Loves Lonely Offices

I'm guessing that the older we get, the more we realize, because of our own experiences, there were things our parents (and others) did for us without our being aware of them. Many of these things are simple everyday actions such as putting things away we left out, tip-toeing so as not to disturb, doing the dishes in our stead etc. Others have more significance.


A poem by Robert Hayden gives a poignant expression to this idea:

Those Winter Sundays

Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.

I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he'd call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,

Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices?

We will likely be quite surprised and overcome when we look back on mortality and see all the things, general and specific, that our Heavenly Parents did for us that we were totally oblivious of at the time. (These will not be “austere” but I'm guessing will be “lonely” )Some of these may take eons to recognize and some, depending on our post-mortal situation, we may never grasp nor appreciate.

Luella Nelson Jeppsen

This past week, the 27th of January to be exact, was the birthday of Luella Nelson Jeppsen, my grandmother on Mom's side. She was born in 1903 and passed away in 1992 at the age of 89.

I always enjoyed arriving at Grandma Jeppsen's house when we would come for our yearly visit from California and later, after Dad died, we lived with Grandma and Grandpa for several years while Mom finished her schooling at Utah State. I'm sure that was quite a shock on a couple of sixty year old empty nesters; to have four grandchildren ages 12, 10, 8 and 2 suddenly arrive with their recently widowed mother.

She was always excited to see us and very "grandmotherly" in her kindness and encouragement. Many of the memories of Grandma Jeppsen are tied to food she would make: raisin cookies, chili, apple pie, flapjacks etc. (She was the cookie baker in Free to Choose!)

She was always willing to help others and served faithfully in many callings in the Church. Towards the end she had to go to a rest home, where she was always glad to see us but couldn't remember who we were. That was always a bit sad. She seemed to recollect who we were once we refreshed her memory.

Anyway, I've just been thinking a bit about her and just thought I would remind everyone. Happy Birthday (belatedly) to Grandma Jeppsen!

Stunning Contrast

Saturday morning after a snowstorm and all was white, white, white with snow just wet enough to cling to everything! The most stunning sight were the stoplights - the street signs and signals covered with a pure white glaze and only the vivid red, green and yellow, each in turn, emanating from the whiteness! Stunning!

49 Years Ago

It was 49 years ago on Friday that my father died. The day was overcast and surreal. Amazing that it has been that long. So much he has missed, at least in a mortal sense. Everything was turned upside down in just a few moments. Such a strange couple of days. Going to school and being a little goofy. Shock? Probably good to get out of the house. Saying good-bye

49 years ago

Slow Miracles

We take for granted the slow miracle whereby water in the irrigation of a vineyard becomes wine. It is only when Christ turns water into wine, in a quick motion, as it were, that we stand amazed.

St. Augustine

Dream Flying

The other night I had a "flying" dream and woke up quite exhilarated! I don't recall such a dream since I was in elementary school. Quite a treat to be zipping and swooshing around the sky -