Who I Am - after funeral thoughts

Though I don't listen to country music everyday, or even every month, I do have a few favorites. Not because they are amazing in and of themselves, but because they are associated with a meaningful event, relationship, or insight that I had while the song might have been popular.

Over 10 years ago I remember a song sung by Jessica Andrews caught my attention. It is called "Who I Am."

Here are the lyrics:

If I live to be a hundred
And never see the seven wonders
That'll be alright
If I don't make it to the big leagues
If I never win a Grammy
I'm gonna be just fine
Cause I know exactly who I am

I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done my momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends that love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am

So when I make a big mistake
And when I fall flat on my face
I know I'll be alright
Should my tender heart be broken
I will cry those teardrops knowing
I will be just fine
Cause nothing changes who I am

I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done my momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends that love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am

I'm a saint and I'm a sinner
I'm a loser; I'm a winner
I am steady and unstable
I'm young, but I am able

I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done my momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends that love me
And they know where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am

The lyrics still hit home with me as I reflect upon my grandmother's life, my life, my parents lives, and ....on the future.

We are made up of our heritage and our own life experiences. Some of those experiences are amazing. Some are not.

The beauty of it all is that we have the ability to change the future - to incorporate those wonderful traits and attributes of those that have gone before and to change those areas that are harmful, useless, or detrimental to our lives and the lives of our families.

What a wonderful gift - to be able to improve and continually change!

Surrounded by so many relatives I was reminded of my wonderful heritage as well as the weaknesses of the collective group. I was able to reflect, to contemplate, to be inspired, and to grow closer to people and memories.

It has changed me for the better. Yes, sometimes I'm a loser, unstable, and clumsy. But, as the song says "It's all a part of me and that's who I am." But, there is current and future greatness wrapped into that as well.

Grateful for this time away from home to re-look at life and prepare for the next steps.

Celebrating the life of Grandma Elizabeth

Funerals do that to us, don't they?

Yes, they do. 

It is sad that grandma is gone, but it is time to celebrate her life by incorporating the goodness that she gave us.

I'm not Rosemary's granddaughter. I'm Elizabeth's granddaughter. I'm Marjorie's granddaughter. I do look like my father and my mother is my biggest fan.

That's who I am.

Yea! 

In Memory Of - Grandma - Elizabeth Hanks Clark

On Friday, October 25, 2013, in the afternoon, my grandmother Elizabeth (Beth) slipped away peacefully in her sleep.

She was 93 years and 49 weeks old. I thought for sure her goal was to reach 94 years. But, she decided to leave peacefully while still having her wit and senses about her.

I shed a few tears, but am content in knowing that I made a special trip to see her in May earlier this year because I knew it was close to her time. My constant priority to write letters to my grandparents these past few years has come from that gnawing feeling I've had from other experiences and regrets.

It is important to me to take time this weekend to write down my memories and thoughts about her as a final tribute to a woman that made it possible for me to be on this planet! Remembering her reminds me of where I've come from and where I want to go. These moments of reflection are invaluable to modifying our paths in life to ensure that we are seeking the right things and that we can take with us when we pass to the next step after our lives on this earth end.

And so it goes, a long tribute to my grandmother - a woman who led a long and meaningful life!

Don't know much

I don't actually know a lot about my grandmother. She was one of the rare women who graduated from college back in the day. She attended Brigham Young Academy (now Brigham Young University - Utah). She met my grandfather when they lined up across from their partners and someone counted one off. Wa-la! There was grandpa!

They married and started having children - nine to be exact.

Since I'm the oldest grandchild of 42+ grandchildren, I might have the longest memories of her, but there were a lot of children and grandchildren in Idaho at that time and I grew up primarily in the Mid-western United States. My memories are most often associated with the summers we traveled "out West" to see "Grandma's house" each summer and when my grandparents came to see us wherever we lived.

My sister RaeLyn prepares to blow out three candles. I'm in the background sitting on grandma's lap anticipating the event. This is the first time I remember clearly being with my grandmother. P.S. I'm realizing that my anxiety started really young. I still don't like suspense!

Hardworking Woman (aka Stay at Home Mom)

Grandma always seemed to be busy - busy preparing music to teach children at church, busy canning peaches and other fruit, busy cleaning the house or yard, busy playing the piano or organ, busy with genealogy, and busy with other church and family responsibilities.

Genealogy project in May 2013 - she couldn't rest until we started working on it

After seeing her example, and that of my own mother, I've never understood why "Stay At Home Mom" is used to describe women who choose to spend time with their children during the hours of 8-5. I never got the feeling that this was a negative thing because at my grandmothers house and my own home, it seemed like there were never ending projects and activities going on that kept everything active and busy. That didn't even count all of the time spent going outside, traveling around town and perhaps even over to another town for a day. 

LtoR: Mom, Me, and Grandma - in my Pentagon City, VA apartment in 1999

To this day, I hope to be a mother like my grandmother and my own mother - thinking outside the stay at home box and thinking more about using time and resources toward creating a wonderful learning environment for my family.

A Loving Inspiration to Children

She was hardworking, but whenever a child entered the room she was right there greeting them with all of her love and attention. She read stories in her special storytelling voice, helped them play with the toys in her special children's area downstairs, and taught them to love music.

One Christmas we were staying at my grandparents house and my parents wanted to take me out on an errand. It was right after receiving the Christmas gifts and I've always been a bit possessive of ALL my belongings and wanted to take everything with me. My parents would not let me. I cried and complained and my grandmother assured me that everything would be ok. It ended up more than ok. While we were gone she whipped up a new dress for the doll I received that Christmas. I was amazed and in awe that this could come about while we were out on a simple errand. I think I still have that doll and that dress hidden in my cedar chest (which has a flat screen TV sitting on top of it right now and so I'll just keep writing). 

Music

It seemed that much of her life revolved around music. She was the chorister for the children at church into her 90s! She played the piano and the organ and she loved to sing. I still remember summer evenings when her children (my aunts and uncles) would gather in the living room to sing and tell stories. It was fun to sit back and listen and it the deep rich voices all blended into wonderful harmonies.

Missionary and Willing Traveler

Right after my grandparents got married, they went on a mission to New York. Or, at least my grandmother joined my grandfather at least partway through his mission. After their children were raised, they decided to go to New Guinea and New Zealund. I was in grade school and perhaps junior high school during these years. I remember that my first computer programming was a picture of a kiwi bird, inspired by a picture from their mission of a kiwi bird. I was so proud that my grandparents were off in an exotic foreign land teaching the gospel of Christ, educating the villages, and setting up singing programs in their local communities.

Most recent form of transportation

I served a mission in my early 20s and was able to visit them on their last mission in Pittsburgh, PA. It was great to be involved in similar work and know the same joys they had experienced.

Gift Giver

Grandma was known for making birthday gifts and Christmas gifts a year ahead of schedule. With so many brothers, sisters, and grandchildren it was quite the task. But, she did it. There were moments of fun when clothing was made or purchased a year ahead of time and the gifts didn't quite fit. But, it was the thought that counted and we all had large families where the article of clothing was bound to fit someone!

Wife, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother

I don't have children, but I'm an aunt to over 20 children and find joy in celebrating their successes and seeing them grow. She was from a large family, she raised a large family and she was there for all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren along the way. 

She took her roles as wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother very seriously until the end. In fact, until yesterday she greeted family and other visitors by name and held conversations with them and made their children feel special.

Legacy and Example

My grandmother has created a legacy. A posterity that has gone on to have great faith, pursue high goals and to obtain education (both formally and informally). There are some things she never said, but her example showed what was important to her - God, family, church, education, music, and teaching children. 

At the end of the day, what really matters is how we feel around a person. If they make us better for having known them. If we aspire to higher goals because of their influence. If we gain faith by feeling their Spirit.

My grandmother made me a better person. I'm proud to be her grand-daughter. I'm proud to be her posterity. I hope to continue to honor her as I make decisions for this second half of this wonderful life. 

Many people often say R.I.P. signifying "Rest In Peace." I'm sorry. I don't think that is happening right now with my grandmother. I think she is already whispering in the ears of all of us to get started on that next project swishing around in our heads. Or, maybe she is leading a singing group in a heavenly choir or perhaps telling some children a story.

No matter, I know she is pain free, busy and awaiting when she can see the rest of her family. It  may take a while. Some of us have some work still to do here!

Good-bye Grandma! I love you and am grateful for the many years we've had together - my entire life and just 1/2 of yours.

Love you,

Rebecca

Your Oldest Grandchild

In Memory Of - Shane Mitchell

Life is precious, but sometimes we don't realize it until it is gone, right?

This weekend our church congregation received some very sad news. A member of our congregation had died in a Ragnar Relay. I didn't even know what the Ragnar Relay was until this weekend. Obviously, I'm not a runner, but apparently a lot of people know about it and participate in the race across the nation.

Shane was my "home teacher" for a couple of months last year. So, I didn't know him well. He and his wife and little one year old son made for a really cute family. A little quiet, very nice and quick to smile. He was here for law school, along with many other couples in my congregation. He was only in his 20s.

Here's the ONLY thing I found on the web about it over three days later - http://itjustlookslikeslowmotion.blogspot.com/2010/09/running-really-sucks-sometimes.html - which has bothered me a bit. These are the times where we should plaster our love for individuals all over the web and let people know that this happened. In fact, it would be even better to do so while people are alive and well. Plus, it seems like it would be a good time to make some of these great races a little safer for all runners everywhere.

I'm so glad that their close friend wrote her thoughts down. It is much better to hear it from someone who really cares than from a news source, right?

My life has some really tough parts right now, but these sad moments put it all in perspective. We could be gone at any time. Others in our lives could be gone at any time. So little time to truly live!

Am I willing to live my life a little fuller,
       help people a little more,
                 look up and smile at people passing by,
                     be a little more patient with loved ones or co-workers?

After all, it could be my last opportunity...or theirs.

My heart goes out to Holly, Preston, family, friends and their fellow runners! This is tough stuff and it doesn't get any easier over time. Praying that they will find peace and comfort at this time of sorrow.

May God be with them til they meet again...

In Memory of - Great Aunt Irene

This past week my Great Aunt Irene died.

She was about 92 years old. Lived a full life!

Since she lived "across the river" in Maryland, I was able to visit her at times. That has been a few years because she moved to be near her daughter for the last few years of her life since she'd spent the years around here with her son.

Here are a few memories:

• Breyer's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream - Way back in the 1980s, my family took a trip to DC and stopped by my Great Aunt and Uncle's home in Bethesda, Maryland. I remember it being near the temple for our church, but they weren't members and so they didn't go with us to visit it. However, they did feed us out on the grill and followed it up with the best vanilla ice cream I'd ever had at that point in my life! She informed me that the little black dots in the ice cream made it taste better and I've been hooked on Breyers since that time.
• Oil painting - She loved to paint. I think that she picked it up later in life. Never mind that, she was determined. So determined that she signed up for painting classes across the world. Yep, not just local little paint classes, but classes in exotic places.
• Travel - Even in her 80s she was taking trips to exotic places around the world - and not just to paint. She went on a safari and other such adventures.
• Kindle, email, and technology - When I was visiting her one day a few years ago, she got me involved in working on her computer. Something wasn't right and she and I both ended up on the floor re-directing wires. Really, a woman in her 80s and me. Since that time, she added me to her email list, she joined Facebook and requested all future book gifts to come electronically for her Amazon Kindle. Fuh-ney. Who says technology savy has anything to do with age?
• Aching Back and Hips - She informed me in another visit that her back and hip hurt and she didn't know why. Hmmm. Age?
• Laughter - Sometimes she was quiet and sometimes she'd tell a good story and share a cute laugh.
• Joy in grandchildren - She was ALWAYS raving about her grandchildren. Don't all grandmothers? But, I of course got to listen to a few extra piano solos and see little people dance around the house at her promptings.
• Loving to a not so related relative - A great aunt, unless located near you, aren't typically that close. I'm glad she took time to invite me over, talk, and share.

She died peacefully in her sleep. The right way to go.

I'm grateful she was a part of my life.

Olympic opener Reflections - Torches, Dreams and Missing Man

This Olympic Ceremony will most likely stick in my mind longer than most.

Sure, there were great reporters, athletes and panoramic visions of Canada the beautiful. Sure, there were cheery people from all over the world and smiling athletes expecting that large gold coin.

This was no Beijing, aye? Sore-ey. I just had to add that.

It wasn't supposed to be and who can compete with a country of billions that spent billions to wow us with a dramatic display of precision.

The Canadian opener wasn't about precision and wasn't about big money. Or, at least it didn't appear to be so.

I thought it was artfully presented - simple, beautiful and thought provoking. Take a look at some shots from NBC - http://www.nbcolympics.com/ceremonies/index.html - throughout the coming weeks.

I also found this great link with little clips from the ceremony - http://www.mahalo.com/2010-olympics-opening-ceremony. I loved the whale portion where they utilized the 3D technology that is so "in" vogue right now.

The Olympics started out with one missing this year.

Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luge slider, died during practice. It was shocking to see the video and realize that all of my personal fears surrounding the luge were realized. It happened so quickly and there was a wrench in my heart watching someone pass on from this world.

The moment of silence for him during the ceremony wasn't quite enough. Sometimes I think those moments should be two minutes. At the end of the first minute your mind finally starts to reflect and at that point appreciation for life kicks in and it would be nice to think about that a little longer.

In a strange way, I am grateful that the fourth leg of the cauldron didn't go up during the torch lighting ceremony. It created another moment of silence. In some ways it resembled the missing man format ritual performed to honor the fallen comrade (air man).

It ended up, for me, being a reminder that not everyone that came prepared would perform. And, that regardless of talents and preparation, life can leave us at any time.

So for me, this Olympics starts with some reflection, appreciation for life and ...with some pretty cool dreams of me performing amazing feats on my virtual snowboard.

Let the games begin! - and end with life for all!

In Memory of Holly Williams

Tonight I opened email to find a message stating that my friend Holly Williams had passed away. She had found out she had lymphoma in November 2008. Though treatable, she started getting worse, and in the process of starting chemo they found out that she had pancreatic cancer. We had dinner with her in June 2009 and she stated that she had 4-6 months to live at that time.




We didn't think she would last that long and I think I blogged about how it felt like we were sitting with someone that was already on their way to the other side.



Holly was a fairly private and quiet person. She was a researcher at the Smithsonian Institute for 30 years or so. We frequently referred to her as "the bug lady" and just this past year I realized (after more detailed discussions) that she was an expert in different species of flies. She is one of the few experts in the world on this area, but one would never know it. I stole her picture from the Smithsonian website and it is clear from her t-shirt that she loves these things!

Holly always invited us to all of these single events for those older than 31 in our church. We went to various sites around DC, a few canoe/kayaking trips, and even a skipjack excursion in Annapolis, Maryland. On a more personal level, we would go out to eat with her every few months to catch up on politics, current events, and general friendship. The food was typically of the Lebanese, Afghan, Peruvian or Thai variety. Hole in the wall restaurants and no food chains allowed.

We could never quite figure out Holly's age, but knew that she was a lot older than we were, and far more physically fit. She had had seizures years ago and was on medication most of her life. I think this was the motivation to riding her bike to work in Washington, DC. Rain or shine, winter or summer - she rode her bike to work up and down the Arlington hills and into the city for all those years.

She was a convert to the Mormon church and lovingly spoke of the boss that introduced her to her religion. She volunteered weekly at the Washington, DC temple and was a firm believer in emergency preparedness, food storage, and political activism.

She was mad before she died. She was frustrated by the limitations of her body. I've seen this before when someone knows they are leaving this world, but want to keep living their fulfilling life. It is hard to watch, but I know that she lived a full life and still maintained hope and faith until the end. She didn't want it to be her time, but she prepared for it regardless of her desires.

I am grateful for her friendship and her appreciation for our relationship. Sometimes I feel guilty that she valued our relationship more than I put into it. I know there are people that I wish to spend more time with too that have others in their lives that are more important. I've decided that that is ok. We all play different roles in each others lives. And, those roles change over time.

This is just my short appreciation letter to Holly.

She is at peace now and I'm grateful to have been a small part of her life.

Anne Clark Heiner - newspaper article

I found my Aunt Anne's obituary. It's always amazing all of the things you learn about people after they are gone. Amazing life!

http://www.magicvalley.com/obituaries/?type=obit&id=76360

Anne Clark Heiner
PAUL - Anne Clark Heiner, teacher, mentor and champion of youth, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at her home in Paul. She was 55. Despite a childhood condition that required multiple surgeries to her heart and left it faltering the remainder of her life, she mustered what energy was left her in boundless service to her Heavenly Father, her family and her community. Anne was an innovative, skilled and dedicated teacher and counselor of youth for 20-plus years. She taught school in small communities all over southern Idaho, including Burley, Bruneau, Declo, Dietrich and Malta. She taught on elementary and secondary levels. She taught at an alternative school and a charter school. She taught in a local prison.

Anne was also well traveled. She had visited or studied abroad in such countries as Israel, New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia, several European countries, Egypt, Thailand, Mexico and Central America. She therefore learned how to combine her passion for teaching youth and traveling by giving her students a taste of a broader world and brotherhood. Anne was dedicated to following through with her students, trying to help them with their lives outside of school. She tried to teach her troubled youth a modicum of family normalcy with lessons on etiquette and respect, introductions to a higher level of fine music, art, literature and drama, and how to play traditional wholesome games. She was the Cassia County Teacher of the Year in 1993.

Anne was born June 1, 1953, in Rupert. Anne graduated with an English degree from Brigham Young University and completed her teaching degree at Idaho State University. She served an 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the Navajo-speaking mission in Arizona and New Mexico. Anne married Dennis Heiner of Paul on Sept. 24, 1999, in the Jordan River Temple in Utah. Anne and Dennis were beloved of each other. For nearly 10 years, Anne was blessed to assume the role she always desired, that of wife. She delighted in the individual personalities of Dennis' four children and loved being part of their growth.

Anne stood Tin Soldier steadfast and immovable in her religious beliefs. She often credited her lifetime of service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as her true growth, the callings she was given helping her to stretch. She faithfully and fully immersed herself in such responsibilities as that of Sunday school teacher, stake Relief Society president, Young Women president, seminary teacher, visiting teacher, Primary presidency, young adult adviser and various music callings. Anne honored her noble parents in a multitude of ways, considered it an honor to have been part of the lives of every one of her siblings, adored her Dennis, and was the truest of friends to so many of her worldwide brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis Heiner of Paul; Dennis' four children, Jessica and (Dusty) Colter of Gooding, Leisel Heiner of Logan, Utah, Rebekah Heiner of Chicago, Ill., and Joseph Heiner of Moscow; her parents, Alma and Elizabeth Clark of Burley; her siblings, Charles and (Diane) Clark of Noblesville, Ind., Kathryn C. Tompkins of Jefferson, Ga., Steven and (Luanne) Clark of Pocatello, Gordon and (Janet) Clark of Boise, John and (Sandra) Clark of Orem, Utah, Antone and (Cindy) Clark of Layton, Utah, Ellen Clark of Thailand/Logan, Utah, and Paul and (Tondee) Clark of Boise; 42 Clark nieces and nephews; and 13 Heiner nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Rupert LDS 1st Ward-Spanish Branch church (the former Rupert Stake tabernacle), 806 G St. in Rupert, with President Jeffrey C. Harper officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley. Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St. in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.
• Published Thursday, February 26, 2009

In Memory of Anne Clark Heiner

Today I found out that my Aunt Anne passed away in her sleep. She was in her 50s. She was one of my youngest aunts (I think there are about 15 in all). She had heart problems from a young age, but it had rarely prevented her from travel, education, church involvement or staying busy.

I don't remember when I first remember Aunt Anne. It seemed to me that she was always in school or traveling when I was young. She used to curl our hair and put lip gloss on our lips (along with our Aunt Ellen) whenever we went to visit my grandparents in Burley, Idaho. It was fun to be made glamorous by our aunts. She must have been in her earlier 20s at that time.

When I got a little older, I remember taking a trip with Aunt Anne to Bruneau, Idaho to drop off some of her teaching supplies for the new school year. We (Renaye & I) went to her school and to her new home - a little house that seemed to be in a wide field in the middle of nowhere. Though I like the wide open spaces, I remember not wanting to ever have to do that by myself. I figured she must be pretty brave to conquer the wide open spaces of Idaho.

I will admit that I had my moments with Aunt Anne. She was very direct with her questions and sometimes they came at times where I couldn't handle them emotionally. What are you planning to do with your life? That was the question that came in front of a room full of aunts and uncles at a family gathering. I was 20 years old and really didn't know what I was planning to do. What is preventing you from getting married? That came in front of a little group of people right at a difficult time too. Yet, she was one person that was allowed to ask these questions. She was single until her mid-40s. She was an example to me of perseverance even when life didn't go the way it was planned. She got her teaching degree and a masters degree. She traveled the world. She was invited to do interesting things - some kind of trip with National Geographic, jury duty for some people that neglected their pet tigers in Idaho (?), and working with kids that had committed some interesting crimes. She even served a mission for our church on a Navajo Indian reservation and spoke Navajo. Rare.

In a heart to heart conversation at some point before she met her husband, I still remember her telling me this:

"God's delays are not God's denials."

That quote has stuck with me for a long time and I've shared it with many a friend.


It is sad that she is gone. I think the last time I saw my Aunt Anne was in 2005 and so it is probably time that I take another trip out west. Only this time we won't be able to talk.

These moments kind of shake me up a bit, but I do walk away appreciating life, wanting to make the most of it and feeling an immense sense of gratitude for family/friends.

Aunt Anne is in a good place right now, though that will provide little comfort to many at the moment. She fought a good fight, lived with meaning, and had an influence on more people than I will ever know being so far away.

But, I do know her influence on me, I do have memories, and I do have pictures. This evening I also do have a few moments to reflect.

I'm grateful for my Aunt Anne and look forward to seeing her again someday.

This last picture is one of my favorite pictures of Aunt Anne. It was the first I thought of when I realized that I needed to sit down and right about her this evening. We had a family reunion in Idaho when I was around 14-15 years old. There were about 35 grandchildren at the time. My mom, and some of the aunts, had put us into teams in which we had to dress up and run an obstacle course. It was so fun for a lot of the cousins. This was what my Aunt Ann dressed up in when she took a turn. Beautiful picture! I think my Dad took it.

Here's an excerpt from my sister Renaye's email. We both remembered the same excursion with our Aunt Anne!

My best memory of her was when she invited Rebecca and I to help her set up house in Warsaw, Idaho?? was that the name of the tiney town she was to be a teacher in? The town had give her a house...I think she was THE elementary teacher for the whole town or something like that!!! :) I remember helping her load up Grandpa's truck with all her things...school supplies and house supplies alike. We drove and drove what seemed like forever in the wilderness, stopping at a gas station that looked like it was straight from the 1940s!!! I looked at the gas meter on the truck and thought..."we don't need gas!"...but she said she always filled up when the needle hit the halfway point because she never wanted to be stranded, but always prepared....for some reason that really stuck with me (perhaps because we pushed OUR car many a time on trips when we had run out of gas!!! Dad...hahah)I remember being intimidated by her because she was such a strong person, seemed to be so in charge of herself and others, she knew what needed to be done and did it!...all things I was not at the time, and still struggle with, so I did look up to her for this.

Aunt Ann really made me feel important on that trip. She gave me assignments of loading and then unloading the truck, organizing boxes and items in her new surroundings, and other things i'm sure but just can't remember. The most important thing is the FEELING I had...I felt more grown up than ever before as if she recognized me as a fellow girl/young woman...(Becca do you even remember how old we were or what year that was?) For the first time I really felt an extreme amount of respect for my Aunt who was moving to the middle of nowhere, all by herself, to teach children like me....would I have done that? I don't know, but it was a poignant experience and wonderful memory...one in which I will cherish!!!

Earthquakes

There have been some highly publicized earthquakes recently. The 7.9 earthquake that hit Sichuan Province is especially troubling. The death toll is around 20,000 and they think it could reach as much as 50,000. I'm thinking it will probably be over 100,000 when all is said and done. The tsunami that was huge a few years ago started off with small figures and then it seemed to spiral upward as the weeks wore on.

I talked to some co-workers about this and how we just think that it is horrible (over here in the U.S.), feel bad for a few minutes and then go on with our day. However, if that many people died over here it would be absolute tragedy. On September 11th there weren't even close to that many people that lost their lives. Granted, that event also had other implications in our minds associated with freedom and government, but still. Someone in the conversation had worked for a major newspaper in the past and he said that these types of news just made one of the bullets on the news homepage until the numbers reached into the 100,000 range. Interesting what is then "newsworthy."

One of my other co-workers uses iGoogle, like me, and he had a little widget on his page that showed all the earthquakes taking place at any given time in the world. It was absolutely shocking to me what is going on. The middle east is quaking all over the place all the time.

I've made a screen shot to show my page with the widget. I don't know if this is a normal amount of earth quaking or if there is something we should be watching. Most you can see are on known fault lines or plates, but others seem to randomly crop up unrelated to others.

Tributes to President Gordon B. Hinckley

This evening I decided to look up tributes to President Gordon B. Hinckley instead of paint one of my bedrooms. His funeral was today and so I wanted to take some personal time to reflect on his life and how I want to live mine.

It's been wonderful to hear tributes to him on the television news, radio, internet and on friends and families blogs.

Thought I'd share with you a few:

• President Gordon B. Hinckley - a final talk - http://www.respectance.com/GordonBHinckley/videos/CjfYjx00xGGt0PX
• Glen Beck - http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/200/5127/
• YouTube tribute - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DONH655IR1E
• Aaron Clark - http://forbiddendonut7.blogspot.com/2008/01/passing-of-prophet.html
• Jessica Clark - http://gollyjess.blogspot.com/2008/01/hail-to-prophet.html

President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away - January 27, 2008

I just received an email stating that Gordon B. Hinckley just passed away today.

Here's a link I just found: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ae11627d59eec010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD


He is the president/prophet of my church. I am not sure what to feel or say at the moment. He has been so instrumental in leading our church over the past 13 years. He was spiritually in tune, but also knew how to poke fun at himself and make others laugh. He also devoted his entire life to service in the church and gave up many personal goals and interests for the good of the church membership.

I am grateful for his example and hope that I can take this time to re-align my goals to more meaningful efforts.