Thursday, August 28, 2014
Three of my favorite things. Together. Amazing.
The Piano Guys version that includes 1. them 2. Iguazu Falls and 3. their version of Gabriel's Oboe and How Great Thou Art played on cello and piano. Beautiful!
Iguazu Falls is located on the Argentina/Brazil boarder. I went there as a young missionary in 1977 with our district for a P-day activity. It is an experience I'll never forget. It was haunting. Gabriel's Oboe is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, in my opinion. It was written for the movie "The Mission" in 1986 by Ennio Morriconne and was nominated for an academy award for best movie soundtrack.
I want it played at my funeral. Seriously.
The pure melody played by an orchestra with oboe solo.
In Italian sung by Sarah Brightman
A clip from the movie "The Mission"
A beautiful version in English by Hayley Westernra
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
We can do hard things
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| My four sweethearts. I love them so very much. |
I went to the hospital to sit with Jordan while Jake was in surgery. It was good to be together to talk and to just be there sometimes without talking. Their darling sis-in-law Jessica came over and stayed with the children while I was gone. A ward member brought dinner. I got back in time to take the girls to meet their teachers and to help finish up the shopping for their school supplies. And then...off they went to 3rd grade, to 1st grade and to pre-school the next morning. Jake's surgery went better than expected and he was able to come home to recuperate after being in the hospital for one day. He is a brave courageous man who bears this trial without complaint.
We watched some movies together, swam in the pool with the kids, cleaned, mopped floors, put away summer toys, organized, grocery shopped, made raspberry jam, put a scrapbook together and just had a good time being together. I got to spend some one-on-one time with each of the girls. Jord and I had pedicures and leg/foot massages together. Lauren opted to go to Village Inn for breakfast and then go shopping at Old Navy and on to get ice-cream at Cold Stone. Ellie decided to spend her grandma Vonnie time going to get a happy meal and a chocolate Sunday at McDonalds, going to the mall to buy a new stuffy and getting some candy at Fuzzywigs. We also took some fun pictures at the photo booth at the mall. Sweet Ada wanted to ride the ferris wheel two times at the mall and eat spaghetti at the food court and buy a bouncy ball from the dispenser because it would last longer than candy. A new stuffy was also a welcome addition to her stuffy family.
The girls would have preferred that their parents took them to meet their teachers that night. They would have preferred that their parents took them to the first day of school. Jordan would have preferred to have skipped sitting in the waiting room for hours while her husband was in surgery, and Jake would have preferred have a clean MRI scan and bypassing this whole second brain surgery experience. That wasn't to be. This is hard on everyone. Very hard. But what can be done? Unhappiness and discouragement are of the devil. Happiness and hope are from the Savior. All we can do it keep putting one foot in front of the other and living life because....we can do hard things. Toughness runs in our families.
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| My darling daughter who is literally gritting her teeth and bearing it. |
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| Smiles all around six days after surgery |
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| Love these two strong, amazing children. Oh how I love them! |
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| Tommy can out eat his sisters and he will try anything |
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| My adventure with Lauren...just the two of us! |
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| Mall photo booth with Ellie and Ada. So fun! |
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| Swimming most days in the 110 degree heat |
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| Ellie's fresh fruit platter |
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| Yum! fresh raspberry jam! |
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| Making killer pancakes with daddy |
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| After watching the Parent Trap, these girls wanted to be twins for a day! |
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| Tommy doing what he loves to do...playing with his toys. He is such a doll! |
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| All the cards and letters people have sent to Jake and Jordan in one inspirational book |
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| Off to first grade! |
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| First day of pre-school |
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| First day of 3rd grade |
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Yup, this is my life
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| I took a chance and gave birth to three of our four children during football season. Luckily, the stars aligned and their father was present at their births. No football games on those days. |
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| Attending a BYU game at Ole Miss gave me more respect for Southern women. Wow! |
Friday, August 22, 2014
Making Sense of Suffering
Is there really any sense to be made of suffering? It sounds like a comforting concept, but when reality settles in, it is much harder in practice than in theory to make much sense of suffering, whatever form that suffering takes. I have discovered this truth however...it is much easier to be the one suffering that to watch a loved on go through a terrible trial. A friend said one time that a mother can only be as happy as her most unhappy child. There is truth in that statement.
Jake had his MRI scheduled after they returned from our Bear Lake vacation. It was a shocking surprise to all of us that a new brain tumor was discovered in the MRI. Say what? Nooooooooo!!
Surgery was scheduled for four days later and again Jake submitted himself to brain surgery and again Jordan sat by his side. The tumor was successfully removed but an uncertain future remains. What can anyone say or do at a time like this? I have felt so helpless to offer any words of comfort or relief to our sweet daughter and her good husband. All I knew to do was to work and keep busy, stay positive and help relieve some of the daily pressures by working and helping at their home. It is such a small thing when really what is needed are answers to those deep gut-wrenching questions that are not easily answered. What can be said or done to give any relief to Jordan and Jake with the heavy burden they are facing physically, emotionally and spiritually? With an unknown future and unknown suffering ahead, what sense can be made of this trial?
I don't know what else to do but to pray and ask for peace and comfort. Prayer always brings a measure of peace even if it doesn't change the circumstances or take away the pain. Talking to our Heavenly Father and asking for his help to get through another day takes on new meaning. Talking to another person also seems to help. Dear friends and family who are sincerely interested and who know how to be good listeners and help ease the burden. Dealing with reality, even hard realities, is better than pretending and avoiding the truth.
Optimism is also important. We are in charge of our own attitudes and our own optimism. Yes, we get down and yes there are days and times when we feel we just can't go on. But at the end of the suffering, we MUST return to hope. There is no other answer. There is no other road to follow. Yes we need time to process, to go through the stages of grief, to mourn our losses, to feel fear and anger and to be scared. But at the end of the day, we throw ourselves at the feet of Him who knows all things and ask for his comfort and sweet peace that all will be well. Eventually.
We place our faith in His plan. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, we are so fortunate to know that He has a plan for each of us. We aren't just down here suffering needlessly. There is purpose to trials and suffering. We can ask for comfort and warmth to surround us, much like the picture shows an angel comforting the Savior. We are never alone if we seek God's comfort.
I was recently looking for words of encouragement and came across these words from the teachings of President Lorenzo Snow:
Jake had his MRI scheduled after they returned from our Bear Lake vacation. It was a shocking surprise to all of us that a new brain tumor was discovered in the MRI. Say what? Nooooooooo!!
Surgery was scheduled for four days later and again Jake submitted himself to brain surgery and again Jordan sat by his side. The tumor was successfully removed but an uncertain future remains. What can anyone say or do at a time like this? I have felt so helpless to offer any words of comfort or relief to our sweet daughter and her good husband. All I knew to do was to work and keep busy, stay positive and help relieve some of the daily pressures by working and helping at their home. It is such a small thing when really what is needed are answers to those deep gut-wrenching questions that are not easily answered. What can be said or done to give any relief to Jordan and Jake with the heavy burden they are facing physically, emotionally and spiritually? With an unknown future and unknown suffering ahead, what sense can be made of this trial?
I don't know what else to do but to pray and ask for peace and comfort. Prayer always brings a measure of peace even if it doesn't change the circumstances or take away the pain. Talking to our Heavenly Father and asking for his help to get through another day takes on new meaning. Talking to another person also seems to help. Dear friends and family who are sincerely interested and who know how to be good listeners and help ease the burden. Dealing with reality, even hard realities, is better than pretending and avoiding the truth.
Optimism is also important. We are in charge of our own attitudes and our own optimism. Yes, we get down and yes there are days and times when we feel we just can't go on. But at the end of the suffering, we MUST return to hope. There is no other answer. There is no other road to follow. Yes we need time to process, to go through the stages of grief, to mourn our losses, to feel fear and anger and to be scared. But at the end of the day, we throw ourselves at the feet of Him who knows all things and ask for his comfort and sweet peace that all will be well. Eventually.
We place our faith in His plan. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, we are so fortunate to know that He has a plan for each of us. We aren't just down here suffering needlessly. There is purpose to trials and suffering. We can ask for comfort and warmth to surround us, much like the picture shows an angel comforting the Savior. We are never alone if we seek God's comfort.
I was recently looking for words of encouragement and came across these words from the teachings of President Lorenzo Snow:
- Every man and woman who serves the Lord, no matter how faithful they may be, have their dark hours; but if they have lived faithfully, light will burst upon them and relief will be furnished.
- If we succeed in passing through the approaching fiery ordeals with our fidelity and integrity unimpeached, we may expect at the close of our trials, a great and mighty outpouring of the Spirit and power of God - a great endowment upon all who shall have remained true to their covenants.
- You and I cannot be made perfect except through suffering: even Jesus could not.
- There is no other way in which the Saints can make spiritual improvement and be prepared for an inheritance in the celestial kingdom than through tribulation.
- Be of good cheer - be not disheartened, for assuredly the day rapidly comes when your tears shall be dried, your hearts comforted, and you shall eat the products of your labours.
- Every trial a man or woman goes through...at the end of the trial or affliction that individual is nearer to God, nearer in regard to the increase of faith, wisdom, knowledge and power, and hence is more confident in calling upon the Lord for those things he desires. God will pour out his Spirit upon us, and we will come off victorious in the end.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Topaz Japanese internment camp
I have a very good friend named Patsy who is Japanese. We've exercised together for many years. We've walked miles and miles and talked and talked about all sorts of topics. Some years ago, she told me the story of her parents who were children living in San Francisco at the outbreak of WWII. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, all of the Japanese on the pacific coast became suspect. What followed is a very sad story of how their civil rights were taken away and they were ordered to gather up and leave all they had behind and move to internment camps. All they could take was two suitcases per person. They lost their homes, their property, their businesses, and their farms and their FREEDOM. Two-thirds of them were American citizens, including her parents. Her father and this family were sent to the Topaz internment camp in Utah and her mother and her family were sent to a camp in Arizona. She has shared many stories that her father and mother have told about life in the internment camps for the three and a half years they lived there as 10 and 11 year old children. It has been fascinating to me.
Since then, I have read several books to learn more about the WHY, WHAT, WHEN, WHO and HOW of this incredible chapter in American history. Here is a summary of that happened at Topaz and Here. I've been struck by many thoughts, such as:
Any yet, everything I've read and everything Patsy has told me tells of a people who (for the most part) cooperated with the authorities and made the best of a very bad situation. Their sons would come home from fighting in the war and visit their parents who were being kept behind barbed wire! They were patient and long suffering and suffered this injustice with dignity. Her parents families ultimately settled in the Ogden and Orem areas and raised their families in Utah. They never returned to life in California. It was also very interesting to learn that there was another camp (there were about 10 total scattered throughout the western states) that was called the Minidoka camp and was located not far from Twin Falls Idaho, near where I grew up. Who knew??
A Topaz museum is being built in Delta, UT and tells a story that needs to be told. I marvel at the people and their resiliency, courage and honor and their ability to get on with their lives and not hold a life-long grudge against the US government.
From the Topaz Museum web site:
The story of these camps has become better known after President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and President George H.W. Bush issued a formal apology and token monetary compensation ($20,000 per person) to all former internees. However, the events and causes of this tragic page in history must never be forgotten. If we can understand what occurred and why, we can insure that a similar denial of civil rights will never happen to any future generation of Americans.
Since then, I have read several books to learn more about the WHY, WHAT, WHEN, WHO and HOW of this incredible chapter in American history. Here is a summary of that happened at Topaz and Here. I've been struck by many thoughts, such as:
- why were the Japanese Americans singled out as suspect and forced into camps when Italian Americans and German American and other Asians were not?
- the people in power removed a minority group from the general population and the rest of society let it happen. It's easy to second guess that decision now, but it is very hard to understand it.
- could something like this happen again in America? Could American citizens be gathered up and denied their civil rights in the name of national security?
Any yet, everything I've read and everything Patsy has told me tells of a people who (for the most part) cooperated with the authorities and made the best of a very bad situation. Their sons would come home from fighting in the war and visit their parents who were being kept behind barbed wire! They were patient and long suffering and suffered this injustice with dignity. Her parents families ultimately settled in the Ogden and Orem areas and raised their families in Utah. They never returned to life in California. It was also very interesting to learn that there was another camp (there were about 10 total scattered throughout the western states) that was called the Minidoka camp and was located not far from Twin Falls Idaho, near where I grew up. Who knew??
A Topaz museum is being built in Delta, UT and tells a story that needs to be told. I marvel at the people and their resiliency, courage and honor and their ability to get on with their lives and not hold a life-long grudge against the US government.
The story of these camps has become better known after President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and President George H.W. Bush issued a formal apology and token monetary compensation ($20,000 per person) to all former internees. However, the events and causes of this tragic page in history must never be forgotten. If we can understand what occurred and why, we can insure that a similar denial of civil rights will never happen to any future generation of Americans.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Queen Lizzie and Prince Will
Claire and R had arranged in advance for their children in to stay with us for a week following the Bear Lake vacation. They had some projects they wanted to get done around the house and they also wanted to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.
Rick and I had Lizzie and Will for eight days and enjoyed every minute of it. With the help of the younger Lindley girls Kelsi and Alysa (who tended them for four hours a day while I went to work), Andy and Chelsea and Jordan and Jake for one morning, we managed to cover all the bases. In those eight days, they went to Chuck E Cheese twice, the Children's museum of Natural Curiosity twice, the Provo Rec Center pools, the Provo employees summer picnic, on a hike, to the Kangaroo Zoo jump place, swam in the Cherry Village pool every day, visited Grandma Pat and jumped in her tramp, had a picnic, and played with all the retro toys I still have in my playroom from their mom's younger days.
We read stories, told stories, sang songs, played in the swings, made home-made play dough, went to the playground, went to church and to their own classes without protest, napped, laughed, cried a few times and watched some Disney movies and Curious George. We even had a visit from the Police when Will locked himself in my car inside the garage, along with my purse and the keys to the car! Luckily, the officer saved the day and got the car door opened.
They both have such darling personalities and it was so fun us to spend some one-on-one time with them and get to know them better. Will called me Gamma Vonnie and Rick Gampa Ricky. In a prayer Lizzie offered before they left, she prayed that they wouldn't cry when they said goodbye! We love our little Queen Lizzie and Prince Will and look forward to spending more time with them next summer. They were very brave to be away from their mommy and daddy for a week, but somehow I think we managed to keep them busy so they didn't miss their home too much.
Rick and I had Lizzie and Will for eight days and enjoyed every minute of it. With the help of the younger Lindley girls Kelsi and Alysa (who tended them for four hours a day while I went to work), Andy and Chelsea and Jordan and Jake for one morning, we managed to cover all the bases. In those eight days, they went to Chuck E Cheese twice, the Children's museum of Natural Curiosity twice, the Provo Rec Center pools, the Provo employees summer picnic, on a hike, to the Kangaroo Zoo jump place, swam in the Cherry Village pool every day, visited Grandma Pat and jumped in her tramp, had a picnic, and played with all the retro toys I still have in my playroom from their mom's younger days.
We read stories, told stories, sang songs, played in the swings, made home-made play dough, went to the playground, went to church and to their own classes without protest, napped, laughed, cried a few times and watched some Disney movies and Curious George. We even had a visit from the Police when Will locked himself in my car inside the garage, along with my purse and the keys to the car! Luckily, the officer saved the day and got the car door opened.
They both have such darling personalities and it was so fun us to spend some one-on-one time with them and get to know them better. Will called me Gamma Vonnie and Rick Gampa Ricky. In a prayer Lizzie offered before they left, she prayed that they wouldn't cry when they said goodbye! We love our little Queen Lizzie and Prince Will and look forward to spending more time with them next summer. They were very brave to be away from their mommy and daddy for a week, but somehow I think we managed to keep them busy so they didn't miss their home too much.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Bear Lake family vacation
It's been a busy three weeks. We've been on the go and have had some wonderful family times. Jordan and Jake and family arrived on Friday night, July 25 and Claire and Rich and kids arrive the following Saturday night. Jord and Jake hosted a fun party that Saturday afternoon and invited all their family and friends in the area who have been so supportive of them through the last several months since Jake was diagnosed with cancer. They loved seeing everyone who could attend and we enjoyed eating Fat Boys and other ice cream treats while the kids played on our swings and in the park behind our home. R&C arrived in time to enjoy the festivities and then we hosted a BBQ with our dear family friends the Philipps. Most of their family members were able to attend and it was so fun to catch up and just be together! Our kids love their kids and they stay in contact and encourage one another through life's ups and downs. The children all enjoyed playing together and the next generation of friendships were strengthened. They are friends who are family.
Sunday, the 27th, we attended church at Andy and Chelsea's ward and then headed to Logan. Mom hosted a fun picnic in her pavilion and we enjoyed seeing Carol and Robert and their kids (Matt who has home on leave from the Navy) Mary Ann, niece Jamie and her family, and my uncle Clair and aunt Marilyn. It was great to visit with them all. We then headed to the Lindley cabin at Bear Lake and got settled in for several days of fun.
Monday was boating on the lake, jet skis, water skiing, wake boarding and tube pulling. The great-grandmas Pat and Mary enjoyed the boat rides and watching everyone have a good time. Chelsea was a great boat driver and everyone got some time to try out all the different modes of water fun. That evening we had a girls night out and went to the Pickelville theater to watch a theater production of Beauty and the Beast. The four little girls had an especially great time, but the three older girls really enjoyed it too.
Tuesday we had planned to go to Minnetonka Cave on a hike, but it was raining, so we ended up spending the day on the 4 wheelers and the four passenger dirt buggie. Rich's dad Richard came up for lunch with Diane (mom's step-daughter) and we all had a great time. There was much mud all over everything and everyone, but we cleaned up afterward and had a very fun time. Again, the great-grandmas joined in and really had fun. Andy and Chelsea had to head home to attend summer classes they were taking that evening.
Wednesday we had planned to travel around to the north shore of the lake, but again we were diverted because of rain. We ended up watching movies and putting puzzles together and playing games. Mary Ann and Lindsey came up and visited and brought a fun activity for the girls. It was so sweet of them to come for a visit and see Jord and Claire and their families. We also drove over to the east side of the lake and visited Romney Roost where we spent many fun summers with Rick's family. It was fun for the kids to see their OLD stomping grounds. It was like going into a time machine..nothing changes.
Rich, Claire, Jake and Rick played tennis most mornings and really enjoyed themselves. The kids played like crazy out on the deck and produced several "shows" for us to see, complete with tickets, seating and a chance to shake hands with the actors afterwards. I had planned the meals in advance and we brought up all the food from home. Everyone was assigned a meal to prepare, serve and clean up and that worked out great. We didn't go hungry!
Thursday, we started to clean up and take one last ride on the dirty buggie, one last swim at the lake and one last game of tennis. We got out at about 1:00. J&J headed to a family reunion in Wyoming, Rich and Claire to a cousin's wedding in Mapleton, and Rick and I dropped Mom off in Logan before heading home.
It was such a fun vacation! It was such a happy, hopeful, carefree time together. We missed having Dave and Courtney, Charlie and Margaret with us. We appreciated the generosity of the Lindley family in letting us use their beautiful cabin. It had EVERYTHING we needed and had space for everyone to sleep well. Our kids voted to do this vacation again soon. I think we will!
Sunday, the 27th, we attended church at Andy and Chelsea's ward and then headed to Logan. Mom hosted a fun picnic in her pavilion and we enjoyed seeing Carol and Robert and their kids (Matt who has home on leave from the Navy) Mary Ann, niece Jamie and her family, and my uncle Clair and aunt Marilyn. It was great to visit with them all. We then headed to the Lindley cabin at Bear Lake and got settled in for several days of fun.
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| This lovely assortment of senior pictures hangs in my mother's home. Our grandkids got a real kick out of it and couldn't tell who I was. What?? I look exactly the same. |
Monday was boating on the lake, jet skis, water skiing, wake boarding and tube pulling. The great-grandmas Pat and Mary enjoyed the boat rides and watching everyone have a good time. Chelsea was a great boat driver and everyone got some time to try out all the different modes of water fun. That evening we had a girls night out and went to the Pickelville theater to watch a theater production of Beauty and the Beast. The four little girls had an especially great time, but the three older girls really enjoyed it too.
Tuesday we had planned to go to Minnetonka Cave on a hike, but it was raining, so we ended up spending the day on the 4 wheelers and the four passenger dirt buggie. Rich's dad Richard came up for lunch with Diane (mom's step-daughter) and we all had a great time. There was much mud all over everything and everyone, but we cleaned up afterward and had a very fun time. Again, the great-grandmas joined in and really had fun. Andy and Chelsea had to head home to attend summer classes they were taking that evening.
Wednesday we had planned to travel around to the north shore of the lake, but again we were diverted because of rain. We ended up watching movies and putting puzzles together and playing games. Mary Ann and Lindsey came up and visited and brought a fun activity for the girls. It was so sweet of them to come for a visit and see Jord and Claire and their families. We also drove over to the east side of the lake and visited Romney Roost where we spent many fun summers with Rick's family. It was fun for the kids to see their OLD stomping grounds. It was like going into a time machine..nothing changes.
Rich, Claire, Jake and Rick played tennis most mornings and really enjoyed themselves. The kids played like crazy out on the deck and produced several "shows" for us to see, complete with tickets, seating and a chance to shake hands with the actors afterwards. I had planned the meals in advance and we brought up all the food from home. Everyone was assigned a meal to prepare, serve and clean up and that worked out great. We didn't go hungry!
Thursday, we started to clean up and take one last ride on the dirty buggie, one last swim at the lake and one last game of tennis. We got out at about 1:00. J&J headed to a family reunion in Wyoming, Rich and Claire to a cousin's wedding in Mapleton, and Rick and I dropped Mom off in Logan before heading home.
It was such a fun vacation! It was such a happy, hopeful, carefree time together. We missed having Dave and Courtney, Charlie and Margaret with us. We appreciated the generosity of the Lindley family in letting us use their beautiful cabin. It had EVERYTHING we needed and had space for everyone to sleep well. Our kids voted to do this vacation again soon. I think we will!
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