Category: Extended family

Catalog

I’m addicted to Picasa’s facial recognition feature. It’s a great way to catalog photos.

I’m thinking about my mom and dad today as they are in the final days of their 3 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is my dad. His countenance has been luminous and we are so happy that he and my mom have been able to serve together. They have taught us about unity in marriage and service. They have taught us about faith and testimony. They love the Savior.

I know they have made a difference in many lives and their service has brought blessings to their extended family that are great in depth and breadth. These blessings are so tightly interwoven in the details of my life that it would be impossible to list them all.

Truly, our family has been carried these past 3 years by a loving Father in Heaven through many things. Extended illnesses, accidents, a wedding, births, adoptions, and many smaller events have taken place during these last 3 years. Through it all, miracles have occurred and I continue to trust that everything will fit into place. One thing I have learned during these years is that the Lord intervenes according to His wise purpose and we can trust that we are in the Best Hands when we are doing what is right. Grace is a beautiful thing.

Happy Fathers Day

This guy learned early that staying up late was a parenting requirement for child #1 (me). I’m so glad he was always awake when I came home at night. This meant he watched a lot of Dr. Who episodes and submitted to long chats after that.

Thanks, Dad.

I love you!

Ascent

I spent time at Girls Camp this week. I was just an observer. Nothing was expected of me but to watch. I saw a lot and enjoyed being with the girls. Now, if we can just scratch Twilight and Glee from their life experiences, things would be super.

I enjoyed the time on the mountain and nourished some old memories. I cried a tear or two when I left and then again when I remembered my mom singing in the mountains at Girls Camp.

It’s been 18 years but I still use my camp songbook when I play guitar.

Preparation

This is my violin at rest. Richard and I are playing at a friend’s funeral tomorrow.

It’s a tender time, losing such a young father in our ward.

Significantly, our ward will participate in the sacred process of dedicating a temple on Sunday.

As I prepare for this funeral and dedication, I examine my heart and find that along with the ache of mourning, there is peace and an ultimate hope of eternal families, made possible because of temple covenants.

Austin Now

Yes, that’s Richard in a field of Texas wildflowers.

Richard was in Texas last week. Most of the time he was in Dallas, but he took a day and a half to visit our family and a few friends in Austin. He visited our old house and the trees we planted in our yard.  He ate a Freebirds burrito and went to Chuy’s (whoa, boy; lots of Tex-Mex!) and rehearsed the finer points of dry, sarcastic humor with his brother, Rob. He’s still serving out that brand of humor a week later.

Team Ryan Hess

Cancer has touched the lives of several family members and friends over the past 2 years. Tonight our hearts are breaking for a friend, Ryan.

If you are a Federal Employee, please consider donating leave time to our friend, Ryan Hess who is suffering from cancer.  You can read about him here.

To donate leave time, please see this link.

Loss of a friend

A friend passed away last night after a battle with cancer. I met her soon after moving here with her cute flipped hair and 3 beautiful children. I will never have the right words to say to her family and very close friends who are grieving.

We made a card for her on Friday; a card that she will never read. Last night as I cleaned the kitchen at bedtime I thought about her and felt such peace and gratitude that she graced my life. This was just before the call came that she passed away. I like to think that friends who pass away are allowed say their good-byes to us, although we are unaware of their presence except for a gentle comfort that comes to our hearts. I am grateful for the continual source of peace and comfort, our Savior Jesus Christ. “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”

It was a confusing night; I think I fell asleep in the middle of a prayer, only to awaken every other hour to continue that prayer for her family… and for all those who love her.

Good-bye, Tracy. I’ll make sure your children always feel loved when I see them.