Nauvoo 2015

Shortly after school was out we had our Youth Conference in Nauvoo.  Pat and I took Tom and drove in our own vehicle so we could get everything ready for the youth to arrive.  We cleaned the lodge and unpacked food with the help of the Jaquiths.  We had some very humid, hot weather which was unusual for us during the second week of June.

On Wednesday night we saw the Young Ambassadors after we watched the Sunset show.  It was cut short due to a lightning storm.  They do two shows.  We saw the Tuesday night show and it was far superior to what our kids saw.

Thursday morning brought the handcart trek.  I think most of the youth had a great time.  We had a young woman in our group who just wanted to race through the trek.  She left such a bad taste in my mouth.  She's normally such a fun, happy, upbeat person, but not on this day.  I was ready to hog tie her and leave her for some other group to rescue.  We did our typical vignette about having the baby die.  That touched many hearts in each of the groups.  The kids then had the rest of the afternoon to go see whatever sites they wanted.  We met at the visitor's center at 4 to watch The Promise performed by the young performing missionaries.  That was so much fun!  It's the first time I have sat through that show and had the audience respond with cheers and "aww".  Many of the youth went back to see the Young Ambassadors in the evening.  They agreed that the show was eons better.

Friday was our spiritual day.  Half of the group went to the temple in the morning while the other half went to Carthage.  After meeting up for lunch, we switched places.  In the end, we all met back at the campground lodge for testimony meeting.  A very good meeting.  Hearts were touched because of this place.  Exactly what we hoped for.  A dance with the Rockford stake in the evening.  The Wagners took the five 13-year-olds down the Trail of Hope.  There were several vignettes performed there.  It was awesome.  The Spirit was strong.

Saturday was simply pack up and go home.  A wonderful time was had by all I'm sure.  Except maybe Ivan.  He was part of the cooking crew and wasn't any too happy about it.  He missed his bed.

Part 2
Two days following Pete's passing, we had planned to go to Nauvoo to see the Bradys in the pageants.  Lolly said it was alright to take Tom and go so we did.  Again it was extremely hot and humid.  It also rained quite a bit.  It was great to see the Bradys.  Even more fun to see them on stage.

We were able to go to the temple a couple of times which I always love.  The Nauvoo temple is a special place for me.  All temples are for the same ordinances, but this one just feels different. Perhaps it is because over the years we put our labor into helping to clean it.  I've had some wonderful experiences doing that.  Anyway, it was good to get away and get recharged and ready for Pete's funeral.

Pete Talkin'

 Clare's four generation picture with Butchy.

 Sammi's four generation picture.

 The month of July brought a fast downhill slide for my father-in-law.  He was doing a lot more sleeping and was confused a lot.  As we met with the hospice nurse she confirmed what I already knew.  The end was coming.  On Tuesday, July 14th, I was working at the mill.  Patrick called and said he was headed over to his Dad's as his breathing had changed.  He was too late.  The change in breathing signaled the end of his life in short order.

We spent some time together as a family at Lolly's.  On Saturday evening we met with Father Mac to plan the funeral service.  Patrick had asked Lolly if he could say a few things on behalf of the family. She agreed.  By the time we were done planning, Patrick was the last to speak before we left the church.  It was awesome!  He talked about things he learned from his dad.  Both spoken and unspoken.  He talked about how Lolly was the Samaritan Pete needed as he neared the end of his mortal life.  When he finished speaking, Father Mac began to clap and the entire church erupted in applause.

Many, many people told Patrick what a wonderful eulogy he gave.  It was very tender and dear.  I think people could relate to everything he talked about.  We gathered at the house following the meal and visited for a few hours.  It was a good day.

 Cami's baptism day.  I love how Pete is so tender patting Cami's hand.  This was something I noticed as he got sicker.  He was more tender.

\Evie loved her Granpa Pete.  She played with him and he responded.  Again is was something I had never seen in all the years I knew him.  What a tender moment!

A Deep Thought

I LOVE my Ipad!  I use it for email, scripture study, games, photos, checking the weather forecast and other various things.  I also very much appreciate my cell phone.  I take it when I go out but I leave it at home when I go to church.  My cell is simply just a phone.  I don't have the internet on it.  I don't feel I need the internet to go with me.  It really is okay to be unplugged.

Yesterday I received a letter from our missionary son and he had a great thought.  He was appalled at the number of people using their devices during the Sacrament meeting.  He was even more disgusted at the number of people using their phones during the actual administration and passing of the emblems of the Sacrament.  In their defense, could they have been using their device to read or study the scriptures during that time?  I do at times.

Anyway, he sat behind a man who was on his phone not reading the scriptures.  Andrew wasn't sure what he was doing, but it wasn't something that needed to be done during the Sacrament.  He thought about Christ in cleansing the temple of the money changers.  He felt that if our Savior would have walked into that meeting, He would have cleansed the chapel.  I hadn't thought about that before.  I just think it is rude for anyone to be checking Facebook or playing a game during that sacred time.  Andrew opened my eyes.  He is a deep thinker and I was grateful for this simple, yet profound thought.

I do not know if this is a problem in our ward.  I sit in the front so I can't see who is behind me and what they are doing.  Those months when I play the organ and sit on the stand, I don't believe we have this issue.

I wish to honor my Savior and especially try to ponder on his Atonement or at least his life during the Sacrament.

Sunday with The Wards

These wonderful people are Jack and Sharmon Ward.  They are individuals that we would never have met except for my husband's calling.  He served as an area authority 70 and was released in April. We had the privilege of attending his Sunday School class where he serves as the teacher.

They invited us to have lunch with them which was absolutely delicious.  We spent several hours in their home talking about our families, callings and the gospel in general.

There is a lot of time when I spend time without my husband due to his calling as Stake President. This is one of the perks of having him serve in that capacity.  I get the honor of meeting new people whom I would never cross paths with otherwise.  What a blessing!

Temple with Erin

 Earlier this month Pat and I boarded a plane and headed for Utah.  Earlier in the week, we sent our car with Alex and Megan Bohl to Utah for Erin to purchase from us.  We arrived on a Wednesday night and spent the night with Evan and Luana Byington.  They are wonderful people and I miss them in Wisconsin.  Thursday brought us to Provo with Erin's new car.  She didn't know we were bringing it to her so she was pleasantly surprised.  Thursday also brought us to the Barrett home with dear, dear friends.

Friday morning took us to the Oquirrh Mountain temple.  It is a "smaller" temple and it wasn't overly busy.  Erin had very specific and personal instruction.  She was a sister of promise and is now a sister of the covenant!  We had such a wonderful time with her.

There was a difference going to the temple with her as compared to the experience of our other children as well as my own experience of the first time.  Clare and I received our endowment because we were getting married.  Sammi and Andrew received theirs because they were serving a mission.  Both wonderful reasons but the next step in getting where we want to be.  Erin received her endowment because she wanted to and was ready to.

 We went to eat lunch at Which Wich.  It was a great place to eat.  Then off to Sweet Tooth Fairy for cupcakes.  After changing clothes we headed to Evanston to spend the evening with Brian and Kellie Welling.  On our way, both Erin and I were getting restless so we stopped at a rest area.

Here we found these prairie dogs which were very bold.  We had no food so I dumped our crumbs from the cupcakes on the concrete.  Before I could scrape more off of the papers, the critters took off with the papers.  It was quite entertaining.

Saturday was filled with selling Erin's Sable.  She posted it on Craig's list on Friday night and we had it sold by early afternoon.  God does answer prayers for sure.  We also bought and brought some things for a care package for Andrew.  A gentleman that Pat works with but has never met, volunteered to take the package to him.  So, we put the things together and dropped them off at his home.  I am filled with amazement that a total stranger would do something for us that we are unable to do for ourselves.  Gratitude is the only thing that I can express.

It was a quick trip but filled with only good things.  I loved being able to spend time with just our baby girl.

When They Get It

I got a letter from my missionary son, Andrew yesterday.  Within the text he wrote something that he realized.  He was preparing for a talk and said this.  "If Ammon wouldn't have gone on his mission we wouldn't have the 2000 Stripling Warriors.  And if there were no stripling warriors, the strongest army of the Lamanites would not have been destroyed.  And if they were not destroyed, it would have possibly changed the outcome of the Book of Mormon.  So, because Ammon went on his mission he saved a lot of people from destruction.  It makes me wonder how my mission will affect generations to come." 

It is the recognizing and internalizing the Book of Mormon that thrills me as a mother.  I don't know whose life he will change.  I do know that his mission is changing his life and his future family's life.  His sons will be able to look at him and know that he did what was asked of him in serving the Lord.  They will know they have a responsibility as well.

Erin gets it.  I think she's always gotten it.  Next week we will have the opportunity to be in the temple together.  That thrills me as well.  I wish we could all go together as a family, but that day will come.  It just isn't yet.

My husband attended a CCM (coordinated council meeting) on Sunday in Neenah with the other Wisconsin stake presidents and the area authority, Elder Scott.  He came home with some information that he needs to teach his unit leaders and have them in turn teach in their council meetings.  From there it should trickle down to the family.  The subject is the Sabbath Day.  I love the Sabbath day!  I have come to appreciate it more and more as I work harder to try to indeed make it different than the other days of the week.  One of the brethren said in the video he brought home, "It is time to give the Sabbath back to Christ."  Wow!  What a statement!  It is His day and we as a people had no right to take it from him.  I ache as I see the blatant disregard for this special day.  I think I'm getting it.  I pray for my children to get it as well.  They have a good start.  They've been taught well.

Last week, a former member of my track team took his own life.  As I pondered over why he would do this, I wondered what was so horrible in his 22 years of life that he thought he would be better off dead.  He didn't get it.  I ache for his family and friends.  I spoke with the funeral director as I left the visitation this morning.  I said, "Babies and this circumstance have to be the hardest for you as a funeral director to deal with the families."  He agreed and said unfortunately there are too many of these.

Each time I observe one of my children do something positive that shows they understand the Lord's plan for them, I secretly do the happy dance.  They get it!  They get it.  One day, all will have the opportunity to "get it."  That gives me great hope!

Mother's Day 2015

 Anyone who has spent any amount of time with me knows that I'm not a huge fan of made up holidays such as Valentine's Day, Grandparent's Day, Mother's and Father's Days.  That being said, since having a daughter and now a son on a mission, Mother's Day is pretty special.  I get to talk to my missionary!!!!  Totally worth the made up holiday.  Here's a screen shot that Erin took of us on FaceTime with Andrew.

He is doing so great.  I cannot express my gratitude for his desire to be a missionary and for sacrificing his time to do this worthy thing.  He's learned so much and will continue to learn as he has another 14 months to go.

 All my grandchildren were here over the weekend and so it seemed like a good time to take a new grandchild photo.  Sammi and Clare did their best to get them to sit nice and look at the camera.  Believe it or not, this was the very first picture.  The rest are not nearly so good.  Love these little people!

 Sammi took this picture of us while we talked to Andrew.  I love this photo more than I can express.  Thanks Sammi!  I looked at a bunch of "incredible missionary" photos today and I think this one fits with those that I looked at.

 My children surprised me by getting me this necklace.  I love it!  Thanks girls for picking it out!

Once again, look at that smile.  He's radiating!  I received an email on Tuesday in which he said, "I am so glad I chose to come on a mission it has opened my eyes to things I never thought of before. I understand the bigger picture in life and I now feel like I have more purpose and direction. I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had and the things that I've learned for anything."  
 

What more could I as a mother want than to be able to talk to all of my children in one day when they are spread across the country?  I look forward to the day when we will all be together in one place.  That's just going to have to wait for a bit longer though.  At least 14 more months.