From Dad January 17, 2016

January 17, 2016

Re: Letter 57 of 3

Dear Riley:

It’s hard to believe I’m 47 today.  The 1:00 PM church schedule makes things a little more conducive to the traditional birthday breakfast, which this year was Swedish pancakes with all the berry and cream trappings and orange Julius.  Dinner was the usual enchiladas, salad, refried beans, and Spanish rice.  Grandma and Grandpa P came over for dinner and German chocolate cake afterward.   Aside from the rigors of Sunday and Bishoping, it was a very low stress day and the members were very good to me.

I guess the most excitement we had this week was getting another van to replace the Dodge Grand Caravan Sport.  I’m sure your mother already filled you in on the details, but we were nearly measuring the power steering fluid consumption in miles per gallon and the wisdom of further investment into repairs was dubious at best.  Your mother had been praying for a solution for a few days but viable options were sparse.  One thing we were sure of, we didn’t want to get into anything like a car payment.  Consider the likelihood of being the first to call on a KSL ad posting not once, but twice especially when you’re not living online.  (Your mother also found my truck on KSL and urged me to call on it.) At the end of the day, we got considerably more vehicle than we expected, in better shape than we hoped, for less money than we budgeted…What’s not to be grateful for?  There were numerous interested buyers, some 15 minutes on our tail.  The new van is a 2007 metallic blue Honda Odyssey with the fully loaded trim package.  From all appearances, the previous owner was a conscientious and meticulous individual who maintained his investment well.  We’re feeling very blessed.  We plan on selling the old van for around $1200 and I’ve half joked about throwing in a Dodge TranStar RV for free…  

I’ve had somewhat of an interesting past week and it’s given me pause to think.  In helping two individuals to find housing, I became acquainted with a non member who actually turned out to be a former member and returned missionary.  I’m not sure why he felt he could safely confide in me because I’m not his bishop, but I learned a little more about him with each interaction.  Maybe he felt safe based on my reaction to each new revelation and lack of either judgment or condemnation for my part.  According to him, he had been shunned by family, former friends, and numerous other acquaintances since leaving the Church.  He had been told some very hurtful things and called some unsavory names.  He seemed genuinely surprised that I would still have anything to do with him once I knew his history and current mindset.  I actually felt my heart drawn out to him and considered the similarities between him and members of my family who have turned against the Church.  While I could entirely understand his family’s feelings toward his apostasy, I didn’t have any basis for anything but sympathy and sadness for his plight.  His life was desolate, he was depressed, lonely, destitute, living off of welfare, drinking considerably, and his living conditions mirrored the chaos manifest in so many other ways in his life.  While we were visiting one evening I watched while he took a Bonsai tree down from the window sill and proceeded to water and care for it.  He was gentle and attentive towards it, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he would be in his current situation if he had taken a little more time in nurturing and tending his testimony.  I also considered my own feelings toward my family and decided it was the closeness of the individual that makes the hurt so profound and the antagonism so difficult to tolerate, though what I felt for this other individual is more of what needs to be nurtured towards all who break with the Church.  At any rate, the fruits of the gospel once again stood out in sharp contrast to what the world offers and I was filled with gratitude for the multitude of blessings in my life.

Josie has been so adorable and has a vivid imagination and such an expressive vocabulary.  Just last night as we knelt for family prayer Josie put on Leadelle’s reading glasses than with considerable expression exclaimed “whoa!” while she spread out her arms with fingers fully extended and palms outward.  “Be careful guys, cuz EVERYTHING is tipped over…”  We laughed and laughed while she remained entirely serious in this revelation. For the most part, life is pretty normal.  The kids are well, doing fine, and we feel extremely blessed.  We’ve been praying for your success and inspiration in your new area and feel confident that with hard work and patience you’ll see the fruits of your labors.  Take care, keep the faith and trust in the Lord.  Until next time…

Love,

Dad

P.S. I miss you Riley and want you to be home today. 

Love,

Josie