my friend Andrea

Last week I found something in my old Bible -- the one I got when I was ten and that I want to get the inserts from to transfer to my new one. What I found was the program for my friend Andrea's funeral. I saw that she passed away July 22nd, three years ago. Her husband had checked on her when she was asleep, but her spirit was gone. . . . I have memories of her in Young Women with me on Sundays and on Tuesday nights -- a rock climbing activity stands out to me -- and at camps. I think "service" when I think of her; we served each other. She needed a lot of service from her family because she was born with spina bifida and had to use a wheelchair. One way she served was with her great smile.

See? Great smile.

I love the way she kept in touch with everybody after high school. I mean everybody, because it seems that she was friends with all types of people. She called me regularly to chat from about 2004 on. I learned at her funeral that she had about 200 friends that she called probably at least once a month, but I felt special to her. I didn't always know what to talk about when she called, and she sometimes asked me questions that were hard to answer and explain, like about what it was like being pregnant and being a mom (I don't remember specifics). She said that she wanted to know because she wouldn't be able to be a mom. I remember telling her one evening that I was making bean burgers, and she had never heard of bean burgers but didn't say anything negative. She wanted to understand people, I think, and she is an example of how to listen and "love thy neighbor as thyself." She was a sweetheart and so is the man she married.

I also think about the fact that three years before Andrea passed away, her brother did. I attended his funeral to show support to her. I felt the Spirit and love very strongly at both funerals. Her parents are sure going to have a wonderful reunion after many years apart from their kids. (They lost another son, too, and I actually don't know that story but I think he might have been stillborn.)

It was neat that on July 22nd a familiar song came and played in my mind -- a song that Kenneth Cope wrote about a different girl named Andrea. I think my friend Andrea saw beyond the stars, too. I'm looking forward to seeing her run or do cartwheels or whatever she wants when she is resurrected, with a laugh and a smile on her face!

You can hear part of the song here: http://kennethcope.com/albums/stories-from-edens-garden/

ANDREA

(written by Kenneth Cope)

—for Andrea Goodman and family—

Andrea—you wear the smile of paradise

Andrea—you see beyond the stars

Ever reminding me that angels aren’t that far

My Andrea

Andrea—you wear the wings of innocence

It’s like you don’t belong here on the ground

But then there might be some of us who’d never reach the clouds

Without Andrea

And if day turns into gray

If hope hides far away

I know an angel I can go to for a smile

And that haze that has me blind

Will fade from my mind

Just from the thought of you

My Andrea

Andrea—you’re hoping for a better world

You long to be with Jesus in the sky

And I believe you’re going to see what you desire

My Andrea

Andrea—we feared that we had lost you

Gone without a chance to say “Good-bye”

But thanks to God you’ve come back to stay a while

My Andrea

And if day turns into gray

If hope hides far away

I know an angel I can go to for a smile

And that haze that has me blind

Will fade from my mind

Just from the thought of you

My Andrea

When day turns into gray

When hope hides far away

Then I remember how I feel when you are near

And my heart starts to rise

And light fills these eyes

All from the thought of you

From the love of you

My Andrea

Andrea—teach me the smile of paradise

© 1998 Mohrgüd Music (BMI)

a Throwback Thursday collage

I have been doing some pondering today, and I have felt joy. I have been thinking about new friendships, friendship in general, and ways to serve. Those thoughts and those things make me happy. I overheard two smiling mothers as they passed each other outside of First Girl's school: "How are you?" "I don't even know." "Yeah, seriously." For some reason hearing that made me happy, too. I ate garlicky brussels sprouts before eating the rest of my breakfast. I did some laundry (the kitchen still needs some work). I ran two miles in twenty one minutes while our younger daughters played near me in the fitness center. I've been praying more lately and feeling more hope. And the book I'm reading, The Gift of Giving Life, has given me a better "big picture" perspective about life. When I was looking at twitter, where I don't have a photo across the top (I dislike their new look), I thought maybe I would make a collage for that. I love how it turned out but actually decided on something simpler for my twitter page. It was really fun to look at some of our older photos and to be grateful for those memories. So this is a #tbt -- Throwback Thursday. The sheet music in the background is for the song we danced to at our wedding reception in 2004, but I started to learn how to play the piano when I was seven. (I love Jerome Kern and the sweet lyrics, and loved having Roger play the piano!) I still treasure the feeling of being in the Los Angeles temple with my husband in 2006 when I was pregnant; that was a wonderful night. The top middle photo of the collage is from 2008 when I ran a 10k. The bottom left was taken in 2011, and the others are a little more recent. C is here twice simply because the newborn picture reminds me of when each of our children were newborns, and the beauty of each new life. I always wanted to be a mom. The collage represents some of me, my life, and what is special to me.

Scripture Sunday: pure love, come fill my soul

Christ healing at the Pool of Bethesda -- I found the image {here} 

Currently one of my favorite hymns is O Love That Glorifies the Son (number 295 in the LDS Hymns). I sang and played it on the piano at home this morning. These are the gorgeous words.

1. O love that glorifies the Son,

O love that says, "Thy will be done!"

Pure love whose spirit makes us one—

Come, fill my soul today;
Come, fill my soul today.

2. O love that binds our family,
O love that brings my heart to thee,
Pure love that lasts eternally—

Come, fill my soul today;
Come, fill my soul today.

3. O love that overcomes defeat,
O love that turns the bitter sweet,
Pure love that makes our lives complete—

Come, fill my soul today;
Come, fill my soul today.

4. O Lord, give me the will to mend;
O Lord, change me from foe to friend;
Dear Lord, sustain me to the end—

Come, fill my soul today;
Come, fill my soul today.

Text and music: Lorin F. Wheelwright, 1909–1987

A scripture reference that talks about Christlike love comes from the admirable Moroni in The Book of Mormon {click that link for an excellent general conference talk by Elder Henry B. Eyring}. When Moroni speaks of brethren he means all people.

Moroni 7:46-48

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever, and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I am thankful that God has helped me to increase in charity. I am thankful for each calling that I have had in the Church and for those who have served me. I know that "pure love . . . makes our lives complete" and that the Lord wants to "sustain [us] to the end." May you feel loved today and may the rest of your Sunday be good!

I was outside today, running

 

1 bright sun
50-something degrees Fahrenheit
1 husband taking care of our kids

4 hours' worth of music in a playlist he created for me ("the world was mine today")

1 bottle of electrolyte water
countless trees

1 neighbor I know and adore running past me in the opposite direction

other people walking or running -- some with a friend or a stroller or a dog

4 soda cans left on the ground

1 faded "I VOTED" sticker among some leaves

1 church sign saying "some have to do lists, others have to be lists"

1 camera in my small purse

over 12 miles traveled

1 body to challenge and appreciate
2 nourishing hours alone to think and feel and love life

pioneer trek

"Whenever I think about pioneers,
I think of brave women and men . . ."

A few weeks ago, close to Pioneer Day, someone in church said that although going on a pioneer trek was not easy for her, she would do it again in a heartbeat. She said it was one of the greatest experiences of her entire life. I definitely agree.

I went on a trek as a 14-year-old, and then two years ago; I learned a lot both times. I cannot deny that the Holy Ghost was with us. I was humbled. I served and others served me. Both times, my love increased: for people (the pioneers of the 1800s as well as those I was with), for God's creations, for the hymns, and for the scriptures. I did not miss technology while we were there. Sometimes it was silent, but even when it wasn't there were plenty of moments to think and to feel. The trail the early Saints traveled on is holy ground, and I can't fully express what I gained spiritually from the physical work of pushing a handcart along that path for up to 13 miles a day.

When I went as a Ma it was hard to be away from 8-month-old Shboogoo and to have to keep finding a private place to pump and dump my milk. But when it was over, D and I returned to her. How could women quickly bury their babies or other loved ones, and then move on? I guess they did it because the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and is worth dying for.

~~~~~~~

I have only one photo from my first pioneer trek. I don't have it scanned in, but I like it so I'll go ahead and describe it. It's of me bearing my testimony in front of everyone. One of the leaders told the whole group that four people had been chosen to share their testimonies before we would split up for family testimony meetings. I knew, before they said my name, that I would be one of the four. That was just one of several aspects of the trek which helped me become less shy. Oh, yeah, and D -- who was also 14 at the time -- was assigned to the same family as me. I actually remember feeling back then that I was supposed to get to know him better and that that was why he was my trek brother.

These are my personal favorite photos (we have over a thousand!) from the trek in 2007. (I still look 14, don't I.) We had a photographer and a videographer who came with us, so each participant received CDs of photos and a DVD.

Here we are on the first day:

The next four were taken at Independence Rock:

Women's Pull:

Our family:

I didn't have any of these problems:

The appropriately-named Rocky Ridge:

we're even more than four and a half . . .

we're five! (Click on the word "five" if you don't know what song I just paraphrased. That part comes at about 1:20.)

Last week my husband and I celebrated five years of marriage! We were in California without our two-year-old from April 3rd through 5th; then his unit had to go back and I flew home. The two of us had a really good Korean dinner that Saturday night. It was so nice to be together, and it was fun to meet new people and hang out with the other wives. I gave him the card I made him (the picture above shows part of the inside).

front:

back:

Us, still in love.
Several couples took pictures in this spot outside the hotel on the last day. It was warm and sunny.