"Stories on the Sabbath"

                                                            Pictures of the Heart

       In 15 seconds, it was all destroyed!  For the first time I knew firsthand what it meant to lose everything.  We had a nice home filled with collectibles that had dollar value as well as sentimental value, and of course antiques, those delightful treasures which one works so hard to obtain.  On January 17, 1994, when an earthquake registering 7.5 on the Richter scale hit our home, I began to examine what was truly important to me. What a devastating surprise it was to see all my years of hard work in broken heaps throughout the house.  It was impossible to keep back the tears of shock and disbelief.  But I clung to my testimony of the gospel for strength.  I realized that it had far greater value than my antiques, and it could never be taken away.
      With the light of day came a renewed desire to serve.  As Relief Society president of the Northridge, California First Ward, I felt a great deal of responsibility for the well-being of the members.  We had received reports from a fireman concerning the more heavily damaged areas, and my concern grew for several young families from our ward who lived in one of these areas.  Realizing that I must search them out, I put on my walking shoes and started up the street.  It wasn't long before I found them, with many other apartment dwellers, in a large parking lot, dressed in their nightclothes.  George, Helen, and their two small boys were now homeless, and I invited them to stay in my home.  When we arrived there, we found another young couple who lived in the apartments and had come seeking refuge.  Within 30 minutes, others had also come for assistance.

      We realized that our home was still unsafe, so we decided to set up a "tent city" in the front yard.  Everyone in need could come and stay there.  From my own family of four, we grew to a temporary family of 18--14 adults and four children.  We took from our camping equipment a large eight-man tent and two smaller tents, made temporary toilet facilities, put the gas barbecue on the driveway to be used for cooking, and carried chairs from the back patio.  We planned to use our food storage as a temporary means of food, until we realized that it was completed buried and we could not get to it.  It would be several days before it was accessible.  So we used the food in the freezer, which soon would be defrosted.

   

  At the end of the first day, we gathered together in the quiet surroundings of our yard  to thank Heavenly Father for protecting us.  This became a nightly ritual for the rest of the week.  As we gathered in family prayer at the end of each frustrating day, we thanked Heavenly Father for watching over us and asked him for strength to do the things that needed to be done.  The feelings of love and unity we experienced will never be forgotten.

     One of the children, an infant with serious medical problems who had been scheduled for surgery the day the earthquake hit, wore a colostomy bag and a urinary catheter.  I experienced firsthand a young mother's love and willingness to tenderly care for her child  while others patiently held flashlights so she could change the tubes.  I witnessed another young mother's desperate search for a pharmacy that would give her antibiotics for her baby who was running a high temperature.  It was very moving to watch how we pulled together in mutual love and support.  I thought of what Christ would have done had he been there.  Each one of us had acted as the Savior's hands as we helped to ease one another's burdens.
     I was office manager of our nearby elementary school, and it was my responsibility to go to the school to assess the damage from the earthquake and to help parents there with whatever needs they had.  While I was away from home helping others at the school, the friends living at my home took over until I was able to get back.
     In the days that followed, we learned to survive with help from each other. We made arrangements for some to relocate, while others made plans to start over.  Nine months later, everything was still not completely repaired.  It would take many more months, and the memories of that frightful day would remain ever present in our minds.  I am most grateful for a kind and loving Heavenly Father who watches over us constantly, and for friends who love and care for one  another in a truly Christlike manner.  I now would trade my earthly treasures anytime for the heavenly treasures of service given by true friends in times of need.

     As I read my journal and recall how "in 15 seconds it was all gone," I realize what really matters in life.  My scrapbook shows pictures and words that can be seen with the human eye; but the real pictures of the heart can never be seen, only felt in the center of the human heart as service is given and received. 




--Doris Kilgrow, Relief Society president, Northridge First Ward
                                                              ("By Small & Simple Things" by Michele Romney Garvin)

Happy Birthday Byron!

Today is our oldest son, Byron Romney Garvin’s birthday.  He was due on July 24th and finally had to be induced on August 10th!  I remember how thrilled we were to have a beautiful baby boy come into our family. Byron had such big eyes, that people would stop me in the grocery store to comment on how beautiful he was.
 
As Byron grew he was such a joy to have around.  He was so mild mannered and very well behaved.  I remember taking him to an all day seminar and he just sat on the floor next to me playing with his little Fisher Price Farm play set.  Oh these pictures remind me of how adorable he was. (and still is!)
 
He loved all kinds of sports, but mainly basketball and volleyball.

Byron became an EAGLE SCOUT when he was 14 years old!  What a great example!
He played 3 years of Volleyball all through his high school years and loved it!

Byron served a mission in the Mexico, Mexico City West Mission and had an amazing experience where he was able to touch many lives.


Byron has always had a special ear for music.  He began playing the guitar when he was in 7th grade and has written many songs since then.  Throughout the years he has been in several bands and is currently in one now, with all returned missionaries, called “Goodnight Annabelle”
 
One of the best things that has happened to Byron is to meet and marry his beautiful wife Tracy. They are a “Forever Family” and have a beautiful baby boy named Carston Bradley Garvin, who has joined them.  (Check out the eyes on this little boy, he gives his dad a run for the money).
We are so grateful to have Byron in our family.  He is very passionate about the things that he loves.  He has a love for the gospel and for each of us and for that we are so thankful.  We are proud of him and the things that he has accomplished in his life.  I’m grateful to be his mom and to have learned the many lessons on patience, long-suffering and endurance that he has taught me throughout the years!  Happy Birthday Byron – We love you very much!

Vegas Visiting!

The highlight of going to Vegas was being with my four Johnson Grandchildren!  Any opportunity I can have to share with them is worth every moment.  Here are the five of us sharing some bonding moments from pictures on my Ipad.

We had a great time visiting with some of our extended cousins on my side and Craig's side.  We also went to our friend's wedding and saw a lot of our old Las Vegas Friends that we haven't seen in years.  It was so good to see them.  They feel like family to us.  I bit the bullet and NEVER wore my wig the whole time I was in Vegas.  That meant I went with my white hair to church, the temple and shopping.  I think I am pretty much used to not having long dark hair anymore.  However, I must say that everytime I look in the mirror - I'm in shock wondering who is looking back at me!  People have been so nice and complimentary and about my new "trendy" look and that has helped me accept it more. 

When we arrived, the house smelled so delicious and we had warm homemade wheat bread that Charlene had made for us.  Isn't she amazing!  It thrills me to see my daughters doing what they learned when they were kids.

The only thing bad about living in Utah is that our oldest daughter Charlene and family are not there.  We sure love them and cherish any memories we can make with them.

While in Vegas we went swimming, did some shopping and sewing and had made some yummy food. Here is a delicious fruit pizza that Tauna made for all of us.

One of the highlights for me was the sewing projects I got to do with my two oldest grand daughters.

I helped Kara learn to sew and she made a blanket for her doll and a burp cloth

Then Allie and I were able to sew two adorable book bags for her upcoming year in Junior High.  I can't believe that I have a grandchild old enough for that!

              The twins are getting so big!  Aunt Tauna Wanna was so good to spend time with them!

 

One day the girls and I went shopping and had so much fun talking and solving the worlds problems.  I love being able to teach my grandchildren with parables - like I did my kids.  We finished the day of shopping by going to lunch together! 

What fun memories!

"Stories on the Sabbath"

                                                    Missionaries and Shovels

     The neighborhood was quiet and moisture from the recently fallen rain was in the air.  Vehicles of different kinds came and went unnoticed.  However, as one of the cars came to a stop and I saw its passengers, I was surprised and felt a strange discomfort.  What were two young white men doing in an all-black neighborhood?
     In 1979, when my father was killed, I started having doubts about my church.  I came from a close-knit family, and every Sunday after dinner we would sit comfortably and have family discussions.  We had been taught about God, but I was not satisfied with my life.  I started praying to Heavenly Father and asking Him to lead me to a church that would help me learn and grow.  I wanted to feel like I was getting something out of it.  
     One day in November of 1982, the missionaries knocked on my door.  I was living in Los Angeles, California, at the time.  I opened the door to find two very nice looking young men who were white.  I felt their spirit immediately.  They wanted to talk with me, but because of family interruptions I didn't have time. They came by  to visit me on several other occasions, but we had continual time conflicts.  This went on for about three weeks.
      During the fourth week it rained, and half of the ceiling in my living room had fallen in.  I had pushed my furniture to one side of the room because of the soaking-wet insulation that was all over.  When I opened the door to the missionaries, they glanced in and asked, "What happened to your house?"  After I told them, they asked, "What can we do?" 

I looked at them like they were crazy and said, "What do you mean, what can you do?"  They asked me if I had any shovels.  Still in shock, I went out to the garage and brought back two.  They took off their suit jackets, rolled up the sleeves of their nice white shirts, and dug in.  I was amazed that these young men who were strangers would care enough to help out when they saw a need.  They quickly put the shovels to work, moving all of the wet debris from my living room to the garbage in the backyard.
      I asked them who they were, and they said they were "missionaries."  I wondered out loud, "What kind of missionaries would come off the street and do what you just did for me?"   They responded, "We're missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or we're sometimes called 'Mormons'."  My next question was, "Well, what are you doing in a black neighborhood then?  I've always heard that Mormons don't like blacks."  They told me that was just one of the many falsehoods spread about their church.

     I love to read, so when they gave me a Book of Mormon I immediately opened it and began reading.  With the first scripture I read, something grabbed me inside and I couldn't turn the book loose.  I read it from cover to cover in one week.  My heart was touched, and a short while later I joined the Church.  In looking back, I realize what turned my heart toward the Church; it was the service the missionaries rendered to me that cold, rainy morning.  My heart was softened and my mind opened so I could receive the gospel.
     As time went on, the members of the ward were warm and loving.  I couldn't have asked to be in a better place;  I felt an immediate acceptance.  At my baptism a little white lady, about my height, came burrowing through the crowd all the way from the back of the room.  She ran up and grabbed me and held on so tight.  Her name was Edna too, and  she said to me, "Edna, I feel like I have known you all of my life."  That meant more to me than words can express.  I felt then like I belonged, that we were all God's children no matter what our color.  The two of us have been best friends ever since. 

After I had been in the Church only two months, I underwent major surgery and was in the hospital for two weeks.  I still had two of my daughters at home.  When I was released from the hospital, some of the Relief Society sisters came over and helped me.  I just couldn't believe the things they did.  What amazed me most was that all of them were white sisters.  I just sat and cried.  I had never had anyone do such kind things for me.  I have never forgotten how loved and cared for that special service made me feel, and I am always looking for ways to pay it back through serving someone else.

           --Edna Ellison, Young Women's secretary
          "By Small and Simple Things"
            by Michele Romney Garvin

Summer time and the living is …..

These past two summer months have been FILLED with fun and exciting times!  I feel so blessed to be healthy enough to have been at every one of these summer events.  Here are some pictures of all of the events I’ve been involved in the last few weeks:

We went camping at the last minute on the 3rd of July and found this beautiful park called Kelley’s Grove – in Hobble Creek, Utah (10 minutes out of Springville). Can you imagine getting to camp on grass?  It was such a blast!  We are going to have our Romney Reunion here next year.

 
Sitting around visiting and relaxing with each other.

 
Sharing a story about the “Allegiance Hammer” that we’ve had for over 34 years and happened to find it in our camping equipment.
Grandma Garvin holding brand new – 2 week old Claire Garvin (Dan & Kyrstin’s Baby)
It was like having A big SLEEP OVER!!!!!
Family togetherness is what it’s all about!

Another time we all went to Seven Peaks and this is me with little Ryan.  I even went down one of the slides….maybe that’s what started the Vertigo?
 
We had a baby shower for Kyrstin and Claire.  Here are the Garvin girls missing Charlene!

Took a quick trip to Stanley, Idaho with Craig’s brother, Mark and Pam Garvin
We also got to see Craig’s Dad and his wife Kaye – for the first time in 6 years!  We went up for the memorial service of Jerry Funderberg, Aunt Dee’s husband.  We had a wonderful time and got to visit alot of Craig’s cousins and see the beautiful cabin (10 bedrooms) and gorgeous land.

Then back to good old Lehi, Utah to see our two grand daughters perform in a community play of The Aristocats.  Natalie had one of the lead parts as the mother Aristocat and Brooke was a cute allie cat.  We all had fun going out for Ice Cream afterwards.

The next night was a big night for Byron.  His band, “Goodnight Annabelle” was one of the finalist in the battle of the bands at the Riverwoods.  Here is a picture of their band.  They didn’t win due to technical sound difficulties, which was really frustrating.  But they had tons of fans there who loved their music! (Byron is the one with the green neon glasses on)
 

The next day we all met up in South Jordan, Utah to help Tauna move apartments.  It was so touching for me as a mom to see how sweet all the brothers and sisters were about helping.  Her brothers loves to tease Tauna, but they are the first to help her out in times of need.
Everyone pitched in to help move all of her stuff.

Dan came with his two kids because Kyrstin was feeling sick.  Byron and Tracy came with Carston and Amy and Steve came with their 4 kids.  A total of 7 kids!  Wow what a help!  :-)  It was so sweet to see how everyone chipped in to help each other.  Dan was holding Amy’s baby Ryan, while she was helping Tauna for a minute and he spit up all over Dan.  Dan didn’t even flinch, he said he was used to baby throw up.  Then Tracy was holding and feeding Claire while I took the little boys outside to play.  Claire decided that had had enough food and she spit up all and then pooped all over Tracy!  What a crack up.  Now that’s the meaning of sacrifice!  Here’s a picture of some of our littlest helpers!

 
Dan and Claire
 
Tracy and Carston

Little Ryan Rindlisbacher

And now we are off to Vegas to spend time with Charlene and Paul and our Johnson grandchildren.  What would we do without family to keep our lives so full and rewarding!?!?!