THAT'S MY DAD!

When the kids were younger and attending Primary, I decided to write a Father's Day song just for them to sing.  I really didn't like the usual songs that were sung year after year, and I had four in Primary at the time. It is still hand-written, and I'm determined to put it into a music writing computer program so that I can get it officially published. The LDS church actually sent me a request to do just that after recognizing it's submission for newly featured Primary songs last year. There are three versus that pretty much highlight the great attributes of being a DAD.

Ken holding his birthday cake made by Angela & her girls.

The lyrics include (1 of 3 verses):


"My dad is everything to me.
My dad leads our family.
He works hard all day then plays with me at night.
I can count on him
He's my guiding light."


(Chorus)
"Oh my dad.
My wonderful dad.
Oh my dad.
That's My Dad!"

Ken & grandson, Oliver, patiently watching his phone be played with.

  
                                                                                           I was excited to see that tomorrow, Sunday and Father's Day, my daughter is directing her Primary kids in this song.  I was there while they were rehearsing at her home in Orem, Utah, and smiled, took pictures, then reminised about my own children singing it.   I must recognize the fact that the last line of the chorus was suggested by Ken - "That's My Dad!" And it actually made the song more fun to sing.


I'm glad we celebrate various holidays that highlight those we love like Father's Day, Mother's Day, Valentines Day, birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, and of course, Christmas.  It gives us pause and time to reflect on our blessings that come from those we love. 

Chris and Ava

Tomorrow is Father's Day and I miss my dad. He died right after Duke went to the finals when Chris was playing basketball there. I remember being at the ACC championship game in NC prior to all the NCAA activities, and as I was going into a restaurant with Ken and a couple of friends, having a very strong feeling that something was wrong with my dad. I turned to Ken and said, "I need to fly to Salt Lake and see my dad." And I'm so glad I immediately did that. When I arrived to see him, he looked up at me from his bed and smiled his usual crooked smile, but this time I felt him slowing fading. And I was so happy that I had been prompted to spend time with him before he passed quietly away a short time after my visit. He was such a great man - a loving man who loved classical music. My love of music came directly from him and his influence. He played the piano and cello, and listened to symphonies every day that I can remember growing up. It calmed him, he said. And his sensitivity kept a beautiful balance to our home growing up. I hope to be more like him as life continues to bring their usual challenges.

Ben and his three oldest children (2004)

Ken may like sugar way too much, and seems to always be gone lately with business in Vegas. But, one thing Ken is, and always has been, is a great father. He adores his kids and has been very involved in their lives as a personal basketball coach, guidance counselor, and friend. And I couldn't ask for a better dad. Throughout the 38 years of our marriage, I have been involved in endless amounts of musical productions, choir rehearsals and programs, and business travel. And he's been there 100%. He never misses choir (as long as I'm the director), and he encourages (and puts up with) every project I get compulsively involved with. I love him for that.

Ben's Biker-Buddies!

I'm also blessed beyond belief with five (5) fabulous children - four boys (now young men) - three (3) married who are also fantastic dads. Each one of them loves their role as husband and father, and takes it seriously. Starting from the top is my son, Ben who has five (5) children (and a wonderful wife, Cooper). Ben is an incredible role model for his children, and loving father. He goes out of his way to make memories for and with his children. From chopping down their own Christmas tree, competitively carving pumpkins, camping with his boys, to biking as a family, he is awesome - and his birthday even lands on Father's Day!

Ben chopping the family Christmas tree 2011

Angela's hubby, Eddie adores his five (5) girls, and is known on Facebook for his fun family video's. These video clips give glimpses of the love and tenderness he feels for each of his girls. One of the cutest video's I took on my cell phone last week, was with Eddie reading to Sutton (2). He smiled from ear to ear as she would repeat every word. Such visible and tangible joy and pride he has for all of their accomplishments, and he is incredible with his praise for each one of them. They will never doubt themselves because of his belief in their individual worth and potential.

Brooklyn, Jacquelynn, Madison, Joshlyn, Sutton & Eddie

Eddie and baby girl Sutton

Chris

Chris travels all over the world playing professional basketball, and has never sacrificed, or put off, having a family and being a great dad while pursuing his professional goals and dreams. (Lucky that he has a darling, supportive wife, Lesa, who handles the travel thing like a pro.) And as macho, teasing and corny as Chris can be at times, he has three (3) of the most feminine girls you can imagine who adore their dad. And adding his 9 month old boy, Beckham, to the mix, gives Chris someone tough to wrestle with in the future. His love for fun and perfection is evident in everything he does.

Chris and Beckham

Kelli Jo and Chris celebrating his "32" bday

Chris showing Ava how to wade in the river.

Siri and Joshua

Joshua adores his children. And it is no secret that he loves being a dad. He sets such a good example for them, and their constant, "I love you grandma," is a reflection of love that has been shown to them by Joshua. Joshua's ability to work full time, support his growing family 
(with beautiful wife, Ashleigh), and graduate from BYU this year makes us all proud and proves that when you have your priorities in check, you can do it all!

Joshua, Chamberlain and Ashleigh

What a blessing the father's in my life are, and have always been. I treasure each and every one of them, and I will never take their love and devotion for granted. From my own dad - my husband - to my sons, the world is a far better place because of them. They bring joy, laughter, support, guidance, sacrifice, commitment, integrity and honesty to the world, and especially to those lives they personally touch. They are loved and admired for all that they do. Happy Father's Day to each one of them. I love you. xo

Chamberlain and Joshua

From Proverbs we read, "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is our life."

Baby Siri and Joshua

Cousins

There is nothing better than cousins. There's a closeness there that just doesn't happen with a best friend. Besides sharing dress-up clothes and paper dolls, the blood lines that connect us create a lasting bond that can not be broken. I had a similar relationship with my cousins Colleen Sorensen (now Chipman) and Rodney Clayville. Colleen still lives in Salt Lake City, married with children of her own, and Rodney in the Bountiful area, getting married again the 16th of this month. I have very fond memories of summer fun with both Rodney and Colleen. We swam most of the summers at our Aunt Afton's pool there in Bountiful, climbed trees in the cemetery (of all places), and seemed to never tire of each others company. To this day, we smile when remembering the fun times we've had, and are always excited to run into each other at a family function. 

What is Eddie and Angela doing in this picture of cousins?

At present, I have (16) sixteen grandchildren.  11 girls and 5 boys.  By September we'll add two (2) more boys to the mix. These beautiful grandkids all love each other and squeal with delight when they see each other. They are close enough in age that they pair off in age groups, i.e. Madison and Kelli Jo, Zoey and Jacquelynn, Brooklyn and Ava.  They had so much fun with each other this last visit (I got home late last night), that I had to snap a few pictures of them. The captions and smiles speak for themselves.  What fun. And...we missed Joshua and his family, and Ben and his family. But we look forward to the next time all (18) eighteen of them can be together in one location ... probably at the cabin, again in Utah~!

Ava, Brooklyn, Kelli Jo, Madison, Jacquelynn, Zoey, Sutton

Ice Cream Truck!

Lucky Chris' home is large enough to house the cousins!

Jacquelynn and Zoey

Beckham is wondering where more boy cousins are. (Pennsylvania perhaps?)

Good idea...keep them eating dinner outside on the deck, then hose it down.

Nothing better than a play room and lots of dress-up clothes to put on.

Jacquelynn and Zoey

Brooklyn and Ava (Jacquelynn get out of the picture)

Jessica

Jessica would be 28 years old right now had she lived. She would be tall, with long dark brown hair, big brown eyes and a smile and personality that would light up the room. She would be a singer, a great loving sister to her brothers and sister, and always an ideal daughter. And, she would probably be married with children right now. I miss her.

On Memorial Day Joshua and his family, along with Ken and I, went to Jessica's grave there in Newport Beach, California. There was a quiet reverence felt as we drove up to where she was buried. We took some beautiful pink flowers to lay across the top of her grave, and Ashleigh lovingly laid them across the top so that her name and epitaph were still visible to passers by. 


I'm glad we went this year, and that Josh and his family were with us. I don't often go to Jessica's grave because it has always made me very, very sad. And although we are extremely blessed to have the knowledge of the truth the gospel brings our lives, an eternal perspective, with knowing our family will all be together again, I still miss her every day, but especially around September 15th (her birthday), and on days we have visited her grave.  

Baby David, Jessic and Marva

Jessica had such a loving way about her. As a little 11-month old, she would run quickly around the house, always barefoot, giggling and smiling. She would come and lie her head on my knee there in my office and smile saying, 'momma." My comment to a visiting friend was, "if anything happened to her I would die." it was shortly after that that she near-drowned in our backyard pool. An accident that left her severely brain damaged, requiring full-time nursing. Her favorite nurse being Marva (pictured to the left.) 

She lived until she was four years old, then with those pleading eyes begging me to let her return home, I released her emotionally to Heavenly Father. It took me that long to let her go. The details are sort of blurred of those four years she lived and struggled physically, but I know that her presence today is still felt by all of her siblings. At her memorial our bishop said that she was a ministering angel, and I know that she watches over all of the children - Ben, Angela, Chris, Joshua and David. I have felt her presence in my life, and I love her. Thank you, David, for sharing these pictures with me. 


Wordsworth describes this life beautifully... 

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:

The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,

Hath had elsewhere its setting,

And cometh from afar:

Not in entire forgetfulness,

And not in utter nakedness,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come

From God, who is our home:

Heaven lies about us in our infancy! ²

She Rode a Horse

Madison Villa

We are again in Utah juggling spending time with the kids, seeing my mom and conducting a bit of business. Time flies by way to quickly, especially with these visits. We finished up with mom's trust, then took her to shop for new kitchen counters at Lowe's. Ken loves that nitty gritty stuff with picking out marble, matching up patterns for back splashes, etc. I, on the other hand, really don't like doing that. I know what I like and don't like, but hate the process of looking and deciding. So, I turn that stuff over to Ken. We also were able to spend time with Chris, fresh home from somewhere near Bahrain. He's moved his wonderful family back into their beautiful Bountiful home, and it was great seeing (and hugging) his beautiful three girls and chunky monkey boy, Beckham. The girls and I prepared two types of salads, then waited patiently for Eddie to bring up his four beautiful girls. Chris' girls were so excited about seeing Angela and Eddie's girls (all close in age), that they kept having me call and text Eddie to see when he would be arriving. Of course, the squeals of pure delight rang thru the air as Eddie's car pulled up and all seven girls collided, hugged, and walked into the house with their arms wrapped around each other, chattering as fast as they could. It was fantastic. And it reminded me of my cousin Colleen when we were young.

Then today Ken and I drove down to Orem, Utah to spend time with Angela and her family. Angela had been on the road doing networking meetings, but had just arrived home. After we hit an Ihop for dinner (perfect place for little girls to order a fancy pancake decorated with whip cream and fruit), I took Madison shopping. She's 8, will be entering 4th grade in the fall, and has outgrown most of her clothing. And of all the girls, Madison loves to shop with grandma Burgess. And I love taking her shopping. 


With our Target bags in hand, as we hopped into the car Madison was so excited to tell me about riding a horse. "I rode a horse today, grandma!" Then she proceeded to tell me all about it. She was so excited about her horse riding experience, and couldn't wait to share the details with me. I smiled as I listened. Then tonight, after answering all of the biz emails, scheduling and posting meetings and training calls, I looked at a picture of Madison with her horse. It made me smile remembering how excited she was about it, and it took me back to my elementary and junior high days when my sister, brother and I would rent horses for $1 an hour at our cabin there in Pines Ranch.


What a beautiful time that was. And although horribly allergic to animals, I still loved learning to ride and riding those horses every summer. There was one man in particular, Brother Smith, a member of the Tab Choir, who died a long time ago, who had a cabin there in Pines Ranch up the road from us. He was always more than happy to not only saddle up the horses for us to ride, but on many occasions he would ride along with us. He loved taking us on trails we hadn't taken time to explore, and telling us names of the wild flowers along the path, and how the spring was blessed by a General Authority. I loved it. And, I will always treasure the times I had there on those trails with Brother Smith riding the horses, sneezing the entire time, and feeling saddle sore for a day or two after. It was great!


In the morning I will ask Madison more about her horse riding experience. I will take time to do that, and I will listen more closely. You see, it's just so easy to get caught up in daily life and business "stuff". Too many emails, text messaging, and event planning these past few years. It's time to stop, listen, and remember. And, of course, write down these experiences before they slip so far away that we forget the wonderful things we did as we grew up, and the people that added so much to our life. Thank you Madison for helping me stop and remember riding those horses. You made my day.