I Love You Grandpa

In the hours after my Grandpa Morley's passing, I don't exactly know how to feel, or how to put it into words. But I do know 2 things: I know the Plan of Salvation and I know I love my Grandpa.
This is the kind of man he was:

He was a GOOD man. For him, it's not a trite cliche. It's a perfect description of how he lived his life.

He lived a long time, 94 years. What I think is one of the greatest blessings about that is that so many 30+ great-grandchildren (more than that but not including babies) got to really know him. They will be able to remember him in years to come. What a blessing!

He didn't just live a clean life, he took to heart "abhor the appearance of evil" Enough said about that.....

He loved the simple things in life: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Root Beer Floats, breakfast at Denny's, visits with old friends, his garden, etc.

And finally, more than anyone else I know, he found true joy in being with his family. The only time he ever missed a wedding, school program, graduation, etc was when his health didn't allow him. And he loved each of us for simply for who we were.

I love you Grandpa- see you later!!!!

3 posts

There are three posts that follow this so feel free to keep reading!!!

Hard Times and ImPerfection and Trust

This past week has been HARD. Not to mention emotional.......
You may already be aware of my looking for a roommmate (still looking, FYI) trying to clear my potential criminal background, etc then last week I was released from the RS presidency and called instead as the sacrament meeting chorister. I knew that a release was coming but I did not anticipate the chorister.

So, to sum it up I cried. At church on last Sunday (not yesterday). A lot. While I was leading the sacrament meeting singing. It wasn't one event just the breaking point for my emotional dam. Can I just that when you are crying that leading the music is NOT the place to be? Of course I think only a couple people were looking at me.....

That's the hard times, now for the imperfection. Going out on a limb here so bear with me..... Serving in this new calling is not easy for me- I am still trying to get my whole heart into it. I really miss working as part of a presidency- now basically going solo. I do enjoy music but I'm not necessarily passionate about it like many other members of my family. I don't aspire to improve my conducting skills- though I'm sure they could be improved.....

Yesterday was fast Sunday- I thought about gettign up but I felt somewhat guilty about getting up to bear my testimony and not having my complete heart in my calling. But then a dear sister got up and I don't even remember what she said, all I remember that she'd been having a hard time even in spite of the gospel and all that she had to be grateful for.

I have one thing to say about her message- liberating!!! Someone else had difficult feelings, it was comforting. Haven't you ever felt a thought like, "I thought I was the only who experienced/felt like that!" It was also a good reminder to me that I can be imperfect and yet be a fabulous individual!!!! Now, about trust? I had the distinct thought that much of the time, God isn't asking to take a life-changing step, he just asks us to Trust him. And I am grateful for opportunities that grow my trust.

I don't know all the reasons why God needs a music conductor, or especially why he needs me to do it, but I look forward to discovering why! Starting with a conducting session with my mom, who is a complete music professional. Yep, already got it scheduled.

To sum it up: It's Ok to cry, we all need each other, we all have hard times, we can be amazing people in spite of imperfections.

First Week of Work

My first week of working with boy with autism was equally challenging and rewarding. Some challenges I anticipated, others just cropped up. However, because there are challenges, every step forward feels HUGE.
I wanted to say more I didn't feel completely good about blogging about someone else's child in a somewhat public setting- but I would love to share so if you want to know more, call me/text me/e-mail me/or facebook message me.

There: got it all covered.

My (almost) Brush with the Law......

For my new job, working with the 6 year old boy with autism, let's call him Patrick, I get paid by the state. Which meant I had to pass a background check. Which I failed the first time. Why? The year I spent in Taiwan was unaccounted for. The solution? Call the Taiwanese embassy in DC and get some kind of a record to vouch for me not committing any crimes while in Taiwan.

There was defiinitely some initial freakout- ( I don't understand why this is happening to me!!!)but I was truly blessed to pull it together fairly quickly. Ironically, when I got the news that I had just been reading an article by President Packer in the New Era. He and his wife were traveling in Germany and his wife nearly got removed from the train for a problem with her passport. However, just before the train had left, President Packer recieved a 20 mark note from a missionary (actually, it was the future elder bednar) and when the train police (????) recieved the money, they left them alone. Moral of the story "if we live as we should the Lord will guide our lives" Not that I am promoting my lifestyle but.... the whole travel/law issue gave me a lot of comfort at that time- couldn't have asked for a better topic!

I spent nearly an hour with 2 embassies (DC and San Francisco) and got nowhere. No one had any idea about how to get a record that I didnt' commit a crime but said that if there was such a form, I would need to be in Taiwan to get it. Great! So I called the mom I work for, explained my dilemma and she called her support coordinator (the people that give them money to pay for me for helping with Patrick) and they agreed that if I provided a letter from the school where I taught and that I did not commit any crimes that year AND document my phone calls to the embassy, they would clear me. I understand why I had to jump through those hoops but still.....

Let me say it again- I AM NOT A CRIMINAL!!! Just in case you had any doubts.....