Cancer came into my life Christmas 1993. It was Stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system (lymph nodes) which is part of our body’s immune system. Elisa and I were struggling college students trying to get through school and raise three little boys. Cancer threw a dramatic twist into our life, and then I lost my job. But let me share the story of how that Christmas became one of our greatest ever… and the blessings…
The NBA’s Washington Bullets were the acknowledged underdogs during 1977-78 playoffs. They barely qualified for the playoffs, finishing the regular season with a dismal 44-38 record under second-year head coach Dick Motta. The Bullets won their division then took on the San Antonio Spurs in the Eastern Conference finals. With the Bullets leading the series 3-1, San Antonio sportscaster Dan Cox attempted to rally fans for the struggling Spurs by uttering a single phrase that rallied a team all the…
Not many people remember much about their kindergarten teacher. About all, I remember of mine is her name, Mrs. Davis, and how much my cousin Gordy and I drove her crazy. Our dads were brothers, and Gordy and I acted like brothers. Sitting next to each other, we talked continuously and we didn’t like nap time. The seating chart was soon switched around and I guess things probably were better. But then maybe not, as kindergarten was the only time…
My daughters are not only sisters to each other, they’re best friends. They talk about everything, hang out together, and share friends. And most of the time they still think mom and dad are pretty cool; well, at least mom! Like I said, they’re sisters and best friends. Recently I’ve found myself saying to them “Remember the and,” as in “she’s your sister and your best friend.” It’s usually when they’re talking to each other in a way that their…
I met Paul this past week in San Diego. My family and I were there visiting our son Clint who is a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. We visited the base, spent a day at the San Diego Zoo, and toured the Mormon Battalion Museum. We slept in, walked on the beach, watched movies, read books, and spent plenty of time playing Rummy, UNO, and 3/13. Friday it was finally warm enough to play in the water and attempt to…
The task must have been daunting. It was summer of 1985 and Lionel Kendrick of North Carolina and his wife Myrtis were tasked with shepherding several hundred young men and young women who had volunteered for missionary labors. The Kendrick’s were assigned to a geographical area called the Florida Tampa Mission covering most of central and southwest Florida. You’re not just good… In December of that year I was assigned to the Florida Tampa Mission. I felt as lost as…
When a voice starts to go silent, discovering ways to communicate can be challenging. Theresa Allred has helped me and many others discover it can also be rewarding. JR and Theresa Allred are neighbors just down the road in Hyde Park. A teacher in her younger days, Theresa’s voice captivated many children. Through her joy of reading, she brought books to life, their characters swimming through the fertile imaginations of young listeners. Though no longer a teacher when we first…