and begin to grow. Usually I just considered the seed good if it poked up through the soil and bad if it didn't. I had never paid attention to the early signs of a seed being good or bad, but this simple germination test told me within three days what would have taken two weeks to figure out if planted in the soil. I'll let you draw your own life lessons from this, but I considered all the gospel seeds planted in my own life which I can say for certain have swelled, sprouted, grown, and borne fruits which are delicious. I love how the scriptures can take on new meaning given circumstances. This was a profound truth played out in vivid detail and I will never read Alma 32 without thinking back on this experience.

Well, I'm truly committed to the bee project. I purchased a used hive last Friday and a flow hive which allows me to harvest the honey in a revolutionary noninvasive way. It's sort of funny that this whole thing has caused me to consider flowers in a new light. I see flowers and think “HONEY” and wonder to what extent they will determine the subtle complexity of the final product. I'm not getting my bee package until April and I look at the flowering trees of Spring as opportunity lost, at least for a season. I don't even have much of a sweet tooth, but the thought of having this source of food available for our own consumption, gifting, or barter makes me feel empowered. There are also real heath benefits to locally produced bee products and I feel this has the capacity to bless on many levels. It should be well established by the time you come home.

Friday evening the girls had a recital in preparation for the piano festival coming up this Saturday. I had the wrong information on the location, so I missed Aleah's performance but was able to see Elise play. Neither of the girls was pleased with their performance. I felt badly for Elise because I've heard her play her pieces beautifully at home. I'm not sure what happened, but it looked like Elise was just along for the ride while she watched her fingers forget what they had practiced for so long. It wasn't terrible, but she knew she hadn't performed to her potential and was a little embarrassed. Anyway, I think your mom was inspired to spontaneously go straight from the recital to see Disney's new Cinderella movie. The girls loved it and Josie was transported and mesmerized. She was asking questions and commenting in such a way that it was clear she had a good handle on what was going on. Okay, so she's just a few years ahead of her age. This was a great way to take the girl's minds off of the recital performance and create a magical memory.

On a sad note, GM's doctors recently told him they had done everything they could for him. Even though his liver numbers are holding and the tumor is not progressing, the prognosis doesn't look promising. They gave him 3 to 6 weeks which was quite a shock for him. He's asked for us to plead with Heavenly Father that his life be prolonged, or at least for peace and reassurance that it's his time to go. I hope and pray for his life to be prolonged. He has been such a blessing in our lives. It's difficult to imagine his passing. The truth remains that any of us could be called at any time and will be when our time on earth is completed.  Just this morning a friend of ours in the second ward attended a bishopric meeting, went home, and died. One minute he was here actively participating in building the kingdom on earth, the next he is called home. The key is to be doing the right things when God calls us home. I have no concern over G's standing before God.

Well, got to go. I sure do love you and consider just how extraordinary you are.  Thank you for faithful, obedient service. Don't get discouraged. The sons of Mosiah and Alma the younger had some really tough times before the amazing miracles and conversion of thousands materialized. Shoulders back, socks on, chin up!

Love,

Dad

Since you've been gone... March 16, 2015

...we've started a new chapter.  Parker chose this theme.

From Dad March 15, 2015

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Re:  Letter 15 of 3

 Dear Riley:

We’ve had a warm spell of beautiful weather and it feels truly like Spring.  The crocus are a couple weeks into their run, tulips, daffodils, and iris are well on their way, the apricot blossoms are in early bloom, insects are out, birds are singing…  It’s a wonderful time of year. Yesterday was actually hot for a good portion of the day and I came in from my labors in the yard dehydrated and noticeably sunburned.  Even though I didn’t get everything accomplished, I felt satisfied with my progress.  I found a great place on State Street in Lindon with well composted horse manure.  Free if you want to load it or $15 for as much as you can haul if they load.  J, G, and I went and picked up a trailer and a truck load full of rich manure looking and smelling much more like compost.  As the tractor bit into the pile, clouds of steam were clearly visible, and you could feel the heat coming off of each scoop dumped into the trailer.  Hopefully this is a good indicator that any seeds will no longer be viable.  My pickup holds a surprising amount even with a short bed and a tool box: twelve wheel barrows full to the brim.  I was able to get a portion tilled into the plot where I’ll be planting peas and lettuce. This has been pressing me for awhile and it felt good to get it off my plate.  I’ll be filling four garden boxes with soil within the next couple weeks, and am so excited about the prospect of raised bed gardening, though I shudder when I consider how many wheel barrow runs to the garden it will take to fill them.  I took a little time to help get ready for Elise’s party, so ended up spraying my apricot tree with copper at 10:00 PM.  Thank goodness for the street light over in the corner.

Elise’s “friend” party was yesterday and I think we’re officially weary of birthdays.  Parker is fighting what looks like infection in his right lymph node.  Antibiotic seems ineffective and it’s taking it out of him.  Leadelle was concerned that it was getting worse so spent a few hours at the afterhour’s clinic.  This added to the stress of getting ready for the party, so I offered to help for a couple hours.  I undertook to wash the back windows and sliding glass door.  I guess I made it look pretty fun because Josie was fully engaged in helping.  Surprisingly she was fully involved in the entire process until it was completed.  She LOVED using the spray bottle of window cleaner and I needed to assure her numerous times that she had sprayed enough.  From her vantage point, she could see things I couldn’t so took the opportunity to justify her efforts by pointing out the areas of concern.  SO CUTE!  The cutest was when she realized that what she was trying to remove was actually on the “OTHER side of the glass.”  With this revelation she went to the other side with renewed determination to conquer the stubborn smudge.  Watching those wheels turn in that head of hers was just priceless.  Throughout the whole project, she was never lacking for conversation.  What a sweet time spent together.  It caused me to consider just how quickly kids grow up and how moments like this enrich our lives but could easily be missed under different circumstances. 

Well, I’ve got Honey Bee fever again, but this time it’s different.  I’m getting a hive.  One of the things that deterred me in the past was the labor and equipment investment to harvest the honey.  Well, someone in Australia or New Zealand came up with an extraordinary invention which allows you to gather honey without breaking into the hive and disturbing the balance.  This is literally honey on tap.  Turn a valve, and honey comes out of a tube directly into a bottle.  Turn it back and the cells reset for the bees to fill again.  The coolest thing is that the bees don’t even know what has happened for awhile.  When they discover the honey is gone, they chew back the wax caps and prepare the cells to fill with honey again.  Without upsetting the rhythm in the hive, and without the need to build out so much comb destroyed by traditional honey gathering methods, the bees are happier and more productive. So, come April, I’ll have bees and next Spring I’ll be set up for a revolutionary way of collecting honey.  Of course, there’s more to the bee keeping than the honey and I still need to check the hive periodically for health and available space, but I’m finally ready to take it on. 

It was a wonderful day at Church.  I’ve been convinced for years that our Sacrament meetings were above average.  Today was no exception. DK spoke and shared portions of testimonies from the book of testimonies published years ago under the direction of Richard Cracroft.  Many of the testimonies shared were from members who have since passed away.  This brought such a sweet spirit and sweet memories of the people we love.  It was like voices crying from the dust speaking pure truth under the influence of the spirit.  I was worried I was going to ruin my tie with so many tears.  She was followed by our High Council representative, KW, who spoke of the importance of teaching in the home.  It was a wonderful outpouring of the spirit and I was filled with love for the members and blessed with revelation regarding some of them.  This was definitely a spiritual high and a great start for the weekend.   

I don’t know how this couldn’t be true.  I taste the fruits of the gospel and they’re delicious.  When I consider what I would be giving up to forsake it all, what the world has to offer seems hollow a devoid of life. No God, no communion with the divine, no answers to prayers, no revelation, no Spirit, no priesthood, no tender mercies, no miracles, no purpose, no meaning…  I’ll take my life with God, thank you!  I don’t dare deny God’s hand in my life because I know I would offend Him by doing so.  I fully expect he would be unable to bless me so abundantly if I stopped believing and giving credit to Him. 

Something happened just yesterday which may seem small and insignificant to the world, but it meant something significant to me. Others may explain it away, but things of this nature happen far too frequently in my life to be relegated to the realm of happenstance.  I got my small 2 stroke tiller out from the shed only to find that the fuel stored in the tank over winter had turned to sludge.  I had known I couldn’t store it without cleaning it out for storage and that so doing would almost certainly cost me $75 for a cleaning service.  I really had intended to do it but had neglected to do so until it was too late.  My bad!!  I worked for nearly 20 minutes trying to get it going to no avail.  I had no indication that it was even close to starting and had a large blister between the fingers of my right hand.  I sat back in my patio chair ready to throw in the towel and surrender to the consequences of my choices. I had the thought I should say a prayer and ask for assistance.  I knew I had been foolish and wasn’t entitled to assistance because I had failed to do what I should have done.  I prayed anyway, acknowledged my fault in my predicament, committed to properly care for my tiller in the future, and asked for the tender mercy of my tiller starting in spite of my neglect.  I ended my prayer confident in the outcome and pulled the starter cord three more times.  The third time it sputtered and died. Three more pulls and it was running as smoothly as the day it was last serviced.  I finished my work filled with wonder and gratitude, fully convinced that God had blessed me once again in a very personal and undeniable way.  The skeptic may scorn, but I’ll always believe that God heard and answered my simple prayer offered in weakness and even fault.  Let the world say what it may, I’ll take faith over unbelief any day.

Well, I love you and love following your progress and growth.  Thank you for your service and testimony of the work.  Remember, believing is seeing.  I so look forward to your letter later today.

Love,

Dad 

From Mom March 15, 2015 - Am I dead, then?

March 15, 2015

Dear Riley,

There is the possibility that I am today a resurrected being.  Rising from my bed this morning seems to be a miracle.  This week was KILLER!  However, there are little aches and pains that assure me that my body is not perfect and incorruptible yet, so I’ll just be grateful to have survived.

We did go up to see G and G B Monday as the kids didn’t have school.   Parker had made arrangements to go to the range with Grandpa so we all went.  We had fun visiting and seeing L in her recovery.  She is doing well, but you can tell she’s been through something major in this back surgery.  Next week Stephen goes in for neck surgery, the day before she is cleared to bend, lift and twist again after 15 weeks.  We did hit traffic on the way home as they are doing construction and the trip took 1 ½ hours.  Kids were tired and hungry, as was I, so we were done.

Funny things about this picture:  we did it with the timer after counting how many blinks the light gives before the shot (20).  If you look at Josie’s mouth, I think she is saying ‘twenty.’ There were other shots which had all of us off the ground, but Parker’s shirt went up and his jeans went down so that we could see four inches of HANES underwear.  Still, this one is great.  I had trouble with the printing of it, sadly.  It will arrive later next week and it looks much more like a silhouette.  I printed one set and not liking the result, edited a little and reprinted.  Not much better.  Too bad, I like this one.

Tuesday night I had to help at the RS dinner singing a little in a skit.  This started a week of never being home.  I conducted my second to last PTA meeting Wednesday morning.  Phew!  That night was mutual and I had to take Parker to the after-hours clinic at the pediatrician’s.  His right lymph node at the jaw line is soooo swollen.  So the doctor put him on antibiotic that night.  He had an infection in a lymph node one other time.

Thursday was the day to end all days.  Actually it was the night to end all nights.  I had to go into work because birthday season meant that I had not kept things up like I need to.  Josie got home a little late for nap that day.   

We also had piano lessons and the girls have their festival and recital this coming weekend.  Aleah forgot her notebook which means that she got docked on points AND she couldn’t chose a prize.  She was NOT happy about this.  I have to share with you the note she wrote and put on my pillow:  Mom, I don’t like piano.  I want to quit!!  I mean it.  First, it’s a waste of money.  You are spending $40 on me and I really don’t like it.  Second, it makes me unhappy.  If I forget something it is like I get punished.  *** I don’t like piano!!!*** It is like a sin.  It is not fair.  Third, I am not good at it.  Maybe I am, but I don’t like it. Mom, I am saying that I want to Quit Piano!!!  Yay, I mean it.  I don’t like piano!  I will take voice or dance.

 –Aleah  (Can you tell she’s been learning persuasive writing in school?)

I left Aleah unhappy at the start of her lesson to take Elise and myself to CVJH for Elise’s first choir concert.  I had to be at the school to help set up for the Golden Apple Gala, an awards night for PTA.  Our council hosted a dinner for the award recipients.  The food was donated through Texas Roadhouse and Caraba’s at a reduced price.  My cousin’s son was one of the recipients of the award, so I got to visit minute, that was a bonus.  I had to keep popping out though to go hear Elise’s concert.  What a mercy that they were in the same place!

The Choir director does a really nice job and all the groups sounded so good.  As I sat listening to Elise sing with her choir, I teared up.  I flashed back a few years to when Cambry was the one up there singing and my heart warned me that the time just flashes past.  Elise is growing taller, all her jeans are high waters all the sudden, and she stands with such poise and grace.  Flashback!

I carried my feet home wearily that night before I had to go pick Parker up from special needs mutual.  Would you believe I was too tired to sleep that night?  I was.

Friday I had to go back into work to accomplish payroll.  Once again, Josie got a late nap.  By the time I got home, I was so beat.  I laid in bed and read until dad and I had to go to a presentation and the new Cinderella movie for PTA.  The presentation was painless and low-key so we just enjoyed the show.  I still love Ever After better, but this was a nice rendering of the story (and from last week, I didn’t like Interstellar because it comes off hubris to me).  After the movie, we used our Valentine gift card to Texas Roadhouse.  I came home too stuffed for comfort.

Saturday was Elise’s friend birthday party.  Owing to my persistent absence from home, the house was an absolute wreck.  I got up in the morning and prayed that God would lead me through the day as there was absolutely no way to accomplish all that needed to be done anyway.  Unfortunately, I had to let going to the temple go early in the day as well as exercise.  Parker’s lymph node was noticeably more swollen, so per the doctor’s instructions we went in that morning.  Mercy here: the same doctor who saw us Wednesday evening saw him Saturday morning.  He sent us to the hospital for blood tests – and as always with anything at the hospital, plenty of waiting.  I decided to get ready for the day and just after getting my hair done, the hospital called because one of the vials of blood broke in the centrifuge so we had to go BACK!  They got us in quickly and gave us four movie gift cards, two for me and two for Park.  That made it better, but time! 

I hijacked Parker on birthday party errands for a couple hours so I wouldn’t waste time driving home.  I have never, ever, ever, in my life been so unprepared for a party.  I called home and told Elise the house was going to be completely done without me.  She and Aleah (who will work like crazy for a party!) worked all the day through.  Aleah actually slept in the early evening she was so worn out.  Dad cleaned windows in the kitchen for me, screens and all.  Josie loved helping him!

I was still cooking when guest began arriving.  But everything did come together in short order.  We served pasta and spaghetti sauce or alfredo sauce with salad and French bread with that lemon water punch.  Dessert was brownies.  Plus they had mentos and red vines during Prince of Persia.  I guess by the end of the evening we had 12 guests here. The girls made earrings and very loosely played curses.  Elise had a great time and the girls did too.

One funny thing was discovered at the end of the show.  I had given them mini chocolate pieces.  One girl had some in her hand, but lost them.  When she got up off the sofa, we found them melted on her seat.  It looked awful and very memorable!

So are you dreaming in Thai?  How is the work going?  Do you get mosquito bites?  Rodent trouble?  Adventures?

I love you, son!

Love,

Mom

So this week when Dad was working on his tiller, he poured off the gas and lit it in the fire pit Wednesday night. I saw the fire as I was leaving to take Parker to the pediatrician.  Josie told me the next day that Dad poured the "water gasoline into the pink bowl, the stripey one, and set it on fire.  So it died.  Now it's in the background, with Heavenly Father.  And that makes me sad."

Elise was setting up to play a game with Josie this week and Josie said that she wanted to be the winner first, OK, Elise?

And if I hadn't been right there listening to every word of the conversation, I might be concerned here.  We were at work and Josie went in to say hello to G. She began by telling him that she was wearing her _____ panties.  I think Belle.  Then she said, "I'm not wearing a bra.  But I have one at home with butterflies on it and in the summer I will wear it."  What do we do with her?

There were about 100 other funny things she said, but it was a crazy week, remember.

Since you've been gone... March 9, 2015

...it's hard to stay grounded.

Cambry chose this theme.

From Dad March 9, 2015

Sunday, March 08, 2015

Re:  Letter 14 of 3

Dear Riley:

This has been a crazy busy day.  Early morning Bishop’s Welfare meeting, Bishopric Meeting, Church Meetings, BYC, interviews until 3:00, Agent Bishop’s Meeting, March Birthday Bash, Baptismal Preview.  I have just over an hour to write my missionary.  All of this and the start of Daylight Savings to boot!  5 minutes before meeting I looked out across a vast expanse of empty pews, few deacons, adults preparing the Sacrament, and wondered if our speakers might not show.  Luckily they did show, and the congregation filled up by the end of the sacrament hymn.  This is partly why my hair is going grey. 

At least we were comfortable in our Chapel. You may recall that our Chapel has been too cold all year around for years.  I think our air conditioning and furnace were battling it out.  In the middle of January I swear the air conditioning was coming on halfway through our meeting.  By the end of Sacrament Meeting I felt like my feet were encased in ice and many members were bundled up in their winter coats.  Well, a single mention of this to the new facilities representative and the problem was fixed just three days later.  The Chapel has been comfortable ever since.

Work is going well.  The large equipment installation has stagnated somewhat as we wait for some parts, fabrication work, and electrical bids.  One recent improvement was automation of the RO/DI water system.  Yes, no more flooding the reservoir or running back to work to make sure the system was off.  It wasn’t costly or difficult and I just laugh that this obvious solution was so long in coming.  So much of life seems to be like this. 

I managed to scare G really badly, which you know is a real feat.  I still laugh about it, and what’s even more hilarious is I managed to get J in the process, and he was in on it.  Remember that flat screen TV which came with our new mattress?  Well, the business purchased it and we installed it upstairs in what has now become the commons room.  G and J watch 30 minutes of programs while they eat their lunch each day and they seem to enjoy the diversion.  In the same room there is a large box (1cubic yard) which was converted into a playhouse by resourceful children.  This sits in the corner, and has become part of the regular business décor.  While they were preparing their food, I went and climbed inside the box and waited a few minutes until they had started a program and were eating their food.  I came busting out of the box across the floor toward G’s easy chair and just about scared him and J out of their skins.  Apparently J had forgotten that just ten minutes earlier I had told him my plan.  G said he felt he was watching a horror movie, but in real life.  I think he’ll need to get me a few times to make up for it.

The weather has been gorgeous and I was able to tackle some long overdue projects in the yard yesterday.  Sadly, I need about four more days like yesterday to do everything that’s driving me right now.  That’s just the way of things.  There’s always too much to do, and too little time…

The family is doing fine, Josie is just SO cute, she keeps us laughing all the time.  I’m sure Mom is keeping you up on all the funny things she says.  The girls are doing really well with piano, Cambry is stressed, sweet, and amazing, and Parker is doing really well.  Well, I have a meeting in a few minutes, so gotta go.  We love hearing from our missionary and pray for your safety and success several times daily.

Love,

Dad 

From Mom: March 9, 2015 - Life snippets

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Dear Riley,

I got to see little snippets of you in the transfer meeting videos!  Hurray!!!!!  You had your hair so short that I didn’t recognize you at first; Aleah is the one who spotted you.  Plus you look like you’ve gotten sun.  And have you lost weight?  I liked to see that you were sitting with Elder B.

So I gathered that you didn’t get transferred and you didn’t get a new companion.  If I’m not mistaken, KB has gotten a new companion each transfer.  I guess that’s just how it goes.  Always give your all; you never know when your opportunity in an area is over.

We’ve had a good week here at home.

This week we laughed!

Josie is largely responsible for this.  On Thursday afernoon I told her I didn’t want to take her to piano lessons because I didn’t want her making the M kids sick.  She was so sad and went up to her room to tell Elise she had to stay home.  As Elise went to leave the room, Josie put on her best thespian:  I guess this is goodbye, then.

And when Cambry decided to share Mary Poppins with the girls Friday night, Josie was singing “Up to the ata-muh-sphere.”

Last night at her Stake Conference, Cambry was wondering how long the session was scheduled to last (she had a paper due at midnight) so she texted a guy in the choir with her to see if he knew.  She got a text back: Sorry, but I don't text in church meetings. :) Blahahaha.  Um, yeah you do!

The picture for this week took a long time.  Several of us were originally in light clothes which blended in.  So we had to go at it a second time.  I rush everyone through the pictures each week keeping it small enough to be sustainable.  But this one took long enough to count as our entire FHE.  But isn't it funny?  Which one made you laugh hardest?

We tossed and turned!

Aleah had her Chinese Lantern festival this week at the school.  She was SOOO excited to design and make her lantern.  So.excited!  She couldn’t sleep the night before because she wanted to win so badly.  We don’t know if she won or not (or actually if it is even a competition).

We Yummed!

I think I told you that we discovered York Peppermint ice cream at Baskin Robbins.  They had an enormous container of mini York patties at Costco and I splurged so I could make some.  It was good!  That afternoon and evening was spent coaching Elise on setting boundaries with Adelyn.  Adelyn has monopolized and isolated Elise from anyone else.  Elise practiced and role played with lots of us.  But the best was when she actually delivered the boundary to Adelyn, she said something we hadn’t planned out.  Adelyn said that she thought they should go back and be with their old friend group and Elise said, “Adelyn, choosing my friends isn’t a group function.”  Elise got her very own batch of chocolate ice cream for digging deep and taking care of herself in a kind way.  Friday Adelyn pretended there had never been a conversation, so Elise has to work on enforcing.  It’s hard; she can be maneuvered by a three year old.  But being kind isn’t a problem really.

We healed!

I feel like a broken record, like you’re going to wonder if you accidentally opened an earlier email: Josie’s been sick this week.  Friday morning her fever spiked to 102.1 and she wanted to lay down in broad daylight.  I took her into the doctor and she had an earache (the one thing she WASN’T complaining about).  Dr. H said that preschoolers average 9 colds per year, mostly during the winter.  I guess that’s reassuring?  Though I filled the antibiotic perscription, I gave myself six hours to hit it hard nutritionally and her fever was gone.  She’s doing better, but will likely be sick again soon. ;)

We worked!

Believe it or not, Dad and I each planned about three day’s worth of work for yesterday.  Spring has returned and Dad is working to clear out the flower beds, the garden plots, put up grow boxes and fill them, trim and spray the fruit trees… We can’t send you a picture of the garage, because we haven’t moved into the shelves yet.  Hopefully soon.  Though the work wasn’t done last night, we went to see  a movie, Interstellar.  Eh.  It was long and supposed to be good.

We socialized.  Or at least Parker did.  He was busy all weekend.  Different groups of friends.  And Cambry did too.  She’s over at a boy’s house now.  And we're going to Grandma and Grandpa's this evening.

We suffered through daylight savings this morning.  I just sucked one hour off your life away.  How does that feel?

Let me know how you’re doing!  I’m wondering if I need to write less so you have more time to write more.  How are you holding up?  Do you still have diarrhea?

Love you,

Mom

Paper Post from Mom, March 4, 2015

Wednesday March 4, 2015

Sit with me for a minute as I replay my interactions and contemplations after spending a little time with Josie on a 100 piece “Sleigh Ride” puzzle after lunch today. 

J:  (spreading the puzzle pieces around on the coffee table she cleared herself for the project) Ok.  Now what do we do first.

M: (picking through the pieces, laying edge pieces to my right) First we sort out the edge pieces.  So when they have a flat edge like this, they go over here.  They help us put the picture together inside of the edge.

We worked for awhile getting the pieces placed.  Josie occasionally would get impatient and grab a piece from the middle section and try to fit it in.  I explained again to her the purpose of the edge and helped her work to place the pieces.  Once we had the frame completed, there was a little celebratory dance on her part.

J: (collecting pieces she recognized as the horse and sleigh) I want to put the horse together. 

Even though she had the majority of the pieces, this took her a little bit of effort.  And there were pieces that only had a shred of the horse’s nose, or were majority snow with part of the lower legs, which weren’t as easily picked out.  Still she diligently sorted, oriented, and placed the pieces together.  Meanwhile, while looking for horse pieces, I put the pieces that I initially thought might fit with hers together, revealing a snowman’s broom.  We’ve done the puzzle enough that I know where the horse section fits into the frame.  As the five-piece long section snapped into place, Josie let out a big, “Wahoo!” and a fist pump.

Still there were a lot of pieces sitting waiting to play their part in the picture. My instructions were this: it has to snap in easily and it has to fit both picture and shape.  That’s kind of abstract.  But your little sister is kind of amazing.  Sometimes she’d hold a piece, certain it fit where she wanted to progress on the picture.  Occasionally I had to assure that though the piece had a place, we just didn’t yet have the pieces it fits into placed.  She trustingly laid that piece aside and picked up a new one.

Josie and I spent about 30 minutes putting this puzzle together.  There was a little frustration, but there was a lot of celebration in high-fives, fist bumps, and “Good job!” and “you did it!” exclamations.

I realized that this puzzle project was a metaphor to our search for truth.  The gospel is our frame, the edge pieces that border our understanding.  We have some elements of the puzzle which are easy for us to put together, even our favorite parts of picture.  The Book of Mormon and the temple come to mind, I know how to make a picture snapping these pieces together.  Most of the time, I even know where they connect to the frame.  Sometimes we think we have pieces that fit with one element, but we find they actually belong with another. Then there are other beautiful elements that challenge us; pieces we have to try again and again, even where we’re certain we’ve already tried them.  And at the end of the puzzle, when there are two pieces left to manipulate, they go in right where we had tried and tried before.  We don’t have to see the big picture to know it will be beautiful and complete.  We don’t have to know where every piece fits right now, only that we are making progress. 

This is how my faith sits today:  Mosiah 4:9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

I love you, Riley.  I love that you are helping people in a distant land put some pieces of life together.  You are blessed to know what you know.

Love,

Mom

Since you've been gone... March 2, 2015

...things have been a little topsy-turvy.  Leadelle chose the theme this week.

From Dad March 1, 2015

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Dear Riley:

We enjoyed your last letter and had a good laugh over the rodent (rat?) in your bathroom.  I think I’d be pouring concentrated caustic down my drain before putting a heavy weight on top of the drain cover.  We’ve also enjoyed hearing of your continued adventures in Thai cuisine. Though, I confess you have your mother more than a little concerned over your willingness to order food blindly from a menu.  I assured her there is no epidemic of people coming to significant harm by engaging in such a practice.   We should also remember that there are many foods worldwide which, though unappetizing, would still be considered wholesome from a dietary requirement standpoint.  Anyway, as a missionary aren’t you supposed to be able to ingest poison and suffer no harm…?  I’m not suggesting that you tempt God, but imagine if you were to inadvertently place yourself at risk you might well be afforded an extra measure of protection.  

We just survived the first of the year birthday onslaught.  We wrapped up February with Parker’s Birthday celebration.  The meals, once he finally decided, were a somewhat eclectic combination of delectable creations.  He’s really doing well right now; growing up in stature and maturity.  He and Cambry have become good friends and he commented the other day on just how much he relies on her advice in navigating the treacherous waters of female relations.  He really is coming into his own and seems to be in a good place right now.  We just renewed his driving permit by paying for his actual license.  All that remains are his road hours and a parent’s signature.    

The weather here has been cold with snow flurries.  I think of the contrast between our climate and yours and can’t wait to hear about how hot the hot season is.  Bro. G was stationed in Thailand as a fighter pilot and spent a lot of time going back a forth between the US and Thailand.  He follows your experiences with interest and compares his experiences and impressions with yours.  He spoke of running in the pouring rain because he wasn’t getting any more wet by doing so.  It just was considerably more refreshing than sweat… 

We had a nice Sabbath worship today.  I was touched by the testimonies borne in ways which surprised me.  I realized I’m much more affected by the spirit and by elements of the restoration, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon.  I guess I’m in mourning and wish all my loved ones were willing to feel what is so vivid and real in my spiritual journey.  The blessings of the gospel in my life are quantifiable, measurable and undeniable.  I seek guidance and it comes.  I ask and it is given in many instances.  I have been told things through the Spirit which I couldn’t have known any other way.  I have seen prophecy fulfilled and experienced pure knowledge being poured into my mind in which I understood things which I lacked the capacity to explain.  This is the spiritual oil spoken of in Christ’s parable which can’t be shared and it’s both sad and frustrating.  All we can do is pray, invite, testify, and love. 

Well, dinner’s on I need to go.  Salmon for breaking the fast!  Sorry, I’ll eat an extra portion for you.  Below is a message I contributed to the Ward Messenger you might appreciate.  Sure love and miss you, but there is nothing I would desire more for you right now than to be engaged in this work.  Stay obedient and humble.  God will work miracles through you.

Love,

Dad

 Faith, Testimony, and the World

This winter I undertook a project in my garage which necessitated a relocation of much of its contents.  As I removed a large sheet of Slatwall hanging against some unfinished drywall I noticed a small portion of drywall behind it and up against the ceiling with no paper facing.  This was a new development since I installed the Slatwall a number of years ago, so I examined the area more closely.  Dirt tailings, very small trails of black spots, and a nearly imperceptible dirt shelter tunnel leading from a crack in the floor up the foundation wall behind my refrigerator confirmed my suspicions.  I had termites!  Removing several sheets of drywall revealed the full extent of the damage  Fortunately, I had caught it early enough to stop the progress in its tracks.  Though damage was extensive in parts, the vital structural components of the home had not been compromised.  As I set about cleaning up and taking steps to arrest the progress of these small but insidious creatures, I was impressed by their capacity to undermine the integrity of a structure which had endured for decades, and which, with proper care, could last for many decades more.  I noted their aversion to light, and how they went to great lengths to create a world sheltered from the light.  There in the darkness, unnoticed, unencumbered, they went to work.  Left unchallenged it would only be a matter of time before the termites brought significant portions of the house down.

Two weeks ago, someone very dear to me sent a long letter announcing his decision to leave the Church.  This was quite a shock and seemed an extraordinarily rapid transformation from full belief in the Gospel to questioning the very existence of God.  Most members in my immediate and extended family were un-swayed by the arguments and conclusions drawn.  Some could quickly discern the obvious fallacies and holes in his logic.  I wondered at the contrast between those firmly rooted in the faith and those with a shaky foundation and how one individual could be so radically moved, while another could remain so wholly unaffected.  It occurred to me that while on the surface the departure appeared rapid, more obscure elements had been at work over a longer period; Elements, working in darkness which were allowed to go unchallenged, unchecked;  Elements which had been eating away at the structural integrity of his faith and testimony.

So, what steps can we take to counteract the eroding influence of the world on faith and testimony?  Just as termites seek the darkness while they perform their destructive work, those who fight against God and deny the atonement of Christ, also walk in darkness.  As such, it is no surprise that the things of God appear foolish to them.  Christ stated “I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” (D&C 10:58).  In contrast God promises “if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.” (D&C 88:67)

I suppose we could conclude from these scriptures that if we’re not yet full of light and don’t comprehend all things, then our eye is not yet single to God’s glory.  Perhaps a few introspective questions would help us adjust our focus.  Do we place greater importance on the things of God than we do the things of the world?  Do we honestly strive to be obedient to God’s commandments?  Do we properly repent when we fail to please God?  Are we honest in our tithes and offerings?  Do we seek to draw near to God through fasting and prayer?  Do we regularly pray in faith with sufficient intent to reach the heavens?  Do we avoid offending the Spirit and are we quick to follow its promptings?  Are we willing to acknowledge God’s hand in our lives?  Do we truly feast on the word of God and is it delicious to us?  Do we selflessly serve others and are we engaged in a good cause?  In short, do we serve God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength?

These are the things which build faith, testimony, and understanding. These are the things which produce sweet fruits within the gospel framework.  These are the things which allow us to discern between the wisdom of God and the philosophies of the world.  These are the things, which if neglected, will gradually but steadily eat away at our faith and testimony.  That we may commit to strengthen our faith against the eroding effects of the world by keeping our eyes single to God’s glory is my continued prayer.

Bishop Parish

From Mom March 3, 2015

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Dear Riley,

I’m sorry to tell you that your paper picture will arrive a couple days late next week.  That’s just how the week flowed. 

We’ve had a good week here at home.  There was very little PTA business in my week, how to fill those extra hours?

I think I’ll tell you about the good, better and best of our week.

Good:

Josie landed some very quotable spots here.  Her word for the week was fa-shun-a-bowl.  Freshly applied lipstick smudged from her lips to Dad’s during their morning good-bye kiss.  “Oh, Dad, you look fashionable!”  Then to me, “Dad looks fashionable and a little ugly.”

“Elise, you squirted a laugh out of me!”

Then as we were driving home from Kneaders down in the river bottoms Friday, Josie excitedly announced, “Oh, Mom!  I see a walk.  Right there.  See that walk?”  She could see the river trail.  As we got closer to home, she wished she was big and could push ME in the stroller on that walk; she would love to do that.

Grandma and Grandpa Parish wanted to play with us Monday night as we took the family picture.  Even more fun!

Guess which one of your friends said this after running into Cambry on campus:  Oh, I love that your family posts those pictures each week.  I start prowling Monday evening, checking did they post it yet, is it posted yet?  Yes! Like, like, like, like.

Better:

Parker turned 17.  Dad and I giggled as we fell asleep that night.  He is coming to a new stage of self-determination.  I had all kinds of difficulty pinning him down for a meal plan.  He knew with certainty that he wanted golden rod eggs for breakfast.  And he knew he wanted lemon cake with lemon mousse and raspberries for filling, and whipped frosting.  But he could not settle on a dinner.  For days.  He actually said orange chicken for 12 hours or so, but I kept at him remembering how he complained when Cambry and Elise would ask for that.  Shrimp scampi was in the line-up for about a day.  And then he settled on reuben sandwiches the morning of his birthday.  I got the rye bread down at kneaders and the sandwiches were delicious.

Parker made a rose in metal shop, it’s cool and perhaps dangerous.  And he got a driver’s permit that converts instantly to a driver’s license once I sign that he has his 40 hours.  His old permit was lost in the wash.

Cambry has $38 in her account.  And we had to float a loan to help her pay her next installment for London.  But I didn’t feel worried that she wouldn’t come up with the funds for her program.  I started our taxes and remembered the accountant telling me to claim her as a dependent and get the tax credits for tuition.  She can’t claim them herself because she doesn’t itemize her deductions.  So that added $2500 to our tax refund which we will apply to her program.  It was a wonderful blessing which brought tears to her eyes.

AB arrived in town this week and she was accepted to BYU Friday.  She was not accepted into the voice program there though, so she is also looking at UVU, auditioning there this week.  M and L brought her to our house for leftover dinner last night.  I’m still working out how much food to make. ;)

Best:

All of the temple eligible people in our home made it to the temple this week.  I went mid-week.  Grandma took Josie during nap that day so I could spend a couple hours in a session.  I just felt peace and understanding.  Dad went with Parker and Elise with the youth Thursday.  They were so late getting back that they are moving to Friday this week. 

The lemon cake I made for Parker was astoundingly delicious.  I made the fluffy whipped frosting, but added lemon juice to the milk base and it was Oh. My. Goodness. Crazy good.

Saturday morning I had to shop groceries, a grievous burden as I had been out Friday for Parker’s birthday, but I didn’t have time to do the full shop.  So I made myself a deal:  If I could get out and get it all done by 10, I could take a long walk, with the stroller of course, down the river.  I made it and all the kids came with me.  Parker rode his bike, Elise and Aleah were on scooters, Cambry and I on foot.  We walked all the way down to the end of the trail.  Ahhhh.  Once I hit the water, tension loosens in my shoulders and I smile and breathe the cold, arid air.  What a happy moment.

Dad and I had a date last night. We got off too late to see a show since we’d had company.  So we rented the Maze Runner and watched it by ourselves down at work.  I can see why Sis Berrett saw you in the main character.  I kind of missed you for that.

I have a few questions:

1. Do you fast with no water there? Dad said they were told to drink during their fasts to avoid kidney stones.
2. How is that investigator that you had a baptismal date of March 8 doing? And how is Sis Ploy?
3. Do you know if you’ll be going to transfer meeting this week?
4. Is the rodent issue resolved? That’s a little crazy.
5. Parker got locked out of your notes on your phone. Can he have the PIN?

I love you.  I hope you have a good week.  We pray for you all the time.  I hope you are receiving the gift of tongues.

Love,

Mom