Our family went and visited my grandparents while my mom and dad were in town. My grandparents are elderly people. I am amazed at the flow of genetics that runs so deep in who we are.
My dad took a picture with me next to my grandpa. I got a lot of my physical appearance from his gene pool. As I looked at his old body and his once very large and physically strong hands I realized that they are now feeble looking and the strength has minimized. It is hard to imagine that just a short season ago I wondered if my grandpa and grandma would ever get old. They were both very active. Age has caught up to them and now they are slowed by the many activities in the years that are passed.
I am grateful for the gift of time and the opportunities for learning and growth. There is in each of us a similar gene pool that will be carried from us to one of our family members. Time races by swiftly and the only thing we have control of is today. Make today the very best that it can be. Make a difference! Somebody needs you and what you have to offer them will make all the difference.
Showing posts with label Memories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memories. Show all posts
Monday, September 3, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Song From Your Heart
I have enjoyed good music my entire life. The lyrics of a well-written song are meaningful and the melody of superb composition soothes the soul to its most inner core.
There are songs that are attached to memories that are very fond to me.
My younger brother, Gavin, was hospitalized with appendicitis, when he was a little boy. Because I was unaware of whether his illness was severe, I worried horribly about his prognosis. I was downstairs in our home and was very sad, and worried that somehow he was going to die. I turned on the radio, hoping to find some comfort in some music. A song came on and I listened carefully to it's words.
"You packed in the morning and I, stared out the window and I, struggled for something to say. You left in the rain without closing the door, I didn't stand in your way. But I miss you more than I, missed you before and now where I'll find comfort, God knows 'Cause you left me, just when I needed you most. Now most every morning I, stare out the window and I, think about where you might be, I've written you letters, that I'd like to send, if you would just send one to me.'Cause I need you more than I, Needed before and now, where I'll find comfort, God knows. 'Cause you left me, just when I needed you most. You packed in the morning I, stared out the window and I, struggled for something to say.
You left in the rain, without closing the door. I didn't stand in your way. Now I love you more than I, loved you before and now, where I'll find comfort, God knows. 'Cause you left me. Just when I needed you most. Oh, yeah you left me, just when I needed you most. You left me, just when I needed you most."
I heard that song as I was walking through the open market in Holland. A flood of the feelings I felt on that day, many years prior, poured over me.
Today, our family visited with my grandpa. During one portion of the conversation, a memory was shared about a time when grandpa and his older brother, Uncle Bud had sung a song. Without hesitation my grandpa began to sing the song. I will never forget that precious moment in time.
"In the little red school house,
With my book and slate,
In the little red school house,
I was always late.
I long to be back there where I was a scholar, in the days of yore.
How I'd stand right up there and hollar, "two and two are four".
When we should have been learning about the Golden Rule,
our little hearts were yearning for the swimming pool.
Oh how we'd sit and wait for the 4 o'clock bell,
the moment that we heard it we would run like...mad,
O golly gee, I want to be, in the little red school house.
Ten o'clock the spelling lessons just begun,
Johnny throws an ink ball just for fun.
Hits the teachers ear with an awful splat,
She turns around and says, "Who did that?"
Pretty little Percy in the very first row, raises up his hand and says, "Teacher, I know."
Little Johnny whispers to the teachers pride,
"You just wait till I get you outside."
Johnny's told to stand up with his face to the wall,
He says, "I don't wanna" and he tried to stall,
"If I stand up there I'll take an awful chance,
I've got a great big tear in the seat of my pants."
Teacher sends you home to wash your face and then,
you say, "Oh what's the use, it just gets dirty again."
Oh gee, I wanna be, in the little red school house."
There isn't anything better than the comfort of a song from the heart!
There are songs that are attached to memories that are very fond to me.
My younger brother, Gavin, was hospitalized with appendicitis, when he was a little boy. Because I was unaware of whether his illness was severe, I worried horribly about his prognosis. I was downstairs in our home and was very sad, and worried that somehow he was going to die. I turned on the radio, hoping to find some comfort in some music. A song came on and I listened carefully to it's words.
"You packed in the morning and I, stared out the window and I, struggled for something to say. You left in the rain without closing the door, I didn't stand in your way. But I miss you more than I, missed you before and now where I'll find comfort, God knows 'Cause you left me, just when I needed you most. Now most every morning I, stare out the window and I, think about where you might be, I've written you letters, that I'd like to send, if you would just send one to me.'Cause I need you more than I, Needed before and now, where I'll find comfort, God knows. 'Cause you left me, just when I needed you most. You packed in the morning I, stared out the window and I, struggled for something to say.
You left in the rain, without closing the door. I didn't stand in your way. Now I love you more than I, loved you before and now, where I'll find comfort, God knows. 'Cause you left me. Just when I needed you most. Oh, yeah you left me, just when I needed you most. You left me, just when I needed you most."
I heard that song as I was walking through the open market in Holland. A flood of the feelings I felt on that day, many years prior, poured over me.
Today, our family visited with my grandpa. During one portion of the conversation, a memory was shared about a time when grandpa and his older brother, Uncle Bud had sung a song. Without hesitation my grandpa began to sing the song. I will never forget that precious moment in time.
"In the little red school house,
With my book and slate,
In the little red school house,
I was always late.
I long to be back there where I was a scholar, in the days of yore.
How I'd stand right up there and hollar, "two and two are four".
When we should have been learning about the Golden Rule,
our little hearts were yearning for the swimming pool.
Oh how we'd sit and wait for the 4 o'clock bell,
the moment that we heard it we would run like...mad,
O golly gee, I want to be, in the little red school house.
Ten o'clock the spelling lessons just begun,
Johnny throws an ink ball just for fun.
Hits the teachers ear with an awful splat,
She turns around and says, "Who did that?"
Pretty little Percy in the very first row, raises up his hand and says, "Teacher, I know."
Little Johnny whispers to the teachers pride,
"You just wait till I get you outside."
Johnny's told to stand up with his face to the wall,
He says, "I don't wanna" and he tried to stall,
"If I stand up there I'll take an awful chance,
I've got a great big tear in the seat of my pants."
Teacher sends you home to wash your face and then,
you say, "Oh what's the use, it just gets dirty again."
Oh gee, I wanna be, in the little red school house."
There isn't anything better than the comfort of a song from the heart!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Freedom Is Great
I am thankful that we have the freedom to come and go as we please. We live in an incredible time when we can jump in the car and see the beauties of this world.
Utah is a beautiful state, with many of its own things to see.
Today, we are going to enjoy the day, as a family, seeing the a beauty of our immediate surroundings.
I am thankful to live in a place where we can enjoy all of these great things.
I feel of God's love for me and I thank Him today that I get to spend time doing enjoyable things with my family.
The words of a song remind me of His love.
"I know my Father lives, and loves me too. The spirit whispers this to me. And tells me it is true. He tells me it is true."
Let today be a day where memories are made that you will remember for a long time.
Utah is a beautiful state, with many of its own things to see.
Today, we are going to enjoy the day, as a family, seeing the a beauty of our immediate surroundings.
I am thankful to live in a place where we can enjoy all of these great things.
I feel of God's love for me and I thank Him today that I get to spend time doing enjoyable things with my family.
The words of a song remind me of His love.
"I know my Father lives, and loves me too. The spirit whispers this to me. And tells me it is true. He tells me it is true."
Let today be a day where memories are made that you will remember for a long time.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Let's See Him
When our oldest daughter, Natalie, was just a young toddler, she asked us one Sunday afternoon if we could see Jesus. Becky and I were puzzled by her inquisition. We asked her several times over what exactly she meant, hoping that we would better understand her. Becky and I still didn't understand what she was talking about. Finally after some thought, Becky realized that she was talking about seeing the statue of Jesus at Temple Square, in Salt Lake City. That afternoon, the three of us took a little trip to Temple Square. As we walked up the rotunda and she saw the statue of 'The Christus', we could see that He was familiar to her. For several times in the following weeks, we went to Temple Square to see Jesus.
Becky and I are so grateful we took those opportunities. Those are 'gems' that we have saved in our memory banks. We talk about them, once in a while, and feel grateful for the way they touch our lives. The time flies by so swiftly and yet those memories are deeply etched into our hearts and minds.
I am grateful for my own feelings of Jesus. I know that He is my Savior and the Redeemer of all mankind.
Natalie taught me that even a visit to Temple Square to see that large, beautiful statue of Jesus would impact us for the good.
Today, I want to pay close attention to Him and all that He has done for me. By the things that I say and do, I too can see Him. That is the greatest desire of my heart and I hope it is for you.
Becky and I are so grateful we took those opportunities. Those are 'gems' that we have saved in our memory banks. We talk about them, once in a while, and feel grateful for the way they touch our lives. The time flies by so swiftly and yet those memories are deeply etched into our hearts and minds.
I am grateful for my own feelings of Jesus. I know that He is my Savior and the Redeemer of all mankind.
Natalie taught me that even a visit to Temple Square to see that large, beautiful statue of Jesus would impact us for the good.
Today, I want to pay close attention to Him and all that He has done for me. By the things that I say and do, I too can see Him. That is the greatest desire of my heart and I hope it is for you.
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