Twelve Months of Miracles (Ch. 6)

On 5 March 2019, I posted chapter five of "... Miracles", promising another chapter, "to be continued" in Roseville, Michigan.

I noted Wed. 5/23/2018: “Our mission president announced in zone conference yesterday that the Toledo and Cleveland stakes will join our MDM 7/1/18, as that Ohio mission dissolves!”

Preparation day Mon. 7/9 was our 47th wedding anniversary, celebrated in New Baltimore by Anchor Bay.  Sweet!

Friday the 13th of July: Detroit Symphony Orchestra behind the Ford House, with fireworks over the lake afterward.  Kay & I loved the uplifting music, casual setting, and memorable experience.

Kay texted our oldest son on Friday 8/10/1:23pm, soon after the final diagnosis from her doctor:

“Please call.  Important.  Love you.”

After packing up and clearing out, we left our Roseville home the next day and headed back to Utah for pancreatic-cancer treatments.  Kay felt better after we got away on the road west -- a miracle and tender mercy. 

Having completed twelve months of our 23-month assignment, we “returned with honor” to be close to family and friends for the final few weeks of Kay’s mortal life. 

Throughout our full-time, twelve-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we were blessed with daily miracles and tender mercies.  Kay and I will always be grateful.

Now “this old man” is settled in Ogden to stay until “transferred” to reunite and work again with my eternal companion.

“Have a blessed day,” as our dear Michiganders say.  Keep the faith!

First Two Months

A recap of two months, planned for the end of February, was neglected as the month was so short.

Learned: How to cook instant (precooked) rice, remembering my measuring cup is 1/3 cup, not 1 cup.

“Quick access” in my Windows10 file manager is not very quick — seems redundant, useless.

There are “250 milestones in the history of psychology”, according to the library book I read.
Never order BK chicken sandwich with cheese.

Goals met: Attend temple more often.  Edit more.  Make friends.  Sleep well.  (“I can do this,” I say to Kay, as if she were watching with a smile.  “I’m trying to do the best I know how.”)

Observed: A neighbor from China who fearlessly talks to strangers here in the apartments — nice and refreshing!
Guys wearing shorts (pants) and no coat outside in below-freezing weather. 

Cars speeding like crazy on Utah freeways, reminiscent of Detroit.

Windows 10 Photos program created groups for me: “Weekend in Ogden”, “Snowy memories 2018”, “Snowy memories 2019”, and “2017 smiles”; (what about my smiley pics since 2017?)

Beautiful winter clouds and sunsets.
Happy, smiling grandchildren.

Twelve Months of Miracles (Ch. 5)

On 27 January 2019, I posted chapter four of "... Miracles", promising another chapter, "to be continued" in Roseville, Michigan.

Tuesday feels like a good day with Kay ... to share another chapter of our mission. 

For our brief, 2018 second-quarter report, I reviewed Sister Cannon’s journal she diligently kept on a daily basis.  The amount of detail is remarkable; for me, her eternal companion, it is a precious record of people, places, and acts of service usually planned by Kay.  As full-time missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we had unlimited opportunities to serve and help others come closer to the Savior.  We are forever grateful. 

Tuesday, April 3rd, as Self-reliance missionaries, we “facilitated in Personal Finance class chap. 6 for Millers.”  (We participated as learners throughout the entire 12-week course, which is based on gospel principles.)  April 11th “Drove to Southfield again for Zone Conference.”  Friday the 13th “St. Clair Shores ... visits ...”  Next day: “Both of us kind of sick & tired ... my spleen or something been hurting for weeks.”  Sunday: “freezing rains!”  We gave people rides to and from church, more than usual.

A highlight of our mission was having our youngest daughter and her family visit us in May.  They drove from Georgia for their oldest daughter’s baptism and confirmation.  Our Roseville Ward members were so supportive of that special Sunday evening event, and we loved introducing our darling family to them.  We took some time for fun at The Henry Ford & Greenfield Village (with a vintage carousel playing familiar Christian tunes), the Detroit International RiverWalk (kids loved the splash pad for water play), the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House (Josephine’s Playhouse in back of the huge mansion was the big attraction), and a famous chocolate factory.  We also led them on a tour of unique sites in historic Detroit.

Saturday, June 2nd at Belle Isle (river island), we experienced the Detroit Grand Prix “IndyCar Series racing festival” with our ward mission leader (a GM engineer) and his young family.  I went prepared with my Stihl ear protectors, having been warned by the Lunds.  We loved mingling with the diverse population there, as we did throughout our mission.

Something I did several times without my companion: Thursday, June 7th, “South elders asked Ned to take them to Southfield [mission office] for transfers, so ... [he] was gone from 7am - noon.  ... made Pillsbury choc. chip cookies.”  (Sister Cannon, an expert cook, often made and delivered treats and comfort food ... to go with her special kind of love.)

(Kay limited complaints to writing in her private journal and occasional sharing with me.  Despite her undiagnosed illness, she felt driven to serve.)
Tuesday, June 26th, “Sick & tired ... sweats.  6:15 Soup & bread [provided weekly at church by a generous cook, Sister Lund] — Leslie Ann, beautiful investigator came ...”; family history class was productive.  Friday the 29th, “Weak & tired. Temple, to do ... [ordinance work for the mother of a ward member in assisted living.] Inspected Sisters ... apt. in Bloomfield Hills ... Inspected Elders ... apt. in Rochester — exhausted!”  Next day: “9:30 washed glass doors & bathroom mirrors at church — super weak. 10:00 mission coordination mtg.” Sunday: “Tired & weak. Ward council in seminary room. Picked up ... [two people]. Church (Jaimi came to R.S. for 1st time). Gave thank-you’s to ... [four ward members] for helping Sandy move.”  (Sister Cannon & I did a lot of lifting with them.)

Hopefully, we lifted the spirits of people throughout those difficult three months.  I may add to this chapter before the end of Q2, 2019.  Truly, I could write a book ... with love.

(To be continued.)

taking a break for family fun at Greenfield Village, Dearborn

George W. Recalled

Is Presidents’ Day the holiday when we turn our attention from school and work to celebrate the birthdays of two great presidents, Washington and Lincoln?  I recall that day in 2011, when I took time to post this about our beloved first leader:

For George Washington's birthday lunch break today, I loved opening the [1960 World Book Encyclopedia] and seeing the pictures --like visiting an old friend.  It brought back memories of my school days, when it was my main source of information for essays and research papers I typed on my big black 1930's-vintage Underwood.

"George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, on an estate in Westmoreland County on the banks of Popes Creek, about 30 miles southeast of Fredericksburg, Va. The plantation later became known as Wakefield. Washington's birthday is now determined by the Gregorian or 'New Style' calendar. ... His parents were Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. ... George was the first child of Augustine's second marriage. Three other sons and two daughters soon followed. ... Young George had little schooling in classrooms. ... George was eleven years old when his father died. ... He had two tutors, or private teachers [who] taught young George the arts of war. ..."

"The people of the United States and many other lands call George Washington the 'Father of His Country.' He looked after his country the way a good father would look after his son. ..."

-- The World Book Encyclopedia, copyright 1960, U.S.A.

Now in 2019, it’s so easy to search and study great history.  Are there millions doing so on their phones today?  Young and old, grateful for freedom, all pondering what our country has endured and where this one nation, under God ... is headed.  What do you think?

Valentine’s Going Forward

Recalling my 2014 post, I copied this concluding thought for the remainder of 2019, “going forward”:

In the movie First Knight (1995), Lancelot (Richard Gere) enters the great hall and reads the inscription on the Round Table: "In serving each other, we become free."  King Arthur (Sean Connery) adds, “That is the very heart of Camelot.”

If you’ve seen the film, forget all that’s questionable, and think about those whom you love and wish to serve.  And have a happy Saint Valentine’s, not just for one day!

Mrs. Cannon, end of NHS year, 2 June 2017, 

wrapping up 20 years of teaching English
with a smile

Saturday Morning

Family history has been on my mind this week.  (And every week since last August, come to think of it.)

Sunday I learned of the passing of a younger family friend who presided as bishop at Kay’s funeral last October — “a happy, generous soul,” my sister (his neighbor) told me.

Tuesday I had spare time and iPhone to scan some history (including Kelli) from Kay’s file cabinet still in storage.

Wednesday I helped plan an April event for our Ogden stake community to help people do genealogy.  

After a session for family on Thursday, I worked in the high-tech Layton FamilySearch Center, duplicating Kay’s life DVD (slideshow) and digitizing our daughter’s 1997 piano playing (cassette with no date, so I guessed).  The equipment amazed me; I expect to see the same or better in the new Ogden center when it’s open in May.

Friday night I stopped by Deseret Book at City Creek and discovered a plaque with its history: “... began business in 1866 as George Q. Cannon & Sons.”  (Yes, I took a picture.)

A frontier funeral in our old neighborhood this Saturday morning: beloved President Barney served in presidential positions worldwide and at home, and helped Kay & me serve the two-year-old children in the Church nursery.  He is so humble, loving, and now greatly missed.  I worked weekly alongside his wife in the old Layton family history center a few years ago, and we enjoyed visiting them in their historic home.  A lot of family history relates to that eternal marriage.

Another historical thought for Kay’s next birthday:

“Come Saturday morning,” (song by The Sandpipers we heard on our morning-after drive across the west desert while my parents flew to Switzerland for three years) let’s start with a “sunrise celebration” (normally a summer tradition) with memories of weekend trips.

“We'll travel for miles in our Saturday smiles.

And then we'll move on ...” to brunch with Kay’s favorite crepes, smoothies, and dark chocolate cake with 17 candles.  Stories are waiting to be shared.

What’s your story?  Can you recall a Saturday morning in your family history?

Tuesday: Birthday Month

To celebrate Kay’s birthday month, our family is planning to get together for fun someday soon.  We have more definite plans for her birthday, which is coming up next year.  I have some ideas for activities that Saturday which will make her smile even more.

One thing I would enjoy is sharing memories of friends and family who visited us in Michigan, our 2018 Utah homes, the October funeral, and the teachers’ get-together.  We were strengthened by love, which will never be forgotten.

A favorite book taught by Mrs. Cannon at NHS, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, page 135, reminds me of her:
“I came to love the way Morrie lit up when I entered the room. He did this for many people, I know, but it was his special talent to make each visitor feel that the smile was unique.”

Temple time and family history will honor Grandma.  A daughter reading her mom’s “Yellow” poem would warm the winter day.

Memories of Tuesdays at the Roseville Ward and in Kay’s “dream cottage” ... and so much more to be recalled for her seventeenth birthday celebration.

We love you!