Cutearoo is Baptized and Other Good Stuff

 

This weekend, we traveled 11 hours to Denver to be present for the baptism of 8-year-old Kyle Wayne Sappington on Saturday, June 7, 2014.  My tall, handsome, first born son David baptized and confirmed his third son - our adorable, charismatic and bright-as-a-new-penny grandson – with more than 40 neighbors and friends in attendance.

We arrived on Thursday evening, spent Friday visiting and catching up.  On Saturday, Jan’L was stressed about how much she still had to do, so we gathered up the boys for another of Grandma Linda’s famous “mystery trips.”  This activity was an afternoon including 36-holes of miniature golf and a stop at McDonald’s for French fries and chocolate shakes while David and Jan’L finished their preparations.

On Sunday, after Sacrament meeting where Kyle was introduced as one of the ward’s newest members and Kole passed the Sacrament, we went back to the house to change clothes and load up for another 9-hour drive … this one to visit Michael and Lilly and to lend a hand to help him get his house in order … and to see Elder Gavin Bynoe, from Guyana, off on his mission to the Georgia Macon Mission.

At Michael’s, I stripped wallpaper, cleaned the stove and refrigerator and weeded in the yard.   In short, I’m pooped!!!  While in Provo, we also took a minute to visit Bruce and Jan Peterson Christensen and her 96-year-old mother, Phyllis who I have known since age 12.  

I think one of the sweetest experiences in life is to walk and talk with any of my children.  During these short jaunts around the block, they share dreams and asperations or tell me what makes them happy or anxious.  When we visit them, I also enjoy having any of my children – or grandchildren – beg us to stay a little longer as they did in Denver.  “Just one more day,” said a teary-eyed, 15-year-old Kaler numerous times.  “I won’t let you go,” said 12-year-old Kole who had me in a big, bear hug as we prepared to leave.  “You don’t come often enough,” said David. 

Talk about music to a mother’s / grandmother’s ears!!!  This must be what is meant by “heaven on earth!!!”

We Are Rich in Friendships

One of the sweetest blessings of our mission to the West Indies was the friendships we made with other senior couples … and those lovely friendships continue even though we have now been home for two years.  Last week we enjoyed a delicious dinner, company and conversation with Jim and Mary Andrus (St. George) and Bob and Katie Beecher (Lehi) at the LaVerkin home of Val and Marcia Cook.  The Andrus' took our place in the mission office in Trinidad where they served the entire 23 months of their mission.  The Cooks were called to be Humanitarian Service missionaries throughout the entire West Indies and the Beechers - more or less - took over our assignment with PEF.

Tonight we had dinner and a pleasant evening of chit chat with Jean and Carol Drolet who we first met at a WIM couples conference when they were serving in French Guiana.  Now they are serving in the Utah St. George Mission where they share the message of the gospel to approximately 27,000 French-speakers who visit the area's Church historical sites every year (who knew we had that many French-speakers in little old St. George).  They told us they introduced their son, who was still unmarried at age 35, to a beautiful Relief Society president from French Guiana ... they "clicked" and are now married with a new baby.  The Drolets still have about five months left before they return home to Canada so we hope to get together again.

Friends are – according to the scriptures – what make us “rich” (Proverbs 14:20) and one of the greatest blessings of our friendship with these wonderful senior couples is none of them ever tire of talking about our shared experiences in the mission field.

Congratulations, Kendi

Our beautiful Kendi Hansen stepped through the “D” on Thursday, May 22 to accept her diploma as one of 325 Flyers to graduate from Dixie High School.  Thunderous and enthusiastic applause on this momentous event came from her mom (Stacy), sisters Taisley, Allysa and Danielle, dad (Rick and Cody) grandparents (Dave and Kathy Welch, Pat and Larry Hansen and Ed and I).  Now "Prepared for Flight" Kendi (who has NEVER taken a bad picture in her life) and her family enjoyed the day together in celebration of her hard work in school.  

And I Didn't Even Think She Noticed!

There are a lot of stories in the news recently about motherhood, the cost and the reward. A mother is on call 24/7, 365 days a year. My mother is a doctor, teacher, financier, chef, laundress, and on at least a couple of occasions a firefighter. Being the oldest of six, I had the opportunity although I did not appreciate it at the time, to witness, first hand, the miracles my mother could create on a daily basis.

My mother fed us three times per day. For six children plus her and dad, mom made approximately 24 meals per day or 8,760 meals per year. Not including snacks or the frequent ‘extra’ kid it’s a wonder she ever left the kitchen. But she did. She also did at least one or two loads of laundry per day. Personally, I don’t see the crime in living out of a laundry basket or pulling towels directly from the dryer, but my mother would have none of that. She painstakingly folded each load, carefully creating a stack of clothes for each child. She also made certain those clean clothes found their way into drawers or closets. That, in itself, is a minor miracle.

Mom also held a full-time job, working at the local hospital. She held church positions for as long as I can remember. She volunteers for community projects including acting as coordinator for the Southern Utah Folklife Festival, an event showcasing endangered skills such as candle making, canning, lace making, and hide tanning which is the process early settlers practiced to treat animal skins for use in clothing. This was a fun, informative event requiring mom’s complete attention for several months in advance.

My mother is a member of the Rotary Club, at one point serving as President of the local organization. She is a published author, co-writing The Insider’s Guide to Southern Utah and frequently contributing to the local newspaper and magazines as a freelance journalist. She has contributed to several successful political campaigns, and is a delegate for the Republican Party for our state. She served The American Cancer Society for several years and the Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of Washington County with more than 2000 volunteers. As we moved from the age of shorthand, typewriters, and land lines into the digital age, Mom now manages multiple blogs and online newsletters.

She and my father served a religious mission to the tiny country of Guyana and a humanitarian mission to Guatemala. Now that she is retired, she only works 40-50 hours per week. As busy as she is, she always has time to pick up, feed, and entertain any of the multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren who live in the area.

I’ve been awed by my mother. She sat through innumerable school plays, band recitals, sporting events, dentist, orthodontist, and dermatology appointments. She stayed up nights when one (or all) of us had fevers. Yet I remember no complaints. She managed to raise all six of us and never once had to call for the SWAT team.

If I’ve learned anything from my mom, it has been that personal sacrifice is necessary to make the world a better place. As I look back on her achievements, the common theme is ‘service before self’. My mother has made a career of putting the needs of others before her own. Not just her children, but the world around her. The community and state is better for her efforts. I am a better person because of her guidance and influence.

Thank you, Mom. I love you.

KELLY

Kris Meets the Barneys

My wonderful, longtime friend Melinda Barney and her husband Merrill are currently serving in the California Santa Rosa Mission – near where Kris lives.  Before they left in October 2013, I asked Melinda to find Kris, give her a hug and let her know how much she is loved!  

Last night, they finally got together for dinner.  Kris was hesitant because she didn’t know these people, but called after their 2 hours together to tell me how much she enjoyed the evening and how much EJ enjoyed meeting our friends … and yes, Melinda delivered the hug from me!  I am so blessed - and grateful - to have Melinda in my life.

Kaytee and Josh Visit the Old Hometown

Kaytee, Josh, Adyn and Skylar came for a visit this week, arriving late on Easter and heading home the following Sunday.  It has been two years since Kaytee and the girls were here … much longer since Josh has been in St. George.  Kaytee had a long list of “things to do and people to see” including shopping and catching up with friends and family. Not sure if she accomplished all she wanted to get done but we sure enjoyed having them around.  We played in the backyard wading pool, went to the Childrens Museum (big tears were shed when Momma announced to her two little girls it was time to go home), had a fun family gathering on Thursday night to celebrate Stacy’s …. ummmm, 29^th birthday.  It was a drama-free evening, including hamburgers bar-be-qued in the backyard, Stacy’s favorite “white-on-white” birthday cake from Harmon’s along with lots of laughter and chit-chat about a variety of topics!  The only problem - as it is when David and Jan'L visit - is we didn't get enough time with our youngest daughter and her family because we had to share them with the in-laws!!!

Going to General Conference

Finding tickets for General Conference is not an easy task.  But, since we have never attended these wonderful meetings in the Conference Center – and because Selwin Lovell was getting ready to leave on his mission – I decided it was worth the effort.

I contacted our bishop … no luck.  I contacted our stake president … no luck.  Finally, I decided to see if friends on the Wasatch Front could find us some tickets to ANY session.  Several of them asked around and had no luck either.  Finally an excited Karen Harris (from Layton and with whom we served in Guyana) called to say she had six tickets for Saturday and three for Sunday.  Where did she find them?  Her cousin in Boise, ID got them from her bishop.

On Saturday, April 5, we traveled by Trax Train from Provo to downtown Salt Lake City to attend the morning session of General Conference in the 21,000-seat Conference Center.  On Sunday, we returned for the 5^{th –} and final - session.  The talks were amazing and the music moving.  When asked how Selwin enjoyed General Conference, his response was, “it was awesome!”

My impressions?  I know ours is a worldwide church with now more than 15,000,000 members, but being in the conference center really makes that statistic a reality.  Among the 40,000 who attended the same two sessions we attended, there were members of every age and ethnicity.  There were a fair share of seniors but most were young men and women (16 – 25).  There was a large number of people of color – black, brown and Asian – and many languages being spoken all around us.  It was beautiful, brought tears to my eyes and certainly showed the fulfillment of the prophecy in Doctrine and Covenants 133:37 which promises, “and this gospel shall be preached to every nation, and kindred and people.” 

The only downside was numerous “street preachers” making lots of noise, but they were mostly drowned out by many dozens of young people singing church hymns along the sidewalk leading to the conference center.  I can’t help but wonder what these (mostly apostates) are trying to accomplish.

No question, it really was an amazing experience!!!

It's M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I for Elder Selwin Lovell

Elder Selwin Lovell left his U. S. home with us, on Wednesday, April 9 for the MTC in Provo to begin his "best two years" in the Mississippi Jackson Mission.  A 21-year resident of Georgetown, Guyana, South America, he and his identical twin brother Simeon, first met the missionaries and joined the church at age 14 - and remain two of only 3 members in their entire family. In the United States only since mid-September and in St. George since Halloween “the twins” always knew the next great adventure in their lives would be a mission. 

Opening his call to the American south was an exciting moment – not only because “it is finally here” but because his brother Simeon also received his call letter to the Georgia Atlanta Mission on the same day!  He was pleased to be serving in the states, but I was a bit concerned to know he would be serving in the "deep South" with a long history of prejudice and injustices toward blacks!  As his "missionary mom" I am reminded I need to have faith and pray daily for his safety and success (as I did when Michael served in the Philippines)and hope his sweet personality and wit will get him through the hard times.  I will miss him!

The fact there are only 21,760 members in 44 wards and branches – and 16 family history centers - in all of Mississippi does not trouble this elder.  He just recognizes there are more to teach, more who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ – and he considers himself up for the challenge.

Early church records indicate missionaries first arrived in Mississippi in 1839 and baptized 13 people amidst much persecution. In April 1842, nearly 90 Mississippi Latter-day Saints in 40 wagons escaped opposition by fleeing to Nauvoo, Illinois. Persecution from enemies in Mississippi continued for the next four decades, culminating in 1880 when an attempt was made to persuade the governor to force Church members from the state. In 1846, a company of Church members left Monroe County expecting to join the main body of Saints in the Rocky Mountains. Instead, they became the first group of Latter-day Saints to cross the plains, wintering with fur trappers in Colorado that year.

Gathering of the WIM

“How many shall we expect,” asked Sisters Beecher, Beutler and Andrus when we first arrived for the WIM Reunion on Friday, April 4 in Provo. “Beats me,” I responded because I really didn’t know… but come they did!!!  I had sent an “official” Smilebox invitation to those whose e-mail addresses I had … posted it on Facebook and then encouraged the recipients to “pass it on.”  At 6 p.m. they began pouring in and before long we had a crowd of more than 90, including RM’s of every age … as well as spouses, fiancés and girl / boyfriends. President Gamiette didn’t arrive until quite late because he and all other area Seventies were invited to the viewing of a new movie put out by the First Presidency, but almost everyone stayed!  Finally, at about 10:30 - after hearing an inspiring message from our former mission president - people began leaving for home.  It was a delightful evening including a delicious pot luck dinner.  It appeared everyone had a great time!!!

Miracles on Shadowglen Way

Some in our family feel Larry and I may have “jumped the gun” selling our mother’s home prior to her death.  It was a difficult decision for several reasons, but she is not ever going to live there again and, even with no one living in the coach, there are costs for utilities, maintenance and repairs … while the property deteriorates from neglect.

An older couple purchased it.  He is a bar owner in Orange, CA and his wife has Alzheimer’s / dementia … but she is our mother’s clone – an excessive, compulsive shopper / collector of toys (i.e., Beany Babies, Cabbage Patch Kids, Barbie Dolls and other collectibles), jewelry and other knick-knacks!

We hadn't even listed it yet, but the first people to look at it bought it for a reasonable price and wanted a 30-day close but that didn’t work for us … so we held out for a 45-day close.  Here’s his story:  he lived on a street, which the State of California took through a claim of eminent domain so they could build a freeway onramp.  As we got closer to the 45-day mark, I was getting more and more phone calls from the realtors and the title company asking, “when …. when … when?” I couldn’t understand why everyone was so stressed until I actually met the new owner who told me his was the last house on the street to be bulldozed … and on the 45^th day, the bulldozer was sitting right outside his front door waiting for him to move his wife and the last few boxes out.

So, we were literally moving out the front door while he was moving in the back door.  Luckily he has lots of people on his payroll, so he just reassigned them from the bar to his “new house” for a couple of days.

OK, so here are the miracles:

1.    We sold the property at a good price - for cash - and to the very first "looker!"

2.    Bob (the new owner) walked thru the coach, prior to the sale, and immediately fell in love with the furniture.  He wrote us a check right on the spot … and we don’t have to move any of it!!!

3.    Bob was so busy getting ready to move, he didn’t request an inspection of the property before the sale went thru.  We were unaware of any problems, other that a small leak in the plumbing, but on the last day we were told the coach needs a new roof!!!  Because he had not requested an inspection and because the property is in a trust … and because Larry and I are not the property owners … we are not responsible for any repairs.  Bob’s response?  "It’s OK, I’ve got plenty of money and can take care of anything needing to be done." 

4.    My mother has, over the years, made about 30 beautiful square dance dresses with matching shirts for my dad.  She also has about a dozen petticoats in various colors.  I have posted them on Craigslist and tracked down at least a dozen square dance groups in and around Corona to see if I can find someone – or several someone’s – who want to buy them, but to no avail.  Then on the last day in Corona – at the time we were getting ready to throw the dresses, petticoats and shirts on the truck – not knowing what I was going to do with them all – one of Bob’s employees said, “oh, I know someone who can take care of these clothes for you” and gave me a phone number.  She tells me she will sell the clothes and send me a check … no charge!

I want my kids to go thru Mother’s things and decide what they would like to have as a memento and I’ve still got to do an estate sale to get rid of the rest of it, but for the most part, the hard stuff is over – and now there is money to take care of Mother for as long as she lives.