When Pain takes control

It has been difficult to keep up.  

Pain, and meds make is so I can't get my brain around much.

There is a lot of pain in our family as well.

Choices are so critical to the way we find 'happiness'.

Many of our children and families are suffering greatly because of poor choices.  

So So So sad...

Working in the nursery is the most wonderful job in the world.

 Abri's back, Becca Brynlee H. and Brinnley Nelson

 Emma Cason and Wyat (Stan)

Braden and Cason...

I am so wowed by the bishops inspiration to put us in the Nursery.

Wonderful area to be.  

We finally got new helpers after Jewel and Kammy moved.

Many turned the Bishop down.

BUT

Kelsie and Bruce Steed took the challenge.

They are really good when they are there.

"“Can you see how the Lord accomplishes His work?

Our Heavenly Father knows His children.

He is listening to their prayers.

He knows who is seeking Him,

and He will lead us to them.""

—Neil L. Andersen,

Life with its twits and turns...

It has been fun being with Angie every Monday as we drove back and forth to Ogden,

She did her volunteer work and was making her mark.

Now it is over....

We ate at Ruby River to celebrate...

Now if you are looking for good food and don't mind the price...

This is the place to go...

Thanks Angie for allowing me to be a part of your service and kindness.

I did continue with my work with the widows till the driving started to take is tole on my back.

I also gave up therapy...

Life takes us on twists and turns through life...

Hopefully we can learn from them...

If not...

Expect more of the same.

Our families...

children...

and ward...

are going through trials that are HARD.

I look all around and see that adversary trying to make his inroads into our lives...

When we are the weakest.

Even though there are so many trials...

There is a 'Brightness of Hope'

The family temple month

The Random Acts of Kindness

Each family member carrying anthers load equal of more then their own.

We can do this.

 

In our ward Bulletin today there was a quote by Elder Uchtdorf.

The question is not whether we will experience seasons of adversity...

 but how we will weather the storms.

Our great opportunity during the ever-changing seasons of life...

 is to hold fast to the faithful word of God,

for His counsel is designed not only to help us weather the storms of life...

 but also to guide us past them. 

Our Heavenly Father has given His word through His prophets---

Precious Knowledge...

 designed to lead us through the challenges of difficult seasons...

 toward the unspeakable joy and brilliant light of eternal life. 

It is an important part of our life's experience to develop the strength,

courage,

And

integrity...

 to hold fast to truth and righteousness...

 despite the buffeting we may experience.

THEN in our Relief Society news letter there was a quote by President Young...

All intelligent beings who are crowned with crowns of glory,

Immortality,

and

eternal lives...must pass through every ordeal appointed for intelligent beings to pass through,

To gain their glory

And Exaltation.

Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings with be suffered...

To prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord...

Every trial and experience you have passed through....

 is necessary for you salvation.

Random Acts of Kindness....

Five years ago on the anniversary of our kids death...

Mary and Tim, who adopted Diana Jo (AKA Joey)...

Decided that the best way to remember Ruth Nick and Audrey was to do...

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!

They included our family in on this...

In the years to come it spread by family members sharing and Mary's blog.

Last year Diana Jo created a facebook page 'Random Acts of Kindness'.

She was hoping for 1000 responses.  

She got that and more.

That isn't including those who didn't post but participated anyway.

This year she had the lofty goal of 3000 responses.

She asked Mary if it was possible to go to KSL to get some air time to spread the word.

Mary made a few calls and KSL TV was interested as well as Deseret News.

Teen honors her family killed in crash with random acts of kindness

Summary

She lost her parents and sister in a car crash six years ago. As the anniversary of the crash approaches, 14-year-old Diana Jo Jarman hopes people will perform a random act of kindness.

“After the accident, a ton of people, even if we didn't know them, they would just come and do something for us. We had so many meals after that it just is kind of like to pay it forward to them.”

Diana Jo Jarman

SANDY — She lost both her parents and sister in a car crash six years ago.
As the anniversary of the crash approaches, 14-year-old Diana Jo Jarman, who goes by Joie, is asking people to do something: a random act of kindness.
She was only 8 years old when she endured tremendous loss. “The first few years were pretty hard,” she said, “but after a while I just kind of got used to the idea and it wasn’t that sad to me anymore.
On Aug. 18, 2007, the family — Nick Weaver, 28, Ruth Weaver, 30, and their daughters Joie and 2-year-old Audrey — was on its way to a family reunion in Idaho. Close to the Idaho border on I-84, their pickup blew a tire, jumped the median and collided head-on with a semitrailer.
The parents and Audrey Weaver were killed, while Joie was injured.
A couple who saw the crash rushed to offer aid. They helped the little girl. When somebody thought the truck would explode, they moved her to their car and covered bodies with blankets.
“They protected her from a lot of devastation. They had girls the same age and were able to comfort her in a way, they understood what her needs were,” said Mary Jarman, the teen’s aunt.
Joie was taken to the hospital where she spent the next five days. The grief was overwhelming, but so was the support.
"You never think that anything like this is going to happen in your own family,” Mary Jarman said.
"After the accident, a ton of people, even if we didn't know them, they would just come and do something for us,” Joie said. “We had so many meals after that it just is kind of like to pay it forward to them.”
That inspired her and her aunt, who, on the first anniversary of the crash, began to think about paying it forward to show their gratitude.
For the first few years, the family shared the idea with relatives and friends.
Then last year, Joie had the idea of starting the Facebook page Random Acts of Kindness: Celebrating Kindness, encouraging strangers to participate. And strangers did. About 1,500 people accepted the invitation.
"A few people did post what they did. Somebody left a huge tip at a dinner once," Joie said. "It just makes me smile cause it's like they're doing that for, kind of like for me, in honor of my family and it makes me feel a lot happier.”
Joie, who was adopted by her aunt and uncle, hopes to get 3,000 people to participate this year. She believes that's a better way to remember her parents and sister and to honor them.
"I don't like living in the past and would rather be happy and live life to the fullest,” the teen said.
She's asking people to pay it forward this Sunday, Aug. 18, even with just a small gesture like smiling at a stranger.
“My parents were really kind people,” Joie said, “so this is also just a way to remember them because this is something that they would have done and it just makes the day happy instead of sad.”

 

SANDY — She lost both her parents and sister in a car crash six years ago.

As the anniversary of the crash approaches, 14-year-old Diana Jo Jarman, who goes by Joie, is asking people to do something: a random act of kindness.
She was only 8 years old when she endured tremendous loss. “The first few years were pretty hard,” she said, “but after a while I just kind of got used to the idea and it wasn’t that sad to me anymore.
On Aug. 18, 2007, the family — Nick Weaver, 28, Ruth Weaver, 30, and their daughters Joie and 2-year-old Audrey — was on its way to a family reunion in Idaho. Close to the Idaho border on I-84, their pickup blew a tire, jumped the median and collided head-on with a semitrailer.
The parents and Audrey Weaver were killed, while Joie was injured.
A couple who saw the crash rushed to offer aid. They helped the little girl. When somebody thought the truck would explode, they moved her to their car and covered bodies with blankets.
“They protected her from a lot of devastation. They had girls the same age and were able to comfort her in a way, they understood what her needs were,” said Mary Jarman, the teen’s aunt.

Joie was taken to the hospital where she spent the next five days. The grief was overwhelming, but so was the support.

"You never think that anything like this is going to happen in your own family,” Mary Jarman said.
"After the accident, a ton of people, even if we didn't know them, they would just come and do something for us,” Joie said. “We had so many meals after that it just is kind of like to pay it forward to them.”
That inspired her and her aunt, who, on the first anniversary of the crash, began to think about paying it forward to show their gratitude.
For the first few years, the family shared the idea with relatives and friends.
Then last year, Joie had the idea of starting the Facebook page Random Acts of Kindness: Celebrating Kindness, encouraging strangers to participate. And strangers did. About 1,500 people accepted the invitation.
"A few people did post what they did. Somebody left a huge tip at a dinner once," Joie said. "It just makes me smile cause it's like they're doing that for, kind of like for me, in honor of my family and it makes me feel a lot happier.”
Joie, who was adopted by her aunt and uncle, hopes to get 3,000 people to participate this year. She believes that's a better way to remember her parents and sister and to honor them.
"I don't like living in the past and would rather be happy and live life to the fullest,” the teen said.
She's asking people to pay it forward this Sunday, Aug. 18, even with just a small gesture like smiling at a stranger.
“My parents were really kind people,” Joie said, “so this is also just a way to remember them because this is something that they would have done and it just makes the day happy instead of sad.”


As we went to church in Malta Idaho there were many people who approached me about Joey's
Random Acts of Kindness 'Movement'.
I was so humbled by the out pouring of love and kindness that still exists after six years.
Love is an amazing power.
I am so grateful for a granddaughter
who is teaching us all about it.

"Love can overpower the undermining effect of selfishness. Love engenders faith in Christ's plan of happiness, provides courage to begin the process of repentance, strengthens the resolve to be obedient to His teachings, and opens the door of service, welcoming in the feelings of self-worth and of being loved and needed."

—Richard G. Scott,

It is what it is...

I was on the road again...

I did take Angie visiting teaching with me, and she helped in Beth's garden.

We visited Luana Barrett who is now in Autumn Haven Assisted living in Rupert.   

 It is a really nice little room..

Clean and bright.

She has a closet/bathroom to the right in the picture.

The bear is one Reigan gave her while we were on our mission.

It is one of her possessions she took with her.  

 I love this lady...

She is a Kindred spirit.

We have been friends for Many year.

I hated to see her have to leave her home...

BUT...

It couldn't be helped.

Stan went to Logan with me Wednesday for Therapy...

Becky and kids met us on Ashley furniture.

We purchased two smaller couches...

they are nice and will take up less room...

This is called a chair and a half.  

No we didn't get this one.

Jordon Sydney and Becky...

We went to Herm's for lunch...

YUM!

I have quit therapy.

At least traveling to it...

I will try to do it on my own.

Don't know which direction this will take me...

I just couldn't spend that many hours on the road.

I will just go to Malta every two weeks now.

We will visit Luana on the way home from the temple on Thursdays.

That will cut miles as well.

Pain isn't fun.

It seems to follow me around like the dark demon that it is.

Let the Past be the past...

We are who we are because of it...

Go on with life and make the most of what life has to offer.

A week of true miracles...

In exactly 14 days it will be 6 years ago we lost our kids to a honorific accident.

This week Jordon had a bike accident...

Just scraped and bruised...

BUT...

It could have been a whole lot worse...

Angels...

I love those guys...

BUT...

Our family keeps them pretty busy...

 Becky usually brings Jordon out on Wednesdays.

Larry and or Larry and Becky will come get him Saturday.

Becky was with Syd at a State wide soccer match.

Larry came out to get Jordon so they could go to a Neilson reunion.

Larry was just about here...

The front left tire of his pick up came off...

Lug nuts that weren't fastened down tightly when the tires were changed and rotated.

A semi was passing him at the time and the tire bounced off the truck and back to Larry several times.

Then as the truck passed the tire went across the medium and the south bound traffic and a quarter of a mile up the road.

Larry...

kept the pick up going straight and right side up.

(Can you imagine all the angels it took for that miracle?)

Larry is a good driver and very good under pressure.

But there had to be a higher power here.

He called Stan...

Stan got the Hook truck and with Jordon went to gather up son and dad...

They took the truck back to Big O...

Amazingly enough the pickup could be repaired that afternoon.

The management at Big O were terribly sorry for the mishap...

Took full responsibility...

Will repair it without charge.

As we fasted -- our fast was one of gratitude...

This was so similar to the accident 6 years ago...

My heart is full that life goes on...

We could have had some horrible injuries and or a couple of funerals...

Jordon's arm...You really can't see it, yuck!

He got his right shoulder left hand and left knee...

He will be hurting for a bit...

Stan's comment was the highway is a very dangerous place...

We wheel down the road...

Not thinking about driving much...

This last week and the next several weeks ahead will be highway for me...

Ogden on Monday to take Angie down to do her volunteer work...

Tuesdays is my widow day...

Wednesday and Fridays are therapy on my back AGAIN!

Thursday is our temple day...

I will try to be alert...

My widows...

I love these ladies...

I learn so much from them..

There is so much need...

I could spend all day everyday just helping them.

I wish VT and HT would get a clue!

My dearest friend Luana Barrett...

My 'Grin and Bare It' lady...

just turned 94...

She had a mini stroke...

and a sever bladder infection.

she cannot stay alone anymore.

Barbara, Luana's daughter called me...

We talked...

then I got the call...

They had moved her to Autumn Haven in Rupert.

Luana has to be broken hearted.

She loves her little log home Joe built for her.

My visits will now extend to Rupert.

Stan and I were home teachers to Beth Jones for years before our mission...

She wrote to us while we were on our mission.

Her grandson Bo got his mission call to Orlando.

We oriented him and followed his progress.

He got home this last February...

Friday night his parents brought him out for a visit.

Good memories were shared.  

This is a good family.  

Harvest...

another miracle...

We have very few acres of wheat this year...

Ben has been doing it pretty much on his own.

Steve and Dad are doing other things and supporting Ben where he needs help.

They haven't even brought wheat into the yard graineries. 

Becky has a few pictures...

BUT without the miracle of timely rain storms we wouldn't be harvesting any thing.

Oh how the blessing flow into this family...

 Dani

 Jordon

 Olivia on the front porch...

 Jordon and his friend McKala (?)

Never tire of pictures of a combine in the field with the mountains behind it.  

Beautiful...

I know there are struggles out there...

So many have trials the size of Texas.

YET...

In finding the Lord in those hard times is what we need to refine us and make us Celestial.

I pray that we will stand firm together...

Love with Christ like Love...

That is what will pull us through these hard times...

When you take the path that climbs, 

that harder path of the Savior, 

there are rewards along the way. 

When you do something right, 

when you resist temptation, 

when you meet a goal, 

you will feel very good about it. 

It is a very different kind of feeling than you have when you violate commandments--

an altogether different feeling. 

It brings a measure of peace and comfort and provides encouragement to press on." 

—Richard G. Scott

RAK

(Random Acts of Kindness)

 https://www.facebook.com/RandomActsOfKindnessCelebratingKindness  

Lots of fun, hard work, and friendships enjoyed this month...

July 1st to the 28...

Life in the fast and crazy lane is what I would explain the last four weeks....

There have been so many memories...

Creamies...

Going Visiting Teaching with my Granddaughters...

Experiencing creative 'skits'

Librarians...

Creamies....

Lots of shelves...

Tons of books...

Creamies...

huts...

on a grander level...

Destroying angels...

3rd of July...

4th of July...

24 of July

Creamies...

Picnics...

Rain...

Water play...

Games...

Hair cuts...

Sunsets...

Reunions...

Grandpa with constancy...

Scriptures...

And Prayer...

(Creamies)

The first of July I took Dani and Eve and we worked in Beth's garden then went Visiting Teaching...

AND...

Of course visited the widows...

What a joy to be with my granddaughters.  

Family started to gather...

Third of July
  3rd of July activities in Malta...

A fun activities for all.

Stan and I stay and went to bed...

No not the temple this week,

BUT...

The Farm Bureau Anual 4th of July Breakfast...

It was raining...

It was chilly...

Still the Fire Department went around town blowing a canon to wake everyone up for Breakfast...

(At 6:00 AM)

There were a lot of people pancakes, bacon and eggs.

 Angie volunteered to come with us.
She fit in just about everywhere

She is helping Stan pour milk and juice...

 I took this while there was still time...

Things got pretty hectic,

Tables had to be cleaned,

new clothes on,

condiments filled,

spills...

We worked, with Angie...till almost noon...

We helped clean up and headed home...

We had our own 4th of July family picnic to prepare for.

Chris...

Ben...

Becky..

Steve...

Jim...

 Are the families represented that evening...

 Jim Sawyer and Kedric putting a big floor puzzle together.

 Claire

 One has to be creative when it comes time to eat...

Claire above and Cash below

 Shaye her sister Cheyenne...Shaye is holding Cash.

 Cash...

What a kid...

He thinks...

He tries so hard to get his body to do what he is thinking....

 The only time Kedric is quiet...

 Natlie, Jayden, Chris, Jim and Steve

 Reigan and Kedric with bunnies...

 Natalie, Jim Steve and Cash

Before dinner there was some relaxation and bunnies...

 Ben cooked up quite a pile of meat...

(Chris' family it the back ground)

All activities revolve around food....

The skits were almost a daily event.

It got to the point where I really looked forward to see what was next...

Sierra, Soni, and Olivia are so creative...

AND

quite the actresses...

And 

Play writes. 

Everyone has their own glass with their own name or 'sign'

Friday night, the fifth was our BIG family 'reunion' up Pole Canyon.
A couple hours before we were to leave the clouds moved in...
When they are that color you stay put.
Kind of blue green BLACK.
We found out later there was a tornado watch for our area....
We also found out some of our Malta Friends got wiped out with hail.
Total farms flattened.
Oats, wheat, corn hay.
The Warr's and Grush's got it the worst.
Our hearts were full of gratitude for the beautiful rain we received.
Life giving rain that would see our crops through to harvest...
And put down moisture for next years crop.
BUT...
Our hearts ached for our friends in Malta

As long as the thunder and lightening were distant the kids had fun in the warm rain...

As it got closer, we all watched from the porch...

Even Max found a spot to be dry...

Standing in the drip...

Kids love the rain...
We don't see it very often.

Games and a floor picnic on every available space.

Die hards with their iPad

As the sky's cleared we started a fire with some 'scout' juice.

S'mores and pudding on a stick.

Lots of fun no matter how wet we are...
Jim with Kedric Sawyer Mary Bingham Soni Esther, someone's back...

Fun memories are made at times like this...

Saturday...July 6th the fun run in Malta...

Esther and Austin...

Gabby

Chris Reigan and Jayden...Angie is running the five K

Campbell farm Enterprises is one of the sponsors...

Angie is #1 in her age bracket...

Austin #1 in his bracket...

Reigan was #1 in her age bracket

Austin and Gabby helping her in to the finish...

Esther also got #1 in her age bracket!

Reigan and Angie

Esther always wants a project...
I had one...
BUT...
It turned out to be huge...
Maybe I should scale back from now on...

I wanted our family library to be where all can access the books and read them...
So Esther helped me do just that...
(Melissa helped me earlier to get all the materials needed for this big project)

 Things -- stuff -- and books--
Were piled everywhere.
We needed to know where and how to space all the shelves...

 Esther got the media center set up...
The TV is on the wall now...

 Esther with a drill a is quite a sight to behold...

 My four librarians...
I hired them to go through all the books...
They sorted them according to authors...
This was no small undertaking...
Even Reigan age six got in on it...
She gathered all the children's books

 Finally there is a place for EVERYTHING

 I have my room back....

 Shelves started to fill...

 the librarians had all the books in boxes ready for me to place...

 Many shelves were empty.

 Whew...This is just to much.

 Another project was to hang all the family pictures.
Esther took pictures...
Esther and Becky cropping and chopping...

 Esther and Melissa placing papers where family pictures will be placed...

 Esther is putting in the old family room fan light in our new 'library'..

 Bingham is handing up the light bulbs...
 
 IT WORKS!

 Stan took over the new library with it's new light and got a hair cut.
Dani and Eve tried this last year, but this year they really got after it...

 They left for the rodeo in Stone...
I completed the lose ends...


The finished product almost....

Plenty of new shelves in the closet over the stairs.

 I love this new work space,
the TV has netflix and I can watch from the chair while I do hand work...
I can also exercise and have space and privacy.

 Genealogy files still need transferred from boxes to drawers and notebooks.

Beth and Trevor Rice family....GG picture...Ruth and Nick Weaver family.

Joe and Tawny Campbell family

Mike and Michelle Campbell Family..Sarah and Chad Capp's family...Esther and Phil Woolston family.

Jim and Shaye Campbell family...Mary and Tim Jarman Family...Steve and Natalile Campbell

Chris and Jose Esquivel family...Becky and Larry Nelison...Ben and Melissa Campbell Family

Grandma and Grandpa's picture and Steve and Natalie's picture need to find a home here...
Looking good...

Saturday July 20
During all of this hub bub we managed to take a road trip to Loa UT for the Allen reunion.
This is my Grandmother, Granny Smoot's family...
Chris and girls accompanied me down there.
That is such a long tirp...
a little over 700 miles in one day...

 Missionaries smell the food....

While down there I saw this wonderful garden arbor made out of a caterpiller track...

 Amazing...
I want one...

I have my order in...

July 24th pioneer day...
One last hurrah!

 Ben is the chef of course...
The salads and offerings from Chris' family and Melissa's and ours made a very tasty picnic.

 They really aren't this solemn. 

 Austin and Dylan were always cooking up some kind of scheme.

Thursday July 25...
Esther's family left in the early morning...
They left the downstairs pristine.
I took a walk around the yard...
after all the destroying angels and mischief it looks pretty good...
Now that sounds like it was Esther's family that did all that mischief.
NOPE....
All the cousins that came to make memories at Grandma's house for several glorious weeks.
Now the quiet is deafening...

The sun sets on another fun adventurous holiday...
What you don't see is the 'huts' that have been created in the trees...
All of them so unique and amazing.
You don't see the lasting friendships that were cemented for life.
The love that abounds when family works and plays together...

"Make the honoring of family traditions--holiday traditions, birthday traditions, Sunday traditions, dinnertime traditions--and the development of new ones a priority throughout your lives. Honor them, write them down, and make certain you follow them."

—L. Tom Perry,