Memorial Day

I had a very touching thing happen on Memorial Day. Sue Osborne had written on facebook that she was looking for a good place to go on Memorial Day and she asked for suggestions. I wrote back and told her about Gibbs cemetery. On Memorial day she wrote and told me that they had gone to the ceremony and commented on what a beautiful place it is. She also told me that they went back up in the afternoon and put flowers on Richard's grave. She took a picture and sent it to me. I was very touched and so happy to know that they got to be in that special spot. I miss being able to go there myself.

Rain Storms

Here in Virginia we have had a lot of heavy rainstorms lately. Last weekend I went over to visit my sister Mary, just over the mountain,to go pick strawberries and go on a tour of historic Lovingston homes. Dad stayed home to paint at the school and do other odd jobs. The last place on our tour was a museum that had a display about the tragic 1969 flood that took the lives of 143 people in Nelson County. Hurricane Camille had come ashore in Mississippi and traveled up the Mississippi valley and then headed east. It stalled over the mountains in Virginia and in 3 hrs dumped 27 inches of rain. We watched a documentary and read all of the explanations of the pictures and I gained a new appreciation of the history of the area.
On my way home I was crossing the mountain and had decided that I would go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and stop and write my talk for Sunday. Dad and I were speaking in sacrament meeting and I had brought my scriptures along. Just before I got to the parkway the radio started doing that noise that comes just before they say "this has been a test of the emergency broadcast system". At the end of the noise was an actual broadcast warning of potential flooding in several counties in Virginia from a storm that was headed in. One of the counties was Rockbridge, which is where we live.
I continued on my way up to the parkway, parked and began to once again review the sermon on the mount. I got thoroughly engrossed in what I was doing and so time passed quickly. A woman came and got out of her car and began to take pictures of the approaching storm which could clearly been seen from where we were. I became fascinated by the lightening etc and continued to work on my talk. The woman left and a few minutes later I looked up and could see that it had begun to rain in the valley below. It suddenly occurred to me that I had better get going!
As I headed down the mountain the full force of the storm began to hit and as the rain pelted my car I could barely see the curvy road ahead of me. I, of course, began to pray fervently that I could make it home without incident. Those pictures of Camille flashed in my head.
At the base of the mountain I had to stop for gas and just getting out of my car soaked me to the bone. When I got home I phoned Dad to ask him to open the front door so I could minimize the drenching I would get.
I relate this story because as I was traveling down that mountain I was thinking to myself," How could I have been so stupid, I was warned and yet didn't heed the warning". What a lesson there is in that phrase! We all know what we should be doing, we have been warned and re-warned by prophets of God and yet we still hesitate to do all that they ask us to do and to believe that all that has been prophesied will come to pass!
I ended up using the story in my talk and reminded all to read the sermon on the mount because in there he gives us all that we need to know about being good people that are acceptable to God.I encourage all to do that.
I love all of you and encourage you to be careful!

Family Pets

OK Family. Let's do a little experiment. Each time anyone comes on and looks at my blog write the name of one of our pets, what it was and what you fondly remember about it.
I'll start off with our first pet:
Sepolo was a cat that Dad found in the middle of the street and brought home when we lived in our very first apartment in Provo, Utah. We gave him to a friend when we moved to Virginia the first time.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day has always been a special day in my life.
I decided when I was a teenager that I wanted to do something personal for my mother on Mother's day. I started going down to Monument Avenue in Richmond to buy fresh flowers each year and then I would bring them home and make an arrangement for my mother. They never looked as good as from a florist but Mom always appreciated them because I had to make preparations before the day arrived.
I guess that is why to me it truly is "the thought that counts." To know that someone thought of you and planned something special because they love you and know that it matters to you.
Papa was always good while the kids were young making sure that they remembered and that they always made a fuss.As soon as Hope was old enough she took over spearheading the events of the day which usually included breakfast in bed ,cute handmade cards and plenty of hugs. Each child followed the pattern she set and continued the traditions and added to them.
This year she did something else, she made me a book. Not just a story book but a book from her heart with memories of Richard. I know it was not an easy thing to do and that makes it all the more special to me. It brought flooding back to me such sweet remembrances and more than a few tears. It also is a reminder to treasure all moments with all of your children for life truly is "quick in passing".We never know how long we will have each other here.
I am so grateful to be a Mother and to know that families are eternal.
PS I've tried to embed the book on here but can't get it to work. I'll get some "tech" help and hopefully post it soon.

Graduation Fun

This weekend was an exciting and fun one. Logan's parents, Connie and Tad, came in to town for his graduation. They are staying with us so we get to spend time talking and getting to know them better.
On Friday night there was a senior banquet and we all went. After we had the yummy dinner and Logan received the Pioneer Award ( a lovely Jefferson Cup with his name on it)we wandered over to the new student center game room. The senior class had purchased an air hockey table and Logan and his dad had put it together so it was time to give it a test run! Emilie, Logan, Tad and Papa had such fun playing that I decided to share the joy with you so have fun watching the clip!
On Saturday Aunt Mary and Bill and John and Alena came to share in the festivities with us. The rain held off, Tommy did well and I got to show off my office so it was a great day. It was a wonderful occasion and a great day for Logan and Emilie. It seems such a short time ago that it was Emilie doing this and I realized that next it will be JJ. I never did walk in my graduation ceremony because I was already in Utah being introduced to Papa and beginning a new life. My how time flies by....