Thankgiving 2010

Four Pies & a Funeral

Just a few lines and pictures to catch up on events of the last two weeks. On November 16, we got a call at 4:05 AM that my mother had passed away. So I went into work for a few hours to write a few notes and take care of a few items. Needless to say, Utah was chilly, or down right cold at other times.I stayed with Tim & Tiffany. Hunter showed me his skills at camera awareness.

Friday evening, we had a viewing at Walker Mortuary in Springville. Mom looked peaceful, for one of the few times since her stroke in October 2007.

I got to visit with people I had not seen in years. My two older sisters, Ann (on the left) and Bonnie on the right.

My two younger sisters played an amazing piano duet during the funeral. Mary (left) and Barbara (right). Mary's son decided he needed to be in the picture as well, so he came up in between the two ladies.

I drove over to look at the home place. I had not been there in a few years. We are renting it out now. I suppose it will be sold in due time.

After the funeral, we flew back to Arizona. Lecia, Matt and Kennedy came with us. Kennedy immediately became Queen of the household. For Thankgiving, Nate, Julie, and their 4 children came down from Chandler. We ate a lot and visited while the Jacobs children played the Wii.

A good time was had by all.

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, we visited Phoenix Zoo as we were taking Matt's family back to the airport. The lioness's attitude of been the queen reminded me of someone - maybe kennedy?

The Tiger must have eaten turkey, based on his habit of laziness.

Kennedy showed her adventerous side by climbing inside the tree and looking out of the peep hole.

We went over to the temple visitor's center. I caught kind of an eternal perspective with Matt, Lecia, Kennedy and Baby Melville. It was a Kodak moment (literally)
Kennedy showed us how to truly focus while playing boggle. Yes, we were playing "Five Crowns" while she was playing "Boggle," but that did not stop her.

Goodby Mom

My mother, Cleo Thorpe Bishop passed away on November 16 at 2:00 AM. She had suffered a stroke 3 years ago, and her quality of life has not been up to par since that time. She could hear and understand, but had a hard time communicating her thoughts and desires. She has wanted to move on for the last 2 years. About 18 months ago, shr asked me why she couldn't just die so that she could be with Frank. I told her that the value of her life had been re-assessed, and that her manson was too small. The workers in heaven had to tear down and rebuild her manson. She just laughed.
She was a good woman who did the best she could. She was loyal to her family and to God. She loved life and tried to let others feel of her joy of waking up every morning.
I will miss her, but am glad that she does not have to suffer anymore. I am glad that she can be free from pain and other mortal constraints. I am proud to be her son.
I was not always a good son, but I did and do love my mother. She was not a good cook, but she did the best she could in raising 8 children.

10 things

I shortened the list and changed the questions.

1. Now that the children are gone, what activities do you look forward to?
Spending time with my children and grandchildren. I try to think up new ways to create memories for them. I also enjoy sitting for 6.5 hours in an airplane next to my most favorite travel companion, because it means I am on my way to Hawaii. Even the trips home from Hawaii are comfortable because she is next to me.
2. What do you like most about your spouse?
She supports me in my responsibilities, whether it is as an employee or a Bishop. She never complains about the hours I put in, and just happy when I come home.
3. What do wish you would do better?
I am probably not a very good brother or son. I know that some things happened when I was younger, and emotional walls go up when I have dealings with my siblings as a group, or with my parents. I do try to visit mother every time I am in Utah. I am also not a very good Home Teacher and could be more diligent in that area.
4. What cause is most important to you?
I have a theory, that everyone must have a cause. A life without cause is a life without direction or without goals or meaning. Some people look to improve the environment or to enforce animal rights. I have given myself to the LDS church. As the primary song says, "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." My cause is to move the work forward. I have made a covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ and I will fight to keep that covenant. I believe that society must be improved from the inside out, starting with individuals who live according to morals and virtue. Living a life of descipleship to the Redeemer of the world is designed to improve the individual. This improvement can spread to the family, and from families into society. I love the Lord and what He has done for me.
5. What makes you angry?
Abuse of any form on children. Children want and need to be loved and nurtured. A child who knows that he / she is loved, has a much greater chance of living a full and enriched life of love and happiness. In a recent study, this was the greatest predictor of children growing into "happy adults." Children cannot defend themselves against verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Adults who bully or abuse children, or even other, weaker adults, sometimes do not realize the full extent of what they are doing, but they know it is wrong.
6. What makes you happy?
I love my children and grandchildren and love spending time with them. I remember that my Dad was probably a better grandfather than he was a father. I understand that progression more than I did when I first noticed the change. I love seeing my grandchildren and watching them grow and develop, just as their parents did.
7. What are the most life changing events in your life.
In February / March of 1973 I read the Book of Mormon, which completely changed my goals and my behavior. That lead to my serving a mission in Germany. The Mission was not easy, but I learned to depend upon the Lord. In 1997 I had an experience in the Temple that let me know with full assurance, just as the boy prophet Joseph found out, that God is our Father, that He does exist and that He loves each of His children as individuals. In October 1983 two of my sons gave me a priesthood blessing, and the promises of that blessing stay with me everyday.
In June 1977 I met Kayleen DeCoursey, and we were married in February 1978. We had 4 children, each of which have brought great joy and changes to my life.
8. Are there things on your "bucket list" that you would like to do before you die.
Yes ... I would like to visit the Sacred Grove. The only other thing I think that I would yearn for, is to take 3 or 4 weeks driving from Minnasota through the Mississippi river valleys, down through Missouri perhaps even into Louisanna. That is a beautiful part of the country, and I have seen very little of it. Oh yes - I would like to be a temple worker.
9. What unusual things have you experienced in your life.
Kayleen doesn't like me to talk about this much, but I have watched the C-section births of all four children. Witnessing these surguries were some of the most profound experiences. When I was in the Mission Home (Before MTC days) we were in the temple one day, and Elder Hinckley came and talked to us. The Elders I was with talked me into asking one of their questions, so I was rebuked by an apostle for that question.
In February 2010, we were in Hawaii and lived through a Tusnami. I have it on video. It wasn't dramatic 15 foot surges or anything like that, but the waters did change and it was definately a different kind of day.
10. You are a Bishop of the LDS church. What is this Mantle that people sometimes talk about.
Now wait, that is not a generic question that anyone can answer. One cannot truly know about the mantle of a Priesthood calling until he has experienced it. The day I was set apart, I walked out of the Stake President's office, and the mantle settled and I knew that things were different. There is a confidence that comes with those keys. Over the years, I have been taught and re-taught that the Lord is in charge, and that the Bishop is merely a servant, sitting in a temporary calling for a short time. I have recieved very real revelations and promptings. I have felt a very real love for people that I barely know. These spiritual manifestations are gifts that come with being a servant of the Most Hight God. There are great time, emotional and spiritual demands on the life of a Bishop. But the Lord compensates with knowledege, wisdom, insight, and yes, discernment. I have developed a trust in the Lord, and I hope He can trust me. My only desire is to seek out His will and follow what He would want. More often than not, the answers are clear. Early on, He pointed me to a verse in 1 Nephi where it says, "I will be your light in the wilderness," and that He has. I know the Lord will provide, just as He did for the children of Isreal wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

So, is there anything else you would like to know?