Bee

May 13th - On Sunday, I ended my last blog with one of my Facebook friend's post. She wrote that she had spent the afternoon and would stay overnight with her mother. She ended her Facebook post feeling as if she was in the presence of an angel. On Thursday just before I left for lunch, I dug out my Nook from my bag and logged onto Facebook. My friend's daughter (who is also a Facebook friend) wrote that she already missed Grandma Bee. After greeted with voicemails, I texted Crystal and Darren about the Facebook posting. Darren confirmed that indeed Grandma Bee had passed on when he texted back "Thanks".

May 14th - I could call Crystal and Darren's grandma "Aunt Bee", but that sounds so Andy Taylor. And like Nellie, I heard her often being called "Grandma Bee"; I was adopted by nine of her grandchildren, some of them from their birth. In some ways, Grandma Bee was like "Aunt Bea" on the Andy Griffin Show. TV's Aunt Bea cared and looked after the welfare of her nephew and his motherless son. Grandma Bee cared not only for her family; she also took those she knew under her wings. I once had the honor of taking her to one of Crystal's performances. While I wasn't family, I felt of her love and her care. I spent some time in her home and a favorite gathering place was the kitchen. It didn't matter how many children, grandchildren or guests came, there was room for all. And kindness was always spoken. Although her five children had established homes of their own, I always felt it was still home to them. When I called Jewel on Friday, she informed that her mom had saved money aside so that all her grandchildren could fly home for her funeral. 28 of 30 away from home are benefiting from this act of kindness. The two who can't are on LDS missions and will come home when their two years of service are completed. But I am sure, Elder Pugh and Elder Morris will be there in spirit.

May 18th - Abraham Lincoln's quote about his mother can apply to all moms, but I have to admit it does remind me of Grandma Bee. "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." And if I had to pick a scripture to describe her, it would be Proverbs 31:10-28. Verse 28 sums it up quite well, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Her children, grandchildren and I hope great-grandchildren are carrying on her legacy of kindness. When I attended Scott and Kristina's wedding reception, I rode with Joy, Jewel's sister and Grandma Bee. When we enter the reception hall, Crystal who was helping out, saw us and made a beeline right for Grandma. As much as Crystal loves her aunts, Grandma Bee is her world. When I sent the Pughs flowers this week, I had written on the tag "Now I know why I called Crystal an angel; she, along with others, was taking lessons from Grandma Bee."

Crystal walked in celebration of Grandma Bee three times at the Salt Lake Race for the Cure. She now runs annually in the Salt Lake Half-marathon with family members. Those who run this event are known to race for a cause or two, just like the Race for the Cure.

Singles Conference @ the Institute

Saturday, I went to Salt Lake Single Adult Conference for the 5th time. The annual conference is sponsored by Holladay Region of LDS Church and held at University of Utah Institute of Religion. This year it was condensed and scaled down from previous years. The keynote speaker,Kevin Eubank of KSL spoke after lunch, followed by three workshop sessions. In previous years, the keynote speaker spoke at nine in the morning, with two workshop sessions following in the morning. A break for lunch, then one last workshop session. Then attendees would participate in a humanitarian project. There was usually an afternoon break, when attendees would leave, but most would come back for a concert and a dance.

I would say the first single conference in 2007 was the biggest. Glenn Beck was the keynote speaker and even married people bought a ticket to hear him. Next year, the keynote speakers were Ricky Schoeder and his wife. They spoke about his conversion. Yes, a former star on NYPD Blue is a Mormon. There was less of a crowd in 2008, probably because married people didn't buy tickets. Peter Vidmar, a former Olympian spoke the next year and then 2010, Gerald Lund, who wrote the LDS historical series "The Work & The Glory". Two years ago, Peter was still doing public speaking and Gerald Lund is probably known nationally in LDS literary circle. His books could be found in library in Kitsap County, Washington. I doubt Kevin Eubank is known outside Utah; he is just a local celebrity who predicts the weather.

As the years have went by, the selection of the workshops has gone down. This year, attendees have a choice of three out five to attend. Last year it was eight or nine. The first three years was probably fifteen or twenty. Maybe it was economy or maybe not. The Provo single conference seems to attract a big crowd each year. But the humanitarian projects have been a staple, although the projects have changed over the years. Right after lunch, the first year, it was tying quilts for the humanitarian center. Even the men got involved with the project. The second year was a walk the Saturday before to raise funds for the American Red Cross. For the third year, it was moved back to the Saturday afternoon of the conference. People put on their work clothes and did yard work at Primary Children's hospital. For the fourth year (and this year), it was kept in house like the first year and soup packets were made for the refugees in the valley.

Starting the second year, a formal dinner was held the night before conference. This year, it was moved to Saturday. No one got an afternoon break or had to leave the conference to enjoy dinner. I have to admit, I liked not having that lull in activities. The usual Saturday night concert replaced the after-dinner Friday nightentertainment. Peter Breinholt entertained conference goers twice. Charley Jenkins came last year and last night, the concert was provided by the Voodoo Orchestra. And of course, a dance and speed dating have followed the concerts. What would a single conference be without those two events.

The single adult conference will always end with a fireside the following Sunday with a General Authority speaking, usually a Seventy. One year, M. Russell Ballard of the Twelve spoke at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Usually the firesides are at the institute with refreshments following. Refreshments are usually cookies and water to drink, sometime leftover snacks from the dance the night before. This year, the speaker was Kent Richards of the Seventy. If my memory serves me right, he was a bishop in one of the student wards in the 1980's. Elder Richards isn't exactly having a homecoming. The buildings he knew as a bishop have been torn down and replaced with a larger multi-level building with two chapels, a lobby, two gyms and several class rooms.

If there are any misspellings of names, I apologize. If you know the correct spelling, please let me know and I will get the mistake corrected. General Authority in the LDS church are basically the governing body, somewhat like CEO's or board of directors.

Thoughts on Mother's Day

Years ago, I learned in church that Mother’s Day was started by a single woman, who never married or had children. I believe the woman started Mother’s Day as way on honoring not only her mother, but all mothers. Being a single person, who has never married, this meant a lot to me. Even though I have no children, I can celebrate Mother’s day. It isn’t about being honored as a Mom, but taking a day to remember and honor our mothers, giving thanks for a hard job well done.
As I sat in sacrament meeting today, I listened to the graduating high school seniors speak of their moms. They all spoke of how their moms loved them and the impact they have had on their lives. After the church meetings were over, it was tender to see children carrying flowers. I wonder if some moms were presented with multiple flowers, for young children especially like to show their moms gratitude. One boy hid the flower he selected behind his back as he presented it to his mom.
On Facebook, quite a few people were posting their mother’s pictures as their profile picture. Even some the men got into the spirit. Someone on Facebook thought it would be a way to honor all the beautiful mothers. As the week went by, more of my friends posted their mother’s pictures. It was touching to see all the various pictures. One of my Facebook friends who posted her mom’s picture had lost her mother a few years back. It was good to see Sister Walker’s friendly face smiling at me from Facebook. One friend commented that she had spent the afternoon and would stay overnight with her aged mother. She ended her post feeling as if she was in the presence of an angel. I have met Grandma Bea, who is indeed an angel that has cared for and lifted those around her. Her daughters have followed her example and forwarding her legacy to their children and grandchildren. When I think of all the moms I’ve known, one of my favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln comes to mind.

"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

My Mom

A few weeks ago, Mom called and told me to get her gift certificates from her favorite restaurant, JB’s. I realized after what Laura,my younger sister's mother-in-law told my older sister, Mary and me that my mom probably didn’t want any more processions, so that is why she got a gift certificate for her 85th birthday. It was something she could use and it wouldn’t create clutter in her home.
This week, one of my Facebook friends posted a picture of her mom as her profile picture. Apparently someone had requested people post their mom’s picture as a way to honor all Moms on Mother’s day. So I changed my profile to a picture of Mom before she met Dad. Soon, my older sister posted a picture of Mom when she was a young mom. Included in the picture was my grandma, my great grandma (which I don’t think I ever met) and Mary as a baby. My mom is really big into four generation pictures. My younger sister, Laura posted a picture of Mom with her son, Skylar. It is kind of cool to see the progression of Mom from a young mom to a great-grandma.
My mom is now single and has been for 30 plus years. And she still plugs away every day, even if she had to slow down quite a bit. Mom has that strength that I am convinced she learned from her mom. When I think of my grandma, I reminded not only of her strength, but her kindness too. I realize what a wonderful legacy I have.

Race for the Cure, a 1/2 Day of Service

A month ago, President Henry B. Eyring of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ First Presidency, gave members a challenge to perform a day of service. When I read about the challenge in the next day’s Sunday Salt Lake Tribune, I knew that my day of service would be helping out at the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure. I had already signed up to participate the day before the race, helping out in Individual Packet Pick-up.

I took the day off from work as a vacation day. Being a Friday, it was tempting to just stay home and enjoy a rare sunny and warm day. Finally, it felt like May. But I had given my word, so I got on the bus. Within the hour, I got off Trax downtown. I went to McDonald’s first. I decided to have lunch before I went to “work”. My niece, Mo has a birthday at the end of June and I wanted to give her a gift card from McDonald’s. (See my post “Pennies & Spare Change – March 26, 2011). I still had time before I had to check in, so I walked The Gateway and got my exercise in for the day. It was still tempting to just keep walking and even shop; it was such a nice sunny day.

Just before 12:30, I headed for the Union Pacific depot at the Gateway to check in. After I received my assignment of giving pre-registered participants their t-shirts and bibs, I met some employees from Goldman Sachs who had been there since 8 or 9am. I was told that Goldman Sachs encourages their employees to do a day of community service. The employees have a list to choose from and these four or more employees chose the Race for the Cure. One of the employees stayed after I left, he was waiting for his wife. When I heard what Goldman Sachs was doing, I was impressed. I wish more employers were like this.

Before I left, I had to check out the booths. I was a bit disappointed that I could not find any Breast Cancer Awareness bookmarks. I like to stick the bookmarks in the books I check out at the library. Who knows, the next reader might benefit from the information on the bookmark. But I did manage to buy some Komen merchandise before I left. So who will get the hot pink boa I bought? I can see someone wearing it while participating in a 3 Day walk or another race.

Day of Service Challenge

A month ago, I posted on Facebook something about the Day of Service challenge. I also emailed some of my friends and family, some who are not on Facebook and/or members of the LDS church. I started off with the post I put on Facebook and included a portion of my aunt email.

Susan Jackson I read in the Salt Lake Trib that President Eyring challenged LDS members to perform a day of serice in honor of 75th anniversary of Welfare service. So I am curious as to what people are planning for thier day of service.

Elizabeth Crocker Eves After listening to his talk yesterday, I was thinking about what we could do as a family...I haven't come up with anything yet that will work for the boys. BUT, our ward Relief Society is going to dedicate our monthly meeting to service -- we'll provide three service/humanitarian opportunities in one evening activity. I'm really looking forward to it, as we're not a very service-oriented ward!

John Edwin Jackson Will be interesting, this day of service. Is good that you are already considering what you might do.

Susan Jackson And John, I am already considering what you can do on Saturday. Actually, I have had this one planned for months. Thanks for taking me to the dentist all these times.

John Edwin Jackson Cool. Will be good to go over there.

Aunt Gladys wrote (4/3/11) Everyday of Maevonne's life is a service project for someone to her capabilities. Maevonne remarked once that she wished she could be like her mother and I thought that I couldn't think of anyone of the children who was more like Mama than Maevonne.

On April 16th, the day of the Salt Lake Marathon, Jay and I helped with spring cleaning at the condo. Even though it wasn't a full day, but most of our morning waking hours, I decided it counted. When we were returning tools to the storage unit, Marianne, a board member told us that the work we and others did, saved the condo association thousands of dollars. She told that the company who does the landscaping charges by the hour. By volunteering our time, we were looking out for the welfare of the condo and the homeowners, because it kept the HOA fees more manageable for the year.

Cinco de Mayo

Today at work, we had our Cinco de Mayo lunch. My boss, Pat was aching for an excuse to celebrate something or maybe he wanted Brenda's frog-eye salad (which he didn't get, but life goes on.) Everyone bought something, I brought cheese and Pat made his debut taco hamburger. (Someone else brought the taco shells and tortillas.) I have to admit this brought back memories from high school.

Although I grew up knowing people with Mexican heritage, I never knew about Cinco de Mayo until I reached high school. Rupert would always put on a big 4th of July celebration and I knew that other nations celebrated their days of independence. In my junior or senior year, the city of Rupert decided to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day. One of my classmates, Sylvia was crowned the first Cinco de Mayo queen. Sad to say, I didn't make much of May 5th when I left for college. It wasn't until I finished college at the University of Utah that I started to take note of Cinco de Mayo again. Probably because Midvale's celebration caught the attention of the Salt Lake Tribune. I also remember once attending a Cinco de Mayo celebration at the Pugh's ward in Midvale.

I am glad I have chance to celebrate Mexico's independence and as well as America's independence. It's good to know about different cultures. So when does Canada celebrate its independence? That is something I need to learn.

Correction---May 6, 2011 ---I discovered late last night that Mexico's independence day is September 16th. That left me with the question, what is Cinco de Mayo? So I googled and found out that in 1860's, France attacked Mexico over some pact that Mexico made with debtors. England and Spain honored the pact, but France did not. Cinco de Mayo celebrates a victory over France.

Thoughts on Easter

April 8, 2007
Dear Elder Pugh,
I taught the lesson in Primary class and I was glad it was the basic Easter message. It made me think of the resurrection. In sharing time, the video “Easter Dream” was shown. That is one of my favorite LDS church videos. It gives me hope that I will see my dad again and my grandparents that I never knew. (My Dad's parents died before I was born.) I read yesterday in the Trib’s (Salt Lake Tribune) religion section, an article by Connie Clark, who has a ministry in Evanston, Wyoming. She wrote about the resurrection and the mentally ill. When Christ was resurrected, not only was there hope for the dead, but also for the living. The Atonement brings a hope of being able to repent, to make our lives new again. We all (just like those who are mentally ill) struggle daily, constantly repenting, renewing our goals again and again. Rev. Clark’s message touched a note with me, because I live with mental illness most days. My oldest brother suffers from either bipolar 1 or paranoid schizophrenia, which is undiagnosed. It is one reason, why I haven’t been home in almost five years. I miss home, but there is still the hope that I will return again.
(This statute of Christ is found in the Nauvoo LDS Visitors Center. I chose this one because Christ has his hands outstretched to us. Christ is also looking down and I am thinking He is looking at us below on earth. The statute in the Salt Lake Temple Square Visitors Center is the same, but with the heavens as a background. This statute has the background of the visitor center's garden. Although I took the picture in September, the trees and such were still green. For me green is represents a newness; a fresh start. April 24, 2011)

March 27, 2011 – When I re-read the last line of Mark’s letter, I realized that my siblings and I did return home to the Magic Valley. The first time was in August 2008, when John, Jay and I made a quick trip to attend the Twin Fall Temple Openhouse. We spent the night at a motel, went to the openhouse with my mom. Afterwords, we had lunch at JB’s in Burley. We never saw Mike, but it planted a deeper seed of hope. When we got back to Salt Lake, Mike mentioned that it would have been good to see us at the house. The first weekend in August 2010, we headed home for a lunch at Mom’s. My sister, Laura and her family were headed to Lake Powell for a family reunion and Mary and Doug were returning from Wendover, Nevada. Steven flew in from California and drove up with John, Jay and me. We helped clean up the yard and after dinner, had a short family meeting. Mike did not hide in his room as he usually does when visitors arrive. He even helped out in the yard. My brothers and I had planned to spend the night at the neighbors, but after my sisters and their families left, Mike had a change of heart and suggested we spend the night.
It is difficult dealing with someone has a mental illness. But I have learned to hope and keep the faith. When resurrection happens, the old will be cast off and a newness will come. I will have full use of ears and Mike will be better. And yes, I will get to see my Dad again.

Salt Lake Marathons

This morning before I even got out of bed, the runners for the Salt Lake Marathon and Half-Marathon crossed the starting line. It brought back memories of the first Salt Lake Marathon to run thru the heart of Holladay. It was 2004 and Jay and I had lived in our condo for about 7 months. A few days before the race, the sponsors or some one connected to the marathon left a goodie bag on our door. My boss, Pat, would call it swag. All I can remember is the long tube noise makers and the chip bag clip, which we still use. I remember seeing quite a few neighbors watch the marathon that year. But the next year, it wasn't such a big event. No swag on the doors and not as many neighbors watching. I did see Dave Rasmussen, a former co-worker in 2005, because as he passed by, he asked where I was working at. I told him the University of Utah, which probably didn't settle too well with him, since he was (and probably still is) a big BYU fan. In 2006, the marathon was moved to June, but in 2007, it was moved back to April, where it has stayed ever since. I don't know when the half-marathon was added, but Mark and Darren ran it in 2008 or maybe it was 2007. Crystal, their younger sister, ran her first marathon in 2009. Jay and I drove to 2700 South. I tried to get a picture of her, but my cellphone and camera was not cooperating. But she was smiling and waved at some friends and me as ran by. Last year, Jay and I drove back to 2700. Crystal's sister-in-law spotted me, but Crystal didn't even notice me. Not even when I called out her name. A train wreck could have happen in front of her and she would not even noticed. She was so focused that she wasn't smiling. But she was fixing her pony tail as she approached me. Our condo was doing clean up this year, so I didn't check out the half-marathon. But I did notice a former neighbor when I took a peak at marathon running past the corner up the street. I only saw the back of her, so I didn't take out my cellphone. Even though, I didn't cheer the runners on, I wonder if Dave Rasmussen ran the race again. And who knows, maybe next year, my camera and I will be out there cheering on the runners. (Picture on the left was taken in 2005. The picture on the right is Crystal in 2010 running her second half-marathon.)