Our Baby, My Dad, and a Paper

I've been extremely busy this past year. Lorena is continuing to grow and become more of a personality than ever. Christmas was so fun (it will be even better this year as she is able to understand what is going on). We had a great time at the beach in July. She is such a little comic and knows just how to capture your attention. When she see family members she lights up and reaches for us. When she sees me she reaches for me and wants to play. She knows I'm good for a cookie, a story, and some fun. She already knows where Gr. Grandma keeps cookies at her house and she checks out anyone who goes near the cookies to see if they are bringing one for her.

                                                                  New Glittery Shoes!

Dad passed away on Aug. 23, 2010. I knew he wasn't going to be with us forever because he was so ill but I dreaded the parting. Dad was a wonderful man. He was a spectacular father and he understood the order of the priesthood and the calling of husband and father. He fulfilled those responsibilities so well. He was very intentional about what he did for us and how he did it. Just prior to the birth of my first child, Tom, he reminded me that being a parent was the one calling I would never be released from -- now or in the eternities. Dad set the premier example for following the Savior. John said it, "Grandpa knew how to follow the Savior." Dad was real. What you saw was what you got. He loved our mother with complete faithfulness and fidelity. He was fun and funny. He was kind about people yet he was real. He recognized a person who was a problem but he never treated them badly. In his passing I've found myself reflecting on how I can be more like him in the way of being kinder. (Not losing my sense of reality and calling it like I see it but doing with it with greater kindness and patience.)

I have also marveled during this time at the comfort I've received from the Holy Ghost. It's been interesting to observe what it's like to go through the grief process and to see how the Atonement blesses us and provides the peace that I've needed during this time. My faith has deepened and been strengthened about the Plan of Happiness and I now understand why it's referred to as the Plan of Happiness in the Book of Mormon.

I will never quit missing Dad in this mortal life. He did so much for me all through my entire life. The world was always safer when he was in charge. I found I needed him as much as an adult as I did when I was a little girl -- just in different ways. He has always been a source of advice and counsel. I could talk to him about important decisions and ask his opinion about how to handle difficult situations and he always supported and guided me in a loving and respectful way.

I look forward to greeting him when I walk through the veil some day. That will be a joyful day.

Now, for wonderful things of lesser importance: I am almost finished with my doctorate degree. During this past year I finished my research and data collection. I received approval from my committee to move ahead last March and I wrote my dissertation through the spring and summer. The month of July was devoted to the majority of the writing. Writing this has been a great experience. I experienced the tender mercies of the Lord during this time. My mind was enlightened. I found that information I needed would come to my mind and I was reminded through the promptings of the Spirit about pieces of research and data I had collected that I needed to include. For example, I had forgotten about a staff survey I had given to my staff a year before. I couldn't recall immediately where I had put the data. Just when I needed it-- I remembered where it was! That is just one little example of the help I received. I found the words, I recalled information, I was guided to check things, and I was able to do the difficult writing much more quickly and more ably than I would normally be able to do. It was a witness to me of how we are helped when we invite Heavenly Father to help us.