Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

Everyone here is enjoying the beautiful Christmas season.
Callie thinks she deserves a place under the Christmas tree.
(This is her spot when she is not curled up on my bed)

She even tolerates my red plaid Christmas Cat.

It's almost nap time.

But before we go, Callie visits me in the bathroom

where she take her final bow.

Hoping everyone has a really joyous Christmas Day, we'll be

Thinking about all of you with love and missing you !!

A strike ! A spare ! A gutter ball! Birthday Fun was had by All!

Last Saturday we went to Josh's Birthday Party. He and his friends went bowling. Thought you'd like to see how that went :)

What form!

What determination! (willing the ball
to hit the target)

Victory vs. Defeat ? (actually, Vanessa

celebrated every ball that made it to the pins;

Josh couldn't believe she was celebrating even when

there were no pins down)

It was great fun to see the kids at play, and the cake was good too!

Update

Just a quick update before we continue moving furniture into storage....."no stones" for Dad, and the pain hasn't returned. Could be an ulcer, the doctor says, but since it hasn't returned and didn't seem to be associated with mealtime, that seems to be unlikely.

The move goes forward

Just so I don't get so busy I forget to let everyone know what's going on with us, the papers on the sale of the house have all been signed...the move is on, but with a few revisions. We discovered that the apartment across the hall from the one we have the deposit on is going to be available. Same floorplan, same price, etc.....different view. This apartment is on the east side of the building and the patio opens onto the inner courtyard (beautifully landscaped) vs. the parking lot and the backside of a rather rundown apartment building across the street. Since that will leave us homeless from Oct. 18th until Nov. 8th we called Mindy and Billy to see if we could visit Florida until the other apartment was available...they have graciously consented to our extended stay. So....all our furniture will go into storage until then (Callie will stay with Nancy and Spencer). Our phone number will remain the same after the move. To complicate things a bit further, Dad was in the emergency room on Monday night with severe pain in the upper abdomen, five hours later (after poking, prodding, xrays, blood tests, etc.) they sent us home without the pain, but with no diagnosis. His regular doctor saw hin on Thurs. and asked if they had done an ultrasound, (which they had not). Dr. Lane ordered an ultrasound which was done Fri. morning, he thinks Dad may have gallstones....if he needs surgery our plans will have to be revised, but we won't know anything until the ultrasound report is read....in the meantime, Dad, Spencer, Billy and Carl are hunting elk (go figure....shaking my head and shrugging my shoulders). I'll keep you all informed about this development...in the meantime I'm continuing to pack household goods so we can be out of the house by Thursday morning.

Grandma Knight's Eighty-eighth Birthday

Grandma was so happy to have her three kids all together (Bob is living in Las Vegas); we gathered at Marilyn's. Dinner was delicious and for dessert it was birthday (ice cream) cake. Grandma tried cutting it with the knife Bob is holding..."cake" is too hard....

An electric knife....this should do the trick!

Doesn't she look GREAT at 88? We should all be so healthy and happy!

Hey! I thought this was supposed to be easier!!

Marilyn to the rescue...Bob stands by......waiting for the thaw!

Betsy and Emma Visit

Pretty Girl! Emma Isabella, age 2

Does this look like Betsy, or what?

Emma with (Great) Grandpa.

When we arrived at the restaurant for lunch Dad got out of the car and started walking with his walking stick....Emma looked puzzled; then looked at Betsy and said "Grandpa's hopping!"

Betsy says, "Give Mommy a kiss."

Boink....!

I'm feeling a bit like a ping-pong ball. The buyers have returned! Our real estate agent called yesterday, the buyers looked at some other houses and decided to negotiate a new offer...we accepted the new offer and are on the same time-line. I had prayed that we would get an offer on the house before the end of the week from someone who would be a good neighbor and that we would be able to proceed with our plans....when you get an answer it's time to exercise faith; not say "Oh, but I want to do this a different way." So today we start the packing process............
again!

OOPS! Spoke too soon.

Guess I should have waited until today on the house sale....our counter-offer wasn't accepted, so we are still looking for a buyer. Oh, well....as Dad says better to know now than later that the deal wasn't that secure. They didn't want to increase their earnest money and didn't want to negotiate with us....too many concessions for us to feel secure with this deal. Hope something surfaces this week or we will have to talk with the apartment manager about holding our deposit to apply to a different apartment or just let it go.

Dad's Nostalgia Trip

Breakfast with "Teddy" and Marilyn. Dad and Ted, together again after 54 years! Teddy had fun with Dad by telling the waitress, Mae (who was about our age) to say "Hey, Doodles, how've ya been? Good to see you again after all these years." We had a great time and have lots of pictures of Sadamsville, but Dad says that's the last time he wants to go back to the old neighborhood....says it reminds him of a chalk drawing on the sidewalk in a rainstorm. The neighborhood was so rough we were afraid to get out of the truck (4 well dressed white people in a new truck; taking pictures....we definately didn't blend in). I wanted to get a picture of the old school, but it was on the opposite side of the street so Ted said he would turn around at the end of the block and I could get the picture then....I said, "Okay, I'll just roll down the window and shoot the picture as we go by." "Don't say 'shoot' !!" he said. We stopped at Bold Face Park, where they had played baseball with Pete Rose, and took pictures of Mrs. Banfield's house (where Uncle Tim ran screaming for protective assylum after he squirted toothpaste into Uncle Walt's eye.) We ate Cincinnati Chili and went out to dinner and had the BEST ribs we've ever tasted. I really needed a tape recorder more than a camera....the stories they told and the memories they reconstructed were wonderful. It is amazing how much they have in common even after all these years. On Saturday we got a call from our realtor and we have an offer on the house. Today we counter-offered so we'll know by noon tomorrow if they accept our counter-offer; if so, we should "close" on the 15th of Oct. and vacate by the 19th (the apartment will be available on the 17th, so the timing is perfect if all goes smoothly). I'll post some more pictures tomorrow. Time to get some rest right now.

Dad Update

I took Dad to the U of U Neurosurgery clinic Friday (they finally decided to give us an appointment); they took x-rays of his neck and we had the CT scan from Salt Lake Regional Hospital. The Dr. was very nice; examined Dad and looked at the scans and x-rays then said "I just wish we had an MRI we could see the soft tissue on that." I was astounded! "You have an MRI!" I said, "I have a copy of the report and asked the receptionist if I should bring it with us. She said that wouldn't be necessary since the MRI was done at the U hospital in June." The Dr. left the room and came back about 15 minutes later..."You're right!" he said, "and now I can see exactly what is wrong." I thought, "It's about time. This poor man has suffered for 3 months or more and you've had the means to diagnose his problem since June." Ten minutes later, the Dr. had given Dad two shots in his neck and he has been pain free since. Evidently when he fell last May, he created two ruptured discs...we hope the shots will take care of the problem and give him relief for several months at least...next option is to put the medication directly into the affected area under anesthsia...last option is surgery (Dad isn't to keen on that.) I was awakened about 5:30 am this morning by a very loud thud...I jumped out of bed and found Dad had fallen while trying to get to the bathroom. He fell in a sitting position and didn't hurt himself but he decided socks on the hardwood floor isn't a great idea...no traction. Whew! we were lucky this time and told him to call me when he needs to get up at night from now on...I think when we move to the apartment I will keep the twin trundle-bed for me (just get a better mattress) and we will put Dad's hospital bed in the master bedroom with the trundle bed so I can be right there if he needs me. We will use the Den for a den/sewing/scapbooking/etc. room. We went to the Sugar House Ward today and the people there are very nice/friendly and excited to have us move in...just hope the house sells quickly so we can get on with this plan.

To Mothers I Love

While sorting through some papers today I found this in an email that was forwarded to me from Grandma K (who received it from Amy via Aunt Marilyn)...I usually hate forwarded emails, but this one heartfelt and worth passing along. I love you all and appreciate the efforts you make to raise my wonderful grandchildren and great-granddaughter...I know how tough it can be at times to remember that the effort is worth it, but oh. the joy that will come in those fleeting moments or wonderful hours as your child progresses from "grace to grace".
"Before I was a Mom-
I slept as late as I wanted and
never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom-
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom-
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Spit on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom-
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests. Or
give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got
gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom-
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop
the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so
much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I
would love being a Mom.
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't
know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know
that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that someone
so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom-
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to
make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love,
the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't
know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

And before I was a Grandma-
I didn't know that all those feelings more than doubled
when you see that little bundle being held by "your" baby."


Thanks to all the Moms (and Dads) you have become and thanks especially for letting me experience all that "mom-ness" all over again...that must be what heaven (and hell) is all about. Remember the atonement covers all your mistakes and in the eternities, only all the joy remains.

Hey, Good Morming Everyone, it's been quite awhile sine I last posted to my blog; we've been in the middle of making some pretty life changing decisions so here is the latest.....
We put a deposit on an apartment yesterday. Yea!! The apartment is in Sugar House. We will list our house for sale today. The apartment won't be available until Oct 17th. It is in the Irving Schoolhouse complex (not a Senior complex, but...) SOooo convenient for all our favorite activities: Sugar House Ward, archery, Fairmont Aquatic Center and Park, Sugar House Park, 10,000 Villages, Breathe Day Spa, The "Dollar" Theater, Brickhouse Plaza, Wild Oats, etc.,etc. Everything is within 3 or 4 blocks. The complex has an outdoor pool, indoor racquetball courts, indoor 1/2 court basketball, dry sauna, fitness center and an upscale lounge with a big screen TV, chess tables, etc. (a real Yuppie kind of place). Each building has a security system. Our apartment is on the ground floor with a patio. We have assigned parking in an underground garage on the same level as our apartment so Dad can access the parking garage in his wheelchair directly from our building. The rent is 1/2 what we would have paid at Highland Cove and they allow small pets (so Callie is not homeless). The apartment is very upscale with 9' ceilings and crown molding. Our apartment is 2 bedrooms ( one is the size of my bedroom and the other is the size of our guest room and both have walk-in closets) and 1 bath, the dining room is the same size as ours at the house and the living room is just 1 foot shorter and narrower than the one at the house. Dad really likes the apartment and the location and we won't have the maintenance that we have on the house and yard. We are pretty confident that the house will sell for what we are asking and that it will sell soon (there just isn't much available in our price range) the realtor's research indicated that the average days on the market in our area and price range is 22 days, so we could be homeless for a while and would probably go to Florida to visit until we could get into the apartment (we talked to Mindy today and they were planning on having us come to visit anyway).
Dad had an appointment with the neurologist yesterday and he is revising his medications to address the Dyskenisia (excess upper body movement) he has been experiencing lately. Hopefully the new regimine will help with his balance (falling) and his neck pain. The Dr. wants to make changes and additions to his medications one at a time, but said that once we get the dyskenisia under control he will try some medications that should help with Dad's cognitive problems. I'll keep everyone posted on any new developments. For now, we are packing things us again.
Some of you may not know that Aaron has moved to a new address 717 142nd Pl. SE, Bellevue, WA 98007. Spencer is working in Richfield now and they are putting their house on the market soon and will be looking for something in Richfield (that is a long comute from Kearns). Thanks to everyone for staying in touch with blogs and pictures. Love to all, Mom

Time for a Quick Update

Jessica and Kami have been here one week and I already know that the next two years (while they are in Korea) will go by too slowly and Kami will grow too quickly into a darling little girl and we will miss these last months of babyhood. Spence and Nancy and the kids came for dinner tonight and we had a little birthday celebration for Kami's first birthday (Jessica made cupcakes in ice cream cones...real cute and great for the little ones to carry around while they ate). We have been watching Curtis and Annie's three little ones the past few days and will have them here tomorrow and probably on Tuesday. Annie is in the hospital and had to have surgery (she is pregnant, but the surgery had nothing to do with the pregnancy and the baby is fine) she should be home on Tuesday or Wednesday. The kids are darling and so easy to care for, but I'm glad Jessica is here to help (I don't know how I did this...guess I was just much younger and had more energy). Brooklyn is 3, Hunter is 2 and Madison is just 9 months (the new baby will make their family much like ours when our oldest 4 were little). Anyway, I'm glad I have lots of toys and even some for outside (toddler swing, wagon and plastic pool) we're running things pretty much like a daycare center (lots of diaper changes, snacks, etc.) and as you can guess, we haven't had time to do much more...Oh, yes, we have taken Don to archery and to get an MRI on his neck and to the podiatrist. Don has sanded, stained and hung two new doors (one more to go) they look really nice...he matched the cabinet stain really well. I think this is the last of the house projects until fall when I may paint my bedroom if I can get things put away so I can move around in there. I'm still planning to help sort out the things in the garage and donate much of what we don't need/want to the Zion's Market (free rummage event) that our ward has twice a year (next one is in August). We will be going to Cedar City the weekend of July 20th...I'll attend the homeowner's meeting with Mom to help her express her concerns about some proposed changes/charges, and Jessica will be attending her high school reunion at Cedar High. Well, this is pretty "newsy" (not very creative) but I'd better get to bed and get some sleep before the morning brings 3 active kids and not a chance for a nap (actually, I fell asleep in the rocking chair with Madison in my arms the other day and we napped together for about an hour).

Giant resolve

Some time ago, I wrote an article which I titled "Hanging on a Wall" It is about a childhood experience when I found myself in peril and how I was able to hang on until help arrived. I was literally hanging on a wall until someone came along to pull me out of harms way. I will try to find the story and post it on this blog site. The story is written from the perspective of me as an adult and how my life and my courage was placed on the line and how I was rescued by an older boy in Sedamsville who pulled me from a wall and saved my life. When I moved to Cedar City a dozen years ago I met yet another boy who pulled me from a wall of self destruction, and self pity. That boy was as big as anyone I have ever know spiritually and physically. His name is Ken Benson. Ken Suffered with Parkinson's as long as anyone I have ever heard about and he gave me the courage to hang on until help arrives. more than a decade later, I am still holding on. The day before yesterday, I competed in the Utah Summer Games Archery tournament. I was just two weeks out of the emergency room where I was treated for acute pain. It was the worse pain I have ever experienced. I was really hanging on a wall and I was a little more than half way through the worse athletic ordeal of my life. with seventy arrows left to shoot. it may have been sensible to just pack it in and go home. Not a person on the field or in the crowd would have faulted me for it. but in the lane next to me was Jake Benson, one of Ken Benson's grandsons and two lanes in the opposite direction was Ken's namesake who is my friend Dude Benson's son. Jake is the son of Ken's older son Kendal. Both Kendal and Dude were watching others of the Benson progeny who were competing on the same line with me. Emily who had given me the name Don-Don was there with her little brother who was also completing and Jerica newly married was there at some time also. Mindy Benson who always takes time to see how I am getting along was there. In fact every one who I ever knew in the Benson Family was there. Thought of quiting lasted about as long as a rotten tomato in a food fight. Giving up meant being carried from the field by Ken's two giant grandson's whom I pray will emulate their giant grandfather both physically and spiritually. I have learned from a loving Savior and a great man and his caring family to hang on when it is physically impossible to do so. I shot my final arrow and walked away with my head held high to the applause of new and old friends. Oh by the way in my hand was a gold medal outshone by the eternal friendship in my heart.

Some Thoughts on Family History

As I continue to research our family history and to computerize what we have already documented, I reflect again on the meaning of the sealing of families. I know that this is a process rather than an event, and I feel the connection to some I have never met, so strongly they seem to "speak" to me. I return again and again to these thoughts from the book Remembering by Wendell Berry (If you haven't read this I highly recommend it...a short read...a great story...very well written):

"That he is who he is and no one else is the result of a long choosing, chosen and chosen again. He thinks of the long dance of men and women behind him, most of whom he never knew, some he knew, two he yet knows, who, choosing one another, chose him. He thinks of the choices too, by which he chose himself as he now is. How many choices, how much chance, how much error, how much hope have made that place and people that, in turn, made him? He does not know. He knows that some who might have left chose to stay, and that some who did leave chose to return, and he is one of them. Those choices have formed in time and place the pattern of a membership that chose him, yet left him free until he should choose it, which he did once, and now has done again."

Another thought by Mrs. Ira A. Eastman:

"A gift of gifts, this lineage old,
More precious far than gifts of gold;
A precious gift, these links that bind
The lives before with lives behind."

The Parable of the Little Car that Wouldn't Back Up

(This is another "oldie" originally written about 8 years ago)

My son Spencer gave me a car he was no longer using. The little white Honda had been in an accident...it had been run into by a deer one night on Highway 89 near the turn-off that leads up the canyon to Morgan, Utah. The glass that shattered and embedded its tiny slivers and fine dust into my daughter-in-law Nancy's face had been replaced; the front fender was still badly damaged, but that damage was cosmetic; it was the damage to the Honda's reverse gear imposed partly by Spencer's impatient driving habits that rendered the little car useless to Spencer and Nancy after they replaced it with a new car.
I drove the car on errands around Cedar City and to and from the bookstore where I worked. My co-workers and my youngest daughter, Jessica teased me as I searched for parking places where, in parking lots I could pull all the way through and be ready to continue forward when my errands were completed, and at curbside, near driveways where no one could park in front of me. It reminded me of my mother who made her rounds to PTA meetings and grocery shopping and Girl Scout meetings in the little black '39 Ford coupe donated by my Grandmother when I was a child. But that is another story in another time and place, and the lessons I learned from the little car that wouldn't back up had nothing to do with its disabilities, but everything to do with the service it could still render.
One day I learned that a co=worker at the bookstore was temporarily without transportation and I felt rather embarrassed to offer the little white Honda, but he accepted the offer gratefully and was abundant with his thanks as he returned the keys to me a few days later. It was only then that I formulated the thoughts that drew parallels between the little car that wouldn't back up and the life that our Savior requires of us. Battered by the accidents of life and collisions with temptation and sin, we replace the glass; straighten the fender a little and in humility use what is left to press forward...ever forward in service to our Lord and co-workers in the Kingdom. With broken parts and hearts and with contrite spirits we continue to press forward. We find parking places where we can pull through; where the only way out is forward; where driveways don't allow anyone to get in our way. We must continually think about not getting trapped in a situation where we'll have to back up. We are unable or unwilling to retreat; and we find ourselves pressed into service when we are embarrassed and sure there are others more capable than we with our disabilities and limitations. We fulfill the measure of our creation, transporting ourselves and others on the Lord's errand and honor our commitments and abide in the covenants we've made.
I have grown to love that little Honda and with reluctance I have today placed an ad in the paper to sell it for parts. "Well done thou good and faithful servant..."

Some Thoughts on War Spending and Oprah's Leadership Academy in Africa

Not long ago I heard the figures for how much money the U.S. has invested in the war effort in Iraq ($300,000,000,000 I believe). A few days later I watched the TV special on the opening of Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls in Africa. Oprah's investment was, I believe $40,000,000. As I watched and contemplated the impact of this new school on the lives of the girls who will attend and more importantly on the future impact they will make on the nations and communities from which the girls have come, I felt compelled to calculate how many schools like this could have been built with the money spent on the war (7500 schools/4 schools per day for the 5 years we have been at war in Iraq). What impact might building such schools around the world have had on the future of our world? Might this type of effort create a more peaceful world where the high human price of war might not have to be paid? You say, but there will always be "evil-doers" who will destroy what others build. Probably so, but I like what Marianne Williamson has to say about that: "Spending extraordinary resources trying to protect ourselves from our fellow human beings, rather than on efforts to build righteous relationships, is a backward model for human interaction. And the fact that we don't quite know how to turn our civilization from a war machine into a peace machine is not a reason not to try." How much more fitting a monument to those who lost their lives in the toppling of the World Trade Center than a war or even the monuments now built in remembrance of their lives. Two schools (perhaps bearing their names) for each of those whose lives were lost. Perhaps you will say, "Child of the 60's, grown old to your 60's, the peace movement is dead; you can not return now to do what you wish you had done then." Perhaps, but I believe with Marianne Williamson that, "God has a better plan that is incapable of failure. It lacks not power but adherents. It waits simply for us to say 'yes' to love as energetically as hatred says 'no'."

The Manufacturer's Coupon

(Like "Change" this is something I wrote many years ago, but I would like to share it here; its application is, after all, of eternal value.)

It was an ordinary ritual, sorting the coupons I'd collected and preparing the grocery list, but as my eyes scanned the fine print for an expiration date, my mind focused on one word, "Redeem". "Redeem by June 30, 1998". I had seen the word or variation thereof on hundreds of cxoupons over the years, but this time a link was made that would change forever the way I would look at coupons and the way I would understand the significance of the gospel doctrines surrounding and encompassing the role of Christ, our Redeemer; the Redeemer of the World.
As I began to ponder the meaning of the word in both contexts, I recognized a pattern emerging and began to construct the following analogy:
The manufacturer offers the coupon to the consumer for the purpose of allowing the purchase of a product at a price lower than its established value.
The plan of salvation is offered by God, the creator, to each of us that we might purchase eternal life, which is valued at a price otherwise beyond our ability to pay.
The manufacturer enters into a contract between the retailer and himself and by means of the coupon invites the consumer to become a party to that contract.
` Likewise, our Father in Heaver entered into a contract or covenant with Jesus Christ and invites us to become a party to that contract through the covenant and ordinance of baptism. In the gospel context all of God's children are given a "coupon", but are allowed individual agency to choose what they will do with it.
If cash is desired in lieu of the product offered, the manufacturer's coupon has a cash value of 1/100th of a cent. If I choose to throw the coupon away or allow its expiration date to pass, the coupon is worthless.
In the gospel application, I can choose to gather an hundred worldly pleasures and present them for the reward of a penny's worth of life everlasting. I can throw the gift of salvation away or choose to try in vain to pay the full price myself. I can let the "expiration date" (the days of my earthly probation) pass without acting to make the purchase and find that I have earned or saved only enough to purchase life in a lesser kingdom.
I must take the manufacturer's coupon to an authorized agent. The plumber cannot redeem my coupon for soap and a restaurant cannot redeem my coupon for milk. Likewise, we must seek for the authorized agent of redemption, our Lord Jesus Christ, and receive validation of our claim on Eternal Life through authorized priesthood ordinances and by adherence to the "rules" or commandments of God.
Rules or conditions of redemption are printed on my coupons in words I can barely see, but our Father in Heaven makes His conditions clear to all. No one's purchase in the kingdom of God is denied until the opportunity to understand the rules and partake of the ordinances is given and a clear description of the "product" is presented.
On my coupons a fixed redemption value is stated; if I do not have sufficient additional cash to pay the price of the product I cannot make the purchase.
God has contracted with Christ, that He will honor his sacrifice on our behalf as payment in full; we in turn contract with our Savior that we will "always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given" us. Christ's witness to the Father that we have honored and kept our covenant with him and done all that he has required of us, allows him to redeem us from death (both spiritual and temporal) and purchase for us Eternal Life in our Father's kingdom.
My coupon for soap had long ago expired and I considered tossing it into the wastebasket with others of no value, but I valued this coupon for the lesson it had taught and I remembered this scripture from the Pearl of Great Price:
"And behold all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me [Christ], both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath; all things bear record of me." [even a manufacturer's coupon]

Change

When I was in my early twenties, Don and I went one day to the bus station in San Francisco; Don needed to use the restroom and as I waited for him to return a rather disheveled man approached me and extending his hand to show me a quarter said, "Change?" I reached into my purse and accommodated him. Don viewed the event from across the terminal and when he returned he asked why I had given the man money. I said "He just wanted change." Don said "I know. He's a panhandler." Then I added..."he had a quarter in his hand and he just wanted change, so I gave him two dimes and a nickel."..."and took his quarter." Don laughed at my naivete and is sure there is a panhandler somewhere who has told the story as many times as we have, perhaps with amazement rather than amusement.
I like to think about the panhandler's dilemma in this way...He asked for change and received equal value in the exchange when what he really wanted was an increase. In our lives change will come and we, like the panhandler, need to ask for increased value i.e. growth from change.
Right from the beginning of creation life has been a scene of continuous change. For our first parents conditions changed as a result of The Fall. As we approach the Millennium and the Second Coming of Christ we experience change in many new ways. We must accept change as a condition of living and learn from it.
Events in our lives bring change: birth, marriage, death, school, missions, retirement, relocation, menopause, callings and assignments, career or job change, promotion, pay raises, unemployment, leaving home or children leaving home; conditions in our lives change: health, illness, disability, accidents, divorce, loss of money or property, theft, assault, natural disaster; in all of these change begets change.
Sometimes we are in control; we create or facilitate change, but we are often victims; out of control. Knowing that change is inevitable we can and ought to anticipate, plan and prepare for it. When we are experiencing change we can choose to accept, adjust and adapt to it, or we can surrender, crumble and experience stress and defeat. One avenue will bring depression, despair and discouragement, while the other will refine and purify us; bringing growth and empowerment...not power to control others or even events and conditions, but power to guide our destiny.
If life is a road we follow to our destination, then change is a tunnel through which we pass. The middle of the tunnel is darkness; when we can't seethe end, faith and hope are oour flashlights and preparation is our spare battery. We will emerge with greater knowledge, confidence and strength until, having emerged from enough tunnels we find we have reached our destination...the ultimate change...a "mighty change of heart". The change that turns tunnels into bridges and allows us to travel always and forevermore in the light. The Light of Christ will bring us to our Eternal Home.

Dad Update

Dad is doing much better...has only had three pain pills in the past three days. He has been to the archery range twice and is trying to work something out so he can get to the Utah Summer Games (he's registered to compete next Thurs. thru Sunday). Jessica and Kami will be coming sometime next weekend so I won't be able to drive him to Cedar City and he can't be left alone. I hate being the "bad guy", but I question the wisdom of the long trip and three days of competition. I guess I should have known that when we bought him a bow and he began shooting regularly, it would be more than just a good activity and recreation for him (he's so competitive). Callie (Jessica's cat) is adjusting to her new surroundings and was especially happy to see her toys, treats and familiar food and water dishes that arrived in the mail today. She had been finding socks to play with whenever we left the house. I wish I had been able to snap a picture of her laying on her back and tossing one of her toys up and catching it again and again. I've added Scott's Sonnet Writers web sight to my links and had to laugh outloud at his latest sonnets "Birthday Soup" and "Catching Frogs"; "Skipping Stones" brought back many fond memories. Thanks, Scott. I bought an MP3 player before I went to OK City and Drew showed me how to load the music on it (Aaron had shown me how to load music from my CDs to a little MP3 player that came with my new CD player). Anyway, I stayed up until neatly 2 a.m. one night and filled it with great music. I feel like technology has really left me behind, but on the plane coming home I sure enjoyed the music on my credit card sized "music machine". Well I guess I better sign off for tonight (Dad has fallen asleep in his chair and has accidentally changed the TV channel on the remote...to a Spanish station). Love to All, Mom

A Debt of Gratitude

I arrived home from Oklahoma City late last night with Jess and Drew's cat, Callie. I will be "cat-sitting" for the next two years while they are in So. Korea. I can't tell you how grateful I am that Mindy was able and willing to hop on a plane and be here with Dad after his crisis on Monday night. THANKS, MINDY! She spent all day yesterday at the University of Utah Med. Center with him while doctors tried to relieve his pain and figure out what is causing it. Dad is on some pretty heavy duty pain killers and is sleeping a lot and is pretty "loopy"at times (he says "pieces are missing") and he can't remember things or can't make all the pieces fit together sometimes. We will be calling the neurology clinic on Monday to schedule an MRI and consultation. We are acutely aware that he can not be left alone (even for short periods of time) now. The pain medication is making him fairly comfortable during the day, but at night he has a lot of trouble sleeping (restless, nervous, frightened and uncomfortable). His new hospital bed is helpful in allowing him to change positions and to assist him in getting out of bed. We are still hoping he will be able to shoot his bow in the Utah Summer Games later this month, but we'll have to take things one day at a time and see if he is up to that. He is talking about selling his woodworking tools and buying a better computer to facilitate his writing. I don't want him to rush into anything, but I don't think it is safe for him to be operating the power tools now. We will keep everyone posted on his condition. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Love. Mom