Monday, October 10, 2011

Liam

We found out my nephew Liam, Mark and Emily's four year old boy has Leukemia. He is being treated at Primary Children's Hospital. I guess his little life is meant to teach us all something about blessings and trials of life. He is a very sober little boy at the time. Liz is going tomorrow to take pictures of him tomorrow so they'll have some before he looses his hair. What a great difficulty for him and his family.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

All Together at Last



With Emily back in town all if us are presently in the valley. It's wonderful to see everyone doing well. I love this family! Thanks to each of you for the part you play in my life. It's wonderful to see this new little generation coming up. I have so much fun watching them grow up and be such great little people. I love you all!

Monday, August 22, 2011

levi


Little Levi

Levi is four years old now. I feel his Mamma's presence this weekend. I had to tell him again where his Mamma was. I guess he forgot. It goes like this. "Did my Mamma get sick and die?" "No, she died in a car accident". We showed him the blue van and his pictures from a little boy. I guess it's good for him. It's bitter sweet, but what a blessing to have his spirit in our family. What a cute little age of life, what a joy to have around. Ben and Sam start school tomorrow. Cameron is doing better being a Dad. Thanks to all the women in his life, Kami for helping him through the first year, for loving the boys and helping them through. Tiffany for giving them a family again and for holding Cameron together in spite of his pain. We've all been through a lot. We miss you Aaron. Levi we loves you. Please help his family move on. I hope he can have a wonderful life. He certainly deserves it.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Sunday, August 8, 2010

My Dad

My Dad has shared with me a wonderful life full of memories. He has provided for me as a kid a basically stress free childhood, and as an adult supported me and my kids through all the ups and downs of life. I have recently received a copy of his experiences in Korea written by him. When he told us about the war in Korea as a kid, I didn’t realize what a critical part of the war he played. He is a war hero, and he was preserved for such a cause by his Heavenly Father, I am sure. I wanted to share just a little bit of his sacrifice for our Country's Freedom. He said:

"As the years have passed, I have come more aware of what an important role our mortar platoon played in winning the war. Pork Chop, T-Bone and Baldy were all in the Chosen Valley where we were assigned. The Chinese were trying desperately to reclaim these hills and we were desperately trying to keep control. Our mortars were right behind Pork Chop Hill and we had two major assaults on that hill while I was there.
Peace talks were going on at the time and our ability to fight off these attacks probably had a significant influence in the forth-coming truce agreement. Both sides were flexing their muscles with battles such as Pork Chop Hill. If the enemy were out doing us, they wouldn't have been so willing to sign the truce agreement--especially since we had advanced into their territory and would be awarded some of their land.

I had been awarded to Gunnery Sergeant for the last two major battles at Pork Chop. I would receive fire request from the forward observer, calculate the necessary gun settings and give these settings to each of the gun crews. (This is where my Dad was particularly inspired, because instead of firing as per the past sergeant, Dad formunlated these settings based upon his knowledge of where the canyons were and where the Chinese soldiers would be coming up towards them. This saved the position and although many lives were lost many were saved.) The second of these battles reportedly was the greatest amount of firepower expended by us of any other military battle to date. "

Dad recently gave me an article about the battle, and it said in there that it went on for five days and four nights. He said that the one thing the Korean's had that they didn't was man power, those Chinese soldiers just seem to keep coming. In that second battle that Dad endured during the summer of 1953, the article stated that over 166 enemy casualties occurred. Because of the ferocity of the fighting, the mortar men were forced to do without food or sleep for long periods.
Recently, at the 24th of July fireworks up in Charleston, I was impressed to check with my Dad after a very Patriotic display of fireworks that ended in several loud gun like shooting fireworks, "Are you okay Dad?". He said he felt like digging down and taking cover.

I know he was preserved as a righteous young Latter Day Saint to help the people of Korea maintain their freedom. We recently had a Korean man come up to us on a cruise with my Dad and he told how much respect he had for the GI's that were there protecting their country. He had so much respect for my Dad, and I must say since all this has been said and done, so do I. Thank you Dad, and God Bless us with Freedom at home and abroad.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Pioneer Day

Can't help thinking of the wonderful heritage we have as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have a great admiration for our Pioneer Heritage. Each one of my progenitors has a special place in my heart. As I have grown older my parents and grandparents have taken on a special place in my heart. I love and revere each of them for all that they do for me. When I make their acquaintance in the hereafter I will thank them for their efforts and praise them for the sacrifices they made for me. In our generation we have had some great examples go before us as well, like Jeanne, Aaron, and Steve. I have never ceased to learn from their examples in my life.

My sister Jeanne was such a gracious and kind person. She made such a lovely home. When I went to her home, I always came away with something she had cooked, sewn or crafted. I still have a little piece of cloth with potpourri and yarn that she gave me, and a blouse she crocheted. I see her expressions and love in Sam. I feel the same blessings are with Ben, Sam and Levi. I've seen it once again, and I’m sure these parents who have gone on before their children are still keeping a watchful on them.

Recently, I found this exert from Steve’s journal, recorded 10-17-77. He was just 19 years old, but wise beyond his years. He worked so hard to make his dreams a reality in his life. “There are some among us that have the divine quality to turn normal things into great things, plain into beautiful, incomprehensible into comprehensible or unbelievable into believable. A good mother and eternal companion can turn a house into a palace, a throne, a Heavenly Kingdom on Earth. So, never overlook the plain, ordinary or simple things others do, for the right person can turn into a dream come true.”