I need to remember this on those days I feel a little on the mediocre side and not so accomplished.
“We each have a divine errand, and therein lies our joy. And while one purpose may seem more pleasant or important than another, this really is not so. All purposes are absolutely essential and important in the body of Christ. And all purposes lead to one thing: individual happiness.
“Because that is true, I believe we will have peace to the degree that we are less envious of others’ situations, less threatened by others’ accomplishments, less concerned with others’ progress, and more concerned with God’s divine will for us.” - Patricia Holland
.
Scott- You are my sunshine, sprinkled with pure joy. I love your show of excitement and giggles. You express so much without words.
Your Epstein Pearl has finally vanished. But still no teeth in there. You can roll over but you don’t do it very much. Your eye lashes have come in more dark.
I want to remember how it hurt to leave Jack behind. He was too sick to come. I want to remember how calm and peaceful the day was. I want to remember how bright the Bride’s Room glowed and how I shared it with a bride that day. I want to remember how quiet the Celestial Room felt as we waited. I want to remember how excited our friend Scott was to be there and to be able to hold baby Scott during the ceremony. I want to remember feeling beautiful, the good kind, the happy kind. I want to remember holding Perry’s hand as we walked down the halls. I want to remember my family there. I want to remember that Aunt Bonnie came, and how special that was for me and for Scott. I want to remember that Bruce LaMont was one of our official witnesses in the place my dad would have been if he were there. I want to remember hearing Scott cry down the hall as a temple worker carried him to the nursery. I think anyone hearing a crying baby in the Temple would have a smile on their face. It’s such a rare thing. I want to remember how grateful I felt to simply have Scott, and how all I could think was, “Thank you Heavenly Father. Thank you.” I want to remember how happy Jack was to see us when we got home, and how I could sense he was on the mend. I want to remember the feeling of family and how grateful I feel to have two boys.
My uncle passed away today. I am grateful for his release, as he had health struggles that limited what he could do. For a long time, he’s been traveling by scooter.
And upon adopting Jack and Scott, I feel more connected to my Uncle and Aunt. It’s their great granddaughter who birthed Jack and Scott. And their love and support has meant so much to me.
When Scott was about two weeks old, I took him over to visit them to show off the new baby in the family. I sat with Bud on his bed and he asked me if I was happy. I could see the love in his eyes. I’m ever grateful we had that last meeting and that he could see his posterity in my family. I am so blessed.
I can’t do justice here in describing the life of this man. But he’s overcome many obstacles like childhood polio, was married by age 15 (stayed married to his sweetheart), and converted to Christianity after being an Atheist. But his most notable feature was his humor. I still love remembering when he called me over to him during a family gathering and said, straight faced, that he was a ghost. Puzzled, I asked, “what?” He said the doctors told him he had 2 years to live and it had been 6 months past that, so he must be a ghost. :) And that’s Uncle Bud’s humor.
My favorite childhood memory of Uncle Bud was the Christmas yard display he built. And this was 30+ years ago, before you could buy any yard displays at Walmart. He and his wife hand-built the set that covered their whole yard and house, and it was a production! Animatronic dolls like at Disneyland, lights, music, and a magical candyland. And it all came alive with the push of a button. Then over speakers you heard Bud’s voice narrate a story about Santa Clause and checking his list for good little children, and the sort. It was magical and very impressive from a technical point of view. I remember seeing giant lolly pops and wanting to take a bite believing they were real. I just wish I had pictures to share of his display, and if any of my family have any, please pass them on to me. 
I’m sad I can’t make it to the funeral and be gathered with my family.
God bless his loved ones.
.
.
The day has come…… a year ago our sleep got interrupted with a call from my sister that my dad had passed away. I can still hear her tired voice and the words she used. “Lauri, we think dad may have passed to the other side.” It’s still a heavy memory.
That whole day was heavy.
When I had a quiet moment and time to reflect on my dad, I remember wondering what were his last words to me. What was our last conversation? Did he know he’d be leaving us? Were there clues in our conversation? And the regretful question that is heavy to ask, why didn’t I say yes, lets stop by my parent’s house before we start our drive to Roswell?
Earlier that week in February, I had gotten a voicemail from my dad. It’s not usual for him to call me as my mom and I are phone buddies, and I know she likes to tell him what we talk about. Thank heaven I hadn’t answered my phone so his voice could be recorded. And thanks so much to that Still Small Voice that told me to save this precious message from my dad. This isn’t our last conversation, but it’s pretty darn close.
January 28th and 30th I had posted blog entries, and my father called out of the blue.
“Hi Lauri.
This is dad.
Just phoning to see how everything is.
Mom read through your latest blog information and had me go read through it.
What did you do, (chuckle) pinch Jack’s toes or something?
(chuckle) He really put some expression in that last photo.
Anyway, it’s good the way you keep us informed about your family.
We hope all is well with you and everything is…….I know it’s not as good as you want, but I hope it’s good enough.
And we pray for you everyday and love you.
Bye.”
.
Dad,
I know you’re still praying for me.
Things are going well and better than I had hoped.
We are getting another son. We couldn’t be more happy about it.
.
I love you.
.
And thanks Tomoko, for the flowers and love.
The open invitation to “Come let us adore Him” has a significantly expanded meaning to me and my family this Christmas, more than it ever did before. For our father was taken away, ever so suddenly this year. Hearts were broken. I watched us all cry. I still cry. My heart aches to see my dad’s smile again, to hear him say he loves me, and that everything will all work out. So many times he gave me words of comfort. He had such wisdom and a personal relationship with Christ that I admired.
But because of our Lord’s birth, His death and His resurrection, life will be restored. He will rescue us all from death and we will see our daddy, grandpa and spouse again. That smile I can envision in my mind, I know will twinkle again some day. For this precious gift, I most gratefully adore Christ the Lord. He is the Prince of peace to all.
.
Christmas 1960
.
Christmas 1972
.
Christmas 1973
.
Christmas 1978
.
Christmas 1981
.
Christmas 2004
.
Christmas 2007
