Learning can be hard

Another troubling local incident- this time REALLY close to home: the neighbors on one side of us have been gone for about a week on a family trip. We weren't asked to watch the house but can't help seeing it because it's pretty close. They had a relative checking on it who said that two days before they returned everything looked fine. The day they returned, they stopped over to ask if we had noticed any suspicious activity recently to which we replied that we hadn't. Their house had been broken into and all of the things of any value stolen (tv's, computers, jewelry, oddly almost the complete wardrobe of one of the teenage sons). They are on a lease-to-own option for the house and do not have renters' insurance. Their only hope is that the police will be able to quickly find the thieves and recover their property. The sad part is that they are suspicious that it is someone they know, some young men who are not stealing out of starvation, need for shelter or any necessity of life. The parents (fairly well-educated and pleasant people) have been trying to warn their teenage sons about their choice of friends. I remember all to well the resentment teenagers can have toward parents who try to advise them on who they should have as friends. In their very natural maneuvering to establish their independent identities, teenagers rebel against much of what their parents say at some point. Not all parents are wise or truly have the best interest of their children always in mind. However, most parents really do love their children and try hard to assist them to avoid some of the pitfalls of life. It is really rare that parents simply "don't like" other kids their offspring might choose as friends. It isn't a prejudice based on hairstyle or political opinion or income level or any such shallow issue. I remember one of my biggest concerns as a parent was how my children's friends might influence the relationship between me and my child. It really hurt when the child I sacrificed for and anguished over chose to trust a person much less mature and less well-known than I. Parents truly are "older and wiser" and have known more people and had more experience in recognizing characteristics that can lead to trouble and heartache. We feel so bad for these neighbors whose house and life have been violated. We feel bad for their economic loss which will be difficult to recover, if they ever do. Mostly, we hope the kids open their eyes to realize who is truly on their side and who is just looking to selfishly benefit. Friends are an important and enriching element of life. But, in the long run, it's family that usually stick by through everything no matter what the cost.

People and choices

Another local newspaper item got me thinking. A group of 5 young men between the ages of 18 and 21 were about to go to jail for numerous mailbox bashing sprees. They drove through a fairly upscale area south of Dayton (yes, there are nearby areas that are NOT depressing ghettos) hanging out a car window with a baseball bat, destroying mailboxes. When asked why, they told the police that it was "something to do", they "did it for fun". I immediately pictured young men of the same age with white shirts, ties, and name tags reading "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". Their activities include studying scriptures, knocking on doors to introduce people to the church, rendering many hours of service to others, and teaching people about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I realize that not every 19-year old male who chooses not to serve as a missionary will end up bashing mailboxes, but it does cause thought as to what they will do with their leisure time. Depending on their life circumstances, they may have little free time because they're working and going to school, or lots of free time because they have parents willing to support them while they do whatever they want "for fun". It can also make you wonder where those men will be 10 or 20 years from now and what they will be doing. Early in life it only takes one small step to totally change paths. I'm glad I have chosen a path that will result in my spending eternity with people who prefer to use their "free time" to benefit others. It will be heavenly!!

AH Family!

Scott's parents, Ruth and Sam Orme, came to Ohio to see their son before he is deployed and also to be here for the grandsons' baptismal service. Most of the people in this photo are family, if not by blood or legal contract, then by heart. There was a happy, pleasant feeling in the room.

Brooklyn was pretty well-behaved for a toddler. She sat with the children on the floor in front of the baptismal font to watch her cousins enter the water and at the appropriate moment shouted gustily " "men!" (Amen) Later, during one of the confirmations, she was equally vocal in announcing to everyone "Pare!" (prayer) There was no condemnation of her very normal childish behavior. In fact, she was very much adored, as are all of our grandchildren by everyone in our family. The love goes both ways! Most of the children are very comfortable with aunts, uncles, and grandparents as they are with their parents. I just can't say enough in expressing my gratitude for the loving, sharing family I am blessed to be a part of. We have lots of intelligence and talents, too. There is never a lack of a pianist or chorister for these family events. Victoria did a great job taking a turn playing the piano for this baptism. I know we are an eternal unit. We could probably even have our own sacrament meeting! We don't currently have the authority to do that in the Lord's order of things but I can see it as a very real possibility some day.

Another family baptism

Saturday the members of our family who live near enough gathered for a wonderful baptismal service. Joshua (on the right) and Martin (left) Orme were baptised here in Ohio. Martin is 10 years old but his parents waited for him to request baptism, a wise decision. Joshua had his 8th birthday a couple of weeks ago but wanted to wait for his father to baptise him. Here is Dad (Scott) who was home for 10 days between training and his 6-month deployment to Afghanistan. Russ (Grandpa) was willing to do the baptism but it was really wonderful that Scott was able to be home for a few days and is a worthy priesthood holder so he could do the ordinance. Russ and I are very proud of the boys' choice to make this covenant with our Heavenly Father.

There are advantages..

I showed this smaller gold limousine on a blogspot about a month or so ago. Most of the time it is parked near the home of Russ's business partner. Recently Russ had to do some repair work on it so we had it here and didn't have our old Dodge to drive. Our oldest grandson invited us to attend his graduation from middle school so we "had" to go in this car.

After the graduation ceremony, Tanis invited his best friend to ride along to get some ice cream. It was truly a delight to see them wave and yell through open windows to friends who gaped at them riding in a limousine. Popularity is such an important issue in the teen years. So the kids were impressed and Tanis and Ammon (his friend) gained at least one popularity point. I'm sure that if pressed for information, Tanis would admit that the limousine is owned by his grandfather who has a chauffeur business. But just getting to ride in it is worth a little envy.

Outdoor after and before

I can never remember what order the blogspot takes pictures in so invariably I download them in the wrong order for what I actually want and I'm too impatient to do it all again. So this is a photo of the south side of our lawn beside our driveway now, after clearing the brush and litter and planting grass.This was a year ago during one of our lovely family work parties. Our family has been incredibly helpful in this project that hasn't gone quite the way we expected. We couldn't have done it alone.

At the end of the driveway, we found these long stone blocks buried underneath years of accumulated roots and debris. The end of the driveway used to form a lake whenever it rained. We have dug down so the water is channeled away and can run off rather than building up. I planted tall flowers here but they haven't had time to grow yet.

I don't have a really good "before" picture of the end of the driveway. This was just after we had a load of gravel delivered that we spread in the floor of the garage and made a parking pad off the end of the driveway. The vegetation had grown in from the end of the driveway to nearly halfway up to the first door of the garage. It's looking likely that we'll be here through this summer and who knows how much longer??

It's good

We recently got together at the terHorst home in Cincinnati to celebrate Jarin's birthday. He's looking pretty sober in this photo but I think he had a good time like everybody else did. My reason for posting this picture as well as the next one is to show Victoria. This young woman has been through some pretty rough times. In the past year she has been struggling to re-define herself as a widow and full-time college student. She has continued to maintain her responsibilities to care for her three children in sickness, health, disobedience, sorrow and all that goes with being a mom. She has continued to develop her faith through service in her Church calling as well as what she tries to do with what little time she has to offer others. She has lost weight, re-organized her eating and exercising habits. She has made the dean's list at school by studying and diligently doing homework and papers.

She has dealt with a lot of frustrations and hardships but we couldn't be any prouder of her than if she had been born our daughter. It is so good to see her smile. Isn't she beautiful?

Russ and I have been truly blessed beyond measure to have wonderful children who chose wonderful spouses and have borne wonderful children to be our grandchildren.