Small Miracles Forever

It seems like everything I post is serious and here is another one. I am sorry if these are getting old but I wanted to take a minute and talk about small miracles. People have said at times,they have not had a miracle in their life. I think we consider miracles as something that comes with Angels, or bells and chimes ringing or something else that is spectacular like the Lord parting the Red Sea. By definition:

"A miracle is an extraordinary event caused by the power of God. Miracles are an important element in the work of Jesus Christ. They include healings, restoring the dead to life, and resurrection. Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith is necessary in order for miracles to be manifested" (Guide to the Scriptures, 165).

So this begs the question; what are the extraordinary events that shows a miracle in our lives? I want to suggest that miracles occur regularly by virtue of the following two stories:

Story #1: Last Saturday was to be a big day. Natalie and Bryan had everything planned down to the second. We would get up at 6:00Am and start our projects. Everyone had their own part. I t would take us all day to complete all these projects so we could the following week put our home on the market. Well Saturday came and by 11 o'clock AM, we had barely started anything and were essentially hours behind with no hope of finishing. Natalie was not her normal self, Cindy was feeling a lot of stress and the kids were being overly active. The family was called together and I told them we needed a miracle and that we needed family prayer. The prayer was offered, a miracle asked for and by the end of the day (approximately 8:30PM) we sat down and realized we had accomplished everything we wanted with a little bit more. The Lord had truly provided a miracle because from the moment of our prayer it was like we had a new day with many more hours available to us. It was unbelievable, but how the Lord performed this miracle I don’t know but we were truly blessed and thankful for His help. Natalie said her whole attitude changed after that prayer. Bryan’s back was as strong as ever and Amy painted and cut everything in with no problems, Cindy made curtains and provided our meals. As a family we worked together and never got in the way of each other. Please remember and take to heart; the Lord cares about the little things in our lives and will provide a way for us if we have faith and remember to have our hearts full of gratitude.

Story #2: Cindy and I decided that we wanted to go to Texas the first week of August and since it was the summer that we should consider taking Hallie and Syddey with us to be with their Cousins. Bryan and Natalie agreed and I went looking for tickets to see if we could afford such an adventure. I found tickets for $213.00 plus applicable taxes which by a long shot was a great price. This was Monday evening and we decided that I should book the trip. Tuesday morning on my break I tried to book the trip but every time I click on the ‘select flight’ Orbitz, Travelocity and Priceline would not honor this price. In fact the price kept going up to $385.00 and more plus applicable taxes. I decided that I would not book any flights at this time and that we would consider not being able to take Hallie and Sydney. We discussed it that night and were all disappointed but felt that was the right thing to do. That night we thank the Lord for our blessings and for the opportunity that Cindy and I would have to see Melissa, Josh and the grand-kids in Texas but were disappointed that we would not be taking Hallie and Sydney. We did not ask for a miracle or a special blessing but rather let our hearts be full of gratitude for our many blessings.

The next day I received an email from Travelocity saying they had tickets for $213.00 if I was still interested in going to Texas. I thought who are you kidding but since there was a link in the email I click it to see what was going to happen, knowing full well that I had been down this road before. To make a long story short and you probably know the ending by now but we got the tickets for that price and we were able to confirm our reservations and seats on each flight. This was truly a miracle. Again, I want to reiterate that the Lord cares about us and knows us personally and answers our prayers and even provides hidden blessings even when not requested. Everyone is very thankful for this miracle and we have truly thanked the Lord many times..

Elder Matthew Cowley stated in the New Era, Jun 1975, the following: “Now, except ye believe as a child, you can’t receive these blessings. We have to have the faith of a child in order to believe in these things, especially when you reach college age and your minds are so full of skepticism and doubt. I guess there are some things that you should doubt, but you can become as little children in these things. Miracles are commonplace, brothers and sisters.” We need to have miracles in our Life to realize that the Lord wants his people to be successful, full of faith and an instrument in His hand.

Sister Sydney S. Reynolds, First Counselor in the General Presidency wrote in an article for the Liahona, “A God of Miracles”, Jul 2001, the following comment after discussing a few miracle in her life: (I recommend this article) “Just as important as these “mighty miracles” are the smaller “private miracles” that teach each of us to have faith in the Lord. These come as we recognize and heed the promptings of the Spirit in our lives. ….. I believe that all of us can bear witness to these small miracles. We know children who pray for help to find a lost item and find it. We know of young people who gather the courage to stand as a witness of God and feel His sustaining hand. We know friends who pay their tithing with the last of their money and then, through a miracle, find themselves able to pay their tuition or their rent or somehow obtain food for their family.”

I love and appreciate the Lord’s hand in my life and in the life of my family and friends.

Hot Days of Summer

Don needed a ride to Salt Lake City (SLC) Airport so he could attend the funeral of his maternal grandfather ( our prayers are with him); so Gramma and Grampa decided to make a day of it and take three yes three grandkids with us. We had Luke, Sydney and Kendra on a day of 100+ degrees in SLC. We had to do some shopping, maybe more than some. It was Shop Hop week for all quilters. This is an opportunity to visit hundreds and hundreds or quilt stores and see new ideas for your quilt projects. There wasn't going to be time to attend this year until Don needed a ride. Gramma was ecstatic. The kids had a great time but got really tired on the way home. They got a 'etch-a-sketch' travel toy, fed the fish and the ducks at Pine Needles, bought candy saw Trucks, airplanes, trucks, buses, trucks and more trucks. For Lunch we went and visited Mara and here kids. Luke was a little unsure of being with the boys but quickly got into the swing of things. Sydney and Kendra jump right into the boys toys and had a blast. When we got ready to continue our shop hopping Mara gave the kids some trucks to keep and play with on the way home. Luke got two!
He loved the ride and spotted every big truck that we saw. He is so into trucks. Grampa there is a truck, a bus, a plane and on and on. Last night on the way home he kept asking if he could ride in PaPa's big truck. I said I am sure he could. He will be so excited. Luke developed a fever and was very uncomfortable on the way home, he wanted his Daddy and Mommy. Mommy gave him some medicine when we got home and he went right to sleep. Go Figure!
Sydney and Kendra were so tired that got silly and we had silly laughter all the way home. A funny story: When Gramma was in Threads and Times quilt shop, Grampa took the kids for a walk in the plaza, we came to the DOGroom a shop that grooms your pets. We look in the windows and Sydney said, "...what is Max doing in there?" I looked in and sure enough here was a black cat that looked like our Max. Same Eyes and same thick black coat. Luke could not figure how Max got into the store.
It was great time for Gramma and Grampa and we tired ourselves out also. So the moral of the story is: Even on one of the hottest days of summer, there is nothing like being with the grandkids.

GeoCaching Trio

Yesterday as we went GeoCaching for FHE, I took the Trio picture of the girls and their treasures they found. If you read Nat's Blog you know we utilized our GPS to find these treasures. It was a lot of fun and the kids totally loved their treasures. Life can be so much fun.

In My Father's Hand

Today is June 15, 2008, it is a day that we as a nation take a moment and tell our fathers how much we love them and how much they mean in our lives. Since this blog in many ways can take the form of a journal, I though I would take a moment and reflect on my father and his influence in my life. It wasn't always easy growing up with my Dad but it has taken the raising my own children to begin to fully appreciate what and why he did the things he did.

When I was a young child, my Dad was foremost in my life and I honored him as little boys do. I followed his example and imitated him in my life. As I became older it was apparent to me that I would never do anything that upset my Dad because of his temper and his big hands. I did not like spankings although in my generation this was a fact that all my friends knew and accepted. The thing that made it the hardest was that my Dad would never listen to me and understand why something happen. It was not that I was always trying to avoid the obvious hands on my bottom routine, yes, sometimes that was my desire, but rather I felt what had happen was not directly my fault and I wanted to explain; if I was wrong so be it, let the hands come. There were times when I was in the right and nothing should have happen, but I was guilty as charged. As I got older, I learned that Dad was very stubborn, his way only, and when he had been drinking it was worse and I knew that all questions received the answer No!, no discussion, no redirect, no nothing, therefore if something was important to me the road to opportunity was through Mom. From these youthful years, I decided at this juncture that I would try and be more open minded and consider the thoughts and feelings of others, especially for my wife and children. I know that I have not always been successful with this effort over the years, but I hope my wife and family will think so.

Even though I had a very hard time communicating with my Dad and sometimes I felt alone, my Dad taught me many things that makes me the man I am today. I can't enumerate all things in this post but will write about 4 of the things that came to my mind while attending Church today:
1) My Dad taught me to be honest in all my dealings and that the character of a man's integrity is told by his actions. I learned at a very young age to be honest even if it hurts. My Dad could not accept lying in any form and insisted on nothing more than the absolute truth from all his boys, my brothers. I believe that I am not a perfectly honest person but I know from my Patriarchal Blessing that my example has a great influence on people around me and that I should never do anything that will affect this example to them. Everyday I try to live up to this blessing but realize this is a big order and thank goodness that I have a lifetime to achieve.
2) My Dad taught me to use tools and to work with my hands. One of my Dad's talents that I wish I had inherited was his great ability to take things apart and put them back together with all the screws, washers, wires, etc in the right place and nothing left over. My love for building things comes from my Dad teaching me about tools and the right way to use them including using the 'right' tool for the job. He would say, "...never use a wrench for a hammer". Sorry Dad I have done that a couple of times. My Dad learned this from his Dad and my girls and their husbands, hopefully, have learned this from me.
3) My Dad taught me to respect the opposite sex and to be kind and helpful to them. I think my life has reflected my appreciation for womanhood and especially for my lovely wife and my daughters. I love them dearly and I know that this comes from Dad. A short story will epitomize the importance Dad place on respecting woman.

I was a junior or senior in High School living in a small village, Millport, NY. All the kids were like brothers and sisters, one big family, we played together all the time. We almost never excluded people but sometimes we made it difficult for some to participate. As friends we would plan activities to do something different from the ordinary. One week we decided we would like to organize a party up at Clyde Jack's Pond. Clyde was an older gentleman that had retired and had a farm about a mile and half away. He had an air boat, Everglades style, and would give anyone ride that wanted a ride. We thought it would be nice to go there for our party. We planned everything and made assignments and then we each went to our parents to get permission and then we would contact Clyde to see if this was acceptable to him. Everyone thought this was a good idea and we finished making preparations. One of my friends who wanted to be more than a friend to one of the girls thought that it would be a good idea if we all asked a girl to be our date. Most of us wanted to be together but because one of us wanted to have a date we decided that we would all ask a girl out. I asked Marily Furnkranz who lived 3 doors up the street if she would go with me. She said Yes! So on the night of our party my Dad told me that I needed to go to her house and pick her up, it was a date! All were planning on meeting at Hammond's Store and we would go together to Clyde's. I tried to explain to Dad that this wasn't really a date but a get-together among Friends. Dad asked, "Did I ask her out?, I said, yes". "Then go and pick her up and make sure you walk her home after the party, all the way to her house". Well ,I picked her up we all had a fun great evening and Clyde did everything he could to make it a nice party. After the party when we got back to town, we all started walking home together and as we came to a friend's house, we would say good-night and continue on. When we got to my house, it was only Marilyn and I left from our group, she said, goodnight and started walking to her house. My Dad came out of the house like a cannon and screaming at me so loud, that I thought the neighbors would be aghast, saying that I needed to walk Marilyn home. I said she said it was OK. Dad said no it wasn't, now get up there and walk her all the way home because that is what Stevens' men do, they take care of their dates and ensure they are safely home. I was very mad at my Dad and very embarrass to run and catch up with Marilyn. I told her what happen as I walked her home. I think she was pleased but never said anything. Later on when I calmed down and thought about what my Dad was trying to teach me, I realized how right he was and that from then on I would always be kind and respectful of woman. I hope my family knows that has been my goal all their lives.

4)The last one I would like to talked about today is the importance of being a friend. I hate to say this but in my Dad's life his friends always came before Mom and the family. He would drop whatever he was doing for his friends. I did not like this when the family was put in second place. However, I do realize that we need friends and that we have to help each other if we are to return to our Heavenly Father. Service is the key to happiness now and in the life to come. I hope that I have been a good friend and servant to those around me and hope my family has never felt like a second fiddle. I hope my Love for and of the Lord shines forth through my actions, my example and all my doings. The person I am today has develop through the years because of the friends I have or have had in my life. To paraphrase a saying that we have hung in our home over the years; "People come and go in our lives but only a friend leaves a part of their heart with us." I am fortunate to have had a few great friends in my life, Lenny Grow was my best friend through High School and we shared much which help me cope with becoming a man. In College my best friend was Cindy Kleiner who became my wife and eternal companion, the mother of my children and the person who owns the largest part of my heart. Reed and Barbara Rands who would do anything for us and who with their children made 'young converts' to the Church their friends and thus helping us to grow our testimonies. Dick and Sharon Empey who would give you the shirt on there backs and many times did. Anytime you asked for something they would find away to make it happen, i.e. building the staircase in our home. Steve and Lonna Harper who because of golf, Young Woman's and a certain son have become an endearing part of our lives and along with their children have always made us feel like royalty. All of these wonderful people have left part of their hearts with us and we will forever be grateful.

We are who we are because of the fathers in our lives. My father has truly bless my life and I want to go on record, in spite of the difficulties with my Dad, and testify I'm a better person today because of his love and concern and I wish that I had learned this and thanked him for it before he past away. I love you Dad.

Sidenote:

(I appreciate my son-in-laws and the respect they show my daughters. I appreciate their love and kindness for those choice spirits that hold such a special place in Cindy and my hearts. It is hard for a Dad to let another man take over and be the provider and protector for a lovingly daughter and I am thankful that all my daughters have married good men who honor their priesthood and who are slowly replacing dear old dad. They never will at least in my mind.)
Keep up the good work.

The Bags that keeps on giving

Yesterday was a terrific day. My family celebrated my birthday, my reversed 16 birthday with the 'Bag that keeps on giving'!! Everytime I turned around the bag was full with another present wrap in the yellow tissue paper. For awhile I thought I was the man with 500 hats! Besides the hugs and kisses from my eternal wife (Cindy) and my grand-children and the presents; the best thing about the day was the potato salad we had with dinner. It was terrific; close to utopia. In case no one knows, or possibly forgot, potato salad is my favorite salad and second place is a distance (light years) away. So I wanted to take a minute and tell everyone in my family from the future twins to Jacob's Cuddlers to the Texas sports enthusiasts thanks for a wonderful day. I love you all, bunches, lots, tons, never ending!!!

I loved the golf book, the arm heart monitor and the mounds of candy along with National Treasure 2 - Secret Books. This morning I looked in the Bag and saw nothing. Oh well a new day.