Another Day

June 27, 2010

This week has been an interesting week.  You come to realize  just how important life is when you see it slipping away from someone you love so much.

This year was our turn for the Turnbow reunion,  everyone of us has been planning this for the past 7 years but more so the last 6 months.  Dad and Mom always plan BIG.  They always put on a show like no other.  This year was no different, they have learned how to plan and make things work from all the opportunities they had in service to the Church.

Dad wanted to go, wanted to support Mom. And even in his weaken body he went.  It proved to be a bit to much for him, and we had to bring him home.  But he went. And he visited with everyone and anybody that would visit for those short moments.  And the funny thing of it all is that in the same park and at the same time and in the pavilion right next to our were the Sweat/Gines reunion.  These were close friends from Tabiona.  The smile on his face and the lift of his spirit was great to see. 

There has been many of those opportunities this past week, so many spiritual experiences that you know what Heavenly Father is preparing him for.  So many people have come and bore testimony of the great work he has done for the Church, and of the  life lines he has been in their lives.  So many tears have been shed, so much laughter to lighten our soul, so much love that show just how eternal the plan of salvation is.

Time runs short I know that.  I know with all my heart that I will miss my Dad when the time comes, but I also know that there are so many people awaiting his arrival.  Like he said tonight, he will be going to a much better place.  Yes he will  for he has truly earned it.
I love you Dad!

A Good Day.

June 22, 2010

When was the last time you could say you had a good day? Did the sun shine today?, Did you hear a child giggle? Did you have someone say hello?  Do you have a bed to sleep in?  Were you able to get out of bed and open the window and breath in the fresh air?  These are all good days?

We look forward to good days around here.  Dad had a good day.  He was able to eat some cream of wheat and keep it down.  His help came in and gave him a shower and shave and it felt good.

Good days comes and go, but those good days are savored around here.

Life... what is it all about.

Have you ever just thought about what you are suppose to learn from Life?  Have you wondered if you have done enough, or will you ever leave your footprint in the hearts of those you love?  How does it work or how will those left behind go on?

Life is amazing thing.  We enter this life dependent on someone and you leave his life dependent on someone.  And the in between places we look for someone to lean on and to walk with.

As I see Dad taking those last few steps back to his beginning, I can't help but think that his life has been one of blessings.  Those early days of being a young man and going to his  mountain and learning of Christ and the testimony that has fashioned his life.  What a great man! What a great example to those whose lives he has touched.  Especially mine.
 I think back over the years and know that life was tough for him.  The responsibility  that faced him as he raised 8 children, run the ward as a Bishop and the Stake as a Stake President.
Oh, the fun we had as children as Dad put together a golf arrow course, and  as we made arrows or bow strings  and campers  to sell.  The rabbits, puppies, and the fawn to raise.  There are the camping trip when we found the kitten we had lost rolled up in the tent when we went camping up twin lakes.  The fishing trips to Strawberry, the rides over wolfcreek.  The trips to Big Rock candy mountain.  The 8 foster kids we had at one time.  The love he has for everyone.

Life is on my mind at this time, as I see the life of my Dad grow short.  He is a gentle giant.  A spiritual man, and one of great faith.  He loves the Lord with all his heart and has blessed the lives of so many.  He loved to be a sealer in the Jordan River Temple, but his greatest joy is his sweet wife, Ber.  and his children and grandchildren.


I ramble on, but I just want anyone that reads this know that I have a Father that is worthy of the blessings he will receive  when he returns home to our Savior.  I love you Dad, and it is hard to watch you grow old and head back to your beginnings, but I know that this is all about Life. 


Life, make the most of it, love those that are around you.  And enjoy the time you have and make it count.

This is why I come to Hawaii

This is why Hawaii is so important to me... Lucas James Isakson was born at 3:38 am on Monday March 1, 2010.  He waited for his dad to arrive from Iraq, let him have a few hours with Melissa and Madeline and then made a grand entrance 10 hours later.  Almost born at home, but running a few red lights helped to get them there.

Lucas is beautiful, sweet, cuddly, and all those things that babies are... and he makes number 14 on the grandchild list...4 boys and 10 girls.

I have been here now for almost 1 and 1/2 weeks and only seen the sun twice, I think it is me... the sun runs when I arrive and comes back when I leave.  We will try to hit the beach maybe Wednesday.

When I first arrived, the next day we went on a hike to the lighthouse and see if we could see the whales, no whales...but I think maybe that started Melissa going.  I have had a good time here with everyone, and it will be hard to leave and go back especially leaving Melissa alone with the 2 kids until Jimmy returns in September.

Natalie's friend invited us to dinner saturday night.  Boy was that a treat.  He cooked BBQ spareribs, lobster, crab, clams, oysters, sauages, shrimp, there was so much of it, it was insane.  Then everyone (about 15 of us) came with the desserts.... if I might say, it was a great night.
 
Natalie leaves to move back to Utah on Monday, and Jimmy leaves to go back to Iraq on Tuesday...sad days for the Isakson Family, Madeline has had so much fun with her daddy, and Melissa has missed having Jimmy around also.  I hope the next 6 months go fast...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my very favorite people...I am glad that some of my children carry on the traditions of the holiday. Those in Hawaii started the day off with breakfast of heart shaped sausage and I hope pink milk and pink pancakes.

Oh, how I miss those days. I guess I could do for myself, but too much work for no one to appreciate it.

Update on Grandpa. He came home from the hospital last Sunday, and then was taken back on Tuesday. It has been a struggle for the last month. Yesterday he was taken to a care center for treatment for the next 15 days. I will be glad when he can just come home and go to Tabby and enjoy doing those things he likes to do. He has been so very sick.

It has been hard watching Mom worry about him, but she sure has had a positive attitude, and the faith that things will be okay. I know life is short for both of them, and I have been truly blessed to be in their home at this time in my life and be able to learn from their wisdom.

So, on this Valentine Day, appreciate those you love and that have blessed your life and let them know it.

No time....but the present

There is no time like the present, to write because if I don't take the time right this very minute it may be another 4 months.

Life changes each day, I sometimes don't know if I am going or coming. Since September there has been visits from Melissa, Madeline, and Natalie. Halloween, Thanksgiving and the day after shopping, Christmas and the fun of all that, New Years Eve.

There has been life changes, as Samantha and the girls have moved back in with us. Scott and Cassi have moved and bought a new house in Herriman.

Natalie has decided to move back in March from Hawaii, and Melissa's baby is soon to be here, so I will be on my way to Hawaii Feb 25 until the 24th of March. (Tough job, but Mom has to do it! hehe!)

Grandpa has been back in the hospital, with some major problems, but you know, all will be as it will be. Life goes go and so we will just live each day as best we can knowing that each of us are watched out for by our Heavenly Father. Oh, that plan of Life.

The "Girls" as we have been called had decided to head to San Fransisco this year for our trip and spend a week, and then last week we changed our minds (as women have the right to do.) and so we have booked a crusie. So, Baja Mexico watch out.... it should be a lot of fun. We will spend the last two days of our week back in California and go to Disneyland or just wander the streets, who knows what we will do, and that is how we like it. The unexpected. They are so determined to show me the world. Who knows what we will be doing next year.
I have enjoyed so much these past three years of traveling with them and the fun and friendships that have come of it.

Well, this is just a start of what has been going on since September... but the time is late and the mind is tired.