"Death is not the end; it is putting out the candle because the dawn has come." Thus spake Pres. Hugh B. Brown. And thus echo I.
Upon returning to Utah, I took the train down to Lehi, and Kimball picked me up. We made it to my van, grabbed some grub at Costa Vida, and then headed to Riverton for the funeral of Lawson's father, Dan Lighten. I am so thankful I could go. I left tearful, yet very inspired and uplifted. Lawson did a fantastic job, and I felt proud to know him. It's crazy to think that only two weeks before I had seen Dan, and never would have guessed that his time on earth was almost done. Since late 2018, the family has known the time was near. So many of those we pass are struggling with things we can’t imagine, and yet never complain or make a scene. I pray that the Lighten family will be comforted during this time.
Returning to Provo after, I had half an hour to get ready and then pick up my date, Kathryn, to head to the Pioneer Day concert. My roommate Tyler and his girlfriend Cat joined us. We made it to the Conference Center just barely before the start (I may or may not have driven down the wrong side of a road attempting to find the parking garage…). The concert featured the Norwegian singer, Sissel, and she was fantastic! Elegant, genuine, and powerful. Some of the songs were in Norweigan, and the program also featured a medley of old railroad songs. My favorite was “How Great Thou Art,” sung in both English and Norwegian. It was a fantastic date, and we seemed to get along fantastically. She is one of thirteen children, and grew up on a small farm in Orem. Recently graduated in Global Supply Chain management and working as a consultant. She actually served in the Tempe Mission at the same time as me, but our paths never crossed.
Sunday I invited a few friends over, grilled some steaks (poorly this time) and made rice and beans. Colored by a “vinaigrette” salad, and spiced up with some farofa, it was a good Brazilian meal. Between lots of trips, this was my quiet week.
Tuesday saw the return of our Come Follow Me group. We had a good turnout, joined for the first time by another ward member, Tammy, and great insightful discussion.
I was pleasantly surprised to receive a text from Pres. Young asking if he could buy two pies. I made them Saturday morning and then Kimball and I drove to drop them off. It was a brief hello, and then we headed over to the oldest remaining golf course in Utah, Nibley Park, which was nearby. The land had been donated in the 1920's with the condition that it stay a golf course, or be returned to the family. The city has grown much since then, and now the course is an urban oasis, surrounded by multi-lane roads on all sides. Nevertheless, heavily wooded, it feels completely different. It has remained very characteristic of the era it was built with raised greens sloping off on all sides. And being in the city, it is impossible to lengthen it anymore, so many of the holes only played to 300-350 yards. Which meant I could drive a couple, which is always fun. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time.
For the fourth Sunday, the Elders Quorum Presidency taught during the second hour of church. We split into three groups, and Jacob, Dillon, and I each led discussions for one of the three groups. The conference talk we studied for the week was Elder Quentin Cook's, "Great Love for Our Father's Children." In our group, we ended up focusing on some verses in 1 John. One of these was 1 John 4:18-21:
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.We love him him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God loveth his brother also."
And now my all-time favorite line from a movie:
"The only way to be happy is to love. Unless you love, your life will flash by."
Love is the key. I know that if we ask for the gift of charity and earnestly seek to develop it, God will bless us with it. And if we serve our fellow men, we will one day stand before God, see his face, and be able to say that we love Him.
|
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
The Working Man's Words
Monday, July 29, 2019
Sunday, July 28, 2019
With All My Love
My Dear Children,
I'm finding that not having written for three weeks now, the thoughts keep spinning in my head!
The highlights are easy. Porter's home from Brazil, the most hale and hearty missionary of the three boys who have served there. He's also been hale and hearty in reacquainting himself with his possessions. They are spread everywhere! But I do admit they're only in two spots: The bedroom and the living room. His bathroom is my living room table, his bedroom my living room floor. His closet the kids' bedroom floor. But it's worth the mess to have him home. He thinks he has found some place to live. I love when, as he's walking around the house, I hear him humming and singing hymns of the church. I love how hard he's tried to get his new student life in order, taking any work that comes his way, and trying to plan the best he can without having knowledge of all things, specifically money.
He's enjoyed playing baseball with the boys and friends, as well as basketball at the Y Saturday mornings. He's enjoyed driving a car again, drinking milk. He's patiently and without complaint slept on the floor.
The 24th of July is a day associated in our culture of the day the pioneers entered Salt Lake Valley after an arduous journey rife with sacrifices, enduring all for the possibilities of eternal blessings. This year the day ended with announcements from everyone.
Hunter was able to attend the Pioneer concert in Salt Lake. So many cultural benefits living in Utah! He loved it, and had a great time with his date. He's very creative in going after someone when they interest him. This girl popped up as also having served in Tempe, AZ Mission, and had mutual acquaintances. So he used those friends to help set them up. He has another friend who's getting married. This fiance, who enjoys going on double dates with Hunter, allowed him to select a few options from his Facebook page, so he has more options in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed having him home for a week. It was too short. He's good for a lot of laughs, was a big help in the kitchen, and will enjoy going out to eat as a family the next visit :-). He was a good sport sleeping up on a bunk too short, but the mattress was preferable to the floor.
Tanner has worked extremely hard in generating letters requesting interview opportunities for next summer's internship. His goal was 100 letters. He probably reached that goal near the end of June. He's had a few in Dallas, but was told to wait two weeks to hear back. He had one in California. This week he was in New York City. He found out thirty minutes after he left that they extended the job to him. He's thrilled, as am I. The international agency loved his ability to speak Portuguese, the fact that he interned this summer in Australia with an agency they are very familiar with, his experience in Scotland as well as the journal he'll be writing for. Tanner has not had much of a summer this year, but his hard work and perseverance have paid off. The fact that his in laws have retired, and will love visiting for those Broadway shows is wonderful. That we'll have a stopping point on the way to New England, and a place to visit New York City is a plus. The fact that this job next summer, whether or not he chooses to remain longer, will open up other employment opportunities is undisputed.
I found out that my schedule has finally changed, now Wednesdays through Saturdays, no longer being required to work Sundays. This change occurred after over fifty employees had been hired, then fired. One was tenacious enough to finish training. The next one so skilled will move me to a weekday shift. My ten piano students will be joining me now on a weekly basis, whether it's playing one hymn, or helping with prelude. That is if I still can fit piano students into this schedule.
Porter and Cooper have been hard at work picking up jobs where available. More unreliable options are preferred to hiring an intelligent, hard working boy that's around for a short time. But they've been blessed. Cooper's tenure at Stumpy's might be ending, as he's willing to allow Porter to take over his three weekly shifts. We've enjoyed Cooper sharing his Stumpy leftovers with his, especially the cup cakes.
Jarrod had a conference in Houston, and was able to travel with Miller, as a Houston Astro game was available Monday night. It also happened to be Mormon night, with the Houston Astro missionaries singing the national anthem, and Elder Bednar throwing out the first pitch. Miller brought home two warm up balls, continuing his six baseball game streak of bringing home the ball.
Jarrod's sister shared with us her dog shock collar for Wagner. The boys retrieved it when they all went to her house for two nights, which might end up being their vacation of the summer. They enjoyed the games, the pool, the food.
Back to the shock collar. It has taken us multiple times on the internet to figure out it works. No booklet was attached. Sawyer and I figured out all the different modes, how to charge the collar. And have had many adventures in the process. Poor Wagner! At one point I had the shock value up to 100 not realizing the collar needed to be charged. Another time I was thinking "Success!" when the collar had not even been turned on. But when we had everything on and working, oh dear! The 25 shock made him flip in the air and howl. That was for not sitting. When he decided he didn't want to stay in the backyard, the 15 made him jerk and yip, but it took four of those to help him decide he needed to turn around. Now it's on the 5, and a vibrate is usually all it takes. We even had a dog charge us on a walk and he didn't react. Love it. There's still lots of work to do, as he associates the collar with staying by me, which is great, but we'll help him learn the backyard is for him to roam. Without me.
Friday evening we chose to eat out together at DelNort Tacos in Godfrey. Great TexAmerican restaurant. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food.
Mom
I'm finding that not having written for three weeks now, the thoughts keep spinning in my head!
Amy Hiers Moe and family visiting the folks
The highlights are easy. Porter's home from Brazil, the most hale and hearty missionary of the three boys who have served there. He's also been hale and hearty in reacquainting himself with his possessions. They are spread everywhere! But I do admit they're only in two spots: The bedroom and the living room. His bathroom is my living room table, his bedroom my living room floor. His closet the kids' bedroom floor. But it's worth the mess to have him home. He thinks he has found some place to live. I love when, as he's walking around the house, I hear him humming and singing hymns of the church. I love how hard he's tried to get his new student life in order, taking any work that comes his way, and trying to plan the best he can without having knowledge of all things, specifically money.
He's enjoyed playing baseball with the boys and friends, as well as basketball at the Y Saturday mornings. He's enjoyed driving a car again, drinking milk. He's patiently and without complaint slept on the floor.
The 24th of July is a day associated in our culture of the day the pioneers entered Salt Lake Valley after an arduous journey rife with sacrifices, enduring all for the possibilities of eternal blessings. This year the day ended with announcements from everyone.
Hunter was able to attend the Pioneer concert in Salt Lake. So many cultural benefits living in Utah! He loved it, and had a great time with his date. He's very creative in going after someone when they interest him. This girl popped up as also having served in Tempe, AZ Mission, and had mutual acquaintances. So he used those friends to help set them up. He has another friend who's getting married. This fiance, who enjoys going on double dates with Hunter, allowed him to select a few options from his Facebook page, so he has more options in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed having him home for a week. It was too short. He's good for a lot of laughs, was a big help in the kitchen, and will enjoy going out to eat as a family the next visit :-). He was a good sport sleeping up on a bunk too short, but the mattress was preferable to the floor.
Tanner has worked extremely hard in generating letters requesting interview opportunities for next summer's internship. His goal was 100 letters. He probably reached that goal near the end of June. He's had a few in Dallas, but was told to wait two weeks to hear back. He had one in California. This week he was in New York City. He found out thirty minutes after he left that they extended the job to him. He's thrilled, as am I. The international agency loved his ability to speak Portuguese, the fact that he interned this summer in Australia with an agency they are very familiar with, his experience in Scotland as well as the journal he'll be writing for. Tanner has not had much of a summer this year, but his hard work and perseverance have paid off. The fact that his in laws have retired, and will love visiting for those Broadway shows is wonderful. That we'll have a stopping point on the way to New England, and a place to visit New York City is a plus. The fact that this job next summer, whether or not he chooses to remain longer, will open up other employment opportunities is undisputed.
I found out that my schedule has finally changed, now Wednesdays through Saturdays, no longer being required to work Sundays. This change occurred after over fifty employees had been hired, then fired. One was tenacious enough to finish training. The next one so skilled will move me to a weekday shift. My ten piano students will be joining me now on a weekly basis, whether it's playing one hymn, or helping with prelude. That is if I still can fit piano students into this schedule.
Porter and Cooper have been hard at work picking up jobs where available. More unreliable options are preferred to hiring an intelligent, hard working boy that's around for a short time. But they've been blessed. Cooper's tenure at Stumpy's might be ending, as he's willing to allow Porter to take over his three weekly shifts. We've enjoyed Cooper sharing his Stumpy leftovers with his, especially the cup cakes.
Breyer, cocoa and TimTam yum
Jarrod's sister shared with us her dog shock collar for Wagner. The boys retrieved it when they all went to her house for two nights, which might end up being their vacation of the summer. They enjoyed the games, the pool, the food.
Back to the shock collar. It has taken us multiple times on the internet to figure out it works. No booklet was attached. Sawyer and I figured out all the different modes, how to charge the collar. And have had many adventures in the process. Poor Wagner! At one point I had the shock value up to 100 not realizing the collar needed to be charged. Another time I was thinking "Success!" when the collar had not even been turned on. But when we had everything on and working, oh dear! The 25 shock made him flip in the air and howl. That was for not sitting. When he decided he didn't want to stay in the backyard, the 15 made him jerk and yip, but it took four of those to help him decide he needed to turn around. Now it's on the 5, and a vibrate is usually all it takes. We even had a dog charge us on a walk and he didn't react. Love it. There's still lots of work to do, as he associates the collar with staying by me, which is great, but we'll help him learn the backyard is for him to roam. Without me.
Friday evening we chose to eat out together at DelNort Tacos in Godfrey. Great TexAmerican restaurant. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food.
I read “Preparing for the Lord’s Return” by Elder D. Todd
Christofferson. In regards to this topic, he said that one impressions he
received was that, “The work of
ministering to temporal needs is vital and must continue. He also said that President
Nelson has repeatedly emphasized that the “gathering [of Israel], including the
redemptive effort on behalf of our ancestors, is the most important thing
taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else
compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty."
How fitting that for the first time in more than 40 years —
the State of Kuwait gave official recognition to a religious organization. That
organization is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are practical and “extremely
significant” benefits of a government recognizing a church, including the
ability to open a bank account as a church, to rent or own property and to seek
visas for humanitarian volunteers. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles dedicated Kuwait for the blessings of the gospel in 2011.
Continue on in this great work. My favorite work is you, my
children, my favorite sounds your laughter, my favorite memories your love.
Mom
Friday, July 26, 2019
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Monday, July 22, 2019
Sunday, July 21, 2019
The Working Man's Words
|
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Friday, July 12, 2019
The Working Man's Words
The start was admittedly not fun. Our plane left at 6 am, which meant waking up at 3:30. Some day I’m going to start packing before 11 pm, but not this time. I do love driving so early and seeing a state asleep, with everything yet to start for the day.
We arrived in LAX at 7:30ish, and one of my travel companions, Glenn, rented a car, and I joined him and Angel and we were off to the office. Or to battle the infamous traffic. We were welcomed to a delicious breakfast, and I soon realized that I am blessed to be working for a company whose founders are undeniably foodies.
Lunch was at the Taco Shack, and I ate a nice California burrito. The day was filled with onboarding tasks so lets get back to the good stuff: the food. Dinner was on our own, and we met up with our Utah manager, Ben, for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant where I tried the cheesesteak.
Working in the office courtyard. I'm with Angel, Ben (the bald one) and Glenn
Because of my early departure and lackadaisical regard to bedtime during the fourth weekend, my head was pounding and despite taking tylenol, the pain wasn’t subsiding much. It was early to bed, and prayers for a quick recovery.
Thankfully that did materialize and my head felt a lot better Tuesday.
Food, food, a little work, more food. That sums up the week basically. I enjoyed hearing more of the company vision, and meeting my co-workers. The next few months here will be a lot of fun as we expand rapidly. They recently raised $15 million in an effort to make a big push these next few months.
Bass with veggies and lemon yogurt. SO GOOD!
lunch at a Lebanese place. We also had lunch there Thursday. Tasty, but not so filling
Additionally, I was able to catch up on my sleep, read, write and in general live quite scrumptiously. It was a good change of pace to have a king sized bed, no roommates, no distractions, basically no expenditures on my time besides the whole 8-5 part.
Wednesday night, Aunt Janeen and Sam came down from Long Beach and I spent the evening with them. This was my favorite part of the trip, and I appreciate their efforts to come down and see me. We had a good time at Wahoo’s fish tacos and talking about everything that is happening in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Alas, I failed to take a picture to help record this memory.
Our flight left at 7:50 pm Thursday and we arrived in Utah about 10:30. Turns out the highway was down to one lane, so the anticipated 45 minute drive took almost two hours. Knowing I’d be leaving for Texas in hours, I didn’t unpack, deciding to leave my dirty clothes in my suitcase and take the same things with me.
I made it to work Friday morning and then headed with Ben to help run a booth at a little car show that was happening nearby. Our company had reserved a spot for this, so Ben and I went and set up some horseshoes and handed out drinks to realtors and loan officers and played against them while talking about ListReports. Finally, at 3:45, I was headed out of Utah. This was later than I had intended, so it was Lyft to the rescue, with me leaving my car in the work parking lot.
My Lyft driver to the airport had moved to the US from Brasil only two years before and we talked in Portuguese the entire trip. I let him know that my brother had in fact just returned the day before from Campinas. To be continued....
|
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
