Words of Wisdom

I read this article and as I read it, I thought of my sister, Annette and the Maxfield's mother, Judy.  Both taken from this life at a very young age with very young families.  I love how this article ended and wanted to share it on my blog.  It was titled,

"The Perspective I Choose."

"This morning I glanced in the local newspaper at the obituaries.  A beautiful face caught my attention.  A young beautiful face.  I read about a mother who recently passed away from breast cancer.  My heart ached as I read.  I ached for her four young children, her parents, and siblings.  I felt for her friends and the many, many people who she touched by her life.  but mostly, I ached for her husband because now his companion and best friend is gone.

While reading her obituary, I discovered that she kept a blog during her years of struggling with cancer.  I spent most of my morning reading her beautifully written entries full of wisdom beyond her years.  I was particularly touched and inspired when she said in the last post written on February  23rd.

'When I focus on the life of my Savior Jesus Christ, I give Him the opportunity to heal my spirit.  He suffered both body and spirit, and therefore, is the only one who can truly know how I feel and what I need.  When I think of Him I feel strengthened, happy, and even grateful and loved in a very real and tangible way.  I can look at life from the perspective that I have terminal cancer.  I am not winning the battle, and there is nothing I can do about that, and I feel cheated of future time with my family.  That is one perspective. 

The perspective I choose is:  I have a happy marriage with a wonderful husband to whom I am sealed for eternity in the temple.  I have four beautiful and happy children who are becoming just what I had hoped they would become.  I feel confident in a happy after-life, and I know that eventually my whole family will be there with me.  I have friends and am shown love from others every single day.  I am here right now, and I can do what I choose to do with my time.

Out of these two true perspectives, that is the one I have chosen."

I was grateful to feel uplifted and strengthened from a woman whom I have never even met.  I feel badlyl for feeling strong and grateful after reading her words since those who love and cherish her are mourning her.

I've been typing Annette's missionary diary and have felt so incredible close to her.  I think back on the battle she fought with cancer and remember that she was happy and positive right to the very end.  The last time Lila Mae and I saw her, was in the hospital in American Fork.  We visited for a short time and then she said, "I think I'm tired now."  Lila Mae and I kissed her 'goodbye' and as we were walking out the door she said, "I love you both!"  Those words still ring in my ears - those simple words "I love you".  She chose the second perspective.  She trusted and had faith in her Heavenly Father.  What a beautiful example she was to me.

Emmi Graduates!!

Friday was a happy day for Emmi, her family and Gam and Pa.  She completed her four years at Brigham Young University and officially received her certificate of graduation.  We are so proud of you Emmi!  Now you will move to the next step in your life's journey.  Emmi will be working full time at Dugway for the summer and will be making some life decisions for her future.  Right now, though, we are going to celebrate her accomplishment.

 Here we are on the very front row and waiting for the graduates to come in.  We have no idea which side of the stadium she will walk in.  It's a 50/50 chance that she will walk in in our side.  We aren't hopeful.

 Oh my gosh!  There she was rounding the corner.  Neal reached out and grabbed her hand.  It was so exciting to see her right there.

 The program with her name.  How exciting.

 Saint even came to the graduation.  He very obediently slid right under the seat.  Abby has done such a wonderful job training Saint.

 Here is Emmi heading toward the podium to get her official papers!

 Pictures outside after the ceremony.  Such a beautiful day!  Smiles all around.  As there should be.

 A very proud grandmother!

After all the pictures and congratulations, Emmi headed toward the bookstore to turn in her cap and gown and pick up her actual certificate of graduation.  What an incredible day.
We then headed out of the very busy BYU campus and head to Salt Lake for lunch at the Gateway.

 Neal bought Emmi the Hawaiian bead necklace.  We are so proud of you Emmi Girl!!

 This is the kind of spring day it was.  The blossoms and flowers we bursting with color.

We love you Emmi and wish you all the happiness and success in your future adventures and decisions.

"My Little Missionary"

My little missionary is what I fondly call Mallory when I write her each week.  Friday when I got home from work, I happened to look on the front porch and there was a package addressed to me.

 I had no idea what it was, what was in it or who it was from.  I wasn't expecting a package.  I took it in and opened it up and found the card on top.

 I also immediately noticed what the package had written on the wrapping paper.  "To Gam From your little Missionary.  I started to tear up right then.  It was so personal and tender - just for me.

 I had to take of the sticker on the back of the envelope.  Doesn't it just melt your heart?

 This is the note inside the envelope.

 After reading the note and getting my emotions back together, I opened the package and found this absolutely darling salt and pepper shaker set.  Is this not the cutes thing you've ever seen?  I just LOVE it.  Thank you, my little Missionary , for the sweet note and for the treasured 'tea set'

Grandchildren fill our hearts with love and purpose.  I love you, My Little Missionary!!

Neal's award

Neal was told that he would be getting an award at the Athletic Awards Banquet.  Apparently the whole athletic department and athletes vote on the professor in the college that they felt was the most supportive and helped them the most through the school year.  I was proud of Neal and so pleased that he was being recognized.  He is a great professor and he does go the extra mile to help all of his students and those who have to be absent so much from classes because of sports.

I left work at about 2:00 and went to downtown Provo and did some shopping and then spent some time driving around my old neighborhood.  I could tell you who lived in almost every house in a four block radius.  I had a great childhood and driving around the area brought back so many, many happy memories of playing ball in the vacant lot in the middle of our block, playing kick the can after mutual every night during the summer months and hanging out on the corner after church just talking. I grew up in a wonderful neighborhood, full of good people.

From their I drove to the University Mall and as I was walking into Macey's, I got a text from Emmi asking me if I liked a shirt.  I told her I did and asked her where she was.  She told me she was at Eddie Bauers in the Univ. Mall.  I had to smile.  What were the chances that we would both be at the mall at the same time without planning it.  I walked down to Eddie Bauers and met Emmi.  We had a fun time shopping and enjoying each other's company.

I finally had to say goodbye and I headed to UVU for the award night for Neal.  We had a delicious dinner and Neal received his award.  He looked very handsome and certainly deserved this award.
I was very proud of him.

There were more pictures taken at the school by professional photographers.  As soon as we get those copies, I will post them.  So proud of you Neal.  You've deserved this for years!!!

Mallory gets her bike!

I was so excited to get this picture and a notice from Mallory telling me her bike finally arrived.  I told her when she left for her mission that when she had to purchase a bike to let me know and I would pay for it.  When she was transferred to her new area in Tennessee she was told she needed a bike.  Thus began the process.  Because she is so tall, she needed a specially made bike that would fit her tall frame.  The mission president knew who she should contact her in Salt Lake to have a bike built just for her.  She called me and I gave her the credit card and the bike was paid for and ordered.  Just for posterity reasons and knowing how prices of things change drastically over the years I'm going to post the price of the bike.  It ended up at $549.00.  I was happy when I found out that the bicycle shop people were LDS and they paid for the shipping.  The owner said that was his contribution to the missionary program.  So now, Mallory has a bike and is learning how to ride a bike modestly in a skirt or dress!!

Spring in Utah

One has to not be surprised each day as we wake up when we look at the window.  Yes it is April and yes April bring Spring in the air, but winter isn't ready to give up quite yet.  We woke up Tuesday morning to snow on the ground.  One just has to smile, grab their coat in place of a light weight sweater and put a mile on your face and head out the door.  Monday it was 65 and Tuesday it was 45 and Wednesday back up to the lower 60's.  Yes, that is Utah weather at it's best!!

The Symphony

Saturday afternoon Neal and I were offered tickets to the Symphony.  We decided it might be kind of fun to go.  Never been to a symphony performance before.  Our seats were incredible and program was short of amazing.  As we were walking in someone touched my shoulder and said, "Hello stranger."  I turned around and it was Sherri and Merrill Thompson.  Of course, some pictures had to be taken.

A dear friend passes away.

A dear friend of mine, Richard Crebs (we always called him Dick) passed away at the age of 89.  He was an amazing person and certainly exemplified what a father, husband, bishop and friend should be.  I loved him and his wife, Glenda.  We became fast friends right when we moved into the 8th ward.  We spent summers at Lake Powell, boating and water skiing, Winters at Yellowstone, snowmobiling and many weekends through the year at their cabin in Oakley.  We even went up to the cabin many times for New Years.  We also spend almost every 4th of July at the cabin and going to the Oakley rodeo.  So many memories that it is impossible to write them all.  We played lots of Pinochle while eating pistachios and licorice.  Glenda was a great cook and we had many delicious meals at her home over the years.

Neal and I went to his viewing tonight and it was so fun to connect with the Lauri, Ann Marie, Diane and Jana.  The memories are wonderful and will be long remembered.  Everyone who knew Dick loved him.  We will miss you Dick.  This is a picture of Dick awarding Jeffrey his Eagle Scout award.

Picture of Dick and Glenda in Yellowstone where we had stopped for lunch.

Picture of the four of us playing pinochle in the motel in West Yellowstone.  That is what we did almost every single night.  

I have a really nice picture of Dick from his funeral.  I'll post that later.

More cancer issues

When Neal had his first cancer surgery on his nose the doctor took a biopsy of another area on the side of his nose that he was concerned about.  The biopsy came back malignant.  Dang!  So we made another appointment with Dr. Bowen to see how we would proceed with this new finding.  Neal will basically do the same thing he did last time.  He will use some special cream on the area for three weeks and then go in for surgery to have the second spot removed.  This one is on the side of his nose right down by his cheek.  He starts the cream treatment tomorrow.

Dr.Bowen found a growth on Neal's chest that he wasn't concerned about but because it was where his shirt would rub on it he sliced it off.

I found out that Dr. Bowen grew up in Provo and graduated from Provo High School.  He is way younger than I am.  He graduated 79 and I graduated in 62.  Funny thing is that he lived up on 'snob hill' (as we so fondly called it) and he knew a lot of the younger brothers and sisters of my friends.  Small world, isn't it?  What really made me smile is that Neal is the one who usually connects with people, not me.  This was a switch for sure.

Sunday thought

"Family love is wonderful.  Nothing is as specific as the love of a baby for its mother.  Nothing is as predictable as the love of children for their parents or the love of parents for their children."
President Russell M. Nelson

RS Hand OUt

I couldn't possibly do these cute handouts for my relief society lessons if it weren't for Annie's help.  She is so creative and knows how to get things put together right.  I went out to her home Friday morning and we worked on these from 9:00 until 6:00.  Only taking a break to grab a hamburger and then Costa Vida for dinner and then home with my completed projects.  Thanks Annie for always being there for me and helping me be ready for relief society.  The saying that goes with the handout is:  "There is a thread that binds us to the Lord in our service.  It runs from where ever we are called to serve in the kingdom up through those called to preside over us in the priesthood and to the prophet who is bound to the Lord."  Beautiful!

They turned out better than I had even hoped.  So dang cute and perfect!  Thanks millions, Annie for your talent, creativity and especially your time.  

Two projects framed.

These are my two most recent finished and framed projects.  I love them both.  I may hang one of them in the bathroom off the kitchen.

Catch a Falling Star totally brings back my teen era.  I LOVED this song.