Jared and Sara Thomas

June 27th, 2009

Jared called me on Monday, June 22nd, and said, "I have good news! Sara and I are getting married on Saturday, and we were wondering if we could do it there (meaning at our house) ."

Immediately, my mind wandered back to when Aunt Daisy died.

We went into Uncle Don's house to clean it up. Horrors. I can still remember the stench of wild cats permeating the home. I remember the cobweb-laden dart stuck in the kitchen cabinet. (how long has it been there?).

The scales came off my eyes, and I looked around at my messy house that I didn't have time to clean, and I repented for judging Uncle Don.

We had a wonderful, if hectic, time. My baseboards are still not on, the roof is still leaking, the showers are mold-laden, and the garage is packed.

- BUT-

Some of the rooms smell fresh, the backyard looked beautiful, the pool is filled with water that is clear, our family was going camping in Oceanside in 2 days.

We witnessed A milestone in Jared and Sara's life. And tomorrow I will attack the mold, and try to learn to love Uncle Don without judging.

Hiking With the North Family

I was ready for a 4 mile hike. Marcus told me it was a good hike and not too long. Fossil Springs by Strawberry, AZ is an 8-mile hike. On the way back out, it is mostly uphill. Emily and Grace her friend were done about 2 miles on the way out. Andy North and I developed a little game. Here are the rules;



Run Uphill



If you are going uphill;

• Pick a prominent landmark about 50 feet ahead of you.


• Run uphill to the landmark.


• Chant "GO, GO, GO!" until you run out of breath.


• Turn around, but don't sit down.


• Look at the view, celebrate your progress, and wait for the rest of the group to catch up with you.


• Evaluate the next 50 feet. Repeat if you are still going uphill.

If you are going straight;

• walk with the group until you approach the next hill (see directions for going uphill).


• Play "The Minister's Cat" from the movie 'Scrooge,' until one of the group gets irritated, or you arrive at the next hill.

The kids beat me out of the canyon.

Optional rules for the recession;

I didn't intend to hike this mountain, and there is no way out of this without climbing out of the canyon I am in. I am tired of sitting on this rock, paralysed.

Run Uphill

• Develop a plan of action based on the principles of preparedness. Take your plan to the Lord every morning in prayer.


• Tackle 50 feet of the most urgent part of your plan with speed and vigor. That means only run one day at a time. Work hard and remind yourself to Go! Go! Go!


• Don't go to bed without celebrating the progress of the day, and express your gratitude to Heavenly Father. Ways to celebrate - pray, read your scriptures, serve someone else, taking care of your body's needs by exercising, eating well and drinking enough water.


• Don't try to keep up in any way with any other hiker. Don't look too far uphill.

When it is time to hike a straight road again, I will have awesome spiritual and emotional muscles. I will come out of this experience with a greater capacity to love and be grateful.

new pictures are coming from the Wagners!

Vanessa's new broth....uh... boyfriend

Bethany and Gailynn

We have added a new member into our home! Gailynn Richardson BARR :) A few months ago Bethany invited her to come stay at our home. They are joined at the hip and enjoy each others company most of the time. They have their arguments! But who doesn't?? Last week, Bethany moved into her original room. Gailynn was so excited to decorate her very own room. As of last week, Gailynn got a bed! She slept on the floor for months hahaha! It was a weird transition to add another teenager into the home, but it's been a great exsperience. Bethany and Gailynn do silly, random things that sometimes don't make sense. They are always having random ideas to do together with their friends. Here are some facts about each girl:
Bethany- She is now 16 years of age. Her birthday is in June and she is turning 17 this summer. She plays soccer but she loves all sports. She loves listening to her music. She played the bass for 10 years but currently does not play. She is very hyper, outgoing, and loves to make people feel comfortable and happy.
Gailynn- She is currently 16 years old and her birthday is October 23rd. She has a very engergetic personality. she is a good decorater, cute, and crafty. upbeat outlook on life, unless you ask her about her family. She randomly sings when it's quiet! she is kind to everybody. She doesn't play any sports and she dreads getting up each morning. "uh i hate this! I hate waking up!" (thats her saying every morning... it's especially funny when you add the "grrrr" sound effects).

Final Update to Guatamala

The government got their way. The orphanage was closed. Every child over 10 is now on the street, the younger ones were sent to foster homes.

I am haunted.......

My sister Janice sent me this picture of the Salt Lake Temple. It reminds me than even when times are hard, I can find direction and peace by looking to Jesus Christ.

Santiago, Guatamala and the Value of a Quarter

A little boy kept asking for money from Dr. Dean. He had some quarters in his pocket to give to the children. One little boy was very disappointed when Dr. Dean gave him his quarter.

"Quetzales!" the little boy plead.

Dr. Dean kept trying to explain to the boy how much more valuable a quarter was than a quetzal.
"Give him a quetzal," I told him - so he did. The little boy excitedly ran off to the corner store.

I wonder sometimes if I too am guilty of trading "down" when I don't see the value of the gifts and experiences I am given from Heavenly Father.

Santiago, Guatamala and the Ugly American

Dr. Dean convinced a few of us to take a boatride across the water to Santiago, a small village on the shores of Lake Atitlan. 3,000 people were killed here during Hurricaine Katrina in a mudslide. Dr. Dean had set up a small dental clinic 3 years earlier, that was covered by mud, and he wanted to see what had happened to it.

We arrived at Santiago and made our way to the other side of the village standing up in the back of a truck and holding on for dear life to a rod that was running down the middle. Of course it was drizzling rain.

We walked up the dirt road to the old medical/dental clinic with the usual entourage of children running along side, asking for money. There was one little irritating boy I overheard speaking to Dr. Dean.

"Mi Maaaahdre, Mi Paaaaahdre, blah blah blah," he droned. I had heard it all before. I turned to one of my fellow travellers and told him that I had heard that same chant on every trip that I had been on from Mexico to Peru. "They train their youngest kids to beg as soon as they can, because the younger ones can get more money from the tourists.The parents then take the money from the kids," I said. I found the whole process so irritating.

Dr. Dean came over to where we were and asked us if we had heard the little boy. "Did I ever," I said.

"He was telling me about what it was like to be in the mudslide. He lost his mother, his father, his brothers and sisters. He has irreparable damage to his leg......"

I felt like a jerk.

I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE VANESSA. VANESSA IS CURRENTLY IN HER 2ND SEMESTER OF NURSING SCHOOL AT BYU. WE MISS HER SO MUCH, AND DAD IS REALLY IN NEED OF A "STRETCH." - HMM, I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING.... STRETCH (VANESSA'S OTHER NICKNAME) HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HER HEIGHT, BUT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HER TENDANCY TO TRY TO TWIST HER DAD INTO A PRETZEL. WOW, EMBARRASING THAT IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO GET THAT.....

GUATAMALAN ORPHANAGE

WE VISITED THE TOWN. THERE WAS ANOTHER ORPHANAGE (ACTUALLY IT WAS MY 1ST ORPHANAGE - THERE WERE MEMBERS OF MY GROUP WHO HAD VISITED ORPHANAGES EVERY DAY) WHOSE SPONSORS WERE AN AMERICAN FAMILY FROM VIRGINIA WITH 10 KIDS ( MORMONS).
THERE WERE 37 CHILDREN FROM A FEW MONTHS OLD TO YOUNG TEENAGERS WHO WERE ORPHANS, WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED, HAD DISABILITIES, OR HAD PARENTS THAT WERE INCAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF THEM.
THIS ORPHANAGE RECEIVED NO SUPPORT FROM THE GUATAMALAN GOVERNMENT. IN FACT, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SEND OFFICIALS, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT "THEY" SHOULD HAVE A PIECE OF THE RICH "MILLIONS" THAT THE OPERATION WAS GETTING FROM THE AMERICAN FAMILY. THEY WOULD REFER KIDS TO THE ORPHANAGE, BUT WOULDN'T GIVE ANY SUPPORT, OR EVEN COME TO ASSIST WITH THE KIDS AT ALL. THE PLACE WAS ALL CEMENT - NO GRASS FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY ON, WITH NO WATER SOURCE. LUCKILY, THEY WERE COLLECTING THE RAIN EVERY DAY (IT IS THE RAINY SEASON) SO THE KIDS COULD HAVE BATHS. WE BROUGHT THEM TOYS, CANDY, BLANKETS, AND THE BOOKS THAT LORRAINE CALBOW HAD DONATED. LORRAINE HAD HOPED THAT I WOULD GET A PICTURE OR TWO WITH THE KIDS HOLDING THE BOOKS, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO. THE DIRECTOR WANTED UP TO GIVE THEM ONLY ONE THING TO AVOID "CHRISTMAS MORNING SYNDROME." HE ASKED THAT WE HAVE THEIR TEACHER GIVE THEM THE BOOKS IN A CLASSROOM SETTING. I'M SURE LORRAINE WILL UNDERSTAND.
THE VOLUNTEERS GAVE EACH CHILD SOMETHING, AND THE CHILDREN WERE ASTONISHED. THEY WALKED AROUND WITH GLAZED EYES......
I WON'T EVER FORGET THE TWIN BABIES....I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE LOVING FAMILY IN VIRGINIA. WHAT A DIFFERECE THEY ARE MAKING IN THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES......
to be continued

SOME NOTES FROM GUATAMALA

9.1.08
BRRR. THE SHOWER IS COLD.
GOT TO THE CLINIC AT 7 AM. WE SAW MAINLY CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE MISSIONARIES. IT IS DISTRESSING TO SPEND 40 MIN OR LESS ON SOMEONE WITH GUM DISEASE REQUIRING 4+ HOURS OF SCALING AND ROOT PLANING. I FELT SORRY FOR MY PATIENTS. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET ANY OF THEM NUMB - TORTURA! -
"LO SIENTO," WAS THE PHRASE OF THE DAY. WE WORKED UNTIL 9 PM. I AM EXHAUSTED BUT HAPPY TO BE HERE. I JUST WISH THERE WAS SOME WAY TO CALL HOME - I'M WORRIED ABOUT KENT... & THE BABIES OF COURSE. THERE IS NO INTERNET OR CELL PHONE COVERAGE WHERE I'M AT.

9.2.08
BRR. THE SHOWER IS COLD
AFTER 2 HOURS OF SITTING IDLE (THE CITY POWER SUPPLY IS POOR AT BEST), WE WERE PULLED INTO THE CULTURAL HALL WHERE WE HAD SET UP THE DENTAL CLINIC, AND DAVE SHEETS, ONE OF THE DIRECTORS, SUGGESTED WE OFFER UP A PRAYER.
CREED HAYMOND, AND ORAL SURGEON FROM SANDY, UTAH, OFFERED THE PRAYER. HE PLED WITH THE LORD AND REMINDED HIM THAT WE WERE HERE ON HIS ERRAND, AND THAT THE MISSIONARY WORK NEEDED TO GO FORWARD. IN ORDER FOR US TO PREPARE MISSIONARIES, WE NEDDED THE POWER TO BE WORKING. HE BASICALLY ASKED FOR A MIRACLE. HE CONCLUDED THE PRAYER AND MANY OF US SAT DOWN TO WORK...I HAD NO DOUBTS AT ALL. IN 7 MINUTES THE POWER WAS ON TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY, AND INTO THE NEXT DAY WHEN A GENERATOR WAS INSTALLED.
THERE ARE MIRACLES EVERY TIME I GO ON ONE OF THESE TRIPS.

9.3.08
MMMM. WARM SHOWER, BUT NOT FOR VERY LONG.
SAW 105 PATIENTS TODAY - EXTREME STRESS. TRIED ASSISTED HYGIENE WITH LINDA BINGHAM (PAUL'S FRIEND MARTY'S WIFE) DOING POLISH, FLOSS, AND FLUORIDE. HAD 2 INTERPRETERS THAT ENDED UP ASSISTING WITH STERILIZATION. POSTED A SIGN "BE KIND" IN OUR OPERATORY. 3 CAVITRON TIPS BLOW (THE O-RINGS ANYWAY). USING A TITAN SCALER WITHOUT WATER CAPABILITY. MY HAND HURTS, MY UPPER BACK HURTS. PERIODIC HEADACHES - NOT GOOD FOOD TO EAT. LOTS OF SNACKS - NOT A LOT OF PROTEIN. INSTRUMENTS NEED TO BE BE SHARPENED - I DON'T HAVE A SHARPENER. NO BARRIER GLASSES CHUNKS OF TARTAR AND SPEW KEEP HITTING ME IN THE FACE. REP FORM SOME 'DENTAL SUPPLY COMPANY,' BROUGHT ME SOME MASKS WITH A CLEAR PIECE OF PLASTIC ON THEM TO SHIELD MY EYES. SOMEONE LET ME BORROW THEIR DENTAL HEADLIGHT.
IT IS HARDER TO CARE ABOUT "WHAT JESUS WOULD DO" WHEN I AM TIRED. ON WEDNESDAY, I FELT LIKE I WAS IN SOMALIA DURING THE 'BLACK HAWK DOWN' INCIDENT. THERE WERE MORE NEEDS THAN I COULD POSSIBLY MEET AND I WAS DROWNING IN SELF-PITY, PAIN, AND DOUBT AS TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MY CONTRIBUTION. I THOUGHT BACK TO HOW JESUS MUST HAVE FELT WHEN, DAY AFTER DAY, HE WAS MOBBED BY CROWDS, ALWAYS GIVING, RARELY RECEIVING. I WONDERED IF HIS BACK HURT AS BAD AS MINE DID OR IF HIS HANDS HURT LIKE MINE DID. I WANTED THE PEOPLE TO GO AWAY - HE LOVED THEM ENOUGH TO SAY, "SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME AND FORBID THEM NOT..." I WAS ANGRY WHEN A GIRL IN BRACES - NICELY DRESSED - SAT IN THE CHAIR. "WOW," I THOUGHT , I AM SO MAD THAT I LEFT MY FAMILY AND SACRIFICED TIME AND MONEY TO COME TO WORK ON YOU..... I WAS "NICE"TO HER THE WHOLE TIME, BUT I CERTAINLY WAS UNABLE TO GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVE.
I REALIZE FOR THE FIRST TIME WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE TO BE LAMAN AND LEMUEL, OR TO BE LIKE THE EARLY APOSTATES OF THE CHURCH. THEY HAD SEEN ANGELS AND HAD WITNESSED MIRACLES - BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER WAS - THEIR LIVES WERE EVEN HARDER AFTER THEY HAD RECEIVED THEIR SURE WITNESSES. IN THEIR SELF-PITY, PAIN, AND DOUBT, THEY BECAME PREOCCUPEIED WITH NEGATIVITY AND HURT, AND THEY COULDN'T SAVOR THE PURE LOVE THAT WAS SURROUNDING THEM - THEY DIDN'T REMEMBER THE GIFTS THAT WERE THEIRS, AND LOOK FOR THE MIRACLES IN THEIR LIVES; THEY COULDN'T FEEL OR RECEIVE LOVE. I UNDERSTAND HOW IT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE FOR THEM - ALL OF THEM TO TURN THEIR BACKS ON THEIR BRETHREN AND SISTERS, AND THEIR SAVIOR. I UNDERSTAND WHY HEAVENLY FATHER IS SO CAREFUL TO WHOM HE SHOWS HIS MIRACLES, BECAUSE MIRACLES CAN BECOME A TESTIMONY AGAINST THE RECIPIENT OR WITNESS. WHEN THERE IS A SURE WITNESS, THERE IS A SURE CONDENMATION IF ONE CHOOSES TO TURN AWAY FROM THE PATH.
I KNOW TOO MUCH.
I MUST RENEW MY DETERMINATION TO TRY TO BE LIKE JESUS, TO SOMEHOW LEARN TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY - EVEN WHEN I'M TIRED, IN PAIN, OR DOUBTING.
A TURNING POINT FOR ME HAPPENED ABOUT9:00 ON WEDNESDAY EVENING. DAVE SHEETS CALLED US TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER PARAYER. A PRAYER FOR ENDURANCE - THERE WERE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE THAT WERE WAITING TO BE SEEN. WE COULDN'T SEND THEM HOME BECAUSE THEY AHD TRAVELLED ON A BUR 5 HOURS TO BE SEEN - WE SIMPLY COULDN'T STOP. WE WERE FATIGUED BEYOND BELIEF. AFTER THE PRAYER, MY HAND STOPPED HURTING, BUT MY BACK WAS KILLING ME. AFTER WE PRAYED, DEAVID SHEETS CLOSED THE ACCORDIAN DOORS, OF THE CULTURAL HALL AND ASKED THE GUATAMALANS TO PRAY FOR OUR BODIES AS WELL. WHEN THEY HAD FINISHED THIER PRAYER, THEY SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO APPLAUSE. I STARTED CRYING BECAUSE I FELT THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT AND I GAINED THE STRENGTH TO FINISH THE NIGHT. WE FINISHED AFTER MIDNIGHT.

9.4.08
BRRR FREEZING SHOWER
WE FINISHED OUR DAY AT 9:00 PM - I FELT LIKE I WAS ON VACATION - I FOUND OUT THAT THE MASKS THAT I HAD PURCHASED FOR THE 'DENTAL REP' WERE USED. I FOUND TELL-TALE SIGNS OF MASCARA AND LIPSTICK. SICK. WE PAID $2 APIECE FOR 5 MASKS. THE REP PICKED THEM UP WHEN I COMPLAINED, BUT I DOUBE THAT WE GOT OUR MONEY BACK.... EWWWW.

9.5.08
NO SHOWER IS BETTER THAN A COLD SHOWER.
WE HAD 1/2 OF A DAY, AND WE WERE PACKED UP AND READY TO LEAVE BY 3PM. WE HOPPED ON THE BUSES AND MADE OUR WAY TO THE LAKE ATITLAN HOTEL FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH PRESENTED US WITH TOWELS FROM GUATAMALA



TO BE CONTINUED

Grandpa James' Memorial

General Conference Extracurricular Activities

Grandma in Guatamala

our grand adventure wash day at the lake
our taxi a waterfall at Lake Atitlan

Emily playing the cello

Emily is playing in the 6th grade orchestra, and in the curriculum festival later on this semester. She has a tendancy to over load her schedule. She now wants to become a JT (Johnson tutor) for Mrs. Samuels.