It is Springtime in my Soul Today

On April 29, 2010 I awoke to a world covered in snow. Again. You've got to be kidding me! Really, it was almost May and still we're getting snow. I went to work but was having trouble getting started, feeling almost depressed through most of the morning. The snow came down thick and hard through most of the day, which did nothing to lift my spirits. I think what happened is that I had let myself believe that winter was over and that warm weather, blossoms and sunshine were what I had to look forward to. It was my expectation that led to the depression, not the weather.

Thankfully, although the weather has remained miserable, the rest of the week has been wonderful. Thursday night was a spectacular event at the conference center, "A Celebration of Family History." David and I went and my mother was able to attend with us. The program was music by the MOTAB, special films of family history stories, a message from President Eyring, and an address by David McCullough, author and historian (1776, John Adams). It was an amazing evening full of inspiring music and words that had us alternately in tears and in stitches. It was also the first time I have ever been in the assembly hall of the conference center. What an impressive, massive room!

Saturday we were fortunate to attend the sealing of my sister Laurel's latest 3 daughters to their parents. This is the stuff of Eternity, and it never fails to inspire. The sight of that enormous family in that sacred place, being sealed forever, reminds me that we are part of an even bigger family, bound by covenants and promises that are more powerful than any force on the Earth, and through our Savior Jesus Christ we can all return to our Heavenly Home. Awesome!

Today after our services, my nephew Oati was ordained a priest. He asked his cousin David to stand in the circle of his ordination. I couldn't hold back the tears as I witness this special, righteous young man exercise his Priesthood.

I'm told that it may yet snow again before this endless winter expires. OK. It seems that there is much to keep us warm.

I graduated this week! Yes, I'm no longer one of the new missionaries in my zone. I was assigned the job of mentoring a really new missionary. Sister Stanley is a sweet lady from Colorado. Except for those two facts, she reminds me a lot of me when I first started here. Her husband died near the time that mine did. She has used computers a lot, but doesn't really understand them. She has children and grandchildren she misses. She came on this mission with a leap of faith that she could learn what she needed to learn in order to be of service. Trying to help this dear sister has been humbling so far. I am not an expert at the things we are expected to know. I have learned to do a lot, but teaching someone else to do it requires vocabulary and precision that I just haven't got. (I know you need to double click there, but I don't know what "there" is called, or what would happen if you only single clicked) So if anything, the gift I am giving Sister Stanley is the permission to not know everything. My example tells her that you can still do something without knowing it all.

The Toy Story Birthday Party

David recently turned 24 and you may have caught the allusion, in a previous blog, to the party his cousin Jerusha threw for him. David has always been a real toy story fan, but with the announcement of Toy Story 3 to be released later this year, he has been a little obsessed. All he wanted for his birthday was a Woody costume. He even created some very detailed drawings so I would get it right. (Just so you know, I once made a perfectly wonderful "Prince Eric at the wedding" costume at his request and had to start over because the number of buttons was wrong)

Anyway, I got to looking online at Woody costumes, and found nothing even close to fitting my wannabe Woody. Instead I made a trip to a couple of local thrift stores to find the raw materials and then got creative with markers, scissors, needle and thread. I had California relations bring bits and pieces from home and eventually we had a passable ensemble.

Well, Jerusha got wind of David's current obsession and volunteered to give him a party with the beloved Toy Story theme. Jerusha is a champion party giver. Her parties are amazing from start to finish, decor, entertainment, food, all amazing. This party was held in my mother's incredibly beautiful back yard, made available by the warmer weather and melted snow of the past 2 weeks.

Visitors were welcomed to the party through a western "arch" proclaiming "David's Roundup." Tables were set up with checked table cloths and decorated with toys (slinky dog, Mr and Mrs potato head, Buzz Light Year, etc.) There were signs everywhere, directing guests to the toy story activity of their choice. The shooting range was pretty popular with sheriff's badges and western bandanas for successful shooters. Sam brought "Bullseye" aka Norman for guests to ride. There was a pin the face on Mr. Potato head game, a pinata that looked like one of those funny 3 eyed green squeak toys, a giant bounce house, a cotton candy machine and popcorn machine, tons of good food and a cake decorated with little toy story characters. Each young guest got a toy story bucket full of fun stuff to take home with them. In addition to this, Buzz Light Year himself made an appearance. David was so happy. He had invited people from work and a bunch of local relatives so it was a fun, big group.

Early the next morning, after the gifts were opened and the cake consumed and the mess cleared away, David woke me up with a sad expression on his face. "What's wrong," I asked, fearing he was ill again. "It's over," he replied, "My birthday is over." The down side of so much fun is that it ends, but oh, the memories

What a blast!

You've heard me say before that serving this mission is lots of fun. Everyday brings new experiences and new friends. One day this week I had 2 different patrons ask if they could give me a hug as we parted. Such is the nature of my work that I often feel like I have become a part of the family that these people are seeking so earnestly. Needless to say, it is intensely satisfying to be a part of the search and discovery of each of our library patron's long lost family history.

But I have loving family and friends that I had to leave behind in order to serve this mission, and I would be less than honest if I didn't admit to missing them terribly. My homesickness has been greatly diminished by recent visit by 3 of my sons and their families and some good friends from home.

Two weeks ago Andy and Jenny and their adorable son Cohen came for a weekend visit. It was a warm and wonderful time. We went for a wild ride on the horses, played and visited and caught up on the comings and goings of their family during the past few months. Cohen has grown so much and looks more like a kid than a baby now.

A week later Christian and Susie and their 4 wonderful kids came. They had been on a little camping trip and made the extra effort to include Salt Lake City in their loop. We were able to visit Temple Square, watch conference together, build snowmen, and celebrate an early Easter before they had to return to their busy lives.

This weekend Daniel and Kathryn and their precious little ones came calling. Included in this group was tiny newborn Derby who we met for the first time. In addition to much needed hair care, we were able to enjoy a temple session together and participate in the party of the century, a toy story themed birthday party celebrating David's 24th.

Tonight we went to dine with our dear friends the Washington family (Eric's famous ribs were the main course) and old friends the Miller family. Dominic is entering BYU in the fall and they came to look over the campus and meet with counselors.

Each visit, each embrace, each conversation with friends and family gave me much needed fuel for the year ahead as we continue in our mission service. I wouldn't trade our missionary experience for anything, but I'm so grateful for the tender mercies that enable us to stay connected to the people we love even while we are away.

The Lord Giveth. . .

The past couple of weeks have brought the official end of winter and some delightful days that made me believe Spring had arrived. Walking across Temple square I was startled to hear the sound of sprinklers. Yes, someone was watering the flower beds. Must be spring. Little buds and tiny leaves were popping out all over the trees. Flowers bloomed from the ground and from flower boxes hanging from the Temple walls. Just when I decided it was safe to leave my coat at home I was surprised to awake to a snow covered world. By afternoon the snow was mostly melted and I again took a deep breath and believed it to be a minor setback. The next two mornings brought more of the same, Spring covered by a miserable blanket of white.

My family from California has been visiting and I was busy hating the snow, for their sakes, when I noticed that they didn't seem to mind at all. In no time they had gathered enough of it to make a giant snowman. In my anxiety about slipping and breaking my neck I had forgotten that snow is fun!

Thursday was my wedding anniversary. I was able to attend the temple that day and remember gratefully the day my sweetheart and I were sealed for Eternity in a House of God not far from here. What joy to know that our separation is just temporary.

I ran across a poem by my father Charles Osborn that says it so well:

Spring

The emergence of new life from the black earth

Is the annual prompting from God

That cold and dark and death

Are only a brief test of faith.

The celebration of the Easter season, the new life struggling with the tentative Spring, the glorious messages of hope brought to us this conference are also reminders that God is in His Heaven and is mindful of us here.

During the past week or so some remarkable things have happened, that at first glance may seem completely unrelated, yet in my mind they are part of a big picture that has everything to do with why we are here on this earth.

My beautiful baby granddaughter, Derby was born. Welcoming her were her faithful parents, siblings and a multitude of loving family members, near and far.

Saturday my lovely new niece Emily Ying Osborn Fetzer was baptized. She has been studying with the missionaries here ever since her arrival in America and has a sweet assurance that what she has been taught is true. The Spirit was so powerful that I am sure that it is no coincidence that she came to this family at this time.

I attended the wedding of my nephew Jake and his lovely bride Lindsey in the Omaha, Nebraska Temple. Family members from all over the country were there to participate in this sacred event. It was a glorious occasion full of the hope and beauty that accompanies temple weddings.

My dear friend Lynn completed her Earthly mission and returned to her Heavenly home. As sad as we are to see her go, I have no doubt at all that she is having the most wonderful reunion with her loved ones on the other side.

I had the opportunity at the Family History Library to help a lovely family from Pennsylvania. They were interested in a side of their family of which they knew very little. As we found artifacts of their lives, their births, marriages, and deaths, I could tell that they were moved by the discovery. When they left, the mother expressed appreciation for the library and the service it provides. Then she said, "What a wonderful world this would be if everyone valued family as much as you do." It got me thinking about what we do. We link couples and their children, generation after generation so that this special bond can endure after death. Because we are children of God and He loves us. What a wonderful world indeed, if we all valued each other as much as God does.

Service

A week ago when I returned from a pleasant trail ride I paused at the front door because my boots were so caked with muck that I decided not to track the mess inside. I removed my boots and left them to dry near the front door, intending to return later to scrape them clean. I never got around to it so yesterday as I prepared to go ride I went to the front door to find my boots and put them on. There sat two of the cleanest, shiniest boots I had ever seen. There was not a trace of dirt, and in it's place a brilliant polish. Who had done this? Some kind soul had seen the sorry state of my boots, and instead of judging me (rightly) to be a slob, had gone to considerable effort to fix the problem. (Of course the boots were too pretty to wear into the muck again, so I'm saving them to be my Sunday-go-to-meetin' boots) I'm pretty sure this person is one of my next door neighbors, but he's too modest to take credit for the service.

When my poor horse was lame and required daily treatment, my young cousin Annie Smart whose horse lives in a nearby paddock volunteered to do the medicating and hoof soaking on the days I couldn't be there. Now this girl probably doesn't weigh more than 90 lbs, but took on my big horse with his spooky behavior and refused to take payment for her help. She was just glad to be of service.

My little Mother is 91 years old, recently widowed, and has a heart compromised by a serious heart attack 2 years ago. Here is a partial list of the ways she gave service last week. She took David's turn cleaning the ward building one night when he was sick. She helped prepare and serve lunch to a zone conference of young elders and sisters. She drove a group of handicapped young women to a special Seminary program. She read every day with a young grandson who is struggling to keep up with his reading assignments in school. She attended the temple to work for an ancestor who has passed on. She turned over the soil in her sizable garden in preparation for the produce she hopes to plant soon, and from which she will feed many.

My youngest son David likes to eat. Asked what his favorite thing at Disneyland is, he will reply, "Room service." And yet, three times in as many weeks he has voluntarily gone without eating for a day in order to fast and pray for a dear friend who is seriously ill.

This is just a tiny sampling of the service done by and for the people I know and love. It is one of the things that make life worth living. It is the way we approach Christ like love. Thanks to all of you who do so much, in so many ways big and small, for so many. You are an inspiration to me.