1 My daily grant of breath

I wrote the following poem, entitled "My Daily Grant of Breath," in the Spring of 2003, at a point when I learned that the diffusion capacity of my lungs was something less than 50 percent and appeared to be headed even further downward. It was inspired by a passage in the Book of Mormon where king Benjamin was delivering his final address to his people.

If ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments (Mosiah 2:21–22).

O Lord, my Father and my God,

Who lends me breath

And thus preserves my life from day to day,

That I may live and move and have my way

Upon this earth,

By this one truth I’m humbly awed:

That all that Thou requirest of me

Is this one thing:

That I employ that daily grant of breath

In keeping Thy commandments until death

Shall one day bring

Me safely, surely home to Thee.

For first Thou hast created me,

Granted me life,

Wherein already I am indebted,

In Thy perfect image thus created

With breath of life

Freely given that I may serve Thee.

For wisdom counsels: If I serve

My fellow being,

I’m only in the service of my God

And am again indebted to my God,

Blessed for being

Obedient to Thy call to serve.

And through the mercies of Thy Son,

Israel’s Holy One,

Who granted me both life and daily breath,

My aspiration in weakness or in strength

Is to be one,

Submissive in all, as a son.

2 Quote of the month

We human beings have a strange tendency to complicate simple things. We set up rules, laws, bylaws, processes, and subprocesses. Eventually, we pile up load after load until we end up under a huge weight of expectations that are so complicated it is difficult to keep track of them, let alone meet them.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Feb 11, 2012)

3 This month in our family

Everybody!

Sun, May 6: Fast Sunday
Sun, May 13: Mother's Day
Tues, May 15: Anniversary of Aaronic Priesthood restoration
Mon, May 28: Memorial Day

Lyle's family

Tues, May 1: Morgan's birthday
Wed, May 2: Cheyenne McKenzie Morgan Card's birthday
Thurs, May 3: Brendan's birthday
Sun, May 6: Terry's birthday
Fri, May 11: Kimball's birthday
Thurs, May 17: Nathan Thomas's birthday [Amber's husband]
Fri, May 18: Jessica's birthday
Sat, May 19: Marcus Christian's birthday
Thurs, May 24: Terry & Becky married 1974
Sat, May 26: Gabriel Thomas Price's birthday
Mon, May 28: Nicholas Riley's birthday

Gail's family

Mon, May 14: Michele Rankin's birthday
Thurs, May 17: Megan's birthday
Tues, May 22: Kyle Foley's birthday

Kay's family

Tues, May 15: Kyle's birthday
Wed, May 16: Mallory's birthday
Fri, May 18: McKay's birthday
Sun, May 20: Kaelyn Michelle's birthday
Fri, May 25: Melissa's birthday [Kyle's wife]
Sun, May 27: Brandon's birthday

Gene's family

Fri, May 4: Kelley's birthday
Sat, May 12: Misty Lynn Ellis's birthday
Mon, May 21: Richard Ellis's birthday
Fri, May 25: Gene & Cheryl married 1966

Ray's family

Sat, May 12: Kassidy Reher's birthday
Mon, May 14: Ray died 1990

Dean's family

Sat, May 26: Caleb's birthday

Jackie's family

Sun, May 13: Rex & Jackie Sayer married 1978
Tues, May 15: Jennifer's birthday

4 Bits and tidbits

Kay's family

We spoke on the phone recently with Kay. He reported that he has a new job as a bookkeeper for a construction business. He started working on March 23.  It will entail about 30 hours a week.

Dean's family

Pete and Anna Halverson will bless their new daughter Kate on Sunday afternoon, May 6, at their ward in Salt Lake City. Kate is their second child and our 22nd grandchild.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the May 1962 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on Colorado Avenue in Nampa, Idaho.

Tues, May 1.  I came home from work & went right to bed. Jerry woke me up at 12: & said cows were out & I helped him get them in then here came Ivard, they'd been over to Gails to take Kristines birthday present.

Wed, May 2.  I came home from work & went right to bed. Ivard tended Sis & watered, fixed chicken coop & went over to Gails awhile. I stayed in bed all day, got up at 4:30 & helped Dean fix supper. Ivard left at 8:30 to drive back to Glenns Ferry.

Thurs, May 3.  Ivard didn't come home today. I took Ray to work & Jackie to Primary. I went to bed until time to go to work, didn't sleep much.

Fri, May 4.  Got letter from Kay. I came home from work, have next 2 nites off, and went to bed for awhile. Ivard came home from Glenns Ferry. Dean got supper.

Sat, May 5.  I got up & took Jerry to work & Ray. Ivard came home again today. He went to bed awhile then watched ball game. At 10: I took Dean up to Dr. Daines & had his eyes tested, school nurse said too, he was near sighted in one eye but not bad enough to get glassed. Sewed Jackies jumper & dance costume all afternoon.

Sun, May 6.  I got my sunday school lesson in bed. I got up & took Jerry, Ray & Dean to priesthood. We were about late for sunday school because Gail, Lynda & Kids came. Stayed to Testimony meeting. Got home at 2:30 & got dinner & ate & Jackie & I went to bed & had a nap. We went to church at 7: Primary Programe. Came home & I went to bed until time to go to work. I got dizzy & about passed out twice so I slept in nurses room 3 hrs.

Mon, May 7.  Ivard took Jackie up to special  dance practice. I got up again at 4: & fixed supper. Jerry, Ray & Dean went to Mutual. Jackie went to spend nite with Gail & Ivard came to bed at 8:30, his nite off.

Tues, May 8.  I came home from work & went right to bed. Woke up at 12: when phone rang & Ivard took right off. I went back to bed at 1:45 but never did go to sleep wondering if one of Kids was hurt & thats where Ivard had gone. He came about 3:30, he'd been over helping Gail with plow.

Wed, May 9.  I came home from work and went to bed until noon. I was sick & laid off work for next 3 nites. I got up at 1:30 & went & got Sis from dance practice. I got supper & we ate & Jerry went to work at Dairy queen - Dean & Ray went to do beets, Ray went back to Thorns after. Ivard went to Glenns F. & I went to bed.

Thurs, May 10.  Jackie & I took Ray to work and went to Primary mother day programe. I got a orchid corsage (artificial).

Fri, May 11.  Jerry got Stake M-Men President. We ate & Ray & Dean went to Stake House to Priesthood party.

Sat, May 12.  Got letter & Mother day card from Kay. Got a plant from Kids - delivered. I have awful headache. I went to bed this afternoon I felt so bad. We lost Dale, off playing at neighbors. I went to bed at 8: until time to go to work. felt better when I woke up.

Sun, May 13.  Ivard was home, came home for Mothers day. I got mad at him because he wouldn't go to church. I got up at 11: & showered & Ray came & got us for S.S. had programe & got a plant. Came home & Gail, Lynda & Kids were here. Jerry fixed dinner, had roast ham, potatoe salad, cottage cheese, pork & beans, olives, radishes, onions, punch, icecream & special Mother day cake.

Mon, May 14.  I came home from work & washed some cloths after I took Jackie to dance practice at 9: We got home at 10:15 & Ivard was home from Glenns Ferry. I went to bed. We were about asleep when Gail, Lynda & Kids came. I pertended I was asleep. Dean fixed supper & we ate & Kids went to Mutual.

Tues, May 15.  I finished making Jackies dance costume. At 4:45 I took her up to Ceneral J. H.S. to dance recital rehersal. We left at 9:30 & it was just a little over half done. I was dead. Never had one wink today. I went to work at 11:

Wed, May 16.  I came home & went right to bed. I got up at 3: & fixed supper made a Tamalee pie & Dean made tapioca pudding. Jackie went to Primary with Debbie as her quest. At 7:30 Ivard & I, Dean, Dale & Jackie went to Central to Jackies dance recital it was real good & Jackie & her class did good. Ivard left from there & drove pick-up to Glenns Ferry, alone, at 10:15. I laid off.

Thurs, May 17.  Ray quit Thorn Printing. Gail, Lynda & Kids came awhile & took Ray up to Dairy queen to work. Jerry went to M-Men doings. I went to bed until time to go to work.

Fri, May 18.  We got laid off for Summer, am I ever happy. Ivard was home from Glenns Ferry.

Sat, May 19.  I got books up & wrote Kay a long letter. I ordered some fuel oil, it got so cold.

Sun, May 20.  Gene graduated from High School at Adrian Oregon. I took Ray & Dean to Priesthood & me, Dale & Jackie went to sunday school. Came home & grabbed a sandwich & Jerry & I went to Stake house to S.S. leadership. Came home at 4:30. At 6: We all left for Adrian to Gene's baccalaret & graduation. We gave him presents after & took picture & came home.

Mon, May 21.  Ivard & I - Ray - Dale & Jackie went to Adrian to class nite. Gene got a letter for Track & baseball. Seniors went to Boise after.

Tues, May 22.  Ivard worked on fence all day. At 10: Jackie & I went to relief society then after they had the closeing social, a luncheon. It was sure nice, had card tables to eat on & programe. Jackie, Melissa & Brenda danced 2 numbers. Had Turkey salad, hard rolls, olives, beets, carrot sticks, celery, pickles - punch & desert.

Wed, May 23.  I took Ivard up to go to Glenns Ferry at 8:15. We had a fight over money as usual.

Thurs, May 24.  Rained all nite & never stoped once today. I played Salatair & listened to Scot Carpenter, gone around the earth 3 times. I iorned Jackies cloths & took her to Primary, she didn't feel very good today. Jerry took Ray up to Dairy queen to work at 6:30. Jerry took Dale up to church to Cub Scout Pack meeting.

Fri, May 25.  Kids all passed. Got pr. Earrings & sock from Lyle for Mothers Day. Ivard came from Glenns Ferry at 9:30 and him & Jackie took me to Boise to Dr. Cudmore. I gained 4 lbs. My blood pressure is a bit high.

Sat, May 26.  At 1: we got ready & Ivard & I, Ray, Dean, Dale & Jackie went to Adrian to ball game. Prairie City beat 2 to 1. Adrian is out of pre-tournment now. Talked to Gene a few min.

Sun, May 27.  I was so sick all nite & today. I didn't go to church at all.

Mon, May 28.  Ray took Jerry to work. Dean made waffles & they ate. Ivard got home at 6:30 & went to bed, got up at 9:30 when I took Ray up to Dairy Q to work, started steady. Jerry helped get the big bed out of back room & Dean got it cleaned up ready to paint & Ivard painted walls & ceiling & Dean & I painted 1st coat of wood work. Pained ceiling white & walls rose. Kids back bed room is going to be ours now.

Tues, May 29.  We pained my bed room woodwork 2nd coat, white enamal then Ivard & Dean claend the floor with wood cleaner & after it dried 2 hrs. he put paste wax on & I used the floor polisher & polished it, then we got out cloths put in closet & our bed in room & dressers & got our bed made.

Wed, May 30.  I took Ray up to church at 9: & he went to Idaho City with his sunday school class on party, got home at 11: Jerry didn't have to work at Paint store today but he had to work for Ray from 10: until 6: I spent the morning makeing potatoe salad, barbacue ect. & Ivard got the Kids bed room walls & ceiling painted & their closet, ceiling lite brown & walls darker brown. Gail called & said we'd go to Park but we waited & waited & every one was starved so we ate on lawn. Just got it clared up when they came & we all went to Givin's with them. They ate their lunch in Park there then we all went swimming.

Thurs, May 31.  Dean got invited to a dancing Party at attorney Shillers so I took him up & had a hair cut & Jerry gave him the money to get a pr pants & shirt to wear. Ray went to work at Dairy Q. at 6: Jerry & I took Dean to Party at 7:15 then I took Ivard up to go to G.F. I watched T.V. went & got Dean at 11:30 & went & got Ray at D.Q. at midnite.

6 What in the world

Brigham City Temple

The Brigham City Utah Temple, the Church's 14th temple in Utah, is scheduled to be dedicated on Sunday, September 23, in three sessions. The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all stake centers in Utah. The public open house will run from Saturday, August 18, through Saturday, September 15 (excluding Sundays and Saturday, September 8). Open house tickets will become available starting July 30 at BrighamCityMormonTemple.org.

Other temple dedications

The Kansas City Missouri Temple, the second in that state, will be dedicated on Sunday, May 6. The Manaus Brazil Temple, the sixth to be completed in that country, will be dedicated on Sunday,  June 10.

Provo City Center Temple

The Provo City Center Temple groundbreaking will be held on Saturday, May 12. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve will preside at the ceremony.

7 A final word

My wife, when she was growing up in southern California, used to travel by car with her parents and brother to visit relatives in northern Utah. This was in an era before cars had air conditioning, and in summertime you had to travel across those vast deserts at night. It was also before freeways spanned the distance, and you were limited to a lane of traffic going in each direction, and had to wait behind trucks crawling up hills and mountains, and had to drive through every dinky little town along the way, and hoped there was no road construction.

She quickly learned that the 13-or-more-hour trip seemed to go quicker if she slept along the way. The habit stuck. To this day, she can fall asleep on a road trip as short as the 17-mile ride from our house to where some of our children and grandchildren live.

She also has little sense of direction when she is in unfamiliar territory. That could be a function of being asleep along the journey. On our first trip to California after we became engaged, I awoke her as we dropped down into the Los Angeles Basin and asked her which way to San Gabriel, where her parents lived. I had never been there before, but I quickly sensed that she had sent me in an entirely wrong direction.

Had she been Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian guide who led Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean, they might well have ended up in Nova Scotia or perhaps Mexico.

Today I find these traits endearing. Sure, she has missed a lot of country in the cross-country road trips our family has taken. She would surely agree with the sentiment expressed by one of our sons-in-law after a road trip to Nauvoo, "There sure is a lot of road in this road trip." I merely mention these twin traits—her talent for sleeping and her ability to get thoroughly lost—as context for the following tribute I wrote this past Valentine's Day. I repeat it here as a Mother's Day wish to all you mothers who don't get enough sleep anyway and who realize that a GPS unit, especially if your husband is operating it, can get you from here to there.

I've journeyed a bit down the road of life, and I want all of you children and grandchildren to know that one could not have a better traveling companion than your mom and grandmother.

She may fall asleep along the way. She may send you down the wrong road—no, wait, that's just when she's with you in a literal car. In the metaphorical journey down life's highway, she never steers you wrong, and she's fiercely vigilant when it comes to those she loves. And her heart is a very big and generous and inclusive one. She just wants every chair filled, no one to miss the train—whatever metaphor you wish to use—so that everyone arrives safely at home at the end of life's journey, secure in the arms and love of our Heavenly Parents.

And that's my Mother's Day tribute to her and wish to all of you.