Fort Riley Kansas

We are on a road trip through Kansas and we drove by Fort Riley. About 67 years ago, my dad was stationed here. My mom was pregnant with the third baby. She carried that baby to term and delivered him still born. She knew he had died about a week before when she no longer could feel him move. They thought he choked on the cord. They named him Danny Empey. 

As I drove by here the other day, after driving 1000 miles from home, I couldn't help but think how far from home and family my mom must of felt. Life was different then. Her mother had already passed away, no one was coming from home to comfort and help them.

 My grandpa Empey paid to transport that little body to Idaho Falls via train and had him buried in a family plot in Ammon Idaho. I can't even begin to imagine the hurt and pain this must of been. 

But this event did not define my parents. My dad was released from the Army not long after and they settled in Twin Falls Idaho. My mom has 3 more babies and we lived a happy life there until 1977, when we moved to California. 

You never know what life will give you to deal with, but we always have access to God's love to help us work through the feelings, good and bad, we are left with. 

God is good......

Families are forever.....

Little Old Ladies

For whatever reason, I find myself in the midst of little old ladies all the time. I minister with a sweet little woman who is about 90. She grew up in Jerome and knows everybody. We minister to one of her friends who is also about 90. When we went out to see her, she lives in the country, she didn't answer. We banged on the door, we called her and we peeked in the window. Come to find out, she was home and didn't hear us...or the phone.

 Today I talked to her daughter, who was visiting and she gave me her number and told me to call her and maybe she could remeind her that we were coming. Then she told me how important it is for women to get together. There is something very empowering about women working with other women. She also gave me her phone number....we bonded. 

 I'm a believer in this concept. Women need other womwn. I am believer of ministering, or caring for others. Some of my best friends were my ministering or visiting teachers. When I moved to California and went to girls camp, they had the tradition of singing No Man is an Island. It was the most stregthing experience to stand arm and arm with those girls and leaders and sing that song. When life is hard, I still think of that tradition. We need one another.... 

 Enough talk... Spring is on it's way.......

From my favorite nursery

This turns bright red before it blooms

Lots of tulips here this year.

All kinds of fun in this flower bed.

Flowers, flowers, flowers....

Quilts and Life

I just finished restoring this quilt and could not help but compare it to repentance and the love of the Savior.

This quilt was made by my great aunt for her daughter, my dad's couisin. 

 It was well used, loved and worn out. I thought it was the ugliest quilt I had ever seen.

 I patched it, washed it, re-quilted it and even took out all of what was left of her stitching in the boarder, because they were broken and the wrong color. 

 When I finished it, I thought it was beautiful. I could see some repairs, but I had to look so hard for them.

 I couldn't help but think of our lives. They are worn, sometimes they are broken. Life gets dirty. But they are full of goodness and love.

 When we repent, or try again to do it better, things start looking better. 

 The Savior has paid for our sins all ready and he makes things right. We become clean, whole and beautiful. 

 This I know... this I testify... that He lives and loves us....

International Womens Day

I love International Womens Day. I find it a day to empower women to come together and make a difference in the world. I love my women relationships. I love the older women in my life. I don't know how I found them, but I'm so very happy when they express love to me and support me in my efforts.

This is how my weekend rolled.

 I stopped by and had a chat with my friend with Kathy. 

 Then I had lunch with my dad's cousin Mary.

I texted with my friend J'lene while she had her last chemo.

 Then I went and visited Illeta.

 Even though I no longer have my mother to talk to, I am blessed with wise women, who enrich my life and help me feel the love of God. 

 It's all in God plan.......