Letter from Mom and Dad October 27, 2010

Love to all—

I am over to one of the vacant houses to do laundry this morning. I am a traveling laundry!! Tons to do as it’s been a week. We never seem to run out!! This week lots of jeans that are covered with sheet rock mud. Dad and Elder Browning began perfertaping on Monday as we passed inspection on Friday of the sheet rock. Elder browning walks on stilts. Dad prefers the ladder! Yesterday the stucco guys came and began the first coat. They were able to do both houses yesterday and will return in a week to do the next layer. I’ve sent a picture of our house at this stage. The gray color is just the under layer of stucco.

This morning they had to go find some heaters as it has gotten cold and damp here and the sheetrock mud is not curing as fast as we’d like it to. Lee wants them to concentrate on getting our house done as soon as they can and then complete the duplex after. I think that’s a great idea! We are always ready to have emergencies that will take them away to another project but hope we can get a lot done before that happens. I have been going to all the storage places on the farm and making an inventory of furniture, appliances and dishes etc. so we can furnish these 3 places. I found a wonderful big wooden rocking chair that has awful upholstery on it so that is my next project-to make new covers for it. My refinishing of that old dresser is coming along nicely.

Dad finally had his first appointment at the VA. We saw his primary care physician, a very nice man from India, Dr. Bonaparai. He has a big black beard and wears a large black turban, very fascinating! At first he was very serious and short speaking but pretty soon we got a smile out of him and when we left he was very cordial. He had flu shots and pneumonia shots and blood work done. We go back on December 3 to find out the results of his blood tests. The clinic seems very good however they are only open Mon-Fri from 8-5 so if you have an emergency you have to call a hot line and they will assess the problem and authorize you to go to a local hospital. If time isn’t a factor he has to go to the VA hospital in Los Angeles, about 2 hours away. I am waiting to get insurance during open enrollment with Kaiser Permanente. Because I didn’t change my address to California with the Social Security as soon as I got here I have to wait for the open enrollment next month and then it won’t take coverage until January, 2011 so right now I just have Medicare. Trying to stay healthy so I don’t need anything. Luckily Dr. Burton gave me a year’s supply of meds before we left in June.

Today I am busy making chili and coming up with costumes for the ward “Trunk or Treat party” tonight. This is the day 4 months ago that we got here! We love the people and love the work and especially love the changes that are happening to us as a couple and individually. What an incredible journey this earth experience is! Write and tell us all that is happening to each of you. We miss you , and especially miss seeing the things that each of you grandchildren are involved in. We used to catch up on waffle night. (We feed the Elders a lot so one night we had “waffle Night”. They loved it!) Please write to your “old grands” and fill us in on your adventures.(good & bad)

We love you and pray daily for you individually that you will be blessed and watched over and mostly that you will have experiences that will help you to grow. It is amazing how all of life’s challenges and struggles can become blessings if we turn them over to God and allow the Savior through the Holy spirit to lead us through them. We only need to be open to learn from them.

Have a great week,
Mom & Dad

Happy Friday!!

We are always amazed at how quickly the weeks are going by. Today is great because we are waiting for the inspectors to come and approve the sheet rock. Dad and Elder Browning were able to start on our home and the duplex again last week. They have been pretty beat each night as they have sheet rocked all 3 places in 9 days. Dad showers and then we set up the back massage pad and foot heater massage machine and he sits there for awhile. Then when he goes to bed he puts on a foam brace that keeps his arm straight while sleeping as he has tendenitis . We laugh at the nightly routine. Never thought we’d get this old!!

They finished up the home that had taken them away for the last month and I cleaned it and got it ready for the new people to move in. In the process of cleaning there was an old dresser that had been left that had been damaged and painted and was falling apart. Lee wanted us to take it to the dump but I could see possibilities in it. ( Dad says that I get that from my “daughters”!) So I have been busy stripping and sanding and have discovered a sturdy piece that will be wonderful with a little rebuilding from your Dad. I will send pictures of it when it is done. I am turning it into an entertainment center for our new home.

I’ve enclosed a picture of the Happy Elders and one of me with my newest afghan. I am now on my third. I hope to complete one each month for “Project Linus”. The weeks are busy with work here on the farm. Harvest should be over (We even held a Harvest BBQ 2 weeks ago for all the field and orchard workers) but there have been problems with the weather. Unusual rain and cool weather this month which is not good for almonds. Once they are shaken from the trees they lie on the ground for a few days before being swept up and loaded in trucks and brought to the plant. Each day they take a sample from each field and test it for moisture. The nuts need to be at 6% moisture to ensure that they won’t mold and go rancid in storage. With the rain that we had and the drop in temperature they are at 13% as of this morning. We have 2,500 acreas all shook and laying on the ground waiting to dry out. And the bad part is that they are predicting a storm this weekend. They have moved off all the trailers from the parking area and have spread nuts all over the asphalt hoping they will dry fast.

I went to the senior luncheon last week and the guest speaker was a Physical Therapist who talked about aging, exercise and things you can do to protect yourself. It was very good but I really wished that it could have been my favorite Physical Therapist!!

We love you all so much and miss you. Please send pictures. (I need updated pictures of families and school pictures!!) We know that this is where we are to be right now. I am so blessed to be able to read and study the scriptures daily. I feel such peace amid the noisy world because of how my testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel is growing daily. It is wonderful not to be caught up in the crazy working world and all of its problems anymore. There is such contentment and peace.

Hugs & Kisses,

Mom & Dad

Mission Letter from Mom and Dad October 8, 2010

Good morning—It is a very rainy and cold week. So different from the normal. I hope you all got to watch conference this past weekend. It is so incredible to be living in an age that allows us to have instantaneous council from the Prophet of God all over the world! I marvel at how blessed I am to be living at this time, in the final dispensation. Of all the other times I could have been born-what a blessing it is and responsibility to complete all the things I agreed to do before coming to earth. We had a wonderful time in San Diego with Corey, Sarah and family.

We went down on Thursday so that we could be there for the Mirmar Air show on Friday. It was so much fun watching all the different types of planes. We got to see the new Raptor fly. The Canadian Snowbird precision team was there as well as F-16’s from Hill Air Force Base. The highlight was a performance by the Blue Angels . I wish I could have recorded it for you. They fly 18” from wingtip to canopy of the next plane. Tight formations and they do incredible things.







We watched conference on Saturday and Sunday. When Dad and Corey went to Priesthood meeting Sarah, Madison, Megan, Adam and I held a dance. It was quite an occasion!! We gathered all the Barbie, Bratz, and Ken and GI Joe dolls as well as lots of little dolls. We dumped out the bin with clothing and accessories and dressed them all up. Then we grouped them in pairs and maneuvered their bodies to assume a dance pose. All the little dolls we put in a nursery outside the ballroom. Megan was in charge of the music for our dance and Sarah and I took pictures. Adam had a ball crawling all around them dancing to the music. We got so caught up in it that Sarah, being the terrific professional photographer, took individual couple photos just like at the Proms!! I have attached a few photos of our fun. Sydney was at a friends’ house so wasn’t in on the Dance of the Season!






On Monday morning we left early so that we could take a side trip to Ventura to pick up some Handcart wheels that we had taken there to be repaired. The traffic was bad as usual around LA and so it took longer than we thought. Next trip we are going to try an alternate route—longer miles but should be better time. How fun it is to be so close to family!

I want to tell you about an experience we had this weekend that was a testimony strengthener to me about the simple things of the Gospel. I have had many spiritual experiences in my life but this one is so precious to me because it concerned simple things.

On Sunday morning as we were watching conference your Dad told me that he couldn’t find one of his hearing aids. He had put them on the table in the room we were staying in before going to sleep the night before. I went up stairs to look around but couldn’t find it. Every time there was a break in conference I searched as did Dad and Corey. We went through suitcases, pockets of everything he had worn that day but nothing was found. I thought that I might have scooped it up with the clothes I washed- but nothing. I went through the garbage. Many times I took everything out of Dad’s suitcases, even ran my fingers around the seams etc. I just felt that it was gone.

On Monday morning while dad was showering I once again went through everything, moved furniture but no hearing aid. Finally I did what every Primary child knows, exercise simple faith and ask. I got down on my knees and told Heavenly Father how much we needed to find it, that Dad was working hard to serve and he needed to be able to hear, and that we couldn’t afford $4,000 for a new one.

I looked around one more time then we left for home. When we got back to Wasco Monday night I put all the luggage and dirty clothes bag on the bed and one more time went through everything. I got to the last bag, a small travel bag that dad used. It had his dress shoes and belt, a few toiletries. I had gone through that bag many times. One by one I emptied them out and put them away. The only thing left was a folded white handkerchief. I picked that up to put it away and in the center of the suitcase was a hearing aid. My first reaction was, How could Dad just throw the only one he had left into the suitcase and not put it in the container where it goes?

I went outside to find Dad and asked him to turn around so I could check his ears. I asked him if he had a hearing aid in and he said yes. Then I opened my hand and said here is the missing one. I want to testify to you that Heavenly Father is very much aware of the small things in our lives. It is so easy to become complacent and too independent that we forget to exercise our Faith that He is real and we are his. If it hadn’t been found my faith wouldn’t have been shaken but by this experience I once again learned how simple the Gospel really is and how we complicate it with worldly things. It is so easy to become complacent or prideful. How grateful I am that He felt the need to teach me the power of simple faith!

The work is hard and fun. We miss you all but know that this is where we are to be at this time. We pray daily for each one of you that you will realize who you are and the potential that you have for doing good on this wonderful earthly journey. You are choice, and chosen. May you come to know that!

With all our love,
Mom & Dad

Letter from Mom & Dad September 30, 2010

It is 5 am and things are getting noisy here as everyone is arriving and getting their equipment started. Harvest is going strong so most of these guys put in long hours. Mechanics work all night sometimes to keep all the trucks ready for the next day. After the last shift on Saturday they shut everything down and turn the huller off. The huller is the big tank that the almonds go into to shuck off the outside husk. It runs 24 hours a day and makes a lot of noise so when it goes off from Sunday morning at 6am till Monday morning at 6am it is so quiet here that it is spooky. I have a hard time sleeping on Sunday night!

From the huller, the shells and husks are conveyed along these huge white pipes in the air and they fall out holes, one of the pipes has holes for the husks and another pipe is holes for the smaller ground for feed. When the pile reaches the top the shells move on to the next hole and so forth. This makes huge piles of shells. Farms and ranches purchase this byproduct. They grind the outside husks for cattle feed and buy the inside shell for bedding in their pens. Nothing is wasted here. I will attach a picture of the huller, the pipe lines filling, and a picture of Dad next to mounds of almonds.

As they bring in the trucks from the orchards they have to be weighed on these big truck scales and recorded. Then they are taken out behind the plant into these big fields and dumped in piles. When the pile gets so big they cover them with white plastic and fumigate under them to keep things safe until they can be transferred to the hullers to begin processing. As the harvest moves along the back fields gets full of acres and acres of big white mounds. This week we went out on the pistachio harvest. I’ll tell you about that next week.

It has been a busy week with scouts, feeding missionaries, etc. Friday night we had a ward general conference bingo party. We met and talked about all the things relating to conference and then played bingo using questions from conference related things. It was a lot of fun. Everyone brought either a dessert or appetizer. These people love to get together and eat!!

Saturday night we had a baptism of a young girl (16) and then I drove a group of ladies to Bakersfield to watch the Women’s conference. What a wonderful conference. Hope you were all able to go or watch it later. Monday night we went to the Browning’s for Family Home Evening. They are such neat people.
Tuesday Sister Browning and I spent the day in Bakersfield shopping and running errands. Got home just in time to get things ready for scouts. Yesterday was the monthly South Valley Wives club cooking meeting. The topic was cranberries. We sampled lots of wonderful things! We have our monthly meeting with the general manager of this farm in a few hours and then we are planning to leave around 1pm for San Diego.

This weekend is the big air show at Miramar and on Friday it is just for the military so Corey is taking the day off and we will play! Then we will stay there and watch conference and Dad and Corey will get to go to Priesthood session together. How he wishes that you could be here too, Jason. It’s been too many years since he has gone with his boys. He is also missing going with the grandsons. That has been so wonderful. Hopefully all of the Utah group will be together and Jason and Brandon. Some year we need to have us all together for conference!

We will leave San Diego early Monday morning and drive up the coast to Ventura to pick up some handcart wheels we left there a month ago and then on back to Wasco. Can hardly wait to get on the road today!
Dad has been working hard to finish the home they are on now so that next week we can get back to our two homes here on site. Last night when he got home he was all white. They had rolled and sprayed the rooms and all the doors. They wore those white bunny suits, stocking head coverings and safety glasses and foot coverings. Looked like Martians, only white! Hey Jason—Maybe they were the Marshmallow men!! Still he managed to get paint all over his hands and face, even stuck to his eyelashes.

We have been watching the series On Sacred Ground with Truman Madsen. It is his reflections of the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We have been using that for our study time together. Much of the Prophet Joseph’s influence has been brief encounters with people where he has shown love and concern for them as individuals. Much of our missionary experiences, and your daily encounters are one on one with individuals where we can also show love and concern. So each one of you have the opportunity to influence for good daily the people you come in contact with just by the way you are living your lives. The work of our Heavenly Father mostly comes in small ways as we connect and change hearts.

We love you and stand in awe of who you really are!! Honor bright!!
Mom & Dad

Missionary Letter from Mom & Dad September 22, 2010

Letter from Mom and Dad

Good morning from South Valley Farms—things are busy, busy here as usual. Dad and Elder Browning finished up the renovating on one of the homes so that a family could move in last Saturday. I went in and cleaned the home and shampooed the old carpets. I went back the next day and washed the windows. Elder Browning said not to, that they could do their own but they were really dirty and it is a single dad with 2 children moving in. I told him that “Windows are the soul of the home” and I wanted it to be beautiful! I don’t think he bought it but oh well maybe one of his trials on his mission is ME!!

On Thursday afternoon Dad got an intestinal blockage and was in tough shape until everything released late Friday night. So we had a quiet weekend and took things pretty easy. He is feeling back to normal now. He hasn’t had any problems with blockages for over a year now so this was a surprise. As always they are terribly painful and made for some tough hours and days. We are so thankful that everything is fine now as we have finally gotten through the paper work to get set up with the VA here in Bakersfield. His first appointment is not until the end of October. Bakersfield only has a VA clinic and for emergencies we have to go quite a distance to a care center. Haven't figured that one out yet so hopefully we won’t need to go there.

We have been renovating a home; new doors, carpets, paint, electrical for someone who needs to be in as soon as possible so we are still not able to get back to work on our house and the duplex yet.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to drive the missionaries to Ventura for transfers. We lived in that area 44 years ago when Dad was stationed at Port Hueneme Naval Base so it was fun to see the ocean again. We got to attend the Mission Meeting with all of the Elders and Mission President Murri. The whole lawn of the chapel was filled with luggage and things, lots of bicycles. We were kidding the Elders that each pile of stuff had a Gold's Gyms bar for pull ups in their pile. I guess that is a popular exercise piece for keeping Elders BUFF!!

The meeting was wonderful as the 11 missionaries who were going home bore their testimonies and the newly arrived were assigned to their trainers. Lots of singing—of course rousing strains of Called to Serve. When they announced that they wanted them to sing We are as the Armies of Helaman it was so cute to watch their faces as they tried to remember the words. As I watched their faces I could almost see their minds racing back to Primary, frantically trying to remember what came next. ( So my wonderful “15”, pay attention to all the music you are being taught. You will be using it forever!!) We picked up our new Elder and took him and Elder Ray out to lunch and then got back here just in time to get ready for Cub Scouts last night. You should see how cute your Dad looks in his uniform. ( I’ll take a picture next week and send it)

Harvest is going great here. We live in a mass of dust as everything is in motion. Once a week I go to the carwash and by the time I get back here I’m covered in a film of sand. But at least the mud is gone for a few days. I am looking forward to Women’s Conference this weekend. Mindy is singing in the choir so watch for her. We are planning to go to San Diego next Thursday to watch General Conference with Corey, Sarah and the children. It is so great to be able to see them more often. Wish that I could just “beam” you all out here to be together. Maybe someday that will be a normal thing!! I’ve attached pictures from our trip yesterday. One is of Elder Kay who left us. He reminds of so much of Jacob and the other is of an incredible tree that grows here. ENORMOUS!! (the tree—not me! Next to it I feel tiny!)

We love the work! This is a great time in my life to be able to study and read the scriptures. How I Love the prophets who wrote for our day that we might be able to withstand the evil that does surround us and will get worse. What hope and peace they bring as they testify of the Savior, and of each of you, and the important role you have to be part of this last dispensation that is preparing to welcome Him. May you each come to realize how much Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ love you and are aware of and are more involved in your daily lives then you can imagine.

We love you—HONOR BRIGHT! Mom & Dad

Home in Wasco

Trip to San Diego

Letter from Mom

It is harvest time so things are crazy here. Work for the regular crews begins very early and goes late at the plant. We have 20,000 acres of farm that is spread out over the area. A lot of the big machines are placed here and so it’s noisy and dusty as things get reved up each day. Sometimes I feel like we are living on Luke Skywalker’s planet with scores of Droids. The harvesting machines are “funky” looking. I love it when they come home at night all in a row like ducks, especially the shakers which are tiny and yellow! It is such an amazing process that takes place to plant, harvest and process all these almonds. Then they are shipped out to China, Japan and some other European countries. We began the pistachio harvest this week and that is done a little differently. Pistachios grow in clusters like grapes and can’t be dropped on the ground like the almonds. The shakers that shake the nuts off are equipped with things that look like butterfly wings so when the machine shakes the trees the nuts fall into big nets and then are conveyed into trailers. Sister Browning has written a paper on the whole process that I will send to you as soon as I can get a copy.

Dad is very busy renovating 2 homes that are needed for employees. He has done a variety of things from gutting ceilings to replace roof beams, sheet rocking, mudding, painting, replacing floor joists, putting in glass shower and tub surrounds, replacing pocket doors(11 on one of the homes) with regular doors, staining all of them, replacing spanish tiles on the steps of the home and making lots of trips to Home Depot and Lowe’s. Yesterday when I went to with him to Home Depot the man there said “How are the projects coming along? He told me that that man has helped him at all of the Home Depots he uses as the employees rotate between stores. Your Dad goes into a store with the plan to ask for help so that he can become very visible to people. That often leads to a discussion of who we are and what we are doing.

We are busy getting to know what to do in cub scouts. We are the Webelos leaders but our dens are so small that we meet together. We pick up boys and take them home so Tuesday nights are pretty crazy. This week we began making stilts with them. We are meeting in the park in Shafter , about 7 miles from here until the weather gets too cold. Then we will move to the chapel in Wasco. They are really great kids. We have a few that are not members but want to be scouts. This week one of their Dads came and helped.

Last Saturday was the big “Make a blanket Day” for Project Linus. Sister Browning and I drove to the stake Center in Bakersfield, about 25 miles away. It was an incredible day. The whole cultural hall was filled with people, lots of groups from the community. I was amazed at the number of families and men that came. They had stacks of quilts that were already put together and bound. People sat around the tables and tied them. There were women with sewing machines that sewed labels on them. Each group or ward that came brought the ones they had done at home. We delivered 8 fleece blankets, 5 tied quilts, and the afghan that I crocheted this month. I spent most of the day in the crocheting corner and learned some new stitches. Our group made hundreds of granny squares and others connected them to make afghans. The Elders and sisters in the Bakersfield area came and worked there also. It was fun to teach the Elders how to crochet! Some of them had the job to pin a tag on each blanket that has a beautiful poem. I got to meet some really neat people from the community. This project is so overwhelming; so many wonderful things are done for children and adults in Trauma situations. They are national so I you are looking for a service project, check out Project Linus on the internet.
Our next community day is in February so we will be working on new donations for that in the ward. I have started a new afghan. I will be joining a group that meets on the 3rd Tuesday each month to work on projects and visit. I am still trying to come up with a plan to hold English classes for employees at the plant. They only have a short time and the materials that I have here are all outdated. I really need to create a class in conversational English to help them feel better about daily communication at work and in the stores around town. If you have any ideas please send them!!

We were able to go to the Fresno Temple a few weeks ago. Wonderful day! We spent 2 days wonderful with Corey and Sarah and the kids in San Diego for Madison’s birthday and will be going there for General Conference weekend.
We feed the missionaries and work hard, and also have fun. This is a great time in our lives!!

We miss you all and hope you know that we pray daily for you all that you will be blessed with safety and strength but mostly that you will have experiences that will grow your testimonies and bring you to the Savior. As I read, study and serve I am so moved by the Gospel plan that Heavenly Father has given to us to help us grow and learn. It is not always easy, it never was meant to be, but as we seek his help in ALL things he will bless us and strengthen us. He knows each one of us individually, loves us beyond our belief, and stands ready to bring us home to him if we will but let him. The Gospel plan is so simple—we tend to complicate it . I want you to Know that we know this to be true.

With all our love, Mom (grandma)

Greetings from Sunny California!

Greetings from Sunny California! ( lots of days in 100’s) We are happy and loving this time in our lives. It is much different than we thought it would be. Companionship study comes at odd times of the day as the work day begins early for Dad.

After he leaves I do all the usual chores and then get my personal study time in while doing laundry. I have to take my laundry to different places. Sometimes it is at the local laundremat (roach haven!) Right now we have a washer and dryer hooked up in one of the homes that we are renovating. All things that need to be air dried I hang in the back seat of the truck and the hot air drys them very quickly.

Dad puts in long hours—misses the naps that he got used to when he retired! I spend my days doing volunteer work and service hours. Right now a lot of time is spent making quilts and crocheting afghans for Project Linus. That is a community group that donates these items to the hospitals and shelters for children and teens. I am heading the project for our ward.

Once a month Sister Browning and I fix a dessert for the birthdays of that month at the plant. Dad and I have the full time elders over for dinner every other week and last week Elder and Sister Browning and our site leader prepared meals for 40 men who flew in from all over the world for a training seminar here at the farm.

Last night we had scouts . (Dad & I are Webelos leaders) I also run errands for the office. Trips into Bakersfield where I get to shop. Here in Wasco my shopping is limited to K-mart and the dollar tree so I love being sent on errands. Yesterday I discovered that Bakersfield has a Beehive Bookstore (LDS things). I was in Bakersfield yesterday to drive with some other sisters to the monthly “Seniors Luncheon”. You can stop laughing now—or maybe that’s not funny to you! When did I get to be someone who goes to seniors luncheons? They are put on by different stakes in Bakersfield and they have a program and serve lunch. All very good until they serve you your plate and then want to help you put condiment on your sandwich or cut things for you!

The Brownings are from Layton, Utah and are such choice people. They are in their 70’s and have served a regular mission to the Phillipines 5 years ago. Elder Browning reminds me of Grandpa Lee in looks and also in his stubbornness. It’s a good thing that your dad is so patient, though sometimes its tough. We have great fun with them going out to dinner, and getting together for Family night on Mondays and last Friday night we had a movie night out in their back yard.

We are meeting so many wonderful, humble people here. Everyday I am so thankful for this experience. There is so much to tell you about this place and the people but can’t do it all at once. We love you all and miss you so much.

I am sorry that it took so long to get our first letter out. The only internet connection I can get here is at the plant and that’s only if I can get there before everyone gets in and find a place to hook up. The local library has internet but they open for a few hours on random days. Once we get our home built we will have access there which will be wonderful. In the mean time thanks to Kendra I hope this will work. I shall attempt to attach a few photos also. Who Knows—maybe it will even work !

LOVE YA GUTS!!
Mom

We love you, Dad and hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Sabrina's Memory of Dad

I have always loved Dad’s hands. I remember being at Uncle Lamont’s funeral and standing by the casket with Dad. He touched his uncle’s hand (which as a kid I thought was a little creepy!) and talked about how he had always admired Lamont’s hands. The hands were big and rough and still had dirt in the creases of the skin. As I stood there with Dad I noticed that his hands were exactly like his uncles. The reverence that Dad showed for his Uncle’s hands made me not afraid to touch them anymore or to be near the casket.

Since that experience I have watched Dad’s hands. His hands have always been about service whether it is digging in his garden, crafting something out of wood, using the priesthood, or pushing his grandchildren in the swing. His big rough hands have always had a little bit of dirt in the creases and cuts or scratches from whatever project he has been working on. In the song “His Hands” there is a line that makes me think of Dad, “I will make these hands like those from Galilee”. Dad is an amazing example of Christ like giving and service.

I have always loved how people gravitate to Dad (his grandchildren most of all) because of the amazing kind spirit that he radiates. I remember working at Primary Children’s hospital as a candy striper (I hope I spelled that right I’m always afraid of getting that word wrong!) and later doing housekeeping. At lunch time I would sit with Dad and all his “ladies”. They would go on and on about how great he was and if they ever needed anything done he was always willing to help. They would tell me how lucky I was to have a Dad like him. There was also the guy there with disabilities (I can’t remember his name for sure. Was it Lenny?) Dad would patiently sit with him and listen to all he had to say. He could feel Dad’s great spirit and wanted to be around him.

And we all know that Dad is going to make it to heaven for 45 years of driving in a car with Mom beside him and only slamming on his brakes once. None of us will forget quietly filing off the RV in the middle of Nauvoo. (Just teasing you Mom we love you!!!!!!)

Thanks for being such a wonderful example Dad!

I love you,

Sabrina

Kendra's Message for Dad

I truly believe Dad is the most unselfish person I know. We’ve all seen this and have been blessed because of his remarkable character. Not long after Dad retired, maybe even within days, he showed up at my house with his toolbox. I had projects I was involved in, including quilts I was making for a couple of the kids. I also was trying to get the house in order for company that was coming the next day.

Dad spent the day with me repairing bi-fold doors that never seem to stay on our closets, rehanging towel racks that were used as a jungle gym years ago, washing walls, and anything else he could help with. Sabrina also came to help me prepare. She arranged other plans for her kids and drove the distance to spend the day with me. She is another person who gives so much of herself to others. As we worked, we talked and laughed, and the stress I’d felt earlier drained away. I felt blessed to have such remarkable examples of service. There was never a complaint or judgment. In fact, they practically made me feel like I’d done them a service by letting them spend the day with me. I’ll always remember the love they showed me by their service.

I love the example of unselfish service Dad showed when he was going to get rid of a couple nice suits he had and was impressed by the Spirit to give them to certain men in his neighborhood. He could have easily just dropped them off at the DI. Days after taking one of the suits to a Spanish speaking man across the street, the man came over and was able to tell dad that he’d been called in the bishopric of the Spanish branch the following week and felt blessed to have a nice suit to wear. Dad’s example of asking in prayer not only how he can serve, but specifically who, is a beautiful example to me.

There are so many illustrations of Dad’s Christ like trait. Even now, Dad serves daily in Wasco, California. When he could literally “retire”, he works hard and accomplishes so much.

I love you, Dad and hope you know how much your living unselfishly has meant to me.

Love,
Kendra

Jason's Memory of Dad

One experience with Dad that often comes to mind, was a lesson of patience and determination as well as unparalleled athleticism.

I must have been about 7 years old and we were living in Vermont at the time. As I recall, Dad had helped out a friend (I think his name was Bill Fisk?) bail hay and in return, the man had given him 3 piglets...yes this is a story about the 3 little pigs. Mr. "Fisk" was friendly to all, but I remember one physical feature in particular, he was missing a thumb. Dad told me he lost his thumb during a fall in which he was suspended by his thumb alone. Every time I saw Mr. Fisk, I always had the image in my mind of him hanging by his thumb until it gave way. To this day, I've always been careful with my thumbs.

Upon arriving at our home we took the piglets down the hill behind our house to a recently built pig pen. After releasing the piglets into the pen we soon realized that they were small enough to squeeze through the horizontal rails and escape. I don't recall how long it took to catch them, but it must have taken a great deal of time and effort because Dad's relief was apparent when the piglets were finally locked up in the chicken coop, their temporary housing until the pen could be secured.

Soon after beginning work on the pen (Dad always let me work with him on projects), I became curious about the status of the piglets. I made my way up the hill past our house to where the chicken coop sat like a small barn. There was no way to see in without opening the large wooden door. I slowly opened the door and immediately felt the 3 piglets squirm past my legs and escape to freedom. My heart sank because I knew first hand how hard it was to catch piglets on the lamb. When I told Dad, he wasn't mad, but I could see that his heart had sunk as well. We began the search in the wooded area near our house. After a lengthy time we were able to capture 2 of the 3 piglets and place them in a potato or gunny-sack-like bag. I remember how the contours of the sack rapidly changed shape as the piglets squirmed about.

The 3rd piglet remained elusive. The search was exhausting and with time I felt that I had been responsible for losing the piglet for good. As we walked through the woods along a dirt trail under the shade of large maple trees near our home, suddenly we spotted the last piglet scampering along a dirt trail that would eventually intersect with our trail. Dad's face intensified and his pace accelerated. I tried to keep up as I watched from behind one of the greatest moments in the history of sports! Sensing Dad's presence, the piglet darted forward. Without hesitation and with maximum determination Dad's trajectory turned airborne and parallel to the ground as he dove with arms outstretched and caught the hind leg of the piglet in his grasp. As the dust from Dad's belly-first dive settled to the ground, I stood with astonishment. Dad's "game-saving-catch" was the equivalent of a short stop diving to field a sharply hit ball up the middle of the infield that would determine the outcome of the world series. Wonder soon gave way to excitement! I had witnessed my Dad perform the most amazing feat right before my eyes!! I could tell that Dad was tired as we walked back to the house, but I had new life.

As I ponder this experience, I'm reminded of several truths. For one thing, piglet legs don't disarticulate as easily as thumbs, but more importantly, my Dad is a "Super Hero". Whatever life's challenges have come, my Dad has persevered and stood as a giant. Dad's unwavering faith, spirituality, love for Mom, love for family, love for neighbors, integrity, cheerfulness, and work ethic are the fabric of who he is and I am honored and grateful to be his son.

Jason

Shaw Family Reunion 2010

I vote for Christmas in San Diego. How about the week after Christmas everyone comes and crashes our house? Then everyone can see Grandma and Grandpa and enjoy sunny California before Sarah and I move away from here. We have every attraction you can think of from Sea World, the beach, and San Diego Zoo, to Disneyland just a little over an hour away. We can just hang out, play games and sing karaoke until our throats are sore. What does everyone think?

Happy Birthday Dad

I am not sure if I was suppose to post this on the blog or if Kendra was going to compile these and then send it to Dad. So, I am just going to reply to everyone and hope that it somehow magically makes it to Dad for his Birthday.

The first thing that I think of when I think of Dad is his big heart and the way that he is always looking for ways to serve others. I remember going home teaching with Dad. (Of course I never complained or threw a tantrum because I was a “very good boy”. At least that’s the way I remember it and since I am telling the story I get to take artistic licenseJ)Anyway back to the story. So Dad was always so sincere and really took his responsibility as a home teacher seriously. He was a great example. He truly loved and had deep concern for the wellbeing of those we visited. In the summer and fall Dad would always fill up paper grocery sacks full of the freshest vegetables from the garden and have me help him take them to all our neighbors, families we home taught or anyone else that he felt might be in need. He would spend hours on that gigantic garden; that grew enough corn , zucchini and tomatoes to feed the roman army, so that he could use the harvest to bless the lives of our family and everyone else he came in contact with.

Another story of his “heart of gold” is from this past Christmas. At Thanksgiving last year they came down and visited us and they met some friends of ours from our neighborhood. Dad got to talking to them at our house after Megan’s baptism and saw that they were expecting another baby soon. They were admiring the 3 little rocking chairs that we have in our house that Dad had made. Well, when we came home for Christmas this past year dad had made a rocking chair for Adam and an additional one to give to our friends. He said, “I just got the impression that I should do this for them and maybe it will soften the wife’s heart a bit toward the gospel”. (He is very interested and calls himself a dry Mormon and she is catholic and not very interested at the time.) Dad is truly a visionary man and I am sure that all of these acts of kindness that he does as he follows the promptings of the spirit do indeed soften the hearts of everyone that he comes in contact with.

I love ya Dad

Corey

July 24th Weekend Reunion

July 24th Weekend Reunion

July 24th Weekend Reunion

July 24th Weekend Reunion

July 24th Weekend Reunion