So just realized some JERK posted a picture on here that I didn't post....and I can't get rid of it....Don't know the woman, wouldn't have posted it on my blog either...scammer

Our Loss, Heaven's Gain

Has it been farrrrrrrrrrr toooooooooo longggggggggggg...yes.  There has been so much going on.  Work has been picking up (OH THANK YOUUUUUU).  

Then...May 17 my boss passed away.  Did he have a good life? YES  Did he have a long life? YES (he was 82) Were we ready for him to go?  Of course not.  Was he ready to go?  I know he wasn't.  He loved  his work, his craft his business and being at the shop. I often hear his voice in my ear.  His wife told me several days ago that she doesn't expect him to, necessarily, walk in the door ... she just expects him to BE THERE!!!  His memorial was last Friday, June 21st.  It was a very nice service, with his grand-daughter-Jenn giving the eulogy and some antidotes about their sweet relationship.  My Mom spoke and gave a really nice talk about our CAPN EO...I even got up and spoke, was it hard...oh yeah...but he deserved to be acknowledged by us.  A few others spoke as well, then a little visiting after with some food people brought and some sweet Sisters from church there manning the food so none of us had to worry about it.  It was a lovely summer day, not too hot and several of his friends brought their old cars to the service (a tribute to his love of restoring cars to their former glory), members of some of the Vintage Car Clubs he belonged to.  He was a good, old soul!  We will miss him.

This weekend we, Mom and I, are traveling to my Uncle's memorial.  Another huge loss in our lives, just two weeks after my boss.  My uncle was the best.  

My Uncle Dick, the youngest child of my Granma, the youngest brother of my Mother and Aunt…It is very hard to summarize the feelings regarding the life of your Uncle, and friend.  Uncle Dick was only 13 years older than me; we were friends from the start.  My Granma used to tell me stories of Uncle Dick and his “gang” (certainly not in the manner that gang is used today) of pals, who used to push me around Monterey in my baby carriage.  My memories are varied, from the parade he marched me in by decorating my baby stroller and pushing me thru the parade; to the first ride in his first car with him; him teaching me to dance (dances young people today don’t know, like the stroll or the continental); a very special Uncle/niece date at the Monterey Fair when I was a teen (we had a blast by the way, a lot of laughs, food and all the rides we could go on); singing along with Mitch on the vinyl LP; watching him draw or paint; the first picture he ever gave me for graduation from high school (and asked me every time he gave me another to burn it, which I couldn’t do as it was my first Richard Norbeck original!).  Our many visits to Porterville to visit, eat and stroll all along memory lane with him and Olivia.  Those visits were always full of laughter from start to finish.  The notes he would send, always signing your loving uncle….one thing is clear…I KNOW that he never doubted our love for him, nor did my family, his for us;  that gives comfort that there are no regrets in worrying that he didn’t know how very much we loved him.  We are so grateful that his art community have chosen to honor him, we love him and will ever miss him.  Every person in our family has had this read at their service, from the book-This Birth That We Call Death-we want to continue that, as my Mom will read it at his memorial….

A beautiful ship spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength

We watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other. 

Then someone at my side says, 'There she goes! 
Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all. 

She is just as large in mast and hull and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the places of her destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. 

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,
'There she goes! ' ,
there are other eyes watching her coming and rejoicing, with glad shouts saying :
'Here she comes!' 

I know my Granma was right at the front of that line joyfully saying, “Here He Comes!”

I read this at CAPN EO's service and will my Uncle's as well....I know it is true.....

On this earth we view death from the perspective of one who stays behind, much as a man views a long journey when he is sending someone else off rather than going himself.  He puts his friend on the train or plane and waves goodbye, only able to imagine what the trip is like and what the friend will find when he gets where he is going.

If we could glimpse, for even a moment, the glory and excitement that a departed one faces when his eyes close on time [on this earth] and open on eternity-if only we could glimpse this, perhaps there would be more understanding in our sorrow and more joy in our grief.....

We will ever miss you both...God Be With You Til We Meet Again, with love............

My new favorite word

My new favorite word..........BENIGN..........so grateful...no sign of cancer, uterine or cervical.  I wanted to scream in delight when the Doc told me (especially since he found 3 growths, not just the one he was expecting).  When I got home everyone got an extra special hug, then I began the texts and phone calls....my way of celebrating!  All is good. 

My Vacation and Tomorrow

Well, our vacation to meet Leah Grace (my new Grand-niece) was full of challenges...don't be mislead, the visit with the family was wonderful (to say the least), however here is the chronological order of things:
First morning, went to leave about 4:40a and the car wouldn't start, brother came and gave it a jump...traveled well to SLC
Second morning, car totally dead.  Nice front desk guy jumped the battery and we drove to Wally World...yep new battery (can you say $$$)
Third day, beautiful morning; blessing of Leah and a nice get together (although H O T) at the house.  Get a call that evening that beautiful little RJ, son of my sweet friend Sequoia, had died in an accident and his father was injured.  The way the Lord works is often a puzzlement to me.  Instead of staying at our normal hotel we were in Murray, close to the hospital.  Mom and I got dressed and went to the hospital, just so Sequoia would know we were there and love her.
Fourth day, going to St. George to see my ex-roomate who had a heart attack a few weeks before...but first to the hospital to check on dear Sequoia, her mom and hubby....then my dear nephew and his family t-boned by a teen texting or talking on the phone driving thru a red light.  Fortunately, no serious injuries...for which I am more grateful to Heavenly Father than I can ever say.
Fifth day, my sister had emergency surgery, after being terribly ill for 9 days.  Up all night awaiting word...scary stuff.
A couple more days of really nice visit with family, then sweet little RJ's funeral on Saturday.  A beautiful tribute to his sweet and short (22month) life.
Sunday home...
a few days later I'm in a VERY small fender bender.
Tomorrow my biopsy on the uterus....can you say an emotion filled month so far...want August far behind me AND with a benign biospy report!
There must be a lesson the Lord is trying to teach me, to be more humble maybe?  I am trying very hard and the past 2 weeks have brought me to my knees for help a startling amount...I am aware that I can do nothing without his help.....I love the Lord and I know that His plans for me are for good, perhaps I need to show that more and...
Perhaps I just need reminding now and again...
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths

The "C" Word

After a bunch (A BIG BUNCH) of tests, the results were in....Gall stones, many of them-though the gall bladder itself seems ok for now; a large lesion and large cyst on my kidney (maybe from the  infection that sent me to the hospital in the first place) that might just go away; and a growth on my uterus, which may or may not be cancer.  Hearing the word cancer, immediately brought a tremor to my soul, how would I tell my mom.  Then some comforting words, even if it is cancer it seems self contained and they'd just take the uterus out!  Hey take it, I've never used it anyway.  If it is cancer they will again check the kidney (more tests ugh, but hey I have two kidneys!!! :-))))....
Brother S and Brother J gave me another blessing.  I was not in a panic in the first place BUT it's always good to hear what the Lord has to say.  It's interesting, I remember once when I was young asking for a blessing, my Dad basically said you only need a blessing if you are weak....well I now know that information is misleading.  It is the Lord's pleasure for you to have a blessing; it is a worthy Priesthood holder's pleasure to give you a blessing AND it is certainly your pleasure to have a blessing.  Bro S said we should ask for a blessing WHENEVER we feel we need one.  He also said to "please allow him to magnify his Priesthood" to bring the peace to someone that a blessing can give.  What a wonderful thing...  Bro J said yes we are weak, THAT IS WHY we MUST call on Heavenly Father for strength, especially in a blessing. If I were to say that the blessing was awesome that would be an understatement.  I know that worthy Priesthood holders would never say something that was not directed to them....Bro S said that this would be taken care and over soon.  That it would not impair me because Heavenly Father had work for me to do both in the ward and the stake AND He loved me (reiterated several times during the blessing) AND how pleased He is with me and with the temple work I do and that He did not want that interrupted!  WOW told you it was more than awesome!  Again I'm so thankful for worthy Priesthood holders and the power that God has given them!!!

The Power of the Priesthood and Sisterhood of Relief Society

Over the past two weeks (since I was VERY briefly in the hospital) I have witnessed and felt the spirit, first hand, of the Power of the Priesthood and of the Sisterhood of Relief Society.  When my friend Denise, thankfully, goaded me to call my Home Teacher and ask for a blessing I did.  I'll insert here that my former HT had just moved to another ward, so my new HT (though I do know him) hadn't even had the opportunity to visit me yet.  When I called his home, his wife answered the phone (at that time it was close to 10p) she said she was on it!  Boy was she, within the hour her husband and another Brother from church were at the hospital giving me a blessing.  They hung around (taking care that I was being cared for) until probably 12:30a or so (even though I kept trying to get them to go home to their families)...The Spirit I felt when hands were laid on my head and the blessing began was one of total peace, I KNEW then that regardless of what was found everything would be fine.  I know when such blessings are made promises are only given by direction of the spirit, and I was promised that I would be well and home soon!  By the many pauses in the blessing I knew that Dale was being directed what to say, not just saying "something"...it occurred to me then that the awesome power of the Priesthood is so definitely a gift from God, and something to be nurtured and held with the highest regard and reverence.  
Then we come to the Sisterhood of Relief Society.  I was so blessed on Sunday to have many sisters visit me, in the early evening when I was finally starting to feel better.  Mom left around 2 and I tried to get some rest...the visitors started at 4:30 and last ones leaving a little before 8...
Sometimes when you are unmarried and have no children there can be moments of terrible loneliness...usually my kits fill in those spots at home...but they aren't allowed at the hospital (LOL) so it was wonderful to feel that sisterhood, as I'm sure this the what the Lord intended...Charity indeed never faileth, to bolster a woman's (or man's) soul!  So thank you Lord for the lessons learned by this brief, frightening experience....perhaps that is why this happened...to bring new/renewed reverence for the power of the Priesthood and love for the Sisterhood of the Relief Society.....THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Been toooooo long

WOW, it's been far too long since I've written here!  What's up with that, busy, busy, busy!  Busy at church, at work, and at home.  Teaching the 4 year olds in Sunday School....the first Sunday I was spit on and pinched by the same little boy...the next Sunday kicked by him...the next Sunday he was totally disruptive in class...hasn't been there the past 3 Sundays...been very peaceful and quite in class and sharing time!  My dear, dear neighbors Lue and Gabe are moving to Reno down the street from their daughter.  BOY am I gonna miss them.  They are so sweet, but totally understand why at both of them nearing (or he may be) 90 why they would want to be in a smaller home with less yard, etc for her to care for.  So i'll just have to drop by and see them once in a while when I go to the temple on Friday's.  Love getting the updates from Meg on her mission in Korea...she's quite the special one! (of course all my nieces and nephews are)...well better get to work.  I'll try to come up with more this week.  Need to start writing about some of my experiences to put together for my someday demise, so I can leave something behind for the nieces and nephews I love so much! xoxo til later