Taisley is Baptized

On Saturday, May 8, Taisley Ann Foote was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by her Grandpa Ed while Kendi and Grandma Linda spoke on baptism and the Holy Ghost. It was a beautiful day with Kaytee and Adyn, Allysa, Josh and Daxton, Stacy and Kendi all gathered together for this special event. We also enjoyed the company of longtime family friend Dori Wilkerson, our home teachers Ray and Ruby Robinson, Taisley's Primary president (and Utah's former Governor) Olene Walker, Billie Clinger and several of Taisley's friends from the neighborhood.
After the baptism, we returned to the house and enjoyed hamburgers, chips and (Kaytee's homemade) salsa, cake (with about 2 inches of frosting by special order of Kaytee and Stacy) and lots of conversation and pictures. As with any Sappington festivity, there were a few moments of high stress, but still it was a lovely and memorable day.

I HATE THAT MOUSE!!!

It’s true . . . Mickey Mouse and I are on "the outs"!!! "Why," he might wonder and you may ask? Because the little critter with oversized ears and red pants is responsible for more than doubling the workload at the already, very busy Volunteer Center of Washington County since the introduction of the "Give A Day, Get A Disney Day" program. Kicked off on New Year’s Day, this program - which provides a free pass to a Disney theme park for those over age 6 who give 4-8 hours of service in their community - has been responsible for some wonderful benefits. We have received an estimated 500 quilts and blankets in various sizes . . . Tuacahn and several other non-profit agencies have been the recipients of a great deal of much-needed service . . . and Habitat for Humanity told me on Friday, they had taken more than 500 pounds of aluminum cans to the recycling center. But, in our office, the program has generated at least 4000 e-mails and phone calls in the past 60 days! The phones are ringing when we come in each morning, they are still ringing when we shut the lights off at night and my staff reminds me every day that I signed up for this insanity!!! To date, we have verified the service of about 750 Washington County residents who have now received their free pass. In addition to the extra work, this program has also brought out the "ugly people" - those who feel they are entitled - or else! We have had people yell at us, send us nasty e-mail messages and bring us in dirty blankets claiming to have made them "just yesterday!" There are 1,000,000 tickets being given away by the Disney Corporation between January 1 and December 31; but, as of February 28 more than 600,000 have already been claimed . . . so the worst is nearly over . . . and, hey, what do I care, I have my pass to Disneyland!!!

2009 at a Glance

Let’s drink to ‘09 with a Pepsi . . . that’s fine (though hot cocoa may well be more fitting!)
The recession was hairy, the Swine Flu was scary, and Oprah announced she was quitting!

While we loved Lady Gaga, the Octomom saga struck many as shameless and wrong.
We witnessed the rift between Kanye and Swift and Phelps was caught smoking a bong.

When a pilot’s quick brain saved a passenger plane on the Hudson, the tale was a thriller.
Balloon Boy was phony as rubber baloney, but the abs on the werewolves were killer!

A governor’s flame was an Argentine dame bringing scandal to South Carolina.
There were pirate attacks, there was Goldman and Sachs
There was poisonous drywall from China.
The Prez was sworn in, and he flashed us a grin while exuding his usual charms.
Though some thought it shady, our stylish First Lady asserted her right to bare arms.

While Michelle was in Vogue, Sarah Palin went rogue and political tensions were showing.
With a gathering storm over health care reform, the Tea Party movement was growing.
The Hollywood crew gave us "Transformers 2" while "Up" was a true work of art.
There was Bruno (a jerk), plus a young Captain Kirk and an overweight mall cop named Blart.

Those ad-men on "Mad Men" were sexy-yet-sad-men with lives full of pressure and toil.
Adam Lambert came out, leaving no shred of doubt, and who didn’t love Susan Boyle?
O’Brien shown bright as the star of "Tonight"
Stephanopolus stepped in for Sawyer.
And, of course, a divorce was so quickly in force we watched "Jon and Kate Plus Her Lawyer."

When a huge SUV hit a hydrant and tree and the juiciest rumors proved true,
the endorsements went winging, for that kind of swinging just wasn’t the Tiger we knew.
And Pop lost its King. What a terrible thing for an artist with hit after hit.
There were songs and orations with loud lamentations for everyone knew "This Was It."

There were others as well, who went out, sad to tell.
We saw Cronkite and Kennedy fall. Bea Arthur is gone, Ed McMahon has passed on and Mary left Peter and Paul.
With the passing of Farrah we ended an era and Soupy and Swayze went, too.
DeLuise said goodbye as did Oxy-Clean guy and the soft spoken star of "Kung Fu."

Yet some news was brighter and made us feel lighter in spite of our sorrows and peeves.
There was Twitter for chat and a keyboarding cat and those trendy new blankets with sleeves.
Though we still can’t erase all the troubles we face from the climate to high unemployment
Let’s be of good cheer and they won’t interfere with our holiday fun and enjoyment.

We’ll turn from the news to whatever we choose be it Lifetime or ESPN.
And after a break we’ll be ready to take the big plunge into Two Thousand Ten.

A Thought on Yemen

After the recent news about the 23-year-old man who tried to blow up an airliner flying from the Netherlands to Detroit on Christmas Day, I heard his plan was actually hatched by his Al-Quida friends in Yemen. The very mention of that country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia brought back a flood of memories of my semester in Dr. Sterdevant’s International Relations class at Huntington Park High School. On the first day of class, each of his students was assigned a country or two to "watch" during the semester and report on whatever was happening. I was assigned five countries - Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Oman - because they were small and, at the time, unimportant in the world view of things. I got an "A" in the class (not sure what that grade was based on) but for the entire semester - despite the fact that I combed the newspapers (B.I. - before Internet) every night looking for anything I could report in class - I only found one small mention about something which had happened in Afghanistan. My, how times have changed!!! Who would have thought - back then - those five little, non-decript countries would today be at the center of the current war on terrorism?

Holiday "Crunch Time"

Two days before Christmas - the period known as "crunch time" for those who still had things to do to prepare for the big day - I was feeling pretty proud of myself because all the gifts had been purchased, wrapped and mailed or under the tree. The house was clean, dinner was on the stove and I had the day off! I couldn't imagine a better scenario when I decided to drive over to my office to deliver gifts to my staff before doing some last minute grocery shopping. I came up over the hill, pulled up behind a large white utility van sitting at the stop sign at the corner of Mesa Palms and Dixie Drive, waiting - I thought - to turn right or left. Then without warning, the driver threw his car into reverse and backed into me, completely destroying the front end of my 2001 Saturn! I laid on the horn, but to no avail. No one was hurt . . . the airbags didn't deploy . . . and his insurance is going to pay for the repairs. He was very apologetic as he explained he had forgotten his cell phone and was going to back up the hill to his house. Unfortunately, his spontaneous plan did not involve someone sitting behind him at the stop sign! It took the insurance company several days to decide if they were going to repair or "total" my car because the high book value on my 9-year-old Saturn is $5500 and the low book value is $2500 - but the cost of repairs is going to be about $4000. In the end, they decided they would repair it because my car is so clean and has low mileage. So in about a week, I will have my car back!

Christmas on Provost Road

Christmas 2009 is now a memory . . . and as usual, we spent way too much, ate way too much, shopped way too much and in general overdid in every way possible. On the other hand, we had lots of fun with Uncle Larry who came for a visit and brought Grandma Doris (he flew from Seattle to Ontario, CA . . . rented a car and drove the six hours to St. George - and back again) so we could all be together once more before we leave for an 18-month mission to somewhere in the world. (Our plans are to leave in October 2010 which means we will miss two Christmases at home.)

Santa Claus brought us a Wii. After Christian Goldhardt, our 12-year-old neighbor came over and hooked it up, Taisley and Larry quickly proved themselves to be champion level bowlers! Grandma Linda finally finished and distributed, the "History of Cuz’N Camp" which Whitney called her favorite gift of this year. Santa brought Grandpa a 46" flat screen TV and two new suits (see previous "mission" reference) though he was, once again, offended at not getting anything from Grandma Doris!

As with every other Christmas holiday, there was also a whole lot of coming and going. Stacy worked on Christmas day and Kendi spent the weekend at her dad’s house. Bruce and Georgia came over for dinner, Allysa and Josh came and went with Daxton, and everyone called to report on their gifts and activities.

On Sunday, we loaded Larry and Grandma Doris in the car and drove 2 ½ hours to meet Kelly, Gary, and Whitney - who drove down from Ogden - as well as Michael and Tara - who came from Pleasant Grove - for lunch at (not Uncle) Larry’s Drive-in in Fillmore. For two hours, we laughed, chatted and got caught up, then went outside for family photos before heading for home.

The Joke is on the Doctor!

My annual physical with Dr. Claude Warner, an internist and a member of my ward, was an odd experience with this man I have gone to church with for years examining my body. After poking, probing and tapping in all the necessary places, he concluded I am a fine speciman of health - "with the pulse of a 20-year-old, and the heart and blood pressure of a 30-year old. I can’t find a single thing wrong with you!" I suggested he call my kids. They will be happy to share their list with him!

The Men Who Are My Sons

A mother’s heart routinely vacillates between joy and sorrow while watching her children travel through life, but this weekend it was all happy times as we enjoyed sharing in the lives of our two sons.

From the temple on Friday morning, Ed phoned to ask if I would like to make a run over to Denver to join David and his family for Kole’s baptism on Saturday, November 7. I dropped everything in the hands of my able staff as we climbed into the car for the 10 hour drive along I-70. The service was sweet, attended by their bishop, Kole’s Primary teacher and several friends, as well as both sets of Kole’s grandparents. With his characteristic grin, Kole was excited about his baptism, and as a grandmother, I was pleased with his decision, but I was particularly proud of my own son, a tall and handsome, hardworking and dedicated husband, father and priesthood holder worthy to baptize and confirm his second son.

On our way to Denver, I talked with Michael by phone. During our usual (about) weekly chit-chat, he casually announced he had received the Second Miler Award from the Timpanogos District of the Utah National Parks Council of Boy Scouts of America, “for unselfish service, for ideals, leadership, and example, all in the interest of youth and their training for worthy citizenship.” He was nominated by his ward bishopric for this recognition because he has already earned a well-deserved reputation for being an exceptional scoutmaster who believes scouting should not be just weekly activities planned at the last minute, but should focus on making responsible citizens and community leaders out of boys. Our dedicated scouter spends several hours each week planning and organizing activities and communicating in a variety of ways with the boys in his troop - all who are now fully active in scouting and in their ward. It’s too bad every scoutmaster isn’t this devoted, because the world – and the boys in it – would certainly be a whole lot better as a result.

The Joy of Grandchildren

You’ve all heard me say it . . . "if I had known how much fun grandchildren would be, I would have had them first!" While we were in Provo last weekend, Taisley called a couple of times to find out when we were coming home . . . and Lilly wanted to know if she could come home with us - both questions Grandma loves to hear!

About Taisley: she is bright . . . happy . . . loves to sing . . . and is usually willing to do her chores without an argument! On General Conference weekend, she and I were rolling the coin in my piggy bank while listening to conference on TV. I thought I was the only one paying attention to the speakers until she suddenly looked up wide-eyed and said, "Oh, Grandma . . . I know that story. I heard it in Primary!" Then she preceded to tell me Lehi's dream from the Book of Mormon, almost verbatim. I was also touched by her sweet little voice humming along with the choir when she didn’t know the words to the songs . . . and singing all the verses to those songs she recognized. As a 2nd grader, she loves math and is doing addition and subtraction of 10's and 100's, reads well and comprehends what she is reading! She has lots of friends and seems content and well adjusted at home. I know there will come a day when her mother will move on and take her two daughters with her. That’s as it should be, but I will have a difficult time saying goodbye to Kendi and Taisley when that day comes!

About Lilly: at 2 ½, this child is absolutely amazing with a vocabulary which nearly surpasses mine! She responds appropriately to questions and can carry on an adult conversation with ease. She knows most of her colors and can sing the chorus to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" - imagine a teeny, tiny voice shouting out "glory, glory, hallelujah" on key and with gusto! She sings "I Am A Child of God"with very little help from anyone . . . and can sing at least two verses of "There Is A Green Hill Faraway" while most adults need a songbook. She’s still a lightweight physically, but mentally and socially, this child is an adorable strawberry-blond giant!!!

About Adyn: at 15 months old, our 12th grandchild has absolutely and completely captured my heart. I’ve always thought she looked just like her daddy, but she has her momma’s sweet personality. She is a quiet baby who entertains herself and is completely at ease with Braddock and Tubby, who outweigh her many times over. She comes for a visit only occasionally but jumps right into my arms each time, as if she just left our house. She has learned to download music to her mother’s cellphone - which Kaytee wishes she had not figured out - and can also push the right button to speed dial her grandpa Ed. She, too, is a lightweight, but has her Grandma wrapped right around her finger.

Of course, I love all my grandchildren and wish I could see them all more often - particularly Tylre and EJ who are both growing up so quickly and so far away. It is always fun to talk to Kaler, Kole and Kyle on the phone . . . to IM with Whitney . . . and, to see what a surprisingly good mother Allysa is with baby Daxton. We loved infrequent visits from Zachary whenever he came to St. George with Adam and Taj . . . and we miss those surprises now that he has moved back to live with his mother. Being a grandmother is truly a joy I would not trade for anything in the world!

Blessings of the Temple for My Family

My father believed "there is nothing on the other side. You live and you die . . . that’s all!" How sad, I remember thinking every time the subject came up, and now that he is gone and I see how quickly my own life is rushing by, it seems even more sad that anyone could truly believe this is all there is! As mortals we all share the reality of the bleak, final and unrelenting experience described by Shakespeare as "the undiscover’d country from whose bourn no traveller returns." But can anyone really believe our loving Heavenly Father would bless our lives with joy, achievements and family relationships only to snuff all of these blessings into oblivion in death? I am absolutely certain my father was pleasantly surprised on June 17, 2008 when he stepped through the veil and into the loving arms of his mother and father, his brothers and sisters who preceded him in death. I am even more certain he is eager to remain with them for the rest of eternity.

So, on Friday, October 16, we drove to Provo where we picked up Michael, then headed to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple to act as proxies for my father Dexter LeRoy Henion, his sisters Leodice Wheeler and Eloise Elford, as well as Eloise’s husband Lloyd; my great, great grandfather Ernst Wilhelm Werner (my grandmother Elsa Henion’s grandfather) and Johanna Theresa Dorn, a multi-great grandmother. We completed the baptisms, confirmations and initiatories for these six family members, then broke for the evening so we could meet Kelly and Gary at Macaroni Grill on 64th South - about halfway between Ogden and Provo - for dinner. It was a lovely day, ending with good food and good conversation with Michael, Tara, Kelly and Gary.

All that is left to do now is for mother to do her own temple work, then Doris and Dexter Henion can be sealed for time and all eternity.

Will my father and his sisters accept these ordinances? I can’t say, but I cannot partake of all the blessings of the gospel - nor will it be heaven without them - unless I make these ordinances available to family members who have gone on before me. I guess we’ll just have to wait until we pass through the veil ourselves to get the answer to that question, but I am ABSOLUTELY certain their mother accepted the gospel with all her heart, might, mind and strength. Since she accepted it, she will be - what all mothers are supposed to be - an influence for good on her son and two daughters. The rest is up to them!