From Dad March 9, 2015

Sunday, March 08, 2015

Re:  Letter 14 of 3

Dear Riley:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love,

Dad 

From Mom: March 9, 2015 - Life snippets

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Dear Riley,

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

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

We’ve had a good week here at home.

This week we laughed!

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

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

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

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

We tossed and turned!

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

We Yummed!

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

We healed!

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

We worked!

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

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

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

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

Love you,

Mom

Paper Post from Mom, March 4, 2015

Wednesday March 4, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love,

Mom

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

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

From Dad March 1, 2015

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Dear Riley:

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

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

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

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

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

Love,

Dad

 Faith, Testimony, and the World

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

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

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

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

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

Bishop Parish

From Mom March 3, 2015

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Dear Riley,

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

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

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

Good:

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

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

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

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

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

Better:

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

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

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

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

Best:

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

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

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

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

I have a few questions:

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

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

Love,

Mom

Paper post from Mom February 25, 2015

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Dear Riley,

You may remember Bro T at the pulpit either in a sacrament meeting talk or during testimony meeting sharing a personal experience.  He was with either family or friends who were not church-going and he had a thought to invite them to Christ.  That thought was mixed almost immediately with fear that the invitation would be rejected and perhaps even place a strain in their relationship.

Then the Spirit placed a question in his mind:  If I do and they don’t, then what.  But if I don’t, and they would have, then what? 

You are in a unique situation right now in that you are called to invite the people God places in your path to come to Christ.  All day.  Everyone.  Day after day.

I imagine you get many times more no’s than you get yeses.  And from what I understand, those yeses even less often turn into lessons taught and from there a smaller percentage turn into a brother in the gospel.

Were I functioning in a system with those odds, I might wonder if I am doing any good.

But the bottom line is that you are blessed for you efforts.  Your ability to hear and follow the Spirit increases.  And most importantly, if you do and they do… How great shall be your joy with them.