The Meaning of Family

Here we are ready to begin a new adventure and so many thoughts.

We had our family Christmas party last night and it was as Heather said, "bitter sweet".  We had our traditional chicken soup and a birthday cake for all those with December birthdays including Kenny, Benson, Jenny, Joseph Smith and especially Jesus.  We also had a visit from Santa who didn't want to be seen so turned the honors over to grandpa who read a story and then handed out gifts.  We missed Micah, Sarah and their kids who were in Albuquerque with Sarah's family and also Codie who had to work.  The kids and adults were very generous in including those who were missing by "donating" gifts to them.  It is questionable however whether some of the gifts were really sacrifices.

Our last party before our mission was highlighted as usual by a video made by Jen which included the entire family.  She is getting better and better at this and it was a very fun and touching production.  Of course I could watch it again and again, a fact to which Ken can attest.  I really wanted to focus on the Savior this year and we had several nativities out as well as having ornaments that carried out this idea.  We had a family testimony meeting and it gave many a chance to express their feelings about past and coming events.  There were many tears and several heartfelt comments about various things.  I think it was a good, safe place for our family to express those feelings and hopefully after everyone has time to think them all over, there will be more understanding among us.  I have long believed the best way to deal with things is "head on".

After the party, Ken and I sat down for a "breather" and all we could talk about was how grateful we were to have such a wonderful family.  We feel so blessed to have all of these wonderful people in our lives.  Things are changing rapidly in our lives, marriages, babies born, graduations, mission calls and so on but we are all good as long as we stick together.  As Jenny put in the movie "No society is as precious as that of one's own family."  That quote is from Thomas Jefferson and expresses my thoughts exactly.  There in absolutely nothing that is more important to Ken and I than our family.  No matter how many join us, that will always be true.  Each one is precious and important and we are forever grateful that they are ours.

Our mission call is due soon and circumstances may change but wherever we are, our family will be foremost in our thoughts and hearts because they are part of us along with the gospel we love and in our minds, it is all inseparable!

Being Thankful

Certainly need to correct that last post. I was feeling awfully confused at the time but not any more. I did some work on thankfulness and it has changed those feelings a bunch, that and getting all our mission papers in. Now it is just waiting time and spending more time in gratitude for all I have. Heavenly Father has gotten me to a place where I am seeing more clearly and I'm really grateful for that. It seems that turning in those mission papers has changed my perspective big time.

Oh sure, I am still concerned about my family and myself and the missing one another and the homesickness or whatever.  I also know that it is the right thing on many levels.  It is a way to show my kids and grandkids that I will do the right thing even when it is hard.  It shows them what is really important to me and that I will do what is right no matter what.  I know it will be hard for them as well but they have helped one another so well through all our trials this year that I know they will be fine "on their own".  Imagine that, kids who have kids being okay without mom and dad!

I am sooooo grateful that my family is full of mature adults now who take care of their own children,
my grandchildren in such a way that I do not have to worry about them.  I have wonderful children and am so thankful that Heavenly Father sent them to me and through them has brought 18 other new lives into my life.  This is what means everything to me.

Several experiences recently have fully convinced me that all the distraction and noise of the world mean nothing if you don't have a family to share it with.  I have so much peace in my life because I know my family is involved in the right things at the right times and are doing their best to serve their fellow men and their Savior.  I don't think I have been this happy for a very long time.  Better enjoy every moment of it!

I often wonder how I became so blessed but one thing I know, I am truly thankful.

I'm confused!!!

I find it interesting that life can be going just "hunky-dory" one minute and the next it can be frustrating and unmanagable. Well, today is one of those days. It all started out ok but then I had to stand in one spot until my back and neck and hips and knees were killing me while I packed hundreds of cans of chicken to prepare them to be cooked at the cannery. I tried to "focus" on the "process" like I teach my Tai Chi students. Famous words these: Focus, Process, Product. It all sounds very good until I try to apply it to my life. When I do that, the focus gets lost in the process and the process gets lost trying to get to the product. It is all so confusing.

My next block of time was spent at one of my favorite places in SLC at this time of year, Gardner Village. Unfortunately we got there in the midst of the "Witches Festival" and while it was fun it was not relaxing as I had hope it would be. Children and mostly women, in gaudy outfits, laughing and talking and yelling loudly while music blared everywhere did not add to my peace of mind nor did the fact that I couldn't find the gift that I had envisioned for a good friend's birthday. When I realized that I had also missed my second newest grandchild's birthday it didn't help at all.

At Gardner Village and then again at Tai Pan, I watched as people furiously scurried about to try to fill their lives with more "excitement" and more "stuff". Somehow it didn't seem very meaningful to me. What did seem meaningful was the fact that I was trying to find "just the right thing" to make a friend happy. The other things that seemed right today were that I was spending this time with my sweetheart and that I had met an old friend from years ago and it felt just the same, as if we had never missed a day. It brought back many happy memories of doing something that I hated to give up but had to in a somewhat confusing change of roles in my life.

Confused? Me too! Confused that I can't find just the right gift or that I can't say the words that really express what I want to say. Confused at the feelings that are swirling around me right now like a whirlpool threatening to swallow me at any minute. Confused that the preparations for something that I really want to do overwhelm me and cause me and those around me pain through my actions. Confused that there is so much I want to do here before I leave but that I want to leave so badly now. Confused that I can't explain this to my husband and confused that when I try he doesn't understand. Confused that I want to walk in faith so badly but confused that it is so hard to actually do that. Help me Heavenly Father because I am soooo confused.

Precious Family Fun

A few weeks ago, my sweet daughter Sarah called to see if she could plan a family reunion in our back yard. Anytime my family gets together is a good time so of course I said yes. I have been trying to figure out time for this anyway and she assured me that I wouldn't have to do much and that helped push me there. Since we are putting mission papers in, it seemed like perfect timing.

What a joy to have all of my family in my back yard putting up tents, building a campfire, singing itsy bitsy spider, having a devotional, taking pictures, laughing and loving. Sarah made wonderful shirts for us with "Precious"- Jarvis Family Reunion- 2011 and a "forget-me-not" on the back and the names of our two sweet heavenly daughters, Jamie and Serenna on the sleeve. Obviously, she loved Pres. Uchtdorf's talk at the Women's conference.

We ate and played and ate and laughed and cried and ate. the adults acted like kids and sometimes the kids were very adult. There was very little sleeping and a whole lot of talking (signing) and story telling. There was Spaghetti bake and french toast and S'Mores and awesome salsa. There was a question and answer period for grandpa and grandma. Very revealing! There were fun games and exercise. There was surprising little argument and a whole lot of helping out and cooperation.

Everyone that wanted to got to hold our new little addition Lexi and two brothers hugged and cried for a long time. We all got to know our new grandson Codie a little better. We made 6 baby blankets and throws and gathered bunches of stuff to give people who come in the Transient Services Office. It was "AWESOME"!

Can I just say how happy I am that these beautiful children and grandchildren are in my family and that I get to share this sometimes difficult but also joyful life with them. Again I feel so blessed. My family and this time with them is so very, very "PRECIOUS".

Alexis Lynn

To my newest sweet baby granddaughter I want to say how much I love you. Every time a child has come to this family I have watched a miracle. That new life is so amazing to me. I want to tell you how fortunate you are to have a mommy and daddy who love you and want you. They have given much for you already because before you ever came you were wanted.

I watch as you grow so quickly. You change daily and I am so glad you hold my name as part of yours. I want to thank your mom and dad for that. It means so much to me to have a precious little one named for me. I hope that I live up to what you need and expect.

I know you are another gift from God to your parents and your sweet brother and sister and to the rest of us. I hope you will always remember this and be grateful that you are so loved.

Welcome to earth and to this family baby girl. I hope we are all that you hoped we would be. I love you Lexi!

My Family Omega

Yesterday was Black Belt Testing for Omega Martial Arts. Time goes by so quickly and I can't believe that it has been 16 1/2 years since Jenny started her Martial Arts Head Instructor/Studio Owner career. It has been 12 since she made the very wise decision to ask to be a part of this amazing system. It is one of the best decisions she has ever made.

It was an emotional day for many of us. Jenny is turning her school over to her colleague/brother, Jason Davis. She wants to focus on giving her own children all that she has been able to give her other "children" in her martial arts family. There have been hundreds of those "children" including me. Sometimes a child can be older than their parent, in spirit at least, and this is how I feel about each of my children at various times. Jen has been part of many of these times. She is struggling somewhat with this decision but it is the right one for her at this moment in her life. She is strong and things will work out I'm sure. She isn't completely gone from it and will still be teaching and still hold the senior position she has earned with Omega.

It was probably my last chance to go to a testing for a long time since Ken and I are planning on going on a mission this spring. I will not be sitting at the judges table with all the other Black Belts I have grown to love, at least not for a couple of years and possibly ever. I will not be watching people I love being tested on their work of years to prove their devotion to something so building and uplifting. I will not be in the office with the Sr. Black Belts laughing about turning on a shredder or standing outside the door tearing a certificate up or jokes about "fearing the glasses".

I will not be watching the looks on students faces when they make a mistake or when they "nail" a technique. I will not hear the cheers and screams as everyone in the place encourages everyone else to make it through the gauntlet or their board or brick breaks. I will not share in the tender moments when instructors tie belts on students they have taught for years or the comments about those students or when the "Buddy Award" is again presented to some deserving student such as Sabumnim Randy Payne.

I did have some supreme moments yesterday though. I watched my beautiful newly married granddaughter, Amanda Schoemig Wright do her test and her totally amazing musical presentation which included her Aunt, "Master" Jenny Jarvis, who has been her instructor for years, her brother, Sabumnim Kenny whose example brought her into Omega and her new instructor, Kwonjangnim Jason Davis. I doubt that I have ever seen a more beautiful musical from a 1st degree and it isn't because she is my granddaughter.

It was truly the best. It included her heart which is the most important part of any discipline. It showed the progression of her martial arts through her aunt to her brother to her new instructor. It showed her emotions. Everyone could see the love that Amanda and her immediate and extended family share. It was planned and executed to the best of everyone's ability and it was a credit to Amanda and all those who have loved her and helped her get her belt.

I watched Jenny tie Amanda's new belt on and I watched as with true grace, Jenny turned over what she has held so dear to someone she trusts to take care of that precious legacy. I saw buckets of tears cried (at least a couple of them from me because I was so proud to be part of this whole amazing scene). I saw dozens of hugs and smiles and heard hundreds of encouraging words.

I hope that everyone there felt the same things that I did. I know that many others did and the ones that didn't, well, they just don't "get it" YET!

A Marvelous Work

Today I watched a marvelous work and a wonder in total awe. I attended the temple with my oldest granddaughter Amanda to receive her endowment. That in itself was an overwhelming experience but when I sat down and the temple film started again I sobbed. The new film which has been made for the American Sign Language users in the audience is sooooo overwhelming to me. To see the 6 deaf adults in my family be able to have the whole process available to them in their own language in a way that they can be totally involved is almost incomprehensible especially when I think back to 30 years ago.

30 years ago, there was no primary in the Utah Valley Deaf Branch. There was no Young Men's or Young Women's groups. If an ASL user wanted to attend the temple it was muddling through at best. Now there is captioning, signing and the film all on the same screen and everything else has been adapted to allow all my deaf children who so choose to do every ordinance in their own language. It will probably always amaze me when I think of how far things have come.

That was not enough though. I walked into the Celestial room and saw my son Bill waiting for his beautiful daughter and I couldn't help but think of the many miracles that just a few months ago kept him on this earth to allow him to see his daughter in this place. My heart was so full that I couldn't contain it. I am so grateful to a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers and pleadings, silent thoughts and small whispers. It doesn't matter, He answers them all and we have had some of the best answers this year.

We have a granddaughter getting married with her daddy here to see it and a new granddaughter coming in just a few weeks. We have a son who made it well and sound through a car crash and a grandson who has been diagnosed and is being helped through a difficult condition. There have been many more marvels all around us. Thanks Heavenly Father. I love you!