Happy Birthday Miss Meridith!! We miss you

September 3, 1986 at 2:59am Rick and I were blessed to have a baby girl born into our families.  Rachel was thrilled to have a baby sister after 2 little brothers; Brett and Aaron were excited as well.  As with each of our children she was quite unique.  She was a quiet and shy little girl, but very determined.  There are lots of memories that I have of Meridith.

When she was 3 and we did Joy School and it was Christmas time they were doing the Nativity play and Marcia Vigil had just had Zachary a few months before, Meridith wanted to hold him as Jesus.  She did not want to do it unless she could hold Zachary.  We tried everything we could to convince her otherwise.  I’m not quite sure but I imagine Marcia let her hold him. 

When Meridith and Brett were little they were playing (they were probably 2&4) I was in the shower and all of a sudden I heard Brett crying I hopped out of the shower and he came to me and he was bleeding,  they had been playing and Meridith hid and then popped up and hit in the forehead with a hard plastic square and then off to the ER we went and Brett got 3 stitches. 

Aaron and Meridith shared a love of music. 

Rachel and Meridith shared a love and bond that sister can share.

Brett and Meridith shared a connection that started before they were either born.  It is because they understood the bigger picture.  At least for Meridith she understands it now more than any of us.  I know that Heavenly Father knows more than we do, but it’s tough sometimes to not have her here. 

Brett told Rachel one day that she was lucky that she has pictures of Meridith holding Haylee, something that he wishes he could have.   

Rick and Rachel shared this video with me:

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/homefronts?lang=eng#homefronts?lang=eng&_suid=137822949222206482849951874565

Its the one with the girl on the cell phone.

One of the things I miss is hearing her voice.  She would call me all the time, walking from one class to another, driving in the car.  She would share her life with me.  I loved that.  I also miss her testimony, her voice. Last night Brett and Brittany were reading scriptures to the boys and Brett grabbed Meridith’s  scriptures, in there is a list of what she was looking in for a mate.  Brett asked me if I had seen it.  I had. She knew what she wanted and knew the direction she wanted her life to go.  She knew who she was.  Don’t get wrong she was a typical young adult….trying to survive in this world…she was a kind person ….but on occasion she could be obnoxious.  

Meridith is on the other side pulling for us. She knows we can be a forever family, we all have to do our part to get there.

Happy Birthday sweetpea.  I miss you.

October 3, 2012

Working for American Airlines has been so interesting.  During this time of bankruptcy it has been really hard.  I often wonder what is happening to our society?  Why are people so mean to others?  I have a co worker who is one of the rudest people I have ever worked with, makes up names about people. Ugly ones.  It really puts a damper on the morale of our very small department of 3 agents.  I guess I prefer to look for the good in people.  You never know what someone is going through until you have gone through what they are.  Also not everyone is the same they do not handle stress the same.  We need not to be the judge and jury of someone else.

Life is a journey

"Life's journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage to say, 'No,' the courage to say, 'Yes.' Decisions do determine destiny. The call for courage comes constantly to each of us. It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be."
--Thomas S. Monson, "The Call for Courage," Ensign, May 2004, 54

We never know what our journey will bring.  We have to follow the Lords path and plans.We have to make decisions on important principles before the decision is before us.  I was talking to a young girl who was telling me about a boy she is dating.  I of course said I'm going to ask you the difficult question?  Is he a member?  She said no but he is a good guy.  That's a tough one.  I know where my heart is and what I think is the right thing to do.....but how does your life experiences help someone make a wise choice.

18 September 2012

I don't know where all the time has gone.  It has been almost a year since i have posted anything or even looked at any blogs.  Its crazy.
 
This summer has been full of wonderful activities.  In June one of Meridith's roommates got married in the Manti Temple.  It was a beautiful wedding.  Sherree was a beautiful bride. That first semester was so much fun for those girls.  When we left the reception in the garage across from the chapel was a 69 camero.  Little tender mercies.  How thankful I am for those. 

We were able to spend sometime with John and Natalie Arhets.  What wonderful friends they are, the spirit in their home is wonderful.  I am so thankful to know them.  They have now left for thier 2nd mission.  How lucky the people of Canada are, they are getting 2 wonderful missionaries. 

Kristen RIchardson got married in the Salt Lake Temple in August.  I was very blessed to be able to be there in the temple with her.  It was beautful, temple marrieges are so very important.  You start off knowing that you will be able to be together forever.  The covenants that you make with yoru spouse and with Heavenly Father are wonderful.

In Spetember we went to Disney World with Rachel and Haylee and Brett and Brittany and Calan and Reagan.  Rick and I are very fortunate to be able to spend so much time with our grandchildren.  We have a great time.  Exhausted when we came back, but tons of fun.

Rick and I are still serving in the singles ward.  I am amazed often at the testimonies of these young single adults.  The service that they give is amazing, the night shelter, Tarrant County food bank, they take a trip to Houston to make Peanut Butter.  Thats just a few things that they do.

Months have gone by

It has been months since I have even looked at blogs. This past summer and fall and winter have just flown by. Work was super busy. When I took the training position 2 years ago it was fir about 2 years. I was hired with 2 others at that same time. They both have taken other jobs. Work then offered the job again but as permament. I applied for it and got it. Whether good or bad is still up in the air.

In August our Young Women's Presidency was released. We served for 4 years, it was a great presidency, we worked together really well. I miss working with them and their great testimonies. It was an amazing 4 years, great youth conferences, young women's camps, priest laurel activities, beehive conferences. We have amazing youth in the Hurst Texas Stake. I am thankful for the blessings that I have had to serve the Lord by serving the Young Women.

Rick and I have not been able to travel or hardly do anything because we have been so swamped. The one thing that we did do is take a family vacation to Disney World. Haylee, Rachel, Brett, Brittany, Calan and Reagan, we had a great time. As grandparents it so much fun to see our grandchildren so excited about every little thing.

Then came the holidays, this year Aaron and Kim and Cooper, spent Christmas here. It was great. Families that what it's all about. I am so thankful for ours.

Church on Sunday

I was lucky to take Haylee to church on Sunday. She loves to go to church. She called me Sunday morning as I was getting ready to leave for the single ward. At first she told me that she was going to church with her mommy and Kristen, I thought that great. Then they called back and Rachel wasn't going so I could take Haylee. A week ago when I took her to church the primary pianist said she sing so good, and knows the songs. The primary Cd's for the years sacrament program really make a difference. She is such a doll and I just lover her. We got to church and there didn't seem like a lot of people were there or at least not a lot singing. Brett and Brittany and the boys got there and we got to sit together. As we sang the rest hymn I missed hearing Rachel and Meridith's voices. They both have such wonderful voices. I listen to the sounds around me and just missed them. I always know the Lord is mindful of me, so as we sang the closing song "Each Life That Touches Ours for Good". It made me of course think of Meridith. I can now get through that song, on occasion it still catches me off guard. I am thankful for the knowledge of the atonement, for eternal families. I can not imagine trying to figure this life out without reassurance of being together as a family. I hope that all of our family will want to be there. I have had such strong feelings about genealogy wanting to know who the rest of our family was how their thoughts and desires came to help me be the person that I am.

Life is zooming by

Life has been going by so fast I have not even looked at my blog or any ones since May, Crazy I know. Between work or Young Single Adult Ward and Young Women's (on occasion sleep) its been busy.

In June we had our Young Women's Camp. Our theme was "Its a Jungle Out There"
We used the 13th Article of Faith and we used jungle animals for the virtues. As stake leaders we were the Honest Zebras. It was so much fun. Our Stake Camp director is so talented and so much fun. We did a trading post, the girls brought items to "trade" for goodies, the items were donated to the women's shelter for abused women and children. We made so many bags for the shelter, they wrote notes of encouragement to them. Here is a picture of the trading post.

Camp was so much fun. We had horse back riding, BB guns, archery, swimming. We had a spiritual class every day. One day we used the talk from April's conference from Dallin H Oaks

On Desire, the statement we used is "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices and choices determine our actions. I think what strikes me the most on this statement, is that sometimes our desires are good, but when that desire takes longer than we thought it should then we start changing that desire to be a little different. Like friends, or relationships or jobs. What are we value are we willing to change to get what we desire. We had young women's camp Tuesday through Saturday. Then on Sunday we had our opening fireside for youth conference. We had the Dallas Temple President come and talk to the youth, we then set Wednesday and Thursday for the wards to come to the temple and the youth do baptisms. Each ward had a time in which to come, it was wonderful. On Friday we had workshops at the stake center, had breakfast lunch and dinner for the kids, President Hadley spoke on Friday and then we had a dance. Saturday we met back at the stake center and then we went out by Granbury (by buses) to float the Brazos. It was a good day. We had lunch and then went back to the stake center and then home. Sunday we had our testimony meeting, it was really good to hear how so many of them had a good experience and how they could relate to the different activities that we did. What a great time.

We know that our time as the Stake Young Women's Presidency is coming to an end. This has been an amazing experience. I have learned so much from Victoria, Bev and Marie. My testimony has been strengthen so much. The Lord certainly has blessed each of us, we worked really well together. Bev and I did not know any one. Victoria and Marie had been in the same ward for a time before their wards had been split. I truly have loved serving with them. I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for my family.

On July 18 Cooper Kyllo was born to Aaron and Kim. He is so cute. We know have 1 grand daughter and 3 grand sons. They are such a blessing to us. I know that I want our family to be together forever. Keep pulling for us Meridith, I know you are close by.