The "countdown" continues...

7 days until I hear the voices of my two favorite missionaries!!!

Christmas is fast approaching and it seems like the only thing on my mind is talking to Jared and Josh. I am anxious to hear their voices. The last time we spoke was on Mother's Day and that was unbelievable. It is such a blessing to have two worthy sons serving the Lord. I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure it is all real. The past year with the boys in the mission field has been a year of so many blessings, both personal and as a family. We see so much growth in each of them as we read their weekly email to us. They are truly becoming men.

We will be spending Christmas in Utah. Tara and Garret are in Virginia for the holidays with Garrett's family, so that means Rick and I are alone for the holidays. Well, after Thanksgiving without the kids, we decided that our Christmas gift to each other would be a trip to Utah to be with DeeDee and Mick and their kids and grandkids. I cannot bare being alone Christmas morning. We needs kids...and noise!

In addition, there has always been a special spirit at Aunt DeeDee's house. Some Christmas Eve traditions were created and began for us at DeeDee's home. I remember as a little girl (I was 5 when they got married) being in their home year after year and she always created the perfect Christmas atmosphere. It was like magic! I have very fond, warm memories of being with DeeDee at Christmas. Even after Rick and I were married and they were living here in Rohnert Park...we would spend the night Christmas Eve so we would not miss a thing Christmas morning. I love being with them at Christmas time and feel so blessed that we will be with them this Christmas.

My cup runneth over....

I remember almost 23 years ago, gazing down at our precious baby girl and wondering what life would bring her; trying to picture each milestone, each bump in the road and each

monumental triumph...

We have been privileged to be a part of it all... the fears, the laughter, the tears, the challenges and the sweet success! Our Tara began a life long journey of learning and despite many bumps and challenges became a college graduate from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, on December 12, 2008. She, along with her husband Garrett, were among 1,163 graduates and one of 42 couples graduating together. The evening was amazing as we listened to President Clark and President Uchtdorf deliver their remarks and give extremely wise and profoundly inspired counsel.

Words cannot adequately express how Rick and I felt (and continue to feel). Maybe these photos will be the pictures that are worth a million words...



CONGRATULATIONS TARA AND GARRETT
WE LOVE YOU BOTH!

December already???

Maybe I am crazy, but I could swear the calendar says it is December. Wow, December? What happened to the eleven other months this year? Well I am sure that I must have participated in them, but the question is....how was I a participant?

Seriously though, that is something to think about. In life...are we active participants, or are we bystanders watching the years, months, days and hours go by? When I truly ponder the events of the year, some of it is a blur and others not so pleasant. However the majority of this year, for me at least, has been an awakening of sorts. I have been given opportunities to grow and stretch beyond what I thought my capacity was (Okay "primary president" is definately in that category).

I have had my faith tested and refined. I was speaking to a friend just the other day concerning the opportunities given to us from the Lord to increase our faith. Case in point....MY HAND situation. (which is about 90% improved by the way) That situation was really tough on me. But looking at it now...I am glad I had an opportunity to have my faith tested. I think that sometimes we are living the Gospel out of habit; going through the motions because that is just our lifestyle. That was true in a way for me...I needed to be jerked back into earnestly seeking the Lord in my life on a daily basis(I don't think I am up to the calliber of Enos yet, but I am working on it). I needed to focus more intently on the Savior and Atonement. I needed to study with greater intent. The payoff is sweet and peaceful...I will keep this up.

For those who are interested...

8 DAYS UNTIL TARA AND GARRET GRADUATE

AND

21 DAYS UNTIL I HEAR THE VOICES OF MY TWO FAVORITE MISSIONARIES!

Countdown

The countdown is on...

28 days until Tara and Garrett graduate from BYU-I

41 days until I can hear the voices of Jared and Josh

But who is counting???

Ahhh it's Friday!

Friday is finally here. This has been the longest most grueling week (three weeks actually) I have had in a long time. I am not to the self evaluation stage where I can say..."oh Lynette this was good for you...you learned a lot about yourself," yet. But...the good news is that my former receptionist, Carissa, decided her new job was not for her and is coming home to us. Yea Wooo Hooo! What an answer to prayers, since the girl I hired to replace her did not show up for work last Friday, and left a message on my cell phone that she "quit". Ughhh I think I am getting too old for this! Now I just need a good long restful weekend. Anyone know where and when I can find one?

Reflection

Believe it or not...Jared and Josh have been on their missions exactly one year. We have been reflecting on the happenings of October 24, 2007 and all of the events since. We have thought about the feelings we had while packing up the last of the suit cases in preparation for the 1 PM reporting time at the MTC. Rick, Tara, Garrett and I each wrote a letter for the boys to read their first night... a letter that they could take with them to read anytime they needed us while they were away...ones that would quickly bring them home and close to us in their thoughts. Rick gave each of them a Father's blessing; the last one for two years. All the kids have been the recipients of many Father's blessing over the years, but these felt different somehow and it was as if we were all receiving a spiritual gift.

As we drove into the parking lot of the MTC we were definitely on Holy Ground. My heart was feeling two overwhelming feelings simultaneously. It was breaking in pieces at the thought of sending my boys so far away on their own and away from me; breaking at the thought of not seeing them and hugging them for two years. But an even stronger feeling was overwhelmingly present...I was the mother of two young men who were joining the Royal Army of the Lord's missionaries. My testimony was swelling as I placed their missionary name tags on their suit lapels. This was moment I had dreamed of since the first time I laid eyes on my precious boys.

So now, a year has gone by and strangely enough...I have never felt closer to my sons; though physically I cannot touch them nor speak to them. They are growing and developing in ways that words cannot describe. Their testimonies are growing and they know the source of their blessings and happiness. We have been privileged to witness some phenomenal things in Portugal and Chile.

As I reflect on this past year and the blessing we have enjoyed, my testimony and gratitude swells. I have loved every minute of it as we have shared in their missions through letters and look forward with great anticipation, this next year.

Each letter I write to them is closed with...

"My beloved son, Moroni (Jared or Josh), I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work. I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end."

Moroni 8:2-3

A Calm in the Storm

So last week, life was crazy and at times I thought I was crazy. The continued struggle with my hand was exacerbated by a flare up of the RA in my left foot. And then...the Monday afternoon bombshell of my receptionist turning in her two week notice, was the proverbial "nail in the coffin."
In the scramble of the week, we had planned to close the office in the afternoon to attend the temple on Thursday for our stake temple chapel session. The first obstacle came when my hygienist did not show up for work, then a phone call came to me at work informing me that one of the ladies I visit teach who had just had surgery was having a reaction to the pain medication in the hospital and I needed to get there right away. Side note...she is an elderly woman and I am her durable power of attorney over health. So I frantically got things taken care of at work in order to head to the hospital. At that point the question crossed my mind of whether or not we would make it to the temple that day.
The temple...peace amidst conflict. I needed to be there. A silent prayer was uttered and before I knew it...the immediate crisis was over and we were on our way to Oakland. Arriving there a bit early, we took advantage of going into the Visitor's Center to view a sculpture exhibit that we had heard was there. What we found was much more than a mere exhibit, it was exactly what I needed in preparation for entering the temple.

The Healing Power of Jesus Christ exhibit is one that I would recommend to all. For a glimpse check out the artist's web site http://ajsculptures.com/. The details of the sculptures and the feelings they invoke are testimony building to say the least. My heart was full as I entered the temple and my experience there was calming and peaceful as the Holy Ghost bore witness to me of pure truth. The stress of the week and the troubling issues in my life seem to pale in comparison to the joy that was filling my whole soul. Rick and I were invited to be special participants in our session which was more evidence that the Lord knew exactly what I needed...to stay focused on Him.

The temple is truly my calm in the storms of life. The sweet peace that abides there can comfort the most troubled of hearts. I have felt the loving arms of the Savior within the temple; and learn, on a deeper level, His love for me. It is through the temple we find Him and it is within the temple I want Him to find me.

Fall is here!

I don't know exactly why fall is my favorite time of year, but it is. Every year, without fail, I seem to get anxious for the weather to give the hint that fall is coming; for leaves to turn color and for the early evening promptings, to light a candle with a warm rich pumpkin fragrance that says...ahhh "home"..."family"..."safety" Fall is filled with rich light, warmth and love; where even the smell in the air whispers...you're alright, your home, everything is going to be okay; you're safe. Fall fills my heart with peace. I tend to slow down a little and look around more. I see things with a little clearer perspective. I seem to pay attention to the creations and blessings of the Master a little more and gratitude sometimes, more often than not...spills out through my eyes. For me, fall brings a sense of safety and I am reminded..."Be still and know that I am God." So then...I guess I DO know exactly why fall is my favorite time of year!

HAPPY FALL!

It keeps gettin' better and better....NOT!

So in an effort to keep positive I share the latest in the saga with my hand. I saw a physical therapist who specializes in hands, in particular radial nerve injuries such as mine. I was fitted for a special brace with little slings for each finger that are attached to a spring pulley system. This enables my fingers to be held up ( as I cannot lift them up on my own) and the springs are to act as resistance to enable better function. It's weird...I can close my hand...I just can't open it. They tell me that it is different muscles and different nerves. So long story short...this little gem of a devise, enables me to have more function on the keyboard at work as well as other mindless tasks that I have taken for granted. The contraption looks so silly that my new nickname is either Edward Scissorhands or the "Puppet Master".

Lessons from Conference

Conference weekend was great. We spent the weekend watching conference with our good friends, the Allreds. In between sessions Sue and I were busy either preparing food or building my blog.

I love conference; literally at the feet of the prophets, being counseled and spiritually fed. It doesn’t get much better than that. One (and it is hard to choose just one) of my favorites was Elder Wirthlin…about having a positive outlook even amongst trials and hardships. A sense of humor is a good antidote many times when things weigh us down.

Speaking of hardships and trials…I have yet to escape. Brief synopsis…broke left elbow a year ago (falling off my front porch) and it didn’t heal right. Surgery to replace the radial head with an artificial one was performed on August 20, about 7 weeks ago. As my surgical luck would have it, a nerve was damaged during the surgery by a retraction clamp. So I have lost muscle function in the muscles which control the hand. Bottom line I cannot open my hand or lift my finger without the help of my right hand. My brain is telling the hand to open, but the message gets stuck in the damaged area.

The course of treatment? Well, we wait for two more months. I will be in hand brace to keep my wrist at a proper angle and to allow my fingers to be lifted with springs. Oh fun!!! It seems to me this whole thing started with my elbow didn’t it? Ughhh and now look where we are!!!

So in keeping with Elder Wirthlin’s message…I am trying to maintain a sense of humor about the whole thing. I mean…it could be worse right?

I am sure there will be more to come on this issue. For now…as President Monson counseled…I will “enjoy the journey”. (At least try hard to).

A whole new world....

Well...a BLOG! Imagine that! I have entered a whole new world. Back in the day it was called journaling...but not near as much fun. Oh sure words are great...but music??? Now that is awesome! I guess the real reson for the blog, is to document memories while I still have some.

So about the memory thing...I DO remember that I have three children. They don't live with us anymore.... Empty nesting now... Tara, now married to Garrett, is finishing her last semester of college. They both will graduate December 12, 2008 and then off to a new adventure...hopefully not too far away. The twins are on full time missions for the church. Jared is in the Chile, Vina del Mar Mission and Josh is in the Portugal Lisbon Mission. Amazing experiences are being enjoyed by all.

Rick and I??? Well, we are gettin old. But we are doing it together so it's a beautiful thing. And Pepper keeps us feeling loved. She's our forever baby...THE PRINCESS!