10 years old

I went ministering this weekend with the Relief Society president and visited three sisters in their home.  One lady spoke only Cambodian and I mostly smiled and watched her grandsons while a few snippets were translated. My heart was full when we visited another who had just lost her twins at five months gestation. They fit in her hand and she has one picture of holding them both though they were already gone. But it was Vanny that caused tears to fall.
We went to her house and visited a minute about cooking and the cooking show she had on. Some pictures caught my eye and either I or the Relief Society president asked about them.
Vanny's grandson had drawn some pictures for her because an outreach program had asked her to come tell her story. Her story of life that she hadn't shared with her children for 40 years.

As she started her story I realized we were about the same age. At 10 years old in 1969, I looked up in the sky to see if I could see the space capsule on the moon. As a family we watched the events on television and I felt the whole world was watching with us. For Vanny, American bombs fell out of the sky and destroyed her town. Luckily her immediate family was gone that day but they lost their grandparents and many of their relatives.

Bombs meant for communist Vietnamese from US military plans

But horror and troubles were just beginning. A few years later the Khmer Rouge took over the government, and trucks came into their town and ordered all the men to get on the trucks. Her father, uncles and others were driven out into the jungle and killed.

Vanny's father in the front with uncles and others from their town

Then life became extremely hard and difficult when they told they were going to go out to the countryside for three days. They took only a few clothes and a little food and then found they were actually being placed in work camps. She ended up with her younger sister about three years old to care for. Her mother and other younger sister were in a different camp. Everyday when she planted and worked in the rice fields, she would set her sister on a small patch of dry ground and work all day in the fields. She had no communication or knowledge of where any of the rest of her family were. She later learned her older sister who was 8 months pregnant and most of the rest of her relatives had gotten on a boat to sail to freedom. The boat was sunk with all her family except her mother and other sister.

Relatives trying to escape on a boat to Vietnam. 

goodbyes

When I was 16, I took care of my siblings as my mother was having more children. Vanny was the sole caregiver for her sister and had a hard time getting food herself. But the horrors didn't stop. The soldiers had a book of people they were going to kill and her name was in it. She watched terrible carnage all around as the soldiers would bring the people together, grab their hair slam them over the head and then slit their throats. She was holding a friend's hand when her friend shouting her name and telling her goodbye, was drug off by some soldiers to the forest. They later bragged to other men how they had cut her open then raped her before they left her body there.
Vanny's little sister about 4 years old still remembers the day when Vanny in a group of people being killed was grabbed by the hair with a club raised and the "boss" or man in charge said, "Don't kill that one." Vanny lived and so did her sister. When I asked what happened to the little children dependent on their sisters or mothers who were left, she said sometimes they slit them open and took their gall bladders that they hung in doorways - all these little green nibs hanging. And sometimes she explained that they swung them against a wall and bashed their head in.

Vanny was spared

After a shift in power, families frantically tried to find each other. Vanny's mom kept asking everyone she saw about her daughter who would be taking care of a little girl. Finally one lady told her what road to go down and Vanny met up with her mom and other sister again. They took a treacherous walk through the jungle to reach a camp on the Thai border. Vanny explained how different countries would let 100 people or so into each of their countries. Vanny, her mom and sisters came on a plane to Des Moines, Iowa and were introduced to their sponsor - who didn't speak Cambodian. After some sign signals and finally an interpreter, they were shown into an apartment where they had actual beds, pots, clothes and food!! Their gratitude was immense.
Vanny talked about seeing the Elders who would walk past them and then go to doors who would shut the door in their face. For about four years the Elders never came to their door. She said they would have followed the Elders to their church if they had come.
Because of the harsh winters, when they were able to move they came to Oakland sunny California. Vanny told about going to the ocean and kneeling at the ocean edge and putting her hands in the water and then jumping up with her hands to the sky calling to all her relatives, "I'm alive, I'm alive! I am here, I am alive!"

What is going on in life?

For Relief Society today we have been urged to write our personal history. Most of my life history is in various digital forms and isn’t organized.
I will have to think just how I would want my continuous story organized...without out going on and on....but give interesting facts......uh interesting is so subjective...

I think I will write about last week.

I arrived in San Diego and met up with the Stewarts. It was so good to see them again and enjoy the ocean.

We went for a long walk on the pier and got caught up on our lives a little. Dr. and Sister Stewart have an ongoing relationship with the mission department as they work to help the incoming missionaries with dental problems. Right now they are concerned with missionaries from the South Pacific islands.

On the way down the freeway, we stopped in Old Town San Diego and had a fresh tortilla right off the grill:

Old Town San Diego

Ladies making fresh tortillas in the restaurant - delicious!

Two mornings Sister Stewart and I walked down the sidewalk next to the beach, while Dr. Stewart and his son David went surfing. The weather was fantastic!

Pipe beach in Encinitas
  

Sister Stewart told me she had dedicated the next 72 hours to make sure I had a good time. Wow! Is that a normal thing to do when a friend visits? I have never visited a friend before just to visit. Usually, I visit in conjunction with an errand, event, or something else. I definitely will have to keep that in mind when I have a friend over. I sure loved the little tray with water, kleenex, chocolate candy. That was a great touch!

We went to see the flower fields and just enjoyed the nursery

I told Sister Stewart that I like nature and watching animals. She studied up on what was around in that area and off we went to visit a butterfly farm, aquarium, flower farm and walks on the beach. She had lots of ideas and we went with plan A, then B, then C depending on traffic and just what we decided to do.   She told me we could go on kayaks on the ocean but I'll have to save that for another visit.  I had a slight headache and just wanted to take it easy.  So I'd just enjoy her balcony for a few hours every day, reading and putting a picture book together and then going out on little adventures.

Visiting a butterfly farm

The aquarium was so cool and the seahorses were amazing. This seahorse floats around looking like leaves.

We went out to eat almost every meal. I enjoyed it all but especially the Vietnamese Spring Rolls!! I almost didn't get a picture because they were so delicious and eaten fast.

Rice wrapped with lettuce, a thin slice of roast beef (?), three shrimp on top and clear rice sheet wrapping it all together. It is the peanut sauce that makes it fantastic!

When we went to a Vietnamese restaurant in the Philippines together, Sister Stewart told me that the Pho bowls were better in America. Ever since I had wanted to know why because they were wonderful trying them for the first time in the Philippines. Now I can't wait to find a Vietnamese restaurant here in Concord. This food is really, really good!

I really had a wonderful time relaxing and just reaching a zen feeling. We talked about our different buckets - #1 is the things that have to be done for survival and each bucket represents what comes after survival. Sister Stewart said she wanted me to reach for the fourth bucket level. I'm wondering what is in that bucket?

Cousins

Two cousins

"Go give Caleb a hug", Makynlee was told. So she did. It was so fun to watch these cousins who haven't see each other for months interact.

One of those momma moments

Last weekend I found myself on the last night of our time together watching a lot of my family sitting in couches sharing ideas and feelings. It was one of those rewarding, fulfilling, life-is-okay kind of times. They come every few years. Momma moments.

A big one I remember was a Christmas that Rachel was either 12 or 13 and all the older children had come back from different universities and away. It was late at night on Christmas Eve and I was so tired from all the prep work and airport runs. I came down the stairs to find the children (actually they were mostly adults) laughing around the computer, "You've got to see this!" I realized they would be up for hours and who cared as it was the holiday. As I stood there wondering what to say, Rebekah comes up and pats me on the back and said, "It's okay you don't have to wait for everyone to go to bed and put out the stockings, we are going to have a really great Christmas morning." So I went to bed with gratitude in my heart for my loving children who get along so well with each other and could also interpret my feelings.

Another moment came at Pajaro Dunes also when Jayson was just a baby and not walking. The 'children' were gathered around the long table laughing and playing a game and it struck me that there hadn't been any contention or disagreements the whole time, just a feeling of sharing and warmth. The effort, prayers and hard work paid off in a really nice vacation.

Debbie is holding James in the foreground and behind me is Lilly, but the other four are on Rachel's bench

This weekend was different. Briona and Andrew organized everyone, paid for all the condos and invited everyone to bring food and come meet. Each family took charge of different aspects of the vacation. Everyone was sharing their ideas, talents, and watching other's children. My "moment" was the whole weekend. Julia flew eight hours with a baby who didn't sleep much and then drove with her mom in heavy traffic. She made sure she stopped in Pajaro Dunes to see us and get a picture with all of us. When she arrived some of the babies weren't awake, so she and her mother talked and waited around till it was time. The meals were really awesome. Rebekah's Mike had made three different kinds of enchiladas so the food allergies would be okay. Debbie had recommended a book for us to read and exchange ideas on. Kelsi cheerfully took extra kids to the beach, and Rachel, of course, has favorite aunt status as all the grands love her. It was hilarious walking into the church and all the children zeroed onto Rachel and her bench. Jeffrey drove two to four hours every day so he could be with us and still take care of his responsibilities.

So when I found myself watching the family in a devotional on the last night sharing many feelings and ideas from totally different points of view. Because my back aches if I sit on the couches, I was in a hard chair just outside of the circle. It was an advantage point and seeing everyone interact, respond, and share. A very big momma moment filled with gratitude to the Lord for allowing me to be part of this wonderful family!

   

I Love Daughter-in-laws!

I am so blessed to have really terrific daughter-in-laws. I love to watch them as they care for their children and love those around them.
Briona and Andrew went on a honeymoon to the Dominican Republic and Briona sent a photo early in the week to let us know that they were safe and well, enjoying their stay. I doubt any of my sons would have thought of that!

This was labeled: "Having a great time"

Watching Kelsi and Debbie play and love their children really warms my heart. The boys today came running in to thank me for their towels. I knew in an instant who had those boys thinking that way. Life is good.

Grand Fun

Quick trip up to Redding to see the Grands! Since the car had to have a maintenance check on Monday, I couldn't come up until Tuesday.  There were lovely fresh strawberries just calling to me from a produce stand. The boys informed me this morning that they needed to be eaten quick because they might go rotten fast. Six baskets of strawberries gone in one evening and morning. Summer is the time for good fruit!
Today was the fun day. In the morning the boys made M&M cookies, during naps and the rest period, I sewed up some fun hooded towels so they can lay on the beach when we go to Pajaro Dunes in a few weeks and stay warm if it is foggy.

Lilly watched while her brothers made cookies

The boys picked out their towels and then played with them after they got hoods attached

All the towels spread out practicing for the beach.

This afternoon the boys made bread dough for some rolls and bread. The dough was sticky!

Getting the dough off fingers

I will be heading back to Concord late morning tomorrow as I need to alter a dress for Friday. I am really having fun being a Nona to these wonderful children. I was asked if I was going to see Makynlee in Kentucky since I've been with all the rest of the grands. Mike called tonight and said Julia and Makynlee will be in California in late August early September for a week! If I want to go see them I can visit her parents in Monterey. Hey I love beaches and they have a good one there!

The House is Quiet

It is Saturday evening and the house is quiet. Too quiet. No college girls giggling over a movie, no babies to hold. Jeffrey offered to go get dinner as I told him I'm up for anything I don't have to make. Actually, we have plenty of food in the cupboard because the grands didn't eat all the meals I had on the menus. But those menus all have to be made.

Everything this week didn't go perfectly. I try to stay positive all the time, but the truth is Corina slammed her head into a door and Oliver popped his chin on the cement so badly we thought he might need stitches. I tried the butterfly bandage trick, but it didn't work until I found a better tape. We also discovered that fabric bandages have a stronger glue than the regular plastic bandaids. Oliver's skin is so soft that the fabric bandaids really hurt coming off. The others slip off. Probably because he still drools a little especially with a pacifier and because he is so young.

Long bruise on the right side of her forehead

Oliver will have a small scar just like his Daddy's chin

Ultimately they both went off with bruises and a cut on their heads and my love. I hope the next week is fun, peaceful, and healthy for everyone at their Nana's house!

Pixie Playland Was a big Hit with the Grands!

We rode the carousel all by ourselves - Not that the children noticed 

Nothing like taking your sister for a ride on the batmobile!

On the train, we went from one fantasy world to another

The big hit of the day was being able to move the plane up and down

Olive may be two but he was savvy enough to realize holding the lever up would bring the plane to the highest point on the ride!

This was a really great activity for a cool day. We had fun and they did too!

Poppa Perspective

The children's Poppa was not around most of the time, but when he came out of his office or back home the children loved to play soccer, be held and interact with him. Life is good with a poppa!

Kicking the ball around

Defending the goal

Describing something found in the pictures

Watching over the little ones

I have to tell you, I think these children's poppa is pretty special myself.

The Perseverance and Creativity of a Mother

Watching my daughter-in-law struggle through nausea, pain, and weakness while tending her children was insightful and awesome. She knew when she started her trip that she was ill with what her children and husband had had the previous week. But the crunch came one morning when I woke up to find a text from her asking me to come to pick up the baby.

Walking into the bedroom I found her curled next to her baby on the changing pad. Dehydration and weakness had necessitated her appeal to me. For a strong independent woman that must have been tough. My alarm resulted in buying Gatorade and Jello. 

Each roll was completely different

The children and I made bread (rolls) then put the pulled pork ingredients in the slow cooker and after the baby went down for a nap, we went on errands to drop off some baby quilts to another grandpa having twins this month.  

So how does a mother carry on with her children when she doesn't have the strength left to pick them up? She just carries on from a different angle.

The children were happy all day and week with all their needs taken care of

As a mother-in-law, it is hard to know where to help and jump in and when to let others do the work. I loved how Debbie was able to ask for help and yet took care of each of her children's needs.

Later in the week, I knew life was getting better for Debbie when her angle changed.

Mom doing mom things

These children have hundreds of books read to them, go out to parks often, and are receiving an education before they even begin school. Debbie is a conscientious and devoted mom and since my son is very happy, I can conclude that she is a wonderful wife too! 

Week With The Grands!

Before the school year ended for me, I planned a grand's camp with Debbie's children. The weather had been in the 90's with one dip into hundred so my trip ideas focused around water parks, and parks with water. I only had a couple of parks in mind without water.

On the hottest day, we enjoyed the Newhall Park but went home early

In actuality when we went to The Grove in Clayton with its splash pad, the weather was windy and just a little chilly. Many children splashed in the water but soon were out getting dry because they got cold. Corina and Oliver are so skinny that they didn't last long at all. I think they had a lot of fun on the play structure and on the train. Oliver especially loved the splash pad and jumping through the water spouts. I know I loved being with them!

Corina goes to the top of every structure and finds a quick way down

Of course, she has to climb up without using the stairs

Oliver ran to the water and figured out how to push the button so the water would come on

They both had a good time - though not as long as playing on the play structures

Corina and Oliver with the new hooded towels I made for them

There is something so great about being a Nona to these wonderful children!

Unexpected trip to Idaho

     Last week was crunch time on schoolwork, exams, and finishing projects and papers. I didn't see much daylight. One teacher opened her exam early. So on Friday, I could see an opening ahead to freedom! I had a plan to finish the exam on Saturday and write my biography report on Sunday afternoon as I felt it was not disrespectful of the Sabbath at all.
      I got an interesting call from Rachel. Evidently, her plans fell through and she wanted her mom to come to pick her up from school.  Because I had planned ahead wanted to be done early I was able to do that.

The long trip across Nevada

     I prayed myself across Nevada and got to Idaho without falling asleep at the wheel. This time I used books on tape and listened to "A Wrinkle in Time". I sure like the fact that you can get audiobooks on the phone which can be broadcast throughout the car sound system!

     When I arrived in Rexburg at around 5:30 ish in the evening, I noted people taking pictures in their graduation robes. It dawned on me that if I had walked with my graduating class I would have been one of those taking pictures. Interesting, I wasn't even supposed to be in Idaho. Don't you love irony?

     But actually, the grades aren't even out until the 31 of July and when the diplomas will be sent out, I will be getting my diploma the same time as all these people walking around in gowns and I didn't have to sit watching hundreds of people walking across a stage.

Kat and Rachel scrubbing their apartment

Kat (Katherine Reese) and Rachel were the last ones left in their apartment and got to finish up the cleaning.
     On Thursday we headed back to California. Rachel drove from Wells, Nevada all the way to Lovelock! Life is different when all the children are adults. Kat is a lot of fun to be with!

Arriving in Lovelock, Nevada

On the way to church this morning

Interesting Coincidence

Michael called when I was up at camp to wish me a Happy Birthday. I happen to be in cell range at the time. When I told him about his dad's new calling to be branch president, he reminded me that Jeffrey had planned to be in Kentucky that particular weekend and later canceled and said he didn't know why. Interestingly President March had sent a text on that Saturday morning asking, "Are you in town?"

It is great to be sixty!!!

During a really great week up in the Sierra Nevada mountains at girls camp, I turned sixty years old.  I am so happy to be out of my 50's where children keep leaving home, going through the change of life physically, and wondering what's next. Now I know. Life is going to change every few years and it all about who I can serve and what I can do.
Girls camp is unique and a place to let your hair go wild and embrace the glitz. We were celebrating the fourth of July, so our leader Melissa gave us all matching leggings (which didn't match anything we brought), and Janelle gave us headbands with stars and tinsel along with blinking star necklace. Then added on top of all that glitz I got a tiara for my birthday, glasses with cupcakes and candles, and a banner that says, "birthday girl".  I can hardly do the justice of the all the tacky glam so I'll show you a picture.

Note the pants, banner, necklace, glasses, tiara, and stars with tinsel - hard to have more!

The quilt ladies of 2019 - I, Janelle Meine, Michelle Johnston, and Melissa Kidd

Two types of Unity

I gave a small devotional thought at girls camp on Tuesday night. We were to discuss unity. I have been pondering on it for a bit and got some ideas from Jeffrey. There are two types of unity and we usually talk about the first type more than the second.

The first type of unity is that a prophet or leader gets a revelation or idea and then everyone follows and decides to agree with him. Lots of good things can happen when we rally and follow someone with great ideas.

The second type of unity is like Nephi's. His father gets a revelation and Nephi wants to have his own confirmation from the Lord. So he asks God if he can have a confirmation of what his father is saying and he gets his own answer. All the Lehi's sons are then told they need to go back to Jerusalem and get the brass plates from their uncle Laban. They all follow the prophet. They go back to Jerusalem and try to get the plates. First, they ask and get rejected mightly, then second they use their creativity and take up all the gold and silver they had left behind to buy the plates - and get mightly rejected again that they have to run for their lives. At this point, there is a strong difference in following the prophet.

I have often asked myself why Nephi was so strong and straight and knew what had to be done and had a fixed purpose. His brothers had given their best efforts but were ready to go back and tell their father, sorry it can't be done. Nephi KNEW individually and for himself the why of his father's revelation.

Blind obedience is not seeing eye to eye, it is not going to be of aid and help in navigating life's perils and tribulations. Each of us will need to talk with God ourselves and teach our children to have a one on one communication to God and not through us as their parents and not just as leaders of a church. If we are communicating directly with God we will be getting the same messages that the prophets and hopefully parents are telling us.

I am a missionary again!!

Yesterday afternoon I got back from an amazing week at girls camp - which I'll post more later - so it was a week ago Sunday that I and Jeffrey were sustained in our new callings. On Saturday I had been running around helping Laura with the Merrill wedding preparation, going to a baby shower for Sara Penovich (sorry I can't remember her married name) expected little girl Eloise, finishing up my homework post for school, and packing up for girls camp week. During the baby shower, I got a call from Jeffrey. I thought it odd because he knew what my plans were and what I was doing that day. So for him to call and then leave a small text asking when I'd be home was noteworthy. I left the shower early and found that he had had a surprise visit from the Stake president.

President March had come to our home and asked Jeffrey to be the Branch president of the Cambodian branch and asked that I serve as a Stake missionary in that branch too. Jeffrey explained to me that we would be formally called at the Merrill wedding after we talked and thought it over. We both texted our agreement and later that night officially called to serve in a small office in the Hunt's side yard. President March told us we would be giving our testimonies in Sacrament meeting. I had just a few hours to finish up my preparations for the week, so I asked my Heavenly Father what I should say. The thought was that I had a testimony to give and that all the branch members had a testimony to give me, so in a very short testimony that is basically what I said. After asking Heavenly Father why I was called, he answered that I have a testimony to give to you and you have a testimony to give to me, so I am looking forward to hearing your testimony. Amen

During the meal afterward for the departing full-time missionaries and I think someone going to school or a mission, I realized I knew a lot of the women because I have met them previously at girls camp! What a warm and friendly people. I look forward to being with them and hearing their stories.

Taking Time

Only four months until I graduate (can you hear me knocking on wood) and every once in a while I look up and feel like a freight train is bearing down and I have to start running or get run over.

So I'm taking a few minutes to tell you two stories that have made an impact this week. First of all my nephew Elder Lore is serving in Boliva and tells this story:

Stories – True Stories
From Elder Lore: Thanks Linda. Of course, you can share the story with whoever you want. It`s pretty cool down here in Bolivia. God`s definitely directing the work, we`re just doing our best to be effective out here...
Elder Lore
March 4, 2019 “...The other thing is that I learned an important lesson about the priesthood. More than just being worthy, you also have to have the right reason when you use the priesthood. If your heart isn ́t in the right place, you can ́t use the priesthood with power. My experience with was stopping rain. We were in a lesson, and it started to rain super hard; they have a tin roof, so it became basically impossible to hear. I used the priesthood to make the rain stop, and it worked. When it did, I started thinking about how it was really cool and I could share it with other people. Just like that, my purpose changed, and the rain started again. Right off the bat, I recognized that it was because of my reason that it stopped. I changed my reason back to focusing on the lesson, and it stopped again. From this, I learned that it ́s important to have your heart in the right place, too.
That ́s about it from this week.”

My second story:
Odysseus died, I found him under a tree hard and stiff. I asked Jeffrey if he could bury him and he agreed. Odysseus has been with us for quite a few years and has been an excellent mouser and loyal friend. Jeffrey went out, mowed the lawn, dug a hole while listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He said the minuet he scooped Odysseus up bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" came on while he buried our pet.

Early days when he was young