Derek's Air Force Retirement

On Friday, June 12, 2015 Derek retired from the Air Force after spending 25 1/2 years as a member of the military.  His career has taken him all over the world and he knows some pretty high up people.  This ceremony was so beautiful as they honored my son.  No mother could have been more proud of her son than I was and am.  

There were tons of tears shed by all that attended this event.  Derek was loved by everyone that had the privilege of working along side of him.  He is a great leader to those he had command over.

Now this little family of four will start a new life outside of the military.  It will be a great adjustment for all of them.

 

 

Life Is Precious

I flew to Shreveport, LA on June 8th for Derek's retirement party from the Air Force.  I was flying from Tucson to Dallas and then on to Shreveport.  For over a week I was worried about this flight and could not get it out of my mind.  I arrived at the airport in Tucson 2 1/2 hours early and when I checked in they placed me on a different flight that was leaving in 30 minutes.  I hurried and got to the gate as they were almost finished loading the plane.  I settled into my seat and waited with excitement of seeing my family in just a few hours.

Finally the waited moment of take off arrived and I was so excited.  The engines roared and off we went down the run way and into the blue skies of Arizona.  Approximately 5 minutes into the flight, the engine noise went totally silent.  I looked out the window and thought to myself that we were not going to gain the altitude we needed to go over the mountain.  All of the passengers were looking at each other with panic on their faces.  Suddenly the plane banked to the right and once again it banked to the right.  I was beginning to get a little nervous.  I looked out the window and the ground seemed to be getting closer and closer.  The pilot came on the intercom and told us that we had to return to the airport as an indicator light had come on and it was proto call to return.  We arrived back and landed safely.  What a sight it was to see every emergency vehicle lining the runway. We later found out that there had been a fire in side of the tail compartment.

While we were still in the air and the ground was coming closer and closer, my thoughts were rather calm.  I remember thinking to myself that I had lived a good life and if my time to go was now, I was okay with that.  I knew each of my family members had the knowledge that I loved them dearly and had done everything in my power to give them the love and support they needed in life.  They knew that I had a strong testimony of the gospel and valued my membership in this church.  I was sad that if we did crash and I didn't make it that I would not see my new great grandson that had been born the day before nor would I see my birthday which was the next day.  I did know that my Dad would be there with open arms to welcome me to heaven.

We made it safely, I got on my original flight and made it to Dallas.  I was to late for my connecting flight, which had been canceled anyway.  Derek and his family drove from Bossier City and picked me up.  This trip was extremely hard on me, but worth it.  Nothing is better than seeing family.

My Little Garden

We moved to Arizona the first week of April then moved all of our earthly belongings on the 10th.  One of the very first things I did after unpacking our boxes was plant my sweet little garden.  It brings me much joy and I love working in the soil.  

My garden is not very big, but the people that put in the planter box went over and above to put in the most awesome soil.  It is so easy to work with.  My plants just love where they are planted and are growing so fast.  Tonight I had to give my tomato plants their first haircut (trimming off the drone leaves) so they look a little bear right now.  In a week they will be all filled in again.

In my garden I have five tomato plants, five potato hills, a zucchini, a yellow squash, chives, lavender, basil, green beans and some flowers.  It has been so rewarding watching these plants grow from seeds or small plants to what they are today.  These pictures were taken two weeks ago and the tomatoes are way over the very top ring of the cages.  

  

I just love living here.

Little Answers

Today was the most spiritual day for me.  Sacrament meeting was extremely uplifting and filled with beautiful music and inspirational talks.  My soul was fed and was filled with joy.  Our choir sang the most wonderful rendition of "Master, the Tempest Is Raging".  It filled the chapel with joyful notes of gladness.  The voices echoed off the walls and vibrated within my soul.  I loved it.  The Sunday School and Relief Society lessons were just as uplifting.  I love my ward here in Copper Basin and can feel the spirit so strong at each meeting.

This afternoon my heart was troubled so I began to read my scriptures and pray.  I went in earnest supplication to my Father and told him that I knew He was there with me, but I needed to have reassurance that all was well.  I no more than said Amen, when Dick yelled to tell me that we had company.  I came into the living room and there were our sweet missionaries, Elders Martin and Hansen.  They visited for a few minutes and then Elder Martin asked if he could leave with a word of prayer.  He gave the prayer and it was the exact words that I needed to hear at that very moment.  During his prayer I was reaffirmed by the Spirit that these words were my answer.   Our prayers are answered quickly if we just listen with our hearts.  My heart has been eased of it troubles.

My Gethsemane

During life we are dealt many trials and heartache.  Some are small and easy to overcome while others are severe and takes our souls to the very depths of despair.  How we handle those trials can be referred as our gethsemanes. 


My gethsemane took me down a road of despair for over 18 months and each day grew harder and harder to piece life together.  It started in August of 2013 when my father went into surgery to have a valve replace in his heart.  He suffered three different strokes and finally passed away in the evening of October 2, 2013.  My life was shattered into a million pieces and I thought to myself that life was so unfair and all I wanted was to have my Dad hold me tight and let me know that all would be okay.  That did not happen and things were not okay.

Dick and I moved from Arizona after the funeral and put all our belongings into storage and lived with Mom as she could not be alone at that time.  All we had was a bedroom that contained one chair, our bedroom furniture and our television.  Life was very hard as I missed my things and I needed to have something that was mine.  Each day we were reminded that the house was not ours and we did not belong.  We were just visitors without a home.  

Tears flowed frequently over the slightest things.  One day the tears lasted for 14 1/2 hours and I felt like my soul was so spent and lost.  I could not find comfort in prayer or pleading supplications to my Heavenly Father.  My soul felt bitterness and resentment to those that tried to love me.  I was just pushing them farther away.

I became very tired and was so worn out from trying to please and take care of everyone around me.  I neglected my soul and did not delight in much.  Resentment toward my situation became my crutch.  I was bitter that my things were sitting in storage getting ruined.  I was bitter because my branch family didn’t want anything to do with me.  I was bitter that there was hate and contention between Dick and Mom.  I was bitter that my siblings were causing so much trouble and accusing Dick and I of things that were untrue.  I was bitter about their lies and their uncaring ways.  I was just downright bitter.

Over the course of the next 18 months I tried to find the good in this situation but it was hard.  Dick and I drifted farther and farther apart and finally I could not take it any longer.  We just could not communicate with one another without being negative toward each other.  He could not find kindness in his heart toward my mother and she had the same feeling toward him.  This just put a huge wedge in my heart.  In October of 2014 I told him I was leaving and he could either stay or go with me.  He talked me into staying as we had promised Derek that if he passed his advancement test, we would take care of Kelly and the kids should he be deployed.  His test results would not be in until the end of November.  I calmed down and agreed to wait until Derek found out.  Needless to say he did not get his advancement as he had hoped for.

In December  we decided to go to Arizona to spend Christmas with Brook and her family.  We went to storage the second week of December and got our luggage and as in the past everything was just fine.  We spent three weeks with Brook then returned back to Utah.  We took the luggage back to storage the third week of January and things were not right with our storage unit.  I insisted that someone had been in there.  Dick insisted that no one could have gotten in as we had locks that were tamper proof.  The unit was a mess with boxes everywhere.  He insisted that the boxes just broke down from being in storage for all those months.  We got it cleaned up and went on with our lives….me insisting someone broke in and him insisting differently.

It was decided that we would move back to Arizona and arrangements were made to rent a beautiful home.  We left the last week of March to sign the lease and get the utilities hooked up.  Before leaving, I went to storage to get my vacuum so I could clean the home before moving our things in.  The vacuum was not where I had thought it was.  Figuring that Dick had put it behind a cabinet, I just went on my way and thought nothing of it.

We came back to Utah to finish packing and to get ready for the final move.  On April 10th we loaded our UHaul truck with all our things from the storage unit.  When the truck was loaded I asked if anyone had seen the vacuum.  No one could remember seeing it.  Now I was beginning to wonder some more about things.

We got to Arizona and unloaded the truck.  I began to notice that there were furniture pieces missing along with some wall hangings.  When it came time to unpack the kitchen boxes most of them were not there.  Monday brought much heartache as the boxes were unpacked and appliances, cookware, dishes and utensils were gone.  There was very little left.  It was at this point that Dick agreed with me that someone had broken into our unit and taken a good portion of our items.  I lost items that can’t be replaced.  How do you put a value on items that are filled with sentimental emotions?  How do you put a value on something that was made by the hands of your loved ones or yourself?   

This gethsemane that I have lived with for the last 19 months has just about broken my soul to depths that are hard to comprehend.  I have ruined lives by doing what I thought was best.  I have ruined relationships between me and my family.  I have lost faith in mankind.  I have been violated and ache for my stolen items.  

I keep thinking….”if only”.  Those “if only’s” can’t and won’t happen.  I have to forget and forgive.  My heart has to be cleansed from the hurtful feelings that have taken residence within.  I have to turn to my Father in Heaven and beg for forgiveness for thinking He forgot about me.   I have to pick myself up, shake myself off, hold my head high and walk in the light.  My gethsemane is no more.  Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

Mother's Day Boutique & Yard Sale

We have been very busy since getting settled into our new home in San Tan Valley, AZ.  Seems like everyday something new is in the works.  Dick has been so busy making benches and we have three new ones ready for our Mother's Day Boutique & Yard Sale tomorrow.  Here are two of them.

Laurena Priest

Every Tuesday night I attend the Monticello LDS Temple with my brother, Lane, and with my mother.  Tonight Lane asked me if I was taking one of the names I had found through for endowments and I told him no, I did not have them ready for endowments yet.  He handed me a card from his names and asked if I would take one through for him.  The name he gave me was Laurena Priest and she was born in 1877 in Colorado.

I got ready and went in to proceed through with the endowment session.  About five minutes into the session my breathing changed and I felt so overwhelmed with everything around me.  I kept thinking what is wrong with me this is not normal.  Then the flood gates opened and I was crying and could not stop.  I was beginning to feel embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.  I only had two Kleenex tissues in my pocket and I had already soaked one.  I kept thinking “what is wrong with me, my week had only started and it was not bad so far.

I started praying that I could get my emotions in control so I could concentrate on what was being taught.  Suddenly it hit me like being struck with a brick….it is not you that is crying it is Laurena.  She has waited for so long for her work to be done and she is  filled with joy that you are doing this endowment for her.  Immediately the tears stopped, my breathing became normal and I could concentrate once again.  The session was beautiful and I was teachable and humbled by this experience.  Just before the session ended the tears started again, but this time I knew they were tears of joy from Laurena Priest.

When we got into the car to come home I told Lane I had to tell him something that happened in the temple tonight.   He said what happened and I told him about the crying, the change in my breathing and how happy my sister was that I was taking through the temple.  I said to him “the only thing that would have made this even more meaningful is if it had been one of our family names.  Lane got his cute smile on his face and said “it was one of our Fuller family members that you took through tonight.”  Tonight I was in full spirit with my family beyond the veil.  Not to often are we able to experience this type of closeness.

I know that temple work is so important and those that are beyond the veil are anxiously waiting for us to do their work.  I have personally been led to names that need done so they can progress in heaven.  My experiences in the temple are faith building and I cannot deny the power of this gospel as my life is molded into a Christlike existence.