OUR FAMILY: I visit with Tamara Nadine Kerri Catherine Tom and Jean

Brisbane, Australia

115th operating temple

Dedicated: 15 June 2003

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Light of the World

Isaiah 9:2

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Alma 37:1-14

April General Conference

"A Perfect Brightness of Hope"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Many in this audience today have deeply personal hopes: hope for a marriage to improve, or sometimes just hope for a marriage; hope for an addiction to be conquered; hope for a wayward child to come back; hope for physical and emotional pain of a hundred kinds to cease. Because the Restoration reaffirmed the foundational truth that God does work in the world, we can hope, we should hope, even when facing the most insurmountable odds.

James left for the valley after scriptures and family prayer. He is going down to get materials for the job in Peoria and to check on the job in Mesa. He had to wait about 45 minutes for the paving project between Vernon and Show Low and another 15 minutes near Superior. He did make it safely and I am always grateful for that especially when he is in his truck.

This morning I worked on my blog and books. I left around 1:30 and my first stop was at the library to see Tamara and pick up dishes from the funeral that needed to be returned to sisters. Tamara pointed out to me that Pam G. was in her car at the end of the parking lot working on her computer. She uses the internet from the library but doesn't come in to the library. I waved but I don't think she saw me. My next stop was the post office to pick up mail. I had seven books waiting for me. Nadine S.'s house is between the library and the post office so I stopped to give her back the pan she had brought cornbread in for the luncheon. We talked for a few minutes on the porch. I told her how sorry I was about Jace passing away and how much I would miss him. She said he had trachial pneumonia and very few people survive from it.

My next stop was at the Halcomb's to visit Catherine. Kerri was there too. We sat in the living room and I heard a story about the chair Kerri was sitting in. It used to be Catherine's grandmother's chair. It was in a fire in a house where everything was burned except this chair. She believes that chair was saved for a purpose. She has sat in it and felt her grandmother's arms around here.

I gave Catherine a handout about "small and simple things" a scripture from Alma 37 and challenged her to think of the small and simple things she does to keep her testimony growing.

I love Catherine and Kerri, a mother and daughter who are exact opposites, both who are wonderful women.

My next adventure was climbing the hill to the Howard's. Kerri had mentioned that she had heard they took their property and home here in Vernon off the real estate market. That was one of the first things I asked Jean when I arrived. She said it was true and Tom added that things in the city were crazy right now and he didn't want to be there. He felt safer here in Vernon where if he needed to he could go out and shoot a rabbit or whatever if he was hungry.

Jean was putting together a ceiling fan for the porch and I was helping her at the kitchen table when she told me that she had recently been diagnosed with dementia. I could tell this news was very upsetting to her and my heart went out to her. After visiting for awhile we decided to go get something to eat in Show Low. Tom was meeting a client at Licano's in Show Low at 5:30. When he mentioned Licano's I began thinking about a chicken taco. Jean and I always go to Native which is next door to Licano's, Jean's choice, so when she said I could chose where to eat I said I couldn't get Licano's out of my mind. Jean asked to be seated in the warmest room. After the waitress seated us Jean made the comment, "This is the coldest room." It was a rounded booth against the wall with two small lamps. I told her to sit close to one of the lamps for warmth.

I ordered my chicken taco but also ate chips, salsa and bean dip. Jean ordered a salad and a shrimp taco plate with beans and rice. I'm not sure she knew that the tacos came with beans and rice because she did not touch them. She commented that the tacos had no flavor even when she put sauce on them. She said she thought they came from a can. She was not happy with her food. I felt back for two reasons: Because I had chosen Licano's when I knew she would probably have preferred Native, and because I really enjoyed my chicken taco. Jean said it was her turn to pay and she pulled a twenty and two tens from her pocket. The bill was $27.83. She just stared at the money. I told her to give all of it to the waitress and then she could give back some change and break the ten. She did and she left a $5.00 tip. It would have been more but our waitress wasn't that attentive. On the way out we stopped and spoke to Tom and his client, Dr. Salmon.

All the way home Jean was worried about her dementia and forgetting things and getting lost. I told her not to dwell on it but just go about living and enjoying her life as she always had. She said she likes to go for walks in the area around where she lives but once she got lost. I told her to always take the dogs and to not go for walks without her phone or when Tom wasn't home.

I couldn't stop thinking of Jean for the rest of the evening.

James decided to come home this evening and was lying on the bed when I got home. I guess whatever he had for lunch gave him an upset stomach. He said he had to wait for over an hour between Superior and Miami. I told him when we go down on Monday for my infusion we needed to go the Payson way. He did not disagree for the first time ever!

Whalen Vacation continues