Saturday, October 6, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
I hope that family members will contribute to our newsletter, because it is a way to bring all the stories together in one place. This morning I have been reviewing family blogs, and it brings a tear to my eye to think of each of you and your search for the good life. Whether you have blogs or not, each one of you is important and loved by me and by Kelly. The newsletter will provide a glimpse of life throughout the year and I can have it in a binder for review. Family Pathways: This is fun to bring together, and if it is a bit redundant due to blogs, at least it is easily accessible over time. Here is a group of photos showing most of our big family!
This year I have also enjoyed reading Winter Garden, The Brain that Changes Itself, The Hunger Games series, Half Broke Horses, The Unbroken, and I'm currently listening to Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero. I've been a fan of Audible.com. One of the challenges of listening to a book is not being able to go back for details! Kennedy was actually four years older than my father, and I remember that my dad wanted him for President. Dad always said, "Vote for the man, not the party!" Through the years I have wondered each election which way that my father would vote. Kennedy won his first congressional seat just two years before I was born, and he ran for President when I was in kindergarten. The history during his lifetime is quite relevant to me.
I have recommitted myself to daily scripture study. We had another lesson in Relief Society on reading scriptures, and I thought, "How many times will I listen to a lesson like this without acting on it?" The Sunday School is studying the Book of Mormon, which is my favorite, and I have actually read all the way through Mosiah. Meanwhile, Kelly has probably read the whole Book of Mormon about three times so far this year. If I had been reading daily, I would be much further. Commitment is the key. Now that I am "retired" it should be fairly easy to read, and to read in the mornings. Mosiah is an incredible book. It is a great read.
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| Baptism Day for Sammi & Scotti Jackson |
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| Jon, Cate, Heidi, and Josh |
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| Carol, Stana, Andrea |
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| Tate |
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| Tyler |
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| Kelly & Jeremy |
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| Jesse & Emily |
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| Isaac and Benjamin |
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| Joni, Emily, and Rosemary |
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| Sammi and Cate |
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| Heidi and Katie |
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| Scotti and Josh Jackson |
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| Chris Tate Family in Yukon, Idaho |
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| David and Nicolas Preparing for a Walk |
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| Jeni, Chris, Kelly, Dave, Nicolas |
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| Disney Kids |
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| Catherine, Stana, Tate |
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| Katherine & Jon |
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| Megan Tate, our most recent grandchild, #16 |
I have recommitted myself to daily scripture study. We had another lesson in Relief Society on reading scriptures, and I thought, "How many times will I listen to a lesson like this without acting on it?" The Sunday School is studying the Book of Mormon, which is my favorite, and I have actually read all the way through Mosiah. Meanwhile, Kelly has probably read the whole Book of Mormon about three times so far this year. If I had been reading daily, I would be much further. Commitment is the key. Now that I am "retired" it should be fairly easy to read, and to read in the mornings. Mosiah is an incredible book. It is a great read.
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| Justin with a Professional Juggler |
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| Ben completed a degree in Business May 2012 |
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| The family was there to cheer Ben on! A Happy Day. Kelly and I enjoyed a trip to Pittsburgh and to key Church History sites, such as the Sacred Grove and Kirtland, Ohio. We loved going to Pittsburgh to visit our newest granddaughter, Megan Tate. Following our trip, we attended Ben's graduation at the Maverick Center for the University of Phoenix graduation. |
Sunday, April 15, 2012
April 15, 2012
A week ago we were celebrating Rosemary's birthday, which is two days after Julie's. They are both in their 30's now, and Everett just turned 5 on Thursday. When I spoke to him to wish him a happy birthday, he was exhausted from his party. I guess that's how birthdays ought to be at age five. There are lots of April birthdays and lots of May birthdays coming up. In March a Jackson and a Holley turned one: Benj and Stana. In a family of 38, birthdays do seem to keep on coming.
Kelly and I have spent a few days here in St. George, and it was colder than usual again. The rain finally came yesterday, and this morning we woke up to a view of fog in Snow Canyon. That is pretty unusual here. Love that red rock as it trades off with white limestone in the view off the porch of the condo. The black volcanic rock sprinkle the mesas. Today I saw a couple of lizards on an old building in the Ghost Town of Grafton. It is 3 miles west of Rockville, which is not far from the chiseled rock that lines the entrance to Zion's.
Kelly and I have spent a few days here in St. George, and it was colder than usual again. The rain finally came yesterday, and this morning we woke up to a view of fog in Snow Canyon. That is pretty unusual here. Love that red rock as it trades off with white limestone in the view off the porch of the condo. The black volcanic rock sprinkle the mesas. Today I saw a couple of lizards on an old building in the Ghost Town of Grafton. It is 3 miles west of Rockville, which is not far from the chiseled rock that lines the entrance to Zion's.
We wandered among the old fences and fields where pioneers once lived. They settled here to raise cotton, but it was rugged country. Rockville, Springdale, and Hurricane had more to offer.
We will be heading home tomorrow. It was nice to talk to Katherine on the phone today. She will be done with school and have a well-deserved break for most of May.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Poetry
When I traveled from the age of 10 to the age of 20, there were a couple of things that could make me cry. One was the fact that my father was slowly losing his ability to walk, and the other was my relationship with Janie. These were situations that I pondered over and wished that I could fix. In high school, I found an outlet that helped me to deal with these situations: creative writing. Free verse was considered to be poetry, and it was fairly popular at the time. Recently I have pulled out my old poems, along with some written in college, and even a few written since; and I have published these poems in a Heritage book.
Many of the poems are whimsical, some are descriptive, and some deal with experiences that I wrestled with. When I review the poems, I see that certain images are almost redundant. You will know that I love being out of doors. I have enjoyed revisiting some of my experiences. There are 38 poems in the book, and Kelly wrote three of them. Here are a few to share.
They Were My Cradle
The tulips in our driveway are tired,
petaling red,
Mom's favorite color.
Parents in the fall seem overpowered--
Pots of would, if they could.
Dad is confined in a wheelchair,
Bulbs cannot free their roots.
The will to grow is in the soil,
free, unrestrained, tall.
They really aren't old,
but year by year things dry up,
and a few tears are not enough
to bring new life.
Sun faded leaves,
Dad wishes for slippers,
something to keep warm in the winter.
They gave me so much,
petaling red, my parents.
Should I place them in a planter
by the front door painted blue?
Should I build them a home?
Their bricks are tough and sturdy--
strong beyond years.
I am bound, like them,
and I can't even remodel his disease.
I don't have the tools.
But I remember blowing
white dandelion seeds
Into the wind,
and how they are swept away
far from our front lawn,
so soft so slow.
Some day that disease will be swept away,
so soft, so slow,
My parents so full of hope,
My cradle of love.
by Janet
Here is one that I wrote about Dad when he was near the end of his life, and edited and rewrote it some time after he had passed away. I don't think my mother could relate to this one, but I obviously can.
Snake of Death
My Dad is caged in a body
with a devil disease.
He sits in the kitchen with nothing
worth watching on TV.
The illusion is in my mind:
He spits, and
His eyes reflect black fire,
not his own.
Day after day he sits
asking my mother or me or anyone
to move his feet in and out.
Can he even feel his legs?
Cramps? Restless discomfort?
It must be unbearable--
so little control.
His body and mind are trapped.
He fights to find
his better attitude, his ever warm smile,
but at the end it is tough,
when that snake coils at him,
whips at his legs,
his arms,
his voice.
And we take turns feeding my paralyzed father.
Then one night after a restless sleep,
The Aide lifts him into his chair, and
That devil disease, that snake so stealthy,
so dark,
torments and
encircles my Dad with
its cold, clammy
leatherskin grip !
MS is totally
Bitter black.
His eyes are glazed,
Not his own.
He sighs one last breath,
And then he is done.
Gone.
One last breath
And he is free.
Free from that
devil disease,
that devil disease that rattles on.
by Janet
Here is one for Janie:
Free to Laugh
Tart Mountain Wind,
Blow my hair back,
And if you should send down waves of boulders--
I will fly free of your grip,
Taking tree stumps, roots and air with me.
Invincible!
by Janet
We are all free to choose the way we react to the challenges in our lives. In spite of challenges, there is peace and purpose in life and in relationships. It is great to have good relationships with each of you, and I hope this will continue forever!
Many of the poems are whimsical, some are descriptive, and some deal with experiences that I wrestled with. When I review the poems, I see that certain images are almost redundant. You will know that I love being out of doors. I have enjoyed revisiting some of my experiences. There are 38 poems in the book, and Kelly wrote three of them. Here are a few to share.
They Were My Cradle
The tulips in our driveway are tired,
petaling red,
Mom's favorite color.
Parents in the fall seem overpowered--
Pots of would, if they could.
Dad is confined in a wheelchair,
Bulbs cannot free their roots.
The will to grow is in the soil,
free, unrestrained, tall.
They really aren't old,
but year by year things dry up,
and a few tears are not enough
to bring new life.
Sun faded leaves,
Dad wishes for slippers,
something to keep warm in the winter.
They gave me so much,
petaling red, my parents.
Should I place them in a planter
by the front door painted blue?
Should I build them a home?
Their bricks are tough and sturdy--
strong beyond years.
I am bound, like them,
and I can't even remodel his disease.
I don't have the tools.
But I remember blowing
white dandelion seeds
Into the wind,
and how they are swept away
far from our front lawn,
so soft so slow.
Some day that disease will be swept away,
so soft, so slow,
My parents so full of hope,
My cradle of love.
by Janet
Here is one that I wrote about Dad when he was near the end of his life, and edited and rewrote it some time after he had passed away. I don't think my mother could relate to this one, but I obviously can.
Snake of Death
My Dad is caged in a body
with a devil disease.
He sits in the kitchen with nothing
worth watching on TV.
The illusion is in my mind:
He spits, and
His eyes reflect black fire,
not his own.
Day after day he sits
asking my mother or me or anyone
to move his feet in and out.
Can he even feel his legs?
Cramps? Restless discomfort?
It must be unbearable--
so little control.
His body and mind are trapped.
He fights to find
his better attitude, his ever warm smile,
but at the end it is tough,
when that snake coils at him,
whips at his legs,
his arms,
his voice.
And we take turns feeding my paralyzed father.
Then one night after a restless sleep,
The Aide lifts him into his chair, and
That devil disease, that snake so stealthy,
so dark,
torments and
encircles my Dad with
its cold, clammy
leatherskin grip !
MS is totally
Bitter black.
His eyes are glazed,
Not his own.
He sighs one last breath,
And then he is done.
Gone.
One last breath
And he is free.
Free from that
devil disease,
that devil disease that rattles on.
by Janet
Here is one for Janie:
Free to Laugh
Tart Mountain Wind,
Blow my hair back,
And if you should send down waves of boulders--
I will fly free of your grip,
Taking tree stumps, roots and air with me.
Invincible!
by Janet
We are all free to choose the way we react to the challenges in our lives. In spite of challenges, there is peace and purpose in life and in relationships. It is great to have good relationships with each of you, and I hope this will continue forever!
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Book of Mormon is the Course of Study for the Year
Most church members have read Nephi more than any other part of the Book of Mormon. They start and stop, start and stop. At least it is an incredible book! It is a true story, written as a history of a people through a period of 900 years.
What I like about Nephi is his faith. He doesn't take everything his father says for granted, instead he studies it out and prays for his own answers. In so doing, he also receives a vision of the tree of life. In fact, he learns about its interpretation. When he talks to his brothers about it, they are wondering what their father meant about the branches of the olive tree. And Nephi says, "Did you ask the Lord about it?"
And they say, "The Lord doesn't make such things known unto us." This must have been frustrating. And yet, did they ask? Getting answers wasn't always easy. Nephi explains the dream to them and can answer their questions.
When Nephi's bow broke, it was really a big problem. His brother's bows had lost their spring. Their families went hungry. It was one thing for Nephi to make himself a new bow and ask his father where to go to find meat, and it was quite another for him to be able to build a ship--a ship not built after the workmanship of his time. It was built with a plan and workmanship revealed by the Lord. His brothers didn't want to help and thought that it was a crazy idea to cross the seas. Yet Nephi did make a new bow, and with faith he was able to slay wild beasts and obtain food for their families. Everyone was so relieved and happy to have food, that they all did all humble themselves and give thanks unto the Lord.
Nephi did build a ship, and he was able to get his brother's to help build the boat. Although they complained and were unwilling to help, Nephi was inspired by the Spirit to chastise them, and he told them not to touch him or they would be destroyed. Then later, prompted by the Spirit, Nephi reached out his finger and shocked his brothers. They were shaken by the touch, and they knew that Nephi really did have the power of God with him. It was undeniable.
Murmuring comes and goes. Miracles come and go. As soon as Nephi's brothers released his bonds on the boat of the ship, Nephi was able to make the Liahona work again, and the ship was steered in the desired direction. Following his prayers, the winds and storms calmed down. Through faith, Nephi was able to overcome all obstacles. His brothers come so close to accepting faith. They had so many opportunities to be humbled. It just really rankled them to have that younger brother act like he was in charge.
Here is a great scripture from 1 Ne 17:13
And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.
Knowing by whom we are led is what brings joy and peace to my soul. It is manna from heaven, only better. Think about humility and faith. It is a win-win.
BAPTISMS
February 4th is Tate's birthday coming up. He will be 8 in two years! February 4th is also the baptismal date for Sammi and Scotti this year. Kelly and I are excited to go to Elma, Washington for this special day.
What I like about Nephi is his faith. He doesn't take everything his father says for granted, instead he studies it out and prays for his own answers. In so doing, he also receives a vision of the tree of life. In fact, he learns about its interpretation. When he talks to his brothers about it, they are wondering what their father meant about the branches of the olive tree. And Nephi says, "Did you ask the Lord about it?"
And they say, "The Lord doesn't make such things known unto us." This must have been frustrating. And yet, did they ask? Getting answers wasn't always easy. Nephi explains the dream to them and can answer their questions.
When Nephi's bow broke, it was really a big problem. His brother's bows had lost their spring. Their families went hungry. It was one thing for Nephi to make himself a new bow and ask his father where to go to find meat, and it was quite another for him to be able to build a ship--a ship not built after the workmanship of his time. It was built with a plan and workmanship revealed by the Lord. His brothers didn't want to help and thought that it was a crazy idea to cross the seas. Yet Nephi did make a new bow, and with faith he was able to slay wild beasts and obtain food for their families. Everyone was so relieved and happy to have food, that they all did all humble themselves and give thanks unto the Lord.
Nephi did build a ship, and he was able to get his brother's to help build the boat. Although they complained and were unwilling to help, Nephi was inspired by the Spirit to chastise them, and he told them not to touch him or they would be destroyed. Then later, prompted by the Spirit, Nephi reached out his finger and shocked his brothers. They were shaken by the touch, and they knew that Nephi really did have the power of God with him. It was undeniable.
Murmuring comes and goes. Miracles come and go. As soon as Nephi's brothers released his bonds on the boat of the ship, Nephi was able to make the Liahona work again, and the ship was steered in the desired direction. Following his prayers, the winds and storms calmed down. Through faith, Nephi was able to overcome all obstacles. His brothers come so close to accepting faith. They had so many opportunities to be humbled. It just really rankled them to have that younger brother act like he was in charge.
Here is a great scripture from 1 Ne 17:13
And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.
Knowing by whom we are led is what brings joy and peace to my soul. It is manna from heaven, only better. Think about humility and faith. It is a win-win.
BAPTISMS
February 4th is Tate's birthday coming up. He will be 8 in two years! February 4th is also the baptismal date for Sammi and Scotti this year. Kelly and I are excited to go to Elma, Washington for this special day.
Jesse about the baptizing age of 8
Jesse with Scotti, when he was about two
Grant and Julie, Cooper, Sammi, Everett & Scotti
Cate and Sammi
Cate and Sammi within a year of their baptisms
Cody was the first Grandchild baptized in 2011
Scotti to be baptized on February 4, 2012
Scotti and Josh
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Katherine
Free as the wind in the waterfall,
Free as the rain in the river,
Taking chances and leaning into life.
Her clothes are her personal expression.
She reaches out to others.
Her sensuality is her allure and her charisma.
Comfortable in herself,
Comfortable making her own choices,
Adventures among the rapidly changing landscape.
She takes a journey
From the river to the sea,
To the clouds, to the river, to the sea . . .
Free as the wind in the waterfall,
Free as the rain in the river,
Discovering herself.
Her eyes carry her emotion,
Only she knows her truth, only she can
Reach for meaning.
Born with intelligence,
Comfortable with her strengths,
Building her life.
Free as the wind in the waterfall.
Free as the rain in the river.
Discovering self.
She hears the music in the wind,
the river, and with dynamic energy
LIVES HER OWN DANCE!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
St. George
Yesterday we hiked up to a volcano in Diamond Valley. I found a video about it on U-tube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRu5H_ERgFM. I think you will enjoy the vicarious hike. Another fun activity was going solo to the golf course while Kelly worked on Friday. They sent me to the "black rock" section of the course, which got me thinking about volcanoes. Last year when Kelly and I hiked around Snow Canyon, we started wondering about the source of all of the black rock. On line we could see volcanoes in the satellite view. After golfing, Kelly looked up the volcano hike. One side of the volcano was very steep. I think the youngsters in the video used that side, and it looked dangerous. We hiked around the volcano and found a more reasonable trail. We walked around the rim, just like in the video. We went down the same way that we came up, from the higher end of the opening--not the bottom, like in the video. The view of the valley was excellent. There was a chill wind at the top. The air temperature was about 45 anyway. My down jacket and my IHC fleece vest provided good layering. I didn't have a camera with me, just a water bottle and some salsa rice chips. Kelly brought gatorade and jerky. It was a leisurely hike with some vertical, which was countable as good exercise--the fun kind.
These beautiful photos came from the internet. This is a view from inside Snow Canyon looking toward the volcano that we hiked.
Later Saturday afternoon, the winds really started to blow and some of the remnants of the northern Utah snowstorm hit the valley. Precipitation was not noticeable. We were glad that we hiked in the morning. After working on computer projects and having a simple lunch, we went to the temple here. After that we went out to dinner at the Cracker Barrel. Then during part of the remainder of the evening, we listened to Half Broke Horses. It is written by the same author that wrote The Glass Castle. Needless to say, we are having a great trip.
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