So I think that I have some kind of obsession with Haiti. It's been a month now since the country suffered a horrific magnitude 7.0 earthquake that leveled most of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. I wonder how I would feel about it all if it weren't for the fact that I spent a week there a few years ago myself and that my much-loved son, who lived there for two years, is heartbroken over it.
Jake has always said that everyone should visit Haiti at one time in his life. I agree. It was a life-changing trip, and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go. The sites, the smells, the people we met--all left a lifelong impression on me, carving out a place in my heart and my soul like no other.
I can't say it's just pity, because it's not. Part of it yes, but not all. Strangely, the average Haitian people seem to be some of the happiest people you can find. And I think it's because they don't know--therefore they don't expect--anything different from life. Being poor and destitute is all they've ever known, all they may ever know, and so they make the best of it. The people we met were clean, they were well dressed, they were cheerful and so giving. They took us into their humble homes. Some of them fed us meals. All of them insisted on sending someone out to buy something special to serve us to drink.
The country is beautiful, if you can look past the piles of garbage in and along the streets, the rivers of bad-smelling "whatever" that seem to always fill the gutters or pool in the roads. Along the coast, people build their huts on beautiful scenic beaches that would cost a small fortune to live on anywhere else. And then they throw their garbage out behind their houses for their litters of pigs to feed on. They really don't know what they have. They don't know anything else.
So with the tremendous damage and loss of life in Haiti a month ago, I tried to follow the newscasts as closely as I could. And since the news has faded off the front pages, I have found a few blogs to follow. Like I said, I think I'm obsessed. Here are a few blogs that I have found:
portmargot.blogspot.com
cultureandsensitivity.blogspot.com
chiefhhh.blogspot.com
The first two blogs I found accidentally while blog surfing. I had found the first one months ago, long before the earthquake. Then a funny thing happened. A couple weeks after I found the second blog, they actually tied in together! The doctor who writes the "Culture and Sensitivity" blog (who is actually from the Grand Rapids area) ironically met up with the missionary doctor who writes the other blog. She and her family have been living in Haiti now for, I think, nine years. So that was cool.
And, of course, the third blog is written by the founder of Healing Hands for Haiti, which is an LDS group that has been around for quite a long time. The founder was an LDS missionary in Haiti, just like my oldest son. So I feel some kind of strange connection there, too.
Please join me in praying for the people of Haiti. My son says that the Church is the only thing that will save Haiti. When you think about it, I think he is probably right.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
A Blessing Recognized
I was laying in bed at about 4 a.m. this morning listening to the howling wind when it hit me. Another one of those tender mercies that my Heavenly Father has bestowed on me and my family.
I apologize to anyone who has been disappointed in the prolonged January thaw we've experienced this year, closing down the Winter Sports Complex here in town, etc. But I see now that it was a personal blessing for us! How many other Januarys have we had three weeks of moderate, above normal temperatures with little to no precipitation? No heavy winds to contend with? No one ventures out much in January in Michigan--certainly not to move nearly 20 years' worth of belongings, not to mention the excess "stuff" we had in storage because of John's line of work.
My heart was filled with gratitude as I realized--once again--that my Heavenly Father knows us personally, he knows our wants and our needs, and he wants to bless us. Some day maybe I will write about the series of small miracles that all in one day led us to the beautiful place we now call home. It is all still such a tender spot in my heart.
"I know my Father lives
And loves me, too.
The Spirit whispers this to me
And tells me it is true.
And tells me it is true.
He sent me here to earth
By faith to live His plan.
The Spirit whispers this to me
And tells me that I can.
And tells me that I can."
I apologize to anyone who has been disappointed in the prolonged January thaw we've experienced this year, closing down the Winter Sports Complex here in town, etc. But I see now that it was a personal blessing for us! How many other Januarys have we had three weeks of moderate, above normal temperatures with little to no precipitation? No heavy winds to contend with? No one ventures out much in January in Michigan--certainly not to move nearly 20 years' worth of belongings, not to mention the excess "stuff" we had in storage because of John's line of work.
My heart was filled with gratitude as I realized--once again--that my Heavenly Father knows us personally, he knows our wants and our needs, and he wants to bless us. Some day maybe I will write about the series of small miracles that all in one day led us to the beautiful place we now call home. It is all still such a tender spot in my heart.
"I know my Father lives
And loves me, too.
The Spirit whispers this to me
And tells me it is true.
And tells me it is true.
He sent me here to earth
By faith to live His plan.
The Spirit whispers this to me
And tells me that I can.
And tells me that I can."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Another Senior Picture Time
It's senior picture time again! For my boys, it's always been oh, no--do I have to do this? But this time around, I think it went so much better and was much more fun, especially for me. (But I don't think Jordan minded it, either.)
Holly took us to Duck Lake State Park and to some abandoned storefront that she loves and clicked away for about an hour and a half. I love the background effects in both of these.
I think it would be so awesome to be a photographer. It looks like a lot of fun. Holly seems to enjoy it so much she won't even let me pay her! So far, the girls seem to favor the close-up in blue, below. It brings out his beeee-utiful blue eyes.
Wow. I have another high school senior. That makes five senior picture photo shoots down, one more to go!
Holly took us to Duck Lake State Park and to some abandoned storefront that she loves and clicked away for about an hour and a half. I love the background effects in both of these.
I think it would be so awesome to be a photographer. It looks like a lot of fun. Holly seems to enjoy it so much she won't even let me pay her! So far, the girls seem to favor the close-up in blue, below. It brings out his beeee-utiful blue eyes.
Wow. I have another high school senior. That makes five senior picture photo shoots down, one more to go!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Summer's Over
The kids have been back to school now for a month. The leaves are turning and it's definitely getting colder and rainier. Oh, how I'm already missing summer!
We didn't have a very warm summer this year, didn't spend very many days and evenings at the lake. The only pictures I have are of Labor Day weekend when we took the grandchildren to Duck Lake channel, the perfect spot for little ones. The water was kind of chilly, but they had a wonderful time.
I sure wish I hadn't let the summer fly by so quickly without more pictures to document it. It's so beautiful here. We have so many beautiful natural resources. I love living in this area and just hope things start picking up here soon so we can stay!
We didn't have a very warm summer this year, didn't spend very many days and evenings at the lake. The only pictures I have are of Labor Day weekend when we took the grandchildren to Duck Lake channel, the perfect spot for little ones. The water was kind of chilly, but they had a wonderful time.
I sure wish I hadn't let the summer fly by so quickly without more pictures to document it. It's so beautiful here. We have so many beautiful natural resources. I love living in this area and just hope things start picking up here soon so we can stay!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
General Conference
(My unfinished product)I've never really taken notes very seriously during Conference talks before. I found that it was both inspiring and frustrating. I got a lot more out of the parts I was able to scribble down, but I'm sure I missed a lot while doing said scribbling. Sure glad they will be out in print soon so I can see what I missed!
A few key points I jotted down:
* Sometimes the Lord reveals truths when we aren't seeking them. Strong emotions can overcome delicate promptings.~~Richard G. Scott
* The Savior is able and eager to forgive our sins.~~Neil L. Andersen
* Prayer is our personal key to heaven, and the lock is on our side of the veil.~~Boyd K. Packer
* Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what he/she may become.~~President Henry B. Eyring
* Hypocritical examples destroy credibility.~~H. David Burton
* Our Heavenly Father did not leave us alone in our time of probation.~~Ann M. Dibb
* Each of us can do something to help another. How often do we intend to be the one to help but day-to-day life gets in the way? Too often we are busy with what's really not important at all.~~President Thomas S. Monson
* Would Joseph and Hyrum have done what they did, knowing what would happen to them, their families, and their followers for some made-up book? For something that was not true? NO!~~Jeffrey R. Holland, whose testimony today of the Book of Mormon was one of the most awesome things I have ever heard.
* A call to the rising generation: Christ lives and is inviting you to follow him and he will make you fishers of men.~~Brent H. Nielsen
* Moral discipline must be learned at home. Children must be truly converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ while they are with us.
Of course there are many, many more, plus I'm sure I'll make more notes when I hear the talks that I missed. It's so great to have these two weekends a year to get to hear the words of our Prophet and the leaders of the Church. So much to learn! So much to work on!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Well Blow Me Down!
Wow, is it ever windy today! I wonder if there is an actual name for "fear of the wind." Breezaphobia? I don't know, but I definitely have it. It all started back in May of 1998 when we experienced the worst wind storms ever recorded here in West Michigan. In the dark of night, hurricane force 120 mph winds ripped through the Muskegon/Grand Haven/Spring Lake area. We lost power for several days.
We also had two vehicles totaled that were parked in our driveway, as several huge limbs dropped out of trees in our front yard. I have pictures somewhere of our big white van with the roof caved in and almost every window smashed out. We were picking glass out of our driveway and lawn for months after. The two houses directly behind ours lost every tree in their yards; 6 or 8 trees, if I remember.
No damage to our house, though. We were very lucky. I actually stood out in the pool room during all that wind, trying to watch what was happening in the dark. I still can't believe I was that stupid, that I didn't have my family huddled down in the basement where we would be safer. I stood there, listening to the tremendous "thud" sound as enormous oak trees went down, one after another. We walked around our neighborhood the next morning, and it looked like the pictures you see on TV after a tornado had touched down. Tornadoes were soon ruled out, though. Our storms were described as "straight-line windstorms". But just as potent.
These condominiums in Spring Lake were toppled by the winds and later had to be torn down completely and rebuilt. I remember driving through this area a few days after the storms and thinking that it looked like a giant had stomped its way through here, leaving wreckage in its path.
The craziest thing was that it happened again in November of the same year. That time, we lost our power for eight days. And being November and being cold, it was much more miserable. That storm was great for our business, though, an auto body shop. November 1998 was a record month for us.
So now when I hear the wind howling and watch the trees bending and swaying beyond what seems possible, all those memories and fears come back to me. I'm afraid to go outside. I keep my eye on the skies at all times during daylight and don't sleep much during the night. I worry about my kids being at school. And I pray that it will stop. Very, very soon.
We also had two vehicles totaled that were parked in our driveway, as several huge limbs dropped out of trees in our front yard. I have pictures somewhere of our big white van with the roof caved in and almost every window smashed out. We were picking glass out of our driveway and lawn for months after. The two houses directly behind ours lost every tree in their yards; 6 or 8 trees, if I remember.
No damage to our house, though. We were very lucky. I actually stood out in the pool room during all that wind, trying to watch what was happening in the dark. I still can't believe I was that stupid, that I didn't have my family huddled down in the basement where we would be safer. I stood there, listening to the tremendous "thud" sound as enormous oak trees went down, one after another. We walked around our neighborhood the next morning, and it looked like the pictures you see on TV after a tornado had touched down. Tornadoes were soon ruled out, though. Our storms were described as "straight-line windstorms". But just as potent.
These condominiums in Spring Lake were toppled by the winds and later had to be torn down completely and rebuilt. I remember driving through this area a few days after the storms and thinking that it looked like a giant had stomped its way through here, leaving wreckage in its path.The craziest thing was that it happened again in November of the same year. That time, we lost our power for eight days. And being November and being cold, it was much more miserable. That storm was great for our business, though, an auto body shop. November 1998 was a record month for us.
So now when I hear the wind howling and watch the trees bending and swaying beyond what seems possible, all those memories and fears come back to me. I'm afraid to go outside. I keep my eye on the skies at all times during daylight and don't sleep much during the night. I worry about my kids being at school. And I pray that it will stop. Very, very soon.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
I just can't seem to get rolling on this idea of blogging. I read other people's blogs and envy how easily the words seem to flow. And the darling pictures! So I'm going to try to get more regular about posting at least some thoughts now and then.
Great news! After over 30 years' membership in the Church I have finally been given the opportunity to work with the Young Women. I am so excited! I've been wanting to be in Young Women ever since...well, ever since leaving Primary. I think we have a great group of YW in our ward, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better and maybe even offer them a little bit to help to get through this wonderful, fun, trying and sometimes difficult time in their lives.
Tonight Holly came and did a photo shoot for the girls. They seemed to have a lot of fun. Jessica and I had some mother/daughter pictures taken together, and I can't wait to see how they turn out.
Great news! After over 30 years' membership in the Church I have finally been given the opportunity to work with the Young Women. I am so excited! I've been wanting to be in Young Women ever since...well, ever since leaving Primary. I think we have a great group of YW in our ward, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better and maybe even offer them a little bit to help to get through this wonderful, fun, trying and sometimes difficult time in their lives.
Tonight Holly came and did a photo shoot for the girls. They seemed to have a lot of fun. Jessica and I had some mother/daughter pictures taken together, and I can't wait to see how they turn out.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Trials
I opened up my email earlier today and there was an email from one of the moms in the RMM group. This is what it said:
"Sisters, I just woke up and found my dear 18 year old in his bed and
he had just passed away. This is the one you dear sweet sisters have
prayed for in the past, Reid. I will write more later."
I've been haunted by this email all day.
Two others have written in the past few days about serious issues, one sister who was excommunicated a few years ago for unknown (to us) reasons and has been trying to stop smoking so she can be baptized again. She wrote of her inability to stop, her guilt, her depression and suicidal feelings, about being 150 pounds overweight.
Another asked for prayers as she and her family confront a son and try to get him to agree to enter an intense addiction recovery program. She says if he is not willing then it will be a "sad, sad situation for him". Sounds like the family has had it and will have to let go.
How can I complain so much about my temporal, earthly trials?
"Sisters, I just woke up and found my dear 18 year old in his bed and
he had just passed away. This is the one you dear sweet sisters have
prayed for in the past, Reid. I will write more later."
I've been haunted by this email all day.
Two others have written in the past few days about serious issues, one sister who was excommunicated a few years ago for unknown (to us) reasons and has been trying to stop smoking so she can be baptized again. She wrote of her inability to stop, her guilt, her depression and suicidal feelings, about being 150 pounds overweight.
Another asked for prayers as she and her family confront a son and try to get him to agree to enter an intense addiction recovery program. She says if he is not willing then it will be a "sad, sad situation for him". Sounds like the family has had it and will have to let go.
How can I complain so much about my temporal, earthly trials?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Wonderful YW
Tonight was the Young Women's broadcast. Well actually, the broadcast was in March, but our YW were on a temple trip and didn't get back in time for it. Our own viewing of the broadcast had been scheduled a couple different times, I think, but because of sickness and other conflicts, we didn't get to it until tonight.
The messages and the music were wonderful and made me wish--for the umpteenth time--that I had been a member of the Church as a Young Woman. And it makes me ever-so-grateful that my daughter IS a member of the Church as a Young Woman.
Not that I was a bad kid or anything. But the peace and the joy that knowing that I was a child of God would have brought and the love and support of the entire Young Women's organization and especially the local leaders would have made growing up sooooo much easier. Having the knowledge that Jessica has about her place in this world, of who she is and who she can become, and the guidelines to help her stay on the straight and narrow to return to her Heavenly Father--just a few of the many bounteous blessings that the Gospel brings to her at this time in her life.
And many kudos to our Young Women leaders for the beautiful set-up in the cultural hall after the broadcast. The refreshments were great, and the lighting effects were awesome! It's too bad that we all had to leave so soon after they put in so much work to make it so very special.
Overall, a very nice evening.
The messages and the music were wonderful and made me wish--for the umpteenth time--that I had been a member of the Church as a Young Woman. And it makes me ever-so-grateful that my daughter IS a member of the Church as a Young Woman.
Not that I was a bad kid or anything. But the peace and the joy that knowing that I was a child of God would have brought and the love and support of the entire Young Women's organization and especially the local leaders would have made growing up sooooo much easier. Having the knowledge that Jessica has about her place in this world, of who she is and who she can become, and the guidelines to help her stay on the straight and narrow to return to her Heavenly Father--just a few of the many bounteous blessings that the Gospel brings to her at this time in her life.
And many kudos to our Young Women leaders for the beautiful set-up in the cultural hall after the broadcast. The refreshments were great, and the lighting effects were awesome! It's too bad that we all had to leave so soon after they put in so much work to make it so very special.
Overall, a very nice evening.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Two months later....
Yes, here it is almost two months after my last post. And all the things I said I was going to do way back then? Nothing. But at least here are a couple pictures of my newest "RM" anyway.
He was so tall and thin and lanky that I felt like I could almost get my arms around him twice!
Life with Jonathan home again is pretty fun most of the time, and I love having him home. He's got an amazing sense of humor and is always quick with a joke or wise-guy answer for you. What worries me is that I think he is getting a little too comfortable sitting here at home, trying to catch up on everything that he missed the two years he was gone. I'm hoping that now that he has caught up on The Office, House, 24, Heroes AND read the last Harry Potter book, he will start feeling the need to get out of the house and do something. He HAS filled out 5 or 6 job applications online, but it certainly doesn't help that jobs are so hard to come by these days. He needs to get back to school but also needs some bucks in the bank to do that. So it's kind of a vicious circle.
So that's where Jonathan is right now, kind of stuck. To turn one of his favorite sayings around and aim it back at him, Come on Jonathan--"Let's kick this pig in the rump" and get on with your life!!
He was so tall and thin and lanky that I felt like I could almost get my arms around him twice!
Life with Jonathan home again is pretty fun most of the time, and I love having him home. He's got an amazing sense of humor and is always quick with a joke or wise-guy answer for you. What worries me is that I think he is getting a little too comfortable sitting here at home, trying to catch up on everything that he missed the two years he was gone. I'm hoping that now that he has caught up on The Office, House, 24, Heroes AND read the last Harry Potter book, he will start feeling the need to get out of the house and do something. He HAS filled out 5 or 6 job applications online, but it certainly doesn't help that jobs are so hard to come by these days. He needs to get back to school but also needs some bucks in the bank to do that. So it's kind of a vicious circle.
So that's where Jonathan is right now, kind of stuck. To turn one of his favorite sayings around and aim it back at him, Come on Jonathan--"Let's kick this pig in the rump" and get on with your life!!
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