A new chapter begins . . . .

A year ago Harry was called to serve in the Arcadia Stake Presidency.  At the time of the calling, President Magnusson said, "I don't know how long this call will be - could be a year, could be six months."  (Since the call was to be second counselor, replacing President Steimle, who was moving.)

When the letter came a few weeks ago announcing that there would be a new stake presidency called, we figured that the year was up - just as President Magnusson had predicted.  Harry was glad for the year of experience with President Magnusson and President Cornwall, and was busy thinking of names to recommend for consideration for a new stake president.  We were both pretty certain that they would be looking for a "younger" man!

We took the usual ribbing about how Harry had better watch out or he'd be called - an LDS phenomenon of predicting calls to certain positions in the church!  (I recall many years ago when we had only been married for a few years.  I told Harry to watch out - that someday he'd be called to be Scoutmaster.  His response was that would never happen - there were too many men who wanted that calling! I can't recall the context for such a remark, but I'm sure there was one!  At any rate - fast forward to 1979 and our move from Utah to Monrovia - and Harry's call as Scoutmaster!!  Got some chuckles and "I told you so's" from that one!)

Imagine my surprise - and Harry's too based on his demeanor - when we got a call Saturday to return for another interview with Elder Falabella of the 1st quorum of the Seventy and Elder Sabin of the 5th quorum of the Seventy!  

After the call, Harry commented that he was taken by surprise - was sure they would be looking for someone younger.  I love Elder Sabin - who said, "The Lord doesn't look on the stature of a man, but rather on his heart!"  That certainly rang true with me!

Saturday night's meeting was great, we enjoyed dinner with the visitors and members of the stake presidency.  Sunday morning we had some great teaching and counsel from both of these men, and then we had a great Stake Conference.  Noah came and brought Helen, which made it easier and less stressful for Harry and me.  Bonny came too, and of course Harry, Dawn and family were with us.  The setting apart was a sweet experience - Bruce and the girls were able to join us too.  After we enjoyed some great family time for lunch and dinner at our house.

So we've had a couple of days of intense thought, prayer, feeling, emotion - and now it's Monday - the start of a new week.

We'll keep you posted!!

Celebrating Seven Decades!

If Harry is turning 70 today, that means I turn 70 next year.  How did this happen?  Don't answer that!  I could do a book of photos and wouldn't cover it all.

 

Maybe those reading this should post 70 comments!  (Ha, I doubt if there are 7 readers!!  And some of them probably believe his assertion on FB that his birthday is in April and that he was born in 1934.)

My favorite line is the one in the card I gave him:  "70 - it's the new 69!!"

Happy day to you my sweet - here's to a few more decades!!

Happy Day to Dad!!

I probably tell all the same birthday stories every year. Maybe it's because they are good stories though!! What I was thinking about this time though was how random these photos are that I chose. This is the way Dad looks these days - so that's not so random is it?

And for every season except summer, you can see him in his blue Patagonia parka. He is always cold - that's what you get for being thin!

At this holiday season, I frequently think of the Christmas holidays spent in Harris' house in Centerville - for those not in the know, we rented a house from a couple who were on a mission - for 18 months we lived in a "real" house in a "real" neighborhood. It was a lot of fun.

I like this shot of Dad - makes me think of the "old" days when we had mini-blinds and the blue couch and chair. Good times!!

I've posted this before - it's the day before Dad left to come home from his mission - in Iquique, Chile, with a fortune teller - who told him he was going on a long journey and he would meet a beautiful woman. (That would be me, no doubt!!)

Dad has never minded having a holiday birthday - and he's not hard to please - we may not have a kitchen this year, but I will still make his pineapple upside down cake - it will be the 44th one I've made!!

Happy Day to the "best" man!!

Happy Day to Harry!

What do you give the man who has everything? And what do you say about the man who is everything to you?

43 years ago, Dad and I were winging our way to LA on an airplane. That doesn't seem special to any of you - but that was back in the day when people didn't routinely fly from SLC to LA!

Our car got sideswiped in a fender-bender on icy Orem streets - so we had to fly. It was snowing - almost blizzarding - we weren't even sure we'd make it down for own wedding!

But we did. I remember sitting next to Dad in the airplane - only the 3rd time I'd ever been on a plane - and wondering about what the next few days would hold. I certainly didn't think about how from now on I'd be celebrating his birthday, our anniversary, and Christmas all in one week!

Over the years I tried various and sundry ways to let him know how special he was with gifts of various sorts. I cannot count the number of gifts I made for him - that I never completed! I did complete some of them - but my track record is not good. I have an even worse track record when it comes to thinking of ideas that would be great - and then not implementing them. (Think 40 blog posts to commemorate 40 years of marriage!!)

A few years back we declared a moratorium on gifts - and life's been a lot easier since then!

Dad is the finest man I know. He embodies all the great adjectives: kind, loving, patient, sensible, calm, forgiving, thoughtful, sensitive, thorough, spiritual, creative, cheerful - I could go on, but I won't.

That first year I gave him a Dior tie for his birthday. I loved that tie. The tie of choice now is Jerry Garcia - or Talbot. I made him at least 2 nightshirts. I started crocheting him a vest once - packed the front and the remaining yarn in a box and wrapped it up!
(Eventually unraveled it and made something else out of it.) I've started two scrapbooks for him.

I've bought him countless books - I will go to toss a book in the DI pile and find an inscription from me on the flyleaf!! (From 1969: "Harry - another beautiful hardback for your shelf - may they all be that way soon! Love, Barb" From 1988: "Harry my love - from one old letter writer to another! Love and kisses! BCT" - inscribed in the Collected Letters of T.S.Eliot.) And he reads a Kindle now. I have also bought him many "albums" and tapes and CD's - he listens to his iPhone now.

There will not be any gifts this year - unless I have some really great idea that can be procured at Target, Trader Joe's, or REI.

But I will bake my 43rd pineapple upside down cake!

Happy Birthday to the Best Man!!