Lake Powell Tragedy

Did you hear about the horrific crash on Lake Powell last week?  Here is the ksl article in case you missed it. My cousin (and his wife and at least two of his four girls) was on the speed boat.  He and his wife and kids were on vacation at Lake Powell with his wife's family.  My cousin had recently returned from Iraq (or Afghanistan) for the fourth or fifth time.  They found the body of the girlfriend and as of today, the body of his sister-in-law is still missing.

I had been looking at the missing woman's (Jessica) facebook page and saw a picture of a grave/headstone.  I did an internet search and it turns out the baby was her nephew who died the same day he was born.  That same internet search led me to her blog.  I read some of her blog.  I specifically love the one on May 23, 2012 the 4th paragraph;.  This girl (she is about 22, which to me seems so young) was so strong spiritually.  Not just having deep thoughts.  Not just pondering God and His power.  But she has a strong, strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it completely shows in her writings.  She seemed so close to her mother, what a blessing that they are together in heaven, reunited with that sweet baby.  And what a blessing it is to know she is freed from the difficulties she faced by the limitations of her physical body.


Also, my cousin's wife posted this on her blog two days after the accident in Lake Powell.

Today I am Grateful . . .

Today I am Grateful . . . 

* That all of my parent's grand kids are healthy and safe.

* That kids are kids - even in the midst of tragedy they are just themselves - they keep me linked to reality.

* That my Heavenly Father through His tender mercy has seen fit to allow me to continue to raise my four beautiful daughters.

* That there are still moments of joy, laughter, and silliness amidst the heartache, sorrow, and pain.

* For the peace of the Spirit, which passeth all understanding.

* For all of the wonderful people who have touched my life and that of my family.  The outpouring of love we have felt has been overwhelming and I realize truly how many amazing people have influenced my life and helped me to be a better person.

* For being near my family and the peace and comfort that brings.

* For the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation that gives the assurance that I will see my mom and sister again.

* For eternal families - that through covenants made in the temple we truly will be together forever.

* That I have the most amazing family - on both sides of the veil.

• 
  

My life lately

What we've been up to:

My kids have been taking swimming lessons for the last couple weeks.  The lessons are for three weeks, Monday through Thursday.  Tomorrow is the last day.  We have to drive to Salem (practically Woodland Hills) and it's in a beautiful indoor private home pool.  The kids are doing great.  The lessons are one on one with the teacher for 10 minutes.  My sister-in-law told me about this lady.  She does a great job.  My sister-in-law told me it's amazing what they can learn in 10 minutes.  Matthew and Molly had a hard time with it the first week, but Norah took to in instantly. No fear whatsoever.

Matthew and Norah are in coach pitch and t-ball, respectively.  It's fun to watch them play, or rather NOT play as it sometimes is.  I don't know that I'll sign them up for it next year, but I think they like it okay, not love love it though.  I'll for sure sign Matthew up for soccer this fall.  He has a fun time with that.

Dave is still in night class.  This summer class is over tomorrow and they start up again in a week or two.  I'm so proud of him.  He never complains about it, he just does it.  He loves what he is learning and it comes in handy at work.  We are so blessed that he has a good job and is able to support our family.  I love him and appreciate all he does for me and the kids.

Dave got a promotion at work.  The hours don't change.  Praise the heavens.  The financial blessings are pretty cool, too.

My lawnmower won't start.

We went on a trip to Cedar City a couple weekends ago.  Our youngest was very difficult during the car ride.  Made me never want to drive over an hour anywhere with her again.  I love her.

Laundry is still my nemesis.

I need a hair cut.  My kids need haircuts.

Do you ever have flashes of past experiences and they seem like yesterday?  But they were well over 20 years ago?  Or whenever.  That happens to me all the time.

Dave and I watched the new season of Arrested Development.  It was okay, not great.

I'm trying to get my doctor friend Amy to build a house two lots away from us.  They are building nine homes to the west of us, just on the other side of our neighbors. They will be acre lots.

I got a sitter a couple weeks ago while I went alone to WalMart in the morning.  Totally worth it.

My kids are playing together really well lately.  Super awesome.

My friend Amy (not dr. amy) is expecting baby number five in January.  Hi Amy!

My pregnant friend Amy watched my kids last week while I went alone to WalMart in the morning.  Totally worth it.

I have so many friends named Amy.

I like visiting teaching, but kind of drag my feet doing it.  It's the lining up the schedules that is hard.

I ate an entire avacodo last week.  I get ham slices, and cut up avacodo pieces in it and roll it up.  It is so, so, so good to me.  An average size avacado has about 240 calories in it.  I looked it up after I at that entire avacado.

My Molly is a sugar FIEND.  She goes crazy wanting candy.

This month marks 10 years since Dave and I started dating.  Our first kiss was on the back porch of our Orem house.

20 things a mom should tell her son

TWENTY THINGS A MOM SHOULD TELL HER SON

1. Play a sport.
It will teach you how to win honorably,
lose gracefully, respect authority,
work with others, manage your time
and stay out of trouble.
And maybe even throw or catch.

2. You will set the tone
for the sexual relationship,
so don't take something away from her
that you can't give back.

3. Use careful aim when you pee.
Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.

4. Save money when you're young
because you're going to need it someday.

5. Allow me to introduce you
to the dishwasher, oven,
washing machine, iron,
vacuum, mop and broom.
Now please go use them.

6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.

7. Don't ever be a bully
and don't ever start a fight,
but if some idiot clocks you,
please defend yourself.

8. Your knowledge and education is something
that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly.
Forever is a long time to live alone
and it's even longer to live with somebody
who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do.
This includes her having a successful career
and you changing diapers at 3 A.M.
Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.

13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir"
still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts"
is because they're "private".
Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing.
Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason
is always a good idea.

17. It is better to be kind
than to be right.

18. A sense of humor
goes a long way
in the healing process.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely.
My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me
spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother
because I might be missing you.

A facebook friend posted this morning that over the weekend, her friend's husband died suddenly of a heart attack. He was young and they had a two-year-old daughter.  The wife just graduated from BYU Idaho with a teaching degree and was excited to finally be a stay at home mom.  She said she was glad she stuck with it and got her degree.  What a blessing that she is now qualified in that way to support her daughter financially.  She was so excited to go on a 6 day vacation with her husband.  I am not sure if they had taken the trip already or not.  On her blog she wrote that she thought a lot about when to have a second child.  His last facebook post was a video of his little girl and he wrote how much he loves his wife and his daughter.  He talked about he was the luckiest guy to have them in their lives.  And then within two weeks he had died.

It's so sad.  Things can be so heartbreaking sometimes.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and we don't really know what that plan is.  We may think we know, or we may have a good idea of what it is, but the details of it, we ultimately don't know.  We know what our rewards can be if we are faithful, and sometimes that might be what keeps someone going.  We know that this family will be together forever and they are sealed as a family.  This knowledge is crucial.  It's just the living without that person that is the struggle.  This young mom had hopes and dreams and plans with her husband.  They are different now.  She wanted and thought her earthly future would include them being together.  I'm sure she'll get remarried and have more kids, although surely that is the LAST thing on her mind right now.  It's hard in the present to see the long term blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for us.  But he sees us, knows us, guides us, and comforts us. You never know the course your life will take.  The challenge is what you do with the changes.

Someone posted this quote on the wife's fb page.  I find it comforting:

"In like manner our father and mother, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given to them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divined Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh." -Pres. Joseph F. Smith