Where Did 39 Years Go?

I can't believe that I have been married 39 years. To Craig I say thanks for sharing these years with me. Thanks for being so patient with me. Thanks for teaching me so much about life. Thanks for traveling to some amazing places with me. (These include Canada, Germany, Turkey, Australia, Israel, Jordan, Saudia Arabia, China and all those amazing Air Force assignments.) Thanks for giving me the blessing of being a mother and grandmother. Thanks for living the gospel and being such a worthy priesthood bearer. Thanks for always being supportive in my callings. Thanks for helping me strengthen my testimony. Thanks for serving in the temple with me. (I consider that a truly great blessing.) Thanks for always being there to listen to me and assuring me that everything will be OK. Thanks for being my partner and friend for 39 years.

Mindi Celebrates a Birthday

July 23 was Mindi's birthday. What can I say about Mindi. She is a strong person with such great talents. She is truly a blessing to all who know her. She shines forth in everything she tackles and has such a fun loving spirit. I consider her one of my best friends with a loving and kind spirit. Her strength in the gospel is truly an example for Craig and I and her sister and brothers. She has never been afraid to say what she is thinking and to live the way she knows is right. She is such a good mother and Reese is lucky to have her to guide her in this life. Thanks Mindi for an wonderful 35 years. I am so grateful and blessed to have you as my daughter.

Weekend with Grandkids

Last weekend, July 10 and 11, we babysat Reese. We had offered to Mindi and Arnold to babysit while they had a get-away. Craig and I had a wonderful time. We absolutely loved tending Reese. She is a very good baby. I am afraid that Mindi and Arnold are totally spoiled. Reese goes to bed just by putting her in her crib. She plays and then goes to sleep. She also wakes up and plays till you pick her up. The are good parents and we love them for the good home and family they are creating.

Jen had us out to dinner on Saturday evening for dinner and a visit. We had a great time with them. The grandkids are growing up so fast. Mycol and Riley are such great granddaughters. We saw Logan for a few minutes. He is a normal, busy teenage boy. Jen and the girls always have a project going on. Mycol has created an alphabet book for Crew's birthday. They have so many fun things to work on. I do love spending time with them.

We didn't leave Utah till Monday morning, as we made a stop at Hill AFB to get some medications. I always enjoy being at Hill AFB. I love hearing the planes and it brings back wonderful memories of our time in the Air Force. We arrived home to everything being safe and sound. It was back to work on Tuesday, wading through the emails. However, I am so grateful we both have jobs we love. I am grateful to be employed and be able to pay the bills. What a blessing we have.

I read a section in the book “Spiritually Anchored in Unsettled Times” by Bruce Hafen. (I have also been reminded how much my dad loved Pres./Elder Hafen and so reading the book has been a sweet experience for me.) I thought of my family and what trials we have gone through in the past couple of years and what surely lies ahead of us. It reads like this.

“If we are becoming more aware of our weaknesses, that doesn’t mean we are drifting away from Him; it may well mean that we are drawing closer. For because of the Atonement, we can learn from our mistakes without being condemned by them.”

“The paradox of this divine tutorial is that the Lord will not only correct us but may also lead us into some forms of personal affliction. Elder Maxwell said ‘If we are serious about our discipleship, Jesus will eventually request each of us to do those very things which are the most difficult for us to do. Thus, sometimes the best people have the worst experiences because they are the most ready to learn.’ ”

“After Elder Maxwell learned he had the leukemia that eventually took his life, he shook his head and said he should have seen it coming. . . . . The more he (Elder Maxwell) desired the gift of charity—to love as Christ loves—the more he sensed how dear the price might be.”

I think that we all will have to pick ourselves up from time to time,(at least I do) and move forward and know that we are in times that we must totally consecrate our life to the Lord. And yes, we are going to have some of those worst experiences. I truly don’t know what I would do without my testimony and yet I realize how I need to continually strengthen it.

Another Day of Work at BYU-Idaho

Wish I could begin to tell you about the wonderful experience I had today.

Every summer the university helps put on a luncheon for the approximately 500 construction crew who are working on the new auditorium building. It is our way of saying thanks to them for their work and service. Today was such a luncheon. But today was totally different. We were in the construction area which will house 10 basketball courts and have a track above it. It is a wonderful space. Although it is only cinderblock and concrete, there is a certain feel in it.

The university choir began the gathering by singing “How Firm a Foundation” then the prayer then “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Even without the acoustics being perfect, the sound was absolutely wonderful. The sound just resonated throughout the structure. You would have sworn it was the Tabernacle Choir.

Pres. Clark then made a few comments. He ask those in attendance to take note of some of the words of these songs. He quoted parts of the 2nd and 3rd verse of “How Firm a Foundation.” He talked about how in every situation, in sickness and in health, we can always call upon the Lord. Whatever our situation, whatever the circumstances, wherever we may be, the Lord will hear our prayers, answer them and uplift us. But in every situation, we need to remember where our blessings come from. He is truly the giver of blessings and peace in our life. (I hope you’ll take time to read the all of the words from both hymns.)

I felt as though the message was for me. I felt as though the Lord was calming my troubled heart and helping me know that He is in control. As I contemplate the thoughts of the lyrics, I know that I am loved by my Heavenly Father. I know that those on the other side of the veil are watching over us. I am so grateful for the testimony and love that I have for the gospel and for loving parents who taught me of His great atoning sacrifice for me.


HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
2ND verse In ev'ry condition--in sickness, in health,
In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3rd verse Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

7th verse The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!

4th of July weekend

July 3 was spent with Val. She wanted her sisters to come and see her again. This time it was to tell us the update and how she wants this to be handled. She has cancer in the liver and the stomach. She has decided not to do chemotherapy but rather follow the naturpath's advice. She has gone to all organic foods and does some shots given to her by the naturpath. She also has a blood clot in the vena cava artery. She agreed to take the blood thinner but that is all. She and Greg will no longer give updates on her health. We are to tell friends and relatives that she does not want any more information given out. I'm not sure how that will be done but we will try to honor her wishes. She had dredged up some very old emotions. She talked about her divorce, mom and dad, growing up and how she feels unloved. We all left her house a little confused. It was a very hard day for all of us. Val is a person who has always prided herself in communication. Every time we are together, she talks about open communication and being part of each other's lives. Now, it feels like she has cut us off. She and Greg have made this decision together. My heart is breaking as I realize that I could lose my sister. She seems frail to me and so tired. I called her on Saturday and Sunday but only spoke to Greg. She was not available to come to the phone. I have wondered and questioned how this can happen so fast?

The 3rd and 4th were also spent by re-roofing the shed. Craig has worked so hard on the shed. I keep telling him that we are too old to continue doing all this hard work. He was so stiff and banged up on Sunday, that he really did need a day of rest. He just has the very top shingles to go now and that will take a half hour or so. Craig always does good work but this has been a hard job for him.

Craig enjoyed the time with his family. They had to cut their fishing trip a day early because Dennis had to get home for a funeral. All of his family seems to be doing well.