Nov 11--Dear Elder: Halloween, The Movies, Family History, Food Storage,

2012 11 05

Dear Elder,

How are you?  I hope you got the pictures that I sent you.  We have been praying that you will find people to teach the gospel to, has it been working?  You mentioned time change, do you mean daylight savings time?  We just did that yesterday.  It was sure nice to sleep in!  I’m sorry that people open their doors less now that it gets darker earlier.  You said that transfers were last week.  Did you stay in the same area like you thought you would?  Are you with the same companion?  How are things going for you now?  I can’t wait to get your email today!

We have had a nice week.  Yesterday was especially nice because it was fast Sunday so I was able to fast for the blessing we need, and also I don’t have any meetings on fast Sunday so I was able to be with the family.  After church we took Grandma for a ride which she loved.  She didn’t  say “orange” or  tell Dad to slow down once.  Then we came home and made sweet potato soup and bread for dinner. 

 After dinner, we had family home evening.  Dad read about the conversion of Grandpa's family to the gospel.  It was really wonderful to hear it.  Dad especially loved it and didn’t remember ever hearing it before.  The account was written by the sister missionary who helped to convert the family.  Her name is Margaret Madsen and one of her children live quite close to us, just past the four way stop on our street.  She contacted us a few years ago to ask if we wanted her account of her conversion.  It was wonderful to meet her.  How grateful we are that she went on a mission and brought Grandpa’s family the gospel.  Another interesting thing is the Elder Leif Shumway, related to me through Charles Shumway, is the elder who baptized them!  Small world J

Also for family home evening, we bore our testimonies of what we know to be true.  I cannot express to you how it warms my heart to be able to sit with the family and hear their thoughts and feelings about the gospel of Jesus Christ!  I am most happy and secure in my life when I know we are doing these types of things—things that bring us closer to each other and to the Savior.   I’ve never really thought I had a favorite scripture, but writing this to you, I suddenly realize that I do!  “I have no greater joy than to hear that my  children walk in truth”  3 Jon1: 4.   Tonight we will continue our family home evening by reading a conference talk, having an activity by Katrina, and a treat by Miriam.

On Saturday, Dad worked very hard at the laundry.  Miriam also worked there, cleaning to earn some money.  Katrina was at play practice, and Thomas hung out with Jayden.  I did a humongous shopping at Costco.  With having only half the children at home than we used to, and with changing our diet drastically, I found that I had lots of food in my 3 month’s supply that was going bad, and I also found that I was lacking lots of food that we needed.   My Costco bill came to over $500 and my Walmart bill on Friday came to over $400.  I still need to go buy some stuff at the grocery store.  Also, on Saturday, Dad and I took an inventory of our year’s supply, and bought what we needed for the kids who can’t tolerate whole wheat.  We spent another $400 there.  Don’t worry, I have a preparedness account that I make deposits into, and I have been saving up for a long time so that I could do this!

Friday night, Dad and I went to see a movie.  We started late because Dad got home late, and to be honest, I wasn’t ready till then either, because I was busy putting Walmart purchases away and fine tuning my inventories.  Anyway, I love Megaplex theaters!  For one thing, you can reserve your seats when you buy the tickets online so that you don’t have to get to the theater early in order to get a good seat.  Besides, it’s stadium seating so there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.  For another thing, they sell food right there in the lobby that is reasonably priced, tastes good, and can be taken right into the theater in a nice lap tray.   Last, I love their drink machines!  You can get any flavor and type of drink imaginable.  I always get Fanta Zero, and there at least eight flavors of that alone!  I don’t drink much pop, but it is my favorite movie treat because I can sip it all movie long.   More about movies:  wait for next month!  Not only will the hobbit be coming out, but also Les Miserables, and the Stephen Spielberg movie about Lincoln!  The trailers for all three look incredible. 

On Thursday, Dad worked all evening.  Preston came over to the house and we made dinner and played “Mormon bridge” which was a ton of fun.  Wednesday was Halloween.  Thomas and Miriam both went to parties.  Katrina stayed home and watched Phantom of the Opera, and Dad and I sat outside, gave out candy and watched “Nightmare Before Christmas.”  

On Tuesday we went to the temple!  It was a beautiful experience.  I am so glad that Dad and I are sealed to each other and to you and your siblings for eternity.  When I think about the eternity we'll get to spend together, I guess giving you up to the Lord for two years is not so much for Him to ask of me.

Also on Tuesday I got to talk to Cassandra.   She was taking Lily to a Halloween party with Lily dressed as a pumpkin. Remember I sent you a pict of Lily in her costume?  So cute!  Anyway, Grandma is in Texas right now and she and the Stoddards are going to go visit Cass, Em and Lily tomorrow.  It will be the first time Grandma and the Stoddards have ever seen Lily!  Plus they will get to see their new house!  I wish so much that I could be there with them all.  It will be so nice to see most of them in December!

I got to see Jon a couple of times this week and had a really nice time talking to him on the phone this morning.  He was on his way to the dentist.  It is so nice to see him when I go to Costco!  It makes it way more fun.  He's sold the highest percentage of memberships since they opened, and is liking it pretty good although it can be stressful.

 Monday we had Family Home Evening.  I told a story called “Saved by the Faith of our Mother which was written by your Great Grandpa Haws.   It is about a time when his mother  loaded up the kids in the car and left  Mexico for Arizona.  They stopped on the way to warm a bottle for the baby and somehow ended up starting a fire that burned up their car.  A group of men stopped to give them a ride, but instead of driving them to the border they drove them to a ranch and it was obvious that they had nothing good in mind.  Your great great grandma began praying and singing hymns non-stop till the men’s hearts were softened.  They drove her to the border where Great great grandpa came to get them.  Miriam also gave a lesson on the Christ-like attribute of obedience. 

Sorry this is so long, Matt!  I guess I didn’t leave you much time to reply, but I’d rather you get a nice long letter than me, although it is a pretty big sacrifice!  I love you so much and I hope your week is wonderful!  Please please let us know about anything you need.

Love,

Mom

July 14--Dear Elder

Hi, Matt.  Today is Saturday and everyone is just waking up.  We will be leaving soon for home.  Yesterday started out slow, but ended up being a very nice day.  We drove to San Deigo and didn’t get there till 2:00.  

The first thing we did there was to visit the San Luis Rey mission where the Mormon Batallion ended their march.  They are raising money to restore the mission and I hope our admission money, purchases, and donation helped them to do this.  The man who talked to us when we walked in to the chapel reminded me of Great Grandpa Haws and his brothers, so it was fun to just hear him talk which he did non stop for quite awhile.  When he heard we were from Utah, he assumed we were Mormons.  Imagine that!  He said he thought some Mormons came through at one time.  He didn’t even seem to know about the Mormon Battalion even though there is a sculpture in the museum of a Mormon Battalion soldier given to the mission by an LDS stake in the area to commemorate the event.

After checking in at the hotel and changing into swimwear, we went to the beach.  Dad, Katrina, and Thomas played in the waves; Miriam, Katrina, and looked at the shops along the beach; and Dad exercised by walking really far up the beach and back.  After that we went to the Seaside Village in downtown San Diego.  The shops were very fun to look at, and we had Greek and Italian food for dinner.  Dad got to see an aircraft carrier for the first time in his life, but sadly we got there too late for a tour.  He really liked seeing it, though.  So that was our San Diego adventure and I declare it a success. 

I hope you are having success in your mission, Matt, and that you are happy and well.  We are still praying for you, of course.  Have a great day!

Her Love's Masterpiece

Last night I dreamed I was in my Grandma’s house.  She was gone, but  I wasn’t worried; I knew she was happy.  Then I looked out the back door into the back yard and it was all paved over in blacktop.  At first I was excited like a child and zoomed around the smooth surface in an office chair.  I noticed that the back fence was gone and the blacktop of the yard blended in with the paving of the alleyway.  It was then that I realized the yard was paved for a parking lot to accommodate the house’s future role as a small apartment complex.  Distressed, I fled back inside and ran through the rooms, trying to drink in each feature with my eyes but I finally realized it was useless; looking preserved nothing.   It's strange I woke up crying; mourning the loss of memory-soaked ceilings and walls.  I wonder now why I cried less for my grandma than for her home, but then where does her home end and she begin?  Her heart is in every brick, every tile.  My grandma’s future departure didn't bother me till I contemplated losing the privilege of visiting and remembering inside her life's masterpiece of love.

Happy Birthday, Grandma

My Grandma is turning 90 this month, and her kids are asking for everyone to write something to her, so this is the letter that I am sending to my Grandma.

Dear Grandma,
I have so many memories of you over the years.  I remember you making me hominy to eat and I remember  drinking your delicious, slushy grapefruit drink.  I remember you giving us hot water bottles to keep us warm when we spent the night.  I remember you giving Great Grandma perms; it taught me alot about honoring my parents.  I also remember all the things you made.  You made me and my siblings stuffed frogs with colorful soft bodies and big bulgy eyes.  You made me and mys sister Julie each a doll with sleeping eyes on one side and awake eyes on the other.  I named mine Jane.  You made me a quilt stitched in the outline of the temple.  You made my son, Jonathan and Katherine's boy, Michael, quilts out of the same fabric when they were babies.  You made Katherine a rag doll, I think it's name was Bernice.  You raised chickens, grew raspberries, hung and ironed laundry, mopped miles of linoleum, and lived through ten teenagers.  Grandma, you are truly my hero, I hope I can be half the mother, grandmother, great, and great great grandmother that you are, and I wish you a very happy birthday.
Love,
Marci

One More Week!

Can you believe it?  Cassandra and Emerson are having a baby in one week from today.  I truly cannot belive it.  The fact that in one week I will be a grandma has definitely not sunk in yet.  I know that it will be so wonderful, and frankly I can't even imagine.  It did hit me a bit when I read the card my mom had made for Cassandra’s baby, and she signed it “Great Grandma Jenny.”  Wow, my mom a great grandma and me a grandma!  Not to mention Grandma Maxine and Grandma Patricia becoming great great grandmas!  But I digress.  The point here is that I will soon have a little grand daughter that Brian and I will love and cherish as much or more than we did our own kids.  Is that really possible?  I know it is because I already feel  some of that love and she’s not even here yet!

Grandpa's Funeral

Last Friday, Brian, our four youngest kids, and I made the long road trip to pay our respects to my Grandpa who died earlier that week.  He was ninety two and had lived a full and happy life, passing  away in his sleep.

Sunday night, many of Grandpa's posterity gathered together for a visit.  It’s wonderful to think that Grandpa was up in paradise having a sweet reunion with parents and loved ones at the same time we were down here having a reunion of our own with Grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  We had the visit in Grandma’s front yard.  When we got there, my Uncle Wallace and some of his many posterity had arrived.   I tried to hug and visit with every one who came.  Grandpa and Grandma had ten kids and nine of them were there that night along with an impressive number of children and grandchildren so there were a lot of people to hug.  Most of all I enjoyed talking to all the little second cousins (once removed?) they were all so cute!  Also my parents and my siblings, Tom, Julie, Rick, Sarah, and Elizabeth with some of thier families were there.   It was so nice to see everyone!  Brian made sure he took our kids around and had them meet everyone.  He said it was a great way to meet people, himself.

Poor Grandma, earlier that day, she had fallen and hit her head on the heater.  We were very worried about her and wondered if we should even get together, but we got the word that the gathering was on.  We were all very happy when Grandma came out.  She had a big bandage on her head.  She sat and visited a bit.  Grandma has got to be one of the sweetest ladies in the whole world.  Her presence was welcome and needed.

Then the story telling began!  My dad and Uncle Wallace were the self proclaimed story tellers.  It was great!  They swapped yarns complete with actions, gestures, and even background music on the guitar.  Ed and Milt added a bit.  We sang  some songs, too.  Wallace and Edith had set up a quilt.  I heard it was the last one my grandpa worked on and that we were finishing it for him.  A wonderful, wonderful get together!

Monday was the funeral.  Grandpa’s brother’s, Dan and Jim were at the viewing with their wives.  It was so nice to see them!   Grandpa had five brothers in all I think and two sisters?  Anyway, as we filed past the casket, I told my kids to look at Grandpa’s hands.  Fingers bent, a bit of them maybe missing, I told the kids that those hands epitomized the life of their hard-working grandpa who moved his family 23 times-- from the time he was discharged after WWII to the time my dad left home—all in order to find work to feed his family.  Hands like that are a fast disappearing sign of the slowly dwindling "greatest generation."

My dad spoke at the funeral and gave a brief life-sketch of grandpa.  I’d hate to have been in his shoes and have to condense the wonderful 92 years of my grandpa’s life into a 40 minute talk.  But he did a wonderful job and told my favorite story, the one about Grandpa discovering and dislodging an armed bomb where it was caught in the bomb bay doors.   He pretty much saved everyone on the bomber.   Uncle Milt also spoke about the resurrection and the fact that, because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we know we will see Grandpa again.  He did an excellent job and I know that what he said is true.  The music was also beautiful.  The grandkids 18 and younger sang “I am a Child of God.”  It was beautiful.   My brother, Tom also sang with my niece, Celeste Black accompanying him.   They sang “Blessed are They,” the beatitudes set to music.  The beatitudes are my favorite passage of scripture and I love that song which I haven’t heard for decades.  Tom and Celeste couldn’t have done a better job.

At the cemetery, grandpa’s loving sons filed around the casket.  Most touching of all the day was the haunting and beautiful sound of taps being played as these righteous priesthood bearers bore their beloved father to his final resting place.  Grandpa was old, and had lived a wonderful life, and I have a strong testimony of where he is going and that I’ll see him again, so I didn't shed any tears of sorrow that day.  I did cry tears of joy, however, at that touching sight.  The grave was dedicated by Uncle George so that Grandpa’s earthly body will rest in peace until he comes forth in glory on the morning of the first resurrection.  We sang “God be with you till we meet again.” We all hope to be worthy to rise with him on that day.

After the graveside service, we took pictures of all the family groups including my Dad’s and then left that sacred spot and drove back to the church for a luncheon.  The luncheon, provided by the Relief Society sisters of my grandpa’s ward, was absolutely delicious.  It was a simple meal, which suits us all just fine—soups and salads.  The desert was brownies and ice cream.  Grandpa and his descendants love ice cream, in fact, according to my brother, Tom, ice cream was the last thing Grandpa ate on this earth.  Grandpa’s bishop dished it out to us, a humble and loving man whom I could tell loved my grandpa very much. 

We ate and visited and my little family admired the roses Emerson and Cassandra had sent.  They were beautiful and we took a picture.  We sent them with Donna to take to Grandma’s house.  Grandma was there at the luncheon which comforted  all of us and made us grateful.  I didn’t know until Milt spoke that grandma had internal bleeding from Sunday’s fall and was leaving right then to the doctor.  I haven’t heard anything about her condition since. 

Of course, there were stories.  Before Grandma left, Milt talked about what a wonderful mother she was.  We were all impressed by grandma’s patience and understanding when Milt told about some of the dangerous things he’d do with his brothers and described how Grandma would come out, ask if anyone was hurt, and after being reassured, go back to what she had been doing. 

Some of Grandpa's other kids spoke, which I loved.  I was also happy when Grandpa’s younger brother’s stood up to speak.  They are such great guys, and I’ve missed being around them.  I liked how Uncle Dan called Grandpa a “straight shooter” and said he always tried to do what was right.   What he said was true and I will be eternally grateful to my grandpa for leaving that legacy.  I am so glad that my dad told the bishop that if he could find a microphone, they could probably use it, and that so many people did use it.  Then we put away the tables and chairs, Gordon’s boy vacuumed the floor, and we all went “home” which was, for us, my parent’s house.

In order to explain dinner, I have to give the history of Grandpa and Taco bell.  Apparently Grandpa loved taco bell.  He was eating there once a week up to the week he died.  In fact, his last real meal was reportedly at Taco Bell (although he did eat a bit of ice cream after that as previously mentioned.)  Well, he went there so much, that all the Taco Bell employees knew him and would start cooking up his usual order the minute they saw him out in the parking lot.  In fact, one day, he decided to change the old routine, parking in the same lot, but heading for the KFC next door.  Apparently the manager ran out and stopped him, telling him he was going to the wrong place for lunch!  Not only that, but a few of the Taco Bell employees were at Grandpa’s funeral for which we are grateful.  By now it should be obvious where ninety some-odd descendants of Grandpa went to eat the night of his funeral—you guessed it—Taco Bell.  Don’t worry, Aunt Martha called way ahead of time to warn them.  They said they’d be ready and they were.  We started showing up at 5:30 and kept coming steadily for more than an hour.  We had an absolute blast.  Taco Bell has never tasted so good.  The other Taco Bell customers didn’t know what to think.  I actually went up to explain about us and Grandpa to two men who were standing there looking a bit confused.  I saw someone walk up to them later and do the same thing.  I have to wonder how many times that night they heard Grandpa’s story!  Eating at Taco Bell was the perfect way to end a wonderful  day.

Our trip home consisted of more reading of “To the Rescue," the biography of President Monson.  So we in essence celebrated the lives of two great men on that trip—our grandpa and our prophet.