My globe trotting family....

Randy is in Russia, then Armenia and then South Africa.  Natalie is in Brazil and Lorien is currently in Japan.  You can follow her adventures here: http://afrika03.blogspot.com/.  Nat, of course, has no blog being that she is preaching the gospel and Randy has a blog but I'm sure he hasn't posted. 

LDS Church statement on immigration:

I recently ran across this statement again in a publication.  I don't believe immigration should be a partisan issue.  Rather it is a human concern.  I am grateful for the perspective outlined below:

“The complex issues surrounding immigration are a matter of increasing concern and debate for all in this country.

Elected individuals have the primary responsibility to find solutions in the best interests of all whose lives will be impacted by their actions.

We repeat our appeal for careful reflection and civil discourse when addressing immigration issues. Finding a successful resolution will require the best thinking and goodwill of all across the political spectrum, the highest levels of statesmanship, and the strongest desire to do what is best for all of God’s children.”  (Issued July 2010)

Inheritance....

In August my siblings and I sold our parent's long-time home of thirty plus years.  In spite of the depressed housing market we had an offer within a week of putting the house on the market and through all the negotiations lo and behold the offer held and the house was sold.  I have a sneaking suspicion my mother in particular was behind the quick sale of the house.  She loved to write checks to her children.  They were small as my parents did not have much in material goods, but large considering that same fact.  Here was her last chance to write a dream check to each of her four children.  Again it's not a grandiose inheritance but considering the simplicity of their lives it is quite the accomplishment on their part and it is a significant contribution to each of us. 

The day after the closing my brother wrote an inheritance check for each of us as the executor of the estate.  (This little job I am sure he is happy to be rid of.  It's the equivalent of walking a tight rope in a circus act with a bowl of eggs on your head.)  I took the check to the bank and deposited it.  I put the deposit receipt on my desk and last night as I was clearing off and sorting through the unruly stack of whatever that had accumulated over the past month or so, I found the receipt.  I cannot throw it away.  It is sacred.  It represents so much more than the $$ amount printed in pale blue ink. I hold it in my hand and see my parents' sacrifices, the simplicity of their lives, the lack of hold that material possessions had on them.  I discern the love they had for each on of their children - each one unique and loved uniquely by them.   It represents their great charity and service to others.  Though they had little, what they did have was mostly shared with this or that person in need.  When they died there was little in their checking and savings accounts, their funerals were paid for, only a few medical bills were left and their house was the inheritance left for their children.  I wrote a note in a card and put the receipt inside and filed it away with my keepsakes.  Thank you Mother and Daddy.  I love you.