Papa was never one to rush a conversation. He would savor each slow pause and have the hope that he had captivated his audience long enough to build up some suspense or relish a thought on how things were set on teh mental state of drama and storytelling.
We eventaully caught onto the whole idea of what he was going to say (because we had so often heard it before), and would just fill in the blank for him and beat him to the thought so we could rush along his idea nad get on to more conversation or have more of us fill in the story with our own little twist or side note.
Now, even when we are not quite sure exactly what he is going to say we think we are so smart and start filling in the converstation for him. He takes it rather in good stride, but things have started to change now. My brother Christians joke when ever papa was about to say a little joke of his own:
"There once was this man-"
Ha hah ah ha hahahahaha!- that is soooo funny! would interupt Christian.
It would happen on many anothe various sentance.
Papa: " I have got to go-"
Chrsitian: "really?"
Well now Papa is better at speeding thinsg along and we are hopefully a little more polite and patient. Good language skills can often fall apart when we are in the casual circle of family alone for too long.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
John Ray (former Graig Thompson)
While My fathers older brother has now reverted his name to the original John Ray he was named as a boy, I have known him by 'Uncle Craig' for such a long time, it is going to have to take me some getting used to his real name again.
My Uncle John and I had one of the best times in my life when I visited Grandma and him up in Portland last summer. When we were there we got to visit a few of Grandmothers many prestegious friends and we had a good time at fabulous food you rarely ever get to see in life.
We went to visit the national Aero-Space Museum there in Oregon and saw the worlds largest airplane- the Spruce Goose.
Another day there we went just with Grandmaother to see Seaside and Cannon Beach along the lovely Pacific Coast. I remember that I bought a lot of fabulously great fudge that i didn't finish for the rest of vacation with out Uncle Craig's help- to which I invited him to assist.
We were with Grandmother a lot, but her ankle has in bad shape at the time and was not able to attend with us on a hike up Montenoma Falls there on the east side of Portland. I have to say that as far as waterfalls go, that is the most beautiful hike I have been on in all my life. While there walking along with Uncle John on the trail (at the time I called him Uncle Craig), it was all excitement to me because he actually took a lot of time to ask about myself and the things I study at school. It was a perfect place for me to give fresh examples right off teh trail of various edible vegetation and berries, point out the different between shade talerant and intolerant trees, fungi, water and sun conditions, humidity and climate, etc. etc. to which I love and study with passion. He in turn listened a lot to me and I got a chance to learn a fes things local to the area that he knew more about as well- especially the geography. W egot to talk about all the peace that comes in being able to walk with nature and listen and to pray. It was there that Uncle Craig told me if there was ever a way to help people, he would love to have a place, a little cottage, in the woods- like where we were walking, where people could just live a while and leave urbania behind for a while and regroup with their families and with God. He said he didn't knnow how or when- if ever- he would do it, but that he knew that being out in touch with all of Gods creations, and have a time to pray, listen, eat wholesome food, and read thr scriptures and other uplifting books is what people almost never have these days- but they dream about doing "some time" in life- and must have it some where or they let teh best of it slip by entirely.
Uncle Craig, I will always note has become one of those that is still and quite, but awakes with a passion when it comes to the word of God. I think there are few these days that will ever find the thing that he call "his greatest blessing, acheivement, and Joy" in life. He reads to Scriptures. He makes it a daily habit to read them- carefully. He studies them in various searches for a particular thought, or word, or passage and had make a remarkable lexicon of sorts of his own that he has said has awakened his very soul to what he had been missing for so long. He said it was like he was dead all his life until he understood that the scriptures were like the very answers to him for nearly every thing he ever wanted to know. He said he had been reborn by them, and I could tell it from within his heart I knew he had. I had felt that same thing- and let him know my own experiences to this as well. He said that it was wonderful, but made it a point over and over again that we must get into the habit to read them like food we eat. He said it was his daily feast to live off the word of God, and was more important to our being than food by itself ever wold be. Every day- often was what he was telling me. "You will find out that God will be with you more than you ever thought if you only will. You will not want to let go once you feel the power and strength God gives you from reading his Words. They very much are a part of life itself to us if we will listen and pay attention to them."
"And the Word was God" (Genesis), "And the iron rod was the word of God, which lead unto the tree of life" (Nephi I).
While Uncle Craig has many things in his life that impair him from getting some other rather important things done in life, he told me he feels much of lis earlier life may have been a much better one if he had found this grand teasure and understood it much earlier. He still can't do much now in his physical condition, but I know he glows inside with a spirit of Comfort in God that I know very feel have found- or knew it for a moment and lost it again. He seems to know something vital that may others take so lite.
Uncle John, live at lest a little longer with us- I hope to see you again in this life!
God bless you.
My Uncle John and I had one of the best times in my life when I visited Grandma and him up in Portland last summer. When we were there we got to visit a few of Grandmothers many prestegious friends and we had a good time at fabulous food you rarely ever get to see in life.
We went to visit the national Aero-Space Museum there in Oregon and saw the worlds largest airplane- the Spruce Goose.
Another day there we went just with Grandmaother to see Seaside and Cannon Beach along the lovely Pacific Coast. I remember that I bought a lot of fabulously great fudge that i didn't finish for the rest of vacation with out Uncle Craig's help- to which I invited him to assist.
We were with Grandmother a lot, but her ankle has in bad shape at the time and was not able to attend with us on a hike up Montenoma Falls there on the east side of Portland. I have to say that as far as waterfalls go, that is the most beautiful hike I have been on in all my life. While there walking along with Uncle John on the trail (at the time I called him Uncle Craig), it was all excitement to me because he actually took a lot of time to ask about myself and the things I study at school. It was a perfect place for me to give fresh examples right off teh trail of various edible vegetation and berries, point out the different between shade talerant and intolerant trees, fungi, water and sun conditions, humidity and climate, etc. etc. to which I love and study with passion. He in turn listened a lot to me and I got a chance to learn a fes things local to the area that he knew more about as well- especially the geography. W egot to talk about all the peace that comes in being able to walk with nature and listen and to pray. It was there that Uncle Craig told me if there was ever a way to help people, he would love to have a place, a little cottage, in the woods- like where we were walking, where people could just live a while and leave urbania behind for a while and regroup with their families and with God. He said he didn't knnow how or when- if ever- he would do it, but that he knew that being out in touch with all of Gods creations, and have a time to pray, listen, eat wholesome food, and read thr scriptures and other uplifting books is what people almost never have these days- but they dream about doing "some time" in life- and must have it some where or they let teh best of it slip by entirely.
Uncle Craig, I will always note has become one of those that is still and quite, but awakes with a passion when it comes to the word of God. I think there are few these days that will ever find the thing that he call "his greatest blessing, acheivement, and Joy" in life. He reads to Scriptures. He makes it a daily habit to read them- carefully. He studies them in various searches for a particular thought, or word, or passage and had make a remarkable lexicon of sorts of his own that he has said has awakened his very soul to what he had been missing for so long. He said it was like he was dead all his life until he understood that the scriptures were like the very answers to him for nearly every thing he ever wanted to know. He said he had been reborn by them, and I could tell it from within his heart I knew he had. I had felt that same thing- and let him know my own experiences to this as well. He said that it was wonderful, but made it a point over and over again that we must get into the habit to read them like food we eat. He said it was his daily feast to live off the word of God, and was more important to our being than food by itself ever wold be. Every day- often was what he was telling me. "You will find out that God will be with you more than you ever thought if you only will. You will not want to let go once you feel the power and strength God gives you from reading his Words. They very much are a part of life itself to us if we will listen and pay attention to them."
"And the Word was God" (Genesis), "And the iron rod was the word of God, which lead unto the tree of life" (Nephi I).
While Uncle Craig has many things in his life that impair him from getting some other rather important things done in life, he told me he feels much of lis earlier life may have been a much better one if he had found this grand teasure and understood it much earlier. He still can't do much now in his physical condition, but I know he glows inside with a spirit of Comfort in God that I know very feel have found- or knew it for a moment and lost it again. He seems to know something vital that may others take so lite.
Uncle John, live at lest a little longer with us- I hope to see you again in this life!
God bless you.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Rhonda Pickering
While Aunt Rhond and her husband Farrel Pickering are now living and working in Hawaii- last I knew. (Should I be jealous? I hear few actually get to go out and explore the other islands all that much), I still think back to when she was our semenary and algebra teacher when they lived down in Cedar City. Aunt Rhoda was the most important reason and joy for me ever wanting to go down there to that desert place (except to look for pretty rocks and explore the place for native american dwellings and such). What I liked about Aunt Rhonda the most was her increadible zeal to make things fun and exciting. It was never a dull moment and there was always a new and excitign lesson to be learned. She was a first taste of what I have ever even since to be what good home schooling could be. Her words were always kind and gentle, yet were put in a way tha we never disregard. She had a gift of heaven around her, and you could feel it. Her greanhouse garden there in Cedar City would be enourmously full of sweek cherry tomatoes that grew all the way up to the ceilings and dropped over again. The tomatoes hung like grapes and she would make sure we picked as much as we could possibly eat. Aunt Rhoda always seem to be able to talk down to our level as if we were not really so little but able to take on everthing we could handle in our minds. She constantly presented to us options, and if it ever felt like we were stuck, she was quick to catch on and return us to hwere we last left off. She was that way in math, and that way in family circles. She has ever since earned my respect and my love, and I feel as if I would have reach some of the best that life can hold if I had but a part of her character.
Alden Covington
Alden, I felt when I first met you that i had met something like the closest thing I could acquaint to a man that had a "Joseph Smith disposition." I try and not worship Joseph as he alone was a mortal like us all, however, when I think of how I know Alden- I find a common tie about the two: it is the spirit from within the emanates a type of love and understanding that is the essence of their being. It is a love of God, and with that love is a desire to look at every human being as sacred and precious above all.
Alden, you were the one that I could tell held a greater reverance and respect for life than I have been able to tie to but so very few. You are gentle, gentle as a feather, and yet when I shake your hand, I could tell that you could hurl railraod ties and raise your own house wall by wall on your own- so it felt, and so I seems to notice by your constant labors. I saw you hold your children close and with words that few fathers convery to their children of so mild a nature, would touch their souls with excitement and willingness. You would show them how to respect the small and the great things of God's handiwork, and I knew that they were paying eager attention. You had the gift of genuine intent and the willingness to hear more than to just be heard. Your voice is gentle, but firm and strengthening. Your conviction and testimony of the works and influence of God and Chrsit in your life as been one that makes me wish that the audiences were always larger- just to hear it. I hope that there are yet many good things in your life to come and that God has many more good things for you to do as that is my feeling if I were one to have say on the matter.
Alden, you were the one that I could tell held a greater reverance and respect for life than I have been able to tie to but so very few. You are gentle, gentle as a feather, and yet when I shake your hand, I could tell that you could hurl railraod ties and raise your own house wall by wall on your own- so it felt, and so I seems to notice by your constant labors. I saw you hold your children close and with words that few fathers convery to their children of so mild a nature, would touch their souls with excitement and willingness. You would show them how to respect the small and the great things of God's handiwork, and I knew that they were paying eager attention. You had the gift of genuine intent and the willingness to hear more than to just be heard. Your voice is gentle, but firm and strengthening. Your conviction and testimony of the works and influence of God and Chrsit in your life as been one that makes me wish that the audiences were always larger- just to hear it. I hope that there are yet many good things in your life to come and that God has many more good things for you to do as that is my feeling if I were one to have say on the matter.
Holding Information
I often wonder if others may find it an act of violation of privacy if I go on telling the world about my friends and a bit about them. For the record as this goes for everyones perview who stambles upon my writings, I will do my utmost to hold in confidence general personal information such as emails, phone numbers, ages, adressess, and etc. as well as limited association , business, family names, etc. There are but few general points here that I wish to make concerning my friends and family, and that is the goodness of the character, qualities, gifts, and attributes, and a bit of their own uniqueness in how they have touch my life and seen them touch the lives of others where I may have had the chance to notice.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Spring Jessop
So Spring, we have a sister named Spring too! Its a good name and I think it is a great thing to be named after the coming of life of all nature again after the winter season.
You were like that more though as we hung out trying to get the Youth site back into manageable hands. You stuck to things, and more than anyone else that seemed to be out there doing this thing or the other, you were still around being persistent that something had to keep going. You would be the first to step up to bring out a question that needed attention and the first to point out what was most important to keep our focus upon. You would be there to directly comment and care about what anothe felt or said in there joy or sorrow. You always would be serious and try to keep the theme of all upon God the things of the Spirit. ou were slow to jusge and quick to empathize. I saw as you would be there for your sister Safari and stay there like her shadow to be there when she needed help to communicate. I am amazed by such a love that you carry for others, and it is seen my few. I am grateful for your faithfulness. Far from naive belief or mere religion, you live what you feel in your heart and it is felt by everyone you touch.
Keep up the Taekwando and martial arts there, you don't have that much further to go for your black-belts! It will be amazing to have an instructor that can teach more of us the respect and descipline that goes along with those developed arts and skills.
You were like that more though as we hung out trying to get the Youth site back into manageable hands. You stuck to things, and more than anyone else that seemed to be out there doing this thing or the other, you were still around being persistent that something had to keep going. You would be the first to step up to bring out a question that needed attention and the first to point out what was most important to keep our focus upon. You would be there to directly comment and care about what anothe felt or said in there joy or sorrow. You always would be serious and try to keep the theme of all upon God the things of the Spirit. ou were slow to jusge and quick to empathize. I saw as you would be there for your sister Safari and stay there like her shadow to be there when she needed help to communicate. I am amazed by such a love that you carry for others, and it is seen my few. I am grateful for your faithfulness. Far from naive belief or mere religion, you live what you feel in your heart and it is felt by everyone you touch.
Keep up the Taekwando and martial arts there, you don't have that much further to go for your black-belts! It will be amazing to have an instructor that can teach more of us the respect and descipline that goes along with those developed arts and skills.
Shemrulon Allred
My Cousin, and the one I could relate most with out of all of Uncle Marvin D. Allreds family.
Shem, I remeber that you had a theme in life that was built upon a reliance in God, and to serve mankind continually. There was a time you came to visit me and I wqas ever eager to show you my rock collection which had several unique specimens of pyrite and crystals. We got ono the subject of searching in mine tailings and the rockhounding or "gold fever" that goes along with that all. Most of all though, I recall that you brought the story back into perspective with a moral behind it. What if were were just as eager to be of service to others as we are to get things like this? What if we were as excited to pray and seek for the spirit of God as we were for earthly treasure?
Later in life, I would watch as you had one thing continually upon your mind- and that was to serve. You did it with joy and you did it all day long. You would sing praises to God in the Morning and the evening and you would fast and pray often with a joy in your heart. To this day you have not lost your brightness or zeal for goodness.
On a trip down to Cedar City and St. George, I also remember you hearing my latest of the scary shows that I had seen that I felt were quite convincing of the forces of evil at work in some people across the world. While you had an appreciation to hear my point of a witness to what was evil out there, you mentioned that one does not necessarily need to continually watch or observe evil things out there to understand that it exists. The darkness only reveals one side of the story and that is the black, but teh light shows both sides of the story and makes a fine contrast to where teh lines of various things are down and understandable. I am glad to have lived many years to prove this point for myself, and find it to be infaliable and true.
God bless you my cousin Shem! I am glad to know of your faithfulness and unconditional love- and I have many a friendship found more deep and meaningful than I could have ever understood unless I knew you and why and what true friendship was really all about- our mutual understanding of what is really most lasting and eternally satisfactory.
Shem, I remeber that you had a theme in life that was built upon a reliance in God, and to serve mankind continually. There was a time you came to visit me and I wqas ever eager to show you my rock collection which had several unique specimens of pyrite and crystals. We got ono the subject of searching in mine tailings and the rockhounding or "gold fever" that goes along with that all. Most of all though, I recall that you brought the story back into perspective with a moral behind it. What if were were just as eager to be of service to others as we are to get things like this? What if we were as excited to pray and seek for the spirit of God as we were for earthly treasure?
Later in life, I would watch as you had one thing continually upon your mind- and that was to serve. You did it with joy and you did it all day long. You would sing praises to God in the Morning and the evening and you would fast and pray often with a joy in your heart. To this day you have not lost your brightness or zeal for goodness.
On a trip down to Cedar City and St. George, I also remember you hearing my latest of the scary shows that I had seen that I felt were quite convincing of the forces of evil at work in some people across the world. While you had an appreciation to hear my point of a witness to what was evil out there, you mentioned that one does not necessarily need to continually watch or observe evil things out there to understand that it exists. The darkness only reveals one side of the story and that is the black, but teh light shows both sides of the story and makes a fine contrast to where teh lines of various things are down and understandable. I am glad to have lived many years to prove this point for myself, and find it to be infaliable and true.
God bless you my cousin Shem! I am glad to know of your faithfulness and unconditional love- and I have many a friendship found more deep and meaningful than I could have ever understood unless I knew you and why and what true friendship was really all about- our mutual understanding of what is really most lasting and eternally satisfactory.
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