Since you've been gone... June 29, 2015

...we're having fun, fun, fun until Daddy takes the Plymouth away.

This was Dad's choice.

From Dad June 28, 2015

June 28, 2015

Re:  Letter 30 of 3

Dear Riley:

Two deaths and two funerals within a week and I get sick the day after the last memorial service!  I wouldn’t be surprised if the added stress was a major contributing factor.  It had a pretty good hold on me for a few days  I think it’s on the run now, but it moved into my bronchioles so I’ve lost my voice and have a pretty horrible cough.  I felt so poorly that I missed a day and a half of work mostly just sleeping.

Things with work are busy.  The double cone dryer we bought is now hung from an engineered structure.  (I don’t think we had this before you left.)  It’s a 4,000 lb piece of equipment, so moving it, flipping it, and lifting it into position was no small engineering feat.  Tomorrow an electrician is supposed to wire it up.  We have a few parts on order with a long lead time, but we’re making good progress.  

It’s really good to have Parker there and we’re putting him through the numerous trials to manhood.  He’s currently at level 11 out of about 80.  We have to laugh though.  He’s going a little wild on the scaring thing.  We tried to gently explain that sometimes we go for a very long time without scaring anyone and that’s ok.  Sometimes less IS more.  I finally demonstrated that it’s really a mind game and you can have a pretty good laugh without scaring anyone by setting an expectation that never materializes.  We left Gus upstairs at the end of work but slightly opened all the doors which were normally closed, mostly closed doors which were usually open.  Turned out all the lights on the way to the door, then sat in the front office and waited.  Gus figured something was up, so his spider senses were on high alert.  Once he had verified from the office window that our vehicle was still parked in front, he took a long time to get to the front office so as not to be caught off guard.  Every corner, every hallway, and every doorway was suspect.  We laughed and laughed over how much tension was built just by setting the expectation, and then doing nothing.

Well, summer is officially here and we’re breaking the 100 mark.  Thank goodness for air conditioning.   I’ve planted a lot of things throughout the garden, but only filled and planted one garden box.  It’s doing remarkably well, so I’m working to fill the other three completed garden boxes.  This involved a load of topsoil and composted horse manure to combine with peat moss, rock dust, and vermiculite.  It’s still early enough to get some late season crops planted and I’m looking forward to a bountiful harvest.  Speaking of gardening, the earwigs have been particularly troublesome this year largely in part to the heavy rains late in spring.  I discovered a new favorite weapon against earwigs.  I have long heard that diatomaceous earth is deadly to numerous crawling insects, but didn’t know how much they hate it.  I didn’t want to spray any insecticide on my lettuce so finally got some diatomaceous earth and sprinkled it between the leaves.  They came boiling out of the plants and were running all over the garden.  The following day I couldn’t find a single earwig in my lettuce, or any in the near vicinity.  Great trick!  I also feel ahead of the game against mites in my apples and  the peach tree borer in the apricot tree.  Bees are still a challenge.  I had no idea it was so hard to establish a stable colony.  They do it all the time in nature without any help from us.  Now it seems near impossible to get a viable egg laying queen.  I’ll keep working on it.

We’ve been enjoying Cambry.  She still has jetlag and I think it will be some time before she’s interested in traveling outside of the country.  It was quite an adventure getting her home in spite of the protests and inability to get back to London.  As it worked out, she got a nonstop flight out of Paris and the extra costs associated with the disruption will be reimbursed through our credit card which has trip disruption insurance.  She simply LOVES being home.

Well, we love you and pray for your success and safety.  Can’t wait for you letter and we loved your last one.  Stay the course, work every day to the very end, and blessings will flow to you.  I’m picking the picture this week, and think you’ll like it.  Take care!

Love,

Dad

From Mom June 28, 2015 Cambry's Home!

June 28, 2015

Dear Riley,

I bought a silver laptop for work before you left on your mission because my red laptop was breaking.  I have wanted to switch over to the new computer for some time now, but there was this one big problem: power.  Man!  Somehow the power cord to the new laptop disappeared before we sent you out.  And I couldn’t find it anywhere.  I thought perhaps in a rush cleanup, it ended up in the garage.  But I’ve gone through everything, even the stuff that isn’t yet in it’s place and the cord wasn’t there.  Blah!  Now what?  Well yesterday it became imperative that I find it because Aleah tripped on the cord of the red computer while it was plugged in and the liquid in the lcd ruptured under the glass destroying the display.  I have to do payroll this week, so I have to solve the problem.  I looked everywhere I hadn’t looked yet: the entry way closet, the shed, and finally -- Dad’s closet.  Yup.  It was there.  It had fallen back behind the gun safe.

That little story is kind of indicative of a lot of things that happened this week.  Unexpected stimulus makes previously planned action impossible, but the solution is out there and just needs to be found.

Monday was KK’s funeral.  It was a hard day for me.  I played the flute with SM on piano as the opening song.  I wanted to play perfectly and prayed that I could.  I only made one little note bobble which wasn’t distracting.  Sister LP spoke, KP sang a song.  Dad spoke.  I did feel the Spirit in the service, but mostly I just felt empty. We were mostly holding a service to people who either outright don’t believe or who have not practiced any religion the better part of their lives.  It was something like the pattering of rain on glass windows: it can be seen as it’s happening, but there is a barrier to the thirsty soul on the other side. I do believe there was some comfort to those who came seeking.

Tuesday I went up to Ogden to see my ENT up there.  As I was sitting in the waiting room I got a text from Cambry that she was stuck in Paris trying to get over to London for her flight home.  There was a labor strike and protesters had lit a fire on the train tracks.  She waited on the train an hour and a half and ultimately, they had everyone exit the train because they couldn’t run it.  The earliest train they could hope to offer Cambry was too late to catch her plane in London.  So I had her go to the international airport in Paris.  (She was traveling alone just that day!) There was no way she could get to London: the train wasn’t running, the tunnel was closed because of the protests, the ferries were shut down before the train, and all flights were booked until Thursday morning.  I called Delta and while they had told me before that changing her flight would cost me $600, the second time I called when we knew for certain that she wouldn’t make her flight, the lady was so helpful.  They waved the $300 change fee and got her on a direct flight from Paris the next morning with a $300 rate increase. The original fare was purchased on my credit card and has trip interruption insurance through that. So I should be reimbursed for the $300.

There wasn’t a hotel room anywhere in Paris because of the displaced thousands just like Cambry.  So Cambry spent the night in a closed cafe in the airport with about 15 others and flew home nonstop with missionaries headed home.  She arrived in Salt Lake eight hours ahead of her original itinerary. It did take me all of Tuesday to work things out. But all’s well that ends well!  We’re so happy to have her home!!! I spent Wednesday just enjoying being with her.

Oh happy day: Cambry is home!

Josie's gift was an ABC book about London.

Cambry said this owl scarf just looked like Aleah to her.  I think it was probably the big eyes!

Elise got the tea set Cambry used for our tea party picture.

I got Swiss chocolate for my gift.  But you can see I wasn't all that jazzed as you can plainly see.

Sometimes I find pictures on my camera that I didn't take.  This was one of those.  Cambry also gave Cornish honey to Dad and Parker but I was done taking pictrues by the time they got their gifts.

Dad got sick this week.  Poor fellow.  Too much stress with two deaths in twelve hours.  Today he’s mostly better.

Friday was the best day of the week:  I took Cambry and the girls to Seven Peaks with friends.  There was a special that pass holders could bring a friend for free.  I packed a lunch and we spent a few hours running from the oppressive heat.  It was great.  Josie took Cambry and I to the tadpole pools with the blue cement slides.  She slid down the little slide between pools a couple of times with help.  Then she was emphatic: I can do it myself.  She slid down and her head went under the water.  She sputtered and blinked and confessed: I was wrong. The girls missed you while we were there, though.

SJA had her baby yesterday.  Crazy, huh?  Cambry was able to go see them yesterday.  Those are pretty special times.

Aleah made Josie a paper doll princess for a quiet activity.  It is so cute: she drew a princess in some long underwear that goes down the the knees like bloomers.  Then she cut out many dresses to fit the form in different styles and colors.  How cute is that?

Parker had the super activity this week.  They went down to Moab and Goblin Valley. MR sent Dad a picture last night from the trip that I wanted to share with you.  I’ll try to work it out.  Parker had a great time.  MR, who came as support to KK and DS, had the boys in water in the heat of the day and their biking or hiking was all early morning and late evening.

That’s pretty much been us.  Did you have those baptisms today, then?  I hope you’re doing well and your investigators are progressing.

We love and miss you,

Mom

PS - The dust bowl era picture has been called the Grapes of Wrath photo in our home.  

Well the ward choir sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic today.  They sang really well and at the end, Josie said she really loved that music.  But the funniest part was when she heard, "He is trampling out the vinetage where the grapes of wrath are stored" Josie brightened up and said, "Grapes of Wrath. Ha."

See the culturing the project brings?

Since you've been gone... June 22, 2015

...we're seeking higher ground.

This was Mom's week.  (But if everyone hadn't carried mom, it wouldn't have come out so nice.)  

BTW - that is the Matterhorn in Cambry's picture.  The real one, not the one in Disneyland.  Just in case. ;)

From Dad June 21, 2015

June 21, 2015

Re:  Letter 29 of 3

Dear Riley:

Last Sunday I was sitting with Bro. JM who commented that he was filled with a little apprehension over what might be coming since we hadn’t had a funeral for so long.  I told him I called it mortal tension which was building to a breaking point and said I felt as though someone had a rubber band stretched out with one end just inches away from my eye.  Not a comfortable feeling…  Hours later, I received a text that Bro. M was in the final stages and went over to their home.  Something interesting took place in his home while I was there.   

I have been present on occasions while he spoke openly of his failings and expressed regret for his weaknesses and past mistakes.  Though Bro. M and I were always friendly, there were things upon which he and I never did see eye to eye… Yet in his final days I had the opportunity to be in his home and assist in giving him a priesthood blessing in which he was released from this mortal sphere.  In the minutes that followed, as I held his hand and looked at this man I had a wave of emotion wash over me and was filled with love for this person; who in all his weakness, with all the limitations imposed by circumstance, exercise of agency, and the frailties of an imperfect mortal body… had done enough.  I had a distinct impression that his offering to God in all its weakness was sufficient and acceptable to his Heavenly Father, and that when coupled with the offering of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, J and his offering would be made glorious; That his union with his dear wife in the Holy Temple could be sanctioned by the Holy Spirit of Promise.  And that he could with confidence rely on the promises laid out in the 19^th verse of the 132^nd section of the D&C:

“…Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths…it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.”

I don’t feel like it was a judgment, simply a peace and quiet reassurance through the Spirit of the blessed and happy state of all those who seek to follow the Savior.

This is sharp contrast to what the world offers.  Just 24 hours later, KK had come home from spending a few hours with her mother and was found dead in the bathtub just 40 minutes later.  The circumstances and situation were heart-wrenching.  I had the words of scripture run through my mind:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

There simply is no comparison to what the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers and the peace that it brings even in the face of extreme difficulty and sorrow.  I just had the M funeral yesterday and will have the K funeral tomorrow. 

JC reported on his mission today in Sacrament meeting.  He brought a wonderful spirit to our worship and it’s apparent that he was an excellent missionary.  You can see it in his countenance and feel it in his testimony.  It impressed upon me how when these young men leave as boys and give there all to their Heavenly Father, they return as men and brothers in the Lord  There is nothing I would rather you be doing than serving a mission at this time of your life.     

Well, this letter has been pretty long about not much.  We’re doing extremely well.  Cambry comes home on Wednesday. Parker leaves the following day for a Moab and Goblin Valley super activity.  By the way, he’s growing like a weed and just started combing his hair.  He looks great, but you might not recognize him.  Josie is sweet and sitting on my lap while I type.  She gets down every couple minutes to go and make me another Father’s Day card.  Life is so good and we feel so blessed. 

We sure loved your last letter and think it’s wonderful that things are taking off in an area historically not noted for missionary success.  Things like this happened on my mission and these areas eventually became the coveted assignments where every missionary longed to serve.  Keep up the good work.  Great things are in store for you and the work in Thailand.

Love,

Dad 

From Mom June 21, 2015

June 21, 2015

Hi Riley! 

It’s Father’s Day today.  I sure hope you appreciate your father and recognize how unusually committed he has always been to God, me, and you children.  You are a lucky kid.  Today in JC’s talk he tied his mission into Father’s Day by telling us that all he ever wanted was to be like his dad who is a convert and who served a mission.  By the way Bro C talked about his mission, J always knew how important those two years had always been to him.  It was really touching.

We’ve had a busy week.  Ward stuff has been intense.  Plus normal life.

I sent the girls to dance camp Monday through Wednesday this week.  Josie danced from 9 – 10:30 and Elise and Aleah would dance from 10:45 – 3.  Josie didn’t love her dance camp.  She doesn’t like being told to stand on a spot.  She would really rather tell everyone what to do than to be told.  And at the performance on Wednesday when another girl in the group told Josie she was crowding her, Josie just thought she was plain mean.

Elise and Aleah loved dance camp.  They would like to study dance further.  Elise is built for ballet and she looks so graceful down to her fingertips.  But she doesn’t really enjoy ballet, she likes modern dance. Aleah is a hip hop fan.  They worked hard and really enjoyed the time.

The ward business has been just almost overwhelming.  Just after FHE and sending you our picture, Sis B called at our house to alert us to the death of KK.  Oh it is so sad.  All that potential lost.  I will play the flute with Sis M on piano for the memorial service tomorrow.  Dad is at the viewing right now.

Brother M’s funeral came off really well.  Dad shared with you his remarks.  I was really touched by what he said.  There was much mention of forgiveness from the children.  But there was also recognition of the gift he gave them in the gospel as well as his diligence in working to support them sometimes three jobs at a time.  That is honorable.

We had such a treat Tuesday to visit with DJ before he left his mission.  He looks great.  He said you haven’t been exchanging emails but just once or twice.  But his last letters have been so tender and touching.  He has been a good missionary.  He said that he got really good at asking members questions which would help them find people.  He would ask for names of people who are not members but who have been to church before.  There were several other questions which I don’t remember.  Drat.  I was going to send them right away before I forgot, but it’s been busy here.

Watch Josie's expression.  I'm pretty sure DJ pinched her.

We’re all looking forward to Cambry coming home Wednesday this week.  She has discovered so much there, especially who she is.  I’m glad she has taken this opportunity.  This past week the program was over and she has toured Paris with a group of girls and is now in Switzerland with one roommate from the program.  Cambry had the most French in the group and was able to communicate with them sufficiently many times, though she said her head hurt at the end of the day.

Parker still doesn’t have his phone replaced.  He really wants to keep that old phone and would rather hold on to that possibility than move forward.  I dunno.  But having no phone has significantly increased the amount of time we have face to face with him, so no big complaints from me.

We’ve had a lot of fighting this week.  I’ve been tired and stressed and the kids are at each other all the time.  Dad’s been unavailable so much of the time.  Josie has a fever and sore throat and a runny nose.  I still haven’t made plans for summer trips and summer will be over by the time I get around to it I’m afraid.  Grrr.  But I did get my old sewing table moved down to the craft room yesterday along with the fabric from the garage.  (Two days, max, left on garage.)  The craft room and storage room are really mostly done.  Phew.  Now if I could just get a little time to do the last 5%.  That’s the hardest part of any project, the last 5%.  And the most rewarding.  My goal was to complete the garage by the time Cambry comes home.  Pressure!

We had salmon tonight for Dad’s dinner.  I thought of you as I turned the fish on the barbeque, how you wanted to serve a mission where fish is a frequent menu item.  I bet you done good on that one!  I made more rhubarb pies.  I made one just for Grandpa P because he loved the last one so much; that is his Father’s Day gift.

Well, I hope you have a wonderful week.  I was so excited to read of the exciting action in your area.  We pray for you all the time.  I hope you feel the Spirit directing you in the things you say.  Love and serve your companion.  Love your members.  Serve, serve, serve!

I love you,

Paper Post from Mom June 18, 2015

June 18, 2015

Dear Riley,

Do you remember that cute board book we used to have about opposites where you would slide out or up the contrast to the page?  Up/down, big/small, in/out, full/empty, long/short… I’ve been thinking about this concept in our world that is so simple a child can learn and so complex we can continue discovering our whole lives through.

There is not power or element in this life that I can think of that has no opposite.  The description of the creation is a series of dividing into opposites: light/dark, earth/sea, male/female, two trees that bring life or death.  But even if you didn’t accept creation as laid out in Genesis, we all experience cold and hot, wet and dry, hunger and satiety, weary and rested, tropical and arid, mountain and plain. There are still male and female (usually pretty easily determined ;), life and death, sickness and health all of the time everywhere.  You cannot live without experiencing opposites in many ways each day and countless ways through the seasons and years we are given on earth.

In 2 Nephi, Lehi explains to his sons that there must be opposition in all things so that we can be enticed by one or the other.  It came to my mind this week as I pondered this truth that all things do denote that there is a God.  We certainly know the power of evil in our world.  We see it portrayed across nations and in communities.  We also know there is great mercy and generosity in humankind.  It doesn’t make sense for there to not be an orderer, a divider in God.  And thereby, there must be a force of evil in opposition.  I believe we are given all of these contrasts to draw our minds to the precision creation requires.  I believe it is to draw us to God.

We too are being divided in this life. We are given a sense in our hearts of the correctness of decisions that bring us closer to God as well as a warning when we are leaving safe ground.  We either let the mostly temporary trials of life deepen our faith and dependence upon God or we decide He isn’t real.

And there will come a perfect day when we are either cleansed through our faith and reliance on the atonement of Christ or we find ourselves unworthy to dwell with that God who gave us a sense of Himself in countless ways and through many witnesses in this life through a veil of forgetfulness.

We always have choice and we are always choosing.  Some of the hardest realizations come when we are not honestly squaring with ourselves about those choices. 

It’s something to think about, isn’t it?

I love you,

Mom

Dance Camp 2015

I decided to let the girls explore dance this summer.  It's been years since Elise had any dance and she is the only one of the younger girls to have had any.  So I put them in a three day camp.  Here are their performances.

We learned some things:  Josie likes leaping over flowers.  She doesn't like having to stand on a spot.  She thinks it mean of a girl to tell her she's crowding.  And she would rather be the teacher.

Also we learned that though Elise is built for ballet, it's her least favorite discipline.  She does like modern dance.  And Aleah likes hip hop.

Hip Hop

Modern Dance small groups

Modern Dance small groups

Jazz

Ballet

Creative -- each girl choreographed 2 x 8-counts and taught them to the rest

Since you've been gone... June 15, 2015

...we're building each other up.

We swapped weeks so Cambry could chose this week's picture.

From Dad June 14, 2015

June 14, 2015

Re:  Letter 28 of 3

Dear Riley:

Wow! Can you believe it?  It’s already the middle of June.  We just wrapped up Orem Summerfest.  The kids always love it, and the entertainment in the park was a cut above past years.  Ryan Shupe was the Grand Marshal and somewhat of a local celebrity who has achieved some fame outside of Utah and even recognition within some national circles.  He played on Friday night with his Rubberband (Bluegrass style music and singing).  We liked it well enough to buy one of his disks afterward.  Jose LOVES the music and was going nuts listening to it.  Granted, she was a little hopped on sugar and artificial dyes, but still adorable to watch.  She was having so much fun that she decided she wanted to share it with me and asked me to dance with her.  Admittedly I was a little more reserved and inhibited than she was.  She kept pulling on me asking me to “Stand up and dance with her…” We were fairly close to the front with a thousand people or more behind us.  I made up for a somewhat shabby showing on my part after dark and when I didn’t feel so conspicuous.  We went Crazy!  Jose devoured the Summerfest experience and was concerned she was going to miss out on some aspect of it.  I think she rode on every kiddy ride and would only get ready for bed last night once she was convinced that she could stay up and watch the fireworks.  The fireworks were a significant improvement over past years, no doubt on account of our new mayor.  So, elections do have consequences….Ha ha.

Well, I just got word that JM is in final stages of passing, got to go.  I know Mom filled you in on some of the things going on at work and around the home.  Sure do love you and hope you have an amazing experience in your new area. 

Love,

Dad

From Mom June 14, 2015: Summerfest!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Dear Riley,

Hi son!  How are you doing?  How’s the work and the weather and the food and the ward?  How are your feet and your butt (biking area, right?) holding up?  Are you still finding new fascinating fruits?

Things are good at home.  We just celebrated Summerfest as you can tell from the pictures I’ve been sending you.  The weather was just about perfect, which was a change.  We were hot in the sun which was abundant, comfortable in the shade, and needed no jacket in the evening as we participated in activities.  That was so nice.  Finally!  This afternoon it’s clouded over and looks to rain… again.

The girls and I went over to the park Friday afternoon.  I had sent them with money to buy tickets and ride early like I usually do.  But as I was heading out with Josie and the stroller basket of snacks and other needful things, the girls were coming home.  They thought the tickets were too expensive and so they didn’t want to buy them without me knowing the cost.  They were $.75 per ticket again.  And the little carrousel required 3 tickets.  But it’s Summerfest, for crying out loud!

JW took this photo for me from the ferris wheel.  How thoughtful!

M and L met us after our dinner break (I made the yummy lemon/lime sherbet for when we got home: YUM!) and M wanted to ride rides together.  The ferris wheel line was long, so we decided to try the other rides.  M decided her best choice would be the tornado.  Um, I had vertigo last month…. BUT I didn’t have it!!!!  I don’t.  I had tested my balance recovery Monday at the Discovery Park with the girls on the tire swing.  I felt whoosy, but not unbalanced if that makes sense.

After the ride, we went and listened to Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band and they play bluegrass.  It was a great concert and I’m glad we went.  I bought a CD after the concert.  Josie couldn’t help herself and had to dance/jump/fall into other people’s laps.  Good times.

Sadly, Elise came down with a virus at the concert and had a headache, stomachache, and fever for the rest of Summerfest.  So she and Parker missed the parade.  This is likely a good thing because Aleah and Josie carted off enough taffy and other parade candy to support all of the dentists in Orem themselves.  They were sad to learn they had missed the Kid History guys.

We did spend three hours at the dentist this week getting checked up and cleaned up. Parker was the only cavity and it was just one.  But his wisdom teeth are coming in horizontally on the bottom:  oral surgery soon.   I overheard Josie instructing Dad the night after the dentist, “Wait! I need to floss!  Because when you brush your teeth, you should floss them also…  There.  Now you wash it off and use it again.”  And last night she told me while flossing that you have to go up and down twice.  I think I heard her entire visit with her hygienist over the week.

One of the highlights this week was when JC dropped in to borrow a ladder and we had him sit down and tell us about his mission.  That was so great.  He was a great missionary.  The trial on his mission was feeling the Spirit working in people, knowing they knew, but watching them quench and refuse.  He said the first time that happened he went home and just cried.  And the best thing for him was teaching and feeling the Spirit work through him to touch another.  That he mentioned after all the love he felt for the people he served.  I can tell in so many ways that he has developed into a worthy young man.

I spent some time planning the remodel.  Yes, hard floor covering the entire main level is the plan.  I think I’ve picked out the one I want and it looks like I will get a deal on that.  Phew.  It’s all kind of sudden in specifics, but in generals has been considered for some time.  There’s still a lot to do to get things started. 

The best thing that happened to Elise this week was that she was given a perfect 10 by Sister M in her piano practicing.

The worst thing that happened to Parker this week was the remorseful death of the Samsung Galaxy Relay.  He was at the park with A and decided to roll down the hill one last time on impulse.  But he didn’t take his phone out of his pocket.  It still sounds, but you can’t see anything.  And he doesn’t want to change phones…. is resistant to change there.  So the problem isn’t solved because that is an “old” phone now and not really worth spending money to fix.  But he wants that keypad!

The best thing for dad was getting the double cone dryer into place!!!! We’re moving along.  Dad’s been burdened this week with bishop thoughts.  He just got word that JM is dying and is headed over.  But that’s sudden, not what’s been on his mind all week.

We’ve eaten a few peas from the garden.  Yum.  Josie loves to go out and harvest with Dad and she knows just what she’s after:  Dad can I come out there with you and pick some peas?  She shares them readily which is nice.

Sorry for the dearth in printed pictures.  I have them...  I’ll send them. This week.  All of them.  J  I got off because the Memorial Day one is too low resolution to print a 5x7 and that held me up for a bit accepting the imperfection.  But I’m over it.

Your word for the week, or really mine since it was pointed out to me in the temple yesterday, is redemption.  I’m thinking somewhere in the recesses of my spiritual consciousness about it and what it means to mankind generally and me specifically.

And one more sweet thing, AK spoke today about keeping the Sabbath day holy and she shared that scripture in Isaiah about it being a delight.  She mentioned at the end that ever so significant phrase, “thou shalt turn away from doing thy pleasure on my holy day...”

[[Here from Elder Nelson’s talk which she quoted: When Isaiah described the Sabbath as “a delight,” he also taught us how to make it delightful.  He said:

“If thou turn away … from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, … and shalt honour [the Lord], not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: “Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.”]]

A shared a sweet experience from last year when she was traveling for dance.  She said that they were in NY and were just eating out.  They shared a room with another dancer and her mom to cut costs.   When they went to leave Sunday morning to get something to eat, they asked the others if they were coming.  They said they wouldn’t be buying food that day.  They had stopped at a grocery store on the way home and bought enough food to get them through the day.  A said that while she and her mom were eating yummy waffles, they were back in the room eating cup of noodles with water heated in the coffee machine.  She cried and said how she appreciated that example.  The Spirit witnessed of the truth she shared.

It’s time for me to be at Grandma’s for the birthday bash.  I love you so much.  I love the gospel you preach.  I love the Savior and desire to share that love.  Thanks for being a missionary!

Love,

Mom

PS -- I didn't know if I'd have time to share this.  But you're not on and it'll just take a minute.  Josie has been practicing the word expensive since Friday when the girls came home without riding at the Summerfest carnival.  J and JW waited in line next to them for the Ferris Wheel and Josie said, "the rides are so expensive!"  all indignant.

Then today when I was doing her hair for church she picked out two white little ponies.  She explained, "The white ones are expensive.  But.  I am expensive too.  So, that's ok."

Sing "that's too expensive" to yourself and laugh.

Since you've been gone... June 8, 2015

...we're having some fun. (Cambry is having her own kind of fun with a pound of strawberries and a patch of her favorite green.)

Josie chose this one.

From Dad June 6, 2015

June 7, 2015

Re:  Letter 27of 3

Dear Riley:

One week of summer vacation behind us and one major summer event already in the bag.  Friday and Saturday I was at Stake Youth Conference.  It was held up at Heber Valley Camp and was well organized and executed.  The weather was a little cold, and this was the first time I can remember in a long while that I was shaking with cold.  (Granted, I had loaned my jacket to be chivalrous.), but the wind was bitter and cut through all my layers.  What a camp!  Every time I visit Heber Valley Camp I’m impressed with the facilities and vision behind it.  I had been wondering how much money went into its construction and one of the missionaries started talking about it  He said they don’t have an exact number, but that it is second only to the Conference Center and in excess of $100,000,000.  The construction is top notch and way over engineered for Seismic and meteorological events.  It made me feel pleased to be part of such an organization.

Parker has been working for me a week now and seems to be settling in well.  It’s good to have him and I already notice a difference in the projects I’ve not had time to get to yet.  I’ve decided to use him in fabricating some useful tools for production, which is something he’s quite excited about.  However, first things first, and he hasn’t been able to the exciting projects yet.  I have him working on less exciting menial tasks which we would need to address whether he was there or not.  This is good experience for him and I’m sure will prepare him for missionary service as he does important things which aren’t particularly enjoyable or exciting.  He IS excited over earning money and should have a good sum at the end of summer.

The Cs are back in town for the summer and it’s good to have them.  J is back from Arkansas and has matured both physically and spiritually.  There’s a new confidence and brightness in his countenance which comes only from being a good missionary.  He looks great and we look forward to his report within a couple weeks. 

The quorums are slowly growing and for the first time in Parker’s Aaronic Priesthood experience they had more people than were needed for the fast offering routes.  We had combined Priesthood today, and didn’t have a class room big enough for the AP to meet.  Every other week it seems we are getting another deacon or advancement within the Aaronic Priesthood. 

I’m tired and zoning even as I type, but it has been a good Sunday  Being Bishop has been the best, busiest, and most extraordinary calling I’ve ever had.  I’m continually amazed by the fruits of the gospel and the blessings being poured out upon us.  I’m puzzled from time to time by those who aren’t experiencing the fullness of the gospel fruits in their lives and who struggle with testimony and faith.  If people could just believe enough to do, open their eyes to see, and give credit to God as His hand is manifest in their lives, amazing things would happen in their lives.  Sadly, or at least understandably I can’t pour what I feel so deeply into their hearts and minds.  This is truly spiritual oil which cannot be shared.  It warms my heart to hear how people’s lives are being changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the better, half way around the world in Thailand and I’m grateful for your faithful service.     

The garden is looking good and we’ll be eating our first crop of peas and lettuce by the end of the week.  Frustratingly I beat back the snails, only to end up battling the baby grasshoppers and they’re having a fiesta with my lettuce leaves.  Four garden boxes are completed with one more slated to be finished by midsummer.  The apples are large and abundant and ready for thinning and your Mother just made rhubarb pie with our first pick of rhubarb.  The jury is still out on whether my bees are out of the woods yet.  For me, at least, it’s been much more difficult to establish a stable bee colony than I ever imagined.  Still, life’s quite good and I love the bounty of the earth as well as the law of the harvest.

Our table in the front room is covered with brochures for home décor ideas and you Mother and I have been looking at wood flooring and carpet options.  Our next project is the front room complete with new paint, texture, trim, flooring, and window dressing.  We’ve elected to resurface the kitchen and extend it all the way into the front room.  This has a few of the kids distressed, but I think it will be beautiful.  Hopefully this won’t take as long as some of the other projects.  Little by little we’ll knock out the almost endless list of home improvements.  I can’t help but wonder if this is typical for most households.

Well, it’s time to head over to Grandma’s.  Great Grandpa will be staying with them for the next couple weeks and the rest of the family is already over there visiting.  Stay the course, run the race and reap the eternal reward.  We love you and pray for your safety and success daily.

Love,

Dad

From Mom June 7, 2015 Ahhh, Summer Vacation

June 7, 2015

Dear Riley,

Ahhhh.   Summer vacation.  Sleeping in until 7, wondering what’s for dinner at about 6:00, and complaining constantly about the kids projects crowding me out of every civilized space in the house.  I always say my life would be so much easier if I just let the kids turn on the electronics.  Sigh.  But we all know I’ve never been one for the easy way.

I don’t remember this week.  The weather has been unpredictable, but still on the cool side.  We had more rain yesterday, some of it a strong downpour.  There has been flooding and I read about some small tornadoes down in San Juan county.  So we aren’t hanging out at the pool yet.  But for young women’s this week, Elise went to Candace Anderson’s for a slip and slide and little blow up pool time.  After being there a while, Elise called to invite Aleah and Josie down.  BK sent me a picture of Josie and P and I decided I wanted to be there too.  It was nice to sit and visit and watch the kids’ lips turn purple.   A storm rolled in just after we got home at 7.

Parker is working now.  It’s menial work.  But he’s paid well and he needs to get saving for school and mission.

I loved one moment this week in which I went to lunch with AM.  She is such a good woman.  She is strong.  Come to think of it, I did a lot of relationship catching up this week.  This school year was kind of survival.  But I find great satisfaction in reconnecting with these wonderful people we call family.  I ran into an old friend on the lunch, who mentioned loving to see our pictures each week.  I think we hardly go a day without someone mentioning it.  At first I was kind of caught off guard when people would start talking about it with me, people who hadn’t “liked” it on FB but who are friends.  

Dad and Parker went on Youth Conference this weekend.  They stayed Friday night up at Heber Valley Girls’ camp.  Dad said it was run so well.  Bro G was released today because he is now in the Stake YM presidency with Bro B.  Anyway, Dad said it was a good activity.  There were some shenanigans:  DD discharged a fire extinguisher in the cabin and then disappeared while others cleaned up after him.  Parker didn’t take a hoodie or a jacket or a coat or anything and it was cold.  I was cold down here in the valley, so it had to have been cold.  But he revived after sleeping non-stop upon arriving home.

Friday evening I had to go into work.  The girls came with me.  My mom and dad came down to my cousin wedding.  I left work and came home to feed them and M and L.  I didn’t know what I was going to cook for dinner.  I’ve had a pretty good sinus infection going and I have been a little bit draggy.  But I pulled off a really great dinner in less than 1 hour.  And I got to see my folks.  They are struggling in their recovery from their surgeries.  And they had to leave shortly after dinner because Great Grandpa needed to go to the doctor. 

I worked on the storage room yesterday.  I am refiguring where I put everything with the shelves in the garage.  Canning things, aside from the bottles and lids, are all in the garage along with the canners, the dryer. The juicers… all the other stuff.  So I moved things around and cleaned up the floor and slowly but surely, we’re going to get the house all in place.  Just in time to start a new project. J  Dad and I for our date went looking at flooring for the living room.  I don’t know that we’ll get it done this summer.  But maybe.

I made rhubarb pie tonight for dessert.  Just so you know.

Your siblings are doing well.  Parker likes working.  Or he likes calculating how much money he will have at the end of summer.  Elise helps a lot.  She is good to Aleah and Josie and wants to help.  She is excited that we are going to run a summer sewing camp this year.  (that’s why I was working in the storage room yesterday, I’m trying to clear the craft room of all that was stowed there when dad expanded my shelves and started to put the door in.)  Aleah has a goal to run every morning this summer.  She is doing pretty well.  Her hope is that is that running will help her control her anger.  Josie is full of it.  She’s fun and crazy and demanding.  Pretty much the same as always.  But she communicates so well.  It astounds her when she can convey her thoughts and desires and yet she cannot receive what she wants; as though her logic was the only variable in consideration.

Cambry is doing well in London.  She toured Scotland this past week and fell in love with it.  The pictures she postd make it look like the origin of all things mystical.  I got a text early this morning that she was in church with The Piano Guys.  Pretty cool.  

Grandma P has Grandpa K here for a couple months.  P injured her leg and has to be in recovery a couple months.  We’re going to go visit as soon as I finish writing you.  Grandpa P is doing much better, though not yet 100%.  (Oh, and I realized this week that I don’t have vertigo anymore!)

My funny moment this week came in the middle of the night Friday night.  It was just the girls and me at home and I had been out to the wedding reception.  The girls went to bed about 9 and I was alone.  I should have gone to bed.  But instead I sent you pictures of random people who want to be your FB friend.  I ate watermelon while I copied and pasted.  I ate a LOT of watermelon.  And then when I could have had the most peaceful, solitary sleep, instead I was making repeat trips to the bathroom.  Cursed night time over-hydration!

I had a realization today that the moment that God withdrew from Christ in his suffering on the cross was the greatest miscarriage of justice on this earth.  It also is the moment which opened the door for mercy.  Christ had been faithful and obedient in all things.  He deserved, was entitled to, close association with Heaven.  And through that moment of separation Christ could comprehend the pain and regret that all men will feel as they are justly denied asses to God’s company.  And then just by faith and obedience on our part, we are able to access the infinite mercy of God.  It’s all a bit big.  And it’s real.  Thank you for sharing with my brothers and sisters in Thailand.

Well, I’m excited to hear about your week and new area.  We miss you.  We think about you.  And we rejoice in your service in Thailand.

Much love,

Mom

Since you've been gone... June 1, 2015

...we're cooking up some good memories.

Aleah chose this week's theme.  Dad's former mission companion, Kent Anderson, opened up his kitchen at La Jolla Groves for us and made Josie look manifique!