PACKING

I don't understand how it is sooooo hard to throw away junk. But everything little thing that we held he we could remember a story about, or remember when mom and dad got this or when we did this. I think we took more time reminiscing than we did packing. Also on the last day Jared went through the house and outside and video tape and narrated. He then showed and told me of all of the hard word that daddy put into th house. Even when he was sick. He knew all of the storied. It made me sad because most of that time we lived in Texas and it was just too hard to come to Arizona often. I hope Jared with write down his memories. I did take pictures of the tile dad laid down in the bathroom. He did this even while he was sick. I think he did a great job. Also the picture of the bed in the lavendar colored room is his. While he was in the hospital in March of 2007 there in Show Low. Bryan, Jared and I were down from Utah and in looking through the house we realized that dad did work in every room of that home except for his. He had left his for last so that he could finish and do things for mother. So we asked him while he was laying in his hospital room what his favorite color and he said a light purple. (This was his mother's favorite color) So we painted his room light purple. He was only able to enjoy it for a few weeks, but I think that it touched his heart.

SNOWFLAKE HOME

Just spent five days with my siblings, Bryan, Jared and Lori in Snowflake cleaning out the old Snowflake home. I feel like I have been away at girls camp because I came home mentally and physically exhausted. It was quite the chore. We would work hard all day and then try and find some where in the little town to eat and then head to our blow up matresses in the front room, the only place where we could stay cool. Then as we got ready for the night we would lay and listen to Bryan read out of a journal we found of dads. We uncovered a missionary journal of his and then a journal with a few pages in the 1980s and then not much else except for a pile of talks with we hope to compose into some sort of book form. Listening to his journal each night I think we all caught that small glimpse that daddy always talked about into the heart of someone you love. I found out things that I really never knew about my father. It was an awesome feeling.

I so enjoyed spending time with my siblings. I hope they know how much I truly love them. Family is everything. We worked hard and then on the last day of work we had to face dad's room. It was an emotional day. We gathered around his bed and knelt for prayer and Bryan said "I feel like we should have a song or something?!?" Then Lori started quietly singing "I see my Father kneeling. . . . " She cried through the whole thing but by the time she was done we where all crying. Bryan took on the task of the prayer and did very well until somewhere in the middle he started to sob uncontrollably. It was heart wrenching. We then proceeded to go through and touch, smell and admire the things in that tall chest of drawers belonging the this great man.

We took a few loads to the dump, a few loads to the 2nd hand store and we still had enough stuff to feel a 17 foot Uhaul truck. Jared and Bryan packed it to the hilt with no room to spare not wanting to leave anything behind, but then when it came to unpacking it I heard "Why did we bring that?" and "What is this?" I have a tendency to call this a trial in our lives, but I am reminded about what dad would call it, "Just another adventure!"

FATHER'S DAY

Yesterday was Father's Day. I had been feeling a little down and not realizing why until Matt got on the phone to call his dad and Ralph and wish them a happy father's day. I had planned to pass out candy bars to all of the fathers in the ward and bishop had asked me to say a few things right before. So I had pondered on Saturday what to say. We ended up attending a different ward where a close friend was made bishop and was not able to be at our ward. But these are my thoughts.

Dad's favorite scriptures, at least what he shared with me were found in the Doctrine & Covenants specifically the whole section 58. But the verses that kept coming to mind in thinking about dad was verses 26-28:

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in al things; the same is a slothful and not a wise serveant; wherefore he receveth no reward.

Verily, I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."

I was reminded of a Sunday in which Matt, I and the kids had traveled to visit them in the Grand Canyon where dad was serving as the Branch President. He had been preparing his talk which he had received on assignment from the Stake Presidency. When we were headed out the door he received a call from the Sunday School Teacher stating that they were sick and would not be there today. Then off to church he went.

He conducted the meeting. Mom was playing the piano and he realized that the chorister was not there so he stood up and lead the music. In preparation for the sacrament there was only one priest there to bless so he scooted over to help bless the sacrament. After that he gave his talk which was the only talk that day. He then went on the teach Sunday School. Then off to priesthood where the teacher ended up not showing up so who do you think taught the class. It was Dad.

He was never a man who complained about his church responsibilities. He was never a man who had to be asked to help out he would see the need and just do. I hope to pattern my life after this man who never. . . . . . .

And just as stated in the scripture I know his reward has been great!

Love you DAD!