Happy

Independence Day!

I've had mixed emotions today about what used to be our annual "Ashton Stadium of Fire."  I'm big on tradition, so it didn't seem right not to have it.  But, now that we can no longer do fireworks in front of our home, it's also just not the same.  Last year we held it at the elementary school, but the personal aspect was gone and the work was tripled.   For that reason, I was very relieved today that we weren't having to worry about it.  But I still have mixed emotions, and Natalie said she was disappointed because her favorite part is hearing Dad's commentary.   

We did celebrate the 4th, though, with a barbecue at Gary and Lynn's.  I love having them so close. Tom's kids are in, and we had such a good time visiting with them.   I'm really feeling for them right now, as the reason they are here is to go through their Mom's belongings.  That is such a hard thing to do, and I'm glad that they are able to do it all together.   

Here are some pictures to make Tom jealous!

 

   

Saturday night we went

to a family get-together for the Thomas Reese and Lucy Anderson grandchildren.  It was held at my cousin, Jean Ann's, house in Orem.   We didn't always have a lot of opportunites to get together with some of the cousins when we were younger.   We were close with Uncle Arch and Uncle Jack and their families.  We got together with Uncle Hal and Uncle Ruelon sometimes, but their kids were considerably older than us.    Dad had only one sister, Nita White, and they always lived further away.  So it was nice to get to know several of the White cousins better at the get-together.   The cousins range in age from the oldest, Floyd at 89, to me at 58.    Grandpa Anderson died in 1957 when I was just 4, and Grandma Anderson died when Dad was 14,  so they have been gone for many years.
 It gives you an interesting view on the cycles of life.   I wonder if they are given a glimpse of their grandchildren as they gather now as mature adults.   50 years from now, my grandchildren will be in their 50s and 60s.   What will they be like, and what remembrances will they have of us?

Here are some pictures from the evening.

  

Wildfires have

burning out of control the last few weeks.  Every day we watch as communities are evacuated.  It is heartbreaking to watch interviews from those who have lost their homes.  Many speak of grabbing their pets, photographs, important papers, and of course their families.  When it comes right down to it, the loss of life is the only thing that really matters.  But I can't imagine the feeling of losing everything you worked so hard to create in your home and the memories associated with that. 

I would want photo albums, of course, but I have enough of those onliine and with other family members, that I'm not sure I would feel totally lost with that.  I think the things I would miss the most are the handbuilt pieces of furniture and handcrafted items that Dad, Mom, and other family members have created.  They cannot be replicatated nor would new ones have the memorise attached.   But most of all I would miss the warmth and comfort those items bring to to me when I am surrounded by them. 

Kind of silly, as we can't take our posessions with us when we die anyway.   But we can take the memories, so I guess the lesson is to make sure that it is more about the memories being made than the  possessions.  The possessions are nice, but if it becomes more about acquiring, maintaining, and amassing even more, as apposed to developing relationships within your home, then our priorities need a check.

In the meantime, my prayers are with all those who are at risk for losing their homes and for those firefighters who are risking their lives to save them. 

A few months

ago we had a class on ways of making your scripture study more meaningful.  It was a very inspirational meeting, where many different women shared things they did to gain the most from scipture and inspirational study.  There were a couple of women who read the scriptures in different languages, so it becomes more fresh to them.  Amazing, but definitely not me.   Others study by topic.  Many have journals where they write down their thoughts.  Some memorize scriptures while riding in the car.  One has a book where she makes tabs for different subjects and then writes her notes and feelings as well as pastes little quotes or thoughts she has gotten about that subject.   

As I was talking with a friend I visit teach, that is the one that sounded most interesting to her, and I told her I would experiment with making one.   Here are books made today.



Inside are little pockets for putting slips of paper and such in that you collect and want to paste in a certain topic.  I haven't made the tabs yet, because I don't know what topics to study first.  

One could pose the question, "Wouldn't your time be better spent just reading the scriptures and jotting down thoughts in one of the many little notebooks you already have?" 

But, I won't pose that question, as I know it is never a good idea to ask a question you already know the answer to! 

I haven't posted


the rest of the pictures from Lydia's visit.
 She is such a sweetheart and we love
 having the one-on-one time with her. 

 How many napkins can Lydia and I crumple up to annoy grandpa?

 What will she have?  Chicken strips or Chicken strips?

 A few lazy moments.

,

 With grandpa at the nostalgia booth at Brick Oven

pointing at his picture.

Laughing at the "Wild Women of Wongo."

It is truly the stupidest movie ever made. 

 In fact the credits say something to the effect that "Iit is so 

dumb it is almost profound."  

Visit to Temple Square

Miniature Golfing

and lots of movies.

We took her up to the airport exactly a week ago, and since that time it seems like a blur.  I was with Gary at a conference in Salt Lake on Monday and Tuesday, in Park City with my friend, Barbara, Wednesday thru Friday.  Then her husband, Ron, came down Friday evening and we went to eat and then Ron made us a big breakfast on Saturday.   Saturday night we got the message that church was cancelled in our building due to fumes from the floor refinishing.  In the afternoon we went up to Salt Lake and had dinner at Richard's house with my family.    I have some pictures of those events, but they were all inside and my phone's camera is not the best.

Today I have pretty much been working all day.   Tomorrow I hope to catch up on everything I haven't been doing while I've been having fun.

Father's Day

I really don't like public speaking or giving lessons of any kind.  Nor do I like being in leadership positions where I have to make decisions or give people assignments.   It's funny, really, because I sought those things out when I was younger.  I entered city speech contests, participated in oratory and debate, held class offices in Jr. High and High School, and spoke at high school graduation.  Maybe I got an overload of it when I was younger.  I just know I much prefer being in the background now and would be perfectly happy if I never had to publically speak again.      


I bring this up because I spoke in church on Sunday.  I worry over it a lot.  I don't do well extemporaneously at all.  In fact, I pretty much draw a blank if I'm called upon to do that.  So in preparing for a talk, I feel like I have to have it all planned out.   Then it is very stressful.   Then I start to second guess everything.   Giving lessons makes me just as nervous.  What comments will be made?  What if I don't know how to respond to something?   Etc, etc., etc. 


But, I did it.  And I was actually able to cut it short because of time, which was just fine with me.  But, as it was Father's day, I want share the part of it where I talked about the fathers in my life.  I have been so blessed in that regard.    (Which makes it hard when you are talking, because you don't want to make anyone feel badly who has not had good father figures in their lives.)

For my posterity, here is an exerpt of my feelings.  The topic I was given was, "The Influence of Righteous Priesthood Holders."
 

• ·     When my Dad died, almost 19 years ago, I remember sitting around my parent’s kitchen table to plan his funeral.   I knew that I was not up to talking at his funeral,  but I remember feeling so grateful that I had 3 older brothers who were willing and desirous,  and who could do it in such a way as to honor our father well.    

• ·      I also clearly remember, a few weeks after  Dad’s funeral,  reading  an editorial article I read in the paper.   The author wrote of attending a funeral for a man where his son got up to speak.  The son had a talk written,  but when he got up to speak he was so overcome with emotion that he could not even begin.  Finally, he just said, “He loved me,” and sat down.    As I read that, I was thinking in my mind that that is what would have happened to me had I tried to talk.

• ·     But the other feeling that I got from that article, was that, whether it was a beautifully written talk, delivered flawlessly, or a simple, “He loved Me,” the message was the same.   It always is when it is delivered with power and love.  

      Here are a few thoughts about the fathers in my life: 

• ·      My Dad was not much of a talker, he let my Mom do that.  But I could always sense and feel my Dad’s mind churning as he listened to our conversations.   And he was always seeking ways to fulfill the spoken, and unspoken, desires our hearts.   There was never a doubt that the love was there.    I am the youngest of 5 children, and I was 3 years old when our family was sealed in the Salt lake Temple.   That coincided with when my oldest brother was preparing for his mission.  And though I was too young to remember, my brother says that once the commitment was made to go through the temple, that Dad took very seriously the scripture in Micah 6:8:    "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with they God?"   I felt the longing in my Dad's heart for those things.  And I always felt his love.

• ·     Gary’s father died when Gary was only 15, and I only got to meet him a couple of times.  But I've heard many stories about him and about what a kind and funny man he was.   Gary’s sisters tell the story of when Gary was about 6 or 7 and his mom was getting after him to get ready for church.  I guess he was giving lots of reasons why he didn’t want to, but he finally came out with, “Well, dad isn’t going, so why do I have to?”   His Dad had suffered with cancer for 10 years before his death, so he was not always feeling well.  But upon hearing Gary say that, he was up and dressed for church each week after that.    I think the message, "He loves me" comes across pretty clearly there.

• ·     I remember preparing for a Father’s day talk when our girls were little.  I wanted to include their thoughts in the talk, so I asked them something like,  "What do you do that makes Daddy happy?"     The response surprised me.  I don’t remember who said it, but it was said with quite a bit of force.   “I don’t have to do anything to make Daddy happy.  He loves me just the way I am.” 
•   
•       What I personally appreciate about Gary goes right along with that statement. I love that he desires for me, and for our children and grandchildren, what we most desire or ourselves. (That is not an easy thing with me, as sometimes what I desire is not practical or expedient, or necessary ) He is very unselfish in his desires and dreams. I appreciate and admire his constant striving in every aspect of his professional, religious, and personal life. There is never any doubt in our family that "He Loves Us."  

Well, I've written quite enough.   

But my feelings are heartfelt. 

I have been richly blessed

in the "father" department. 

Today Annie

turned 7!

Consider this a hug, Annie!

Annie loves life and everything girlish.

We love you,

 Annie!