Forty Years and Counting

 
He's the love of my life.  And marrying him was the best decision of my life.

We've had the lowest of lows and the highest of highs in our marriage.  And through it all, I only wanted to experience it with him.  Del is solid.  He is never wavering in his devotion - to God, to me and to our children.  He has never lost vision of our eternal goal.  So he has been the patient one - the forgiving one - the rock in our marriage.  He brings depth to our life - to our marriage - to our purpose.

Over the years, I have finally come to where I feel ALMOST equal to his person.  I don't come near to understanding scripture and doctrine as he does, but I am striving to become that way.  Del's thought processes are way different, in that he tries to understand multiple levels of understanding on scripture references and life in general.  I tend to understand only what I need to and let others research for me.  But our discussions and thought sharing has become more intense over the years to where I love what we learn together.  I have been able to help Del ENJOY life a little more, in the relaxing and taking time to smell the roses in life.  He now enjoys SEEING things more - participating in life's offerings.  We bring out and enhance each others strengths and desires.  We enjoy more things together, yet still allow each other our private and personal likes and dislikes.

We are blessed - and we have been a blessing to each other.  I truly believe our Heavenly Father is pleased with what we have done and plan to do in the future.  Our feet are jointly on the path to returning to live with HIM again.  While still complete opposites in so many things, we are united in the areas of our life that will benefit us eternally.  I love him dearly and still try to do things to let him know, I'm with him - in this life and in the next.

She Still Remembers Him

 

This is Lydia.

She loves Del and has for over 4 years.  After Del was released as Bishop, he and I were both called into the Nursery where Del served for 8 months before he was called into the Elders Quorum Presidency.  I served for another 2 years + after that.

When Lydia first came into nursery, she was a mess.  Sobbed - clinging to her parents for dear life and wouldn't stay longer than a few seconds.  Del and I would usually be with other babies needing special love also and not able to settle them quick enough to give Lydia the love she needed.  So she would leave with her parents and we would try again the next week.

About a month into this routine, I noticed Lydia had a special eye for Del and seemed to search for him every time she came to class.  Finally, one Sunday, Del was available to take Lydia in his arms when she came to class.  From there, it unfolded into a beautiful and tender relationship.  Yes, she cried at first, but within minutes, Del was able to calm her - she would sit with him almost the whole time, but would get down to ONLY play ball with him.  Then back to being held.  This went on the full 8 months Del was in Nursery.  When he left Nursery, she moved up into Primary.

It's been over the past few months that she has once again, remembered how she feels about him.  For weeks now, she has found him either before or after Sacrament meeting, wanting to give him a hug before she skips off to Primary.  When trying to tell her mom or dad who she wanted to go see, she would describe him as 'you know, the man with the hair on the side of his head' - meaning no hair on top.  Hee hee - he got a real kick out of that.

Two weeks ago, she spotted him during Sacrament meeting.  I watched as she hopped up off her pew and just made her way across the aisle and up into Del's lap.  Her parents didn't even notice her gone until I caught their eye and motioned to Del.  They smiled.  I smiled.  Del was already smiling.

Lydia fell asleep for just a short 10 minutes as Del held her.  My mind slipped back to 4 years earlier, remembering the many Sunday's that he held her just like that, calming her fears and enveloping her in love.  She felt safe with him.  She felt loved by him.  She felt him.

That's Del and Lydia - that's Del and a lot of people.

He makes them feel safe - loved - 

Including me.

A Sabbath Day Scare For Becca

This is Lance - Becca's husband.

She sent out an early morning text to the family yesterday morning, that she was in the hospital with Lance, who had suffered a grand mal seizure.  Hearts dropped, concerns were expressed and immediate prayers were offered from us all.  From a text sent by Elaine, I could see she had called Becca to get details and then shared with the family.  I didn't dare call Becca also, as I knew she was with Lance and wanted to concentrate on him, so I sent personal texts to her to let her know my thoughts and feelings.  As the day progressed and Becca was able to bring Lance home to rest, I sent a final text expressing my love for her and Lance and giving her time to gather her thoughts and emotions of the day and experience.  She called me later last night.

Apparently, Becca was awakened by Lance screaming out in what she thought, was his sleep.  She looked over to find him shaking from head to toe, so placed her hand on his body, thinking he was having a bad dream and her touch would wake him up.  She rolled him to face her and found that he was foaming at the mouth and his eyes were wide open, fixed and dialated.  He was having a seizure.  She tried desperately to shake him from the seizure but resorted to immediately calling 911.  

After explaining to the 911 dispatcher what she was observing in Lance, Rebecca was told to get him off the bed and on to the floor to hard surface where she could perform CPR when needed.  Lance was dead weight, so it was difficult for Becca to move his body to the floor, but finally got him down.  In realizing the EMT's would be there in minutes, she quickly put on a house robe and ran to unlock the front door before returning to Lance's side.

The seizure continued enough that the EMT's determined Lance had to be taken to the hospital and they were gone within minutes.  Becca dressed quickly and followed to the hospital where she found that the seizure had finally stopped and they were working on getting testing done on Lance.  Lance was clueless as to where he was, what was being done and what had happened.  All tests came back normal, and after hours, they finally allowed Becca to take him home to recover.  

They will see a neurologist this week and have an EEG done to see if there is any brain damage or symptoms of anything else.  Rebecca fears maybe epilepsy.  But her faith is strong and she is hopeful for a complete recovery.  But she has had an experience that has affected her deeply.  She said it was horrific.  When I asked her if she had feared he would die, she said that 'No - in seeing him during the seizure, she was afraid that he would be brain dead - a vegetable - and live'.  

After another few minutes of discussion, we expressed some other thoughts and feelings and then hung up from our conversation.  I sat for another 30 minutes or so, just pondering everything that had happened during the day and everything Becca had shared.  My heart was so tender for her and all she had been through.  I ached for the fear she had experienced of losing Lance and then maybe having to deal with a life changing rest of her life with Lance.  No calm or peace came to me for some time.

It wasn't until Del came in the room and we were able to visit for awhile about the experience.  Del was able to calm my thoughts and feelings.  His eternal perspective of things always gives me such peace.  I was grateful.

Heavenly Father is watchful.  Ever present.  And answered our desperate prayers.

We are grateful.

PS - After further testing and extreme pain, Lance was found to have broken 6 ribs during his seizure and he's been diagnosed with Epilepsy.  Because of the seizure, he cannot drive a car for three months, so Becca is having to take him to all his business appointments and house showings etc.  It will be quite the burden for her over the coming weeks, but one she is grateful to do if it means having her sweet husband with her.  He will require medications the rest of his life to avoid further seizures, but then should be able to live his life as he has in the past.  Such a blessing to have results and prayers answered.

 

My Favorite Puzzle EVER (or so far)

 

The moment I saw this puzzle, I wanted it.

Love Indian culture and folklore.  Love the Indian Princess.  Her eyes - 

It's the only jigsaw puzzle I have ever glued together and now have framed and on my wall.  I love it.  I have now started another one.  If it turns out as nice, the one I just hung up will have a next wall neighbor!!

PS  Check out the backside of the puzzle..  WAY cool.

Low Key 4th of July

 

Actual day of, we did nothing.  Seriously.  It was so crazy hot, Jordan and Ammon both worked in the morning - Del worked out in the garden and we did nothing.

But two days later, Lexi invited us over to just enjoy a few little firecrackers and sparklers with ice cream.  My kind of low key day.  News had multiple reports of mass shootings into parades and people watching fireworks - accidents of those lighting fireworks etc etc - just kind of takes all the joy out of any type of celebration.

What I really liked was singing the patriotic songs and National Anthem in Sacrament meeting on Sunday.  It gave me goosebumps.  So I guess I have SOME patriotism still left in me.  Just hard to feel it when our world seems to be collapsing around us.  

It Wasn't Just Hair

Kathryn was my only baby born with hair - and at the time, it was strawberry blond, emphasis on the strawberry.  But as she's grown, it's gone more and more blond and longer and longer the older she got.  The only time I really kept it short, or above her shoulders, was when she was in gymnastics in Utah.  And she'll ever forgive me for the perm and styles I made her wear.  Poor girl.  She still thinks it was torture, but in reality, her hair was adorable.

But since high school, she's worn it long.  It's the one thing that really made her feel pretty - her long beautiful blond hair.  And it was.  She got tons of compliments all the time.  Best head of hair in the family.

She's only really cut it twice - the second time being last month.  And the reason was to donate in behalf of Rachel's cancer treatment and loss of hair to an organization that takes donated hair and makes it into wigs for little children who have lost their hair due to cancer.  Cool, right?  I'm so very proud of Kathryn for this sacrifice.  Sure enough, she's LOVING the shorter look and feel of her hair.  Easier to take care of and less time too.  

But for Kathryn, it wasn't just hair.  It meant how she felt about Rachel.
 

History is Overturned

 In 1973, there was a law made and confirmed by the Supreme Court Called Roe vs Wade.

Roe was a woman (name changed for court purposes), who was pregnant with a baby she did not want to keep.  But instead of having the baby and giving it up for adoption, she wanted to be able to abort the baby.  Her body, her choice.

The State District Attorney for the state of Texas, where Roe was from, decided to take the case to federal court, claiming that Roe was not able to make that decision on her own because the baby was a different identity than her own and someone should be able to speak for it.  His name was Wade.  And Wade wanted the STATE, and NOT the federal government to be able to make those decisions for each state.

Ultimately, Roe won her case - monumental case, where now, the federal government would have jurisdiction over cases concerning abortion - and it was made legal, with a few regulations.

Now, 2022, we have another monumental vote from the Supreme Court where they have overturned the 1973 ruling of Roe v Wade, and the power has now been turned back to individual states, of which Texas, as one of the first of many, are illegalizing abortion in stages.  Our state law says that any baby AFTER 6 weeks, cannot be aborted.  Other states are following suit.

Our country is having a fit.  Needless to say - there is hate, there is anger and their is much discussion of female rights being taken away.  The 'My body, my choice' is of course, the main cry from the people.  This is, of course, the forgetting of another human being involved once a pregnancy occurs.  Oh, the debates are intense ,warped and many, just plan evil.  I can't believe how even members of the church, do not value the sanctity of the unborn child.  The questions of, when is the fetus considered a human?  When is it viable?  When does the spirit enter the body?  Are there not exceptions of rape or danger to the health of mother of child to consider?

Our Supreme Court is currently heavy on the Republican side - hence, the reason for ability to overturn the initial 1973 ruling.  And the current judges are considered young - in their 50's, early 60's, which mean they should remain on the court for years to come.  This is important, because mainly, any Democratic president that may come into office, will be in the minority as far as carrying the vote for significant decisions and changes in the government.

I am one that truly believes that the Constitution and Bill of Rights/Amendments should be analyzed and adjust every 50 years - for this purpose: When it was written, the laws were made according to the people who were living in that day - example - women were not even allowed to vote or give opinion, and Blacks were not even recognized as human and had no rights whatsoever.  Today, our world has changed and is different.  The fundamentals of honesty, goodness and morality should still govern the base of the Declaration of Independence.   It was England that we wanted independence from - not from law and order. Rights and freedoms still need to have it's boundaries and laws - and abortion still needs to have it's laws and boundaries obeyed.  

I'm pleased with this change.  I believe very much in the sacredness of the mother, child and their bodies.  But once certain choices have been made by the woman, I do not believe she has the right to the consequences that come with that choice - especially when it involves the life of a baby.

So.  Once again, history has been made.  For good.  

Florida Has Stolen Part of My Heart

 

Well, Mike and Kylie have moved their family to Florida.  And so far, they are very very happy.  And I am happy for them.

Del and Kylie drove over there while I took Mike, the kids and the cats to the airport.  It was a very tender and sweet goodbye.  They arrived safely, got everything unpacked and delivered and then off to the beach they went.  Del was able to stay with them before flying back the next night, but Kylie and or the kids have called every night since leaving.  They are loving the newness of Florida - the house, the beach, the backyard and everything else.  It's a good move for them.  Del and I are excited that we will be going to Florida for Christmas - on the beach.  That will be a first for us!

But I do miss knowing that they are only 15 minutes away.

YW Girls Camp 2022

 Four days with a group of girls and leaders I will hold dear to my heart forever.  

Laundry Day

 I have to pick and choose when I try and complete certain tasks at home, because Peyton can sure be a deterrent from getting anything done - 

Point in case - the laundry.  

Piles of it; every week.  My routine is to wash them all, then pile them on my bed and fold them all at the same time while I watch a movie.  Peyton most generally, has other plan.

She will unfold piles as quickly as I fold them...and then scatter them around the room.  So not only is it the re-folding of everything, but the finding of it before anything can progress.  To Peyton, folded pile means 'yippee, time to play'...

So, I put her in the laundry basket with toys, hoping to distract her for even 10 minutes.  But out she climbs and the process begins again.  I turn off my movie, put on something to interest her, back in the laundry basket.  But, out she climbs and the process begins again.

THEN, my freakin genius mode kicked in.  You know, the one mode that actually outsmarts the 17 month old?  I have a bath tub.  Too tall for her to climb out of and plenty of things for her to play with.  Things were going great and I could actually SEE the bottom of the pile, when????  I hear the water.  

By that time, I am tripping over multiple piles of folded clothes to get to her fast enough to not have her soaking wet, but realize I am WAY TOO LATE as I hear giggles and splashes of water from the tub.  It was all I could do, as I hit the bathroom tile, to stop myself from slip siding all the way into the toilet before I caught my balance.  The fall was only to me knees.  I avoided landed on my butt.

So.  As I assessed my situation, I just looked at her gleeful face and listened to giggles of pure joy and stifled the desire to scream out , "I'm a 62 year old NANA! Be nice to me!".  I scooped her up out of the tub, dried BOTH of us off and began the process...AGAIN.