On the Move

The time has come to bring Mom back to California for the winter. Serendipitously, one of our Mongolian daughters, Marta, asked us to come to her mother's first time in the temple (in Provo!) the same weekend we planned to go to Colorado. As it turns out, Layne opted not to meet up with Marta as he had Church assignments on the weekend he felt he couldn't leave. So I caught a very early flight into Salt Lake by myself, rented a car and stayed in Gerald's home in Draper. It is the first time I've been alone for a long time. I find that now I am an older woman being alone is a bit more attractive. Not that I'd like to do it for a long period of time, but the weekend was quite pleasant. Not only that, but it was productive. I finished putting my dad's life story together. It is ready to be published! I'm so excited about that. I plan to give each of my children a copy of the book on his life. (Picture at the top is of my dad, caring for me and my sister.)

I found my way to the Provo temple on Saturday evening and met up with Marta, her family and friends. Her mother was visiting from Mongolia and chose the Provo temple to go through for the first time, as both of her daughters had done. It was a lovely time. Marta is one of my favorites as she has such a happy disposition and is such pleasant company. Her mother will soon return to Mongolia and, hopefully before long, her father will be able to come and go through the temple also. Sadly, they cannot, at present, get visas to come here together. (Picture to right is Marta and her mom.)

Layne flew into Salt Lake on Monday morning. I picked him up and we headed to Kaysville, where we visited with his twin brother, Lynn, and his wife, Camille. I enjoy their company very much. Lynn discovered lots of family pictures which he was eager to share with us. When we arrived, he had them spread over counters and tables. What a treat. You see, there are not many Galbraith pictures to be had. So these were treasures. I made copies of them with my digital camera. I'm excited to get them organized and described. Our visit was rushed, as we had to take an evening flight into Colorado. We arrived at Mom's little Cedaredge home late Monday evening.

My sister Maryanne and her hub Bob soon left for their home. We spent Tuesday packing Mom up and began our drive back home on Wednesday morning. We stopped in Elko that night and drove on to home, arriving about 5 PM on Thursday night. Mom was tired but otherwise in pretty good shape. I think she is such an amazing woman. She has lost so much function and now has to depend upon us to get along. Yet she is philosophical. She accepts what comes to her in good humor. It is a sweet message to me.

That leads me into my latest thoughts about trouble. Today was our ward conference. The theme was dealing with adversity. I found it to be quite inspirational. You see I am a worrier of sorts. Not a serious one, but there are several things that concern me. They lie at the back of my mind and simmer there. By the end of the meeting today I received a very strong impression to let my worries go. Things work out. We have an amazing ability to adjust to what life brings us, if we give our selves the chance. Thoughts of Mongolia came to my mind. We were uncomfortable with living conditions there when we first arrived but soon adjusted and then loved our situation there. Then thoughts of my granddaughter Carmen came to mind. We watched her struggle for 18 months, then had to watch her die. It was hard. But sweet feelings came to us as well. Then Mom came to mind. Her stroke should have killed her. It would most people. But she is tough, and she lived. Her speech and thinking functions were preserved. She is a miracle, but a burden. Yet, in the midst of the demand of caring for her, there are sweet shivers of joy that sometimes flow through me when I am tending to her needs. Compensations come with every loss, if we look and live for them. So I am going to try and hold onto these feelings of letting go of my fears for the future and just enjoy what is in my life now with faith that I can also enjoy whatever the future may bring to me.
(Picture at bottom is one of Lynn's collection of he and Layne as boys. Can you tell which is Layne?)