New Year 2011

A new Year....A new day....A new hour.... A new page.... A new moment in time...

Every thing is fresh... and starting new... with blank pages before you.

What will be written on these pages before the end of this given time?

Looking back... Hopefully... they will contain mostly smiles...

Bernard Walker...

Bernard William Walker, Lynn's father, was born 3 June 1919, and Died 1 Nov. 2010 in Provo Utah, and Buried in Orem City Cemetery.

He was a good man, loved his family, would do anything he could for them. He was a hard worker. Taught his kids how to work. He was totally honest in everything.
He served in the war, and on a mission. He was blessed with a incredible mind, which most of his family has been blessed with. He was totally mentally alert when he left this earth. He quietly helped his neighbors when they needed it. He didn't boast about anything he did, just quietly accomplished what needed to be done. Even in his 90's he was active in church as much as he could be... All though he was not perfect, and like the rest of us had alot to learn in this life...
I will miss him...

Just a added Note...
All my Family, All my Kids, All my Grandchildren have been in attendance. At the Hospital, and at the Funeral.

Jodie was asked to offer the Walker Family Prayer at the Hospital, she is 26 of age. Her sweet spirit touched many in the room and left alot of wet faces.

With only a few hours to prepare an arrangement, Jodie, Pauli, Jennifer and Amber all played strings for the Funeral, and Launie sang the first verse, of the Hymn "Oh My Father". The music was beautiful...I was so touched of the masterful skills of the girls.

The Funeral was recorded, and we have a copy.

A Gift...

I was describing to some of the Lady Missionaries at the Employment Resource Center the neet surprise my daughter and her husband had given us last year, hanging from the celling, hand cut snowflakes around the top of our Christmas tree.

I folded a paper and cut a snowflake, Sister Carter was delighted and asked to see how to fold the paper. As I was teaching the cutting of snowflakes we had some good laughs, I seemed to be the only one who had some experience, enjoying a good activity, we learned not to cut completely across the paper, (twice).

Most of the Ladies cut snowflakes, and even one visitor cut one which was of horseshoes and hearts. Pam Baily, loves and raises miniature horses.

Elder Paul Evans walked to the DI to look for some thread, and came back with some crochet thread which was perfect. Soon Lynn was hanging snowflakes from the celling around the room. It Looked Real Cool....they were all so different and neet. I taped the circle ones, to one of the office windows, filling one with a small snowflake, and added some other snowflakes. I told everyone that the circle one was a ice crystal.

The snowflakes added a nice touch to the Christmas season, along with the Christmas tree and pointsetta which were there.

Its hard to believe that I only have one more week of my Mission. Time has flown by so fast, I am feeling a little sad. I could extend, but I have to have surgery on my knee. So maybe when I get back on my feet again I can look forward to serving another Mission somewhere...

NOTE; The snowflakes had to be taken down from the ceiling and taped to the office windows. The movement of the hanging snowflakes during the night time, for three days, set off the building alarms.... lol

Where is Time?

One Year a person who prepared our taxes, asked me how many years did I think I would live? I answered him, as long as my kids still need me, I will be here!

Looking back through this year and all its complications, I see a over view, (that has nothing to do with all that has happened this year.) that all my kids are quickly getting to the point of not needing me. Which is good for them, but not so much for me. They have turned out to be good and great people, and care about each other in their own way.

I have really felt that way, and perhaps some insight. Also at my age now, even though still considered young, I feel my strength weakening. and others who are a lot older than I, running circles around me.

Bernard Walker said that the "Golden Years of Life" are not when you are old and retired. But when you have your young family around you, and you are busily keeping up with them doing things, that bring you the most happiness.
Not when your old, stiff, painful, sick, and alone.
I agree with him.

I have alot of friends I can talk to, and I have a list of things that have to be done.
But its my family that I long for....and they are all grown up...

Some 2010- tragedies

This year 2010 has held unbelievable tragedies.

Homes disappearing in Landslides, terrible earthquakes, Flooding, Volcano's exploding, Mine explosion, Oil rig explosion and sunk, untapped oil leak in ocean. damaged sea life, and sea shores, Embarrassing crazy President, Democratic leadership in the USA has gone wild. Plane crashes, sink hole in Mexico swallowed up 3 story building, tornadoes,Flash Flooding of camping area, Major Flooding in the state of Arkansas. Oil pipe breakage and contaminating streams, and into Jordan River, in Utah. Three major fires in Flagstaff. Its going to be the 4th of July in about 2 weeks and we are still wearing jackets, cooler than normal. Another Volcano exploding causing many deaths in Indonesia. War braking out in Korea. No Work. More People becoming homeless. Family death. In the last month or two, I have known of seven people who have died...

Gratitude...

Even at my age now, my heart flutters, and I feel a deep satisfaction inside as I watch the accomplishments of my kids....their hard work, and the caring and helping of each other....It is warming to the heart.

Jodie

Sometimes things happen that are so special that its hard to share in words the feelings one has inside. I once told someone that I had been dreaming of this day for years, then months, weeks, days. To be living through this time... And now, they are memories..

Memories filled with warmth, family, togetherness, and sacredness.
It started with Jodie, my youngest, becoming active and working on going to the Temple for her own Endowments.

Jodie and her boyfriend, Tom, drove from Lake Havasue City, Arizona, to our home in Utah. They arrived Tues night, and have to be back to work Sat. So this was going to be a fast week.

Wed. Morning, Tom, Jodie and myself, drove from Grantsville to Pauli's home in Salt Lake City, in Tom's Cherry Red Mustang car. We picked up Pauli and drove to the White Elegance store in Sandy, to try to find a Temple Dress for Jodie.

White Elegance had some very beautiful dresses, and Jodie found one in her tiny size that she was looking for. She looked so Beautiful, all dressed in white. We all agreed, it was the most perfect dress for her. We also found a beautiful dress that seemed to fit Pauli's personality, and looked absolutely beautiful on her.

Lunch was needed to keep our driver happy, as it is not the easiest to follow three women around shopping. So we stoped at a Chinese restaurant for a light lunch, then off to the LDS Distribution Center on Redwood Road.

At the LDS Distribution Center Jodie received the rest of her Temple clothing. I am sure she was quite overwhelmed with everything.

A few things always fall in ones path when they are trying to go to the Temple. One of the things that happened at this time, happened about two blocks away from Pauli's house. The car started overheating, and refused to run any farther. We were all surprised as the car had been worked on, and was ready to go on the trip. I was surprised how calm Tom was, when this problem came up, he was repeating "the motor is fried, I fried the motor". I have found most men to be loud, and showing their frustration at a car's break down. However many prayers were sent to heaven from inside the car and one was sent from outside.

James, Pauli's Husband, came. The car had cooled enough that we were able to drive to Pauli's house. James talking to Tom said "I can fix anything, but you have to tell me what to fix". That is very true, James is very good with his hands.

They called David, my son, who works as a auto mechanic, and asked him about the car. He said to feel the top water hose. It was hot. Then feel the bottom water hose. It was cold. The thermostat was stuck and needed to be replaced. James and Tom came back with a new thermostat from a car parts, and replaced it. The car was running again, and it seemed to have taken about thirty minutes or so... That was another blessing.

Jodie and Tom had been invited, by Pauli and David, to attend a Haidong Gumdo class, A class of marshell arts, using sords, they decided to go.

I found the Haidong Gumdo class to be most interesting for me, because all were black belts, except for Jennifer who is a blue belt at this time. Pauli and David are both black belts. Jodie and Tom were given the first class lesson and seemed to enjoyed the class.

There were lots of warm feelings, as the family enjoyed a evening just being together, having fun and working out in a physical workout class. It didn't matter if they were all at different levels, they just enjoyed doing something together.

Thursday Morning, Temple Day.
First thing Thursday morning I hemmed Jodie's dress. I was not able to do the outside dress as I did not have enough time. but the most important one was done.

Jodie had to be at the Salt Lake Temple by 11:30 am. The bridge on North Temple, that covered the railroad tracks, was closed due to construction, so we had to go around it.

To our surprise we met Pauli and James on the elevator, in the car garage. under the Conference Center. We were able to walk into the Temple together. Jodie, Pauli, James, Lynn and myself. Tom still has about 3 to 4 weeks before his appointment with his Bishop for a Temple recommend interview.

Jennifer's babysitter canceled, Tom was willing to watch Jen's two girls, Sarah, five, and Violet, one and a half, for about five hours, walking around Temple square, so that Jennifer could attend with her sister Jodie. I feel he deserves a platinum Halo for wonderful service.

It is incomprehensible Joy for a parent to be in the Temple with their children, all dressed in white. As you share with them, the teachings, and promises the Lords has given.
Pauli and I were Jodie's Escorts. Jennifer came in with the main group and was seated a couple of rows behind us.
I was surprised to see how small the number of people were in attendance, usually the room is filled. This made it real nice for Jodie.

To be in the Celestral room where someone from the family says "group hug!" and automatic the family gathers together for one big hug. It felt so good. I wondered if heaven will feel so good like that.

We also visited the sealing room where this family was started when Lynn and I were married.
We missed Launie and David, as they were not in attendance.
I look forward to the time when our whole family will be together, in the Temple.

Frustrated Robins...

We have lived in our home for 5 years. Our new lawn is about 3 to 4 years old. So the worms in the lawn, which is good, are smaller. I have found it interesting to see how many short worms, about 1 to 1 and half inch in length, are found on the cement after a rain storm.

This spring we had a couple of day-long days of rain. And of course the worms came out onto the sidewalks, and ended up drying, and gluing themselves on the cement. They even made it up and on, to the steps of our front porch.

We have had alot of Robins in our yard this year. It is a good sign of spring, along with the daffodils and tulips.

The funniest thing I have seen, are the Robins trying to get the "freeze Dried" worms off the sidewalk.

Can you imagine a bird thinking, "Look at all this free dinner, just for the picking".
And then not be able to get them off the cement...