Farewell to the mission

The past couple of weeks have been a blur.  We have been farewelled by every conceivable group.   We had a family home evening with the group of elders and sisters who came into the mission with us 18 months ago.  They have been our "social group" by assignment since we got here and we have become good friends with them during the past year and a half.  Instead of entertainment we had a testimony meeting of sorts.  We were each asked to tell special experiences from our service.  Since we were assigned to many different zones after our training it was special and interesting to hear the varied experiences of our group.  Next was our zone hale and farewell, which is a potluck that kind of lasts all day long.  It was very sweet to be able to express the gratitude I feel to so many of the elders and sisters I have worked closely with.  I had a couple of private lunches and dinners with some especially close sisters who have become dear to me.  Monday night after closing all the zone who cared to, met at a restaurant for another farewell dinner.  Also very sweet.  David has endeared himself to many of these people.  I know they will think of him and his sweet spirit more than they will miss me.  Tuesday was the cafeteria's good bye party for David which I was invited to attend.  All the staff and missionaries gathered for a pizza lunch (they usually aren't offered pizza for lunch) and special send off for David.  They gave him a beautiful hand made Toy Story blanket, and made him a giant "cowboy" cake.  They all gave him hugs and high fives and generally made him feel like he had been an important part of the crew.  David's boss took me aside afterwards and said, "Make sure you tell them back home that David served a real mission.  This was real work that he did for the Lord, every single day.  The cafeteria is subsidized by tithing dollars, and every thing he did saved the church money."  Wednesday morning I was asked to briefly speak to our prayer meeting.  It  was hard to say goodbye, but I really wanted them to know how much I appreciated the love and support we have felt from them.  Everyone fussed over David because he was in suit and tie instead of his usual work clothes. I had a doctor's appointment to get a shot in my knee (interesting that it should just start bothering me again now, after 18  painfree months).  Afterward I took David to the baptistry of the temple to do baptisms for a large family of Quibell relations I researched.  He has been there enough that I was able to leave him, go back to the library to work, and come back for him in an hour or so.  At 11:30 we walked over to the Joseph Smith building for a beautiful farewell appreciation luncheon with the mission presidency.  It was delicious food and some really wonderful messages were given by President Simmons and his counselors.  Sister Simmons had requested that David sit at her table, so we felt very special and appreciated.

Elder David Demke with President and Sister Simmons

David's giant cowboy cake

David and some of his coworkers

That was it!  All done!  We are still officially missionaries until released by our stake president, but our mission service is over.

Grandma and Afton on her baptism day

Friday we flew to Houston for the baptism of my second granddaughter Afton McKenna.  It was so beautiful and I am so grateful that we were able to be there to see such an important ordinance for one so well prepared.  We enjoyed a few days there with our love ones, at the beach, zoo, museum and the flew back to Salt Lake City to enjoy the special conference weekend and then pack up and head home to California.
I'm going through some adjustment already.  It feels weird not to go into the library every day.  I hope and pray that I will be guided to choose significant ways for me and David to spend the rest of our lives. I am so grateful for this mission experience.  I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

March 10, 2011

Heaviest snow since Thanksgiving

Monday night a huge snowstorm blew through the valley leaving a foot or more of the cold stuff in its wake.  Normally after a big snow like that I would borrow my Mom's front wheel drive van, plow through it and go to work.  She had loaned her car to a visiting relative so my options were to wait for the snow plows, or risk our necks in the truck.  I opted to wait, and I'm so glad I did.  As we waited my beautiful niece April and her husband came by for a visit.  I have known of April since she was born 31 years ago, but never met her.  Her parents divorced when she was very young and we have had limited contact with the whole family since.  I wept as I saw her, so grateful to reconnect with this loved, but formerly lost branch of our family.  April is as nice as she is lovely.  She was interested in our family and really wanted to connect with her paternal side.  I don't normally like snow, but this storm was a gift.

April Osborn Hebert

Yesterday it was 60 degrees and sunny.  Today it reached 68, so the huge snowfall is almost all melted away.  I had my exit interview with our mission president, President Simmons, yesterday.  As I walked across Temple Square to his office I noticed that the crocus and tulips are coming up and will no doubt be in perfect bloom for general conference the first weekend in April.

Brave little blooms

My exit interview was sweet.  President Simmons asked about our mission experience and it gave me a chance to reflect on the wonderful, often miraculous events of the past 18 months.  He told me how grateful he was to us for our service, and how grateful he was to our dear Stake President Albrecht for writing and recommending that our initial rejection be reconsidered.  I add my gratitude to his.  My puny attempts at describing this mission experience fall so miserably short of the sublime experience it has been, that I am reluctant to try.  President Simmons asked what I planned to do when I got home.  I told him about my somewhat nebulous plan to create a theraputic riding center.  He told me to go for it, that he was always glad he grew up on the back of a horse.  He and his sweet wife will be leaving the mission this summer, so he agreed with me that it will be hard to leave.
With that interview behind me I started feeling a little trunky.  We are not released for another two weeks, but having been thanked and dismissed got me thinking about going home.  It was almost hard to go into work this morning.  Still there is work to be done, and I'll do it.

Groundhog

I was told that our famous groundhog weatherman failed to see his shadow last February 2nd, thus predicting an early spring.  People at home are no doubt enjoying spring already, as it usually arrives in February in Orange County, California.  Here in Utah it is a different story.  I remember all too well last May 28 driving to work through a blowing, freezing snow storm.  I don't dare expect winter to be over, but the past few days have made me hopeful.  We had a high of 57 today.  Pretty warm for February.
Saturday I was out on the trail wearing uninsulated clothing and nothing but a light hoodie for warmth.  It was beautiful.  The picture is deceiving because of all the snow, but what you can't see it that the snow was  mostly slush, wet melting stuff.  You also can't see or hear the birds, every kind including robins, that were chirping and hopping from tree to tree.  You can't see the beautiful big red fox that crossed our path, also feeling warm enough to be out of his den.  You can see the big sun hat I was wearing to protect my lily white skin from the bright sunlight.  My big hairy horse was actually sweating by time we got back to the barn.

More snow is predicted for this week, but with expected highs well above freezing, it won't stay long.  Maybe I'm being foolishly optimistic, maybe not.  But I'll enjoy the hope of spring while it lasts.
(Look at those mountains.  They are really spectacular every season of the year.)

Wonderful Weekend

We had a most amazing weekend.  It was our stake conference, and since our stake president has been called to be a mission president somewhere far away, we had 2 general authorities visiting.
Friday was a stake temple day with a special chapel session.  Mom and I were able to go.  She has completely recovered from her flu, and I am so grateful as I had missed her presence in my temple attendance.

Saturday was a busy day of housework, shopping, horsing, etc., but best of all an adult session of conference where the Spirit was present and we were taught at the feet of an apostle of Christ, Elder Richard G. Scott.  Normally Mom sleeps through church, but when we got there the only seats were on the front row, where we were eye to eye with the apostle--no sleeping.  Really amazing messages and spirit!  David, who always seems to make friends with everyone and is a special friend of the outgoing stake president, was personally escorted by him to meet Elder Scott and Elder Crittendon.

Sunday we were treated to more of the same.  We were able to sustain our new stake presidency, which coincidentally included our bishop.  I guess more surprises are coming next Sunday.

A dear missionary sister friend of mine came to me the other day to announce the birth of a new granddaughter.  She showed me pictures of the precious baby, told me how loved she is by her proud parents and grandma and then told me she has Down Syndrome.  She admitted that knowing David and feeling his loving spirit prepared her to receive with joy the news of her granddaughter's condition.
I am sometimes asked by concerned friends or relatives who know parents facing this new challenge.   "What can I tell them?" they ask.  I always reply, "Tell them to rejoice."

Sister Stevens and David

There was a time when I would have made David "normal" if I'd had the power.  I would have taken away the syndrome that makes it so hard for him to do so many of the things we take for granted.  I would have left him without the protection and insulation that a wise and loving Father in Heaven gave him for his journey through this life.  I am now so glad David is who he is.  I'm so glad that I know his special spirit and enjoy his unique gifts.  He is indeed a special child of God.  He has a mission here as surely as anyone else, one only he can do.  I feel honored to know him and to be counted worthy to be his mother.  I don't pretend to know all the whys of David's mission and others like him.  I only know that he is a pretty wonderful person and will likely be light years ahead of me in our next life.  Looking forward to knowing him then too.

Why I am a Missionary

A fellow missionary asked me to write up my experiences leading to our call and service in the Family History Mission.
My dearly loved husband died in September of 2006.  His death was sudden and completely unexpected.  Even though we had each had our share of health challenges we both expected to live long productive lives, including senior missionary service, together.  It never occured to me that I would serve a mission without him.
I went through a year of feeling quite numb, going through the motions, trying to be a good person, taking care of my family.  (They undoubtably remember that year as taking care of me, which they did)
As I emerged from the "widow fog" I started to feel very restless.  Unsure of why, I wondered if it was time to sell my home and move closer to some of my grandkids.  I worked hard, and hired people who worked even harder, getting my house fixed up so that it would really appeal to prospective buyers, and put it on the market.  It just sat there.  Homes around us were selling, but no one even acted interested in mine.
I told David that it was time to find out what the Lord wanted us to do and get his input on my restless feelings.  We set aside a day to fast and pray.  (If you know David you know that he hates to fast, so this was a big sacrifice for him.)  As we were preparing to break our fast I offered a prayer asking for direction.  The unmistakable impression came to me that WE should go on a mission.  I almost shouted "You're kidding?! Really?  That was what this was all about?"  Why had that no even occured to me as a possibility?  Just dense I guess.
Anyway, I told my son, my boss, that we were going to go on a mission.  As usual he was sweet and supportive.  I told our bishop and he said he thought we'd be coming in to talk to him about that.  How come I was the only one who was surprised.
Then the stake president and bishop informed us that Salt Lake wasn't so excited about the idea.  It seems they welcome couples with special needs adult children, but weren't so sure about a single sister and her handicapped son.  I told the Stake President that I wasn't worried, because this surely was not my idea, so the Lord would make it happen if He wanted us to go.
I guess my dear Stake President really went to bat for us, because a few weeks later we got a call to serve in the Salt Lake Family History Mission.  We were told that there was nothing for David to do here, then almost immediately told David would be a part of the mission too.  No one was sure how that would happen, but we all knew it would.
The rest is history.  David has a wonderful assignment working with other special service missionaries in the Church Office Building Cafeteria, and I work with beginning family history patrons in the Family History Library. 
I have a feeling that we were not called here because of what we had to offer, but rather that the Lord had things to teach us we couldn't learn any other way.  Whatever the reason, I am grateful.

I'll be Wearing Ribbons in my Hair

Mrs. Clause (not drab)

You may have read a recent news release from the church noting the changes in dress and grooming requirements for sister missionaries.  I did, with some interest, since I am one.  It seems that the frumpy, drab clothing our sister missionaries have been required to wear are turning some prospective investigators away.  The new standards, although still modest, are far more fashionable than the old.  Sisters are encouraged to wear lively colors and patterns.  Skirts can be knee length (instead of mid calf to ankle length).  And here is the best part:  Nylons (stockings, etc.) are optional!  Our mission president got word of this rule change a while ago, but thinking of the hairy, varicose veined, flabby legs of the older sisters, opted not to tell us about it.  Nevertheless, it applies to us so I shocked everyone by announcing the new policy in prayer meeting, and throwing away my pantyhose (although not in prayer meeting).  The ladies all cheered of course, the gents just wondered why we cared.  Additionally, we are encouraged to accessorize.  To all my friends who mocked my flowered and ribboned head bands, dangly earrings, now I'm right in step with the prophet's counsel.  I didn't really bring many fashionable outfits with me, but the drabbest of them are going to DI tomorrow.  In addition to improving the face of missionary work to the world, this new policy has got to improve mission morale.

Merry Christmas

My life has been touched by a series of  Miracles that have truly made this a Christmas I will never forget.  I could have been wretched!  I am far from home, and miss my home and family tremendously, but I have been more than compensated by a measure of Christmas Spirit that I didn't earn or deserve, but nonetheless am very grateful for.  A number of special events have contributed to this wonderful season.

The first was several weeks ago when I was invited to an annual Christmas program put on by a Special Mutual group that David has been attending.  I didn't want to go.  It was cold and snowy and I was tired from a long day at work.  All I wanted to do was snuggle up in bed and sleep.  But the excitement in David's face changed my mind.  He loves attending this group, and this program is the culmination of a lot of preparation by this group of special people.  The curtain opened on 30 people of all ages and many kinds of disabilities.  They sang Christmas songs, very badly, acted out the first Christmas, also without any skill or finesse, reciting their lines haltingly and sometimes unintelligibly.  But the Spirit there was as strong as if they were the tabernacle choir!  We, the audience, sat there with tears streaming down our faces as these seriously handicapped men and women bore testimony of the Son of God.  David was chosen to play the part of Joseph which he did proudly and well.  I couldn't have been touched more if he was performing at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

Another thing that has brought a great spirit to us is singing Christmas songs to and from work everyday.  We found a radio station that plays  nothing but carols and sang along with them during our commute.  David has a real affinity for Christmas songs, some of them moving him to tears.  His favorite is the little drummer boy.  I don't know why, but he loves it.  Our mission has an annual devotional and luncheon celebrating the season.  I thought David would be blown away by the food (a fabulous buffet of all you can eat delights), but the first song sung by the performing group was the little drummer boy.  David was weeping with joy the whole event, hardly noticing all the delicious food.  We also have had the joy of hearing performers who come to the library to sing during the season.  Many were groups from local high schools, some professionals, but all sweet and talented and sincere in their love of the Savior.

We attended the Festival of Trees, which is a fund raiser for the Primary Children's Hospital.  This year I was able to help my sister and her husband create a beautiful inlaid wood nativity which we donated to the cause.  It sold for more than a thousand dollars.  What is remarkable about this event, and I think what makes the spirit so strong there, is the combined efforts of so many people, none of them getting paid a cent, working together selflessly to make something wonderful happen  for sick little children who need medical care.  There were hundreds of beautifully decorated trees, wreaths and Christmas decor, all of them bought for outrageous prices by people who just want to help.  Very cool event!  A blessing to all who participate in any way.

We attended a special exhibit at the art museum at BYU of artist Carl Blok's paintings and drawings and etchings.  What an incredible show.  I was familiar with many of these paintings, because they are popular illustrations of Christ and Biblical events.  But to see them up close and in person was something I will never forget.  It was clear to me that the artist knew Jesus Christ, and testified of Him and His divinity through his art.
Christmas Eve I went for a long and refreshing trail ride through the snow with my nephew Sam.  I'm sure he had better things to do, but we rode and talked about Christmas, and family and the Savior.  It was a special time that added to the sacredness of the season.

Later we spent Christmas eve with a lot of extended family.  My sister Diana and her children and grandchildren put on a lovely Christmas program and dinner for us.  David proudly did the pum pum pum pa pums as everyone sang the little drummer boy for him.  Very sweet.  My sister Lulu and her large family also included us in their very sweet traditions.  My mother, who recently lost her husband was having a hard time with Christmas, but because of so many sweet and spiritual events was able to rejoice in the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and the wonderful plan that puts the pain and hardships of mortal life into beautiful Eternal perspective. 


I share my testimony that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that He was born of Mary, lived a perfect life and died so that we can all live again.  He lives!  I rejoice in this.  Merry Christmas to all.

Snow

This morning our world was covered with close to a foot of fresh snow.  It made me a little blue, thinking of the long winter ahead.  I found myself almost in tears several times, with homesickness for my warm home in Brea, California (where it NEVER snows).  That homesickness matured into missing my house, my bed, my kitchen.  I slumped further as I missed my children and grandchildren and friends.  Before I reached the point of driving off an icy cliff in despair, I decided I'd better find a way to appreciate winter snows.  I tried looking at it a different way.  Instead of cold, slippery, slushy miserable stuff that makes it hard to walk and drive, and dangerous to spend time out of doors, I will try to find out why some people love the stuff so much.
1.  Snow really is beautiful.  When the snow falls on the bare trees, it turns them from ugly dead looking things into beautiful works of art: Like delicate hand tatted lace.
2.  Snow is bright.  Unlike a cloudy raining day, a snowy day is bright.  The snow magnifies and reflects whatever light there is and gives the appearance of brightness even when the sun doesn't shine.
3.  Snow is fun.  After church today there was a happy group of young people sledding down my mother's hill, laughing and playing in the cold, really enjoying the snow.

OK.  So that is only three reasons, but it is a start.  I will have many more opportunities during the next 4 months to find more.

Smile

Complete strangers smile at me!  Not all of them of course, but a significant number of them do.  I wondered why, so decided to analyze it a little.  Is this something that happens to everyone?  Friends I have asked indicate that they don't find the world all that smiley.  So lets assume for a minute that it isn't because of my movie star good looks or stunning figure.  What the heck are they smiling at?

Sometimes it is because of my ride.  Passing people on the trail they often smile and say what a beautiful horse I'm on.  He is a pretty thing.  Same with my car.  I was in the post office parking lot the other day and a man came almost sprinting across the lot with the biggest smile.  "What a great car!"  "Do you love your Z?  How fast does it go?" A 4 year old walked by me on his way into a store and remarked to his Mom, "Look Mom a real race car."  I offered to let him drive it.

But I'm often on foot and still I get the smiles.  I have to give the credit to David.  Almost everyone at one time or another, has their life touched by a special person like David.  Many people recognize in him a wonderful spirit and want to share that knowledge with me.  These people, wherever we are, come up to us and express appreciation for who David is.  Many want to tell us about their friend or relative who has down syndrome, some just smile as we pass.  This has always been the case, but especially so since we have been missionaries.  They see us, walking together, wearing our missionary badges and I guess their minds conjure up a history that allows us to be here serving at this time.  Probably a history more grand and inspiring than the true story, but the end result is that they smile at us.  And the end result of that is that we feel loved and appreciated.  So smile away.  I can take it.

Winter?

When I wake up tomorrow the world will be covered in a blanket of snow. The weather bug is predicting it and I believe it. It was trying to snow all day, a kind of slushy half frozen rain.
Snow is not my favorite. Winter is not my favorite. So I think it is time for me to start counting my blessings (instead of sheep).
I'm grateful for the ever changing view I am treated to each day. Don't get me wrong, I miss the monotony of good weather, the year round green, of my home in California. But I am amazed at how the scenery here changes day by day. Each season brings with it incredible beauty if not pleasant weather. This fall has been amazing. Every day I notice new colors that weren't there the day before. A few days of wind and rain and many of the leaves have fallen, leaving the dark branches in sharp contrast to the remaining bright yellow leaves.
I'm grateful to be able to walk. A few years ago I couldn't take a step unassisted. Through a series of miraculous events I have been given the gift of mobility. Not a day goes by that I don't thank the Lord for this miracle of ambulation. I can walk and ride and even run a bit, without pain.
I'm grateful for the end of daylight savings.
I'm grateful for my family. I have 13 (my lucky number I think) gorgeous grandchildren and their wonderful loving parents. I have terrific siblings, nieces and nephews, and the best parents, one still with me. I get pictures, movies, calls and emails almost daily reminding me how blessed I am to have such a loving family.
I am grateful to be a part of the awesome missionary force working throughout the world. What a blessing to be a small part of such an incredible plan. David and I make such a tiny contribution, but like so many others get to feel the spirit of the Lord's amazing Plan of Redemption. I also realize you don't have to be a full time missionary to participate. It is open to all of us.
It seems too early for winter, but I don't get to decide these things. A little cold and snow is a tiny inconvenience. I would wish my days to be bound each to each in gratitude.

Autumn Again

Well, Autumn hit for real this week.  First sign was the flower beds all over temple square got dug up.  Where they had been lush and beautiful, there was just tilled soil.  Later the same day they were planted with (what else?) pansies and something that looks like a poppy, and tulip bulbs.  I now know that these flowers will survive the harsh weather ahead, and live to bloom like crazy in the spring.  The trees on temple square are being wrapped in lights preparatory to the beautiful Christmas light displays that will attract people from all over the world. The leaves on all trees deciduous are turning colors.  My favorites are yellow and pinkish orange.  They almost look florescent they are so bright.  The wilderness area where we ride is changing color too.  The oak covered hills have gone from green to red.  Higher up you can see large patches of bright yellow, I suspect aspen.  It has rained for two days and it is predicted to snow the next 3 days.  We are wearing jackets and using the heater in the car.

The happiest sign of Autumn is the arrival of my new grandson, Benjamin David Demke.  He was due on Halloween but decided to come early to the great joy of his parents and happy relatives.  Thanks to Andy and Jenny for blessing me another beautiful grandbaby.

Judge not

I had an interesting experience last week that I am a little ashamed of, but decided to share anyway.  Working on the patron floor of the library I was approached by a man who needed help.  He was dumpy, unshaved, had limp straggly hair and an ill fitting coat.  I didn't realize that I had been prejudging him until I worked with him a while, and realized that he was well off, intelligent, articulate, and deeply spiritual.  I know I had prejudged him because each of these revelations came as a big surprise.  Based on nothing more than his physical appearance I had already decided that he was poor, ignorant, and worldly.  Without a conscious thought I had judged him completely wrong.
I know it is impossible to go through this life without discerning, without judgement of some kind.  It is desirable and even necessary for our success in every thing we do.  However, we (especially I) need to be careful that our judgements are not superficial, unfair, and careless.  Every person we meet is a child of God.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if before we judge we could see each soul as God sees him.  To see the love and potential within before we judge what is visible.

Our Work

I realize that I have never really described what I do.  My call is to the family search zone of the Family History Library.  We are on the main floor of the library and mainly provide services for new comers and inexperienced family historians.  Ninety percent of my time is spent on the patron services floor.  Here we answer questions, help beginners with on line resources, show people how to print or save documents they find.  A typical patron will come in and say, "I don't know anything about my family."  We ask questions and help them identify what they do know and what they would like to know.  We show them how to find their ancestors in resources like social security death index, census records, birth or marriage records, military records and voter schedules.  We show them how to use the library catalog, and where further research can be done.  We introduce them to familysearch.org, and its associated sites.  This work is fun and rewarding.  I often meet people from far away.  We do not preach the gospel here, but the spirit is almost always present and our encounters are often spiritual experiences.  Occasionally members of the Mormon church come in for help with new family search.  These are usually wonderful experiences too.
The other 10% of my time is spent in the lobby.  I man the information desk, the exit desk, the temple desk.  Here we direct the patrons as they come into the library and answer phone calls that come in.  We show a short film to the first timers.  We get them help if they need it.  We direct them to other floors, depending on what they are looking for.  This is also fun.  We will interact with literally dozens of people during an hour.  They are all nice people who are sincerely looking to connect with their families.
I also do a little mentoring of new missionaries who come into the zone.  I have recently been trained to work the "pod" which is the reference desk on the main floor.  Here we are expected to know more, so time will tell if I'm ready for that.
David comes into the library with me every morning.  After prayer meeting he goes off to the Cafeteria dish room where he helps get the cafeteria ready for the lunch rush.  They eat lunch at 10:30, before the cafeteria opens.  During the lunch time he stacks and puts away dishes as they come out of the dishwasher.  Sometimes he stands by the automated dish return to make sure nothing sticks out and stops the conveyer.  The rest of his crew goes home at 3:00 but David stays another hour to scrub tables and chairs in the dining room.  It takes him a couple of months to get through the whole room, but he is very thorough.  At 4:00 he walks back to the library and we go home.

Even though we do the same kind of thing every day, the people we interact with make each day interesting and new.

September 2010 Milestones

This month I will complete the first 12 months of my mission and the first 60 years of my life.  If I am like my parents (unlikely because I have abused my body with unhealthful food and slothfulness for too many years) I can expect to live to 90.  So I have finished 2/3 of both my mission and my life.  It has got me to thinking about the the way each of them is going.
First of all I'm not eager for either to end.  This mission has been so much more fun than I ever could have imagined.  I don't know what I imagined my earth life would be like, but I'm pretty sure I didn't know how much fun it would be either.  Did I know how much I would love my family?  Did I know how much I would enjoy my work and play?  Did I know how much beauty I would find here?  Doubt it, or I would have signed up earlier (1000 BC for example).
Secondly I know they will both end eventually.  The mission call was for 18 months, and when that is over I will return home and do something else.  I hope I will have made a difference in some way, to some one.  When my mortal life ends, I will return home and do something else.  I hope it will be true that I made a difference during my life as well.  Is anything better because I am here?  I think so.  I hope so.

But for now I have 6 months to do my best in the mission.  It might be a good idea to give us advance notice of our earthly release date.  Do I have a day? a decade?  Whatever.  I plan to live it all, right up to the end.  So here's to the last third.

It's autum time

Last April, as Spring emerged from the reluctantly departing Winter, I was in awe of the variety and abundance of flowers.  Everywhere!  Every kind, I thought.  Now I'm seeing some new blooms of early autumn.  Most especially sun flowers.  They are growing among the tall grasses of fields, along the road ways, sprouting around rocks on the hillsides.  They are beautiful in a simple and rangy way, dotting the washed out summer fields with bright yellow and deep brown.  The pale grey/green of the omnipresent sage brush is turning yellow with blooms as well.  This one is problematic to me.  It seem sage blooms do something to my nose.  I sneeze, and sneeze, and wipe my eyes, and sneeze and blow my nose, and sneeze again.  I've tried 4 different allergy meds, the only one that dries me up is Benedryl.  Turns out Benedryl is also a sleep medicine.  So I have a choice: Sneeze or sleep.  Relief will come with the snow.
I woke up to a little chill this morning.  The hot days of summer are coming to an end and there is the smell of Autumn in the air.  I rode through Dimple Dell on Saturday and noticed the leaves sound different when the wind passes.  They still look green from a distance, but they are drier and up close you can see the colors of fall creeping in.  We may still have some warm weather ahead of us, but it is becoming clear that summer cannot last.

Family reunion

Demke Cowboys out on the range

A few of the Demke/McKenna/Hess kids

I am currently recovering from a "family high."  My niece Jerusha, a champion organizer, pulled together an amazing reunion for the families of Sheldon and Neldon Demke.  Included were all my children and their families, my sister and her husband and all their children (less one on a mission in South America) and families.  All together there were about 48 people.

Tatum and Afton riding with grandma

Slip 'n slide

My grown up children

We occupied a large and lovely lodge on Fish Haven Creek near Bear Lake, Idaho.  This is some of the most spectacular scenery!   It was all I could do to drive safely with so much to look at along the way.  Our time there was well organized with each delicious meal being prepared by a different family.  Activities were planned for all interests and age groups and included games, crafts, slip and slide, feats of strength, daily trips to the lake, and culminated in a sweet and spiritual Sacrament meeting Sunday morning.   At least half the participants were children.  Miraculously, there were no serious injuries, quarrels or tantrums.  The entire time was imbued with the sweetest feelings of love and companionship.  I spent a few sad moments regretting that Sheldon wasn't able to be a part of such a gathering, then more and more I started to realize that he was a very real part of our reunion.

The last of my posterity left town yesterday.  Their departure has left a hole in my soul, but it is filled daily with the knowledge that we are united by far more than time and geography.  I am so grateful to be part of an Eternal family.

A friend of mine works in the Salt Lake temple the day before he works in the library with me.  One day a while back he looked especially tired.  He explained that the day before he had worked in the baptistry and that it was Prom night.  When I failed to see the connection, he told me that Prom day is the busiest day of the year in the baptistry as it is a tradition for young men and women to come to the temple and do work before going out to dinner and dance.  I couldn't help contrasting that with the way most of the world views prom night, as a time to get drunk, get a hotel room, and get into trouble.
While there is no doubt that there is a great and growing wickedness in the world at large, I would propose that there is an opposing movement for good, growing just as rapidly.  A few examples:
Everyday I see people of all faiths drawn to the family history library, wanting to know about their heritage.  I'm sure that many of them are being pushed there by their unseen ancestors who are eager for them to be their advocates in the mortal world.  The fact that they are responding to these promptings tells me that they are a part of the great movement for good in the world.

I have referred before to the fact that from a prominent point on a familiar horse trail I can see 3 operating temples.  (One lit up behind Sam in this photo)  Within the 60 mile radius of my mission there are at least 7 more.  Within an easy drive of my home in California I can attend 5 temples. Temples are now in very part of the world.  These are busy places, full of people who are trying to live good lives and care enough about each other to take time so that others can share the blessings they have.  Most do so on a regular basis.
I am in awe of the young people in my life, especially my own children, who I see working so hard, tirelessly raising their children to have strong values in a world that increasingly belittles them.  It is not easy to choose the good path, but the rewards are great and very real.
Today our Sunday school teacher quoted Hezekiah to us.  Hezekiah has helped his people prepare for the coming siege of the Assyrians.  He says to his people (paraphrasing), "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the [world] nor all the multitude that is with them: for there be more with us than with them. . . with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."
And so I would propose that as the polarization of our planet increases we each take the attitude of Hezekiah.  Be strong and courageous, be not dismayed.  Every time we make a good choice we are enlisting legions of angels to back us up.  We are not alone.  We know good will ultimately prevail.

Rescue

I had a couple of adventures on horseback during the past 2 weeks. The first happened when I took my brother Toby out for a ride. I put him on David's horse Pancho and I rode Jerusha's horse Norman. Norman is a sweet and reliable mount who would be considered safe for almost any rider. At one point in the ride Toby decided to go on ahead and I attempted to turn back. Norman objected to the separation from his herd and started to buck. Now I've been on a lot of horses, many misbehaving in many ways, but I've never ridden a bucking horse. This was genuine rodeo style bucking, head down and hind feet in the air. It didn't take me long to realize why the rodeo cowboys get big bucks for this and that I was no rodeo cowboy. I decided to stop trying to correct Norman in hopes that he would relax, but without the bit he just took off, still bucking. I knew I couldn't sit this and, just in time, a soft grassy hill sped up on the left. I landed gently on the hill, got up quickly, grateful for my rescue from what could have been a dangerous situation. Norman and I both survived to ride another day.

Thursday I went riding with my friend Debbie and her sister Sandy. This time the horses were hot and tired before we left the barn. One minute out we were confronted by what could only be described as a herd of children (about 50, average age maybe 12), jogging down the main horse path to our trails. One look at this noisy, erratic mob coming towards us and I knew we were in trouble. Horses are basically prey animals and at their core, reactive. We train them to think, to obey, to be desensitized to most of the things they might encounter on the trail, but I knew these horses had never seen anything like this. To them it must have looked like a growling, prowling herd of mountain lions coming to eat them. The reactive brain took over. Each of us felt our mounts tense and Norman spun on his heels and ran for all he was worth in the other direction. Herd mentality took over and the other two horses followed. This was no gentle canter down the lane. These were three horses racing for their lives at top speed, in spite of the pleadings of their riders. My horse, being the fastest among them quickly overtook the other too. With a little distance we were able to remind them of their training again and the reasonable side of their brains came back. We had an exciting ride, but everyone stayed on and no one was any worse for it.

These two experiences reminded me why I pray for protection every single ride, and every day. The world is a dangerous place, and every day I am delivered, rescued even, in ways big and small, by the Lord.

Protection from physical danger is the least of these rescues. There are worse dangers to our souls than getting bucked off a horse. The world offers countless evils that would bruise and even destroy our Spiritual natures. We need to protect ourselves and our loved ones, and be constantly prayerful as we seek deliverance from soul-destroying influences.

We also have the opportunity to rescue others along the way. Many ride through this life unaware of the dangers around them. We can be a beacon, a lifeline, a saving influence to them.

One of the great joys of my current situation is being able to research and do saving ordinances for my family and friends. Every time you go to the temple, every time you share your testimony, every time you offer help to another human being, you are sharing in the great rescue mission that is mortal life.

I am lately overwhelmed with gratitude for the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This blessing to have the constant companionship, guidance, comfort, and support from a member of the God Head is truly amazing. I wonder how I could ever function without it. It is priceless. But it is not without cost. The cost is living a Christ-centered life. I am ashamed by the countless times I have traded the companionship of the Spirit, for some small, ultimately worthless, worldly pleasure. If asked would I give up this Gift for a million dollars, I would quickly reply, "Never!" And yet I have done just that, for far less: A less than inspiring movie, a word of gossip, a few extra moments of sleep that might have been scripture study time, a caustic remark, a minor dishonesty, etc.

So this week I will try to not offend the Spirit, invite it in by my faith and obedience, share the blessings it brings with those around me.