Welcome Home!

My big sister is back from China!

(Isn't she cute?)

She and her husband were well-loved teachers at a Chinese university (student body = 90,000) this past year. Their students and ward members in China were sad to see them go. I love this note Julie received from a friend prior to their departure...

Thank you very much! You gave me a lot of great recollection! Thanks for eating hamburger together, lazamia, applie pie! Giving me diary and wonderful pearl necklace!! I will take it every day!! and always remember you!! The most important thing is giving me a lot of love!! When I with you, I can feel I'm so happy, comfortable and worthful. I'll never forget your love! When you smile, you look like angel! Your face very brilliant!! Thanks for your kindness!! I hope you have opportunity meet again! Good bye! I love you so much!!

Your great friend Stella

But there were happy tears of reunion on our end! Welcome home, Julie and Terry!! Can't wait to hear more about all of your adventures!

A Brave Boy

Wes and I were in the middle of last minute wedding planning when we got the heart-breaking phone call that my brother's son, four year old Jaren, had just been diagnosed with cancer. A tumor in his spine.

I remember the tears I cried on Wes's shoulder after hanging up the phone. I remember the prayer we offered together that evening with a few close friends. I remember another night, weeks later, listening to Dixie Chick's God Speed Little Man on my brother Roger's computer.

Dragon tales and the "water is wide"
Pirate's sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

The rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon, will find the mouse
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

God bless mommy and match box cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God hears "Amen," wherever we are
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed ...
Sweet dreams

Months and years, treatments and tears, prayers and miracles have followed Jaren's 2002 diagnosis.

Now he's ten years old and just home from the hospital after another major surgery.

So this post is to say WELCOME HOME!!
And also GOOD LUCK!
(6 months in a back brace? I can think of more pleasant ways to pass time.)
Love you, Jaren (and family!)!!

Lucy says: i love you i hope your bones get better to jaren from lucy

Check It Out!

Look at Rebecca's new site!

Beautiful, huh?!

I have such talented friends!!

Grace

There are a lot of people we pray for every day. One of those people is a tiny person.
Yesterday this tiny person underwent major heart surgery. And it wasn't her first major heart surgery.

Her momma describes watching her yesterday, "swollen, sedated, and paralyzed...Occasionally tears would come from her eyes and our hearts just broke."

Can you even imagine?!

So if you're saying a prayer today, you might think to pray for baby Grace and for her sweet mom and dad, bless their strong hearts.

I think they'd be grateful.

"Would You Like A Christmas Song?"

I have a friend named Kayla. On top of being an extremely exceptional individual herself, she has a really cool dad. The type of person who takes his guitar, and his awesome voice, and his guaranteed-to-make-you-smile personality to the hospital to play songs for patients at Christmastime. Just because one year the Spirit told him, "Go sing at the hospital."

I always thought that was nice.

But a few years ago Wes and I were the unsuspecting recipients of Glen's hospital carols. Reading this brought back poignant memories of the night we sat amid the dim glow of a thousand blinking hospital monitors and listened to Glen sing. It was the one night I saw tears flow unrestrained from my brave, head-shaven husband's eyes.

I realized then that what Glen does with his guitar isn't just nice. It's beautiful and healing and hope-inspiring.

I'm grateful to know exemplary people like the Registers. Would we all might increase our ability to hear the Spirit whisper and to act so unhesitatingly on its direction.

In Honor Of

"To think," Elder Wirthlin wrote, "that the Son of God would come into the world so humbly, live His life so perfectly, teach His gospel so completely, atone for our sins so graciously and do it all so willingly!"

I similarly marvel at Christ's beloved apostles, who through word and action testify of Him so tirelessly. And with such gentle power.

Elder Wirthlin was beloved in our home.
What a remarkable, dear man.
What a beautiful, inspiring funeral.

Wouldn't we all like humility to be our hallmark characteristic? Or to be worthy of the description "free of guile"? Thank heaven for the exemplary life and teachings of this noble, good man.

Thanksgiving Addendum

Debt of Gratitude

Something particular has been heavily on my mind for months now and I don't think I can put the Thanksgiving season behind me without endeavoring to express it. I've hesitated because the expression is difficult. My previous attempts have all been weak. But as this something has everything to do with gratitude, I thought I'd make another, if still feeble, attempt in the afterglow of the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Preface: One day, just after Wes and I were engaged, we found ourselves in my parents home visiting with a few family members. Good times, good memories. But on this particular night, just before we all parted company, my father took the opportunity to...eductate...Wes on a certain subject.

See, I was born late into my family. Nine years after my closest sibling. My dear mother was forty-three when I entered earthly existence. Throughout my childhood, she and my dad were often mistaken as my grandparents.

So it was only natural, after so much parenting, so much later in life than usual, that my dad should have plans for me. You know: youngest daughter takes especially good care of aging parents plans.

And on the above mentioned evening, Dad briefly and tactfully explained these plans to Wes. When he finished, my dashing fiance nodded a few times, looked at me, and said, "So. You come with baggage."

Gotta love the stamped photo. No time to scan my hard copy. Bother. Someday I'll trade it out...

But here's the thing: we're still waiting for my parents to behave like baggage. Instead, they seem more and more like super heroes. Life savers. That's certainly what they've been these past 12 weeks since the birth of our #2 child.

Funny how the more things there are depending on me, the more I depend on them.

And they're always there. Steady reinforcement.

The other day as we were finishing breakfast Lucy looked at me and said, "We haven't been to Grandma and Grandpa Packer's house for a long time!" It had been precisely six days since our last visit. Long enough for Lucy - and me- to feel a little separation anxiety.

Can't tell you how many times I've cried tears of very real relief at the sound of my parent's cheerful knock on our front door or at the thought of an approaching "sleepover" at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Can't tell you how many times I've called, just to hear mom or dad's familiar voice speak loving, reassuring, reinforcing words. Can't tell you how many prayers of thanks I've uttered, or how I've pled with Heavenly Father to bless my parents as abundantly and continually as they bless me.

Because I don't have the words to express my gratitude.
And there's certainly no way I can ever pay the debt I owe.

Baggage? I'll take it.

Magic

Part of our Christmas celebration last year included an extended family gathering in an old, small-town church building. After some festive food and typical fun, cousins big and small gathered around as Wes's momma read a beautiful and original story about the gifts we give the Savior. Gifts of kindness and service and love. In conjunction with the story, all of the cousins received an empty box with instructions to write down a gift they could offer to the Savior in honor of his birth.

Understandably, Lucy was too little and too distracted to catch the moral of Grandma's story. But she was enthralled with the box.

"What's in it?" She asked me.
I told her it was full of love and kindness.

She lifted the box tenderly to her cheek and said, "I just love this magic stuff."

Yesterday, my sensitive (read: emotional), scatter-brained, so-round self came home from a meeting to the unexpected sight of smiling yellow daisies, a homemade card, and a newly purchased copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel (a favorite, but until now unowned movie).

The occasion???
Nobody told me it was "Pamper-Your-Pregnant-Wife" day, but they must have reminded Wes.
Unnecessary, undeserved kindness.
Magic stuff.

And today I kept company with conference keys and conference forms and conference buildings from 7am-4pm. Not a bad work day, really. But imagine my delight at the mid-morning sight of fellow Hall Advisor Shayla (not assigned to check-outs and not required to be in the vicinity) approaching my work table with the glorious gift of a granola-bar and a bottle of OJ.

Unexpected, unrequested kindness.
Magic stuff.

Powerful magic. Memorable and motivating.
More influential than intelligence. More impressive than beauty. Don't you think??!

Last semester we found ourselves in a bind with a broken glider we had just purchased at a great price from the DI. We hesitated only a minute before calling our neighbor/carpenter/construction-management-major friend, Paul, to help us fix the chair.

(Below: Paul and his son Benjamin working on a couch. One of my fav pictures ever. Had to steal it from your blog, Vicky!)

Wes, in awe as he watched Paul's well-honed and so-handy skills resurrect our broken chair, commented sympathetically, "You're going to be doing this kind of thing for people your whole life!"

Paul's so sincere response, "I hope so!" has been the topic of several subsequent conversations in our household.

Helpfulness. Selfless service. Sincere kindness.
Magic stuff.

Love these Joseph B. Wirthlin words:

Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.

Each one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem impossible to another. Never look down on those who are less perfect than you. Don’t be upset because someone can’t sew as well as you, can’t throw as well as you, can’t row or hoe as well as you.

“But,” you ask, “what if people are rude?”
Love them.
“If they are obnoxious?”
Love them.
“But what if they offend? Surely I must do something then?”
Love them.
“Wayward?”
The answer is the same. Be kind. Love them.
Why? In the scriptures Jude taught, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” 6 Who can tell what far-reaching impact we can have if we are only kind?

May we be models of kindness. May we ever live up to the words of the Savior: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

I'm so grateful for the people who fill my life with the magic of kindness.

Seventy and Sweet

Happy Birthday to DeAnna Welling Packer

A darling, dimpled tot.

A mid-twentieth century babe.

A beautiful bride.

A mother (and a seamstress!)

With a renowned sense of humor and a heart of gold.After 6 births (including twins), 1 lost pregnancy, and the death of an 11-day-old-infant son, I think this darling mother could (justifiably) have called it quits in the baby arena. Indeed, I know that she did not plan to be 9 months pregnant at age 43...in the agonizing height of August heat...while hosting her oldest daughter's back-yard wedding reception.

BLESS HER HEART.

I never knew I was a nuisance.
I thought I was a queen.

I now know that the queen is my motherwho, at seventy, is my sweet and wise mentor, my practically perfect exemplar, and my dear friend.

Happy Birthday, Mom.

Can't Help It

Reality comes more forcefully with a funeral.
Tears come more readily.
Wes and I wept throughout today's service.

A life of legacy. Miracles. Example. Family. Testimony. Consecration.

("Tell him to use his cane for walking!")

My Shepherd will supply my need;
Jehovah is his name;
In pastures fresh he makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back,
When I forsake his ways,
And leads me, for his mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay;
One word of thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may thy house be mine abode,
And all my work be praise!
There would I find a settled rest,
(While others go and come,)
No more a stranger, nor a guest;
But like a child at home.

A "man for all seasons."

God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again.

Bitter Sweet

Tonight's news.

Don't have many words.
Just feelings. Memories. Convictions. Gratitude.

A mournful celebration.

I've been reflecting on a description Howard W. Hunter once gave of the men we sustain as special witnesses of the Savior.

"[They] have been given the awesome assignment to administer the affairs of [Christ's] church and kingdom and to minister to his daughters and his sons wherever they are on the face of the earth. By reason of [their] call to testify, govern and minister, it is required of [them] that despite age, infirmity, exhaustion, and feelings of inadequacy, [they] do the work he has given [them] to do, to the last breath of [their] lives." (November 1992)

To the last breath.

President Hinckley's testimony of Jesus Christ and of the restored gospel will linger in our hearts. His long life of Christian service will influence and overshadow our daily pursuits.

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart.
Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget.

LOVED this.

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet.

Seriously Scary

Wes and I would like to take this October opportunity to depart from traditional Halloween "tricks" and "treats" in favor of a far more serious subject.

I preface this discussion by introducing an exemplary friend of ours:
This is his son holding our daughter's hand...

(Don't worry, it's not as exclusive as it looks! They're not OFFICIALLY betrothed. No no, we have a list of, oh, I think, six acceptable suitors for Lucy to choose from when she comes of age. We're not completely authoritarian, you see!)

This is the blog where he posts about the ensuing '08 presidential election...

(and where I try really hard to wrap my mind around political fast talk)

This is the blog where he and his beautiful, brilliant wife keep us in stitches about their everyday lives.

Brooke and Scott Rasmussen family

This is the post he wrote explaining the CP80 Internet Zoning Initiative, and this initiative, ladies and gentlemen, this is worth talking about.

It is an initiative addressing the very real and very scary problem of internet pornography.

You may have seen the "CP80 Foundation" link on our sidebar. Our friend Scott worked with the foundation for a time. He describes it as, "a non-profit organization committed to developing and implementing strategies to better protect children and families from unwanted Internet pornography"

I leave it to Scott's post and the CP80 website to explain the details of the CP80 internet pornography sollution. I don't claim to know everything about it, but I do know, and I really appreciate, this:

CP80 takes the pornography problem seriously. The statistics on the website are staggering and the research presented about the nature and effects of pornography is sobering. Let's be honest, most of us don't think about pornography and its ills on a regular basis. But I think President Eyring's words are wise: "People have to believe that the danger is real to want to find safety. They have to fear the consequence of ignoring the peril." The CP80 foundation understands the reality of the pornography crisis our country faces and is making efforts to spread awareness and anti-pornography activity. We appreciate that.

Additionally: I am almost completely ignorant about the internet. I can't live without it, but I don't know a thing about it. Because of my ignorance, I feel horrified, but totally helpless regarding problems like internet pornography. All of my anti-pornography thought processes center around avoiding pornography (through use of filters and blocks, etc) because I mistakenly believe that the pornographic content on my computer is inevitable, a given. But CP80 has helped me understand the internet enough to see that there are other options, better options, than the mere hit-and-miss avoidance and blocking tactics that are currently employed; options like categorizing internet content into "open ports" (where legal pornography and other "adult" material would be published) and "community ports" (where all other non-adult content would publish) thus giving consumers like me the choice to entirely restrict "open port" content. And I tell you what, where my personal space and my precious family are concerned, eliminating pornography sounds better than avoiding or trying to hide from the ever present, undesirable reality.

Wes and I endorse the CP80 fountation. And we urge you to:
Celebrate WRAP Week
White Ribbons Against Pornography
October 28th - November 4th
Visit the CP80 website!
Educate yourself about the capabilities of the internet!
Find out what you can do to be more aware and more involved in taking a stand against pornography. Causes like this cannot succeed without numerous and influential advocates!

We are so grateful for our friends like Scott and Brooke who have increased our awareness about this important topic, who motivate us by their example to "act" and not be "acted upon," and who inspire us to really believe President Hinckley's words, that the "high tide" of "filth and violence...can be turned back."

Patriot Day

As we sauntered around the temple Sunday afternoon we encountered some friends of ours - a most exemplary pair. Thinking of these two instantaneously tightens a valve inside my soul, a valve that too often goes un-checked, a valve that too often allows self pity and pride to trickle throughout my consciousness.

We became acquainted with Zach and Megan several months ago when they moved into our ward boundaries. They were a seemingly typical newly-wedded couple. Busy. Involved. Happy. In love. They moved form the ward shortly thereafter.

And so began a deluge of drama:

After only a few weeks in their new apartment, and a few questionable encounters with their upstairs neighbors, they were advised by a community leader to move out fast because of seriously illegal behavior going on literally over their heads.

Shocking, Scary.

Immediately after their hasty move back into our ward, I found out that Megan was expecting a baby. And that Zach had been called up to Iraq. And to top it all off, Megan's father was battling cancer and was scheduled for major surgery.
Do you feel like complaining about your life? Neither do I.

Zach is currently at the end of a brief two week leave, enjoying a speck of time with his 34-weeks pregnant wife. But he'll leave again in a few days and he'll be standing with other US soldiers during his daughter's birth and throughout the vast majority (8-9 mo.)of her first year of life. And I can't even handle thinking about Megan, delivering a child solo, surviving the newborn days ahead without her husband's help, all the while uncertain about his safety. DAH!

But what is so impressive to me about the Andersons is their ATTITUDE. While I have seen a few tears of anxiety and uncertainty shed, heard a few words of disappointment spoken - I have never heard bitterness. I've heard hope. I've seen smiles. And I've felt faith. What admirable willingness to do hard things that are of service to others.

How EXEMPLARY.

As I think about the service these friends are faithfully rendering to our country, I'm reminded of a paragraph penned by Bryant Hinckley:

"Service is the virtue that has distinguished the great of all times and for which they are remembered. It places a mark of nobility upon its disciples. It is the dividing line which separates the two great groups of the world - those who help and those who hinder, those who lift and those who lean, those who contribute and those who only consume. How much better it is to give than to receive." (...Not By Bread Alone, Bryant S. Hinckly)

Our friends are contributing. Giving. Giving a lot. It motivates me to do more and complain LESS.

Worker's Compensation

I like my job.

It has great perks (like $0.00 monthly rent and five parks within five minutes walking distance from our front door).

It provides great opportunities to learn concepts and hone skills that I otherwise would not develop. (I, for example, am a card carrying, certified van driver. And I know the most efficient way to clean up any variety of bodily fluid from any variety of surface. Impressive. I know.)

Lest you snicker at my sarcasm, let me quickly add that there are other training topics that have been truly invaluable: Crucial Conversations, Community Standards, various student development models, etc, etc, so forth: thought provoking concepts that have all become a part of my mental make-up.

But the best part of my job, the part I will miss the most when I leave, is the camaraderie I feel with my co-workers.

For the past year, I've worked with a small, four-person team. We've spent our staff meetings giggling (well, maybe I'll say 'chuckling' for Jared's sake...), rolling our eyes, shaking our fists, and racking our brains together. And "after work," our kids play together,

we go on walks, we share meals, we blog...(Anne, Anna, Jared). Can't imagine what this Project: Wyview year would have been like without them!

And before Wyview was DT. My heart still warms at the memory of my DT family. Jay Brown and his Tabasco loving, oh-so-generous, deep-south soul. And my DT girlfriends: the women who cringed with me though CERT training every time DT (our personal residence) was denoted a seismic disaster waiting to happen, the women who laughed with me in the corners and corridors of Spring Haven as we discussed child birth, breastfeeding, and a thousand other topics during every RA training break.

I don't know how many times I heard the comment "you DT Hall Advisors are so close!"

And I did feel close to these women. I felt understood and accepted. I felt content to be myself, but compelled to be my best self. And I felt loved. I offer one memorable example:

Two years ago, December found my husband and I caught up in a stressful medical situation. We were away from our apartment for the first few weeks of the month. I maxed out my sick and vacation time during those weeks and thus came back to work, of necessity, toward the end of December. It was a mind-whirling time.

One of these December days, my friend (three-towers-away-in-T-hall) called. This was not the first of her calls to inquire after my well being or to offer assistance of some kind. She and her husband had been doing all kinds of behind-the-scenes service in our behalf. But this call was a little different. Janna wondered if we'd like our apartment decorated for Christmas. I have to admit, I hemmed and hawed. I thought the whole thing would be a little bit of a hassle. We didn't really need Christmas decorations, I thought. They would just clutter up our already cluttered apartment. And they'd only be up for a little while before having to come down.

But, so appreciative of her thoughtfulness, I didn't say no. I secretly wondered, however, if the whole thing might just blow over. We'd have to get them a key to our storage room - maybe they'd just forget about the whole thing before we could work out the details.

But they didn't forget, they involved the rest our DT family - HA's, Manager, RA's, and one evening my little family came home from a full day of doctors appointments to the breath taking miracle of a beautiful Christmas tree, carols playing on the CD player, lights twinkling a reminder of "peace on earth, good will toward men." I sat in the Christmas glow, nursing my tired, hungry baby, and my heart soared with the spirit of true friendship, the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of Christ. Oh, what a sweet and cherished memory!

And I could site a hundred other memories. When I think of these women, feelings of gratitude still surge inside of me, in spite of the many miles that now lie between most of us.

And as my HA tenure continues, so do the friendships. Old and new.

This year our Wyview team consists of 8 rather than 4 Hall Advisor friends. Already it has been wonderful: RA training, although consuming and tinged with stress, really was great! I have been in awe of the talent cooped up inside my colleagues. It has been a week of dynamic presentations covering topics like Mentoring, Discussion Facilitating, Programming, Mediation, Community Building. One concept, in particular, that we teach our RAs in training is the principle of structural coupling, the idea that we learn from and become like the people we interact with. I truly hope to become more like these capable, delightful co-workers of mine.

So here's to a new year. And here's to friendship, which is better compensation for my working hours than all the money in the world!

President Faust

We feel just a little closer to heaven this morning as we think of and honor President James E. Faust at his passing. We mingle our heartfelt tears and smiles with yours and we lift our voices (or tap our keyboards) in testimony of his calling as an apostle of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Wes and I truly believe "that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. (Ariticles of Faith)

We have long loved President Faust, and have revered his counsel, as one so called and authorized to represent our Savior on the earth.

We will miss his cherished voice, his twinkling smile, his powerful testimony of Christ.

We thank God for living prophets.

Installment Two: Exemplary

As promised, a few more thoughts regarding our Seattle trip of early June:


While it's a great city, and home to one of our good friends, Seattle was chosen for our "reunion" spot primarily because another of our dear friends was flying into that city on her way home from a nine- month mission in Cambodia.

Immediately, you're impressed. And rightly so! Nine hot, culture-shocking, hard-working, faith-testing, and faith-building months far away from home, family, friends and pretty much everything familiarly American. But recognizing that Adrianna spent a few years teaching elementary school in N.Y and L.A. inner-city schools, I think we can reasonably conclude that this friend of ours isn't easily intimidated!

Wes and I have been truly touched by Adrianna's Christian service in such a remote part of the globe and we wanted to give you a glimpse of it as well.

Adrianna isn't a member of our church and there are differences in what we believe, but we admire and share her strong commitment to furthering the cause of Jesus Christ and to sharing the good news of His gospel.

We are ever grateful for our friends - members of our church and those of other faiths - who fight "On the Lord's Side"; friends who fight for faith, hope, and goodness in a world that's awash with sin, error, and evil of so many kinds.

In that spirit of gratitude, we share this tiny peek at the hope of Christ blessing people far, far away...

Adrianna shared her faith with the children in her Cambodian neighborhood as well those in a Kindergarten class that she taught,




She also participated in a beautiful and challenging ministry providing aid to young women emerging from difficult lives of prostitution. A few of these recovering young "White Lotus" girls are pictured here:

Ah, so many other pictures and stories to share! But I want to leave some space for Adrianna's own words.

Reflections,
Adrianna Evans

"Living and working in Cambodia humbled me in such a way that I truly began to understand what Jesus meant when he said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). I realized how weak, inadequate, and selfish I was without Him, and how much in need of His grace and mercy! But because He loves me beyond measure, He poured out His grace and mercy upon me abundantly, revealing His love to me through the precious Cambodian people and my fellow expatriate missionaries. In my weakness, He strengthened me with His power and gave me His eyes and heart for the nation of Cambodia. And he gave me the great privilege of working among His people and learning from them. I feel infinitely blessed by my kindergarten students, my neighbors and friends, and the girls at White Lotus (a ministry that serves women coming out of prostitution). I'm so grateful for this chance to have served the Lord in Cambodia. May God be glorified among all nations!"

And if you're like Wes and me, reading the above will leave you not so much impressed as utterly inspired.