The Life of a Truly Great Man

It's interesting that it's human nature to take what others say as always being truth.

The older I get and the more experience I gain, I'm realizing that pretty much everything everyone says (myself included) has a personal spin on it because we all have our own experiences and views that affect how we see things.

When I was in my mid 20's, one of my extended family members let me in on some things about my grandfather. After that, I had a hard time really respecting my grandfather and found fault in some of the things he did. It was not until after he died that I became fully aware of what a truly amazing man my grandfather was. At his funeral and the events in the days surrounding his funeral, I heard and felt things that made me ashamed that I had ever let some second hand stories color my view and feelings about such a remarkable man.

We all have done some pretty stupid things that may seem insensitive during the course of our lives. Is that what we should be remembered by? When a person lives a life that is 99.9% Christlike, selfless, and loving, like my grandfather did, I truly hope that others are not so foolish (as I was for a few years) and focus on that mere .1% of that life that may have been characterized by some mistakes.

About a year after my grandfather's death my mom put together a book documenting his life.

From that book, I'd like to pay a small tribute to him.

Aug. 2, 1943, after a two and a half year mission, his mission president wrote his parents. "...We realize that we are losing one of our most outstanding missionaries, as he mastered not only the language, but also the customs and habits of the people far in excess of the average missionary. As a result, he has won the love and confidence of all of the people whom he has met."

Sept 12, 1958, a letter to the editor of the Fresno Bee, "...Last year it was my great pleasure to take a course in elementary Spanish in the Fresno City Schools Adult Education Dept. This was my first experience with night school; I assure you it will not be my last. Rarely have I met an individual with more interest in teaching his subject than my instructor, Arnold Green, a man with seemingly ceaseless energy to devote to his profession and to the perfection of a textbook that might guide more easily the bewildered beginner in that first year..."

Did you know that my grandfather kept in touch with his posterity on a regular basis? Before email it was by monthly letters. Once email was born, he sent a weekly message to all family members in which he would personally respond to messages he'd received from any of his 30 grandchildren or regarding his 40-some (at the time) great grandchildren.

And as long as my grandmother's health permitted it, my grandparents took a 6 week annual trip across the country visiting each of their relatives.

Some things that were written to the family at the time of his death:

"My memory reminds me of those qualities that he posessed that cause me to thing of him as a grand gentleman whose demeanor always made me feel comfortable, at home, in his presence. I trust he will be missed greatly in this world as he returns to his other home...he has been good for this world and I trust that the next world will be good for him."

"What shall we say? Godspeed dearest uncle. You ran the good race. We lift your wife and daughters up to the Lord."

As grandchildren, we were given the chance to write a note to him at the time of his funeral. Almost every one of the grandchildren spoke of memories where grandpa personally took the time to attend to us individually. When they'd come to town, although there were near 20 grandkids, grandpa would take us individually to the candy store or ice cream parlor. There was no question that he loved us and that he made us feel important.

My message to you is that, I urge you, if you have feelings toward someone that are tainted by something you heard or were told by someone else, please look at what that person's life really looks like. If you have someone in your life that lives a mainly good life, don't be distanced by that small percentage of mistakes they've made. Let's all make an effort to focus on the good and let go of the rest. Don't deprive yourself of what can be a good relationship.

Free KFC meal

Today on the Oprah Show, she promoted a coupon for the new KFC grilled chicken. . .it's a two piece meal. Here's a link: http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090430-tows-kfc-coupon-download. Have a great day! Oh ya Hurry and print it out, because it expires sometime tomorrow night May 6th. The coupon is good up till May 19th.

"The Sweetest Thing I've Ever Heard"

I was on the phone, on a business call, and my 5 year old son was sitting on the floor right next to me singing. I was getting really irritated with him that he wouldn't be quiet while I was on the phone. I was about to scold him for it when the lady I was speaking with said, "Who is that? It's the sweetest thing I've ever heard."
I am so grateful for her words because they have had me thinking about it ever since. Sometimes I get so caught up in the day to day stress of motherhood that I forget to see the magic in my children and the things that they do. Now I find myself asking if I cherish those magical moments that my children share instead of getting irritated with them for not staying quiet or leaving me alone. They say that someday I will longingly miss all those fingerprints on newly cleaned surfaces. Now, instead of getting frustrated that I can't seem to get a shower alone, I remind myself that some day I won't have any little ones playing at my feet and that I'll miss it.
I'm grateful for this time I have with my little ones and the opportunity and responsibility that God has given me in raising them.

Be Informed & Be Calm

by Roxanne Petrell
I know we are all concerned about the swine flu. It is important to remember to stay calm and keep events in perspective. Often what we expect to happen does. Let's expect that all will be well while we prepare and use common sense. Focusing on the negative will not help us. Planning and preparing as the Lord has directed us to will. As always, "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear".

From the Southwest Utah Public Health Department:
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
o Fast breathing or trouble breathing
o Bluish skin color
o Not drinking enough fluids
o Not waking up or not interacting
o Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
o Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
o Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
o Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
o Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
o Sudden dizzinesso Confusion
o Severe or persistent vomiting
o CDC has created a webpage with information and updates. Visit www.cdc.gov/flu/swine or call 1-800-CDC-INFO

Columbine Memories

This is an older post from my personal blog that I decided was worth sharing here.

April 20 is always a difficult day. Interestingly, though, it's simultaneously painful and peaceful.

April 20, 1999 was the day of the Columbine High School shooting. I know that compared to those who really were involved, my pain in relation to the tragedy is minimal. But being a Columbine graduate and knowing and loving many of the families that still had students there, it was an extremely difficult time for me. School shootings are something you hear about but always seem so far away...that was until Columbine. It suddenly became extremely personal and close to home for me.

For the first time in my life I found myself asking, "How could God have allowed this?" For weeks I was a wreck, I was so distraught over it. Columbine High was the place where I did most of my growing up, where I transitioned from a self centered teenager to a somewhat premature adult. It's possible that having become a parent while still in HS caused me to do more growing up than most do during those years, or maybe my growing was just different than my peers during those years. My little baby and I walked those halls many times together.

I grew up in what I thought was the perfect community and I had so many fond memories of it. That was much of the shock of Columbine-that it was supposed to be the 'ideal' of suburban life. Suddenly the ideal was shattered, it was as if it didn't exist any more.
I think that a lot of my internal struggle had to do with my love and trust of God which, though secure, suddenly became more complicated by the conflict I was feeling. The conflict was all the 'why's..."Why, God, why didn't you stop them?", "How could God have allowed this?" etc.

Finally, after a couple of weeks, the breakthrough came, the understanding that brought peace to my heart and to my soul.

I was doing my nightly scripture study when I came across a story I knew well but which suddenly took on a new meaning and became much more personal.

2 missionaries had converted many people in a particular city. The wicked were angry and martyred the believers. The 2 missionaries were being forced to watch as the believers were being burned. One of the missionaries said to the other, "Let's stretch forth our hands and stop this great wickedness." This was the reply of the other:

11 ...The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

This passage gave me a whole new perspective. Not only has God received these victims unto himself in glory, but he cannot hold others accountable for what they would have done if they'd had the chance, but only what they actually do. He suffers it-it is painful for him-but he suffers that his judgments may be just. (Alma 14 in the Book of Mormon)

A gal from the church that I grew up in, Liz Carlston, wrote a book about her personal experience as a Columbine survivor: Surviving Columbine: How Faith Helps Us Find Peace When Tragedy Strikes. Her story is beautiful. I highly recommend it.

I pray that God will continue to bless those who still suffer as a result of the terrible events of that day and that they will be able to find the peace that fills my soul today.

Starting My Day the Fresh Start Way

I hadn't realized how much I relied on having a fresh start to my day until I went a few days with no Fresh Start call.
The LifePath Unlimited Community begins each day with a Fresh Start call where one of our co-founders joins with different leaders in the LPU community to give us fresh inspiration as well as motivation.
But this week, most members have been in the Virgin Islands for our semi-annual Breakthrough Conference so there have not been any of the daily calls. Unfortunately, for personal reasons I was unable to be in the Virgin Islands having my own personal breakthrough with the others.
I noticed yesterday that I just didn't feel quite right-just not quite as happy as normal, and not quite as motivated. It was a subtle difference, but there was a difference.
As I found myself asking what's wrong with me I realized that the only thing out of routine was that I had not had my Fresh Start call for 3 days and we didn't have our Discovery Mentorship Session on Saturday either.
I'm so grateful to be a part of a community whose leaders give us so much. Every morning we have something to think about/ponder, to give us inspiration, to help us assess ourselves, etc.
If you would like to listen in and get a fresh start to your day, here's our call schedule.

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