Flip Flops - Elder Kearon

This weekend we had a sacred experience with one of the Lord's chosen servants. As part of our stake conference we had a visiting member of the quorum of the seventy come and instruct us. We were blessed to have Elder Patrick Kearon address us.

In preparation for conference we were watchinga mormon message entitled "The Sting of the Scorpion" (https://www.lds.org/youth/video/sting-of-the-scorpion?lang=eng). Parker loved it and kept watching it over and over. After watching it a few times he disappeared to his room and began putting on flip flops. Mom instructed him that it was safe for him to wear them inside which provided some relief for him. Later we had dinner with Elder Kearon and his wife (as part of a new calling). Melissa shared with him this experience to which he commented, "They took a mediocre message and made it great" (referring to the talk he gave and what they did with it on the mormon messages).

The following day (General Stake Conference) we took Parker and Brock up to meet with Elder and Sister Kearon. What transpired was sacred and wonderful. Upon seeing how shy Parker was, he went to both knees and started talking to Parker about flip flops. As parents, we were thankful for his kindness and graciousness.

The following is the story that triggered Parker's desire to wear flip flops:

As a seven-year-old boy living in the Arabian Peninsula, I was consistently told by my parents to alwayswear my shoes, and I understood why. I knew that shoes would protect my feet against the many threats to be found in the desert, such as snakes, scorpions, and thorns. One morning after a night’s camping in the desert, I wanted to go exploring, but I did not want to bother with putting on my shoes. I rationalized that I was only going for a little wander and I would stay close by the camp. So instead of shoes, I wore flip-flops. I told myself that flip-flops were shoes-of a sort. And anyway, what could possibly happen?

As I walked along the cool sand—in my flip-flops—I felt something like a thorn going into the arch of my foot. I looked down and saw not a thorn but a scorpion. As my mind registered the scorpion and I realized what had just happened, the pain of the sting began to rise from my foot and up my leg. I grabbed the top of my leg to try and stop the searing pain from moving farther, and I cried out for help. My parents came running from the camp.

As my father battered the scorpion with a shovel, an adult friend who was camping with us heroically tried to suck the venom from my foot. At this moment I thought that I was going to die. I sobbed while my parents loaded me into a car and set off across the desert at high speed toward the nearest hospital, which was over two hours away. The pain all through my leg was excruciating, and for that entire journey, I assumed that I was dying.

When we finally reached the hospital, however, the doctor was able to assure us that only small infants and the severely malnourished are threatened by the sting of that type of scorpion. He administered an anesthetic, which numbed my leg and took away any sensation of pain. Within 24 hours I no longer had any effects from the sting of the scorpion. But I had learned a powerful lesson.
I had known that when my parents told me to wear shoes, they did not mean flip-flops; I was old enough to know that flip-flops did not provide the same protection as a pair of shoes. But that morning in the desert, I disregarded what I knew to be right. I ignored what my parents had repeatedly taught me. I had been both lazy and a little rebellious, and I paid a price for it.
“Come unto Me with Full Purpose of Heart, and I Shall Heal You”October 2010 General Conference

March Madness - Neighborhood style

The combination of beautiful spring weather and a neighborhood full of kids provided the ideal backdrop for our own version of March Madness. The bounce of a ball seemed to be a call to all neighbors that there was "game on". Basketballs came out of the garage and the shooting began. In no time it looked and felt like madness. Parker, Krae, and Kyson took turns with the small ball while the others used whatever ball they could get their hands on. Brock was happy just to get his hands on a ball and dodge the balls flying through the hoop. Parker didn't last long on the court but found his role as the referee from the front step.

I love March because I love March Madness, and this is the best kind of March Madness.

"I wish I had a beer"

While we were eating lunch today, Parker turns to me and says, "Mom I wish I had a beer."

Me: A beer?

Parker: Yeah, a beer?

Me: What to do you mean a beer? (I am a little leery at this point of what he is going to say.)

Parker: Yeah, Mom a beer like Santa Claus!

Me: Oh, a beard! (Whew, we dodged that conversation a little while longer.)

Dishwasher and Glue

Coming from the doctor the day before, I thought we were home free for a while of doctor's visits.  Until we woke up and started another day.  I was doing the breakfast dishes and wobbly Brock was "helping" me as he always seems to do.  His slippery footy pajamas got the best of him as he fell down he hit the edge of the dishwasher.  This time the dishwasher won.  Brock came up screaming in a bloody mess.  Once I cleaned him up and calmed him down, I wondered if stitches would be needed since the gash was just below his bottom lip.  We decided to head to the clinic.  Since I was on crutches and couldn't take him myself, Lori Rogers was so kind to drive us there and help me through it all.  I have the best neighbors and friends.  As the doctor examined it he decided that he would seal it up with glue instead of stitches.  All I can say is they should have just given me the glue and sent me home.  I think I could have done a better job.  I am not a doctor, but I'm just saying it was quite the experience.  Anyway, he survived yet another fall and is still smiling through it.  Our little Brock the rock.

The Boot - An old and new friend

It's tough to get Melissa down. In fact it seems as though the only thing than can accomplish such a feat is a doctors demands.

After 12 weeks of rehab for tendonitis in her achilles Dr. Justesen, still not pleased with results, decided that Melissa was to wear a boot for 6 more weeks. Reluctant to give up some freedom but anxious to find healing, she consented.

The four weeks provided for many roller coasters but in the end Melissa emerged with good news that things were healing. Through it all Melissa showed great patience as she endured a trial that seems to continue to assert itself in her life time and time again (ACL surgeries, etc.). It was also touching to watch ward members and neighbors demonstrate charity in our behalf by providing meals, taking turns making phone calls, and even donating roller walkers to make movement easier.

Around the globe

For my birthday I got a globe. It sits proudly on the piano and recently got the attention of Parker. Grasping the concept that it was the world Parker initiated the following conversation:

"Where does Santa Claus live?" We found the North Pole and then he inquired, "Where does Jesus live?" I found and pointed to Jerusalem. Parker was on a roll and asked, "Where does President Monson live?" We scanned the globe and located Salt Lake City.

Having located some notable people I was curious what would come next. Parker didn't disappoint, "Where does Krae (next door neighbor) live?"

I should of seen that coming, our neighborKrae in the same category as the Savior, a prophet, and the Jolly Old Saint Nick. Let's just say that Parker knows how to surround himself with only the best.

Walking - Brock

Monday January 23 welcomed Chinese New Year and the year of the dragon.

For Brock it marked the year that he will begin walking as he took his first official steps (as witnessed by mom and later dad)

Walking for Brock has been in the works for the past few months. Refusing to bypass the steps that lead to walking Brock has championed crawling (with a little bit of a bum leg dragging behind), pulling himself up, the bear crawl, and now taking the daring steps on his own.

These latest steps come at a time when mom has suddenly found it difficult to do the walking as an injury is preventing her from taking many steps. Maybe mom can take some lessons from Brock.

Bidding farewell

Seeing dad go off to work daily must be a significant part of Parkers day.

Each day as dad leaves Parker bolts for the door and starts doing a routine which includes waving, blowing kisses, and what appears to be dancing, all simultaneously on the front porch as he drives away to work. This display lasts until the car is out of sight. To be fair, mom gets the same treatment.

To some observers it would be comical, to others it touches the heart.

What a night

"I've got to tell you something" is a phrase this is both charming and frustrating.

Of late (especially on days when there is no nap), Parker (after being put through the night routine of scriptures, articles of faith, teeth brushed, potty attempt, stories, and laying down by him for "five" minutes) waltzes (more like a tiptoe), out of his room and with a sheepish grin and hands behind his back declares, "I've got to tell you something." It of course is not enough for one of us to hear so he then declares, "both of you". The routine seems to go as follows:

On the first "I've got to tell you something" he notifies us that he has to go "number one". He does, washes his hands, and goes to bed (with of course us tucking him in)

On the second "I've got to tell you something" he lets us know that "his stomach is telling me that it is hungry." It would be easy to deny such a request if it was a "treat" but through that innocent face and pitiful plea he requests an "orange". Of course he has to peel it and eat it with us. By now it has been a good 20 minutes since we have "put him down."

The third "I've got to tell you something" is more forceful. He puts us in our place and says, "You both need to go to sleep." After reminding him who is in charge (but at this point realizing who REALLY is in charge), he dashes off to bed, with of course us tucking him in.

It is at this point that he finally gives in and the night is free. We then realize that his creativity is just beginning.

The fourth "I've got to tell you something" he excitedly shows us his tag on his "jammies" and pronounces this as if he had never noticed it before. This of course must of been a decoy he conjured up as he was laying on his bed as he looked around and pronounced "you maybe are watching a movie?" Busted. He then notices mom with her bowl of cereal, "you maybe are eating something?". Guilty as charged and no maybes about it. Mom is kind and gives him a bite of her cereal and once again he is off to bed, tucked in and finally going to sleep.

What a night. What a boy.

A Sunbeam in the family

Farewell toys and snacks, welcome to Primary!

With scriptures in hand, 8 articles of faith memorized, a repertoire of primary songs and sporting Christmas church attire, Parker entered the ranks of primary as a "Sunbeam." With mom keeping a watchful care as the primary pianist she watched as Parker made the transition without a hitch as he displayed his independence by not "needing" his mom. I guess this makes sense, after all he is a "sunbeam" now!

Parker loved singing the songs and going to lesson where he learned about the "world" from his teachers Sister Leroy and Sister Johnson. He proudly showed us his depiction of the world pointing out the earth and "spiderman".

All of this is not easy for mom. Watching her kids grow up so fast is not easy on the heart strings. At the same time, we are grateful to say with a sparkle in the eye, "We have a sunbeam in the family!"