Catholic Funeral Mass

My Uncle Joe

I attended a Catholic funeral mass today for my uncle who passed away last week.  I have never been to any kind of service in a Catholic church before, and it was interesting.  I appreciated learning more about their beliefs and customs. (All the standing up and down would help you to not get sleepy too) I liked that they called the funeral a celebration, a celebration of a life well lived. My Uncle Joe was a rancher from Wyoming.  He was a smart and honest man who I learned today could beat anyone at a game of cards, could finish a crossword puzzle without cheating, and who sincerely cared about people.

My uncle was a Catholic, and my aunt is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The funeral was held at the Catholic church in town, and the luncheon was provided by the Catholic women and the Relief Society at the Stake Center close by.  I thought it was cool to see a community work together to honor a great man-after all we are all God's children.

Seeing many of my Dad's relatives there today reminded me yet again of the good people that they are.  People who aren't consumed by worldly cares.  People who would give you the shirt off their backs.  People who when they ask you how you are, really want to know how you are.  I have never been overly fond of the small town and area of Wyoming that my Dad grew up in (and I am still not-it's freezing there!!), but they know how to love and care about people.  My Dad's sisters and brother are the best kind of people you will ever meet.  I am grateful to call them family.

Attitude of Gratitude

I have always loved that phrase that Pres. Monson uses so frequently, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to think about blessings right?  Mostly I love that phrase because in conveys the fact that being grateful is a choice.  I was reminded of this yesterday as I was listening to people in my neighborhood share their feelings of gratitude for their blessings.  Two in particular struck me as these two are enduring severe health challenges.  As they expressed their gratitude for all those who have helped them, and for the power of the priesthood, and for miracles in their lives, I was reminded of how much I have to be grateful for.  Yesterday I felt most grateful for wonderful people who are such great examples to me. I truly believe that having an always grateful heart, makes for a happy person.

5 of the many reasons I am grateful!

Much is said about how we skip right over Thanksgiving to Christmas.  For me they go together.  As I focus on my blessings, the greatest one is the atonement of the Savior, it's what makes family and everything else work out.  So when I focus on that, it seems to lead naturally to Christmas and celebrating Christ. Pres. Hinckley said,

This is the wondrous and true story of Christmas. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea is preface. The three-year ministry of the Master is prologue. The magnificent substance of the story is His sacrifice, the totally selfless act of dying in pain on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of all of us.

The epilogue is the miracle of the Resurrection, bringing the assurance that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).

There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.

So when I listen to Christmas music, when I think about presents for loved ones this all leads me to what I am most grateful for.  So I don't skip Thanksgiving, but Christmas is what makes my Thanksgiving.

Reading-A Passion

I don't ever remember not liking to read.  I know when I was going into first grade I was tested to be in the "slow" readers group, but I remember my teacher telling my Mom that she couldn't figure out why because I was one of her best readers.  I can tell her why.  They tested our reading ability based on phonics-I hate phonics, loathe phonics, I did not learn to read with phonics.  Never did get them, I just read.

To me there is nothing like getting lost in a book.  When I was young I loved Encyclopedia Brown and then I moved on to Nancy Drew.  I tackled Little Women while still in Elementary School.  I often would be told to go to bed, but found reading instead.  In my teenage years and early twenties I could often be found staying up late reading "just one more chapter."  Even now I often have to force myself to go to bed because I don't function as well on 2 or 3 hours of sleep as I used to.  Sometimes now I won't even pick up a book for a few days because I know I have things that have to be done, and I will not have the willpower to put the book down once I get started.

Because of my love for reading, I intended to pass that on to all of my children.  Easier said than done. Two of my kids picked it up and are just like me.  I often see them with their noses in a book, and I love it.  What a great way to spend some of your free time.  So much better than the other mindless pursuits that are available. With some of my other kids though the love of reading has not quite taken hold.  I have one daughter that doesn't really like reading, but loves certain books.  Then there is another child that just doesn't like reading at all.  All of my kids have loved the Harry Potter books, but she even struggles with those.  She was reading a book recently that she had to have finished by the end of the term.  It was torturous punishment for her to have to read 40 pages a day.  One night it was getting late so I offered to read to her while she was getting ready for bed.  I had no idea what was going on in the book.  Almost instantly I was transported to this magical land and drawn in even though I didn't know anything about these characters.  We finished the chapter and she was ready to go to sleep.  There was only two chapters left!  I looked at her, and said how on earth can you not finish this.  Don't you want to know what happens next?  What if they all die? She just looked at me and said she didn't really care, she just wanted to go to bed.  So the next day I finished the book with her.  I was talking to her about the book.  She had admitted that it was an interesting story and that she liked it.  I then said, reading isn't that bad is it?  She said, the book was interesting, but I didn't like reading it.  I don't like to read, Mom.  I'm not giving up on her, but not sure I will be able to win her over to the reading side.

Halloween

Halloween 2011-Breanna still wanted to dress up even though I was mean and didn't let her trick or treat.  Harry Potter needs to tuck in his shirt-obviously Dad took these pictures not Mom.

Yesterday was Halloween-We washed windows (great way to celebrate right?) and carved pumpkins.  The kids all wielded the knives themselves this year, and only Grant went trick or treating.  We didn't even have to take him out this year.  I am getting old.   Old is good though I've decided.  Just in case you were wondering, having your kids grow up does not mean that you will get a good night's sleep.  At least in my family, the best time to have heart to hearts with my kids is always when I should be sleeping.  I was up late talking to one of my kids last night.  Yes I am tired, but I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. Some of my kids are more talkative than others, but I love talking to all of them.  It is in those moments that I find out what they are thinking, what they are struggling with, or excited about, what they feel and what they believe.  It is when confessions have been made, and important things decided upon.  Who needs sleep anyway?

With only one child still young enough to go trick or treating, though I was feeling a little melancholy and doing a little reminiscing.  So I was looking at some old pictures to remember.  Here are some of my favorite Halloween shots.

So pretty in pink. 

No costume in this one, but I just love this picture of Grant.

Belle with our own little modest addition.

I even let Jared grow his hair out a little so he could slick it back like Dash's.

Love these kids!

A Beautiful Sunday

The air was crisp when I left for church this morning, but the sky was a brilliant blue.  I love fall and Sunday, so it's a perfect combination.  Such great meetings today, just what I needed.

I loved exercising this week.  The leaves are falling and I got to crunch through beautiful red and yellow leaves all week last week.  It made my day every day.  And the smell!! I love the smell of fall.  Don't know exactly how to verbalize it, but I love it.

Can't believe it's Halloween tomorrow.  I don't love Halloween, but I love what it precedes.  Many people have the fake cobwebs and spiders on their porches.  My spider webs are real, complete with nasty gnats that are stuck in them.  I may or may not clean them up after Halloween.

My oldest with some of her friends, dressed up for the Youth Conservatory Carnival at USU. (She's the one with the tiara.) Tony hates dressing up.  I think the last time I wore a costume was when I was in college.  

This week I went to my 9th graders concert.  His Madrigal group was actually quite good. Even if my son is a punk. :) The group was singing a song where a few of them were supposed to sit.  So he sits down puts his legs out and pulls his "look at how attractive I am face" without even cracking a smile.  What is a mother supposed to do?

Ready for the concert

We went to a Mexican restaurant last night.  The food was excellent, but the flan was to die for.  I haven't had really good flan since leaving Brazil, so this was definitely a treat for the taste buds.

End of the first term of school on Friday.  Wow! That went by fast.  November starts this week, which means it will soon be the most wonderful time of the year.  I love November and December.  After Halloween we start listening to Christmas music, it is my favorite.  Nothing like Karen Carpenter singing Christmas tunes.  (other favorites include the Osmonds (yes Donny and all the others), Bing Crosby and White Christmas are essential, Andy Williams, and so much more.) 

Middle of the Week

Have you ever been glad that it was Wednesday because that meant that the week was almost over so you could enjoy the weekend?  Yeah I think we all do that...I was thinking today that maybe I should be grateful for every day that I am given, instead of just the weekends.  Some days are better than others always, but my attitude about each and every day is always in my control.  So I am, at least for today, going to be grateful for every day! 

I wonder how many people think I am strange when they see me tearing  up while exercising and listening to my iPod.  Just in case you were wondering if you saw me today-I was listening to General Conference, and I just couldn't help it. 

I have been thinking about our trip to Zion's still, and thinking how the experience we had contained so many metaphors for life.  I have thought of many, but I will bore you with only one...Jared and I hiked the narrows.  It was cold and the water was even colder.  The initial pain I felt stepping into the cold water was intense.  My desire to see what there was to see made me push on through the pain and the cold.  My efforts were rewarded, as I was awestruck by the beauties that I beheld.  I felt so insignificant and small gazing up at the towering rock walls around me. Soon I forgot about how cold it was and was just drinking in all that there was to see.  I was thinking this was kind of like life.  Often we give up when there is pain involved or at least think that we can't go on.  Trials and challenges are constantly before us, and we have to learn to live through the pain.  Sometimes the rewards are not as immediate in life as they were on this hike, but the rewards are there, and our pain is or will be swallowed up in Christ.  As I was listening to Elder Uchtdorf's talk from conference, and thinking about my experience in the Narrows-this paragraph stood out to me.
And while we may look at the vast expanse of the universe and say, “What is man in comparison to the glory of creation?” God Himself said we are the reason He created the universe! His work and glory—the purpose for this magnificent universe—is to save and exalt mankind. In other words, the vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters.

Perhaps this is why I love nature so much-I feel like when I am out in nature I have a direct and unhindered connection to my Heavenly Father.  

Just FYI-try pumpkin bagels from Einsteins. Oh my goodness! So yummy.  Now I am just trying to figure out why I haven't had one before. (Be careful with the box from Einsteins though, cuts from cardboard hurt much worse than paper cuts.)

Time spent in Zion

Since Tony was called as Bishop, I have found that he needs a little time away now and then.  So, since the kids had two days off from school, we decided to make a quick trip down to Zion National Park.  I think I have mentioned before that I love exploring national parks.  I love soaking in the beauties of God's creations.  Zion's did not disappoint.  (We went once before, but it was only for a couple of hours.  It was so hot, that that's about all I remember.) This time I left feeling grateful, and wanting to go back so I could explore some more.

Entrance to the park. Everyone but Alexis was able to go.  We missed her, but still managed to have a great time.

First day we climbed up to Observation Point.  An 8 mile round trip hike going up 2100 feet.  This is the view from the bottom of the hike. 

The leaves were just starting to change.  So beautiful!

Jared just being himself.

Part of the Echo Canyon part of the hike.  Spectacularly beautiful hike worth all 8 miles.

More of Echo Canyon.  The kids had so much fun yelling and hearing the echo.  My personal favorite was when Ashley sneezed and that echoed.  My other favorite was when Grant yelled Echo when were on an open spot on the trail.  And a kid ahead of us yelled Echo back.

This friendly creature climbed up on Jared's back.

This picture is for Tony's Mom.:)  Yes there is a dramatically long drop off behind them.

We made it to the top!  Breathtaking view!  So incredible.

View of the canyon.  We could see the people climbing up Angel's Landing.  Maybe we will try that next time. :) I thought the four miles back down was harder than climbing up.  My right knee and I were having a fight.  I think the knee might have won.

Jared of course has no fear, even if there is 1000 ft drop off right behind him.

They all love climbing the rocks.

Cool 1 mile long tunnel we drove through.  We tried to hold our breath, but we couldn't make it. 

This is the nice and easy 1 mile Canyon Overlook Trail.  Incredible views without too much effort.

Enjoying another magnificent view!

Temple of Sinawava trail. 

Getting ready to step into the 50 degree Virgin River, when it was only about 60 degrees or less outside.

Turns out that the water and temperature were just too much for most of the family, so only Jared and I did any real hiking in the narrows.  It wasn't that bad once your feet went numb. :) 

More narrows pictures

The views were stunning.  I felt so insignificant walking between the towering walls.  Loved the pockets of sunshine where we could warm up and stop shivering.  We only went about an hour and a half of the way and then turned around because we felt bad about leaving the rest of the family behind.  (Well I felt bad.  I think Jared would have gone as far as they would let us go.)  We will be going back to finish this hike someday!  

Fabulous vacation.  I love watching my family interact when it is just us, with no outside distractions.  We had some very interesting conversations, some in depth, some ridiculous, but that is life in the Benjamin family.  We tried to channel Lexie, because we missed her witty remarks.  Only Lexie can be Lexie though.  Even traveling in the car was enjoyable, as we all belted out with our favorite songs-current and oldies.  Ending up with American Pie as we arrived home.