Eyes Open to Gifts at Hand

 Dear family and dear friends,                                                             24 April 2026

Over a month has past (and it came to pass!) The blessing of watching spring bloom amidst frost and cold spells  freezing fruit blossoms and chilling hands can be enhearting to our souls as we watch our mothers navigate “la tercera edad”  

(Latin description of “the third age,” or golden years) 

and celebrate engagement of our eldest granddaughter to her childhood friend with a light and flame rekindled as she finishes in her first year of college receiving an associate’s degree.  

Prayers are ever in order for the “youth of the noble birthright!” 

When my eldest brother visited to attend a funeral for our dad’s 91-year-old eldest brother, Laurence,.  

(cousins, cousins, don't we LOVE cousins?)

the last of my father’s brothers, David’s first self-claimed duty was to attach on the wall for view upon entrance to our home, the picture of last year’s wonderful family gathering, of which momentum has grown and is blossoming to secure another in early summer. 

Ocean waves and old houses, sand and firepits aim to collect and connect children, cousins, grandparents and gather stories and security as “all is safely gathered in!” 

Easter approached and departed, ushering in hope of fullness or immortality (things to last and last) along with promises that “Things will work out, Grandma Lolly!” (Words flowing from a 15-year-old piano student assuring that setting “first things first,” offering heart and soul to heaven, then reaching out to others, offers confidence not much else can.) 

Guatemala office missionaries sometimes wondered about having a cup overflowing with “commandments not a few.”  Together, we are discovering the makeup of the word (Spanish, or Latin) is derived from com (together) with man (mano, or hand) and dare (to give.) Other enlightening synonyms follow:  to send forth, commit to one’s charge, entrust, recommend, a binding connection, direction on a journey, to have within the range of one’s influence (of resources), a view of, overlook in reference to an elevated place (vision, point of view) beseech, bid, adjure (bind by oath, question under oath), injunction, order, authoritative precept. 

Speaking of “authors,” regularly, our home and phone can be charmed by a daughter narrating an entreating series of books with her daughters--including us.  Some light can be carried by torch.  We are grateful for friends and admired souls who continue to kindle and extend light in whatever their capacity and sphere may be.  This does not go unnoticed.  It offers courage as other lights begin to flicker.  A returning young man from a mission to Arkansas Sunday decidedly announced his greatest success came as he worked to open others’ eyes and help them recognize what they did not know they were missing.  Thank you, for helping heavenly works appear evident in who you are and what you do. 

 Sincerely, Laurene and Val  

"Tell Me in Accents (of Wonder!)"

 

Dear family and dear friends,                                                                         12 March 2026

 

Oh, what a beautiful morning!  Val and I walked the LONG walk, rejoicing in the two-year window that we were granted after his stroke 24 months ago.  What a blessing it has been to reconnect with children, grandchildren; rejoice and empathize with dear ones who have difficulties in their health and varying aspects of their lives.   

What we are learning:  From Grandson #5:  In French there are many accents.  Accents can be useful.  What will I accent today?  What motivates, lifts, teaches, inspires my heart? 

From Granddaughter # 7: (creating barbecue sauce from scratch: “Amy Cross says, ‘Measure with your heart!’”   

(This picture shows what her family does with vegetables with Amy Cross's tips—add vinegar water for freshness.)

The cooking granddaughter also responded to my question – “Will God really remove our stumbling blocks, to be NO more confounded (confused, befuddled, perplexed, tripped up?)  “Well,” she says, “you KNOW, stumbling blocks CAN be made into stepping stones!”

From granddaughter #3: (responding to the story of Ben Kjar, a youth experiencing a genetic cranial difference): “His parents had him try EVERYTHING, before he chose wrestling to excel in!” Could variety invite breadth and confidence to preference?  (Hoorah to a busy reader and student, who won her first Davis Academic League invitational, (where students are quizzed about many subjects)  last Thursday!) 

From Grandson #6 (about the puzzle we were piecing that included mostly sky, a little cloud and more ocean): 

 

“Grandma, look for the gentle curve.”  Are there any gentle curves in your puzzle today?  Also, “Watch for the obvious line.  Subtle colors.  Can you match them?”  This grandson invited us to hear him speak to his neighborhood congregation about new starts.  Is springtime offering you a new start? 

A woman who spoke afterwards explained a message from a movie she had seen remembering a Biblical account of animals pairing, side by side.  If I want to develop patience, I cannot ask for an easy day every day.  If I want to develop love, it may require more than just a fuzzy feeling. Perhaps we can learn from passing notes:  playing one notes directly next to another can provide dissonance--a less than harmonious sound-- tension, discomfort.  Difficulty. Challenge.  We are learning some days, the greater our difficulty, the more welcome and glorious the resolution, with marvelous overtones.  Thank you, each for adding to our overtones.  For helping add accent, stepping stones, gentle curves, variety and a little heart measure to our bonus earth hours.  We love you!  Laurene and Val