Rear View Mirror

Sometimes you really shouldn't look back.  It is irresistible though.
Rachel and I came out of the shopping center parking lot off of Kirker Pass I noted an oncoming motorcycle headlight in the left as I checked traffic to merge onto the three lane road. Just before twilight that dangerous time of day when it isn't night and it isn't day and the sunset is in your eyes. I eased out after a couple of cars while the motorcycle was still coming, and checked again in the rear view mirror as I didn't want to side swipe him....ok, he was about 5 car lengths back. My foot went on the brake as I watched in horror as he slid on the road like a soccer player going down for a slide tackle...... something bounced and his bike rolled another way. There was an old gold pickup somewhere in the mix turning left.  I realized I was not yet on the road, it was ok to leave Rachel in the car at the end of the merging lane and I raced back almost incoherently talking on the phone to the 911 operator. I hadn't really witnessed what happened, though the motorcyclist did get up and walk to the side of the road. I think I was shaking all the way home.  I still don't know what really happened. Then a few days later I was coming home late at night after a concert show of Rachel's and noticed a little white dog sitting with his legs bent in the oncoming lane....and knew with sickening dread that the car coming from the opposite direction couldn't see it......I noted a car with the interior lights on and doors open in the driveway....no, no.
Looking in the rear view mirror I watched the dog's body bounce and roll in the taillights. Knowing is not always a good thing.

Support from on High

So here's the long story (skip ahead for the short story), I send up a plea for help in September. There is not enough will power in my entire body to reach my goals, so I ask for heaven's help. During Halloween trick-or-treating I told the others in the house they were in charge of the treat giving and made sure the treats were not bought until the day before. I made a promise to Lanette Hopkins that I won't eat sugar that day. Everything that day worked out beautifully. The next day however there were candy snacks left over. As I walked by several times the temptation was magnetizing. It was interesting that one time when my hand drifted by a "little" piece, I heard a distinct "NO" in my head and noted it was my voice just as I would tell my children when I really meant it. Rachel and Jeffrey made them disappear when they got home. Crisis averted. Thanksgiving was fantastic.  Everything went according to plan and the day was peaceful, fun, and fulfilling. I got hung up twice on Saturday with left-over chocolate cream pie but repented on Sunday. In December I asked my friends not to drop sugar treats by as gifts and sent word around to acquaintances. I have such good friends!!

The short story: Last Sunday afternoon Lindsay Bradburn gave me a treat of salsa that she made from tomatoes and peppers she had grown in her own garden along with a bag of chips. Now that was nice! That night our neighbors with two very darling red head girls dropped by with a big package of treats that they had made, and talked with me for a bit. Such nice neighbors, well Rachel was standing beside me when I opened it and yes it was filled to the brim with many lovely temptations. I walked away and picked up Lindsay's salsa with chips. When I came back later, Rachel had whisked the temptations away and I felt doubly blessed to have the tender mercies of the Lord expressed in the love of my friend for sharing at the time she did and daughter who was right there when I needed uplift. Multiple coincidences are the Lord's divine agency one instance at a time.

In the Quiet of the Night

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints is a blessing and a hindrance to knowledge.   Growing up I take so many things for granted and don't stop to question why. Of course some of the truths I know were acquired through others searching and teaching and some through actual searching of my own.
Tonight, sick and thoughtful in the dark, I gained some insight when Jeffrey gave me a blessing of healing. As he put the drop of Extra virgin olive oil on my head and gave me a blessing, he said, ".... this is a representation of the atonement of Jesus Christ.....". As my mind wandered around looking for the meaning behind the symbolism, the words of a hymn stuck in my mind. "He shed  a thousand drops for you, a thousand drops of precious blood..."  Olive oil in blessings is used because of the symbol of great agony in the redemptive process. In order to get the purest oil, olives are pressed with a great weight or stone to crush them and the oil comes out the bottom of the press and is extracted. The weight of sins of the world pressed down on Christ as he shed blood from every pour. When the men with the priesthood authority of God use the olive oil that has been consecrated for that use, they are calling on the power of the physical (and sometimes spiritual)  redemptive blood that Christ shed for us, just a drop of his power to heal in this instance. Awesome.

IT's The Men's Year

Half way through the 2013 year and already the men in the Adams family have all had life changing events in their lives. 

 Michael started it all out in March by leaving to the  Texas Houston South Mission in March.

Elder Adams with the President and his wife

I received a picture from Rosemarie Maw of Sugar Land Texas of Michael and his current companions when they came for dinner, and she assured me they were doing well and Michael was working hard.

Elder Simper, Elder Schwemmer, and Elder Adams

Then his brother Andrew graduated from BYU.  He called to tell us early on that he wasn't walking for his diploma and I said well...ok.  Then a week later he tells us that he is walking because the lady he taught on his mission wanted to watch him graduate and then come to the Temple with her the next day.  I rushed over to Utah to watch him walk across the stage and receive his Bachelor's degree. Katherine and I had a great time that day.  Then what joy came in going with Katherine to the Provo Temple.  The two Elders who were instrumental in her joining the church, Andrew who tracted her at her door and then the following Elder (sorry I've forgotten his name) who baptized her both came to be with her that day. The other Elder has a wife and two children. His wife and I did the work for his grandmothers and the men did the work for her Grandfathers.  So they all received their endowments from the Lord the same day!

Katherine and the new graduate

Elder...(I'll find his name), Katherine, and Andrew

In May it was Jeffrey their dad's turn.  Jeffrey called his mom and said, "Remember when I asked you to come for a weekend and was made a Bishop? Could you come again?"  When Rebekah, Rachel, my mother-in-law and I went the Stake Priesthood meeting we all heard the congregation sustain him as the Patriarch of the Stake. Life changing is how this works.

I, Beverly, Jeffrey, Rachel, and Rebekah

Matthew gave us a call and said he was going to marry Debbie Henderson on August 24th.  What a really wonderful girl!  She got back in February from a Spanish speaking mission in Minnesota. She grew up in Hercules and is now at BYU.   Taking two separate lives and finding the direction and purpose to be together as one unit.

Ah, in June Nate and Kelsi changed their lives forever by having Jayson Ammon Adams born to them. He is a really precious bundle of love and joy. Jeffrey, Rachel and I flew out to be with them the first of July, Andrew came up from Richmond, Virginia and the Bettridges came from Alaska to all be there for his baby blessing.

Bottom row: Sarah (Kelsi's sister-in-law) with her 3 children Libby, Aimae, Alma and Danna Kelsi's sister
on the back row: Jeffrey, I, Rachel, Andrew, Kelsi, Jayson, Nate, Dani, and Keith
all on the steps to their apartment

New family- Kelsi, Jayson, and Nate

The year is half over, what will the next half bring...................?

Guess what I did for my birthday?!!!!!

Nona with Jayson Ammon Adams

I met my first (and only) grandson and held him almost the entire day when his mom didn't need him.  Ah what a wonderful bundle of joy. The neatest trick is after he has been fed and burped if you hold him about 12 inches away from your face he will concentrate looking at you intently and then give a heart mealting smile - with two dimples!  Ah bliss, there is nothing like holding a little angel from heaven.

It's not official but it's all planned out

Matthew and Debbie are planning to wed on August 24th in the Oakland Temple, reception will be in Danville

They will have a celebration in Provo on August 10th for all the friends and relatives in Utah

Matthew and Debbie grew up in the Bay Area and have mutal friends in common. They have both served Spanish  speaking missions and met each other in their freshman year at BYU.  I cannot express the gratitude and love I feel to have such a great woman to marry my son Matthew.  She is studying to be a teacher, he is on the road to medical school. Hopefully they will both graduate next year.
Life is good.

Make a joyful noise.......

Debbie Matthew's fiancee playing beautiful melodies

Ah, joy, bliss, real live music in our home again!

Heart is fill, overflowing.........Life is Good!

Today my heart is overflowing with gratitude, love, and thankfulness.... An eternal spirit was given a body so my son and his wife could have a new baby born today.  His name is Jayson Ammon Adams and he weighed in at 7 pounds 13 ounces and has a tiny cap of hair. I can officially be the Nona and life is really sweet right now.

Fabulous Christmas Exciting Spring

We had a wonderful time together at Christmas
No discord, arguments, or whinning I guess they are all grown up and what a treat it is!

Mayan Sunrise - No end of the world - just a gorgeous message in the sky!

Now we are just waiting for Kelsi and Nate to call about the newest addition