Mesa Third Ward Reunites

#Perspective #Roots #Family #Time #Closure

And Not One Picture! (Really? me! the queen of pictures from the past!)

Thoughts on seeing, hugging and reuniting with friends from the past....

Pre - anxiety, fear and excitement - joy if you will...

But more than that, (believe me or I wouldn't have showed up) is the "feeling", the feeling I remember of being there in that building WITH them.  I lived in this ward boundary and attended church with these people for over half of my life (as of now!) and maybe especially because we have moved so much since we have been married I am overwhelmed with
love and desire to be there, to see them.
The feeling that the past is the past and for good or bad these are my people and that I accept them now and forever (of course should mean that they in turn will accept me)!!!

side notes...

I met at Urlene and Mikes we talked and talked and talked.  Amazing how without seeing each other for so long we can just pick right back up. I love her! We talked so long our husbands were very bored with the same stories and not that impressed with the fond memories of past boyfriends, memories of 3rd ward and family - Funny the different perspectives!

At the reunion...Lyle ask me if I remembered all the pictures of the Bishops on the wall in the Bishops office? I answered without a thought "Yes indeed I was in there alot"!  

I really missed the sliding glass doors to the overflow!  You know I was married in that chapel and had my reception in that cultural hall.

I Had a great conversation with Sister Willis. See I still say "Sister" my mom demanded respect that way - no one (well except Betty) was ever called by their first name. Still to this day it's hard for me to call people by their first name!!!

It was so cool to just "chat" with old friends. To hug the boy I sent on a mission. To hear the voices of leaders. To see adults that were children I taught and babysat. To see Tyson and meet his son. To know that life moves on lives and families are created and to be reminded that without the atonement life would be harder, uglier and less successful, joyful complete.

Back to my thoughts on the reunion...

I wanted so badly to see them all (this village that helped raise me) and "feel" something.  I wanted that so much that I paid lots of money to fly across the states to spend an hour and a half in their presence.  I'm not saying that every memory I had there is a good one, but because of them I am who I am. 
I have none of my immediate "growing up" family left, so I think that my association here is needed that "these are my people" these "are my roots" and yes I indeed believe that what I have in these relationships is family; the Parent figures; Harvey and Betty Green, Sophie and Lloyd Harper, Betty and Stan Abbott, Corrine and Fred Dewitt, Brenda and Terry Reed, and Liana Willis,  these are they who along with Bishop Watson, and Bishop and Toni Brown, Ella O'loughlin and Mary Jepson(who have all moved on to a better world) well, these are they who raised me.  So yes to go to a ward reunion for me was a "Family Reunion". 
With those parental figures also comes all the "siblings" - Urlene, Susan, Lyle, Sheila, Debbie, Jane, Renee, Valerie, Julie, April, Rhea, Terry, Bobby, Eldon, Mark, Andra, Tanya, Richard, Elmers, Tyson, Stacy, Tera, Marion, Taun the Jensens, the browns, the Flakes, The Sanchez, The Starks, The Abbotts, Ronnie, Timmy, Kristen, Tom, The Farnsworths, The Rowleys, Brother Ball!!!.... just to name a few who each one in one way or another had something to do with who I am today.  
Then the only "blood family" I have there in Arizona; Matthew and Olaf - I was SUPER blessed they showed up ... we are all of the "McCoy Clan" since 1961 that is left to REPRESENT at the Mesa Third Ward reunion. My sister had ties there and brought her sons up always including them in the Third Ward from blessings and baptism to friendships and campouts.
Which brings me to Iris!!!  WOW! As I looked around the room and silently remembered the people, the experiences, the building, that room and that stage, the pictures and slide show and comments... Mom you were woven in that tapestry inside and out. I couldn't see anyone that you didn't affect the life of in one way or another. I saw People that you raised.  People that you taught. People that you served with. Thank you mom for being my strongest root, my beacon in a storm. You Mom, were the light and example for me and so many others.  From Relief Society to Primary. From Young Women to Ward Camp Outs. Come Hell or High Water you were there to serve and support all of us. I watched that! I observed you in your actions of; "Observe and then Serve" way before it was "popular"!!  From you I learned so many many things and I can honestly say; 
"My Mother Taught me".  I'm sure many there the 25th day of October 2014 could have said the same.  You were indeed missed.  I felt your presence your arms around us, your unconditional love right there in that big hall on that evening.

Post - peace, closure, gratitude, joy in remembrance...

it was more about the people than the building, (I guess it does help to have the village!!) it is feelings and the bonds felt therein.  It was the traditions. The Unity. It was the Things our Mothers taught us, remembered with love, woven into it all was the Gospel that was felt, testified to and taught there.  

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!!!

Why I write! and Why it's in a Blog...

TOO MUCH INFORMATION, thats your CRY!

Writing your own history is very insightful
you think you know everything about yourself
and read things that you think uncool!
To acknowledge would only pull things down from the shelf
question and answers hidden deep in the mind
buried for protection and of friends, family and my own heart!
but also enlightens and a help to Remember my own part --
and the things that Mother taught and the lessons to find.
I notice that the world indeed has influence, the media I acknowledge every year it has it's place -
deciding and discerning are lessons and standards along life's journey that are in front of my face!
This blog is the prophecy fulfilled of the Book of Life
presented to learn, grow and too, hopefully 
listen and heed to avoid depression and strife --
to lend testimony and knowledge of the Atonement of Christ.
From the experiences had by family before;  which
will bring you closer to each other and turn on the switch
so that questions you'll ask and on your knees you will turn
for inspiration and guidance from Heavenly Father you'll yearn.
Don't judge how I write, but know it's how I talk!
Bishop Watson told me that once, I accepted it as a compliment!
Look beyond the words and story; for the feelings take stock --
the recognition I give to the leaders, friends and family that to me were sent, helping me along the road of Life, 
as often the road is a valley of great decent.
From the roots of the tree to the branches and limbs; 
Unconditional love always wins! of that I testify of that I am sure, 
Good is worth living for, looking for, striving for and that ain't no lie!
Each year (and each post) has a story, each picture a memory lent.
I post it now ... and find yet more;  so to that year I add --
thus please go back and read, as in life each story changes over time as an others' perspective lends itself to knowledge helping the process of improvement a tad!
I know I go on; but, have you met my Mom? If you haven't keep reading
if you have you know what I mean!  you will know us both;
we love our family and strive to climb 
to progress and achieve to know and return --  to you we are pleading...
This life is short and eternity long from the Savior we receive redemption,
"It's all or nothing!" thats my brand; may we use courage and faith
 to choose the best road, and from hell receive exemption!


so it's not great, but it's from the heart! sometimes I just have to document for myself why I am doing this I POaST about my life thing! I still don't know how to connect one POaST to the other so I am only doing it with the Labels, the keywords!  
WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL -YOU"LL BE GLAD YOU DID! 






In the Book of Mormon we read from Alma 26

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/26?lang=eng

 11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength,nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak;therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us,therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

 14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

Dig in .. Exert Yourself

Dig deep, Exert yourself increase in faith and spiritual knowledge gain and incorporate a STRONG Testimony...

These are the words of Lorenzo Snow

they apply so much to our day that I just had to include them here ... PLUS it's my whole EXERT YOURSELF theme for the year 2013!!! and something Amric wrote about this week in his letter, how we all have to find our own testimonies and not live in the shadows of anyone else's.

ENJOY!

It is just so in regard to matters that pertain to the things of God. We have to exert ourselves and go from grace to grace, to get the law of action so incorporated in our systems, that it may be natural to do those things that are required of us


So in regard to us, respecting the things which we are undertaking. If we expect to improve, to advance in the work immediately before us, and finally to obtain possession of those gifts and glories, coming up to that condition of exaltation we anticipate, we must take thought and reflect, we must exert ourselves, and that too to the utmost of our ability

Because he failed to exert himself before God with the view of developing the gift within him; he became greatly disappointed ... Nothing can be more foolish than the idea of a man laying off his religion like a cloak or garment. There is no such thing as a man laying off his religion unless he lays off himself. Our religion should be incorporated within ourselves, a part of our being that cannot be laid off. If there can be such a thing as a man laying off his religion, the moment he does so he gets on to ground he knows nothing about, he gives himself over to the powers of darkness, he is not on his own ground, he has no business there. 

Every man has got to learn to stand upon his own knowledge; he cannot depend upon his neighbor; every man must be independent; he must depend upon his God for himself entirely. It depends upon himself to see if he will stem the tide of trouble and overcome the impediments that are strewn in the pathway of life to prevent his progress. A man can get information by the operations of the Holy Spirit, and he approaches to God and increases in his faith in proportion as he is diligent.

It is impossible to advance in the principles of truth, to increase in heavenly knowledge, [unless] we exercise our reasoning faculties and exert ourselves in a proper manner

 We are getting up higher and higher. We are advancing to a higher condition and sphere and to a higher plane, and we are receiving such an education that the wisdom of the world with all its attainments and false doctrines and principles, will have no effect upon the Latter-day Saints, for they are rising above the theories and hypothesis of human inventions and soaring in things of truth that raise the mind, exalt the understanding, and establishing them[selves] more and more fully in the true principles of life and glory. We are filled in our hearts with these truths and we cannot tell the day or the hour in which our faith has been increased, but we feel, when we look back over the last week, month or year, that we have increased in faith and in the knowledge of faith and power of God; we know that we have got nearer our God and we feel that we are in fellowship with God our Father

Reverence .... at ground zero

The Sunday in January that we took the subway to lower Manhattan...

Walking toward "Ground Zero" the new towers in view

Austin came to visit us from his work for the weekend. He had said that for my trip I could do "what ever I wanted to do" so I wanted to go to see the where the Twin Towers went down, now a place of remembrance I thought it a suitable appropriate thing to do on the Sabbath.  What I didn't know was just how appropriate I would feel it really was until after we had gone there.  It was hustle and bustle on the subway, then the subway stopped and we got out and walked up the stairs to light, Sunlight it seemed even brighter than before we had gone in.  We stood on the corner of - it seems like 6 different streets meeting in the middle. It seemed like it should have been also hustle and bussle - chaos and mayhem, but it wasn't.  We debated a direction and then made choice and started to walk.  As we walked we stopped talking really, and just looking - different "sight seeing" than we had been doing the last couple of days.  In the moment maybe not even realizing it, but later learning from each other that we all had felt it.  The change in Atmosphere.

A very real very humble honor

Austin and I reading names around the fountain square.

Richard hadn't wanted to go here.  He had other intentions for this day, so he was reluctant.  We smiled and spoke to all of the police officers gathering around the fences so early and then went thru the guards at the gates, the security checks just before the switchback lines started and then we were in.  As we stepped into this Memorial, the only word I could then and still today can use to describe it - REVERENCE. I felt Reverence. The dictionary says that reverence is a deep respect or regard.  My interpretation of reverence is that plus so much more, a time of silence, honor, tribute, in this case sadness and heart felt condolences and yet a wonderment at life and the symbolism of this place and how life goes on, after death.  So much death, it's not a wonder to me at all that I felt the atmosphere change, I can't think that with that much death those spirits aren't all over that place - I felt that!

Richard's heart was changed after going here,
he was very glad that we did!

The idea of the water in the footprint of the buildings is awesome and enlightening   The scriptures teach us that water is representative of the WORD and the Word represents Jesus Christ. It's the only way I know how to make the comparison and share how I felt there that day.

There is rebuilding going on, it is amazing to see the process.  To physically be able to see the adjustment and a way to go about rebuilding something that has been defiled, abused, .... death.

 Life does go on and we must rebuild after tragedy   We must see the foundation and it must be rebuilt.  Under the twin towers were 3 subways that were smashed, people had to find new roads, travel into new territory,  experiment with open minds into darkness, make new choices.  And as we all do this and rebuild on a stronger more sturdy foundation we will triumph, grow taller, be smarter and leave behind wisdom for the generations that follow. Just as they are reconstructing here.

It was very cool!  I am so grateful to go and see this place.  I remember "that day".  Watching on the television black ashes coming towards people on that street that I was now walking on toward ground zero.  It was a dark time for me, we had just moved -(twice, two different states in 4 months, My sister and brother had both just died).  I felt dark and without hope.  Seeing those people and those planes that day - it was so helpless, I remember only wanting to hear the voice of President Hinckley telling the world it would be ok.

Todays feeling is one of peace and commitment to raising tall, lifting up, being a better person and wanting that for my children and grand children, nieces and nephews.  Life is good.  Make something of yourself.  Have no regrets, don't be slothful,  Dig in those roots and stand tall.  Nourish your spirit with Good better BESTEST stuff you can!!! - Exert yourself!  "We ought to dig deep into the things of God, lay our foundation upon the rock, until we come to that water which shall be in us an everlasting fountain of eternal life." Lorenzo Snow

This is a picture of the only tree left standing, it makes me cry seeing it and all it's strength struggling to live to it's fullest produce leaves again, shed the remains of fire and blackness that were left on it.  We all NEED to be reminded that life is for living and be about good works and integrity.  Teaching  and being of service to help others put down stronger foundations and stronger roots themselves. and in turn that will make our foundations and roots stronger and deeper too!

lds.org
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng
http://www.history.com/topics/world-trade-center

Which way Do You Lean???

 SO this morning I watched The Lorax.  Really it was the 3rd time I tried to watch it, sure not my fav!!!  I just want to document the ONE THING I got out of it

"Which way do trees fall?  They fall the way they lean.  Be careful which way you Lean!"

It goes to the Root of my belief system!  Tradition.

• T =  Teach with the spirit and Keep your sense of HUMOR!  about yourself and EVERYONE around You.
• R =  Reason for rules and regulation Be Obedient.
• A = Axiom; "Birds of a feather flock together"  and "REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!"
• D = Dogma; faith is not a perfect knowledge, hoped for and not seen
• I = Instill the desire to be proud of where you come from
• T = Tongue is sharper than a beating
• I = Implant roots that will grow and hold strong
• O = knOw when to share your Opinion and when not too! But hold on to the ONE thing that you believe in.
• N = Never give up ;)  on Yourself or the ones you LOVE ((or even if you don't love them))  

because ...   unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot nothing is going to get better and all your trees will fall and you will have nothing to show for your life. All your roots will be pulled from the ground and your traditions will not be re-rooted!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PF0h7oqUEQ

I am grateful for "D" - Douglas, Arizona

I am grateful for Dreams, dogs, and 

Douglas, Arizona!!!! 

When we were first married we drove to Douglas to look at acres and acres of property for we wanted to buy 100 acres for 40k and plant Pecan Trees!

Can you imagine?!  

Our little family of 3 driving thru Bisbee and on to the Dirt to actually Dream of being Pecan grove farmers!!! Like we knew anything about that or had the money or ability to do so!!  

But it makes me smile the memory of Apryl in her car seat and her pink blanket, us in our little white Starfire out Driving looking for who we are, not afraid to Dream and asking ourselves - "how we are going to Dig in and plant roots?"!!!  






Holy Smokes are the Young Naive! Anyway we were.  
And thank goodness right? 

Or who would ever attempt to get married, start a family and Drive, Dig, or Dream into anything you know nothing about or anywhere you don't know anyone (well I guess we would! we have continued to do so) but not in Douglas Arizona!!!!

Thanks for the Memory! But it must have been a precursor to Richards need to be out and his love of learning about Ag!!!

When there is no light

Alma 19:6
Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—

I know I know I've become a crazy woman with my religious application to every aspect of life!  What should I do?  What can I do?  The only thing I can come up with is - strive to express it and why it is and YES on a - DAILY basis!!!

Journal entry about Dad when we moved one year to Blanding Utah!!! I was reminded of this in a conversation with Austin this week, I guess he thought of it because he moved recently but my thought is this what do we do when there is no light?  Then Ayris came to me today with a scripture - the answer is we SHOULD root it out!  Now going along with my plants I am amazed and pleasantly pleased with them lately - it being spring and blooms and flowers and all, no really, where I've not ever seen them before - rambling I know.... Let me make this short for I am sure I will speak of Blanding again in another entry, think of it... Seeds, nourishment, roots, being unrooted, where is it all without LIGHT?

alma22:15

15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

Transplanted Roots!

When I say "we transplanted", it's because this time when we moved it's because I have "matured" as my friend Urlene would say and grown and well maybe bloomed a little! This thought process all started when in our last move we were abruptly loading plants to go ahead of us to our new home with the son who was now leaving earlier than expected.  I have a house full of plants that have been named and taken care of in the name of all the dead family members! Yes I say Dead, not deceased, not passed, Dead.  It has been the way I have looked at it, I guess, the way I have dealt with the rudeness of them leaving me here going on without me and well leaving me - Dead.  Anyway that is another blog prbly so today I am striving to work out the TRANSPLANT! the fact that I need ROOTS and that maybe this is the issue in my life that leaves me with walls, without a glow, not Happy, empty yep we are back to DEAD! Well I'm pretty tired of it too and so is the fam so I'm striving as I said, to work it out ... redeem my place in this world and make good use of it ... or otherwise what is the point of being here, still having the blessing of being here, still living longer than my brother and even creeping up on the age of the siblings too!  anyway blah blah blah!  so... where did I leave off????

Oh, where were we?  We are moving again from the attempted roots of heaven and Mom just died!  We are now moving the plants.  I have this one plant that is huge long, we call her Aunt EL!  I start to prune her, so that she will fit and travel well!  The daughter we'll call her AJ went (as she does) ballistic, I sat down to explain that they need to travel they might need a little pruning.  She was distressed that we would just cut off the family and throw them out!  So we made a plan ... I kept the pruned pieces in water to transplant when we got to the new place.  Have you ever heard the story in the Bible about The Parable of the Sower?  You can find it in a few different places (Matthew 13:17-24 Mark 4, and Luke 8:5-8)  This is my vision.  Our talk, that day back in Washington turned into a lingering tale that has both haunted me and given me joy over the last few months since AJ and I had this talk as we talked of plants, roots, seeds, dirt, heritage, missionary work, belief, traditions well keep in mind PEOPLE not merely plants.

When Aunt EL died (the acutal one not the plant!) and  I brought home a plant and I gave the another to my daughter. I'm not sure how she took care of it. But when she moved it did not come with, just an empty pot.  When My sister died I brought home a flower it has since dried up and is in a cedar box in my Kitchen with me. When my brother died I also brought home a flower a yellow one that was so Tom!  It was alive, bright yet rugged and handsome. When Apryl Ann was married I was afraid to use flowers that lived, for they would some day die too, so I have some of her plastic flowers place in a wase to greet me each morning as I wash my face and put on my make-up!!!

When we actually did move AJ and I put into the works a network plan, a missionary heritage, family roots type experiment just to see how it would play out!  We planted the pieces of the plants at my sons house in new pots (which was kinda dumb in retro spec since he wasn't home, nor would he be for a month! to take care of them). We bought soil and tried to strategically space them towards the light in the rooms they were left in.  Then we went away.  Two months later when I returned, the pots with their plants were outside looking abit limp and weakened, BUT still hanging on.  Then...(forgive me but for the sake of my story!) an outsider came in threw the plants to the trash and the soil to the garden.  It was a wind that shook the earth.  Some plants were replaced, some plants were not, pots were left empty, and others were left with pieces of plant and soil...to me they looked so sad!   Some were left with a tiny root to hang on to, some were not allowed a root or a connection to the past.  The picture in the previous blog is the sprout of a Christmas cactus my mom watered each week, the limbs here in this picture are from a plant that I've had since my Dad died.  The plants at home that we call JA and T were NOT even rooted.  And the one named Oats was not even shared! Is that life? REALLY? What is the story of the ancestors? The descendants? What will I leave?

If you can imagine with me, our families spread out all over the world, how do we nourish them?  Are we rooted in something good.  What are the traditions of our fathers? Are they good or evil? If they are not of Jesus Christ then what? I pray we can then be the link that strenghtens and break that chain that isn't goodness.  We are going to be responsible for that which is planted in unrighteousness.  I am grateful for my knowledge in the scriptures and the parable of the Sower and hope to break the chains of ugliness around the home and weld links of happiness transplanted for our future.

I get it this is very wordy and I need to work on that ... how to tell the thought without being so wordy!!!! But let me sum it up in away I hope that you can feel what I have felt in this experiment of needing roots to be transplanted.

This time (our move) I have not been rooted up, but transplanted.  My sadness and lack of luster is that I indeed have not found roots yet, but I will (now that I know what i'm looking for).  Over the month that I was at my sons I watched that little sprout come back to life in a pot in the back yard, she grew out of the soil and start to bloom.  If we are left to ourselves we can survive if we look upward to the light.  But if we have roots how much more blessed are we and how much more advantage do we have in this life. 
dig in and bloom.