We are missionaries!

by Pat

Mother’s Day, June 11, we spoke in our ward sacrament meeting.  Monday we began our week at the MTC.  We were there from about 8 (except Monday was 10) until 4:30.  Our instruction and experience was fun, enlightening, motivating, and inspiring.  The young teachers were so prepared, engaging, capable, respectful, helpful, encouraging—I was in awe of their abilities and spirit.  Our role play in the teaching resource center was such an opportunity to discover our strengths and weakness, how we work as a companionship, how the Spirit testifies of truth even when we’re pretending—powerful!  We are so grateful for the privilege of being trained at the MTC.
 

The past two weeks have provided about 12 additional hours of our-mission-specific instruction.  Our mission president has assigned a senior couple to be his assistants over the senior missionaries.  Once we’re all called and in place, there will be about 330 of us serving in the 165 stakes in our mission—what a bunch of old loose cannons. :)  We have also had our first zone conference and first district meeting.  Last week we had a personal interview with the mission president but don’t expect to have one again.  He’s pretty busy with 260 young missionaries, so we will have quarterly interviews with his assistant.  We’ve turned in 2 weekly reports and written 2 letters to the assistant—so you know we really are missionaries.

We do, however, get our marching orders from our stake president, so we’ve met with his presidency, the stake high councilor over missionary work, the young elders who serve in our stake (and 2 others), and the stake clerk—now our best friend, who has supplied us with all kinds of lists and maps and charts and statistics so we can be familiar with the 11 wards and their leaders.  We’ve attended 7 sacrament meetings, spoken in 1, attended 2 missionary coordination meetings, and have our Sundays full of attending and speaking for the rest of the month.

And…we have actually met a few times with a non-member and twice with a young prospective elder.  We’ve made some visits as prompted and truly love it when the Spirit speaks.  

With all this Merlin has not felt well for 2 weeks and has been downright sick a couple days, today being one of them.  He has bronchitis and might have another 2 weeks before it’s gone.  We’re finding it’s really hard for the companionship when one of us is down, but we’re trusting that the promised renewal of his body will kick in here soon after he endures the trial.

Speaking of—we have not yet resolved our business issues completely but have done what we can and now trust the Lord and His timing.  Merlin is not completely free and that is disappointing and stressful, but how would he function without stress?!  Actually, I’m ready to see, and we’re confident things will work out one way or another soon.

We know it’s our time and place to serve, and we’ve been blessed that we’ll be able to do some amazing things.  Our stake president has incredible vision, and we’re trying to see what he sees.  We are really loving the work and are energized by it.  We invite you all to be member missionaries.  It’s always been our call, but now we’re all part of this exciting hastening.  We testify that as we prayerfully ask, we will be led to make this who we are and what we are about every day—our new way of life until the Savior comes.  And Elder Fish and I promise that there is power and protection and happiness in this work that we each need and will enjoy in our families and in our individual lives.

Sunday dinner minus pot roast, mashed potatoes, and gravy

For the past couple weeks Merlin, his sister Kim, Kevin, and I have been eating a ton more veggies and fruits, hardly any processed foods and dairy, and no cookies.  We are learning a lot and coming up with some decent menus.  Our systems (some more delicate than others) are adjusting quite well, and we have all been surprised that we have been able to make some significant changes in our diet.  Tonight's meal was especially colorful and appetizing.  The menu included asparagus spritzed with Balsamic vinegar, Luana's sun-dried tomato pasta salad (whole wheat pasta), grapes, and nectarines. (Yes, the text is red to match the plates.)

FISH FAMILY FAVORITES: GOURDS

by Pat

Being at a temporary standstill in his elaborate landscaping project this spring, our son Kevin decided to plant gourds and pumpkins in his flower beds to keep the weeds down.  His initial planting was slow to germinate, and he was afraid the seeds had rotted.  So he replanted--and then all the seeds from both plantings germinated, and he ended up with this by August:

and this by October:

 

and I can't get enough of these things:

If you want an absolutely enthralling harvest next fall, plant a variety of gourd seeds in the spring.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

"The mother loves her child most divinely, not when she surrounds him with comfort and anticipates his wants, but when she resolutely holds him to the highest standards and is content with nothing less than his best." 

Hamilton Wright Marie

• • • 

Pat, our mother, advocate and best friend celebrates her birthday today. Mom, we love you for everything you are and everything you have taught us to be. We are better women and mothers because of your influence and guidance. We celebrate you today with a small tribute and expression of our love for you.

• • • 

So I'm convinced that my mother knew me and me my mother before this life. That has been testified to me on a number of occasions. I think the question that I have is who convinced who to be together in the same family? After some thought to this question, I am pretty sure that I begged her to be my mother. You see I knew I needed a mom who was real, would care for me, teach me the gospel, be an excellent example of trying to live a Christlike life day after day, accept me with my strengths and weaknesses and form a everlasting friendship with me. I am sure as I begged her, I made it clear I wanted and needed all this in a mother. And not only did she accept way back when but here on earth she has delivered and been all that to me and more. Is my mom perfect? Nope. But that is not what I was looking for in a mother. I express my thanks lovingly to my mom for being my excellent mother, exceptional friend and a magnificent woman. I am humbled and elated that we have had much time and many experiences together and look forward to lots more in the future. I am so grateful we can celebrated the wonderful you, today! Have a DYNAMITE birthday, Pat!

• • • 

P--patient
A-affable
T--teachable
R--righteous
I--industrious
C--clean
I--intelligent
A--altruistic

My mother is all this and so much more. One thing I appreciate about her that I hope to emulate as I age is her openness to learn, grow, change, and perceive differently rather than be "stuck" or "set in her ways" as I see so many people, especially as they get older. She is constantly evolving and allowing herself to be refined into a more superb, grace-full, Christ-like woman. Mom, I admire, adore, and love you! Thanks for giving me life and then blessing it immeasurably.

• • • 

Other than being fit and very pretty, in her current phase of life, my mother may appear to be ordinary. But really she has lived a life of extraordinary accomplishments. Most of what she has accomplished and endured is an accumulation of many moments or many days, day after day, doing the right things with the right attitude. I cannot imagine what it was like to care for the physical needs alone of nine children and a self-employed husband who was often out of town. Pregnancy, meals, dishes, laundry, and shopping, plus diapers and potty training, managing emotions and conflicts, school and music and sports activities, adolescents and young adults, driving, dating, missions and weddings, plus serving many others over and over in church calling after calling. There are many women who do and have done these things. Maybe what makes her different (as I view it) is her ability to look back without pride or regret. She knows she did the best she could when she could, and she judges others in the same compassionate way. A family friend has said that she has a common sense approach to the Gospel that is uncommon in women of the Church and is refreshing. She is classy but modest, intelligent but grounded. She is so appropriate that when she comes to visit me and we are folding laundry, she asks exactly how I fold my towels or my baby's onesies so they can be just how I would want them. How could I adequately describe or appreciate a such woman in a paragraph?
Happy Birthday, Mom. I hope you are around for a long time. I still have so much to learn from you and so many moments and days and years to enjoy with you. I love you.

• • • 

"She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the plaudits and admiration of mankind. But she who would willingly and anxiously rear successfully a family of beautiful healthy sons and daughters whose lives reflect the teachings of the gospel, deserves the highest honors that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God. In fact, in her high duty and service to humanity, endowing with mortality eternal spirits, she is a co-partner with the Great Creator Himself."

David O. McKay 

• • • 

A few words to and about my favorite Mother-in-Law:
1. She is the only woman I know that begins a story with the genealogy of the key actors.
2. She is the epitome of a Regal Woman, beautiful and confident.
3. She has the qualities of a woman "Yoda". Insightful, fun, honest, foreseeing, and understanding.
4. She knows what it means to "comfort those that stand in need comfort". She was there for me when my mom died, and with her arm around me while I was shaking, let me know that I was not alone. How much that meant then and still means to me today.
5. Although opposites in many ways, Patricia is the exact compliment to Merlin. What an inspired Eternal relationship.
6. She has been accepting of everyone that is honest in heart, and me too.
7. I love Patricia, for her I would fight her battles and win.
Happy Birthday.

• • • 

I love you, Mom for being the unbiased mediator, mentor, and friend. You teach me so gently and selflessly every time we speak. Thank you for raising three amazing sons who know how to treat and respect women, serve the Lord and cherish their families. I feel your love and prayers constantly in my life and know you love each and every one of us with a Christlike love. Thank you for being my mom and keeping me close when my mother died. You are the invisible woman of cathedral building.  You are one of the most precious gifts in my life.

• • • 

Pat, Mom and Grandma:

Beautiful • Magical • Loving • Fancy • Awesome • “hot” –in both ways

Sweet • Healthy • Excellent • Tough • Crafty (makes crafts) • Loves her grandkids

Smiley • Fun-loving • Amazing • Understanding • Trustworthy • Radiant • Quilter

Creative • Spiritual • Motherly • Stylish • Responsible • Unselfish • Heroic • Inspiring • Perfectionist • Traditional

Funny • Seamstress • Good sport • P.A.T. Dynamite • Green thumby • Humble • Inspired • Temperance • Steadfast and immovable

Matriarch • Hard worker • Virtuous • Lovely • Of Good Report • Praiseworthy • Faithful • Charity • Kind • Prayerful • Industrious • Teacher • A Daughter of God • Gratitude • Pioneer

Sincere • Thoughtful • Positive • Elegant • Understanding • Great laugh • Generous • Giving • Meek • Full of integrity • Dignified • Calm (except during BYU football and when playing Ryan in Skip Bo)

• • • 

My lovely mother spends her time and energy on things that are of eternal significance.  She knows that relationships are what matter in the long run.  Think how much time it takes just to check in with her nine children and their children.  Over my twenty year marriage she has not ever spoken negatively about my husband, a vast accomplishment that inspires me to act as well when I have children-in-law.  As her mother and grandmother before her, she views her children's spouses as her own children and treats them with love and respect and as works in progress.  My mom is kind to herself and others while maintaining high expectations and a happy world view.  She listens well and can give advice and withhold advice judiciously.  She chooses activities and interests to balance her life and expand her vision.  I love to have her visit my house--it's like having two of me working through the problems and projects except she has fresh eyes and a better attitude.  We know how to derive satisfaction from work when we are together.  We have great conversations, drink green drink twice a day, walk outside for exercise, and rethink spaces/sort/pitch/clean/organize over and over in my house.  This kind of tangible love keeps me going long after she is gone.

See Fish Muse

by Pat

September has an abundance that is unmatched by any other month. In my part of the world, it brings the harvest, and from the time I was a little girl, I have "gathered in" and experienced gratitude and reverence for the bounty of the earth. I thank my mother and her parents for teaching me the blessings of the family garden. They are many but some of my favorites are the smell of newly turned soil, the miracle of emerging sprouts, the satisfaction of careful weeding, the promise of ripening fruit, the taste of a sun-warmed tomato, and the wonder of plants that keep giving and giving.

I haven't always appreciated my heritage regarding the garden. I remember as a preteen picking strawberries with Grandma early in the morning. She wanted to have the job done before it got too hot, so we would enter the patch before we could see the berries. She would bend over to pick and scold me as I tried to sit between the rows because I was already tired. It seemed that the plants went on forever, and I wondered if we would ever get to the end, but Grandma was giddy as she patiently, carefully placed berry after berry in her specially designed box, occasionally popping one in her mouth. Before we were finished, it was too hot, and Grandma's back was killing her, and I was wondering why we were working so hard. The "why" would take me years to learn, but this was the beginning.

I realized recently that my mother continued the legacy while many of her peers set it aside. I can't remember my friends' families having vegetable gardens, but Mom had a green thumb and a passion for growing everything edible. For years she had over 30 varieties of fruits and vegetables in her large garden. Dad would do some tilling and other extra tough jobs now and then, but it was Mom who felt the joy, the fulfillment, the excitement that kept her in the garden hour after hour, year after year. As adults my sisters and I brought our young children and helped, often because of our sense of duty to our hard-working mother who shared so generously the products of her labor. But out of that duty grew an incredible appreciation for time spent together sharing laughter and tears, successes and frustrations, questions and answers while our hands dug and plucked, shelled and shucked. The maturing of our love and respect for one another was our mother's most treasured yield.

Yesterday for lunch I had a BLT and a bowl of peaches and raspberries. As I looked at my plate, I saw my homemade bread and the freshly-picked tomatoes and raspberries from the garden that my son and I have together. I was alone, sitting at my kitchen counter, but as I savored the flavors, I was transported to my mother's kitchen. I was there with her and my sisters, enjoying the same menu--her homemade bread and lettuce, tomatoes, peaches, and raspberries from her garden. I relived decades of Septembers in that sweet memory, and sacred feelings of warmth, plenty, and thanksgiving washed over me like the autumn sun that was shining through my window.