Kent and Betty Vance Family

Betty and the Iron Maiden

2012-01-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

A week ago, Betty came home from the hospital after a total knee replacement. She's been walking around the house on her walker and has been working with nurses, ocupational therapists and physical therapists here at home. Part of her therapy is to use a CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) machine. We have affectionately named it The Iron Maiden as each time she gets comfortable, we get to increase the setting. She's using the cpm two hours at a time and is looking forward to the time that she no longer will need to use it.

Notice the ice pack on her knee. It's an inexpensive icepack you can buy at any grocery store. We've never gotten so much mileage out of one bag of frozen peas.

Goodbye Dear Auntie Esther

2011-10-15T15:58:00.006-06:00

Today was the funeral of Betty's dear aunt. She was a wonderful person and she will be missed.

Esther May Freed Garten, age 89, passed away, October 13, 2011 in Colorado Springs. She was born August 9, 1922, daughter of the late Walter Hiram and Grace Elizabeth Freed. Esther was a master seamstress and loved to spend her time crocheting afghans for her children and grandchildren. Esther became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in February of 1975 while living in Security, Colorado. She served a mission and worked in the Denver temple 14 years. Esther is survived by two sons, Walter Garten and Steven (Diane) Garten; a sister, Naomi Noble; half sister, Eilene Clay; daughter-in-law, Jodie Garten; 14 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by 4 children; Robin Garten, Jeannette Garten, Loretta Garten and Alan Garten.

Her obituary from the Gazette is available online. It is also available from Evergreen funeral home here.

Old photos

2011-09-18T20:02:00.001-06:00

I have finally found a way to scan and share some of our old family photographs in the form of slides that have been in boxes for years. If you are interested in seeing them and sharing them, just let me know.

Betty's special day / Father's Day Visit

2011-06-23T20:39:00.002-06:00

Betty had a special day this past week.

It was so nice to see Andrea and her family when they came to visit.

Luke is getting as tall as I am and his voice is deepening. I cherish every moment that we have to spend with him before he grows too "mature" for his grandparents.

I enjoy being with my daughter. The white hair you see on me was earned by the two of us, that is the hair that I didn't pull out worrying about her. She's my sweetheart.

In an effort to keep from boring the kids to death at our house watching old movies, we took the kids to Bear Creek park for a stroll in nature.

Ashleigh and Betty were catching up on their girl talk while the rest of us were stepping it out and setting a bit faster pace. They didn't even notice that they were getting left behind.

I got to try out my camera on some of the wild flowers in the park. They were beautiful, but this is one time that I was glad that I didn't get the point.

No treck on the west side would be complete without a stop at Old Colorado City Creamery Ice Cream Parlor.

You would never know it by looking at this innocent looking face, but Andrea enjoyed her ice cream too.

Luke is a man of a few words, but me thinks he is savoring the last bite of ambrosia.

Betty is already anticipating their next visit and the treats afterwards.

A new trail buddy

2011-06-22T21:21:00.000-06:00

Twelve years ago, Betty and I bought a Sheltie puppy at a pet store. Many told us that it was a horrible mistake, but we named him Brewster Dogburn and showered our love on him. Once we took him though obedience training and got him the medical attention he needed, he was a wonderful pet. For over ten years, he was a member of our family and we loved him. When he died, he left a hole in our hearts and we swore that one day we would replace him.

The opportunity finally came. We got news that this cute little guy was available from an animal rescue. We picked him up Monday, and the adventure begins.

Since he's not a puppy, he comes with some challenges, and we have some serious training to do. He knows his name, but he doesn't always respond as I would like. This little guy eats like a horse and his manners are almost absent. He barks at every dog or person that he sees. He is persistent with his need to play and isn't as affectionate as we would hope. We just might find that Caesar Milan's programs just might prove useful after all.

Today was our third day. He has been walking with me at least once a day. He keeps me moving. He's good for my heart in more ways than I anticipated.

July is going to be a busy month for us. We need to get this little fellow ready to meet our family. He's sweet, but rebellious; playful but determined.

He comes pre-named and he knows his name well, so that's the name we will use with him as well. His name is Corin. We were told that is the name of one of the characters from Tales of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

Week two of retirement

2011-06-11T22:00:00.000-06:00

Today was the end of week two and I thought I would be able to sit back and chill out. That hasn't been the case. I've been busy with yard work, medical appointments, insurance appointments, and the honey-do list. I find that at the end of each day, I have items on my daily to-do list that I haven't gotten accomplished.

The lawn is mowed, the flower beds have been weeded and I have spread fertilizer. There is still a long list of tasks that need to be done in the yard and in the house.

I have enjoyed spending time with Betty. I've also enjoyed the looser schedule. I have enjoyed taking longer for lunches. long walks and an occasional phone conversation with a more relaxed tone.

I have rededicated myself to my weight loss program, and it is already showing up at the scale.

I think that the thing that I enjoy most is being able to work and live by my own schedule. I enjoy sleeping late and I enjoy staying up late if I want to watch an old movie.

Exercising in a chair.

2011-06-03T15:57:00.000-06:00

For several years now, Betty has been taking classes from Silver Sneakers. It just didn't make sense to me because I just couldn't imagine getting good exercise in a chair. Lucky for me, I thought, the classes were offered during the day and my work schedule did not allow attending with her. Well, I am now retired and have run out of excuses. Today was the first class, and I found that I enjoyed myself. We will be attending regularly, and I believe I am looking forward to it.

The Window

2011-05-14T20:34:00.002-06:00

Three friends stood at the classroom window
One saw light, two saw only shadow.
One seeing beauty shared his view
Two listened, but chose to feel blue.

Burdened then with impending gloom,
Two paid attention to darkness in the room.
Two lent an ear to their dear friend
Hoping their burdens ere long would end.

Three returned to the window another day
Eager to hear what the others would say.
Two saw hope in the blossoms of spring.
One saw the weeds that summer would bring.

Seasons quickly came and so they went.
In different ways each friends' time was spent.
Til three friends at the classroom window,
Again shared views of the city below.

Colored by experiences each one would know;
Experiences that helped each friend grow,
Three saw the beauty in the landscape below
As each talked of their view through the old window.

Kent

Beginning my last month.

2011-05-02T20:46:00.000-06:00

The branches of the weeping willow sway in the breeze. Their flexibility allows them to move and adapt as atmospheric changes come. More rigid trees snap and break under the pressure of winds.

I too am being the given an opportunity. My life is changing and I can either flex with change of employment opportunities. What are the things that I need to do to prepare for life after my life with the same employer for over a quarter of a century?

I am facing the future with eager anticipation and with some trepidation. What things will remain and which will be discarded to lighten the load? What things are wants, and what are necessities. Time will tell.

Aubrey

2011-02-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Our precious Aubrey passed away today at 11:41am. Her struggle on this earth is over. Although we will miss her, we still celebrate for her. Surrounded by her parents, sister and Grandma, she died peacefully. She passed quitely, without fear or pain. Thank you all so much for your devotion and prayers.

When life seems overwhelming

2011-02-13T12:21:00.002-07:00

I've always been easily discouraged when faced with situations that are difficult and out of the ordinary. Many times in life, I have found myself quitting when the going got difficult. This last two years, I have gained a new perspective as I have watched my family adjust and grow with some challenging situations. My granddaughter, Aubrey, was diagnosed with a rare tumor in her brain stem. Although there have been difficult times, I have watched her, her parents and my wife face difficult situations with amazing courage. One such time was our trip recently to the local library.

Aubrey has consistently gotten sicker. As she has faced new situations, she and her parents have done it with courage and with a sense of determination that is to be admired. One day, after being confined to her bedroom for months, she announced that she was tired of being shut up and wanted to get out. She wanted to go to the library and get a new book to read.

Her parents took hours to prepare her for the trip and make arrangements to get transportation arranged for her as it has been too difficult to take her in the family car. The weather was cold, but she was determined. Tim lifted her from her bed and got her situated in a specialized wheel chair.

She posed with Grandma and me for a photo while we waited for the Bus with a lift to arrive. Her voice was weak, but her determination was strong.

When our little party reached the Library, the staff treated us well. They knew Aubrey well because of the many hours she had spent in the library before her illness. The welcomed her back and offered assistance.

When we got to the library, she asked the librarian if she could visit the special historical collection. She wanted to know about a hotel erected in 1899.

We all got busy searching what for we could find, but to no avail. Aubrey was having the time of her life. She was doing something that she enjoyed doing.

The library staff brought an armful of books and showed them to Aubrey one by one.

She was delighted when she found a book that she was interested in.

Our visit to the library was short, but Aubrey had done something she wanted to do.

Her dad packed up in her wheel chair, wrapped her up in a blanket and took her for a two block walk to a Chinese Restaurant to end the excursion. She was out of her bedroom for a time and enjoying it. When when got to the restaurant and took one bite, she was ill and needed to be taken home.

Over and over again, I have watched this young lady be faced with difficult situations. For the most part, she adapts and handles the situation with courage and a good attitude.

Life isn't always fair. Sometimes we have to deal with things that seem impossible. By watching Aubrey, I have learned, and am determined that I will face those situations with a positive attitude and determination to make the best of the situation.

Freedom in 1948

2011-01-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that this was created in 1948. It's just as true today.

Freedom in 1948

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T18:50:00.003-07:00

Ashleigh watches TV

This year, Thanksgiving was in Colorado Springs for part of our family and in South Dakota for another part of the family. Andrea, Matthew, Luke, and Ashleigh came to our house for a meal, and we were joined by Grandpa Wagner.

Betty was in South Dakota with Tim, Brenda, Aubrey and Chloe. Grandma wants to spend as much time as possible with Aubrey and to help Brenda.

Robert is in Longmont, we think. Wherever he is, we love him and wish him the best.

Matthew plays with his machine

Grandpa Wagner misses Betty

Andrea is sleepy, but musters up a smile

Grandpa is glad to have part
of the family here with him

Matthew forces a smile as
Grandpa tries out his new camera.

Luke sleeps through it all.

Betty, I'll never take you for granted again

2010-11-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

This has been a good week and a hard week. I have been reminded many ways that Betty makes my life a better, more pleasant exercise.

Last Saturday, I bought groceries with the intention of cooking all of my meals. I cooked one meal or two. They weren't anything to write home about. One night, I cooked a pizza on Betty's fancy pizza stone. I put all of the right ingredients on it and it came out like the sole of a shoe that had taken a trip through a garbage dump. I ate it just because I cooked it and I didn't want to throw the groceries away. One night, I cooked migas, a Mexican dish with tortilla crumbs and diced vegetables. I've made this dish before, but when Betty is home, it tastes wonderful. This time, it was no more than ok. I ate it because I was hungry, but it would have tasted better if I could have shared it with her.

Sunday, I got up and went to church. The talks were good and the fellowship was terrific, but I missed the companionship that I get when Betty is with me. I got my scripture study done, but she wasn't here to help me see her point of view of the lessons taught in my reading.

I have tried hard to keep the dishes washed, my bed made, my clothes picked up, the trash taken out, the refrigerator stocked, and my laundry done. The kitchen for is swept, but it isn't clean. The dishes are washed, but they aren't put away. The bed is made but not without wrinkle. A couple of times, I've walked through the kitchen and noticed a foul odor. After a diligent search, I found a liquid onion and a rotten potato. Our home is so much more when Betty is here, not just because she does all of these things, but because when she is here the house has the wonderful aroma of her essential oils.

My office is in our family room, which is just off of the kitchen. At times, I have complained about the noise of the washer, the dryer or the kitchen appliances when I was trying to concentrate on a work task or the conversation on the phone. This week, the quiet has been deafening. I find it harder to concentrate with the quiet than with the trivial noises of working at home.

More than anything else, I have missed my conversation partner. I missed having someone to bounce an idea off of. I've missed having someone to listen to me when I vent and express frustration. I have ached to have someone share my little victories when I have worked through a difficult problem or have found a creative approach to an old task.

I have thoroughly enjoyed our phone conversations each morning and each evening before I retire. I get the latest news about Aubrey and Chloe and Brenda and Tim. We talk about our challenges and how we've done. We share ideas and encouragement. As much as I enjoy them, it's not the same as watching her eyes twinkle or the corner of her mouth turn up as something pleases her.

Betty and I agree that she is where she needs to be. Meanwhile, I am learning to cook, clean and do laundry, but more than anything, I am learning to love my sweetheart more each day.

I Took it in the Chin

2010-11-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an emotional day. Betty is out of town helping care Aubrey. Today was not a good day for her and her tumor is interfering with her breathing. The walls were coming at me because I am working from home and don't have a lot of face to face contact as I would prefer. I called Betty's dad and he suggested that I leave the computer for a while and take a walk outdoors.

I laced up my walking shoes, activated my iPod pedometer and headed out for a twenty minute walk in the neighborhood. It was beginning to get a bit damp and cold and I was walking at a pretty good clip. I got to an area where the sidewalks were a uneven. I caught my toe on a lifted section of sidewalk, and down I came into a four point landing. I saw stars as my face hit and my chin and wire framed trifocals took the brunt of the fall. I got up, straightened the frames of my glasses, dusted myself off and looked around hoping nobody say me take a nose dive into the concrete. I was a little unsteady on my feet, but I finished my walk.

After washing my wounds with peroxide and applying ointment and bandages, I went on to finish the day. Although I was a bit sore and a bit wiser about when and where I walk, I felt good that I had stuck to my committment to exercise every day this week. I don't know how it will affect the scale, but I do know that I feel better about working toward a goal consistently.

Eavesdropping can pay off

2010-11-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

When I had just returned from my mission in Mexico, I was really proud of my mastery of the Spanish language. I used my new language skills every opportunity I had. There was one situation, though that I kept my language skills very quiet. I was attending Adam State college and taking some basic classes. One that I enjoyed was Art for the Elementary School. The class was taught by a Professor Hatfield. I sat in front of two hispanic students from Espanola, New Mexico. During that class, my knowledge of Spanish proved very beneficial.

I learned that Professor Hatfield had a special affection for anything that came from Mexico. He often spoke of the things he saw there that fascinated him. Among the things he mentioned were black velvet paintings and advertising that was painted on the corrugated tin used to close the open air businesses in the city marketplaces and the bright colored houses that were built in tiers along the winding cobblestone streets of hills of the suburbs.

I tried to weave these themes into the projects I prepared for this class. The two young ladies from Espanola were very adept at criticizing every project in Spanish picking them apart mercilessly, thinking that this fair skinned gringo in front of them could not understand. Oh, I was tempted to set them straight. Their criticism, however, was helpful and I refrained.

Finally at the end of the quarter, I did something that they really liked and they generously gave each other their approval. I could contain myself no longer. I leaned forward and in my very best Spanish, I thanked them for the compliment.

Any comments about SKYPE?

2010-10-29T19:56:00.000-06:00

My sweetheart and I are separated for a while while she stays with our Granddaughter, Aubrey during her illness. It has been lonely here today and we have been looking for a way to stay connected with my Girls. It was suggested that we use SKYPE to video conference while we are apart. I've downloaded the software. Does anyone have any tips for me?

I spent the day with Noah and Ellie

2010-10-28T20:46:00.002-06:00

Betty stayed at Brenda's and Tims as I came home to take care of things at home. I dreaded the long drive home alone. I thought that the day would go better if I listened to an audio book as I drove. My choice was The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. It was a delightful experience.

The book touched notes in my heart today more effectively than any book I've ever heard. As Noah described his love for his sweet Ellie it helped me consider my own relationship with my wife. As he described his conversation with his children, it strengthened my feelings for my family. The language and imagery was delightfully creative. A trip that took a whole day seemed to go quickly. It was a day very well spent.

Aubrey makes the news

2010-10-07T19:48:00.002-06:00

What is courage?

2010-10-03T15:52:00.000-06:00

I found myself asking myself about courage after viewing part of a movie called 'The Blue and the Grey.' There are several scenes in the movie depicting courageous behavior and cowardly behavior. I was particularly moved by a scene in which a young man was branded for cowardice, and I was moved by a scene in which a young correspondent has a heart to heart talk with his cousin about being courageous.

As I lay in bed after viewing the film and contemplating my own reactions in life, I remembered some times that I was full of fear. Some of the times I was brave, other times, I fell short.

I went to a party when I was a boy at a farm near home. Part of the activities of the party was in an old abandoned home. A haunted house had been set up for our entertainment. As we lined up to go into the house, my fear got the best of me. I took a detour around the building in the night in the hopes that I could avoid facing my fears.

I remembering being a 19 year old missionary in Mexico. The culture seemed so different than I expected. I had spent some months in Provo, UT studying Spanish. I thought I had done quite well, but when I got to Monterrey, Mexico, everyone spoke so rapidly that I hardly caught a word now and then. I was put on a bus all by myself in a country far from home. I was afraid and uneasy, not knowing what to do and how to behave.

When I was in boot camp, I was asked by someone who made it very clear that he didn't like Mormons what my religion was. I had been on a mission and had spent two years teaching about my beliefs, but in this situation, I was tempted to hide my faith to please the members of my platoon. I spoke up. I don't remember what was said after that, but I remember to this day how I felt about myself and my beliefs.

I shall never forget my own first night in Vietnam. I could see the lights marking the runway, and then I saw the red trails of tracer rounds going directly over the runway in the path of our flight and I was terrified. We were hurried into our sleeping quarters. I had a sleepless night wondering what the fighting would be like.

I recently read that acting fearlessly does not refer to the absence of fear. Rather it requires that we take action in spite of the fear we feel. There have been times in my life that I have acted in spite of my fear. Sometimes, it has been to speak up when I was tempted to remain silent. Sometimes, it has been to make a needed change in my life in spite of the consequences that I feared. I have not regretted taking those actions.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

2010-09-12T17:57:00.006-06:00

I am a cancer survivor. It was a frightening experience, but one common for many adults. My life now is proceeding and I am back in the routine of my daily life. That has not been the case for my teenage granddaughter, Aubrey, who is battling a malignant brain tumor.

Aubrey is a freshman in high school this year and enjoying each day to the fullest. Brenda's, entries on a web site called CaringBridge have helped me understand her family's stuggle. Our numerous trips this year to Children's Hospital in Denver have been heart wenching, and her victories have been wonderful.

Cancer in children is more common that most people realize. Childhood cancers behave very differently than adult cancers and the survival statistics are not as promising. Furthermore, the incidence of childhood cancer seems to be increasing. Please join us in increasing awareness of childhood cancer facts and statistics.

Here are some of the facts and statistics:

Cancer is the #1 killer of children by disease. It is the second leading cause of all childhood deaths exceeded only by accidents.
On average, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the United States.
One in 330 children will develop cancer before the age of 20.
Each year, about 3,000 children die from cancer - more than from asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies, and pediatric AIDS combined.
Only about 20% of adults with cancer show evidence that the disease has spread to distant sites on the body at diagnosis yet 80% of children are diagnosed with advanced disease.
The incidence of childhood cancer is increasing. The cause of this is unknown.
Most adult cancers result from lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, occupation, and exposure to cancer-causing agents. The cause of most childhood cancers in unknown.
Pediatric funding is nominal in comparison to other more publicized diseases such as pediatric AIDS or juvenile diabetes which increases awareness each year.
Approximately 70% of children with cancer participate in research trials compared to only 3% of adult cancer patients. As a result, many of the advances in adult cancer treatments are due to breakthroughs in childhood cancer research.
The symbol for childhood cancer is the gold ribbon.
Childhood cancers are mostly those of the white blood cells (leukemia's), brain, bone, the lymphatic system and tumors of the muscles, kidneys and nervous system. Each of these behaves differently. Cancers in very young children are highly aggressive and behave unlike malignant disease seen at other times of life. The median age for childhood cancer is six. Children frequently have a more advanced stage of cancer when they are first diagnosed. 80% of children show that cancer has spread to distant sites in the body when the disease is first diagnosed.
Although it is unlikely that your child will develop cancer, as a parent, you need to be aware of the symptoms of childhood cancer. Observe your child for any sudden, persistent changes in health or behavior as listed on the Signs of Childhood Cancer (below.) Since most of the symptoms of cancer can also be attributed to benign conditions, the diagnosis of cancer can be a long process. You must trust your own instinct and work as a team with your doctor, using your knowledge of your child and your doctor's knowledge of medicine to protect your child's health.

Signs of Childhood Cancer:

Continued, unexplained weight loss
Headaches, often with vomiting, at night or early morning
Increased swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints, back, or legs
Lump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpits
Development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash
Constant infection
A whitish color behind the pupil
Nausea which persists or vomiting without nausea
Constant tiredness or noticeable paleness
Eye or vision changes which occur suddenly and persist
Recurrent fevers of unknown origin

This information was taken from the following websites:

My Favorite Whole Wheat recipe

2010-06-20T21:31:00.003-06:00

Julie, these recipes are for you and anyone else who wants to try them. I went to a church wheat class and these recipes were there to take home plus they made these and cooked them and we got to taste them and they were wonderful.

WHOLE WHEAT BLENDER PANCAKES

Mix in blender 3-4 minutes
1 cup milk
1 cup hard wheat

Add:
1/2 tsp salt
4TBS sugar
2 eggs
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 c oil or margarine
Blend a few more minutes till it becomes pancake batter and take about
1/4 or 1/8 c of batter and pour on hot griddle. Pancakes are thin-almost crepe-like.

You'll love these and once you have cooked them a few times they are quick and very easy and OH so very tasty. It became one of our favorite recipes.

More Father's day thoughts

2010-06-20T20:50:00.000-06:00

Church today has really made me think. We listened to three talks today about Fathers and Father's Day. I was touched by all three talks, but especially the talks by Brothers Harvey. They both talked about the four pillars of fatherhood: providing, teaching, leading, and loving.

I have thought about my on experiences as a father. I know that I failed my children in some ways. I can't go back and change my past or make up for the things I missed. I can, however, live each day doing my best as a father and as a grandfather to make these four pillars part of my life.

We have three living children and one who is longer with us. I have a very special place in my heart for each of them. I love each of them in a unique way and would feel a tremendous loss if any one of them were no longer part of my daily life.

I watch with awe as the girls face the challenges of their lives.

This has been a tough year for you, Brenda. My heart aches for you. I hope that I can lighten your burden somehow or share it with you and Tim. I marvel at your faith and at your courage.

Andrea, I know that raising three children as a single mom is not an easy thing to do. It was so rewarding to share one of Matthew's milestones as he graduated from high school. The years have gone so quickly! It has been so fun to watch your little boys, Matthew and Luke, become young men, and it is fun to watch you interact with them. I learn from you as I watch you with Ashleigh. Your love for her is an example to me. Thank you so much for your Fathers' day gift Saturday. I think the most precious gift you can give is your time. I will try to remember that.

Rob, I was so happy to see you at Andi's house. It took a burden from my heart to know where you are and how you are doing. I love you.

Eddie, We haven't forgotten you. Our love for you is as strong as the days we came to your home to visit with you.

Having the four of you in my life is one of the greatest joys I have ever experienced. I know that you feel the same about your children.

Accountability

2010-02-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

I joined Weight Watchers to improve my health. I have been making a half hearted attempt at following the program and have been getting just the results I deserve to get. Last week, I lost, but this week, I gained two and a half pounds. I lose weight and then gain it back again and I'm not doing myself much good.

I started an exercise program to improve my health. Having an obsessive compulsive personality has been no help. I started a spreadsheet where I could track my progress. For a while, I was really good at doing the exercises and tracking it. I was feeling better. I was proud of my progress and then gradually, I quit tracking. Without the tracking, it was easy to quit the exercise. There is nothing that helps me understand better what I am doing or what I am not doing like tracking it. An nothing helps me more to keep tracking than to share what I am doing.

According to my pedometer today, I have walked a total of 1,871 steps. That's a total of 1.12 miles. That's not very much activity. I did do 18 minutes of exercise. When I do my full exercise program as prescribed by my physical therapist. it's almost an hour. To be healthy, I need to be walking more and I need to do more exercise. I don't have to be perfect, but I need to set some realistic goals and I need to work towards them better than I have.

William Thomas Beals

2010-02-07T15:00:00.002-07:00

Mom forwarded an email to me today about my Great Grandfather, William Thomas Beals. I never knew him personally, but I was interested in him because there was always a cloud of mystery around the mention of his name.

William Thomas Beals was born on May 31, 1873 in Rodgersville, Hawkins, Tennessee. He was the fourth child of John Simpson Beals' and Frances Elizabeth Frances Dyer's eleven children.

In September of 1893, he married Josie Caroline Hicks. Josie was from Elk Park, North Carolina, but they were married in LaJara, Colorado. Their first child, Rosie Verdeame, was born 9 Aug 1894 in Fox Creek, Colorado. Their second child, Arthur was born in Fox Creek, Colorado on 5 October of 1896. Arthur died at the age of 17 months of age. This union ended in divorce.

Those members of his immediate family that had come to Colorado when he did moved on to Pima, Arizona.

William married Abbie Ellen Patterson 1 March 1898 in LaJara, Colorado. They had two boys. Joseph Arthur was born 16 December 1899 in Conejos, Colorado and James William born 7 Aug 1901 in Mogote, Conejos, Colorado. About two years after William married Abbie, he went to gather wood and never returned.

He married Eddie Jane Viars on 24 Jan 1902. In Tennessee, they had four children, Rosie Virdie 28 Oct 1902 born in Sullivan, Tennessee, Theodore born 8 April 1904 in Paintrock, Tennessee, William Thomas born 24 Jan 1906, and Mary Elizabeth born 1 January 1909. I also find a marriage recorded for this couple 31 May 1913.

William eventually returned to Colorado. I have a book that he dedicated to his first biological daughter when she was 35.

I want to understand this man better. Why did he have such a hard time staying in a marriage? Why did he name new children after children from previous marriages. Why did his last wife die in Tennessee when he returned to Colorado at the end of his life.

I've taken a challenge

2010-02-04T07:06:00.002-07:00

Betty and I are trying to get healthier. After I have spent years sitting in front of a computer monitor earning a living, I am beginning to suffer the consequences of inactivity. If I don't want to be disabled in time, I need to do something.

We attended a Weight Watchers meeting last night and the topic was motivation. In November last year, I began a virtual trek across the country as my ancestors did when they came to the west in search of religious freedom. I am wearing a pedometer and am tracking the distance I walk each day. Over time, however, I have let my motivation wane and have done less and less. I began in Palmyra, NY and have logged enough steps to get me to Columbus, OH.

I was introduced to a Web site, MapMyWalk.com. I am mapping my trek so that I can see my progress and hopefully, so I can stay motivated. I have taken their first challenge to walk a marathon in 30 days. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's a beginning. I'll be mapping my progress and sharing it to keep me accountable. As I walk and get in better shape, I'll share my progress. Hopefully, I will be able to walk back into better health.

The week after Christmas

2010-01-03T15:55:00.002-07:00

Tis the week after Christmas and all through the pond
Every creature is smiling with memories so fond;
Challenges had come so quickly this year
Affecting the froggies that we all hold so dear.

Some tadpoles are nestled all snug in their beds,
While memories of the old year dance in their heads;
And Grandma on her lilly pad, and Papa on the banks,
Have hearts full of gratitude and feeling of thanks.

Although events this year often left us sadder,
They have an inkling of things that really do matter.

Away to the North they swam in a flash
With hopes of a vacation & a Christmas Bash.
The blizzard came too and new-fallen snow
It Froze ponds, rivers, and roadways below.

When what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature snowplow, and shovelers dear.
With a little old frogger efficient and quick,
They knew in a moment the roads would be slick.

More rapid than weasels departure time came,
And they splashed and shouted and called out by name,
Bye Andi, Bye Matthew Bye Luke and Bye Ashleigh.
Bye Timmy, Bye Brenda, Bye Aubrey, and Chloe

Now tadpoles, just see Grandma's a fixin'
To swim away home, her flippers are flexin'.
To the top of the pond, if the kicking don't stall
Now home again, home again, home again, all!

Gramdma and Papa packed up buzzing as flies
That met with no obstacles while traveling on ice.
So up to the tie strings the presents they packed
With their bags full of luggage they headed on back.

And then with threshing, they heard out on the road,
The hopping and splashing of each little toad.
As they forged ahead without turning around
Down the roadway the littlest tadpole came with a bound.

She was dressed in green from her head to her tail
The distance was was covered. She jumped with a yell
Into the bundle of presents flung onto their backs
But they just kept swimming, they had to make tracks.

The tadpole's eyes how they twinkled, Her warts were just merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, she was so light to carry!
Papa's old jaw, he dropped with alarm
Stoking his beard with his tired old arm.

Opportunity is ripe suggested old Grandma frog
As she thought, it circled her head as the tail of a dog.
She had a greenish grin and a little round belly
That shook as the thought like a bowlful of jelly.

Papa just chuckled, a right jolly old toad
And he laughed as he listened to Grandma so bold.
A wink of his eye and a nod of his head
Let Grandma know they had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but scribbled a short little note
Then showed it to Grandma and turned with a gloat;
And laying the letter inside the mail slot
And giving a rivit down the road they both hopped.

Papa slung on his bag, to his wife gave a whistle
And away they all swam like a firing missle
But you'll hear him exclaim, ere they swims out of site
Merry Christmas to all, we're richer tonight!

Our White Christmas

2009-12-24T09:01:00.004-07:00

The sun is shining and the snow glistens in the sunlight. It's quite different than it was last night when we returned to our home at Davenport Cottage after sharing the evening with the Bonnichsens. I understand that it is just the lull in the weather before the next storm.

It has been so wonderful to listen to Aubrey play the piano and laugh and enjoy life. Yesterday, she spent the day without her eye patch. She was patient and pleasant as her little sister, Chloe, asked her a plethora of questions. This is the Aubrey that I love to see.

Chloe is having a hard time waiting for the calendar to change to zero. She is determined that she is going to open a present as soon as possible.

She is adjusting to her new eye glasses. She looks quite attractive, but the lettering on the lenses is quite annoying. I've never seen anyone who cleans the lenses more often. She keeps her lens cloth and cleaning solvent in the Sponge Bob Square Pants case that the optometrist so thoughtfully provided.

This has been a wonderful Christmas. We've been able to enjoy both of our daughters and their families.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures of Andi's family. I had left my camera in the car and a frozen battery kept it from working. These were taken with my cell phone.

Lexophile phoolishness

2009-12-23T22:00:00.001-07:00

A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
A thief who stole a calendar got 12 months.
Santa’s helpers are subordinate clauses.
A backward poet writes inverse.
In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.
When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.

A lot of money is tainted: ‘Taint yours, and ‘taint mine.

A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

A will is a dead giveaway

A short fortune teller escaped from prison.
He was a small medium at large.

Just a Badly Needed Update

2009-10-08T19:00:00.001-06:00

(Sorry, but I couldn't figure out how to let you click on the pictures to make them bigger.)

Since I have been neglecting updating anything on me, and people have asked me to, I thought I'd just add a bunch of pictures I've taken from Japan. To start out at least. I have fixed these all up so that they look better, or more how they really looked than my camera could make them. But these are just some of the best I took. I took over about 1000 pictures.

---------------------------------------

In school, I have been involved in Cross Country. Just managing though.

I have also been working on art in my AP Art class. I decided to work on photography in it, since it is the quickest and easiest thing in art for me to do. I am pretty well centered in art, but I take forever to do anything. So here are some pieces I'll be using in my portfolio, or possibly using. As well as just some extra things I've been working on. I'll give a little explanation for each too I guess.

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These I did last year. The one on the left is called Low Five, and I painted it in my Painting 2 class using acrylic. The one on the right is called Dead Tree, and I did it in my Drawing 1 class using chalk pastels.

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These four pictures were taken in Japan. I liked them enough though to use them in my portfolio. They were each taken in various places, except the last two, which were taken in a garden that was a couple blocks from one of our hotels.

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These are all self portraits I took. All of them I believe I'm going to use the the portfolio. The first picture I took a while ago. It has so many variations, and I have used it so many different times. It is by far my most used image. This variation is the last one I made though. It is collaborated with two pages I made in my Artist's Journal I made last year during that class.

The middle one I took, and I tweeked the colors, brightness, contrast, all that good stuff.

And the final one is a piece that I threw together using different pictures of my eyes. Each one has a different color style that I used.

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These are just random pictures I took when I was bored that ended up being good. I did change them up, but that's basically it.

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This last one is one of the very first pictures I took when I first got my camera. It is largely cropped, and I changed the colors drastically, as you can see. But it is one of my first.

Dark eyed doll

2009-09-27T09:24:00.003-06:00

Cheery, bouncy, dark eyed doll

Hiney swinging before she'd crawl

Loves her music loud and clear.

Oh, her mommy loves her dear,

Especially her hugs!

Risk taking

2009-09-08T21:45:00.003-06:00

He came flying down the hill riding the breeze
Gaining speed with the greatest of ease,
But stopping at the bottom of the hill
Before getting caught in traffic was really the thrill!

The wheels spun, protesting with a scream
His hair flying back in an effortless stream.
The driver of the car could not stop!
He swerved and thought he'd come out on top,

But looking back, he saw a crowd form.
Around the crumpled skater they did swarm,
Offering assistance in the form they could.
Would their efforts do any good?

Dazed at first, the skater's thoughts were clouded.
He accepted aid from the people that crowded
Around him offering the tenderest of care.
His eyes flashed and profanity filled the air!

Up quickly to his feet he protested loudly!
He was up and away from astonished arms!
He was up! Wobbly but determined to boldly
Skate away from those who meant no harm.

I cannot get the image out of my mind's eye
Yet, just as this biligerant youth go I.
Refusing help from those who mean no harm,
I am determined to win by strength of my own arm.

Just as this determined bold lad
Turned his back on the aid and rest,
I have turned my back on friends and on God
Trying to assist me in my spiritual quest.

I felt helpless as the boy skated away.
I wanted to help him so on that day!
God must feel that way with me when I insist
On doing it my way when He offers to assist.

A new career path

2009-09-06T11:43:00.003-06:00

After just one day at school, Chloe says she now has the low down on style. She's seen what her classmates are wearing, and she thinks she can do at least as well.

Lilies in a Pond

2009-09-04T18:15:00.015-06:00

After all, she's our little girl.

She makes the whirlwinds whirl.

Her daddy loves his little blond

Like frogs love lilies in a pond.

Each night, she calls him, batting eyes

In hopes to get a new surprise.

Gabbing girl, she reminds her Papa of

His similar little toad.

First day of school

2009-09-02T20:35:00.007-06:00

Sisters looking forward to their new school year

Chloe the kindergartner

All ready to go!

Our 8th grader heading of to her first day!

Aubrey getting ready to head in the school doors!
Nurse Randi was there to get her to science class.

Our kindergartner heading in the door to go to school

God answers prayers

2009-09-01T21:16:00.008-06:00

Aubrey, your parents' pleas were

Unanswered for the longest time,

But in God's time you came.

Rejoicing, family held you close,

Elated with your arrival.

Yes, dear child, God answers prayers.

Late in coming

2009-08-30T19:58:00.004-06:00

Late in coming, but welcome too

Unpretentious in manner

Keeping quite with a gentle smile

Enjoyed by all who know you.

Miracles

2009-08-23T20:16:00.004-06:00

Miracles come in many forms,

All to us unbelievable.

Tiny boy with dark brown hair,

Tiny but still amazing.

How lives were changed with your arrival!

Each of us is better for it;

We love you, Grandma and I!!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!

2009-08-22T09:26:00.003-06:00

OH HAPPY DAY!!! Last treatment FINISHED!!!

We had such a wonderful day today! We were so blessed by our guests that traveled to be with us for Aubrey's last treatment day.

As some of you may or may not know, Aubrey and Chloe are involved in Karate in Sturgis for little over a year now. Seeing what a testimony of Christ-like love that all of the leaders are has been such a wonderful thing for all the people that are involved and inspiring to watch during class time. The head instructor is Sifu Coree and her assistants are her mother Sibak Wright, Sibak Holder, Sibak Rachel, and Sibak Whitney. We were told when we joined the group that we were part of an Ohana (Hawaiian for family). Professor Lim and his wife Aunty Patrice are the owners of the school which has schools all through the States, Portugal, Austria and ??am I missing one?? Professor Lim and Aunty have tried very hard to impart the "family" aspect of what they do, throughout all of their schools. As we've been involved over the past year, we have seen this transpire more and more with every event we've attended. I gave you all that history just to help you understand what took place for us today!

Aunty Patrice flew in to Denver from Arizona this morning to be with Aubrey for her last treatment. With her was Andi, (sorry if I spelled your name wrong!) a karate mom whom we had such a pleasure meeting. It was such an honor having these 2 women with us, THEN we got word that our Sifu Coree and Sibak Wright were going to come from SD as well to be with Aubrey for her last treatment. They came bearing gifts for the girls andloved and hugged on us all ALOT! It was such a joy being with these women today and they helped to make this milestone so special and so memorable! As we were finishing up saying last minute goodbyes to all the docs and techs and Receptionist Bill (mentioned in earlier post), Aunty Patrice had a surprise for Aubrey. Aunty told us that she was given an Inspirational Achievement Award this past June when she was in Chicago. The award said that she had been an inspiration to thousands of martial artists who have learned from her leadership and will continue in her path. Aunty said that Aubrey had been an inspiration to her and so many others and that she wished to give her Inspiration Award to Aubrey. What an honor it was and was such a surprise to us all. Hence, the new profile pic of Aubrey holding the award. Thank you for the great honor Aunty! Please browse through pictures that I posted of our day today!

After lunch we came back to the House and gave a quick tour. Sifu and Sibak had to head back to SD for a meeting the next morning. Aunty and Andi came up and spent some time with us this afternoon and helped us pack and occupy the girls and just spent time chatting and sharing with one another. For us it was such a wonderful time and so encouraging! Chloe kept Andi VERY busy! She'll probably need to sleep on the flight back to AZ!! ha!

What a wonderful group of people and what an awesome Ohana! We have received cards, letters e-mails and gifts and so much love and support from all over including Portugal and Austria. When they say family, the meant it!! Thank you all!!!

Earlier this evening we had some other family come and visit! Katie, Greg and Landon came and it was so great to get to see them before we left for home. Thank you Tina and Belinda with Landon's daycare and all who participated with Tina's bracelet idea. What a blessing!!!!

Yesterday I got to see my long time friend from grade school, Anita. She came bearing boxes for us so we could pack!!! AND treated us to dinner the night before! Thank you my dear friend!!!!!!

Tonight as I type this, Aubrey is saying she wants to come home tomorrow (Saturday). I told her that we'll see how she is after breakfast, and go from there! The last 3 or 4 weeks, right about breakfast time she starts to not feeling very good and ends up sleeping 4-6 hours. So we'll play it by ear, and see how she feels after breakfast. If she's good, we'll kick it into high gear and get the place all cleaned up and linens/towels washed so we can hit the road. We are thinking we may have to stop half way or something because the trip might be too long all in one shot...but who knows...she has surprised us ALOT this last week! OH...I almost forgot to tell you....today for her last treatment, she walked into the building and into radiation. (A lot of walking for her at one time) and did pretty great! It made her tired, but she did it anyway! YEAH AUBREY!!! I have a feeling she's going to push through tomorrow and try to get home even if she is tired....so we'll have to see how she does! We'll just play it by ear! We may drive part of the way and stop and then come in the next day. Who knows??? Only God knows!!!

Both Aubrey and Chloe are anxious to have a sleep over when we get home. Hopefully, they'll wait a few days so Mom and Dad can recover a bit. Love to you all! Thank you for your prayers, love, support and encouragement. We couldn't have done it without you and our mighty God who graced us to walk through this part of our journey!

All of you are truly AMAZING!
Love, Brenda

Be Strong

2009-08-12T19:46:00.004-06:00

Rebellious to the core, but

Oh, how I love you!

Be strong, be safe my son.

Gentle Giant

2009-08-11T20:00:00.000-06:00

Everyone loved the gentle giant;

Dearly loved and sorely missed!

Voices on the breeze

2009-08-09T10:03:00.005-06:00

Wind rushes gently through the trees,
Humming birds flit from flower to flower,

Bees buzz softly hour after hour,
And voices come to me on the breeze
Whispering peace to my troubled heart
Yet I hear thunder in the distant clouds,

"Delay the storm, Dear God," I pray.
"Give me peace for one more day.
Give me strength for that coming storm,
but for now, let me enjoy the morn."

A little finch perched upon my sill
And bid my heart be still.

Torn

2009-08-02T08:30:00.006-06:00

Which way do I choose?
I love them both,
But I can't
Go both
ways

Choose
Which one
For just today
Will be the one.
You can't go both ways!

How much do I care
About what others think?
Make the choice
Then feel
Peace

Angel With Painted Hair

2009-08-01T08:39:00.007-06:00

Bold and determined

Ready to serve others

Eager to try what's new

Never unkind or thoughtless

Daughter of my later years

Angel with painted hair

My little girl

2009-07-30T20:32:00.007-06:00

Able, competent, independent

Needs to do things her own way.

Drives like there's no tomorrow

Reaches out to the downtrodden

Eager to empathize; then to energize

Anerner will always be my little girl.

Tender hearted beauty

2009-07-29T20:10:00.005-06:00

Beautiful blue eyes in a red flannel shirt
Everything in the world to me
Tearing up over someone else's hurt.
Tender hearted beauty,
You're mine and I can't believe it.

Kent

Family

2009-07-26T20:09:00.002-06:00

Family,
My dear,
Is my strength.
I want to be
As close as I can
to show them all my love
And hold them close to me;

Fold them in the warmth of my bosom
Cherished the best way I know
With all my very heart
Is my deepest desire.
There is power
In this
Love.

Storm Clouds

2009-07-12T06:58:00.003-06:00

As we came home home from from our visit, we marveled at the storm clouds. They displayed the beauty of God's touch as they changed from moment to moment. They presented a contrast of dark and light, of shapes, and of colors. One moment, we would see clouds that were dark and ominous. We commented among ourselves of the pending storm. In just a few minutes, the clouds were bright and colorful, billowy and soft. It was easy to dismiss the dark clouds we had seen just a moment before.

We discussed the colors before us. In one moment, the clouds were dark and gray, indeed they were almost black. In the next moment, they were punctuated with bright yellow rays of light. The clouds then seemed to soften and were accented with a myriad of other colors, of pinks and blues, and of the most glorious white.

Our visit with Aubrey was just the same. When we arrived, she was sweet and energetic as she greeted us and tried to catch us up on all she had seen and done since our last visit. As quickly as appearance of the clouds changed, there was a change in Aubrey's mood. She turned from bright and bubbly to dark and withdrawn. In one moment, she was independent but with the passing of just a minute or two, she was dependent on her parents. She was chatty and social, but in a flash she was tired and preferred solitude.

The contrast was quick and marked. I mentioned it to her Dad and he told me that it was caused by her medications. In a way, the rapid changes were hard to endure, but in another, they provided me with a new perspective.

The darkness in the storm clouds induces in me an appreciation for the light, colorful, peaceful clouds when they come. The impending storm foretold by the storm clouds creates in my heart a greater sensitivity for the light, colorful, soft clouds that I see before and after the storm. So it is with the rapid changes in my dear little granddaughter. The dark moods help me to appreciate all the beautiful, tender moments that we have.

Mine

2009-07-06T20:45:00.005-06:00

I was asked, "Is she yours?"
She is and couldn't be more.
While my blood flows not in her veins,
To see her struggle brings me such pains!

As a baby, she cooed and wriggled with such art,
Instantly she won a place in my heart
And with this she became mine
As if she were my blood line.

Her beautiful eyes do twinkle and shine
As she tells her grandpa of her latest books.
She's reeled me in with no line or hooks.
My heart holds no doubt she's mine.

I've watched her develop and grow
Into a beautiful young maiden.
I had no way to know
Our souls would be so laden.

Her family was given a gift divine
To teach, to train to have for a time.
I know that God, for her has a plan.
Because of her, I'm a better man.

Weeds

2009-07-03T21:09:00.004-06:00

We were gone for two weeks and everything grew. Flowers bloomed, some of our vegetables sprouted, the grass filled in, and the weeds went crazy. A good friend was kind enough to come and mow the grass for us. We really appreciated his kindness.

Today, I trimmed the yard and knocked some of the weeds down on either side of the driveway. It looks so much better than it did. I still need to spend some time in the flower beds tomorrow cleaning out some of the noxious vegetation before it chokes out the flowers.

For me, there's something healing about getting dirt under my fingernails. Maybe that's because my mother was raising boys instead of raising a vegetable garden. I have no energy, but I think tomorrow I am going to spend just a little of my day getting earthy.

The "C" word

2009-07-02T20:59:00.001-06:00

Cancer has touched our lives more than once
A nurse was careful not to use the word; I felt like a dunce.
Never has a word evoked more fear
Concerning someone one that I hold dear!
Even pronouncing the word causes pain.
Regretfully, it is visiting again.

Faith is the bird that feels the light
And sings to greet the dawn during the night.
I want to be as the bird
Taking what seems to be so absurd
Hoping for the best for those I love.

God thou art powerful and thou reigns above.
Only thou seest all and hast all power.
Dear God, please remember us this hour.

Papa's Gems

2009-07-01T15:15:00.006-06:00

The reward of aging has been Papa's little gems

Who came into his life as heaven sent them.

Each added beauty to his days on this Earth

Each, to him, is of infinite worth.

As the diamond differs from the ruby or pearl,

Each child is different; each boy and girl.

The precious stones considered a gem

Send color, light and beauty to eyes admiring them.

The children reflect into their Papa's eyes

Twinkles of love that make him feel wise.

Their innocent love and kindest of ways

Add beauty and joy to all Papa's days.

What's a prayer?

2009-06-30T20:55:00.003-06:00

For some, a prayer is an uttered plea.
For some, it's made on bended knee.
Some bow their heads and close their eyes;
Some plead upward toward the skies.

Fingers light candles with symbolic smoke,
Prayers are different for different folk.
God loves his children, every one.
He hears every prayer under the sun.

His answers too, come in different ways.
Some come with magnificent displays.
Some answers come as a call from a friend.
Sometimes, the answer that God does send
Is a feeling of warmth of tenderest peace
That couldn't be felt when upon my knees.

This I know, however I pray
God hears and understands my way
Of offering my prayer and asking from Him
My deepest desire when life seems most dim.

Do you love me?

2009-06-29T20:37:00.005-06:00

I leaned over to say goodbye.
She clasped my hand and caught my eye.
"Do you love me?" She asked.
"Yes, I do", my little lass.
"How much?" was her reply.
I held her hand and dried my eye.

The Bud

2009-06-28T15:37:00.003-06:00

Color just begins to appear;
The roses' blossoming is near.
Anticipation stirs the blood
As the flower emerges from the bud.

Will the flower reach full bloom
As aroma fills the room?
Will the bud be taken before it's season?
A premature end defies all reason!

Today we anxiously awaited word.
The slow ticking of the clock seemed absurd.
Each opened door brought a start
And I would nearly swallow my heart.

At last we saw a green clad smile
And we know we'd been given another while.
I'll drink in the fragrance while I may.
I'll enjoy the flower's beauty one more day.

I love you Aubrey,
Grandpa Vance

Vacation plans have changed

2009-06-23T16:57:00.004-06:00

We had planned to go to South Dakota to be with our oldest daughter and her family for the Fourth of July. We are going to see them a bit earlier, and under different circumstances than we had anticipated. We are going to meet them at the Ronald McDonald House in Denver this evening. They are in the process of preparing for a major illness for our oldest Granddaughter.

We would really appreciate your prayers on her behalf.

Attitude

2009-06-06T18:32:00.002-06:00

Earlier this week, my wife and I went to do some shopping at the local department store. I was headed for an experience that would teach me about attitude.

I had bought some some large plastic flower pots earlier in the week. When I got home with them, I discovered that although the drain tray was there on the pot I could see, the other two drain trays were absent. I was there in the garden department of the store and saw a clerk at the end of one of the rows. I asked here what I needed to do to get the trays that should have been there. The lady was rude and let me know in an unkind voice and curt answer that I would have to talk to someone in Gardening. I was already there. I tried to shrug off her bad attitude. I continued shopping.

I paid for five bags of mushroom compost. I was sent out into the the rain to get my merchandise only to find that there was only one bag of compost when I had paid for five. I returned to the cashier to resolve the situation. The cashier was abrupt and sent me to the customer service department to get my money back.

The conversation with the customer service representative started on a friendlier note. She expressed concern and asked to see my receipt. I had paid with a credit card. She told me that they would issue a credit to my card. I asked her how long it would take to process. Her answer was, "I don't use credit and I don't know how long it will take". I wasn't in the mood to receive that response. I considered it a slap in the face.

By the time I walked back out to my car in the rain, I was furious. I said to my wife, "I should talk to a manager." to which she responded, "Why don't you?"

I stomped back into the store and asked to speak with a store manager. He listened to my concern and assured me that it would be dealt with.

I thought that talking to the manager would make me feel better. It didn't. I felt that there were four people at fault. The first was the rude clerk. A courteous answer would not have been any more difficult than her rude response. The second person at fault was the curt cashier. A little kindness would have gone a long way. The third person at fault was the customer service representative with her impertinent answer. A simple, "I don't know" would have answered my question. The fourth person at fault was the demanding customer. I should not have reacted the way I did.

I have run through this situation in my mind a hundred times since it happened. How would you suggest that I should have handled this situation?

Learning Opportunities

2009-05-29T21:03:00.002-06:00

There have been times in my life that I have had my feelings hurt or have felt discouraged. Today was such a day. As I look back, those experiences have provided me with opportunities to be bitter and angry, or an opportunity to learn, grow, improve and to avoid similar circumstances in the future.

I went to a meeting today and met with a disappointment. I came home from the meeting with a heavy heart, and feeling disappointed. I was lucky to have a good friend that was sensitive to the situation. He called me and with a short conversation, he helped me feel better about myself and about my overly tender feelings.

Within an hour after the meeting another friend, a member of my church came by to visit us in our home. A phone call would have been adequate to conduct his business. He expressed love and concern for us.

Our evening meal tonight ended with a fortune cookie. It said, "Our problems never leave leave us where we found them." I believe that it is true. Our problems can give us an excuse for spend our energies on a pity party, or they can give us an opportunity to learn and grow. I really want to make this experience an opportunity to improve.

We'll miss our little buddy

2009-05-08T21:21:00.004-06:00

Ten years ago Betty was encouraging me to get a pet to encourage me to walk more. We walked through Pet City and a little fur ball caught Betty's attention. She said that she was getting the dog for me, but for her it was love at first site. He as playful and he loved Betty. It wasn't hard for Betty to love him back. Before long, our bank book was lighter because we bought a puppy, a kennel for training, a leash, a collar, license tags, dog food, and a couple of toys so that he wouldn't wouldn't be chewing the furniture with his sharp little teeth.

We had no way of knowing that over the next few months this little animal would capture our attention, our love, and our devotion.

Betty would not have another dog like the last one we had that we found on our kitchen table with the remnants of a bonsai tree in his teeth. She looked around until she found an obedience school and we were off to obedience school.

The two ladies who taught the class were professional trainers of service dogs. I wasn't convinced that they knew what they were doing. I thought that some of the things that hey had us do were like snake oil to get our money.

One of the things that we had to do was to walk around the house and the yard with a puppy tethered to our waist. He learned to sit when we sat, he learned to move when we moved. He seemed to love being at our sides.

One day, I took Brewster to a local nature reserve. I did as the trainers had assigned us for the weekly homework. I allowed Brewster to walk at my side and gave him more and more leash. When he got busy, I crouched down in front of a tree where I could see him, but he could not see me. He went frantic. He ran from side to side and could not find me, but I was watching him. When I thought he had had enough, I called him and he came to me. He never again let us out of his site.

One of the things that Betty and I enjoyed with him was agility training. He was a bit timid, but after some coaxing, he learned to run the tunnels, weave the through alternating posts, cross bridges and even through a barell that had a dark drape at the end so that he couldn't see the exit. I couldn't always be there because of my church calling (and a hundred other excuses.) Betty and Brewster were faithful with his agility training and before long, they were having a ball.

One thing that amazed me about Brewster was his ability to pick up on our feelings. When there were people in our home that we cared deeply for, he acted on those feelings. He loved who we loved and expressed that affection. He loved our children, our grandchildren, and our friends.

We had a home teacher that was not fond of dogs. He was a cat person. Brewster was persistent. He would lay his chin on the sofa and look up at Russ with his big brown eyes. Before long, they became good friends.

We're not sure what happened. Thursday evening, he was playing as I cut the grass. He lay in the shade and watched me walk back and forth. He didn't seem himself. An hour later, he was sick. We had seen this before and weren't too concerned. When we got up the next morning, he was really in critical condition and we knew it. We bundled him up and took him to the vet, but they weren't able to save him.

Tonight, our home is quite and in our hearts there is an empty spot. I know that there are people who think were extreme with our shower of attention to our little canine friend. What many didn't see was the affection that was returned to us. When we needed to talk, he would cock his ears and tilt his head and listen as no one ever had. When we were needing companionship because we had become empty nesters, he gave that to us. He really became a part of our family. We loved him and he loved us back. We'll miss him.

Growing older is presenting challenges

2009-05-02T20:18:00.004-06:00

I remember my amazement when I got my first pair of glasses. I had always known that trees had roots and rough bark and a lot of green on top. That's about as much as my first grade mind knew. When I put on my first pair of glasses, I was amazed that the trees had leaves and that I could see them.

Over the last couple of years, Betty and I have developed a friendship with a dear lady who is hearing impaired. She reads lips really well. She loves it when the TV is really loud and she can hear the music. She has taught us about being happy with your lot in life and relishing the simple pleasures that you do have.

I knew that I was having some difficulty understanding people when I couldn't see their faces. I knew that there was a possibility that I had lost some hearing, but I always just shrugged it off and kept on going.

Recently I began some routine health reviews at the VA clinic here. They suggested that I go through a hearing screening. In preparation for the screening, my ear canals were thoroughly cleaned. A large amount of wax had accumulated. I immediately could hear better and I thought I was done, but decided to have do the screening to be thorough.

The day of the hearing screening, I was told that there was a range of frequencies that I was missing in my left ear and that I would be a good candidate for a hearing aid. That gave me some time to think about what it would be like to wear a hearing aid. A time or two, I have given my aunts a hug to hear feedback coming from their ears. I could not imagine how I would be able to tolerate that.

Yesterday was the big day. I was fitted for a hearing aid and left the clinic to again experience the world of sound, but with a tiny device hidden behind my ear. The aging process had quietly taken tones from me without my being aware of it.

I've had two days experiencing the sounds around me with the same wonder that I felt a half a century ago when I put on my first glasses and discovered that trees have leaves. I'm enjoying the soft sounds of whispers and sighs. I'm enjoying the song birds of spring. I am enjoying Betty's conversation with our dog as she scurries around the house. Each of our five senses is a precious gift from God. I will cherish each of them every day of my life.

Matthew went to the prom.

2009-04-25T21:08:00.003-06:00

It's hard to believe that Matthew is old enough to go to the prom. This is his weekend. Andrea sent us a phone message with his photo attached, and he's so handsome wearing his tuxedo and with his date on his arm.

Betty saw the picture, and she began to cry like a baby. I think she had a hard time accepting that the baby she spent a year with is becoming a man!

Dave Ramsey

2009-04-18T21:08:00.004-06:00

Betty and I attended a live event at the World Center today. She took me under protest, but I agreed to go and listen to what the man had to say.

I have to say that it was a day well spent. I enjoyed his humor, and I enjoyed the things he taught. He talked of the importance of being debt free and planning for our futures. I especially liked the plan he presents. He gave us a some basic steps to getting finances under control. I left determined to change some things in my own personal life.

I was also impressed by the people before and after the event. Large crowds like the one we saw today can be frustrating in inconsiderate, but that is not what I saw. The people who sat either side of us were kind and considerate and polite. One couple even offered Betty a snack bar half way through the event. When we got into the parking lot, I was also surprised. The exit from the parking was punctuated with courtesy and patience, very much unlike the last gathering I went to.

Mr. Ramsey pointed out some of the historical information about recession, banking, and unemployment. He helped me see that much of what is happening in our country is fear based. I feel encouraged, hopeful, and determined to do what I can to get our family better prepared for the future. He is planning a free event this coming week. I would like to invite you to take a look if it interests you.

Sticker shock

2009-04-14T07:35:00.000-06:00

The cost of living is so frustrating. It creeps up a little at a time and isn't noticed until we have to make a purchase that is infrequent. When we do make those purchases, we are jolted into reality with the price that is substantially higher than the last time we made a similar purchase.

This last week when I picked my suit at the cleaners, the dry cleaner told me that my suit was completely worn out and would probably not endure another cleaning. Reluctantly, we went shopping. The shop where I bought my last suit has gone out of business. Another business that previously carried suits informed us that they are no longer in the business of selling business suits because there just wasn't enough demand for them.

We ended up at Dillard's. Because of my size, we had to pass up many of the affordable suits in search of something that would fit our budget as well as my over sized body.

I didn't find a suit that suited me. A very capable, courteous clerk came to our assistance. He showed me three suits. One was too snug and one was pin striped. I felt it was a bit bold for me. Our clerk graciously pulled out a catalog with little swatches of fabric and helped me pick just the right color and texture to fit my taste. When he quoted the price, I audibly gasped and Betty turned white. We knew that although I liked the color and fabric, our budget could not support what I had chosen. My attention returned to the racks of suits that were already in the store. One that I had bypassed had suddenly become more attractive and was chosen.

I didn't want to end up at church one Sunday with my undergarments showing the worn condition of my old suit. Although I had not been prepared for a purchase that large, we made it.

I Am the Way

2009-04-12T10:42:00.009-06:00

The daffodils heads peek above the freshly fallen snow.
This and other signs teach us through beautiful symbols to know
That just as spring brings new life to the cold and barren earth.
New life can come to us from events following His birth.

Sin and death hold us captive. Our lives are filled with despair.
Is there someone who can help us, a single soul who would care?
Easter morn, a reminder of the gift given through His pain,
Offers to each of us hope that we otherwise cannot gain.

In the garden beyond us there is a solitary tomb.
The daffodils are blooming by the stone that 'twas rolled away.
The garden tomb is empty on this beautiful spring day.
If we listen quietly, we'll hear the wind whisper, "I am the way."

Gratitude isn't always easy

2009-04-02T19:38:00.002-06:00

There are times that one must focus on the good and let the less desirable things in life pass by. Griping and complaining doesn't make the situation better. There are times that if you don't let it out the pressure just begins to build. Tonight I feel like a straining pressure cooker.

My friend Stan's last day with our team was yesterday. It was hard to think of our team being cut by a third. I really wasn't ready for it to be cut by two thirds. After the end of this month, I will be alone. I am grateful for a job, but I don't know how I am going to do the work of three people.

Today, was a day that I was happy to see pass. I suppose that's a form of gratitude. I can see that I am going to have to do a better job or staying focused on the job to be done. I am going to have to keep myself organized and refrain from going off on tangents that keep me from getting the task at hand accomplished. I am going to do my best to roll up my sleeves, put my best foot forward, put my shoulder to the wheel, put my nose to the grindstone and do the best I can. If I lose this job, I can always find a good job as a contortionist.

I am grateful for my job. I am grateful for my understanding wife, and I am grateful that I still have a little bit of my sense of humor. I pray that I can find a good way to use it in the weeks that come.

Today I have a job

2009-03-26T17:43:00.002-06:00

Times are hard everywhere. For months, I have lived in fear as friends, neighbors, and relatives have become unemployed. It's getting harder and harder to ignore the situation. We are beginning to do everything that we can to prepare for the time that we will be tapped on the shoulder.

Never in my life have I wished more that I was out of debt and I am working hard toward that end. Time and again, we are discussing things that we would like to purchase, but haven't because we need to control what assets we have in the best possible way to prepare for our uncertain future.

We have been taught most of my life that we should have two years supply to help us through difficult times. This was never such an important principle to me as when I was talking with a loved one who was hungry and had no way to purchase groceries. I don't want to be in the same situation but am beginning to see how quickly that can come about.

I talked to a couple of co-workers today who will soon be leaving my company earlier than they had wanted. I feel guilty today that I have a job and they do not. This is not the first time, and I know that it could be me next time.

John Donne once said, "No man is an island. entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. "

The Winds of Change

2009-03-07T18:44:00.003-07:00

I am not a person that deals well with change. Moving from one house to another is unsettling for me. Changing home teachers or bosses at work is always uncomfortable to me. I like things that are routine. When the environment or the expectations change, I go through a period of uneasiness and adjustment.

I am facing changes in my life right now. Because of the economy, there have been resource actions at work. Many of the people that I have learned to feel comfortable with are no longer with the company. They are being replaced by people who are new at the job and have an unfamiliar way of approaching their work. There has been an announcement that the boundaries of our ward at church will be changing. That too means unfamiliar terrain.

Tomorrow may well be the last day that I get to attend the ward that I have learned to love.

It makes me think of a time many years ago when Betty and I had just moved to Longmont. I wanted to be in a ward where we could have a bishop that we loved and trusted. We attended three sacraments in one day so that I could decide which I could work with. We found the perfect ward and the perfect bishop. Bishop Detro was a kind, compassionate man. We found a home within the boundaries of his ward. We were just settling in when Bishop Detro was released and Bishop Kamigaki was called as bishop. I was not happy. Time was a good teacher. Bishop Kamigaki became a trusted Bishop and a loyal friend.

The ward we live in today has been led by two wonderful bishops in the time we have lived here. Each man is different, but both were inspiring leaders. As executive secretary for the ward, I worked closely with both and came to love and respect them both.

I don't know what the future holds, but I know that wherever we attend church and whoever is the bishop, it will be the right man and the right place for us. We'll find out next Sunday. I know too, that whatever the job environment, if I do my best, I can sleep at night because my conscience will be clear. I am anxious, but I know that if I am supportive and do my part, it will be a good change.

Chuck Norris Meltdown

2009-03-05T21:49:00.002-07:00

My wife and I were having a quiet evening at home last evening when the unspeakable happened! We lost our TV signal right in the middle of Walker, Texas Ranger.

We had probably seen the same episode a dozen times before, so we had the plot well memorized.

Betty spent half the morning today getting our television going again.

Perhaps we need to adjust our priorities and find ways of entertaining ourselves that don't include the television set.

Delmar Walser Wagner

2009-02-27T19:36:00.010-07:00

Betty's dad, Delmar (Pete) Wagner, was visiting the other day and I showed him the article I had done on the military ribbons, brass and badges I had earned in the military. He expressed an interest in doing the same for the things he had earned.

Recently, we combed through his papers trying to glean what we could find. He found his DD214 or discharge papers. He wrote to the Department of the Army to find that his records had burned and no longer existed.

There is a Web site that sells the ribbons and badges for all the branches of the armed services. These are the ones that we found that were Pete's or that reminded him of service he had rendered:

The patch to the left is the patch of the 10th Army.

The patch to the right is the patch of the 5th army.

The patch to the left is the patch of the European Command.

The patch to the right is the patch of the First Cavalry.

The brass to the left is the brass that would be worn on the collars of the Army Uniform. The US is for the United States and the crossed rifles represent the infantry.

The rifle with the laurel behind it is for the combat infantry man's badge. (Thanks Terri for the replacement image.)

Pete was a First Sergeant. He was really proud of this rank. He told me of many of the experiences he had as the NCO over a platoon of enlisted men.

The light blue rope to the right was worn by members of the infantry. I, Kent, also earned an infantry rope as a member of the Fourth Infantry Division.

This gold airplane has very special meaning. It was awarded to those who were directly involved with the airlift into Berlin. Delmar was in Germany during this historic event and participated directly in the event. He told me that there was a great deal of paperwork that went with this little pin. There were not many who were eligible to receive this award.

Sergeant Wagner was an airborne ranger. I once made a sarcastic remark about jumping from a perfectly good airplane. I learned very quickly just how seriously he took his commitment to the rangers. I have since that day tried very hard to let Pete know that I have a very a deep respect for him and for any man who is willing to take the necessary training for becoming a skilled paratrooper.

The cloud of ribbons to the left represent the ribbons that were earned during his tours of duty. They include a purple heart, an Army Commendation Medal, a National Defense Ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal, A European Theater Ribbon, Pacific Theater ribbon.

We searched unsuccessfully for a Ranger badge for his unit. He was among the Special forces that scaled the cliffs at Normandy. I appreciated his willingness to talk to Betty and I about this experience.

The lapel pin to the right is affectionately called the ruptured duck. It is also known as the Honorable Service Lapel Pin and was awarded to those who were honorably discharged from the World War II. There was an aircraft from which the name was taken.

The afternoon I spent with my Father-in-law talking about his military experiences is one that I will always treasure. Oh, how I wish I had taken the time to do the same thing with my own Dad when he was alive.

I Like game

2009-02-22T18:14:00.002-07:00

I got this fun game from Andrea's blog site that I read every now and again - you put into a google search field your first name and the words "likes to" all in parentheses - so for example mine is "Kent likes to" and then you share the first ten results with all your friends on your blog, facebook or whatever forum you choose. The first one, btw, is a search result for guess who...

Kent likes to…

Kent likes to do revolves around the dribble weave.

Kent likes to keep it simple. Got any free advice?

Kent likes to ride.

Apparently Kent likes to travel. He also likes to have his picture taken, although sometimes he's a bit camera shy.

Knowing that we're all animals, to me, isn't at all as depressing as Kent likes to portray.

Kent likes to describe the house to strangers.

Kent likes to joke that if the fireworks ever do put his brother in danger, he might just stomp them out instead of using the fire extinguisher

Kent likes to play video games, draw, watch anime, and read manga, of course.

When away from the office Kent likes to pass his time playing tennis and basketball where his fiery demeanor has earned him the label, "The Dragon.

Kent likes to think that he took his father's teachings to heart and followed in his footsteps to a degree. He went in a more westerly direction.

While this virtual pesonality in Google may have some characteristics in common with me, I don't think this is an accurate description of my world view.

What kind of man?

2009-02-18T06:51:00.004-07:00

What kind of man am I,
When I am all alone,
Gone away on business,
Many miles from home?

And when there is an evening free,
And no demands at all,
Am I one who will behave,
And go home standing tall?

Lord, I can give a show of faith,
And righteousness at home,
But the kind of man I really am,
Is when I'm all alone.

Oh that I may have, the strength and power
To be kind and good at home,
A genuinely Christian man,
In public, and alone.

Anonymous

Kent and the Military

2009-02-14T19:10:00.006-07:00

After serving two years as a missionary for my church, I enrolled in college at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. Before I had finished two quarters as a student, I was drafted into the military twice. The second time, I decided not to resist and became a soldier.

I went to Denver with a friend, Kelly McGinnis to take the induction physical. Kelly came home from Denver, but I did not. It was a long time ago, but I believe that Kelly came home with my recently purchased AMC Green hornet.

I was off to Fort Lewis Washington where I would take basic training. It was in Fort Lewis that I learned about rank and how important it was to salute an officer. The 200 push ups I was supposed to do were a good reminder when I was tempted to forget.

The years of growing up with a family of hunters helped me to be somewhat prepared for the shooting range where we qualified with our weapons These two pieces of "brass" were for qualifying on the rifle range. I did OK with the rifle, but the grenade range was a different story. I gave an instructor quite a scare when my grenade landed short and we had to dive to the bottom of the bunker before it exploded.

After basic training, I was sent to Southeastern Signal School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. It was there that I earned the Signal Corps insignia. I was learning to be a land-line teletype operator. That's a piece of equipment that I don't think is used at all any more. Three fellows I shared my room with also were learning to operate the teletype, but in a radio teletype setup or a RAT rig. When we went to Vietnam, they were working remotely while I was assigned to work in Long Binh in USARV headquarters.

While in Vietnam I earned the rank of Specialist fourth class, or spec 4. I enjoyed my assignment in Vietnam. I was assigned to the communications center, and I drove a 2 1/2 ton truck back and forth from the communication center to the living quarters. I was in Vietnam just short of one year.

This chain at the right is a picture of dog tags (although not my dog tags. The little square thing is a p38. It was a folding can opener. I got rid of mine when it came open in my pocket.

After coming home from Vietnam, I did the work of a sergeant. I wore the stripes, but was never never given the pay grade. I would have been known as a "Jack Sergeant".

The image to the right is a set of dog tags. We wore them around our necks at all times. The small rectangular shape is a P38. It's a can opener that is used for opening up cans of rations. I carried mine in my front pocket for a while, but it opened up on me and I decided that wasn't a very good practice.

I lived in the billets in what was then called the Banana Belt at Fort Carson. I have never understood why it was called that.

The ribbons to the right and to the left are ribbons that I earned while I was in the army. The one at the left is the department of defence ribbon and is given to all members of the armed forces. The one to the right is the Vietnam campaign ribbon and is awarded to all service personnel who served in Vietnam.

The ribbon to the left is an army commendation medal. I was awarded this ribbon for "meritorious service". I never wore ribbons in this format, but put together, this is what they would look like. This group of ribbons was worn above the breast pocket of the dress uniform.

The uniforms that you see on soldiers these days are very different than the ones you see here. There are jungle fatigues. Mine were starched so stiff that I could hardly bend over in them. The ones used today are for a desert environment and are a lighter color.

These would go with jungle boots. I couldn't find an image of the type of jungle boots I wore. They were similar to the ones seen on soldiers today, but they were solid black.

These are two patches that you would find on my uniform. The one on the left was the insignia of the 124th signal battalion and the one on the right was for the fourth infantry division. I was in these units when I was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.

The picture on the left was taken on Christmas day in Vietnam. We all went to an orphanage and we visited with the children there. That day was a big dissapointment to me. I had hoped to take Christmas presents to some needy children. Instead, we watch some officer's children entertain their parents.

The picture to the right was taken in 1974. You can see some of the patches and insignia on this uniform. The uniform to the left are our jungle fatigues. The one on the right was my winter greens. I was proud to be a member of the armed services and am grateful for those men who are willing to serve our country today.

Aubrey's 3rd year in the Children's Theatre Production!

2009-02-09T13:38:00.006-07:00

It's that time of year again! The South Dakota Children's Theatre Production came through town again for try-outs and Aubrey made it again. It's her 3rd year in a row! It's a pretty hectic schedule for the week. They had tryouts Monday after school at 3:30.

This year there were about 60 kids who tried out for parts. The whole process is very interesting. They have the kids form a line in the gymnasium going from the tallest to the shortest person. Then they start with one end of the line and the kids say their name and age. Then they start all over again and have them say their name and age again, but they say it like it is the most exciting day of their life! From their they start moving kids around and start grouping them according to age instead of height.

This year, Aubrey was towards the front of the line. Then they teach the kids a line from the play and have a group of 10 step forward and say the line. From there they start moving kids around within that group. Then they move forward to the next group of 10 and proceed through the process until they get down to the little kindergartners. Then they teach them one more line and go through the process one more time. This is when they really set who they want for the different parts. The older ones or the ones that they move towards the front of the line are the main parts of the play. Aubrey got one of the 8 main parts this year. Her character was Mozart.

Once they select the kids they want, they give them an hour dinner break then it's back at the gym for rehearsal until 8 pm. From their Aubrey practiced from 3:30 - 8:00 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Then performances are Friday and Saturday nights that week! It is so amazing to sit and watch the production and realize that the kids only had 5 days to practice and put the whole thing together. It went really well.

It is so fun to watch your children do something that they truly love doing! Tim and I enjoyed just watching the beautiful smile on Aubrey's face the whole time she was on stage. Her face was just radiant up there. She was in her element and enjoying every second of it. It was so cute, she didn't realize she was doing it, but she was mouthing other people's lines as she was standing up there. She new everyone's lines!!! It was so funny! She didn't believe us when we told her she was doing it! I always said when she was little, that we'd have an actress in the family!

She's always enjoyed doing plays and this has been such a wonderful opportunity for her. She has only one more year that she can try out for the Children's Theatre. She was very disappointed until I told her that they have High School Drama Club that she can do after that! She was VERY excited to hear that! We're so proud of our little actress!

A good book

2009-02-07T08:51:00.002-07:00

I'd like to recommend a really good book. Gloria gave it to us for Christmas and we have thoroughly enjoyed reading it together.

I telecommute or work at home. I have a habit of gobbling down my food and hurrying back to the computer to work because there is so much to do. At least that is what I tell myself.

This is one of those books that lends itself to being read aloud. I shared one of the poems in the book with Betty one day after lunch, and before long, we were sharing it after each meal.

All of the verses in this book teach principles. Some are funny and some brought us to tears. The verses were all uplifting.

This is a book that will be a valued addition to our family library, and I recommend it highly.

In Memory of Eddie

2009-02-01T21:28:00.004-07:00

Ed was an easy going boy who always loved to play with his army men and motorcycles. He would play for hours by himself making all these sounds like motorcycles. His mom used to love to cuddle with him in the rocking chair and he sure would snuggle up close. He was happy go lucky and had a great sense of humor. His friends called him "the gentle giant". He was a big boy for his age and grew to 6' 6" tall. He loved cats and I remember one time he called me & wanted our help cause his dad stepped on his kitty's head and he was afraid it was going to die. Kent & I hurried over to his house and here he is, this kid with such a HUGE hand holding the tiny little kitty with watery eyes afraid his kitty wasn't going to make it. We rushed to the vet and he saved the kitty's life. Ed was grateful that his kitty made it.

When he was 10 yrs old he was diagnosed with bone cancer in his left leg and he had surgery and 2 years of chemo therapy. I remember him telling his dad and I not to worry that it was going to be okay.

Ed loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, so today, Ed, we are rooting for the Steelers just for you!. Ed loved to imitate people and he was pretty good at it.

I remember one of our phone conversations that he was telling me how much he missed his sister.

I remember one time when Andi and Matthew and Kent & I went to visit him & he held Matthew. Matthew was a baby then, but he thought Matthew was a cute baby.

Any way, Ed we love you and everyone who knows you misses you.

Brenda & Eddie

2009-02-01T20:26:00.007-07:00

Memories are flowing through my head. I remember when Eddie and Brenda were little, Brenda used to get Eddie to eat worms, wasn't it worms, Brenda? Of course they tell me this after they got a little older. I remember when we first brought Eddie home and we had him home about 2 weeks, and Brenda told us we could take him back to the hospital now, he had been here long enough.

I remember one time when Brenda & my mom went shopping and it was in the winter, so there was a lot of snow on the ground. Mom was on the way home and she was taking the Old Stage Coach Road that goes along directly above there house and all of a sudden mom got stuck in the mud & snow. She put the car in park and told Brenda to stay in her car seat. Mom got out to look the situation over and put some rocks & dirt in front of the wheel and then got back in the car and here is Brenda out of her car seat standing in the driver's seat and had the steering wheel just really turning it cause she was going to help grandma get out of the mud. She was about 2 or 3. My mom never did figure out how she got out of the car seat.

Another time I took Brenda shopping with me and we went to Duckwall's downtown (showing our age a little), my mom went with us. Mom used to make her homemade wine and she used the big balloons to put on the top of the bottles. We got in the store and mom put the balloons in the basket and was going through the check out and Brenda looked at the cashier & said " those balloons aren't for me ya know. My granma makes wine and that's what she got them for!" My mother could have just died!

I went to the store one time and Eddie was in the back seat sucking on his bottle, he was about 6 mos old and Brenda was in the front seat. I parked the car and was going to get 1 gallon of milk and come right back out. I was gone about 3 min. at the most and when I got back to the car, Eddie was just crying so hard and I couldn't figure out why. I looked in the front seat and here is Brenda with Eddie's bottle sucking on it .

As they got older they became closer and loved going trick or treating on Halloween. One time Eddie was learning how to ride a bike & some kid come up to Eddie & was trying to take his bike and boy did Brenda ever take care of him, She told him "you leave my brother alone" and I think she pushed him down or hit him or something, anyway he went home bawling. They used to love to play together in the portal pool in the back yard.

When Eddie was diagnosed with cancer when he was 10 years old, Brenda, 14 yrs old, was the first one to donate her blood for Eddie one time when his white count was low because of the chemotherapy. Many firemen donated blood for him one time because his white count was so low we were told he would die if we couldn't get blood donations. People really came through and Brenda was the first one.

Betty's teachers

2009-02-01T19:43:00.005-07:00

Well, I shall attempt to remember some of my teachers. I've pretty much forgotten K 1st,2nd, and 3rd teachers, but I do remember I had to take 1st grade over. I really loved school and I do remember my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Jumper. She was very slender & always had a smile & positive attitude. My 5th grade was Miss Strowig..very slender tall lady & was probably in her 50's or 60's at the time. We did square dancing in her class & did I love that!! I got kind of close to her & it caused us some problems. She gave me an "A" in math on my report card. Mom knew how I was in math & she knew there was now way I could have made an "a"...homework and math tests were d's & f's. Mom went to the school and talked to the teacher & she admitted she was so fond of me she wanted to give me an "a", but she had to change it to a "d". Thank goodness for a mom who wanted to make sure I really earned that "a". Next report card, I did honestly get it up to a "c". I think she was my very favorite teacher (because of the square dancing) and I just loved her.

My 6th grade was Mrs. Tanilien. She taught Spanish and I always made straight a's in it. She could speak Italian & Spanish, of course she was Italian. I remembered her telling our class one time when she was traveling and she met someone who spoke only Spanish and she spoke only Italian and they could converse well together.

My 7th grade was Mr. Stancato, he was also Italian. He taught Life's Problems and I remember him telling us that there was no harder thing to do than to raise a child. I thought he was being ridiculous, but later on in life found out he was abstolutely correct. No manual comes with those babies.

Mr. Ledbetter was my 8th grade typing teacher and I sat in the far back of the class and a boy sat the table next to me and was always borrowing paper from me. One day we were getting ready to type and he asked me if he could borrow some paper, and as I rolled my eyes & was going to had him some paper my teacher stepped in between the two tables & grabbed the paper and handed it to me and he told the boy he would no longer be borrowing any more paper and that he would come to class with his own paper or he would fail the class. He always came with his own paper after that. Pretty cool teacher. That's all I can remember right now, but I sure did love school and during the summer I worked ad as a PBX operator and did typing and filing in the school office. I earned enough money to buy my parents their first Polaroid camera. They were suprised.

When I graduated from highschool I bought my first car, but dad would do the work on it, if it needed repairs, but I had to pay for the parts. My parents were very good teachers in many ways.

He bore my burden

2009-01-31T19:26:00.001-07:00

Nearly twenty five years ago, I sat in the day room of the hospital. In front of me was a table covered with unassembled puzzle pieces. It was so like my life that was in a thousand pieces. Through watery eyes, I stared at the table trying to make sense of what was going on in my life. The unassembled puzzle was such a perfect symbolization of my life. I was overwhelmed by the task before me and couldn’t see a way to put my life back together again.

Through tear filled eyes, I sat and watched as the shadows lengthened. Night would come. I had it all planned out, but the moment had not yet come.

I looked up, and John stood beside my table. I didn’t expect anyone to come, but he was there. He sat across the table from me and I hung my head in shame. What could I say to make the situation better? He placed his hand on mine and invited me to share my burden with him. Between sobs, I explained what was happening, and what I felt.

Just as I licked the salty tears from my lips, I looked up. Tears were streaming down his face just as they were on mine. John listened as I poured out my soul, and he truly helped me bear my burden.

When I had shared all that I had in my heavy heart, John helped me see that the only through this difficult period in my life was through it. Ending my life would not solve my problems, but I didn’t know what would.

It was a long dark night, but morning came. John returned a number of times to visit and encourage me. His unconditional support did not fail. He came and shared my burdens with me, and with time I was stronger.

I moved to another city, and have lost contact with John. I will be grateful with him for the rest of my life for his help in my darkest hours.

Glances into the past

2009-01-30T20:25:00.007-07:00

It's fun to look at old pictures of family members. In them, we can see glimpses of history that we can apply to our own lives and our own situation. It's fun to think of how we might have been had we lived in a different time and place. I look at this picture, and I think of Bonnie and Clyde I know it had nothing to do with notorious outlaws, but it's amusing to imagine.

The picture is of my grandfather, Ted Bingham, when he was just a young man with his sister, May, and his aunt.

Even the styles of children's have changed over time. I know some of the stories of the children in the picture, but I like to entertain myself with stories that may have taken place in years past.

These rigid poses of pictures seem so formal and stiff. It's obvious that grandpa Ted, the man to the right, is uncomfortable with a hat and a tie. What was he like? Would we have been friends?

Sometimes attics hold trunks of old clothes and paraphanalia from the past that lend themselves to fantasy and feed our imaginations. Do you think that Andrea makes a good little spinster or that Robert would make a good gunslinger?

One of our trips to South Dakota gave us such an opportunity for imagination, remeniscing and amusement. The photographer's shop was full of costumes and props from the past, and some that weren't even old, but were fun to put on as we posed for some family pictures. Popo insisted that we find something authentically Mexican. With a serape and a sombrero he strolled down his memory lane, and Aubrey found some white gloves and a parasol to assist her in her fantasy.

This family portrait was especially fun because the backs of the dresses and suits were open. They looked good in the photo, but we felt some exposed. It was good that we had one another to cover our backsides.

The Bonnichsen's and the Vances have some "fantasy" fotos to remember their pasts. We didn't really travel back in time, but we had a really enjoyable afternoon exercising our imaginations.

Are you going to finish strong?

2009-01-30T08:32:00.001-07:00

This video was amazing to me.

I cannot imagine having this man's courage and persistence!!

This time I wasn't late

2009-01-28T19:46:00.009-07:00

I had such a busy day, I was frazzled in every way.
It started early as I went to work for just half a day.
I spent the afternoon in a meeting with the VA
So that some of my medical bills they would pay.

Searching for an empty parking spot,
I spent an hour going in circles for naught.
In desperation, I left the lot for a commercial space.
It was a dangerous mission; an outright race!

I ran to the clinic so I wouldn't be late.
Being rescheduled would be a horrible fate!
With a sweaty brow, I quickly found a seat
Just at they called my name. The clock I beat!

I returned from the clinic with so much to do,
I hardly had time to gobble down stew
Before I headed out for another church meeting
Feeling that I been subjected to quite a long beating.

The church house was dark, but the moment was fleeting
As I prepared the chairs for our monthly ward meeting.
The chairs were all down, placed nice in a row
I sat to relax for a brief moment, you know.

Five minutes first past, and then it was ten.
I looked at the clock and checked my calendar again.
I would have been on time time; I wouldn't have been late,
But next week is the meeting! isn't that great?

Teachers

2009-01-27T12:49:00.004-07:00

Dad asked in a comment that I talk about my teachers. I guess I'd have to start from the beginning.

Miss Blissenbach was my Kindergarten teacher. She eventually basically became my nanny when times were tough. She was a good friend to me and I didn't realize it until I was an adult!! She was a character and had a way of making you think differently about things. She was kind in her nature, and she really was a good teacher. I'm glad that she was the first one I had!

Mrs. Romero, who is no longer Mrs. Romero, was my First Grade teacher. Her class was taught in bilingual Spanish. She taught me , and the rest of the class, how to Mexican Folk Dance! That was fun and I always looked forward to seeing her. She was just a little taller than her first grade class. I was also her student aide after school, basically she babysat me while I was waiting for Dad to finish up with his work after school. She would ask me about boys and try to see which ones I liked try to steer me away from the ones that she didn't think were good for me, like Brian Steinfield. HA! I later would babysit for her children when I was in the middle school. She didn’t think he was a bad boy, but he did things that she didn’t approve of, like sniffing glue! I didn’t know what that meant until later in my life! I would do Mexican Folk Dancing my entire elementary school rein.

Miss Triffinger was my second grade teacher. I just remember her being really tall and skinny, with red hair and she reminded me of a giraffe. The only thing I really recall of that year in school was Mom being a parent aide and grading my math paper.

Mrs. Adams was my Third grade teacher. When I was in third grade I was out for a time due to family deaths and my own illnesses. I think I was gone for something like a solid three weeks. Thay very well may be exaggerated, you know how a child’s perception of time is a little distorted, but in any event, a cousin died, my grandpa died and I ended up sick. When I returned to school one of the boys announced loudly to the class that I was "finally" back and that they all missed me! That was nice!

Mrs. Adams was also my Fourth grade teacher. She was very cool. I loved how she would hold her mouth real tight when she would get frustrated with her class. She was a rock in my world for a time when it was a total mess! I recall her being pregnant with one of her children my Fourth grade year and Mom would call me over the summer when I was in Missouri with Grandma and Grandpa Hurtubise to tell me that she lost the baby SIDS. I didn’t know really what that meant until she explained it to me. That was very sad. She really worked hard with me to help me read and stay on top of my assignments, but she never belittled me in anyway.

Mrs. P, I cannot remember her name right now, was my fifth grade teacher. I don’t really remember much of her other than she was not always a happy person. We watched the space shuttle challenger blow up on TV in her class. We really didn’t know what just happened and she hurriedly turned the TV off. That was a somber day!

I cannot recall my Sixth grade team teachers. I had a female and a male. Mr. Van something, but the female didn’t care for me much. She constantly complained that I would look at the board too much. That’s when they went to the dry erase boards and I couldn’t see with the light glare on the board. My male teacher was much more fun and exciting!! He said that he worked with Dad before. The school time after the Fifth grade get a little fuzzy. I don’t know if it is because of all the emotional things we were going through?

Seventh and Eighth grade I had seven teachers both years and I don’t recall all of them. My Science teacher was Mr. F, I cannot recall his full name either, but I was a student aide for him my first hour of school. He was a very nice man, but I believe that he used to tip the sauce every now and again in the supply closet next to his desk. Mr. Bird was my social studies teacher. He had a blue nose and was constantly jiggling the change in his pocket. He mostly was just there to fill space and get a check. Mrs. McMullen was my pre-algebra teacher. She was a little black lady and she was an awesome math teacher! I loved her humor and the way she would teach us! She eventually became my Mom’s boss, and she’s not fond of her, but I am! :-D

Ninth grade I was in Missouri, and the teachers there are very different than the teachers in Colorado. My Physical Science teacher, Mr. Boller, was a grumpy man that didn’t seem to want to be there. He also drove a bus for the school, so I assume that he had some love for kids. I think that I may have seen him smile once. I didn’t do very well in his class, but that didn’t have to do with his teaching skills, but my inability to absorb the material he was teaching. I had to write down the entire chapter before I could understand. I probably should have had a tutor that year since my grades where horrible. I had a couple of study hall teachers that didn’t like me either because I was very social and didn’t seem to pay attention or just shut up. I think it was my way of acting out without getting into serious trouble, although it may as well have been a serious problem to those teachers. In some way all the teachers there left a mark on my little memory. I didn’t take much back from that year of schooling however. I was too busy not worrying about everyone else and I wasn’t in an environment of locking myself away from the drama, since there wasn’t any!

Tenth through Twelfth, Mr. Kakora was a VERY AWESOME teacher! He was so quirky and funny! He made me feel special, even though he made everyone feel special. Mrs. Adams, a different Mrs. Adams than my Third and Fourth grade teacher, taught Social Studies one year and would bring in props to help her teach her class and you had to be prepared to actively participate in her class! She was VERY KEWL. Mrs. Dow was my business law teacher, typing, and technical teacher. She really pushed me and helped me along the way. Her partner, Mrs. Hansel, however, didn’t care for me at all! My guidance counselor told me to drop her class because she was determined to flunk me! I refused!

Well, I think that’s about enough for today!

To teach is to learn

2009-01-25T19:21:00.003-07:00

I have always enjoyed object lessons. There is something about creating a visual image of something that helps me to internalize the concept being taught.

There have been several times in my life that I have served as a teacher. A time in my life that I remember fondly is the five years that I worked as a public school teacher. During those years, I was actively involved in teaching and in learning. This image gave me an opportunity to reflect on that process.

In order for teaching to take place, it's partner activity must also be present. If there is no learning, then the effort to teach is in vain. This pair of activities must occur together for either to be fruitful.

Preparing for lessons, whether it was for school or church, was rewarding. Before I could teach a principle, I had to understand it or at least I had to lay the foundation for understanding it. I remember once, I was teaching a Sunday School class about the story of David and Goliath. I came away from the preparation for that lesson with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for David's courage as well as for the size and strength of Goliath and all that he can represent.

Sometimes, the roles of student and pupil can be reversed. One of the most rewarding experiences of teaching was watching a student grasp for the first time some principle that they were learning. I remember a time when I was teaching a language skills lesson. I asked the students to write a story in their own words about something that was important to them. I reviewed the objectives of the exercise, one of which was to present the story for display in their very best penmanship. One of my students returned his assignment in the most beautiful penmanship I had ever seen. He was so proud of his work! My problem was that I could not understand it because it was written in Cambodian and I could not read it. I returned his assignment to him in front of his classmates, asking him to return it to me in English. He was crestfallen and never returned the story. I learned that day to accept a child's work and acknowledge their effort. I would still have required the additional task from him, but I would have told him how beautiful his penmanship was and that I recognized his work.

Learning in a classroom is a reflection of the quality of teaching being done. When I was poorly prepared to present a lesson, participation was poor. When I worked hard at being prepared, I was more likely to have class participation. Students were excited about learning when I was excited about teaching.

What do you see?

2009-01-24T19:56:00.003-07:00

I was intriqued by this image sent to me by a friend. I saw something in it and went on to the next image without giving it a second thought. I returned to the note and saw something else only because of the caption under the image. What do you see?

To a dear friend

2009-01-21T20:41:00.004-07:00

Anger is what I feel today!
My friend is parting; going his way
Because his job is ending before its time.
I cannot separate his misfortune from mine.
Guts are tied in knots with pain
Unable to feel relief that my fate's not the same.
Our paths made us both better men.
Useless anger needs replacing then.
Surrender, and in a grateful way be glad that he's a friend today.

Successful times were his and mine
Until the end of our productive time.
Only change is constant. In my life I'll always be
Unable to avoid things that cause pain, you see.
Give me help, Oh Lord I pray.
I need thy strength and comfort today
Because I cannot will my unkind world away.
My heart is full and on my knees,
Anger's replaced with sweetest peace.

Kent Vance

The Jap Camp

2009-01-17T17:14:00.005-07:00

Many years ago, when I worked at the Broadmoor Golf course, there was a large concrete pit that was referred to as the "Jap Camp". I was told that there was at one time a Japanese-America Interment camp in that pit. I asked others about the camp and was told that the camp held Japanese Americans during World War II. They worked on the Gold Camp Road and other construction projects around the Colorado Springs vicinity.

It's hard to believe that American Citizens were gathered up and put into these camps merely because of their country of origin.

I tried to find information on this camp on the Web and have found no references to it. I did find a reference to the Broadmoor hotel hiring workers from the interment camp from southeastern Colorado.

I found a reference to POW camp at Camp Carson, which is now Fort Carson and is just South of Colorado Springs. You will have to search on the page for "Japanese".

It's cold in Colorado!!

2009-01-15T20:31:00.004-07:00

Relatively speaking, it's not bad outside, but without heat, it cold inside.

This morning, Betty got a call from a friend and member of our ward that was without heat. She was beside herself and didn't know what to do. Betty stopped what she was was doing and was off to help. Betty was wrapped up in a thick winter coat and a scarf when she left.

They finally got the furnace going for her friend, and Betty was looking forward to a nice warm bath. When she got home from taking care her friend home, Betty found that we had no heat. We've called a repairman and they will be here in the morning. Meanwhile we're piling blankets on and will be cuddling a littler closer tonight.

One Line Quotes

2009-01-13T22:08:00.014-07:00

I decided to gather a list of one line quotes. I am giving credit for them to the person I heard them from. That may or may not be the person who coined the phrase.

I was in a meeting tonight, and someone said, "I say the most when I Listen". I hope that is something that I can do better than I do right now.
Can't is such a strong word, - Larry
Never underestimate your influence. - Larry
A penny saved is a penny earned. - Betty (from Betty's Mom, Grace)
Even a mosquito doesn't get a pat on his back until he's well into his work. - Danette
Living the gospel is like shaving; it has to be done every day. - Danette
Two wrongs don't make a right. Don and Arlo Vance. Thanks, Gloria
Anything worth doing is worth doing right. - Gatha Wilson
No good deed goes unpunished. - Larry Vance
Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in. - Mary Lyne Parker
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. - Betty Vance

The Window of the Soul

2009-01-11T16:43:00.015-07:00

When Betty and I were recently at Andrea's house, Matthew was showing us his fancy new camera that he just got for Christmas. Just for fun, he put his camera in front of my nose and clicked a picture of my eye. It was startling to see my eye separate from the rest of my face, and some interesting conversations followed about how the eye is the window of the soul.

Before long, Matthew had put the camera in front of each of our faces and had taken a picture or two. Most of Andrea's family has brown eyes. Matthew commented on how there was so much red in Luke's eye compared to his. Betty, Ashleigh and I have blue eyes. The group that day was half blue eyed, and half brown eyed.

When I was a missionary in Mexico, my blue eyes were often the topic of conversation because blue eyes were rare. I once had a boy watch my face as I talked and finally asked me if I saw the world blue. I could only ask him if he saw everything brown. I can't help if there is a difference.

Betty said that the eye tells us about the body. Iridology, the study of the eye to tell us about diseases of the body that are manifested through the markings of the eye. A couple of years ago, we were at the home of my Missionary companion, George Fillmore, who read the iris of Betty's eye and had told her pretty accurately about the health of her body.

We hear references to the eyes in our day to day speech. When someone is happy, we refer to the light in their eye. When someone is alert and attentive, they are bright eyed. When someone is not quick to understand, we might refer to their eyes being clouded. To trick someone is to pull the wool over their eyes. When we go into a business deal, we emphasize the importance of having the eyes wide open.

It is my contention that is important what we put in front of our eyes. We can enjoy the beauty of a flower or a sunset or a painting and we are nourished. We can also cause harm to our souls by putting things in front of our eyes that are not wholesome. Entertainment that is not wholesome is harmful to our souls. It is important that we choose carefully the things that we use our eyes for.

We've been Jamming

2009-01-04T19:29:00.008-07:00

Grandma and Papa have joined a band with their grand kids. Actually the Dixons got a video game, World tour. They got it for Christmas and have really been enjoying it. Papa learned in a hurry that whatever musical talent he may have had fell out with his hair and with his teeth.

After one song, Papa turned his guitar over to Grandma who was grooving and could pluck 'em with the best of them. Here, Luke's playing base and Grandma is playing lead guitar. Popo said he had called, but Grandma said that she didn't answer because she was busy jamming.

Even Ashleigh got in on the action with her Mom and her brothers. Andi was every bit as good as Ringo Star. Actually, Andi probably doesn't even know who Ringo Star is. (He was the drummer for the Beatles.)

I was amazed at the music that they were producing and the fun that they were having as a family.

After the video jamming session, Luke brought out his beautiful new acoustic new guitar. Luke's taking guitar lessons each week. I realize that he's just starting to learn, but it's always fun to hear your kids play beautiful music, even when they are just learning..

After giving us a personal one man concert, Luke even gave Matthew a chance to play his new guitar.

Music has a way of healing the soul whether it is being done for fun, or if it is being done to acquire a new skill.

Robert and Hannah

2009-01-04T17:33:00.004-07:00

This weekend, Betty and I loaded up our little red car and headed north to see Robert, Hannah, and their dog, Ollie. Rob is still working stone and his home shows evidence of the stone he has worked on over the years. Rob has found many creative ways to shape and polish stone to make his home more comfortable for him and his daughter, Hannah.

Grandma has been anxious to see Hannah and to talk with her about school and all the things that are important to girls her age. Hannah likes to tie ropes that she uses to play tug of war with her pet boxer, Ollie. He's strong and can win every time, but is smart enough to know that a little girl needs to win every now and then. She read a book to Grandma, and then she said, "Dr. Seuss really doesn't make any sense."

Rob and Grandpa got a kick out of playing with the dogs and the flashlight. Brewster chased the flashlight around the floor, but Ollie watched the ceiling when Rob pointed up. He then ran around in circles as the spot on the ceiling went round and round. Grandma nearly died laughing. We understand that once he gets started, he has a hard time calming down and finding something else to do.

Hanna is sporting a new pair of glasses that make it easier to read. They also make it easier to thread beads. Here, she's making a necklace. She's not used to the new glasses yet. She put them on when her daddy reminded her, but in a manner of minutes, they were were carefully folded and back in the case.

Hanna's hair is shorter than the last time we saw her, but Rob says that it's nice that she can take care of her own hair.

The time we had with Rob and Hanna went by all to quickly. We are looking forward to the next time we have a chance to get together.

Anerner

2008-12-27T21:06:00.007-07:00

Andi came and spent Christmas with us. It was quiet because there were no grandchildren, but Betty and I both really enjoyed her visit.

We laughed and talked, we had dinner with "Popo", and we watched a lot of movies. I know that my sister, Bonnie would have been disappointed in us because we slept in Christmas Morning. 5AM came and went without us.

The time with our children is a precious gift. The older I get, the more I realize the truth of that statement.

Tis the night before Christmas

2008-12-24T22:30:00.002-07:00

'Tis the night before Christmas, and all through the pad
The children are missing, we're feeling sad'
No stockings are hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicolas soon will be there;

No children are nestled all snug in their beds;
With visions of ipods that dance in their heads;
And Grandma in her nightie and I in my jammies,
Have just settled down with full little tummies;

When out on the road there is a heavy thick fog
I spring from the bed just wanting to blog.
Away to the keyboard to type a short note
I've turned on the computer and started to gloat.

The glow of the screen of the blogs does show
News of my grandchildren wherever they go
What do my wondering eyes should appear
But six little grandchildren that I hold so dear.

With a little old cursor so tiny and quick
I moved from family to family with a click
More rapid than eagles the pages they came
I read and chuckle as I search for each name.

“Now Matthew! Now, Luke, Now Aubrey and Ashleigh!
On Hannah! On Chloe! The keys I'm a smashing
To the Homes in South Dakota! To the top of the mall
Now come away! come away! come away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstable, mount to the sky,
So up to their beds the grandkids they flew,
With dreams full of toys, and St. Nicolas too.

And then, in a moment, parents hear them all snore
Till the pictures are rattling and so does the door.
As I click on my mouse and am surfing around
Down the staircase their parents come with a bound.

They were all covered in sweat from their heads to their feet,
And their clothes were all dirty and they were lookin so beat;
A bundle of toys they have hung on their backs,
They look like some peddlers just opening their packs.

Their eyes – how they're heavy! They need some more sleep;
They head for the bedroom to count some more sheep.
Their wallets are empty, drawn up like a bow,
But deep in their hearts they're' feeling aglow.

The path of my mouse held tight in my thumb
Goes from house to house and just makes me feel numb
But I have a broad little smile and a big round belly
That shakes when I laugh like a bowl full of jelly.

I'm chubby and plump, a lonely old elf,
I laugh when I see them in spite of myself.
A wink of my eye and a twist of my hand
Soon gives me to know that all over the land;

Just laying a finger to the side of my mouse,
And giving a click fills up my whole house.
So I spring to my chair, to my mouse give a quick whistle
And here they all come like the down of a thistle.

Hear me exclaim, as I click through the night,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Chloe's 5th Birthday

2008-12-18T06:45:00.006-07:00

Wish you could have seen this face! When we were singing Happy Birthday, Chloe got the funniest look on her face...she didn't seem to know what she thought about everyone standing around and singing to her. A priceless moment!

(Sent by Brenda)

Aubrey's birthday

2008-12-14T21:11:00.006-07:00

This is Aubrey's 13th birthday. She is interested in country music and her favorite artists are Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. She is in Karate and doing well with it. She is #1 in her class for reading the most books. She loves doing creative arts and crafts things and for awhile she was writing her own books. Grandma and Grandpa are very proud of her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aubrey.

She had a birthday party with her friends and I think she is having a grand time with her friends and her sister Chloe.

Chloe had her 5th birthday on the 2nd of November. She likes creative things to do and she LOVES to dance and loves music. She is in Karate with her sister and is the youngest one in the class.

We love our girls and are so proud of them.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 30 - The Greatest Gift

2008-12-13T07:03:00.005-07:00

Betty and I have seen many Christmas programs this year. They've been enjoyable, and they have been entertaining, but they fail to mention the very reason that we celebrate Christmas.

The scriptures say, in John 3: 16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." What greater gift could be given?

One of the movies that I enjoy every year at Christmas time is one called "The Fourth Wise Man" starring Martin Sheen. The main character, Arteban, spends his entire life searching for the Messiah. He carries with him precious gifts to give to the new king. As he encounters people in need during his life, the precious gifts are sold to help those in need. Arteban and his slave end up spending thirty years in a lepers' colony serving the people who suffer there. All the while, Arteban carries his most precious gift, a beautiful pearl.

The king is found and Arteban rushes to find him and present him with the precious pearl. He's always one step behind. A young girl is about to be sold into slaver to pay her father's debts, and this kind man spends his last gift to save her from slavery. As he is dying, he meets the Savior and is reminded that as he offered his gifts to each of these people, he gave them to the Lord.

I enjoy this story each time I see it. It is a reminder that we must follow the Savior's example and give ourselves to those around us. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and for his sacrifice for us.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 29 - Time

2008-12-10T20:57:00.003-07:00

Searching for a moment to give
Each person with whom I live
Christmas greetings expressing my love
Or doing some small thing to let them know of
Nice tender feelings in my heart that's aglow.
Days slip by and no time is found.
Soon I'll be the only soul around.

Merry Christmas aglow in lights so bright.
In every child's heart was the desire to do right.
Naughty children, you see thought they could change
Until the morn came that caught them so strange
Teary eyed and sad holding a bowl
Eating their porridge and looking at coal.
Santa had passed them by that night.

Hopeful but wearily we continue to try
Our behavior to change as days go by,
Until the day comes no more can be done.
Repentance was delayed too long, my son.
Sin needs to be dealt with so the battle is won.

Do something today.
Ask the Lord. I know what He would say,
"You can do it child, I am the way."

Never delay doing what's right.
Only work hard both day and night.
We must use time for which I'm grateful tonight.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 28 - Winter

2008-12-09T20:56:00.004-07:00

Although I like a routine that I feel comfortable with, I am easily bored and thrive when there is a variety in my life. Variety makes life interesting and pleasant. Contrast makes beauty more noticeable to me.

There is a chill in the air that requires a hat and scarf and gloves. There is a crunch in my step as I move through the freshly fallen snow. The ground is clean and white and pure. The warm moisture in my breath is converted to small clouds it the cold air. The leaves are gone from the trees exposing the beauty of their architecture. The spectrum of colors is distinct to this season. I love the contrast of the dark night and the Christmas lights.

I will enjoy the other seasons as they come, but for today I will be grateful for Winter. I will try hard not to complain when I have to shovel the snow or scrape the ice. I will try to be careful on the ice that winter brings to busy streets. When Spring and Summer and Autumn come, I will have the opportunity to be grateful for them as well.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 27 - Music

2008-12-08T20:55:00.006-07:00

Today was a busy day. Early this morning, I add a couple of new links to our blog. One of them is called My 9 Cents. It was a nice blog because it helps us get acquainted with Betty's family, but it was also nice because of the music that plays when the blog presents itself. I enjoyed the music so much that I just let it play and play. As I did, I began to feel that I must have the same tastes and interests as this family does.

This is a time of year that music plays in most stores you go in to. I love Christmas music, but the music I love is missing. Today I got a good dose of the kinds of music I love including the religious music.

Music is a powerful tool for good. There was a time in my life that I played the piano. When I came home after a frustrating day, I could work my emotions out on the piano. "Master the Tempest is Raging" was a good hymn for resolving anger. "Whispering Hope" was a song that was good when I was feeling sad. I enjoyed "Winter Wonderland", "Lara's Theme", "Smoke gets in Your Eyes", "Memory", and to many other songs to number.

Music can also be irritating, annoying, tempting, or depressing. It's important to select the music that is uplifting and soothing rather than the opposite.

Today, I am really grateful for good music.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 26 - Betty's Dad

2008-12-07T19:46:00.004-07:00

Five years ago, Betty and I moved to Colorado Springs so that we could be closer to her dad. We had been coming down once a month to visit him, but it just wasn't enough for Betty. We checked into the possibility of working remotely and we changed our address. It was a good move.

Betty's dad is a really independant man. He takes care of himself and is a good example for me.

He was born in Mexico and served a mission for the LDS church when he was a young man. Later he was drafted into the US Army and served as an Air Borne Ranger. He has first hand experience with Normandy, Berlin, and Guam. He doesn't talk about them very often, but it is fascinating when he does.

I have enjoyed getting to know a few of the men who served with him as a "Mule Skinners". The mules were once used to transport the supplies for the soldiers. They were replaced with jeeps and tanks.

After he left the armed services, he worked as a heavy equipment operator. He often will show Betty and I some waterline or road or parking lot and let us know that he had part in preparing the land for those features. He still loves to watch heavy equipment.

He and his wife, Grace, moved into their little mountain home in 1964. He used to take twelve mile walks from his home into the mountains. When Betty's Mother was ill, we watched him care for her faithfully until she passed away.

I am grateful for his kindness to us and for the exampleful he has set for me.