All Hallows Eve

Since we don't know a lot of people in the trailer park and don't trust Damon and Ashton trick-or-treating there, we decided to join Stacie, Ammon and family for their Halloween celebrations. Friday night we went to their ward party, ate lots of yummy soup and chili and desserts, and participated in their trunk-or-treat. Then Damon went through their mini spook ally several times in a row. We had a lot of fun. Stacie and Ammon are a part of the ward activities comity and they did a great job.

Then, Saturday we went trick-or-treating in my parents neighborhood. The kids were practically bouncing from one house to the next. I just kept thinking, "Did I have that much energy? What happened to it?" It's a mystery. Hopefully, having two boys means their energy will rub off on me---and not the opposite. J

 

 

Keep on Smiling

Written October 22^nd

Despite our current struggles and recent sorrow, we continue to smile daily. There are so many things to be grateful for, especially our family, it's hard to be sullen for any length of time. Jogging several times a week has become a family ritual. Damon decided a couple weeks ago that he would rather jog with me than ride his bike, and he's been running with us ever since. I've been impressed with his endurance. Adam runs about a ten minute mile when he's not pushing himself and Damon can keep up pretty well; however, Adam goes just fast enough that Damon has no time to dawdle. If he does, he has to push himself pretty hard to catch up. With me, Damon can easily keep up. Usually he runs up ahead of me, dawdles until I catch up with him, then runs ahead again. But, a lot of times he'll just stay with me and we talk and hold hands as we go. It is such a joy to have him interested in spending time with me, although his energy is a constant reminder of what I lack. Yesterday, while we were out, he pulled back behind me for a second. When he came up beside me he said, "Mommy, when I was looking at you from behind, you looked like you were going too-too-too-too slow." I could only laugh, agree with him and say, "You're probably right, but at least I'm still jogging, right?" To which he promptly agreed. Then, not two minutes later, he pulled into the lead and called back to me, "Mommy, keep up with me, 'kay?" I honestly tried, but knew I wouldn't make it as far as I wanted to go at that speed. So, I told him sorry, but I needed to go at my own pace. Of course he asked "why?" to which I explained that I was carrying 5 Damon's and he only had to carry one, so I just couldn't go as fast as him. Although rather shocked, he understood what I was explaining and the discussion about our difference in size ended. I wish I could say I was exaggerating for the benefit of my point, but I wasn't and now I hope I don't regret sharing that disturbing detail about myself.

We were half-way done when the rain began and by the time we were done with the running portion of our outing (at out half-way point), it was pouring. Damon artfully pointed out how much the rain was making him sweat and I just had to laugh cause he was just full of interesting comments that morning. He also told me that he loved me so-so-so-so much which made him think about what Adam had told him. Damon informed that "Daddy says when you say things lots of times, it makes people's brains turn off." Of course I laughed at that too and told him that that had some truth to it, but I was always glad to hear him say, "I love you." We waited under a bridge until Adam and Ashton met up with us. Then I waited with the kids while Adam jumped the RV park fence and brought the car to pick us up. Everyday there are so many things to smile about and be grateful. I am continually striving to let them outshine the challenges life sends our way.

Ashton is learning and growing so quickly. He's beginning to repeat words after us, and he's even understanding what they mean. Last week, we decided it was time to expect him to ask nicely for the things he needed or wanted. I honestly was just tired of him screaming whenever he wanted something. So, after only a couple days of stubbornly expecting him to say please before his request was granted, he caught on. Now he says please all the time. The other morning he woke up early, and out of the dark I could hear him saying, "-ease, baba. –e-e-e-ase, BABA! –E-E-E-E-ASE-BABA!" I couldn't refuse it, but now he says please whenever he wants anything and half the time I don't know what he's asking please about. I hope he doesn't give up one of the times cause his poor mother wasn't blessed with ESP. It's so much fun, though, to be a part of his learning and growing process. Everyday he surprises up with something new from learning to tease to saying a new word. In our sometimes mundane and cramped existence in this trailer, the sure do well to liven things up and I am so grateful to have them in our lives.

Yes, we are very-very-very-very blessed.

Peter James Smith

Written October 21^st

One of the challenges of Adam being a teacher is as we grow close to many of the students, we feel keenly for them in their various struggles. I suppose the thought that we may have to mourn the death of one of them never occurred to us. Last Friday, we got an interesting text from a couple kids from Beaver, "To our dear friend Peter Smith. We will all love you and miss you! Please pass this around. Our prayers are with you and your family! R.I.P" At first we thought it was just a morbid announcement that he had left on his mission, but it seemed a little off and the RIP at the end was disturbing. So, we inquired further and found out that Peter had been in an ATV accident earlier that day and hadn't made it.

We were shocked. Absolutely and utterly shocked. We were both very fond of Peter. Every year he'd participated in the musicals, the last two having major roles. He'd also been in the advanced choir last year as a senior. So, we had many opportunities to get-to-know him. He was so full of life and smiles. He was quirky and devoted and kind. He is, without a doubt, one of the best kids we've met so far. It still doesn't seem real that he's passed away. I called Autumn and Emily after I found out and we cried together, Adam and I talked about him and I cried again, and then again, and several times over. It's just so hard to comprehend it, but if anyone was prepared to be a missionary on the other side of the veil, he was. Two days before the accident he received his mission call to Independence Missouri. Just hours before he died he wrote the acceptance to his call, "I will gladly accept this call to serve…I am looking forward to serving the Lord for the next two years and to bring souls to baptism. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will try to serve my best at all times, in all things, and in all places."

I went to his "farewell" on Wednesday to represent our family. Peter's family was incredible. Most of them were busy comforting others and testifying of their faith. I didn't want to go to the viewing, I wasn't going to, but Emily talked me into going as her moral support. He was the first person I've known who died in the prime of his life. I wanted to remember him as he really was, but as I stood staring at his lifeless body, I didn't feel anything. It was only a glove, THAT wasn't Peter. I still remembered him as he was. Then I had an overwhelming assurance that it really wasn't Peter. His spirit was still alive and well, and I knew without doubts that he was in the company of angels and holy beings, that he wasn't alone and that he still existed in a different sphere. The only sadness I felt then was for the loss of his energetic and happy presence. What a support and light he was to those around him!

A few things stood out to me from the service. His younger brother, Jacob, was with him on the mountain that fateful afternoon. Jacob read the first verse of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and said that is what had happened to him. I thought that was interesting and wondered what he meant by it. Later, he clarified and said he felt Peter's spirit leave him to go comfort the rest of his family and in his place the Savior came to sit with Jacob on the mountain. He also said, "Peter thought he was preparing for his mission, but what he was really doing was preparing me for mine." I am amazed at their thick bond of brotherhood and hope Jacob will continue to be strong in the tough months and even years ahead. Peter's family feels that he has been called to be a missionary beyond the veil. Despite the fact that his call was to Independence MO, his patriarchal blessing said he would be called to a foreign land to speak a new tongue and those who he pulled from the depths would praise his name. Elder Dane O. Leavitt, an area authority, also spoke. He said that he was prompted to tell us several things, one of them was reading D&C 138:30, "But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead." I was grateful that he confirmed the family's feeling regarding Peter's current state. It is such a blessing to know that Heavenly Father will send us comfort in any way he can.

I'm honored to have known such a valiant son of God. It sounds very cliché, but it is very true. He enriched my life during our brief acquaintance and touched the lives of countless others. I'm full of gratitude for the knowledge of the great Plan of Salvation, to know that Peter is still Peter and he hasn't disappeared into some dark void, and that he will continue to touch the hearts of whomever he comes in contact. Bless you Peter, thank you for your example—for being you, and we love you! RIP

Peter James Smith
September 5, 1991-October 15, 2010