Playing on the driveway

When the weather is warmer, we love to play on the driveway on Sunday afternoons. This was one of the earlier times. Matthew was learning to rollerblade. He is pretty good at it now. It has been a great driveway. In fact, I am loving the house and especially the quiet street. We have little traffic (maybe 4-5 cars all day long on a busy day), so I don't worry about the kids going into the street.


Here is a cute picture of Matthew. Isn't he cute? Here is a picture of Brian rollerblading with Lindsay.

Here are some cute pictures of Elise. She was hanging out on a blanket on the grass. It was good light for some cute pictures of her. And she was smiling super double cute (as Lindsay would say).

Cute Seth

Here is a cute picture of Seth. Don't mind the mountain of laundry in the backgroung. Yes it is clean, no it isn't folded (well now it is).

Book

I just finished listening to this book on tape. It was our wards book club book for the month (not that I finished it in time or went to the meeting, but it was really great). Really- maybe a new favorite. It has a bit of everything. Let me know if you read it or liked it.

I read it because Guernsey was a middle name of a great grandfather. I am going to look into the name more now. Anyway- a fantastic book.

Dad's Funeral Talk

Dad’s Funeral Talk

Here are my notes.  I know it isn’t exactly what I spoke, but here they are.

A.      Intro, Dad’s testimony- Endure to the End.

a.      Dad’s Testimony (from email).  I can’t remember when I didn’t have a testimony.  Any time I have reflected on the matter, I have always known that God is really my Father.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet.  I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I know that the Gospel was restored through Joseph Smith.  I also know that Jesus is the Son of God.  He came to earth to atone for our sins, if we will repent.  I know that I can have my family for eternity, f I remain faithful to the end.  I know that Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet today. 

Love, Dad

B.      Patience (Hope) w/ illness Parkinson’s & Cancer never he never gave up. 

D&C 121:7-9  My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

 8And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

 9Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands

Once Mark (maybe?) game Mom a blessing and it said, “There is ALWAYS hope.”

President Uchdorf’s talk- Dark & Despair?  “Divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light.” 

In January, near the end of his life, I asked Dad what he wanted, he said he wanted to walk.  I think he was being a little funny, but not very.  Cute

C.      Death,  His death freed him from his weak body.  He is now with his family that has gone before. 

.

a.      Alma 40:12, Paradise 12And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow

b.      D&C 138:57 Preach Gospel-  I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the breaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

c.       Mosiah 16:6-9 (8 sting of death swallowed up in Christ) And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.

 7And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

8But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

9He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death

Hope in Christ-  Explain Ressurection, Alma 40:23The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame

D.     Eternal Families, Marriages- The only way he and my Mom could be forever was in the temple.

a.      Faith, Hope that God will keep his promises.

b.      Dad worked hard to keep his promises

                                                              i.      Never yelled at Mom

                                                            ii.      Recorded FHEs when he was in Greenland for a year

                                                          iii.      Regular Temple attendance

1.      Even in the end, he went with the help of Brother Muhlestein

Enduring to the end.

            Church every week, and temple every week. Almost up to the last minute.

E.       HOPE-  ALWAYS HOPE-  He help[ed so many people.  He, like our Savior, ALWAYS SEE HOPE  for a better life in EVERYONE.

F.       Testimony-I have a testimony of our Savior love for me.  I know He loves me.  Because he loves us, the gospel is true.  Because of his love for us, we can have eternal families. 

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

My Dad

So, it has been awhile since I have blogged. I have a lot to blog about, but I really wanted to write a little tribute to my Dad first.

My Dad passed away on February 28th, 2010. It was a Sunday evening. Sunday morning, he woke up, and felt up to going to church, but then he had a coughing fit, and stayed home. By Sunday evening, his body was just too tired to go on. My mom put it nicely when she said his mind was willing, but his body was too weak. He always had such a great attitude.

I really feel blessed to have had such great parents in my life. I cannot express enough appreciation to have grown up with parents so faithful to their testimonies of the gospel. I am eternally grateful. I have countless memories of my Dad bearing his testimony of the gospel. He said he didn't remember a time when he didn't know it wasn't true. What a great blessing to have had such great parents. It is an example to me of what kind of parent I would like to be to my children.

There are many many things I can write about what a great man my dad was, but one thing has impressed me and I have thought about it over and over and over for the past year. I never heard my dad complain. He never said "Why me," or anything. My Mom was also a stellar care taker. She really focused on each moment in time trying to enjoy every minute she had with my Dad. To me, looking back, they were such a great team. They both did what they could for each other, lovingly and patiently. My Dad couldn't do a lot for my mom, but for that last Valentine's Day, he asked Ruth to get my Mom the biggest box of chocolates she could find for him to give to my Mom. The love they had for each other, and the way they lived their lives through this challenge, really has touched me. I think a life of living the gospel has blessed them, especially in the challenging times. Their faith held them up and gave them such strenth. I saw it. It was such a blessing. I hope to live like that.

I am so grateful I have the knowledge of the gospel in my life. I know we have an eternal family, and I will see my Dad again. I know it. I know it. What peace this knowledge has given me at this time. I am so grateful.