Toren

Toren receives Life Award on his way to receiving his Eagle.

Old Folks

Boston has always been a place of history. From the days of the Colonists through the American Revolution, there were brave people who lived and died there. Now we have seen a new kind of bravery with the bombings that took place during marathon. There were so many heroic people who rushed to the aid of the injured and who ran, not away from, but toward those in need of help. The tragedy played out but the heros among us rose to the occasion, as they always do. I am thankful that there are still selfless good people in the world.

It is actually a good thing that Jim did not want Gramps/Dad to come back down to Needles because he is not getting better very quickly even though the doctor warned him that it might be five to seven days before he felt really well again. I thought that he would bounce back as normal.  (Although, after all of the sinus infections I have had over the years, you would think I might not really expect that.) I always know when he is really sick because he lets me wait on him. Better than that, he actually wanted to go to the doctor. Today he seems quite a bit better but did not go to church. He did read from his scriptures and read the last letters from the missionary grandsons. He had a quiet day which is most unusual for him.

I have a new goal: go to bed before midnight. I seem so antsy to myself that I decided I maybe needed to stop burning the candle at both ends. So I will be brief and then get to bed. My other goal, to enjoy each day as it unfolds has been good for me. I spend too much time worrying about things that I cannot change and not enough worrying about the things I can. So, I reason, I will enjoy each day with gratitude for being alive. I have enjoyed just being with Dad/Gramps and just being thankful that we can still know who we are. Some of the folks I work with at the care center on Sundays are not that lucky. Some of them, for example, have trouble finding the pages of the hymn though they still can sing the words. It worries some of the residents that they do not have the right page  but they have all the words tucked away somewhere at any rate and do not need the page at all. But, I go around and find pages for them so they will be happy. Most of them are only 10 years older than I am.  Really. They are 82 or so and I am 72. I hope that my mind holds out longer than theirs have. Of course, some of the folks I work with at the temple are fine and are in their late 80s. I wonder what really makes the difference?

When President Monson spoke to the young women at their special meeting he said: “Seek heavenly guidance one day at a time. Life by the yard is hard; by the inch it’s a cinch. Each of us can be true for just one day—and then one more, and then one more after that, until we’ve lived a lifetime guided by the Spirit, a lifetime close to the Lord, a lifetime of good deeds and righteousness. The Savior promised: ‘Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life’ (3 Nephi 15:9)."

I enjoyed this comment from our lesson in Relief Society today. In my opinion, Lorenzo Snow was a prophet to pay attention to. "Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perphaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves."

As you get old, you realize how some of the things you have put off will likely never get done. We can wear out lives away, as President Snow said, and not accomplish the good we planned. Soon our opportunity is gone and the plans we made when we were young are not accomplished. Now is the time to do what needs doing.

Lots of love,
Grammy and Gramps

From Grammy

Boston has always been a place of history. From the days of the Colonists through the American Revolution, there were brave people who lived and died there. Now we have seen a new kind of bravery with the bombings that took place during marathon. There were so many heroic people who rushed to the aid of the injured and who ran, not away from, but toward those in need of help. The tragedy played out but the heros among us rose to the occasion, as they always do. I am thankful that there are still selfless good people in the world. 

Last week, on Wednesday, Grandpa went to Needles, CA, to help Uncle Jim with the bees. Gramps got sick and drove home on Friday. He has a really bad sinus infection and, perhaps, the beginning of pneumonia. He is on a powerful antibitotic and is sleeping most of the time. He seems quite a bit better today but still not well enough to go to church. He did read his scriptures some today and was able to read your last letter to us. So that helped him spend a better Sabbath than he would have been able to do otherwise. 

One of the reasons that he drove home was that he was afraid that he would make someone there, Jim, Jim's aunt, uncle or cousin, ill. The doctor said that none of what he has is contagious. I don't know if he could have stayed and worked anyway but he thinks he might have been able to. At any rate, Julie drove down Saturday morning with the kids. She cannot work with the bees but will be there to help if anything bad happens. 

Gramps was planning on going back on Monday but Jim said that his dad is coming so that will take care of Jim's problem. Phil, Jim's dad, can only stay until Wednesday so, I pray, they are all done. We go back to the temple this coming Friday if all goes well. The doctor said that it usually takes three to five days to get better. It is actually a good thing that Jim did not want Gramps to come down because he is not getting better very quickly. I always know when he is really sick because he lets me wait on him. Better than that, he actually wanted to go to the doctor.

So my whining about not liking being alone in my old age was in vain. Now I would sooner be alone than have Gramps sick and Jim's work load increased. I won't ever complain about that again. Alone is OK if everybody you love is OK. Besides, in the few days I was here by myself, I got the office cleaned up and got rid of quite a bit of junk in the storage room. That will still take a month or more of diligence but it is getting better.

When President Monson spoke to the young women at their special meeting he said: “Seek heavenly guidance one day at a time. Life by the yard is hard; by the inch it’s a cinch. Each of us can be true for just one day—and then one more, and then one more after that, until we’ve lived a lifetime guided by the Spirit, a lifetime close to the Lord, a lifetime of good deeds and righteousness. The Savior promised: ‘Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life’ (3 Nephi 15:9)."

I enjoyed this comment from our lesson in Relief Society today. In my opinion, Lorenzo Snow was a prophet to pay attention to. "Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perphaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves."

As you get old, you realize how some of the things you have put off will likely never get done. We can wear out lives away, as President Snow said, and not accomplish the good we planned. Soon our opportunity is gone and the plans we made when we were young are not accomplished. Now is the time to do what needs doing. 

We are thankful that you are able to bless the lives of others by serving them as a missionary. We pray that you will find those who are seeking the truth. Remember to let the Spirit convert you to the truth as well as those you are teaching.

Lots of love, 

Grammy and Gramps

Two Sundays

Last Sunday, we had the privilege of going to Provo to see Kyle ordain Matthew to the Aaronic Priesthood. Kyle then helped orient Matthew to passing the Sacrament so that he was able to pass for his first time. Kyle also, as a priest, blessed the sacrament. We were also able to witness Bradon being released from the bishopric in his ward and see him sustained and, later, set apart as the new stake executive secretary. Bradon's parents had stayed over, so they were there for both events. Afterward, we went to AnnMarie's for good food and good company. Shawn, Kimberly and Sorina joined us there. It was fun that the Howards put on an impromptu musical program. Braden even joined in for one of the songs. It was very nice to be there and be part of all of the joy and of a good family time.

On Saturday, after we finished at the temple, we went to Lone Peak High School and watched Maddie perform with the winter guard. They are the groups who twirl flags, rifles and swords while dance/marching. It was very well-done. We can all be proud of our girl. She is skilled and graceful.

On Thursday, we went up to Timpanogos High School and watch Kyle perform with the Timpview High School Symphonic Band at region. It was a great concert. We also met Braden in Provo and took him out for his belated birthday dinner. He took us to an exhibit at the Y which we really enjoyed.

We were also able to travel to Hurricane and watch Donovin be awarded the arrow of light award. He was only one of three boys in his fairly large LDS troop to earn the award. You scouters all know what an achievement that was. David smoked a pork loin roast with applewood and it was so very good. We had salads and Bree's homemade beans and strawberry shortcake. By the time we got to the meeting we were all very full of great food. Donovin said he plans to keep on scouting. He is also playing baseball. Erin is playing softball.

The morning we went to the care center in our ward. The Squire family had the program but, as our year-long mission assignment, we organize the weekly event. The meeting was very tender for me. Gramps says he always feels the spirit when he is there. I can see why. All 14 of those who attend our Sacrament meeting (one brother was in the hospital with complications of pneumonia and one sister had been picked up by her daughter for the weekend), are people who have been stalwarts in the church all while we have been in Nephi. They all have been active in the community as well, one is a former county treasurer, one a county commissioner and school board member, and all are such good people. One lady, Norma Sherwood, is 103 and still leads the music. She used to write for the newspaper when I first moved to Nephi. I started writing soon after. She was always good to me. Well, they all were. Here they are unable to care for themselves and in a place where they are loved but are not going to live much longer. All are there because they require more medical help on a daily basis than their families can provide. 

Two new-to-our-ward young people spoke in our Sacrament meeting and discussed the power of the resurrection. The brother works for the sheriff's office in Utah County and commutes with our neighbor who also works the same place. We had a combined meeting today with the Relief Society and the priesthood. What a great meeting. We talked about a new program our mission president for our mission has adopted. It is a 21-day program where we each pray for people that we prayerfully select. We ask Heavenly Father to help prepare them for our invitation to attend Sacrament meeting with us on a given date--this one is in May. This will be our second time to participate, as a ward, in the program. We heard one conversion story as part of the meeting. Then the bishop showed us the video, which has gone viral on Mormon Messages, featuring part of the speech by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "None Were With Him." It makes me cry. I so appreciate the Savior of us all who, having never committed sin, took upon himself all the sins of the world that each of us might live as resurrected beings for all eternity.

This year, no one came here for Easter. We went to Julie and Jim's home for the meal. It was very good. Little Jens is such a treasure. He is not too certain that Grammy is worth much but her thinks that Grandpa is the best. We had a great meal, roast cooked just right, and all the trimmings. The fruit salad, with fresh strawberries, was good enough to be dessert but Julie had made cinnamon rolls. My rolls were a hit and I hardly have any left. That is a good thing because, tomorrow a.m., Gramps and Jim are going to California to work with the bees for a week.

We love you and are proud of you. You are doing such great work.

We also hope you got your packages, one for St. Patrick's day and  one for Easter.

Lots of love!