LifeSavers

I grew up just 1/4 mile from my paternal grandparents. Looking back, I'm sure I took their proximity for granted; however, now I recognize what a unique and special opportunity to be so close to them during my growing up years. Nowadays, how many kids have Grandma just up the road hooking them up with a Fat Boy ice cream sandwich or taking them grocery shopping with her? At Stake Conference on Sunday, we sat by the Christian's who shared their LifeSavers with us mid-way through the meeting. Not only a yummy treat, but also a trip down memory lane as I remembered that one thing I could ALWAYS count on was that Grandma and Grandpa Oldham would have a brand new roll of LifeSavers for us during sacrament meeting. Even though they seem like small things now, as a kid (and really at any stage of life), it's good to know those things that will be a constant!!

I was curious to know what my brothers and sisters would have to say about LifeSavers at church. Heard back from Trav and thought I'd post what he had to say . . . it really doesn't do it justice to paraphrase.

My recollection of LifeSavers at church . . . . . . .

If you are referring to the life savers Grandpa Reed used to keep in his suit coat pocket, also known as the number one reason to sit next to Grandpa at church. I remember that if you liked the variety kind, you went to Grandpa. If you liked the butter rum kind you went to Betty (this goes back to the Food Center days of our lives). I remember that they only got eaten after the sacrament.

If you are referring to life savers as the things that got us through being a Mormon as a young person in this world . . . . I would have to say it is the camp outs!! Blowing things up does a lot to relieve the rigors of choosing the right!!

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910 - 2008)

Well this is two entries in a row like this for us, but I just couldn't let this go without somehow marking the event.

Jeff woke me last night (I'd fallen asleep early) to let me know that Dad had called with the news that our beloved President Hinckley had passed away. The news must have tumbled around in my dreams because I awakened more than once through the night thinking about him.

As I fed and dressed Kaitlyn this morning I shared the news with her and was sad that she wouldn't get to know this great man during her life on this earth. Though we will miss him terribly, we are gladdened to think of the reunion he certainly had with his sweetheart and other loved ones!!

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995. For me, some of the highlights of these years include the following (text from the LDS Newsroom):

He was a popular interview subject with journalists, appearing on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace and on CNN’s Larry King Live, as well as being quoted and featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines over the years.

In calling for 100 temples to be in operation before the end of the year 2000, the Church president committed the Church to a massive temple-building program. In 1999 — 169 years after the Church was organized by its founder, Joseph Smith — the Church had 56 operating temples. Three years later that number had doubled, largely because of a smaller, highly practical temple architectural plan that delivered these sacred buildings to Church members in far-flung parts of the world.

President Hinckley was the most traveled president in the Church’s history. His duties took him around the world many times to meet with Latter-day Saints in more than 60 countries. He was the first Church president to travel to Spain, where in 1996 he broke ground for a temple in Madrid; and to the African nations of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, where he met with thousands of Latter-day Saints in 1998. In 2005, he traveled nearly 25,000 miles on a seven-nation, nine-day tour to Russia, South Korea, China, Taiwan, India, Kenya, and Nigeria.

At a general conference of Church members in April 2001, President Hinckley initiated the Perpetual Education Fund — an ambitious program to help young members of the Church (mainly returning missionaries from developing countries) receive higher education and work-related training that they would otherwise likely never receive.

President Hinckley announced the construction of a new Conference Center in 1996 and dedicated it four years later. Seating 21,000 people, it is believed to be the largest religious and theater auditorium in the world and has become the hub for the Church’s general conference messages to the world, broadcast in 91 languages.

My thoughts today found there way to a moment that had somehow lodged itself in the far recesses of my mind and I reflected on an evening in early 1999 when I had the opportunity to be on the Tabernacle stage with President Hinckley. He had come to visit with the members of the Mormon Youth Symphony (of which I was a part) and let them know that this organization would dissolve and a new organization would form at the end of the season. While I don't remember the exact words he used, I know he talked about change. And that it was necessary. And that it was good. Though I was saddened to hear this news, I knew then and I know now that the words he spoke were the will of the Lord. Most of all, I had an opportunity that many within the membership of the church will not have in their lifetime - I was in the same room as the living prophet!! (I say this not to brag, but in recognition of, and with gratitude for, the unique opportunity which was mine.)

President Hinckley, we love you and will miss you. We will always remember how you waved to the crowd with your cane, your sense of humor, the love that emanated from you when you spoke, and the love you had for your dear wife. May we live up to the legacy that you have left for us!!

Vester Fitzgerald Rasmussen (1921-2008)

Two weeks ago today (Jan 13, 2008), my Grandpa Rasmussen passed away -- he was 87 years old. It has been bitter-sweet to see him go. Grandpa was always so kind, loving, and sincere. He had a special gift that enabled him to make everyone around him feel special and loved. Grandma passed away about a year and a half ago and Grandpa, I know, has been lonely and has missed his life-long sweatheart ever since. Nevertheless, he continued to happily live for his 2 daughters, 7 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. He continued to make each of us and our spouses feel extremely special and loved. Mom asked me to share some of our memories of Grandpa at his funeral. As I spoke with my brothers and sister, a few themes came up as we reminisced about our beloved Grandpa.

Grandpa was a hard worker and taught us all to take pride in the things we do. Grandpa always has an immaculate yard. The flower beds were always weeded and the shrubs always trimmed just so. The lawn was always green and was mowed regularly. Even in the winter his driveway was always dry and clear of snow and ice. As he aged and was no longer able to take care of his yard himself, it caused him great pain to see it look "just nice," rather than "perfect." Grandpa was also quite concerned about his appearance. When at work he always wore shirt and tie and as he got older loved the new stylish dress and golf shirts my father would pick out for him. He was a hard-working salesman with a reputation for being honest and dependable.

He also took his priesthood responsibilities very seriously. I remember him taking me to my first general priesthood meeting when I turned 12. He took me to the Hotel Utah for an early dinner and then to priesthood meeting at the Tabernacle. It was a great example of his generosity, not only with money, but with his time as well. He used to love to buy two and three times as much food as Grandma thought was necassary and then watch the grandkids down it all. He would always take time to go golfing with us and would "oo" and "ah" and carry on about how we hit the ball so far and twice as far as he could hit it; never mind that it was never straight and his short but straight ball beat us everytime by more than 10 strokes.

Grandpa loved all sports (though golf, I think, was his favorite) and I have fond memories of attending BYU football games and Utah basketball games with Grandpa, Grandma, and my folks. He used to come attend my football and basketball games. I was always proud to be able to say my grandpa played football and basketball at the same high school as me. But I know he was proud of me too; I can't remember a high school game he missed. Grandpa also commissioned me a second lieutenant when I graduated from the Air Force Academy and then again when I pinned on captain when I graduated from medical school. It was never an inconvenience to him; he wanted to be there. His sincere and unconditional love for each of us was a great example of charity, the pure love of Christ.

Laura my have been his favorite "granddaughter;" but the way Grandpa treated us, none of us could ever deny that we weren't his favorite person -- he just had dozens of favorites. That was one of his many gifts.

Grandpa taught us that family was important. He took great care on Memorial Day to prepare and arrange the flowers at the cemetery just so. He told us stories about his childhood and his brothers and we knew that even though Grandpa was a grown up and had been a bishop, he was cool -- how could anybody who did the things he did and got into the trouble he did when he was younger not be cool.

The last time I spoke with Grandpa was about noon on January 2nd. Even though he had just had surgery and was having difficulty getting out of bed because of the pain, he immediately asked about our sweet daughter Kaitlyn. He was so excited for us and our chance to adopt this special spirit and have her a part of our family. We talked about the bowl games on New Years Day and the golf I had been able to play the previous week in Texas. It was hard to get him to talk about how he felt there in the hospital, but I did get the sense that Grandma was never far from his thoughts and through the post-op pain and confusion she was close by comforting him.

His greatest example for us to follow was the way he loved, honored, and cherished our grandmother. Nobody was treated kinder or gentler and I hope that I can show my love for my sweet Danielle the way Grandpa Ves showed his for Grandma Es.

I will miss my hero. But I am glad to know that he is with Grandma again and that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ and the gospel principle of eternal families I will see him again and give him a hug and try to tell him thank you for all he has given me.

Congratulations!!

Tony asked Katrina to marry him on her birthday (January 24). She told me she had been telling him while they waited to be seated at dinner that night that she'd just know when he was going to ask her. But after it all played out, I think he surprised her pretty good. When Jeff talked to her, he wanted to know if, like me, she had not wanted to go to dinner with him that night. Sorry honey, it's just me that wanted to cancel our date the day you planned to propose. We are SOOO excited for you guys and looking forward to the big day!! (See more pics of the big event.)

You're doing OK, Dad!!

Occasionally, especially as a new dad you wonder if you're doing a good job raising your children. Am I doing what I need to do to provide them with a safe and healthy environment, conducive to allowing them to grow and reach their full potential? Am I teaching them right from wrong? Am I teaching them to discern what is important from what isn't? Every once in a while Kaitlyn lets me know I'm doing OK.

Last week Princess Kaitlyn was happily playing in her new saucer brought by Santa only the week before when the Sugar Bowl came on . . .

Daddy couldn't be prouder!!