Re: Letter 48 of 3
Dear Riley:
I think one of the highlights of the week was that we got your mother’s car into the garage. This actually happened yesterday at the end of a very busy day following an extremely crazy week. We still have some organizing to get rid of some accumulation and get everything into a place of its own, but the progress we made feels good. One problem is that we no longer have room for junk bikes since space is at a premium. It’s very likely you will be going bike shopping in a little over a year.
We had a lot of sadness last week starting Monday. A sweet sister HD (H) passed away from complications of heart failure and pneumonia. Her funeral will be this Saturday. Another dear sister (JH) lost her brother the same day. Also, you remember GP? His brother-in–law who married his oldest sister L died quite unexpectedly a week ago last Thursday. He had been in the mountains alone and reportedly injured his arm. On the way down Spanish Fork canyon he pulled part way off the road and parked his vehicle. When the police found him he had passed away apparently from blood loss. He left behind an adoring wife, seven children ages 13 down to 5 months, and many shocked friends and family members. We attended a viewing 50 minutes after it started and stood in line for 1 hour 15 minutes. When we left, the line was still as long as it had been when we arrived. The funeral was the following day and it felt like Stake Conference, filling the chapel and cultural hall. It was a sweet memorial service and even L and the eldest son spoke. They both did an exceptional job, but I can’t imagine the heartache ahead. We feel so badly for them. It just goes to show that you really don’t know when your time may come, so you need to be living as you should at all times.
I got an impression yesterday morning that I needed to go over and visit G and CM. G has actually been on my mind a lot the past week. I had made four loaves of sourdough and was wondering where to take one of the three loaves I was planning on giving away and G came to mind during my morning prayers. I felt there wouldn’t be many more chances to take him bead and it choked me up. C broke down at the door and I made a promise to come by today and give G a blessing. I felt today as I had the opportunity to bless G and C that I was standing on holy ground, that their home was a place in which the Spirit of God dwelt, and that angels frequented on a regular basis. G has lived a good and righteous life and I felt that God was pleased and accepting of his offering. I’m not sure how much time he has left, but the fact that he is still here is nothing short of a miracle. It was last February when he was given two to three weeks by the doctors but has exceeded even the most optimistic prognosis by many months and had a pretty high quality of life. He has spent precious time with family and checked off item after item on his bucket list. How I love that man! He has blessed my life and the life of my family.
The B’s house is up for sale and they’re looking for a place better suited to their health and stamina. Yesterday morning a large group of people met at the B’s home to assist with cleaning up the yard and getting the back deck ready for refinishing. There were probably 30 in all who helped out and made quick work of what otherwise seemed an overwhelming task. I was touched by these members, some of whom deliberately chose the condos so they wouldn’t have to do yard work and there they were working their hearts out. There was a great spirit of love, unity, and consecrated service. I was filled with love for these people who were willing to give up a portion of one of the last beautiful Saturdays when many no doubt had yard work and winterizing of their own to attend to.
One rather funny thing that came about from this service was that somehow a rumor got started that RB had died. This gained a fair degree of momentum before it died. I just found out about it this morning and we had a good laugh about how far it went.
Halloween seemed a little lower key than usual, especially since the weather was so beautiful. This may have been partly because the primary age children had the Trunk or Treat activity on Friday, so the parents didn’t feel so driven to take them out again. Even Josie wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to go out again on Saturday, though that sentiment passed rather quickly. Parker made the most of his holiday by dressing up in five different costumes for school. This caught the attention of the journalists for the school paper, so they’ll be doing a story on him tomorrow. Funny kid! That evening he had a handful of friends over for a Halloween party.
I told you about our rather funny failed air rocket attempt two Saturdays ago, well yesterday we launched an improved prototype. The first launch went perfectly and soared to well over 600 feet and possibly as high as 800 feet. Parachute deployment was as planned and it floated gently back to earth only to land on the very top of the High School field house. I don’t know how they got it, and maybe it’s best that I don’t’ know but Parker and D came back with it 7 minutes later. So we have a sound concept and it’s amazingly simple. However, the second launch didn’t go so well and we had an early deployment around 200 feet. This shredded the parachute which had been taxed by a high speed deployment on the first rocket a week earlier but it still landed otherwise intact. Just a little more tweaking and I think we’ve got it.
Well, we’re catapulting headlong into the holiday months and I can hardly believe you’re approaching your halfway point within three weeks. Don’t get down on yourself because you haven’t accomplished as much as perhaps you expected. I think your mission has already been filled with tender mercies and miracles and that this has merely positioned you for even greater things in the year to come. Stay the course! The gospel is true and its fruits are sweet. There isn’t an institution on earth I believe is capable of improving people’s lives more or bringing greater joy. Work hard, be wise and obedient. Serve, pray for, and love your companion…and wait for greater things ahead.
All my Love,
Dad
Dear Riley:
I think one of the highlights of the week was that we got your mother’s car into the garage. This actually happened yesterday at the end of a very busy day following an extremely crazy week. We still have some organizing to get rid of some accumulation and get everything into a place of its own, but the progress we made feels good. One problem is that we no longer have room for junk bikes since space is at a premium. It’s very likely you will be going bike shopping in a little over a year.
We had a lot of sadness last week starting Monday. A sweet sister HD (H) passed away from complications of heart failure and pneumonia. Her funeral will be this Saturday. Another dear sister (JH) lost her brother the same day. Also, you remember GP? His brother-in–law who married his oldest sister L died quite unexpectedly a week ago last Thursday. He had been in the mountains alone and reportedly injured his arm. On the way down Spanish Fork canyon he pulled part way off the road and parked his vehicle. When the police found him he had passed away apparently from blood loss. He left behind an adoring wife, seven children ages 13 down to 5 months, and many shocked friends and family members. We attended a viewing 50 minutes after it started and stood in line for 1 hour 15 minutes. When we left, the line was still as long as it had been when we arrived. The funeral was the following day and it felt like Stake Conference, filling the chapel and cultural hall. It was a sweet memorial service and even L and the eldest son spoke. They both did an exceptional job, but I can’t imagine the heartache ahead. We feel so badly for them. It just goes to show that you really don’t know when your time may come, so you need to be living as you should at all times.
I got an impression yesterday morning that I needed to go over and visit G and CM. G has actually been on my mind a lot the past week. I had made four loaves of sourdough and was wondering where to take one of the three loaves I was planning on giving away and G came to mind during my morning prayers. I felt there wouldn’t be many more chances to take him bead and it choked me up. C broke down at the door and I made a promise to come by today and give G a blessing. I felt today as I had the opportunity to bless G and C that I was standing on holy ground, that their home was a place in which the Spirit of God dwelt, and that angels frequented on a regular basis. G has lived a good and righteous life and I felt that God was pleased and accepting of his offering. I’m not sure how much time he has left, but the fact that he is still here is nothing short of a miracle. It was last February when he was given two to three weeks by the doctors but has exceeded even the most optimistic prognosis by many months and had a pretty high quality of life. He has spent precious time with family and checked off item after item on his bucket list. How I love that man! He has blessed my life and the life of my family.
The B’s house is up for sale and they’re looking for a place better suited to their health and stamina. Yesterday morning a large group of people met at the B’s home to assist with cleaning up the yard and getting the back deck ready for refinishing. There were probably 30 in all who helped out and made quick work of what otherwise seemed an overwhelming task. I was touched by these members, some of whom deliberately chose the condos so they wouldn’t have to do yard work and there they were working their hearts out. There was a great spirit of love, unity, and consecrated service. I was filled with love for these people who were willing to give up a portion of one of the last beautiful Saturdays when many no doubt had yard work and winterizing of their own to attend to.
One rather funny thing that came about from this service was that somehow a rumor got started that RB had died. This gained a fair degree of momentum before it died. I just found out about it this morning and we had a good laugh about how far it went.
Halloween seemed a little lower key than usual, especially since the weather was so beautiful. This may have been partly because the primary age children had the Trunk or Treat activity on Friday, so the parents didn’t feel so driven to take them out again. Even Josie wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to go out again on Saturday, though that sentiment passed rather quickly. Parker made the most of his holiday by dressing up in five different costumes for school. This caught the attention of the journalists for the school paper, so they’ll be doing a story on him tomorrow. Funny kid! That evening he had a handful of friends over for a Halloween party.
I told you about our rather funny failed air rocket attempt two Saturdays ago, well yesterday we launched an improved prototype. The first launch went perfectly and soared to well over 600 feet and possibly as high as 800 feet. Parachute deployment was as planned and it floated gently back to earth only to land on the very top of the High School field house. I don’t know how they got it, and maybe it’s best that I don’t’ know but Parker and D came back with it 7 minutes later. So we have a sound concept and it’s amazingly simple. However, the second launch didn’t go so well and we had an early deployment around 200 feet. This shredded the parachute which had been taxed by a high speed deployment on the first rocket a week earlier but it still landed otherwise intact. Just a little more tweaking and I think we’ve got it.
Well, we’re catapulting headlong into the holiday months and I can hardly believe you’re approaching your halfway point within three weeks. Don’t get down on yourself because you haven’t accomplished as much as perhaps you expected. I think your mission has already been filled with tender mercies and miracles and that this has merely positioned you for even greater things in the year to come. Stay the course! The gospel is true and its fruits are sweet. There isn’t an institution on earth I believe is capable of improving people’s lives more or bringing greater joy. Work hard, be wise and obedient. Serve, pray for, and love your companion…and wait for greater things ahead.
All my Love,
Dad
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