My Pioneer Trek - Day 1

     One of the metaphors that is frequently used when discussing the intricacies of this life we live is that of a tapestry.  Each event, goal, challenge, personality, and relationship is a thread woven together into a shining (or raveling) work of wonder.  I propose that an equally poignant image of our experience on this earth may be represented by a quilt. The light and dark patches each making equal contributions to the whole.  Beautiful vibrant colored special events creating highlighted windows framed by the everyday colors.
     I have to start with yesterday's events.  My sweet grandson Benjamin was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He covenanted with our Father in Heaven to keep the commandments and follow the example of the Savior.  The service was short and very sweet.  Despite the fact that it is sometimes difficult to tell what Ben understands, it was clear to me that he understood the promises he was making.  There was so much joy in the event! My son, Bill, mentioned a couple of days ago that when we are striving toward an event of this magnitude, the adversary will try to waylay us.  He has been extraordinarily busy, Stephanie (Ben's mom) has been feeling under the weather (and is expecting!!)  See, one bright shining event surrounded by darker or mundane patches and stitched together with the continuous threads of faithful determination.

     Likewise, after attending Ben's baptism we were able to attend a Graduation celebration for my neice and nephew, Wyatt and Willa - another shining benchmark. One vibrant spot that is the culmination of years of daily stitches.  Stitches that can only be placed in the work one at a time, patiently, precisely, and with a willingness to remove those that are not up to the standard we want.  If we want our lives to be the works of art God intends we will have to remove and restitch those pieces that are less than that. 

Now for the rest of the story.  The next few entries will be a chronicle of my "pioneer trek".  I am discovering my family on both sides of the veil. My intent is to drive to Salt Lake City and surrounding areas to visit with relatives, scan old family photos, and record family stories.  From there I will go to Wendover and then Lake Tahoe with the same mission.  Today was the first day of that trek.  In the meantime I am thoroughly enjoying the journey.  The midwest, ie Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska are breathtakingly beautiful.  I drove to Lincoln, Nebraska today and I stopped many times just to look - just because I can.  I visited the International Quilt Study Center and Museum and waxed poetic ;-)

Glorious Summer!

  I have been far too focused on myself this summer but it feels wonderful.  I have given myself permission to finish only one or two items from my "to do" list each day.  Monte and I drove to Texas together for Marshall and Andrea Oelkers' wedding reception.  I enjoyed the drive but Monte does not like to let me drive so I don't think he had much fun.  It tended to hurt my feelings but then as previously noted I recognize that I have been far too sensitive lately so I choose not to feel that way about it.  I enjoyed it. I came home with a sore throat that developed into a doozy of a chest cold and I have been trying to hack up a lung all week.  I was really cranky with my sweet mother in law when she came to my house to try to help with our 4th of July party.  All I could think was how much I didn't want her to get sick and how the assignments for food had been made so people would have whatever they had.  In the end, her help was wonderful, as always, and made the day a nicer day for everyone.  I was too sick to participate in the party so I laid in bed listening to the party taking place outside.  A couple of people took their chances and came in to give me a hug but I still felt pretty sorry for myself.
  I'm getting ready now for my Family History Trek!  I bought a portable scanner and have been scanning lots of pics so that I won't waste time getting something I already had in a box.  I've booked rooms and read some of the histories I've already collected but put off reading.  One note to myself and any of my children who might decide to read this.  I have the life history written by James Monsen who is my Grandmother Anna's grandfather.  It is a little scattered to read but it is awesome in the history that is recorded in those pages.  I'm loving it - I am planning to blog about the stories he has recorded.  You, reader, can find those entries in my "Tell Me a Smith Family Story" blog.  I also have been reading the LeCheminant book that contains memories recorded from the LeCheminant descendants.  Info from those sketches will be in the "Tell Me a Jensen Family Story" blog.  I'll note that I don't intend to scan and paste the pages of these histories into a blog.  I will be posting pics and documents to FamilySearch.org but I want to record the histories from my own perspective and emotional connection.  Anyway, the long awaited trip is getting closer and I'm really excited.

Sunshine

As the thunder rolls outside, I reviewed my progress this week and found that I have made some advances even as I did some backsliding.  At some point I will talk about my job and the love hate relationship I have with it but at this point I'm feeling a need to chronicle my journey back to being the person I want to be.  I have begun with a morning prayer, by myself and on my knees followed by a chapter from the Book of Mormon.  It sounds more "righteous" than it is.  I hit my knees as I slide out of bed, plead for motivation even as I recognize the amazing gifts I've been given, and then listen to the chapter of the book of Mormon as I fix a breakfast I don't want to eat.  It's progress though.  May is here, the sunshine has made the Minnesota world a lovely green place and that sunshine and new growth is creeping into other areas of my life as well.

Today was fast Sunday, a day when we abstain from food and drink for 24 hours.  I didn't quite make it.  I skipped 2 meals ;-0 Still hearing the testimonies in Sacrament meeting and reviewing my own as I taught my students about the power of the priesthood

So here is what is happening lately in the Monte & Jan Oelkers "Odd" yssey. 
1. My sweet sister, Brenda Draper, died in January.  I miss her, my heart is broken and her loss has demonstrated to me that life is too short.  Knowing how often in the last few years I "didn't have time" to call her when I wanted to because of my job or trying to finish my thesis or whatever else I let be a priority just makes me feel angry - not helpful.

2.  My Son, Bill, and his beautiful wife, Stephanie, and their children, Ben and Elodie, were sealed in the St. Paul Temple for time and all eternity the day after I returned from Brenda's funeral. It fills me with joy to know this.  I am so proud of them all.

3. My sweet Mother in Law fell off a step ladder on the first day of spring break and broke her arm.  I am grateful that I was able to be available to help her.  It has strengthened out relationship.  I hate to think of a broken arm as a blessing but there it is.  She is currently on the mend.  I was able to go fabric shopping with her yesterday and we had lunch at Acapulco.  There's that ray of sunshine again.

3.  I am planning to spend as much of the summer as I can in Utah and Nevada (Lake Tahoe).  I want to gather photos and family stories before I am too late to do it.

There is SO much more.  One step at a time.