My Conversion Story

My sweet son Caleb mentioned to me a while back that I had never told him my conversion story. Hmmm I thought all my kids had it memorized but just in case here goes a long post.
My family and I were living in Eagle Rock California (1223 Yosemite Dr ) in the house my parents bought so they could be close to my dads father (Fred Smith) who had bone cancer.
In the summer I saw a banner up the street for vacation bible school. When I asked my mom about it she thought it was a wonderful idea. The young woman who taught was named Joyce and she used a flannel board. I was mesmerized with the stories of Moses in the bulrushes, and the baby Jesus, and Samson and Delila and others. I loved going and I loved that we got cookies at the end. When it was over Joyce gave me a black bible with her name in it that I had for years and years (who knows it may still be here somewhere). I loved bible school and so when my school offered "release time" for students who wanted to go to a church youth group I was all in. However, this was put on by the Episcopal Church and I just didn't have the same feeling. Finally, the lady across the street, (Richards Mom - if you don't know who Richard is you are on the wrong blog) mentioned Primary to me. It was held on Wednesdays and one of the girls at my school was LDS and explained it to me. Her name was Chio Story (pronounced Chee-O) So I went and loved it from the start. Everyone was kind, and they gave me a bandelo and told me I was a Homebuilder. We learned things and sang songs. I learned to knit in Primary. And I knew I had found what was missing in my life - even at that young age. I went all through Primary then started Mutual but switched to the Glendale East Ward because that is where all my school friends went. I went through Mutual with everyone in the ward thought I was a member. Then, the end of my Junior year in High School I decided again (Mother s

I remember when we didn't need the fire dept just to have birthday cake

Gale isn't like me in that his birthday is not a big deal to him. However we do celebrate it in some form. This year Minon, Mason, and Matthew came over for birthday cake in between meetings and appointments. It took three packages of candles to get to 67. It took three of us lighting candles as fast as we could to get them all going before the first ones were melted to nothing. This year he chose chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and he loved every bite. The little square without frosting was for Matthew who doesn't like cream cheese frosting. What gifts did he get? Well, I'd have to look at my visa bill to see what he bought himself starting in January. He is smart that way. He doesn't just wait and hope for his desired gift he just buys it himself and he always gets what he wants

A song came on the radio tonight, well it was actually a CD that Minon had given Gale for Fathers Day and it took me back to a time when our children were all little and Gale and I and Mellonee sang " A Childs Prayer" in Sacrament meeting.  Now, I don't sing.  Not to say I don't sing, but I am not a singer.  The desire is there but that is where it all stops. So, when I'm home alone I sing my heart out and there is no one there to grimace.  I wish I could sing, I feel the music and love the rhythm but what comes out is less than satisfactory.  Anyway back in the day I thought that I might possibly be able to sing just a little and we did sing in church.  That song still makes me feel the way I did then making an offering before the Lord in Sacrament meeting.  And I don't think it was too bad.  But time has made my meager voice less and less melodic so that time is special because as I stood before the congregation I was an angel singing for the Lord.  Whenever I go to the "Forgotten Carols" I totally identify with the little angel who wanted so much to be in the Heavenly Choir that ushered in the Savior but wasn't choosen.  I feel his pain.  But I still love and appreciate music because nothing can bring back a flood of memories like a song.  Sometimes I'm 16 at the beach. Sometimes I'm at a dance.  Sometimes I'm walking on the campus of BYU holding hands with the man I love.  Music is emotion and it stirs the soul. I'm grateful I have ears to hear GOOD music.

Called to Serve

Our journey has been so long and at times discouraging but our call finally arrived.  We have been called to the Lisbon Portugal Mission. We will be working with the Stake Single Adults.  So excited. We loved the single adults when we worked with them here in our stake andso to be able to do that is such a sweet blessing.  I had planned to have my local children here to be with us when we opened our envelope but I told them when it came and they started textingback and forth entreating me to open it and let them know where we were going.  I told them that I was going to wait.  Well, Minon didn't want to come because they had planned to go to the rodeo and Caleb couldn't come because he had to go out of town for training for his electrical stuff.  So Mitchell was the only one who could come.  He was working on his shed at home but was coming but when I told Gale The reaction of all the kids he said just open it.  He was coming home from snowboarding at the time so I put him on speaker phone and opened it.  He was so excited he had to pull his car over. And I had to read the letter to him again.  I then went over to tell Lois, stopped at Rick and Nancys and told them then texted all the kids. I think they were as excited as we were but there is a bit of bittersweetness to as they realize some of their children will have a hard time remembering us after 18 mos. Hopefully we can skype or use facebook to keep in touch. I am still reeling.  I get to go to church and say "yes, we did get our mission call. We're going to Portugal." Wow. I will miss Genevives daily facetime calls. and talking to Breea nearly daily but I know this was meant to be. I get to serve the Lord full time. I hope I come back like Lois.  The best version of my self.

Waiting for a call!

Gale andI have spent a long long time waiting for a mission call.  We spent a year waiting for the I.R.S. to clear our business of any wrong doing in the disollution of the ESOP ( we actually had to buy back our company) so we could sell the business to Caleb and when we got done with that and started our papers I found out I had to have my knee replacement re done.  I scheduled it for January 3 2014,but got the flu and had to postpone.  The quickest they could get us in was March 3.  I had the surgery and had a great recovery until I hit aboutr 4 months out.  Then, I began to have lots of inflamation and pain.  I was exercising and walking but the pain kept getting worse.  The doctor didn't know what to do so I have just lived with it.  Sometimes it is better and sometimes it is worse. Meanwhile I was having my physical and getting everything in order.  I had a lump in my breast so had a mamogram,  cat scan and visited a surgeon.  All three cleared me bu;t when I sent my papers in they came back on me and I had to have a letter from the surgeon and another mamogram.  Meanwhile, my knee surgeon suggested that I have my foot looked at as it might be causing some misalignment.  I had previously had my foot xrayed and it showed nothing but the new surgeon did a standing xray and found an xtra bone in my foot he thinks was congenital (or I had it from birth) so after crying alot I scheduled the surgery.  It was supposed to be a 4 week recovery but ended up being 9 weeks.  Minon thinks I exagerrated my lack of pain and she could be right bu;t he finally cleared me and said the remaining pain would just take time so it might as well take the time while we are on our mission as waithng to go so we started getting ready in ernest in the fall of 2013.  We turned in our completed papers July of 2014.  We re-turned in our papers in February of 2015 and are now waiting for our assignment.  The Stake President told us that we are on the docket with the First Presidency for this Thursday, the 26 th of February.  So we should finally get our call the following week or the week after that.  Gale says all this waiting has taught him patience. I just wish he had learned it faster

Older is wiser

While in Denver Breea gave me a jar of questions to answer so that she could know her mother better and it made me think about all of the things that I have learned along the way. Mellonee said it best when she told us that she didn't mind being older "cause she knew stuff" Like when your kids call to ask some normal question and because of your worldly experience you happen to know the answer. It helps to teach me that though we grow old on the outside we are given so much in return; Knowledge, Faith, Strength of Character etc. Gale and I were talking the other night and he said the most important thing we have to know is forgiveness. That means that we have to forgive people and not judge. We have such a tendency (and I am talking about myself) to look at someone that is doing something differently than we do it and think their stupid. The funny thing is studies come and studies go so don't base too much on this study or that report. When we had Mellonee we were told not to ever have her in our room. Then later there was a big hoo haa about the "family bed" so lots of people had there kids sleep with them for years. When I was a kid the popular belief was that a divorce was ok as long as it was amicable and now we know haw wrong that was. And so things change. So I am going to try not to judge others ways of doing things and to forgive all past hurts or slights and what I am really going to do is forgive quicker. And also not to always think my way is right and argue the point. I have lots to work on

Birthdays are important!

Bryan asked us about a month and a half ago to come to Denver for Breeas Birthday. We thought it was a surprise but later talking to Breea we found out that she knew. Anyway we have been celebrating, kind of all week. Yesterday I made a BIG lemon cake and Breea made the most amazing frosting. Today she and I went shopping for a bit then we had Birthday cake for lunch and tonight our farewell will be dinner out without the kids. It has been a fun casual week. I love the way my daughters look forward to their birthdays and sometimes and some of them celebrate for a week or a month. They are all so funny that way. Good happy wonderful daughters are such a blessing in my life. When we get home I will have a whirlwind week with Sydnee, Mitch's kids (jewelry convention - Young Mens camping trip) and Abby said she might drop in too. I love July! but sometime in this business I have to get Magic Rocks and crafts ready for the cabin. It'll all work out - it always does.

Grandpa

Gale and I went to visit his dad Gale M Roberts today. He is suffering from terminal cancer and is in the last stages. I have been through some deaths in my lifetime. My own grandfather died when I was in first grade and though a long time ago I remember the pain on everyones faces and how hard it was on my dad, as the only living son to care for him. But this grandpa is very special. I know everyone thinks that their grandpa is special and maybe they are for various reasons. But for me this is a great man. No, he isn't famous and many people will not notice his going but I will. He taught me what it is to do the right thing just because it is the right thing. He taught me that we don't always see kindnesses that people do as he did many that no one ever knew about. He taught my husband how to be a grandpa. He loved me like a daughter even though I was from the city. He always loved his wife and tried with all his heart to make her happy. He was a good father to his two boys and they carry many of his teachings with them every day. He was always kind. You could ask for help at any time and he would drop whatever he was doing and come to your rescue. He drove from Carey to Pocatello to fix the furnace in our trailer because it was winter and he knew that Gale C didn't know how to do it. He rescued me dozens of times when my husband was working. He loved all of his grandchildren and taught them to be honest It is so difficult to see this precious man laying in a bed waiting to die. He suffers and we suffer with him. We have prayed for him to go quietly without much suffering but we really don't want him to go. Just a few more days but alas he needs to go and we all know it but it is difficult to think of life without his wisdom and guidance. It is difficult to think of Gramma without him but that is the plan and we know that we will all be together again sometime in the future because we are a family and we love each other and we are sealed as a family. But it hurts to let go........

A Wedding in the Family

Our new Daughter Heather, became Official Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.  We were fortunate to be able to leave Breea, Bryan, Elizabeth, Oliver and fly to Alaska for the wedding.  All was very casual but so warm.  We all gathered at the home of Heathers Mom and Dad and made preparations for the luncheon after the wedding.  Heather pinned flowers on all the men. and grinned the whole time. Her parents were very hospitable to us and after the wedding and a gathering of friends in their home we took the ferry (4 1/2 hours) to Juneau to our hotel. Caleb and heather and kids stayed at another hotel and left early the next morning. We had Sunday in Juneau to look around. We went to see the big glacier. Saw a momma bear and two cubs. Watched her catch a fish and toddle off with the little ones behind then flew out the next morning. We then flew back to Denver to finish our visit with Breea and Bryan and Elizabeth and New baby Oliver. A great week.

Another grandchild has come to us. Rob and abby added Genevieve Gale to the family and boy is she cute. We have known about her for months but somehow it is all the more exciting and miraculous when it happens. I got to see her at the hospital with Linda Abbys Mother-in-law the day she was born. I am always amazed how easy it is to love another little person that you just met. Love grows to include. I stayed with Abby for two weeks with dad getting here after a week. Rob had to be out of town for a trial just three days after his daughter was born. He was sad. Abby tortured him with the cutest pictures in the world. Just last September we celebrated Oliver Heiners birth and were so excited with him. and before that we met Spencer McCoy, Tara and Brads adorable 4th boy. It makes my heart swell to see all these. We also added this year Mayalei and Mason Yates when Minon Married Jeremiah Yates, and Harley and Logan Swain when Caleb and Heather got married so within a year or so we added 7 grandchildren totaling 28. This is just mind boggling since Gale came from a family of two children and I came from a couple generations of only two children that we are so blessed to have 28 individual, different, unique, fabulous grandchildren.WE ARE SO BLESSED OF THE LORD.

Seasons

This is the most glorious time of yoar for me. I love the little shoots quietly poking through the ground and growing when I'm not looking. It's kind of like a Disney movie where they magically grow to beautiful music. This morning I walked by the open kitchen window and heard a meadow lark. That has to be the official sound of spring.
When I grew up in California the seasons were not so distinct and I'm not sure where one ended and another started. It seemed that something was always blooming or getting ready to. The only distinct season for me was summer basically because there was no school and swimming was a possibility. We went to the beach and I went to the local pool quite a bit. But, there was never enough swimming. I was terribly jealous of friends who had pools in their own backyard. I even helped my dad in his pool maintanence business so that I could take a couple of laps when the cleaning was done. Summers sweemed longer then with time to lay on the grass and watch clouds. Maybe that's why I can spot cloud shapes now and I still enjoy finding dragons, and elephants, and an old man snoring. One of my ALL TIME favorite things to do with my grandkids is to have them stay here and take swim lessons. I have loved seeing them go from not wanting to get their face wet to swimming laps the length of the pool. Some progress faster than others, isn't that the life plan. But all progress, laugh, share secrets, get to know their cousing better and have wonderful memories of eating ice cream for dinner or playing golf with Poppy or just being together. After they all go home I collapse from exhaustion but hope I can keep doing this little tradition for a long time.

As I looked forward to returning to Hawaii after 43 years I tried to remember what it was like back then. For one thing you could see waikiki beach from the street. You could access the beach almost anywhere. There wasn't a Tiffanys, Rolex, or Gap. Mostly I remember my young husband trying to learn to ride a surfboard and ending up sea sick; of the beautiful sunsets out the window of our hotel room; of eating Guava sherbert with every meal. The memories fade but the feelings are still there.
Going back to Hawaii wasn't like going back. Everything was new and different but the feeling was the same. We ate georgous & delicious food, we laughed constantly, we marveled at Gods creations, we relished time spent with good friends. We took a sea trip to see the beautiful humpback whales and we happened onto a beach where a 300 pound sea turtle was eating plant life in the shallow water a few yards from the beach. It was the best vacation we have ever taken and we look forward to doing it again

We had a fantastic Sabbath yesterday. So much so that we hated to go to bed and end it. Gale did 9 temple recommend interviews which are always fun cause he gets to know people and about them. I was alone in the nursery with 15 kids. The other nursery leader decided to get her temple recommend from the Bishop during the first hour of nursery. Let me tell you that it was not pretty. They were bellowing for cookies, crackers and water faster than I could get around the table. They are very cute but very noisy. Anyway we asked another lady to come in to help and the second hour was much better. So here is our staff: Sister Crystal Nelson is out with Pneumonia, I am still recovering (slowly) from my knee surgery and Sister Twolanie Bullock fell off a chair and wrenched her knee and is on crutches. If only they would all sit and let us read them books all would be well. Transfers are next Monday so we may be losing one of our sisters. We won't know until Friday. These sisters are so fun - all of them - I am so grateful that we could do this.

I remember when we didn't need Smoky the Bear at Birthday parties

Unlike me, Dad doesn't think that birthdays are a big deal. He usually orders his present sometime in January or sometimes a couple of times in January. But we still try to have a small celebration. This year he ordered chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. Minon and the boys came over to mark the day and we began lighting the candles, and we lighted, and lighted , and lighted. We tried to hurry cause the first ones lit were getting very small. Anyway, it was fun and I am grateful for another year with this great man. I have pictures but they wouldn't load - darn!

Having a baby born into a family is always a wonderful event. Our newest addition, Elizabeth May Heiner was just such an occasion. She is petite and darling. I had such fun holding and snuggling her. It made me think of seven other little wonders. It's funny how sights and smells can transport you back to another time and for just a second let you relive some long forgotten event. I'm so glad that I was able to spend lots, and lots of time with my babies. What a blessing that special time is. With each one we realized more and more Heavenly Fathers wisdom and creative ability. Seven who are completely different. A new experience every time. They are my Jewels and oh how I love them.

Sad

Sunday one of the little boys in the Nursery had a three fingered red mark on his cheek. I thought at the time that it looked like a slap mark but trying not to add drama when there is none I dismissed it. Especially since one of the girls got her finger cut at the first knuckle and barely attached. Her mother sent her to the bathroom alone. We never do that! She is in surgery as I speak. Also, I have three children and their mother here now. The little boy with the slap mark that definately looks like a handprint today his brother, and sister are here talking to social services. Apparently he doesn't beat his wife but the kids are fair game. This little boy is barely over 2. I am appalled and shocked, and very sad.

Happy Thanksgiving

This will be the first Thanksgiving ever we haven't spent with Gram and Gramp. We are going to St. George for a few days since none of our children will be here. Gale and I love the place and wish we could retire there but as the saying goes "If wishes were horses...all beggars would ride" Thanksgiving has always been a big deal to me. It was the fun holiday when my mom would get out the good silverware, and china. I helped set the table and never realized how much my mom was doing in the kitchen. My gramma Kinard almost always came and she would sneak olives off the table before dinner was ready. Danny and I thought that was great fun until Mom blamed us. My mom was one of those women who was a very good cook but she didn't enjoy it at all. I remember always wanting the turkey leg, though now I can't fathom why. My mom had a special dish that we rarely used except for Cranberry Sauce right out of the can. After dinner the adults would lay around and some would nap and Danny and I would play outside. It is a warm fuzzy memory. Thanksgiving with Lois and Gale was much the same although there were always more people. Barbara and Guy were there one year with Barbaras brother, and Little Gramma was sometimes there and as our families grew it just got bigger and bigger. We all brought pies, and other delicious food but Lois cooked the turkey and did the most work. Lately she has made noises about not having it at her house and they will probably celebrate at Nancys house. I'm afraid that our family Thanksgiving may be coming to an end. I did have it at my house once when Gram and Gramp were on their mission. It was kind of fun to fuss over the table but Nancy and Rick were out of town so it was just us and Torrey since he didn't go with them. It was a nice dinner but it was a little too quiet and there weren't many children running in and out. I love our traditional dinners with Lois and Gale and wish they could go on forever.

Summer is over

Summer is over - or is it. We have closed the pool. The garden has been cleaned. And the temperature goes up to 80 degrees. I don't know what to wear every day. I have put the capris away. And, thankfully, the canning stuff but this spot of warm weather is sure enjoyable. I'm heading to Texas tomorrow and I understand it is warm there too. I am so excited to spend a little time with Abby. She is making Christmas stockings for her friend Ellie and wants my help I doubt that she needs it but we always have fun on these projects. Especially, after a late night when we find our mistakes and have to fix them. After this trip I am home for a bit then it's off to Colorado for Joshuas Baptism. Gale really wanted to go. I didn't because of just coming home but after asking Gale if he was sure about not having any meetings for stake conference I booked the tickets. Sunday Gale came home from his meeting and said "I'm so sorry - I should have listened to you but that weekend IS Stake Conference. So not only am I going alone but I am missing Stake Conference also. Now the good part; Jody told me to stay with Breea so I'll get a couple of days with Brian and Bree and we'll go to the baptism together. There is always lemonade somewhere in the bushel of lemons!!!

Aliens

 
This was such a fun project. I sat at my table making these guys and let everything else go

How Busy Are You?

It is amazing to realize that at 64 (that's right most of you missed it!) I can still be so busy. I used to think that women of this age sat in rockers on the porch sipping lemonade. I have to plan carefully to get everything done that everyone wants me to do and I want to do. Yet, amid all this hustle and bustle I took most of the day yesterday to make a large batch of cupcakes for Matthews birthday. Now, these weren't just any cupcakes. They were aliens and boy did they turn out cute. Tara gave me a great book on all kind of cupcake designs for my BIRTHDAY and this was one of their ideas. I made a complete mess of my kitchen but had alot of fun doing it. My hands are very sore but today I am back on the little squirrel wheel and will be making peach jam and putting a load of peaches in the dryer. But before I get to any of that I had to make a very long list. I'm not foolish enough to think I will get it all done today but that leaves something to do tomorrow. I hear people say "I don't have anything to do" and I wonder where they came from. Maybe they are just faster or more organized than me but I never have to hunt for things to do. What a blessing!