We were thrilled that Melanie was able to be with us. (We missed Kim though.)
Uncle Bob's passing marks an end of an era, and we are so grateful for having had his influence in our lives. We especially appreciated how Elder Eyring eulogized him as a loyal friend and a disciple of Christ, a man with whom there was no guile. Truly, he and Aunt Mary set an example for us to follow, and what better way could we honor them?
Of course, with us there is always a little levity, too. Often it is related to a "Hales Fiasco." My daughter-in-law, Corinne, got up early Friday morning to get gas in the car and wash it so it would look decent for the cortege. (On short notice, it's hard to do much to improve a 1980s Buick though. Honestly, the car doesn't really doesn't look that bad...no rust or anything...it's just an old, "old lady's" car.) As we drove to Temple Square, we were joking about the car-- that it might not start when the procession begins to move, or it might start leaking oil and leave drips on Temple Square. (Suddenly, I realized we should have rented a car instead of relying on our kids for transportation! Too late.) However, we seemed to have heaven smiling on us and got through the funeral just fine--other than a little embarrassment at definitely having the oldest and dullest car in the cortege. In fact, Stuart was so embarrassed that he insisted John drive in the procession because "it fits your age better." After the funeral luncheon, we drove his other car--a Jeep Cherokee--back home. (We picked it up in the underground parking at Temple Square. Corinne had driven it there, because she had a nursing certification test that morning before the funeral. Is life ever uncomplicated? Are you sensing a "fiasco?") We reached North Ogden and decided to stop at Walmart. Taking what we thought was the correct exit, we found ourselves on a quiet road adjacent to a sparsely populated industrial park. We came to a stop, coasting to the side of the road. Simultaneously, Melanie, John and I were asking questions and suggesting answers, as John tried to defend his innocence behind the wheel. "Look, I'm pushing on the gas pedal!" I glanced at the dash and saw something that said something about "fuel" in red lights just as the dashboard darkened. Fortunately, we were near an intersection that had posted crossroads. And fortunately, Stuart was at home with his cell phone and the trusty Buick. He soon arrived with a gas can, emptied it into the tank, and led us to a gas station.
On the way, we quipped that our "protection" had been lifted and the "Hales fiasco" was back in force. Then before we could start pumping the gas, Stuart walked over to point out a 6 inch nail sticking out of our tire! It was a miracle we hadn't had a flat tire, too! Heaven was smiling on us after all!
By the way, the colors on the Wasatch Front was the most brilliant I have ever seen. Supposedly it is because there has been so much rain this summer. (And by the way, John posted a few pictures from the plane as we flew over Greenland, if you are interested.)
A special blessing was being able to relax and be with family.
We were able to celebrate Solomon's first birthday a few days early.
We even managed to catch Trenton's soccer game.
Just watching the cousins (Anniston, Lauren and Solomon) play together was a special gift!
We flew back to Sweden in time for a marathon transfer! Tuesday morning we welcomed 12 new missionaries, Wednesday three more that had visa-waited and were sent to Arizona for 6 weeks, and Thursday 3 more arrived, who received their visas literally at the last second. Two were retrieved from a bus before it left the MTC parking lot destined for their temporary mission assignment, and the other's ticket was cancelled and a new ticket was issued the day before she was supposed to leave for her California assignment. Incidentally, John also had to take two departing missionaries to the airport at 3:30 am Thursday morning. We've been to the airport every day this week! (There were two other trips for a Senior Missionary traveling to a conference.) It has certainly been a challenge to catch up on work and sleep!
Today our stake (the Stockholm South Stake) had a special Stake Conference with Elder Whitney Clayton. His wife gave a talk about "having eyes to see," and she quoted an Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem:
...Earth's crammed with heaven
And every common bush afire with God
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries....
It made me think about what I miss. Do I see the miracles around me? Do I recognize the blessings and tender mercies that are so generously sprinkled throughout my days? Do I see the beauty of innocence, the purity of thoughtful service, the sacredness of life itself? Or am I caught a sticky web of the "thick of thin things," distracted by the shiny ripening berries that lull one into contentment?
