...we've been into a bit of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff.
This was Parker's pick. The L's offered this TARDIS they made for a work party. Too good, right?
And these were too good not to post:
Monday, August 31, 2015
From Dad August 30, 2015
August 30, 2015
Re: Letter 39 of 3
Dear Riley:
Well, I’m typing this letter on a new computer. After replacing the battery, power cord, and motherboard on my other computer to no avail, I finally accepted the reality that I needed to go shopping. This one is considerably more capable than my last and boots up in about 15 seconds. I’m still limping along until I get office permanently installed and my former hard drive cloned. It’s kind of funny how dependent we become on these devices and how much we take for granted when things are operating as intended. At any rate, a big stress has been at least partially lifted.
Yesterday was a full day, but I feel I didn’t get nearly as much done as I planned. We didn’t anticipate grandma and grandpa P coming home from California today, so went over to pick their garden. Wow! What a garden! It took three adults and two children a little over an hour to pick most of the produce. We didn’t do an entirely complete job on the small cherry tomatoes because there must have been several thousand. Anyway, we’re eating a lot of garden produce from both our garden and Grandpa’s. It’s nice, but I’m certain I never want to care for a garden that size on an extended basis.
The tandem bike is a hit and we’ve put a lot of miles on it already. Friday evening your mother and I took it up the canyon to Vivian Park (again). We got sort of a late start so were running out of daylight on the way down. This made things a little more exciting than I was entirely comfortable with but we did OK. (A headlight is another item we’ve now added to our accessories list.) A bicycle has got to be one of the most accessorized things people own and we’re having fun customizing this tandem to our liking. Yesterday I took Elise and Aleah out for rides and we had a great time. Aleah initially told me she didn’t feel comfortable going fast, but I told her she’d gotten on the bike with the wrong person to go slow. She quickly lost her reservations and settled in for the ride. She could hardly stop talking about how much fun it was and was sorry to come home at the end. Anyway, good times and I didn’t feel the time was poorly spent.
Church was good today and I came home tired, but spiritually renewed. We had SD speak on the importance of choices and he did a good job. A new young family (H) also spoke on conversion, the power of the Word, and evidence of things not seen which are true. I was moved by their experiences and the wonderful Spirit they brought to the meeting. It’s just true and beautiful and the Spirit and the fruits of the gospel bear witness of it. There were some people in the congregation with faith struggles and I prayed their hearts would be touched. It was wise council shared in a very personal and tender way which, if followed, would certainly shore up a crumbling foundation of testimony.
Being the 5th Sunday we had a combined meeting for the final hour. We adapted the training we’d received as a bishopric on giving the Sabbath back to the Savior. I think it went well and we had some wonderful participation from the members. At any rate, I consider it no small thing that the brethren have determined that the best thing we can do to bolster our faith, increase our spiritual sensitivity, weather all the winds of doctrine which blow, and resist the fiery darts of the adversary is to fully give the Sabbath to the Savior and do His pleasure instead of ours. This would naturally include a deepening of our understanding of the Atonement and being sanctified through the Sacrament. If the members could really do this, I’m confident we would see miraculous results in the lives of families and individuals.
We had M and L over for fondue dinner this evening. (Homemade sourdough of course.) Sorry! I don’t want to make you homesick, but it was awesome. I was able to give them priesthood blessings for the new school year following dinner and it brought a sweet spirit into the home. Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of E’s death. It’s been a hard year of adjustments for them. They’re just blessed to have each other through the hard times. They’re really both extraordinarily good people and I couldn’t help but feel at least a portion of just how very much they are loved by God.
Well, as always I look forward to your letters and pictures. I’m confident you have an important part to play in your new area and believe you’re already being inspired on how to move the work forward. I liked your story about the less active member you felt inspired to ask about his baptism and conversion. I’ve witnessed President B as he questioned two other less active families in the same manner with much the same result. As they remembered, the Spirit rushed in and their hearts were touched as they in effect bore testimony of the gospel truths they had forsaken to some extent. All present were uplifted and edified. We love you and pray for your safety and success numerous times daily. Stay the course and keep the faith!
Love,
Dad
From Mom, August 30, 2015 The Magic of School
Sunday, August 30, 2015
In answer to Riley's email. No, it's an old bike. He acutally complains about the lameness of his bike. But he knows he can make it to school in 3 minutes, 16 seconds on it.
However, I LOVE MY BIKE!!!! There aren't any pictures this week. Sorry. I intended to send some. But the light was always fading and I wanted to BIKE. Dad and I made it up to Vivian Park a couple times. I went out with Cambry once and Dad took Elise and Aleah each out last week. Oh, it's so much fun. I added SIster J as a friend on FB to see pictures from the last transfer meeting. Her profile picture is President J and her on a tandem bike, smiling happily. And then Friday evening Dad and I went up to Vivian Park and ran into Bro and Sis B who had rented a tandem bike from BYU. Of course. The coolest people know how to have fun that way.
Cambry really didn't love her ride. The front seat can only go down so far because the handles are on the post. So she had to ride in the front. And Dad's seat hurt her bottom. She couldn't wait to get home. We also dropped the chain linking the petals on the way up the Orem Center Street hill. But we got it back on and petaled the rest of the way up the hill. I had fun. I always have fun.
PS - I only saw you once in the transfer meeting photos on Sister J's FB. You were sitting in the back next to Bro T who was holding a camera and talking to you. You looked good.
Oh! I wanted to tell you something funny that happened this week. I invited JS to come to book group with me a few months ago. She was finally going to come this month. She texted me Tuesday to ask when we met on Thursday, our usual evening and I realized that I had forgotten to forward the email that we had to change when we met this month. I forwarded that email to her and CD at the same time offering them a ride to book group tomorrow and C happily accepted the ride. I thought no more of it, other than, "I gotta finish those last 50 pages ASAP."
Later that evening after dinner, since there weren't any bishop appointments, I went for ride with Dad. It was lovely.
When I got home, Aleah said, "You missed book group." What? No, it's tomorrow. Why would C come to the house looking for me? Um. Because it was moved to Tuesday night.
I totally stood C up and deprived J of her first meeting she could finally make.
And what do I have to say for myself? That was such a good ride!
Hahahaha.
Love you,
Mom
Dear Riley,
There is something magic in having the kids back in school: I magically feel wiped out all the time again!
I’m sitting in the front room at 9:35 wishing I could have done more today; I mostly feel like I was pushing mud. Sacrament meeting was so good (AND we were on time!). We have a young family who moved into the Tennis basement and Dad assigned them topics after having a discussion with them in their home earlier in the week. They shared very personal stories pertaining to their assigned topics. I asked Dad afterwards if they had shared those stories with him before he chose their topics. Nope. It was just the Spirit. It’s cool like that.
I visit taught a couple of sisters and we stayed a long time. I love the sisters we teach and teaching with Sister K. They have all been a blessing to me over the years in so many ways.
And tonight we had M and L over for dinner and back to school blessings. I had prayed that E would be able to influence the things Dad said to them. I felt witness at one point in L’s blessing that my prayer was answered. Oh how I love those two. And oh, how I miss my brother at times. It’s been a year yesterday since he passed. His birthday is Friday and we are going to have some sort of party this weekend. (I say as I try to type through tears with a cramp in my throat from suppressing a sob. -- Love is easily recognized when it’s transformed into mourning.)
Then tonight Grandma and Grandpa P dropped by for a little dessert after just pulling into their home from the final clean-up at Grandpa K’s. The house is sold. Grandma said she wasn’t sad when she was there, but she was weepy all the way home.
So it’s been a big day. Which followed a long, full week of school. And I have to get to bed soon. I’m sorry.
So I already told you that I have tandemania and ask Dad every night, “Do you have anything planned? Wanna go for a bike ride?” He rides faster and a little tighter than I would dare on my own. But together it’s fun!
The kids are getting homework and deadlines and it feels real now. ugh. Cambry starts classes tomorrow. But she is so excited for her classes this semester; they are the ones she’s waited to take at the end and they have sat like a tempting dessert on her course requirements.
Parker is doing well. But he surely feels the weight of his class load. There is always something waiting for him. He’s still doing chess club where he’s president and book club too.
Elise is doing well this year. She seems much more confident and I hear about a lot more friends. She made the comment that her back to school blessing was all about friends this year. I guess God is perfectly aware of the developmental stage of his children. Elise is getting so good on the piano. She sits down to sight read many pieces and can do justice to them. She learned Arwin’s Vigil from the Piano Guys for spring festival but had to cut it short as there wasn’t time to learn the entire piece. She had memorized the entire song and realized that is a blessing to have that in her head wherever she goes.
Aleah is not at ease in her classes. I’m not sure what needs to happen to help her. She feels insecure with her English teacher’s math presentation. And I think she’s still trying to understand the expectations in Chinese. But I’m confident she’ll do well. She cares about things, cleans her room regularly (without being asked) and is a great Chinese student I’ve been told many times.
I put all three girls in dance classes this year. They absolutely love it. Josie makes connections and she shared first, second and third positions with me last week on the way to the car. Elise is stretching every day trying to get her splits complete as challenged by her teacher. Aleah loves, loves, loves dancing. I think she loves it more than anything else she’s done. And I’m putting Elise and Aleah in volleyball camp with the community. Might as well, right? (since I really want someone to play sports for me!)
I also started preschool, home preschool (except all my stuff has been pillaged and is now incomplete, grrr.) of course, for Josie. She is really ready and needs the engagement. I had her searching out A, a and 2 on the way to work. She was finding them and then she said the funniest thing: “Ha, ha. I don’t have to watch where I’m going because I’m not the one driving the car. If I look for letters, we won’t crash.” I wondered if she is a quiet backseat driver back there all the time and just realized that she CAN enjoy the scenery after all.
Dad is doing well. I like seeing his smile more often. Biking has taken some of the stress off for him. He bought parts for the bike like brake pads, a speedometer, quick release pins and a new gear shifters. We didn’t even talk much on Friday’s ride. But being out together doing the same thing is enough. He made us sourdough -- two loaves! -- for our dinner. They were the prettiest, tallest loaves I think he's ever made. And they were so tastey. There will be two loaves waiting for you on the counter when you come home. I promise.
Well, son. I look forward to hearing from you. I hope the work is going well. I hope you’re serving your companion and listening to those little whispers you can only know later really were the Spirit. God loves the people in your mission. He loves your companion. He loves you.
We love you and we pray for you all the time. Keep up the good work.
Love,
Mom
PS - We picked Grandpa's little farm down the street while they were in CA. It took us an hour to do a gleaning, not even a solid pick. And though I got a lot done yesterday, I have this stack of to-do produce which makes me feel inadequate. Poor Grandma! I'm fermenting cherry tomatoes hoping they are as good as everyone on the culturing blogs says they are.
In cleaning up, I ran across this. The Shakespeare quote made me cry. I kept it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
UP Family Photo Shoot August 24, 2015
Since we had to pay for the location and had already done all the costume work, we took a more pictures.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Since you've been gone... August 24, 2015
...you can pretty well see what we've been UP to.
This was Elise's pick.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
From Mom August 23, 2015 Back to School
August 23, 2015
Dear Riley,
It feels so long since we communicated. Those extra couple of days stretch my heart out! I’m anxious to hear where you are and who you’re with. Details, please!
You may and may not know that there was a bomb in Central Bangkok Monday evening 7 pm your time. It was at the Erawan Shrine, a popular tourist spot. Twenty people were killed and many others injured. I opened my email and the newsfeed showed the bombing. So I clicked on the story. I assumed all the missionaries would be OK as they had their PDay moved a couple days ahead. But before I could worry, I looked in my inbox and President J had already sent word that all the missionaries were accounted for and safe. I really appreciated that quick word. It’s sad that these things happen, really.
We’ve had a big week at home, well even longer than a week.
In my last letter I told you that Dad and I were to celebrate our anniversary. We stayed in a hotel here in O and were so worn out for the vacation, it was difficult to decide what to do. But last Saturday we rented a tandem bike from BYU and biked 20 miles up and down the canyon. IT WAS SO FUN!!! I came home and started looking online for a tandem bike. They are expensive! So I let go of the dream and decided we’d just rent a bike when we wanted to ride. But then midway through the week, I had a little whisper to look on KSL (just like when I found Dad’s truck and my China) for a tandem bike. I also had the impression to look for the same brand we’d rented as we knew that brand could hold up. I found one for $300 up in Kaysville. And we now have a tandem bike!!!! WHEEEeeee.
As Dad and I biked an hour or so yesterday, we passed people who would look at us and then, recognizing that we were on a tandem bike, grin. I told Dad that same grin was on my face the entire time. When I opened up my browser to write you this morning, there were four tabs left open all with things pertaining to bikes and tandems. Dad said he watched one video about tandems and a man shared a saying known to tandem bikers: wherever your marriage is headed, it will get there faster on a tandem. Love it! Dad and I have a blast.
Monday night for FHE, after our monkey picture took waaaay too long because Dad and I were tooooo tired, we had back to school blessings. My heart was drawn out to you that night. I love the spirit of prophecy and revelation that we have in our home when Dad exercises his Priesthood in our behalf. I was told some of the very same things that I had been told last year. But I’d forgotten them until they came to my ears again; I had managed to start worrying about the same things without referring to that counsel. I always marvel when I read the scriptures that words are recorded sometime after the vision has occurred and there are lots of details and syntax to keep straight. You can tell I’d feel inadequate at that job!
Wednesday was the first day of school. I felt awful. I had a sinus infection and just felt fluish and blah. I forgot to set my alarm. Dad woke and got us all up at 6:45. I sent the kids off for their first day of school with cold cereal for breakfast: guilt. I forgot to take pictures until the bus was already there to get Elise. And that’s how the day went for me.
The kids seemed to do well getting back into the swing of things. Elise is happy to be back with friends, Aleah is relieved that she really does remember Chinese. Parker has a good schedule and likes his teachers. Josie is the only one really not happy with the return to school. You see, I’m busy and there isn’t a playmate for her here when everyone is off. This is going to take some adjusting for us. But we’ll do it.
Cambry and T broke up this week. He's closer than she's ever been, but the compatibilty wasn't a superior fit. But she was reassured in her blessing this week which happend before the breakup, that her husband is held in reserve for her and he holds all the virtue she does, a match. And she was told that she will be better in his company than she could be without. Worth waiting for! I'm excited to meet him.
Parker was set apart for the Stake Youth Council this afternoon. And Grandma P was called out of the audience to share her testimony during the general meeting of Stake Conference today. She did a nice job. Did I tell you they were just released from the Canyon Breeze calling?
Dad and I were able to attend CB's sealing in the Payson temple Friday. His bride and he are both 25 and they are so happy to have found one another. There was such a sweet, sweet feeling in the ceremony. We also missed the adult session of Stake Conference last night to be with them at their reception. Choose well, my son! It makes all the difference. And since you're not thinking about your own future in this way at all, let me remind you that if we bring concerns to you, it's not that we want to control your life. It's just that we have wisdom and experience and your best interest at heart. You know this already, but I have reasons to remind you (which are quite independent of you). Just to ease my mind, hear me now.
Friday night Dad and I went and saw the Cokeville Miracle about the small Wyoming town, predominantly LDS, who had a gunman walk into their elementary school with a bomb back in 1986. The whole school was held hostage in one classroom for a few hours. The bomb went off accidentally yet the only two people who died were the gunman and his wife. I was glad I gave my time to that story. I remember hearing accounts of the angels being with the kids at the time. I know something of those who minister to us. I was also touched by the end titles in which it was acknowledged that there are many other innocent people who are not delivered from similar situations. Yet even while Christ walked the earth, not every leper was healed, not every blind person was given sight. While we can’t explain why some receive miraculous intervention and others do not, we should be willing to see God’s hand wherever it is revealed. That touched me.
Well, DB is home from his mission. I forgot to tell you that Mr. R’s wife passed away unexpectedly this summer following knee surgery. She threw a pulmonary embolism and went quickly. The school community is rallying around the family. And Mr. W’s wife is running for city council in P right now. I guess JF is on a mission now because she isn’t liking the family pictures on facebook anymore and she was always one of the first ones to see and acknowledge the post.
I love you so much. I can’t wait to hear from you. Thank you for always sending us good letters that let us know what you’re experiencing. You’re constantly in our prayers.
Love,
Mom
From Dad August 23, 2015
August 23, 2015
Re: Letter 38 of 3
Dear Riley:
Well, summer's over. Not quite sure where it went or when the morning air took on a cool crisp feel of early autumn, but the kids are slowly getting into the routine of school, leaves are already starting to change color up the canyon, and we're looking toward the harvest. Yesterday we got up quite early for a Saturday to head up to Kaysville. Your Mother was so smitten by the tandem bike we rode for our anniversary that she went onto KSL and found one for a good price up in Kaysville. Yep! We now have a tandem bike and put around 10 miles on it yesterday afternoon. We got endearing smiles from most of the people we passed going up and down the canyon. I couldn't see her face, but your mother claims she never stopped smiling. It's pretty adorable to see her so delighted over such a simple thing and I anticipate we'll be using it a lot. I imagine this will be a hit with the kids as well, so fully expect to get our money's worth.
Yesterday and today was Stake Conference so it was a break from the usual meetings and interviews. It was nice to sit as a family for a change. It focused on strengthening families against Satan's influence, consistent application of correct principles, resisting the temptation to blame others for our attitudes and actions which aren't Christ-like, fostering a temple and covenant loving atmosphere in our homes and families, giving the Sabbath day back to the Savior, trusting and following God's plan of salvation for yourself as circumstances play out in very personal ways in your life, and taking advantage of the opportunities God provides to be involved in building His kingdom on earth. We came home and Parker and Aleah almost immediately went back to their warring...in spite of the frequent reminders that their behavior was exactly what we had just been counseled against. I can't wait for them to grow out of this.
Things have been quite busy at work. We just finished a large production run of germanium which required some long days and early mornings to stay on schedule. It was nice to have J and G carry things forward while I was in California for a week. Otherwise, we would be a week behind on the production schedule. Equipment installation is stalled on a couple fronts as we await parts with up to a 160 day lead time. Good heavens! There's a saying regarding good, fast, and cheap, that you can pick any two. However, these pieces are not terribly complicated but are neither fast nor cheap. So they must be EXTREMELY good. We also got what I consider a fairy high bid on some final electrical work. I'm debating on whether to go forward on it or get additional bids. We've already scared off a couple electricians by the relative complexity of our requirements.
Cambry is single again, so she is a little sad. Though, I'm confident that the right relationship with the right person will be a lot more effortless for her. Parker is worried, I sense, about performing up to expectations and desires in school. I feel I need to be spending a little more one on one time with him, so we're planning on doing some free diving and spear fishing for game fish up at Deer Creek before the weather and water turns much colder. Josie is adjusting to the kids being gone for a good part of the day. The first couple days of school she was bored almost to death, but quickly adapted to starting several dozen projects a day. “Josie. Come pick up your paper mess , your characters, and princess dresses...” “Arguhhhh!” she says with all the annoyance a 4 yr old can muster while she stomps into the room to comply with the request. “YOU JUST KEEP TELLING ME!”
Well, we need to gather for a family council so I'll sign off now. We're excited to know whether you'll be transferred. It would be nice if you got to stay and enjoy some of the fruits of your labors, though I'm confident the Lord will send you where you need to be to maximize your effectiveness. We sure do love you and so look forward to your letters and pictures. It's great to hear that the weekly family picture is a real hit and tool when it comes to getting in with the members. Keep up the good work and stay the course!
Love,
Dad
Re: Letter 38 of 3
Dear Riley:
Well, summer's over. Not quite sure where it went or when the morning air took on a cool crisp feel of early autumn, but the kids are slowly getting into the routine of school, leaves are already starting to change color up the canyon, and we're looking toward the harvest. Yesterday we got up quite early for a Saturday to head up to Kaysville. Your Mother was so smitten by the tandem bike we rode for our anniversary that she went onto KSL and found one for a good price up in Kaysville. Yep! We now have a tandem bike and put around 10 miles on it yesterday afternoon. We got endearing smiles from most of the people we passed going up and down the canyon. I couldn't see her face, but your mother claims she never stopped smiling. It's pretty adorable to see her so delighted over such a simple thing and I anticipate we'll be using it a lot. I imagine this will be a hit with the kids as well, so fully expect to get our money's worth.
Yesterday and today was Stake Conference so it was a break from the usual meetings and interviews. It was nice to sit as a family for a change. It focused on strengthening families against Satan's influence, consistent application of correct principles, resisting the temptation to blame others for our attitudes and actions which aren't Christ-like, fostering a temple and covenant loving atmosphere in our homes and families, giving the Sabbath day back to the Savior, trusting and following God's plan of salvation for yourself as circumstances play out in very personal ways in your life, and taking advantage of the opportunities God provides to be involved in building His kingdom on earth. We came home and Parker and Aleah almost immediately went back to their warring...in spite of the frequent reminders that their behavior was exactly what we had just been counseled against. I can't wait for them to grow out of this.
Things have been quite busy at work. We just finished a large production run of germanium which required some long days and early mornings to stay on schedule. It was nice to have J and G carry things forward while I was in California for a week. Otherwise, we would be a week behind on the production schedule. Equipment installation is stalled on a couple fronts as we await parts with up to a 160 day lead time. Good heavens! There's a saying regarding good, fast, and cheap, that you can pick any two. However, these pieces are not terribly complicated but are neither fast nor cheap. So they must be EXTREMELY good. We also got what I consider a fairy high bid on some final electrical work. I'm debating on whether to go forward on it or get additional bids. We've already scared off a couple electricians by the relative complexity of our requirements.
Cambry is single again, so she is a little sad. Though, I'm confident that the right relationship with the right person will be a lot more effortless for her. Parker is worried, I sense, about performing up to expectations and desires in school. I feel I need to be spending a little more one on one time with him, so we're planning on doing some free diving and spear fishing for game fish up at Deer Creek before the weather and water turns much colder. Josie is adjusting to the kids being gone for a good part of the day. The first couple days of school she was bored almost to death, but quickly adapted to starting several dozen projects a day. “Josie. Come pick up your paper mess , your characters, and princess dresses...” “Arguhhhh!” she says with all the annoyance a 4 yr old can muster while she stomps into the room to comply with the request. “YOU JUST KEEP TELLING ME!”
Well, we need to gather for a family council so I'll sign off now. We're excited to know whether you'll be transferred. It would be nice if you got to stay and enjoy some of the fruits of your labors, though I'm confident the Lord will send you where you need to be to maximize your effectiveness. We sure do love you and so look forward to your letters and pictures. It's great to hear that the weekly family picture is a real hit and tool when it comes to getting in with the members. Keep up the good work and stay the course!
Love,
Dad
Friday, August 21, 2015
Paper Post from Mom August 21, 2015 The Miracle of Conversion
You have seen the miracle of conversion in Thailand. You have watched people change and witnessed a light brought into a willing soul and shining through his countenance. But I wonder if you remember witnessing my conversion in your youth.
I was raised a member of the church. I have good parents who lived well the precepts and teaching of our faith. They served and listened to the Spirit and taught in word and deed what it is to be a disciple of Christ. I followed their lead and stepped on milestones of faith throughout my youth.
More than this, I desired to believe. I read and received confirmation of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon at an early age. I continued to read it daily from that point on. I attended seminary and read the scriptures, I went to church, I served in callings, I married Dad in the temple. And my faith in all the good things I had been taught and had been given was confirmed and added upon and there was no reason to suspect that there were corners of my heart which had not yet yielded to the enlightenment of Jesus Christ. But I was to come to that understanding through some painful searching.
A dear sister confided in me her brokenness in dealing with an episode in her past. This was debilitating to her and was causing a faith crisis. I suppose that I finally felt safe and strong enough to simultaneously open and conquer a similar moment in my own history. Whatever the trigger, indeed I was made to confront a moment of abuse in my childhood. I finally told Dad and my parents and verbalizing released a wave of pain that had been walled up in my heart. I was overcome by the sorrow and the loss I could understand as an adult which I had not the maturity to grasp as a child.
But understanding that moment overwhelmed my current self. I was depressed and broken and uncertain. I wanted pain and justice called down upon the perpetrator. I felt wicked and ugly and coupable. Kind of crazy, huh? Yet, that’s what I felt.
I got some counseling which was a great boon. I did a sand play and the moral of my scene was that in fearing things that were mostly imagined, I was ignoring the faith which makes everything right. My spirit knew the truth I had filled my being with. I had only to choose to believe it.
I poured over scriptures. I prayed constantly, but on my knees three times a day, tears streaming down grateful cheeks. I cried through all the hymns in church as I understood doctrine personally. I attended the temple and participated in all the ordinances there as proxy. And my broken heart was finally able to yield entirely to the influence of the Spirit, holding no corners in reserve.
And that Spirit healed me. My nature changed. I wanted to cry with the trump of angels. I wished I could yell from the rooftops to share with everyone a message of hope and redemption. I wanted everyone to know that their pain and their suffering could be wiped out of their lives and their hearts. I had tasted living waters and I wanted to be a well others could draw from. I abounded in faith, hope, and charity. For weeks I was soft as putty (Dad even recalls feeling a little irritated with me because I could not be offended for anything.) I apologized sincerely and often. I saw the good in others and felt no condemnation for my fellowmen who were equally important to my Savior. I saw them all in a state of potential redemption, believing that there was not one thing that made Christ’s Atonement less accessible to them than it had become to me.
This was a Pentecostal time in my life. It is a treasure I carry in my heart still. I marvel that this painful snippet which once felt so dreary is now a bright ornament (1 Nephi 21:18), a sparkling souvenir of the moment that precipitated the miracle of conversion.
Aren’t you happy that you have this time set aside to share this joy with brothers and sisters in Thailand? I surely am.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
From Mom August 14, 2015 -- Sunny San Diego
August 14, 2015
Dear Riley,
We have stacked up some great memories this week on our family trip to California. I’ll just pick up where I left off last week.
Did I tell you we went to Santa Monica Pier the evening of Grandpa's funeral?
Sunday night we lost the girls. All of them except Cambry. Our hotel was a half mile from Grandpa’s house. So while Dad was snoring through a long Sunday nap, I walked down to be with family at Grandpa’s. Dad wrote you when he awakened and I walked back to the hotel to do the same when he made it to Grandpa’s. As I was walking back to Grandpa’s, I talked to Debbie who was on her way to the grocery store to get some food with her little kids. When I got to the house, I checked in on Josie and she was nowhere to be found. So Grandma drove us back to the hotel and there were no girls there. Now I started freaking a little. We went back to the house and there they were. Debbie had told Sammy to walk the girls back to the hotel where she thought I was. When Debbie wasn’t back from the store, Sammy walked them back to the house. They walked Garfield while we went up and down the parallel Isabella. So no harm done. But we now know that if a tragedy occurs on Dad’s watch, the momma bear is not very forgiving. Sorry to say.
Then Sunday night while we were eating, Josie thought she spied chocolate milk: Oh, yeah! I love chocolate milk!!! Then she jumped up to claim some and realized she had mistaken the lemonade they’d made with Grandpa’s lemons. She laughed and said, “Just kidding.” We all laughed. The next morning Dad went across the street to a Thai donut/burger joint. The donuts were fresh and really yummy. He augmented the feast with yogurts, chocolate milk, white milk, and grapes. We had the remaining Passeys over to the feast.
On the way to San Diego, a picture opportunity descended upon us.
We learned that Parker is a good observer. We walked out of Seaworld to eat our picnic lunch and we weren’t certain where the car was. One of the tips Dad read was to remember where you park! But we were so excited to get in the park that we didn’t look for a zone letter/number. But Parker found the car easily. Phew! Dad would have hauled us all over the parking lot hunting.
Dad’s given you the rundown of the locations we visited. Let me tell you the highlights for each person.
Cambry loved the beach and sitting on Grandpa’s couch catching up with DJ Sunday evening. DJ told her that he was so happy when her engagement broke off because he really didn’t want to miss her wedding.
Parker loved being with the Passeys. Even though it meant it had to be in a over-deoderized hotel room. Dave Passey says there are two kinds of fun memories: the kind that are fun while you’re doing it and when you remember and the kind that aren’t fun while you’re doing, but are fun to laugh about later. Our hotel is a fun Passey/Parish memory kind of like locking them out of their house and losing the truck keys.
Elise loved the beach best. It was paradise! Fine sand, warm water, pleasant waves. Dad and I went into town and got some sandwiches and salads. We didn’t share one bite with the eager seagulls. (We took a family picture on rocks there in case, but all liked the Mindar picure better.) Then, on the way home we stopped for some remarkable gelato. Oh, it was good.
While these two cuties are being sweet, Dad is digging a crab in the hole.
Dad's got the camera now. Cute ones of Josie.
Nado Gelato - oh, so good!
Josie loved playing with Joshua Moore. He’s a little younger than her and just about as cute and perhaps just as remarkable. The first morning there she had commandeered his cool firetruck and things escalated just as we were trying to say family prayer in the room where the truck was. Eight year old Julie calmly took a very upset Joshua out the front door to let us pray. But of course we were more concerned that Josie make things right. She decided she was going to go tell Joshua to share. We explained that this was his house and his truck and she needed to apologize and give it back to him. She opened the door and as she was telling him she was sorry, Joshua kindly asked, “Josie, can I please play with my firetruck?” He won my heart right then and there.
Dad’s favorite part was the San Diego Temple. I’m so glad we fit it in, though it made for a late night last night. I would have regretted not going but my sleep bank will fill back up. That temple has an unusual orientation in that most rooms you enter on a corner. The celestial room is a two story room with endowment rooms that feed into it on both levels. There is a grand staircase that starts in the middle of the floor on the bottom level and carries you to the top. Through the celestial room there is a door that leads to the sealing rooms and there is an enclosed atrium with angled glass that calls up images of a star. This atrium is between the spires and you can see the angel Moroni atop one spire through the star glass. This temple is exquisite.
My favorite part of the San Diego trip was picking up relations with the Moores. I’ve known and loved Amy through Aunt Debbie. But I was so touched as I spent time with her and her family. They are so good to listen to one another and are very conscious to validate and affirm one another. They are a team like our family.
I always wish I had more time when I go see places. I hate getting tired and having to concede to the limited resources. But I’m very glad I did every single thing I did. I’m glad for the memories.
San Diego Zoo
First we rode the sky tram
At the polar bear exhibit
Aleah pronounced the names correctly and told us what they mean.
Spot the flamingo: Josie noticed that they were the same color and knew the same dance step!
On to Seaworld
Her favorite ride at Seaworld.
Petting the bat rays.
Yes, she has to go potty. She did work up the courage to pet them!
Big Fish!
We were easy to spot. We actually got stopped and told that we looked classy and modest and worthy of emulation.
This shark exhibit was super cool, glad we stopped there though we were tired.
Times of change: these were taken 18 minutes apart on the way home. Of course the hottest was in Death Valley.
I hope you had even more success this week working through the members. And I look forward to what Elder Holland shared with you. I’ll have to send pictures later from the trip. Dad and I have to run.
We love you so much! I thought of you while watching the dolphins and the monkeys play and solve problems. You’re welcome. :)
Love,
Mom