Dear Emi,
The last call I took last night was from JD...(your first cousin once removed, which sounds so distant within a loving family, from now on, he is just your cousin)...."Aunt Kathy, Ohio is lost." To which I replied, "then it is over." And it was. The election has been decided, and my mind had to come to grips with it also. It started that process the minute that I was on the phone. JD, was recently called to serve a two-year mission for our church to Seattle, Washington, our conversation ended with this, "JD, this just makes the next two years of your life all the more important." He now begins the work of opening eyes to a nation that seems to be gradually closing their eyes to the word and love of God. And I am not simply speaking of just the Presidential decision we made yesterday, there were many things on the ballot, and ALL OF THEM involved God.
Strangely enough, I went to bed with a feeling of incredible peace, hope, and an increasing resolve to wake up in the morning and not WASTE ONE MOMENT of time within my own circle of influence.
Although we may have been blinded to it, this election was largely about the issue of personal accountability. And as I have listened to the battle of this issue unfold over the airwaves, I have learned a couple of things. Satan is a master craftsman of words.....but he can never "craft" feelings. PEACE is a gift from God, which is given when we obey His word. There will be hardships that my family will face because of the practices of politicians, but we will be okay. No amount of policies, government officials, checks, or reassuring words, can soothe a trouble conscience in the the middle of the night.
This morning I woke up and took a walk with your Uncle Daniel and Joey! Joe is funny, he will ride his bike to the corner, briefly stop and say "Mom, LOOK, a SIGN STOP!" Then with very little regard to its meaning, he will ride on. It reminds me of a story from Elder Bednar. On September 12th, 2001, he had a meeting with President Hinckley. The Prophet walked into the room and said, "Brethren, we live in troubled times....Now let's get to work!" So, in the Spirit of Joey and President Hinckley, we can recognize this for what it is, but now it is time to get to work!
Emi, none of this is a surprise to the Lord.
Love, your hopeful Grandma
P.S. President Monson said, and I agree, "The future is as bright as your faith!"
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
An Invitation
I have always been into politics, but never into parties. Once, my dad attended a meeting where it was said that you couldn't be a good person and a democrat at the same time (remember Idaho is REDDER than Red). He came straight home, called the local Democratic Party and ordered a sign to support Larry Ekohawk for a position in the Idaho House of Representatives. The sign was carefully displayed and mowed around for several months. Mr. Ekohawk won, and he was the right man for the job. I take my lead from my dad.
Two days ago Jared and I were on a morning car ride (date night gets creative at this stage of the game) and he revealed to me his new formulated opinion...."I have decided that my PARTY is Christianity. My issues are Honesty, Seeing the Best in Others, Working to Change from the Inside--Out, Kindness, Civility...these are my issues, and that is how I will judge every platform." As with many things in our marriage, he put what I was thinking into words.
You may wonder why I am willing to put myself out there, open to any attack which surely comes once your foot steps into the political arena....
It is not because I am angry. I can honestly say that all the hateful words being thrown around make me physically sick (remember the issue of kindness and civility).
I am simply following my GUT! My sisters think I am crazy, my friends wonder if I have forgotten how to discuss anything but politics, and my mom worries about my mental health :) but I can't help how I feel. For several months, this feeling of worry for our country and the principles it was founded on grips at me constantly. The only reprieve I ever receive is when I ask Heavenly Father to intervene.
And so for the invitation. Next Sunday is FAST SUNDAY in our religion. A day that we voluntarily go without food or drink for a day. This week I will be fasting for a time in our nation's history where we, "SEEK [Him] daily...and take delight in approaching God." A time when we shall CALL and the Lord shall answer "Here I Am!" (Isaiah explains it much better than I do)
With the world on fire and this worry gripping at my heart, I will fast and invite you to join with me.
Remember, I am not a politician I am a Christian, and instead of hearing the daily buzz from a million different sites or shows, I am looking for "Here I Am!" I am looking to once again see the hand of God clearly in the dealings of a country that HE helped to create!
Two days ago Jared and I were on a morning car ride (date night gets creative at this stage of the game) and he revealed to me his new formulated opinion...."I have decided that my PARTY is Christianity. My issues are Honesty, Seeing the Best in Others, Working to Change from the Inside--Out, Kindness, Civility...these are my issues, and that is how I will judge every platform." As with many things in our marriage, he put what I was thinking into words.
You may wonder why I am willing to put myself out there, open to any attack which surely comes once your foot steps into the political arena....
It is not because I am angry. I can honestly say that all the hateful words being thrown around make me physically sick (remember the issue of kindness and civility).
I am simply following my GUT! My sisters think I am crazy, my friends wonder if I have forgotten how to discuss anything but politics, and my mom worries about my mental health :) but I can't help how I feel. For several months, this feeling of worry for our country and the principles it was founded on grips at me constantly. The only reprieve I ever receive is when I ask Heavenly Father to intervene.
And so for the invitation. Next Sunday is FAST SUNDAY in our religion. A day that we voluntarily go without food or drink for a day. This week I will be fasting for a time in our nation's history where we, "SEEK [Him] daily...and take delight in approaching God." A time when we shall CALL and the Lord shall answer "Here I Am!" (Isaiah explains it much better than I do)
With the world on fire and this worry gripping at my heart, I will fast and invite you to join with me.
Remember, I am not a politician I am a Christian, and instead of hearing the daily buzz from a million different sites or shows, I am looking for "Here I Am!" I am looking to once again see the hand of God clearly in the dealings of a country that HE helped to create!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Finding My Happy Place
Dear Emi,
Once again, it was a week with very little sleep. THIS ELECTION MIGHT VERY WELL DELIVER ME TO AN EARLY GRAVE. For YEARS I have been completely obsessed with Politics, starting way back in Logan, UT.....Brook Lane Apartments. George W. Bush running for the first time. As Holly Neiderer, Amy Moe and I entered the apartment after our nightly run, my ears hear the stinging words, "And Florida goes to Al Gore." Obviously we were tuned into CNN and it obviously, the report was FALSE nevertheless.....Falling up the stairs I scream, "NOOOOOO! We have to have Florida."
Well, this week there was a bit of screaming as well. It started Tuesday night with the debate, and ended....well, I am not sure that your Grandpa would agree that it has ended. I felt like Governor Romney was dignified and smart, when virtually ALL CARDS WERE STACKED AGAINST HIM. (for those on the opposing team, keep reading). However, even when the timer had been sounded, you could tell that it was not fun for the Governor or his wife. That night, your grandpa insisted on re-watching parts of the debate. I was so stirred up inside that I promptly sent him to the Master Bath to watch so that I could get some sleep. Still hearing traces of the argument I moved myself into the living room...trying to find my happy place.
The happy place stayed hidden for several days. I looked on websites that supported my candidate and found that the "stirring" quickly turned into ANGER. It is one thing to oppose a candidate, to debate facts, to share opinions. It is quite another, to make fun of someone's opinions, looks, or gender status, say nasty words, and endless insults. Instead of finding comfort from "my" people....I just found out that they were not "my" people.
I stand by my candidate, his beliefs and policies, not by the garbage that gets endlessly passed around the internet. I wondered what these people were thinking, if they wanted to convince someone to vote for their GUY, this was certainly not the way.....Remember, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned...persuasion. Are any of these sounding familiar? We know how to win hearts....not turn them solidly against you.
Emi, Thursday morning I finally found my happy place. The temple. Where problems, big and small, seem solvable. Where the Savior seems ever-ready to heal. Where thoughts become CLEAR.
Go to the Temple Emi...Keep your eye on the ball. Be involved, but keep your eye on the ball!
Love, Grandma, who is looking forward to a good night sleep :)
P.S. Did you know that the Prophet Noah preached repentance for 120 years before the flood came. Tells me something of the kind of patience the Lord has for me :)
Once again, it was a week with very little sleep. THIS ELECTION MIGHT VERY WELL DELIVER ME TO AN EARLY GRAVE. For YEARS I have been completely obsessed with Politics, starting way back in Logan, UT.....Brook Lane Apartments. George W. Bush running for the first time. As Holly Neiderer, Amy Moe and I entered the apartment after our nightly run, my ears hear the stinging words, "And Florida goes to Al Gore." Obviously we were tuned into CNN and it obviously, the report was FALSE nevertheless.....Falling up the stairs I scream, "NOOOOOO! We have to have Florida."
Well, this week there was a bit of screaming as well. It started Tuesday night with the debate, and ended....well, I am not sure that your Grandpa would agree that it has ended. I felt like Governor Romney was dignified and smart, when virtually ALL CARDS WERE STACKED AGAINST HIM. (for those on the opposing team, keep reading). However, even when the timer had been sounded, you could tell that it was not fun for the Governor or his wife. That night, your grandpa insisted on re-watching parts of the debate. I was so stirred up inside that I promptly sent him to the Master Bath to watch so that I could get some sleep. Still hearing traces of the argument I moved myself into the living room...trying to find my happy place.
The happy place stayed hidden for several days. I looked on websites that supported my candidate and found that the "stirring" quickly turned into ANGER. It is one thing to oppose a candidate, to debate facts, to share opinions. It is quite another, to make fun of someone's opinions, looks, or gender status, say nasty words, and endless insults. Instead of finding comfort from "my" people....I just found out that they were not "my" people.
I stand by my candidate, his beliefs and policies, not by the garbage that gets endlessly passed around the internet. I wondered what these people were thinking, if they wanted to convince someone to vote for their GUY, this was certainly not the way.....Remember, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned...persuasion. Are any of these sounding familiar? We know how to win hearts....not turn them solidly against you.
Emi, Thursday morning I finally found my happy place. The temple. Where problems, big and small, seem solvable. Where the Savior seems ever-ready to heal. Where thoughts become CLEAR.
Go to the Temple Emi...Keep your eye on the ball. Be involved, but keep your eye on the ball!
Love, Grandma, who is looking forward to a good night sleep :)
P.S. Did you know that the Prophet Noah preached repentance for 120 years before the flood came. Tells me something of the kind of patience the Lord has for me :)
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Who Will Protect the Children?
Dear Emi,
The last couple of nights have found me restless, thinking with intermittent sleep and dreams. Sometimes I feel like the world's problems are on my front doorstep and I am left to solve them before my children exit the house. I have heard the same story, twice now, from two different apostles, and it won't leave my thoughts. I will give you the shorter version, coming from Elder Oaks:
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland recently shared the experience of an LDS police officer. In an investigation he found five young children huddled together and trying to sleep without bedding on a filthy floor in a dwelling where their mother and others were drinking and partying. The apartment had no food to relieve their hunger. After tucking the children into a makeshift bed, the officer knelt and prayed for their protection. As he walked toward the door, one of them, about six, pursued him, grabbed him by the hand, and pleaded, “Will you please adopt me?”8
Every time that story replays through my mind I see GARY, who is now 6 years old, grabbing my pant legs, with his freckles streaked by tears....."will you adopt me?" Then everything falls apart.....And I am up all night again.
Two nights ago there was a vp debate and one of the final questions concerned abortion. One of the candidates said that he believed that it was not a good practice, but he couldn't force his belief on someone else......women had to have a choice... My mind will not leave this either.
Emi, women have a choice. The moment they begin to have a sexual relation with someone, THIS IS WHEN THEIR CHOICE IS MADE. Then each choice after that must be made in behalf of the child. I keep wondering when we will wake up and realize that there are consequences to every action we take. As much as any politician or otherwise would have you think, YOU CANNOT LIVE ANY WAY YOU WOULD LIKE, AND NOT EXPERIENCE THE CONSEQUENCES.
Emi, be good to the children. They need us. We are their protection.
Love, a sad Grandma
The last couple of nights have found me restless, thinking with intermittent sleep and dreams. Sometimes I feel like the world's problems are on my front doorstep and I am left to solve them before my children exit the house. I have heard the same story, twice now, from two different apostles, and it won't leave my thoughts. I will give you the shorter version, coming from Elder Oaks:
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland recently shared the experience of an LDS police officer. In an investigation he found five young children huddled together and trying to sleep without bedding on a filthy floor in a dwelling where their mother and others were drinking and partying. The apartment had no food to relieve their hunger. After tucking the children into a makeshift bed, the officer knelt and prayed for their protection. As he walked toward the door, one of them, about six, pursued him, grabbed him by the hand, and pleaded, “Will you please adopt me?”8
Every time that story replays through my mind I see GARY, who is now 6 years old, grabbing my pant legs, with his freckles streaked by tears....."will you adopt me?" Then everything falls apart.....And I am up all night again.
Two nights ago there was a vp debate and one of the final questions concerned abortion. One of the candidates said that he believed that it was not a good practice, but he couldn't force his belief on someone else......women had to have a choice... My mind will not leave this either.
Emi, women have a choice. The moment they begin to have a sexual relation with someone, THIS IS WHEN THEIR CHOICE IS MADE. Then each choice after that must be made in behalf of the child. I keep wondering when we will wake up and realize that there are consequences to every action we take. As much as any politician or otherwise would have you think, YOU CANNOT LIVE ANY WAY YOU WOULD LIKE, AND NOT EXPERIENCE THE CONSEQUENCES.
Emi, be good to the children. They need us. We are their protection.
Love, a sad Grandma
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
A Month of AWESOMENESS
Dear Emi,
I am finding that "so much to do...so little time" applies to my life more every day. It is great to be a mom! Life is full of fun and meaning! However, before the month flies beyond us, I wanted to report on the AWESOMENESS that is going on around here :)
#1 JOE TURNED FOUR on October 2nd. The best way to describe Joe is a TENDER-HEARTED kid with a TEMPER. In preparation for the big day I made a crown, a cape, a superhero mask (which will also fill in nicely for Halloween) and a tractor cake. He was in heaven. The birthday was great, but the following pictures were AWESOME. I don't promote brotherly disharmony, but when someone wants to blow out your candles....then apparently the gloves are off.
This is how the birthday party began...
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This is how it ended......
#2 The following picture says it all....look this debate up in the history books :) (Even if you aren't a Romney supporter, you have to love his family and how his boys love him!)
#3 My niece McKayla participated in the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho contest this past week! Ally and I got to go! She was AWESOME.....stunning on stage, talented, well-spoken, and the list goes on. However, more than all of that together, she is GOOD. Each night there was a table in the foyer where parents and friends could set things and a cute little girl would run them down to McKayla or the other contestants In return, McKayla could send things up to us.
It is affectionately called the "UP-DOWN TABLE." On the last night McKayla got a note that said something like this, "McKayla! You are beautiful Good Luck!, Love Maggie, the Up Down Girl." McKayla is AWESOME at being good and making others feel good about themselves! And this picture is more than AWESOME....McKayla performing her piano selection.
#4 This week, President Monson, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced that the age requirements for serving a mission had changed. For years, it has been that young men are eligible to serve at age 19, and young ladies are eligible at age 21. No Longer.....Young Men at 18 and Young Women at 19.
There are many many AWESOME things about this, but I wanted to share just a few. The Lord is Brilliant and every once in a while it becomes TOTALLY evident that He is at the helm of His church. As is the case here. It seems like years and years of changes, preparation, and announcements have been leading up to this moment.
Secondly, the youth of this particular generation are READY. They are smart, good, and most importantly, burning with testimony. As one of Jared's seminary students put it yesterday, "There is no more time to mess around." It seems with every passing day, the lens is sharpened, and the work moves quicker....now it is time to pick up our pace. We are at T-10 until Ally or Sam are ready to wear the name tag! Like I said, I love being a MOM!
This is AWESOME!
Emi, Be good! It all happens so fast, don't miss out on a single minute of it!
Love, a busy, but very happy Grandma
P.S. If you choose to serve a mission Emi, your Grandpa Foster always said, "Nobody has ever died of homesickness!"
I am finding that "so much to do...so little time" applies to my life more every day. It is great to be a mom! Life is full of fun and meaning! However, before the month flies beyond us, I wanted to report on the AWESOMENESS that is going on around here :)
#1 JOE TURNED FOUR on October 2nd. The best way to describe Joe is a TENDER-HEARTED kid with a TEMPER. In preparation for the big day I made a crown, a cape, a superhero mask (which will also fill in nicely for Halloween) and a tractor cake. He was in heaven. The birthday was great, but the following pictures were AWESOME. I don't promote brotherly disharmony, but when someone wants to blow out your candles....then apparently the gloves are off.
This is how the birthday party began...
.jpg)
This is how it ended......
#2 The following picture says it all....look this debate up in the history books :) (Even if you aren't a Romney supporter, you have to love his family and how his boys love him!)
It is affectionately called the "UP-DOWN TABLE." On the last night McKayla got a note that said something like this, "McKayla! You are beautiful Good Luck!, Love Maggie, the Up Down Girl." McKayla is AWESOME at being good and making others feel good about themselves! And this picture is more than AWESOME....McKayla performing her piano selection.
#4 This week, President Monson, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced that the age requirements for serving a mission had changed. For years, it has been that young men are eligible to serve at age 19, and young ladies are eligible at age 21. No Longer.....Young Men at 18 and Young Women at 19.
There are many many AWESOME things about this, but I wanted to share just a few. The Lord is Brilliant and every once in a while it becomes TOTALLY evident that He is at the helm of His church. As is the case here. It seems like years and years of changes, preparation, and announcements have been leading up to this moment.
Secondly, the youth of this particular generation are READY. They are smart, good, and most importantly, burning with testimony. As one of Jared's seminary students put it yesterday, "There is no more time to mess around." It seems with every passing day, the lens is sharpened, and the work moves quicker....now it is time to pick up our pace. We are at T-10 until Ally or Sam are ready to wear the name tag! Like I said, I love being a MOM!
This is AWESOME!
Emi, Be good! It all happens so fast, don't miss out on a single minute of it!
Love, a busy, but very happy Grandma
P.S. If you choose to serve a mission Emi, your Grandpa Foster always said, "Nobody has ever died of homesickness!"
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
September 11th
Dear Emi,
It is September 11th, and just like the Fourth of July, needs no other Title. I remember THE September 11th that created this anniversary. I was 4 days away from getting married to your Grandpa! But that Monday morning I woke up, met my carpool, and headed to Bear River City, UT to begin my final day teaching as a single woman. I was the driver that morning and my passengers were sound asleep. Listening to the radio, and 2 minutes away from school the news came.....We interrupt this Broadcast......
We rushed into the school to meet all of our coworkers standing in front of a television.....The teacher that taught 5th grade as a full-time job, and was a Red Cross Worker on the side said, "They always tell us that when one tragedy strikes to be alert for a second one, if it is a malicious attack." And just at that moment, the 2nd plane hit.
I had a class of 25 fourth graders to then attend to for the next 8 hours. Full of questions...with no answers that I was aware of. That afternoon I would call my parents who were at the time serving an 18 month mission in Birmingham Alabama, but had a flight scheduled to get home just in time for my wedding. I was prepared to put on my brave face and say, "Mom, Dad, its okay if you can't come." But true to form, they called first and said, "We are on our way, we just left Alabama and will be there in 2 days."
Four days later we celebrated our wedding. Our reception was HUGE. People came and it seemed that they simply did not want to leave. They were all at the tables, eating, taking, enjoying some sense of normalcy.
I have long been fascinated with John Adams. Today I read an account of his heritage. On his paternal side, his family fled from England under persecutions from the Government. On his maternal side, his family members were passengers on the Mayflower. Thus earning him the title of "Son of Liberty." It seems that his ancestor's sacrifice was in his DNA and his entire genetic make-up was geared to fight for freedom.
I have read it before, but today it struck me...."Son of Liberty." Although my ancestors have a different story, theirs was a fight for religious freedom, fleeing from a government that would not allow religious freedom. Today, I feel like a "Daughter of Liberty" as their sacrifice has been mulling through my mind for several days.
A few days ago, thousands of people at a political conventions shouted "NO" to the thought of including GOD in a political document. I watched the video over and over, scanning the faces of these people screaming no to --- GOD. And I was sick. Sick for these people who thought it wise to ignore God. God has a way of always being heard. And when we don't hear the still small voice, mercifully, He has other ways to get our attention, and bring us back.
Emi...I am worried that our country has forgotten, and the Sons and Daughters of Liberty are being lost in a sea of words and promises.
Love, Your Grandma....who is wondering where to go from here!
P.S. Emi, Liberty is always worth fighting for!
It is September 11th, and just like the Fourth of July, needs no other Title. I remember THE September 11th that created this anniversary. I was 4 days away from getting married to your Grandpa! But that Monday morning I woke up, met my carpool, and headed to Bear River City, UT to begin my final day teaching as a single woman. I was the driver that morning and my passengers were sound asleep. Listening to the radio, and 2 minutes away from school the news came.....We interrupt this Broadcast......
We rushed into the school to meet all of our coworkers standing in front of a television.....The teacher that taught 5th grade as a full-time job, and was a Red Cross Worker on the side said, "They always tell us that when one tragedy strikes to be alert for a second one, if it is a malicious attack." And just at that moment, the 2nd plane hit.
I had a class of 25 fourth graders to then attend to for the next 8 hours. Full of questions...with no answers that I was aware of. That afternoon I would call my parents who were at the time serving an 18 month mission in Birmingham Alabama, but had a flight scheduled to get home just in time for my wedding. I was prepared to put on my brave face and say, "Mom, Dad, its okay if you can't come." But true to form, they called first and said, "We are on our way, we just left Alabama and will be there in 2 days."
Four days later we celebrated our wedding. Our reception was HUGE. People came and it seemed that they simply did not want to leave. They were all at the tables, eating, taking, enjoying some sense of normalcy.
I have long been fascinated with John Adams. Today I read an account of his heritage. On his paternal side, his family fled from England under persecutions from the Government. On his maternal side, his family members were passengers on the Mayflower. Thus earning him the title of "Son of Liberty." It seems that his ancestor's sacrifice was in his DNA and his entire genetic make-up was geared to fight for freedom.
I have read it before, but today it struck me...."Son of Liberty." Although my ancestors have a different story, theirs was a fight for religious freedom, fleeing from a government that would not allow religious freedom. Today, I feel like a "Daughter of Liberty" as their sacrifice has been mulling through my mind for several days.
A few days ago, thousands of people at a political conventions shouted "NO" to the thought of including GOD in a political document. I watched the video over and over, scanning the faces of these people screaming no to --- GOD. And I was sick. Sick for these people who thought it wise to ignore God. God has a way of always being heard. And when we don't hear the still small voice, mercifully, He has other ways to get our attention, and bring us back.
Emi...I am worried that our country has forgotten, and the Sons and Daughters of Liberty are being lost in a sea of words and promises.
Love, Your Grandma....who is wondering where to go from here!
P.S. Emi, Liberty is always worth fighting for!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
the JOY of families!
Dear Emi,
I have woken up the last two mornings with a familiar line from a hymn rumbling through my mind....."Go Forth with Faith to Tell the World the Joy of Families." (I tried to Google a version for you, but alas, it must not rumble through Mack Wilberg's mind as there were no Mormon Tabernacle Choir versions available - oh well, look it up).
This past Monday was Labor Day...and may I just tell you how brilliant it is (on so many fronts) to have a vacation the 2nd Monday of School. So, with our day off we took ourselves to the Mesquite Rec Center for 5 hours of PURE FUN! Time after time I watched Sam and Gary go down the slide TOGETHER...Like they liked each other. And Ally tote Daniel up the 30 steps and conquer the slide just to report to us how "big Daniel's smile was that time". And Joseph waiting patiently at the bottom to "scare" me each each time I came off the slide.
As we were leaving, a young couple came in. They looked as if they were newlyweds. I saw them get in the pool and have fun alone....but I thought to myself, "Just wait.....it get's so much better."
A few weeks ago your Grandpa and I had the chance to go to the Salt Lake Temple and see Daniel Rust and Emily get married (yes, the Daniel that our Daniel is named after). It was beautiful! And I found myself KNOWING again, what I have known before.....
The sealing rooms (the room they were married in) are so pretty. But what makes them beautiful is the Mirrors that adorn the two opposing walls. When a person sitting in the middle of the room looks into the mirrors, the image they see seems to go on without end, representing Eternal life, without end, in the presence of loved ones.
Each time I find myself looking at those images. When I look forward, I see Me, as a mom. In the Second image I see ME again, as a grandma. In the third....a great grandma. When I look behind, I see ME as a daughter. In the second image, me as a granddaughter. The third....a great granddaughter. But sitting in that room, without those mirrors and the connections they represent, the room suddenly becomes a very lonely place. Filled with just ME.
Emi, have faith, and have a family.......it will bring you greatest happiness!
Love your Grandma, who should be cleaning, but kept hearing the rumblings!
P.S. Speaking of our little Daniel, he has managed to break, destroy, and dirtify the entire house in the time it took me to write this... JOY :)
I have woken up the last two mornings with a familiar line from a hymn rumbling through my mind....."Go Forth with Faith to Tell the World the Joy of Families." (I tried to Google a version for you, but alas, it must not rumble through Mack Wilberg's mind as there were no Mormon Tabernacle Choir versions available - oh well, look it up).
This past Monday was Labor Day...and may I just tell you how brilliant it is (on so many fronts) to have a vacation the 2nd Monday of School. So, with our day off we took ourselves to the Mesquite Rec Center for 5 hours of PURE FUN! Time after time I watched Sam and Gary go down the slide TOGETHER...Like they liked each other. And Ally tote Daniel up the 30 steps and conquer the slide just to report to us how "big Daniel's smile was that time". And Joseph waiting patiently at the bottom to "scare" me each each time I came off the slide.
As we were leaving, a young couple came in. They looked as if they were newlyweds. I saw them get in the pool and have fun alone....but I thought to myself, "Just wait.....it get's so much better."
A few weeks ago your Grandpa and I had the chance to go to the Salt Lake Temple and see Daniel Rust and Emily get married (yes, the Daniel that our Daniel is named after). It was beautiful! And I found myself KNOWING again, what I have known before.....
The sealing rooms (the room they were married in) are so pretty. But what makes them beautiful is the Mirrors that adorn the two opposing walls. When a person sitting in the middle of the room looks into the mirrors, the image they see seems to go on without end, representing Eternal life, without end, in the presence of loved ones.
Each time I find myself looking at those images. When I look forward, I see Me, as a mom. In the Second image I see ME again, as a grandma. In the third....a great grandma. When I look behind, I see ME as a daughter. In the second image, me as a granddaughter. The third....a great granddaughter. But sitting in that room, without those mirrors and the connections they represent, the room suddenly becomes a very lonely place. Filled with just ME.
Emi, have faith, and have a family.......it will bring you greatest happiness!
Love your Grandma, who should be cleaning, but kept hearing the rumblings!
P.S. Speaking of our little Daniel, he has managed to break, destroy, and dirtify the entire house in the time it took me to write this... JOY :)
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