Wonderful Holiday

We are un-winding after a great holiday week.  We traveled a lot, visited a lot, traveled some more, ate lots of good food, traveled some more, played with grandchildren, and traveled home.  I'm not sure how many miles we put on that new car of ours, but we are thankful we had the new car and didn't have to worry about the transmission acting up on the old car.  We were thankful we could just climb in and drive and not worry.  Oh, and have a warm car before we got in.  It was a great blessing.

We left home on Friday morning and spent the next three nights in Salt Lake.  Tammy and Nicky are sharing a house so there was plenty of room for Grandma and Grandpa, or Mom and Dad, whichever way you look at it.  Tammy and Josh were so gracious to have a big dinner for us on Saturday night (I think that was what day it was!).  Grandpa and the boys had a sleep over in the living room on Friday night, with Lexi spending some of the night with them.  Grandma (me :) slept downstairs at Nicky's place, but moved over when Grandpa came down early in the morning with a backache from the blow-up bed.  I had opted for sleeping on the couch that night, which was very comfortable.  We spent Saturday playing with the kids while I hurried to finish up the Christmas present for Garth.  He has been asking for an afghan with a pocket in the bottom for his feet for several years, so this year that is what he got.  I had to design it myself, and I'm not sure I really like the way it turned out, but that is what he wanted.

Saturday night we watched as the kids opened their gifts from us.  They were so excited for their new pajamas.  We then helped them get to bed and zonked out ourselves.  We were up bright and early the next morning, but had to wait for the kids to wake up.  With the exception of Kayden, who we had to quickly hustle downstairs before he torn open all his toys.  He was a sneaker and went out into the living room to check it all out before waking up the others. 

We hurried down to Lehi to watch Tyler and Grayson open a few gifts.  Tyler was so fun to watch, and Grayson didn't understand all the fuss. 

We returned to Tammy's and went to their church for Sunday Sacrament meeting.  It was a nice program of music.  I have to admit that it was easy for me to rest my head on the wall and fall asleep for a few minutes.  Oh, well.  I didn't have to play any of the music!

After Sacrament meeting we drove to Logan to take our gifts up to them.  They were home from their church meetings and having a relaxing time. (as much as you can relax on Christmas).  We played with their toys, and put together Lego stuff.  We got as many kisses from Isaac as we could get, hugs from both Morgan and Maxwell, then we took off back to Salt Lake.

Monday afternoon we loaded up our stuff, added a few things of Nicky's, and traveled back to Logan where we spent the next two night.  On Tuesday morning we attended the temple with Barrett and Chantel, along with their children, to witness the sealing of Isaac to their family.  It was a wonderful event!  It was great to see Morgan and Maxwell sitting with their parents on the beautiful settee (is that what it is called or is it just a couch?) Morgan was so pretty in her white crocheted dress, if I do say so myself (Yes, I made it!)  I am waiting for her mom to post a picture so I can post it here.  Max was so excited about his tie that matched his dad's.  And Isaac, what can we say except that he was all smiles and slobbers, which is his trade-mark!  He was so happy, as always!  It was a beautiful sealing, so quick and to the point.  But a priesthood ordinance that is necessary for him to join their forever family.

It was also a great time for Garth and I to have so many of our children in the temple with us.  We were missing two very special people, but we know that some day they will be there with us.  We pray for that blessing every night and know that some day it will happen.  Until then, we will just do what we need to do to be able to be worthy ourselves.

After the temple sealing we all met at their home where Isaac was officially given a name and blessing by his father with all the priesthood brethern there in the circle.  Because Isaac was so big and squirmy, Chantel was able to sit in the middle of the circle and hold him.  It was a beautiful site.  Afterwards, we ate lots of great food and visited with family and friends.

Nicky went home with Tammy and her children, and we spent the night resting because Wednesday morning we were back to the temple for another family wedding.  Our niece was married in the exact same room we had been in the day before!  I love that room because of the beautiful green altar, the green carpeting, and the green walls.  Such a beautiful soft shade of green.  Traci was beautiful in her wedding dress and she looked so happy.  I'm sure it was a great day for Mary and Cleve to have all their children in the temple together. 

We enjoyed the wedding dinner afterward where we were able to visit with family and friends.  It was nice to sit at the table large enough for all of the family (minus Mary and Cleve) so we could visit and catch up on every ones families.  All-in-all, it was a great day.

We are now back home and wondering when we get to vacation, or rest from our holiday break.  I guess the next few days will be our rest time.

I look at the things I need to accomplish this next year and I am already tired.  I am finishing up a baby blanket I started last week (for a niece), learned that another niece is having a first baby so I need to do another one.  There is also another wedding in February that I must get an afghan done for.  And some Christmas stockings to do.  I think my hands will be busy the next 12 months.  I think I will love it! 

I am so thankful for all the wonderful things that have happened this past month.  I am hoping for many more in the months to come.

Out With the Old, In With the New

Do you like my new background? I hope it reminds me to go to the temple more often, even if we have to drive for 2 hours to get there! And to read my scriptures more.....I suggest everyone reads The Old Testament Made Easier. The Book of Mormon ones were great and I am really get lots of in insights with the first volume of this one.

Several people have told me it is time to change my background, so tonight, while I had a little bit of time, I decided to do so. I never know when I will have a few minutes to change it again, so I wanted to choose a "generic" one, that wouldn't have to be changed to match the season. Mind you, I like all the seasonal ones, and I am seeing some very pretty things out there. I just don't do seasons well. My seasons seem to be "school's in" and "school's out". (Those are contractions for "school is", not singular possessive, for those school teachers out there.) Right now the season is "school's in" all the time because it is too cold to be out! Please pass warmer weather! Our students just can't seem to settle down right now. They sit inside with snowsuits on, hoping it will be warm enough to go outside. Those who brave the cold come in frozen but happy. Then they take 10 minutes just getting their coats, gloves, scarves, earmuffs, etc. all hung up out in the hallways. There is always the one who needs to go back outside to get a lost glove. Is it really worth is? The ones inside take 5 minutes to decide on a game to play, then 5 minutes to get it all set up, and then only get to play for a minute before I remind them they need to get to the restroom. When they get back, the bell rings and they spend the next 10 minutes cleaning it up. Or they leave the game where they left it, thinking I don't know it is their game to clean up. Then they fight about who needs to pick up what......Again, is it worth it? To quote someone dear to my heart: OH MY STARS!!!!!

I had a special holiday time with my family. Even though we experienced the lose of my dad, it was great to have all of my family in the same state at the same time. I so much appreciated all your love and concern for me. Hearing you all ask "How are you doing, Mom," shows me you are thinking of my feelings. I hope you are all realizing just how important fathers are, and reminding yourselves how wonderful your own father is. As much as you love your father, I love mine the same. Fathers are there to pick you up when you are down, to keep you laughing when you need to see the bright side, to offer a shoulder when you need to cry, to open their hearts when you hurt. Even old mothers like me need a dad now and then. He will be missed. I will miss his stories, even though I could tell them all by heart. I will miss our talks about school. I loved to keep him up on all the happenings in school, the new trends, the demands of the job, etc. I know he enjoyed hearing what was going on. I will miss that. There are times that I hear or see something and think how much I would love to share that with Dad. And that makes the tears come again. Like right now. I learned in the 30 years without Mom, it really never gets easier, just gets normal. There are still times when I wish I had a mom to talk with, to give me advice, to show me how to solve a problem. No one ever takes the place of a mom or dad. I just hope, in some small way, to be the mom that my children will look to for advice, a talk, help with a problem. Someone that my children will miss when I am gone. I know their dad will be that man, because he is such a great guy, just like my dad.

OK........I need to stop that......

Just the Tuesday and Wednesday before Dad passed away, I spent the school days in Huntington working on a project with our assessment supervisor, otherwise known as Jon. (Cousin Jon Boy as he calls himself.) We are creating mid-year tests to be given to all the students in 3-6, to measure achievement in math and reading to prepare for the state tests. I am responsible for the third and fourth grade math tests, and will be required to create two summative tests for each grade level. These tests must match the state curriculum, which means a lot of research and test writing on the computers. Because we only had a two days to get an overview there, and to get a good start, we (the four of us on the committee)are expected to put in more days at home, not on school time. We will be paid for some extra career days, and have been given a new computer to work on. Now, my questions is this: Is this computer mine to keep? I don't know and I don't want to ask! As long as no one asks for it back, I will keep it on my desk. If it is still here after the tests are completed and approved, and no one asks for the computer back, then I will assume I get to keep it..........What you have to do to get a new computer!!! Is it worth it? I think so. (Just don't anyone tell Jon that I am questioning this. He might just take it back because I am so air-headed.)

One more resolution I have for this year: I will go back through my posts and add tags for the entries, so the tag cloud is more accurate. Just something simple for me.

Frustrations of a School Teacher

This morning I am very frustrated. I know there is actually no need to be frustrated, it is really just a silly thing. But I do get frustrated when I know I should be able to complete a task and I can't do it. This school teacher wants to place a video of the classroom owl pellet activity onto the classroom website, and I can't figure out how to do it. I can't get the video to transfer to flickr, can't upload it from my own computer, can't seem to do it at all. Heck, sometimes I can't even find the silly file on my own computer! I think I will just stop trying. Why cause my own frustrations?

I am missing my little kids today. I wish I could be in Lehi, Salt Lake, and Kansas City all in the same day, to see them all dressed up and having fun today. That is the only thing exciting about Halloween. I would love to watch them so excited. I sure hope I get to see pictures.....hint, hint, hint......

This morning Garth went back to the school to finish up a project in the Spartan Center. They are refinishing all the benches and it is taking several days. With basketball starting the benches need to be done this week, so that is how he is spending his time today.

It is report card time at my school, so I brought home lots of filing to help me get ready. I have the reports mostly completed, just need to get everything in student files. Also trying to get things organized for the start of a new quarter. Back to the "real" learning.

I need to run to Price to get the fabric for the back of Koy's Christmas stocking. It has been completed for about 2 months but I keep forgetting to take it with me when I go to Price so I can match the back fabric. I will get it done, take a picture, and publish it for all the world to tell me how wonderful it is.

After finishing his stocking I completed another covering to take to the Manti Temple. It really is a pretty one and I hope they can use it in one of the rooms. The other two I finished were smaller and they will use them on tables or other places. I am now working on one that is really pretty and will be large enough for the Garden Room or the World Room. I also need to get back to doing a few afghans, both adult sizes and baby ones. You never know when I might need one for someone.

So today my plan is to ..... do something. The dust is bad, the bathroom worse.....other rooms need to be de-junked. Where is Mission Organization when I need them. I know....all my daughters.....all FOUR of you.....plan a trip to Mother's house and do some service for her.....help her clean up her house! No...If I knew you were coming I would have to clean before you could come and clean......I have no one to blame but myself...Get busy!

Summer is Over

Today is the last day of summer vacation and I will be spending it getting things finished up in my classroom, of course. This has been a beautiful summer with perfect weather, except for the cooler June which got summer off to a slow start. I wish we had a few more weeks. Hopefully it won't be too hot for the classroom and we can have a wonderful autumn.

I have been doing some reading in "The Book of Mormon Made Easier" by David Ridges. I don't really have comprehension problems, but his commentaries help me remember the events that have happened to get the scriptures to the point of each chapter. And the bolding of words and concepts helps me center my thoughts on what is important. I remember one time Josh saying that he sometimes struggled with comprehending or understanding exactly what was important in each chapter. I think this book would be a great help to others who have the same problem. It takes three books in the series to get through the entire Book of Mormon, but it really does help with deeper understanding. I have recognized the great mission of the Sons of Mosiah with their missionary efforts and what they went through during those 14 years. My eyes have really been opened and I can't wait for the morning to read another chapter. One chapter at a time helps me concentrate with all the helps Bro. Ridges gives.



For my family outside of Utah, or inside for that matter, this Sunday will be a very different Sunday for many of us. I don't ever recall a Sunday when we are excused from attending Sacrament Meeting. In fact, there will be no Sacrament Meeting or Sunday School, or any other meeting of the traditional block schedule. Instead, we are meeting for the dedication of the Oqquirah Temple (Just how do you spell that word?) The new temple in South Jordan. With our stake center closed for remodeling, the two Castle Dale wards are attending meetings in the Orangeville Wardhouse and the 8th North building, so we have three wards in each building. The dedication sessions are at 9:00 am in both buildings, and another one at 3:00 in our building. This will enable families to attend a session and have baby-sitters available. You need a current temple recommend or a special recommend for the temple dedication only. Anyone 8 or older is invited to attending after getting the required recommend. Doors to the building will be locked at 8:30. With three wards in our building I am assuming it will be very crowded, so we will be there bright and early with our white hankies. I only remember being to the dedication of the Winter Quarters Temple, or was it the Nauvoo Temple? But it was in the afternoon and we still had sacrament meeting. We didn't skip the meetings for the dedication of the Draper Temple so this is a little bit different. Should make for a very nice Sunday afternoon.

Hope you all have a great day!

A Spiritual Feast

We just got back from the Stake Adults Dinner. It was good food, good company, and a great speaker. We sat at a table with President and Sister Johnson and their daughter, along with President and Sister Sharp, AKA Allan and Vickie, our great neighbors, friends, and favorite people. It was fun to visit with all of them, being friends with Garth and Peggy since forever, and Allan and Vickie since we moved back here to Orangeville. So the company and dinner talk was very nice.

We went into the chapel for the speaker and were so spiritually fed. We listened to a beautiful song song by Amy (Tuttle) Bell about the Prophet Joseph Smith. Her clear voice is really calming to listen to. It was a great introduction to the speaker.


Michael Kennedy is a direct descendent of Joseph Smith. In fact, he is the first member of the Smith family to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood since the death of Joseph Smith, Jr. His story is fascinating. I am sure I will not be able to do it justice here because the spirit was so strong, but it is a great testiment to the hand of the Lord in all things. He is now the president of the Joseph Smith, Jr. family organization and has been given the calling from the church leaders to gather the Smith family together once again.

He lived in Nevada and had a high school assignment to research an ancestor who participated in the history of America. His father told him that his 3rd-great grandfather "discovered Utah" and his name was Joseph Smith. Michael thought that should be a good report, so he studied him. His dad brought out a box full of artifacts of the family that he had received from a special aunt. In the box were pictures of Lucy, Emma, a journal, and several other things. He took these items from the box and put them out on the coffee table when a knock came at the door. There were two young men in white shirts with the same first name, "Elder." His father invited them in and they were quite shocked when they recognized the pictures on the table. Bro. Kennedy said he thinks he got the first six discussions in about 20 minutes. The missionaries were returning for several weeks but young Michael kept skipping out on the lessons. Finally his father told him he couldn't do so any more and he listened to the messages. At the same time, across town, the missionaries found another family to teach, one with a young girl. These two people eneded up being the only two baptisms from the elders in that small town. They later married each other. Michael found out later that the missionaries were only assigned to that town for a few weeks as an experiment. What an experiment!

Michael decided he could get baptized, leave to go to college at his father's alma mater, and never hear anything about the church again. So that is what he did. He had been ordained a deacon before leaving to go to college. His girlfriend went to some little college in Rexburg, Idaho.

Michael's father happened to call his aunt, who lived in Independence, and told her that his son was baptized into the LDS church. She told him that she was just visiting with a leader of the LDS church who had been searching out the Smith family and they were interested in finding any descendent of Joseph Smith and she would pass the word along that her nephew had been baptized. The visitor, Buddy Youngreen, was traveling from his home in California to Utah and called on Michael to travel to Salt Lake with him. He was at this time going to school where he thought he would not be noticed as a Mormon. But he was on the road between California and Salt Lake City. Brother Youngreen agreed to pick him up in the city where he was going to school, Cedar City.

They arrived in Salt Lake and had a meeting with President Packer, who introduced him to Bruce R. McConkie. They asked him what he knew about Joseph Smith and he replied that he understood that Joseph Smith had "discovered Utah." They weren't very impressed. During his schooling he still communicated with his girlfriend in Idaho, who said she would marry him but he had to be a returned missionary. He decided to talk with his bishop about that. His bishop said that since he had only been a member for 3 months he would have to think about that, but that he wanted Michael to be open to any inspiration the bishop received. Later, the bishop called him back into his office and said that he was not to go on a mission at that time, but that his mission would affect many people later in his life. So he told his girlfriend, who said that was fine, but she would not get married outside the temple. He went back to the bishop and said he needed to go to the temple. The bishop asked him what priesthood he held and he said he was a deacon. The bishop said he would fix that...Later he told his girlfriend he would probably be able to perform the marriage himself because he was going to become a priest! The bishop had told him that normally a convert had to be a member for a year before he could go to the temple, but he would talk to the authorities about it. Again, he was given permission to be married in the temple after being a member for less than a year. He received the Melchizedek Priesthood and told that he was to gather the Smith family together again.

He said his aunt had submitted names for family members to have their temple work completed, but the names came back with a stamp that said the work could not be done at that time, the time was not right for them. Then he taught us something that I had never realized before and it really hit me as truth. When we die as members of the church, we still have the ability to repent on the other side. We can repent and continue on learning and growing. Those people who are not members of the church lose the ability to repent until they accept the gospel. And since baptism is an earthly ordinance, they cannot repent and continue their growth until that baptism is done. And it is only after the baptism is done that they can have influence on their families here on earth. So, as Bro. Kennedy was trying to get members of the Smith family to listen to the church, to gather together, he was not having much success. He then was granted permission to have the temple work done for them. Before they were not able to have influence over their families here on earth, but the time was now right for them. The family is beginning to come back to the church again. He testified that people on the other side of the veil are waiting for their baptisms to be done so they can influence other families here on earth.

He also spoke about the "ill feelings" members of the church believed existed between Emma and Brigham Young. He said all the research shows that it is not true and that there have been many mis-understandings blown out of context. He said so many interesting things about how documents have been found to dispell these rumors. Here is an interesting article that he shared with us about the Brigham Young Family

He rolled out a long 17 foot chart of the family genealogy of Joseph and Emma Smith. He told about how their descendents are dwindling and how low in numbers they are. There are only a few branches with descendents left. It is interesting to see just where they are and how few there are.

The spirit was so strong when he spoke about Emma and her trials. He is the director of the movie Emma Smith: Her Story. He knows that she and Joseph are waiting for their family to gather again. He told how family genes can be traced back through 25 generations, plenty of generations to trace back the Smith family genes. The family members have taken DNA tests and can show that all of Joseph's descendents have come from Emma's lineage, not from other wives. Descendents of people who have claimed to be wives of Joseph's have also taken these DNA tests and no other people have been found to be descendents from Joseph Smith, Jr.

Bro. Kennedy has such a great, humble spirit. It was so touching to hear the many miracles that have happened in order for Joseph's family to return to the gospel. If anyone gets the change to listen to him, I would highly recommend it. It was the perfect end to a very nice day.

Thanks, Chantel's Grandmother

I got a sweet letter in the mail yesterday from Chantel's grandmother, Lima. She sent me a pattern for a crocheted altar cloth. Barrett had told me to be looking for it. I am honored that thought enough to help me out. She said she has crocheted this cloth for other temples and has received thank-you notes from the matrons in Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake, Palmyra, and Nauvoo. What a great honor for her! That was very sweet of her. I have a thank-you note ready to send to her, but just thought I would post about her kindness here. Chantel, please tell her how much I appreciate her thoughtfulness.

Many years ago in a talk, someone spoke about a little known woman in the scriptures, and it impressed me so much that I remembered the story very well. This woman made things with her hands that must have been very beautiful because her friends valued their beauty. Her friends also valued their friendship with this woman, named Dorcas, or Tabitha. When Peter was shown the beautiful things which she had made, he was so impressed that he raised her from the dead. Her story is found in Acts 9:36-42.

36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

For some reason I always have remembered this story. Maybe it reminded me of the beautiful things my mom would make. She made our clothes, quilts, all kinds of crafts, afghans, pillowcases, tablecloths, so many beautiful things. I learned to work with my hands from the example of my mom and I enjoy keeping my hands busy each night and for a few minutes each morning. I still have one more Christmas stocking to get done by next Christmas and I will work on it constantly to get it done. But I will need to divide my time with doing something else because of a phone call I received yesterday.

The woman who called me was a worker at the Manti Temple. She said she had been told by people in our ward that I crochet and do work with fine thread, which means the thin thread for tableclothes, edgings, etc. She is looking for someone to help make altar cloths for the temple. She said the coverings on the sealing rooms get washed regularly and so they get worn out. Sometimes they get snagged from buttons, etc. They also need doillies and coverings for the arms of chairs, the tables, everywhere that hands might rest. She also said that with all the new temples going in and the need for replacements at other tables, the church is in need of many items. She was asking me to help make these alter cloths.
This is such an honor for me. I enjoy doing this work so much anyway, but to know that something I create might be good enough to be in the temple is so humbling. I am so excited about this chance. I understand you need to be an endowed member with a current temple recommend, which means that there aren't very many women in the world with the credientials to do this work. A lost art I suppose. She will send me the patterns and dimensions and all instructions I might need. She emphasized that I might have to change the size of needle depending on how I crochet.
For those of you who don't know, if you crochet tighter the items will end up smaller so you might need to larger needle to get the same measurements. I crochet close to the required gauge, relatively speaking, so I usually match the same requirements as the patterns. I just know it will have to be done perfectly, no cheating to get the required stitches.
So, you will probably be seeing me crocheting a lot in the future. Along with at least one more Christmas stocking!

My Mom

Tomorrow is my mother's birthday. She would be 74 years old. I can't imagine my mother at that age. She will always be 45 to me. She had just turned 45 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer. She died on September 29, 1979. But in her short life she taught me so many things.
She loved her daughters and her grandchildren so much. Yes, daughters because she didn't have any sons of her own, but the two sons-in-law she also loved. She was blessed to see two granddaughters and one special grandson come into her family. I remember so well the day she put those little booties on Barrett's tiny feet. The booties that had waited 25 years to be worn by the first boy born in the family. I cried when I saw little Maxwell wearing those same booties and hat on his blessing day. It was so thoughtful of Chantel and Barrett to have them saved in a beautiful frame so we can always remember Grandma Nell's love for her children.

Mom taught me to enjoy doing handwork. She passed on her love of crocheting and embroidery work. I didn't get her housekeeping genes that Ruanne received, but I do love to create beautiful afghans and keep my hands busy. I don't think I have her patience, either, but people say I have her looks. She woke up early every morning, something I do now as well. She loved to bake Christmas cookies and Linda inherited that talent with the raisin-filled cookies. She loved to do things with her husband, my dad, and enjoyed spending time with him. I follow her example in this, even riding to the dump with my husband just to spend time with him. Mom wrote poetry for special occasions and passed that talent on to Julie. She listened to my problems and tried to give me advice, some of which I took and some I later wished I had paid more attention to.

When I got married times were very difficult for all of us. There was a gasoline shortage and inflation was very high. The money just wasn't going very far. I was finishing up my last quarter of college at Weber State and not at home in EC for wedding plans. We decided that she would make my wedding dress using a pattern for a dress that I was currently wearing as I accompanied the Men's and Women's Choir at Ogden Institute. She knew how to fit the pattern for me so I didn't need to come for fittings myself. We met in Salt Lake and picked out the fabric. The rest was up to her. Because of the hard economic times, I couldn't see spending money on a dress that I wouldn't be able to wear again afterward. I wanted a dress that could be special for my wedding day, but that I would still be able to wear later to the temple. So we decided on the dress with an overlaid apron. She did a beautiful job and my dress was very beautiful. I wore it the next year every time we went to the temple. A great rememberance of my wedding day. (Then I was pregnant and it didn't fit any more!)

I am so humbled that I was able to have her sitting beside me at the Ogden Temple when I was married to my husband. That was so special to me. It was something I had always dreamed of, and I know she enjoyed every minute of that day.

I wished I could have spent more time with Mom the last few weeks of her life. But with a new baby and a one-year-old, I was only able to visit her once in the few weeks she was in the hospital. During that visit she was very sick, had just had surgery. But she wanted so much to hold Barrett. She stroked his head and kept saying "What a beautiful boy." Her passing was such a shock to everyone, so fast and sudden. We didn't have time to prepare but how do you prepare for something like that?
I don't know if my sisters ever knew, but that same day Garth was in a farm accident.
He had come home at noon with plans to take Tammy on the farm truck with him. He was hauling corn from the field to the barn and thought he would give me a break and take her along for the ride. She happened to be asleep when he came home, so we decided to let her sleep. He went to the farm and continued hauling corn. I got a phone call a few hours later saying to come to the farm, that Garth was alright but the truck had rolled. I still thank the Lord that Tammy had been asleep. She would have been with him at that time. We didn't drive with car seats for our children back then. She could have been standing up beside him when the truck went off the road. I think the Lord was protecting us so that I wouldn't have to go through the loss of my Mom and the possible loss of my little girl and husband.

I have lived longer without my mom than I did with her in this life. But I know she lives on and still loves me, watches and protects me, strengthens me when I need strength and comforts me. Many times I feel her presence when I wonder what direction I should take. I know she lives and I will see her again.

Please leave a memory if you would like.

Family Funeral

Attending a funeral isn't the way most of us would choose to spend an afternoon, but what a nice funeral it was. The nephews and neices who spoke did such a wonderful job of recalling experiences they had with their favorite aunt. Everyone recalled her infectious laugh and big smile, the hardships she has gone through and her love for her family. The song that was sung is one I found many years ago and tucked into my piano bench with instructions for my high school friend to sing at my own funeral. She sang it yesterday and it was beautiful. The family plot just inside the gate of the cemetery brought back thoughts of grandparents and family members who would be so happy to be able to greet her in heaven. Although funerals are a celebration of life, and mark the end of a mortal existence, it is also a time for family to gather. It was so nice to see so many family members. There were only a few cousins who weren't able to travel to attend, and it felt so good to see the rest of us there. All in all, it was a very nice day.

I was so touched seeing how difficult a time one family member was having. Although I haven't seen him for a very long time, over 34 years at least (did I really graduate from high school that many years ago?), it was so good to be able to hug him and have him cry on my shoulder. At the cemetery he was having such a difficult time and I felt impressed to speak to him again. I went up to him and hugged him and told him that I know his sister is free from her pain, and that she wants him to know that the things they were taught about the spirit world were true. That she is with Grandpa and Grandma, free and happy, and to just know that it is true. He sobbed and sobbed and said "How did you know I needed to know that? Boy, did I need a kicker to get me thinking about all this. How did you know I needed that?" I silently prayed and told the Lord, "See, I am working on following those little impessions. Thanks for helping me along."

One of the nephews who spoke was an "employee" in our little family business, a very special boy to us, one my own children admired for his athletic abilities and his brains. He did such a good job and looked so nice in his suit. I jokingly asked him, "Just how often do you speak in church like this?" And we laughed togethering knowing that his family wasn't active while he was living here. I then found out that he is now the Executive Secretary in his ward! Yes, as he would say, miracles happen! He and his beautiful wife have gone to the temple and he sees how important the gospel is in his life.

Perhaps that is one reason understanding death affects how we react in the situation. Death isn't an ending. Although it is sad that we will not have the person here to engage in conversation or to be a part of our mortal life, I know that life exists after this. That all those family members who have passed on will be there when we experience death. We will see them, associate with them, continue on our lives in a different sphere than here. That is so comforting to me. Not something I wish to experience for a while, but something that brings me comfort.

I am so thankful for my testimony of eternal families. Knowing we can be with our families forever makes death a lot easier to endure. The death of a family member is difficult enough, but without the truth of eternal famiies, it would be almost impossible to handle. Life does go on, and we will be together again.