Angela and I had a fantastic trip to Philadelphia over the weekend. The only stresses were really around our flights - our flight on Thursday was delayed an hour, thus leaving us 10 minutes to make our connection in Salt Lake to get to Philly on the last flight out of the night, which we barely did. Then when we flew home, we had plenty of time to make our connection in Atlanta, but apparently our bags dawdled and missed the flight, forcing me to go back to the airport late Sunday night to retrieve them.
But it was the in-between stuff that really mattered: Dan and Hailey were kind to stay up late (which turned out to be a theme for the weekend) and pick us up at the airport. It was great to see them, and we slept at their awesome home that night. The next day was our walking tour through the Historic District, and it didn't disappoint. I have to say, though, and this is going to sound very corny, but as great as the historical sights were, the highlight of the day by far was just walking with Angela, holding hands, talking, laughing at people, and missing the kids together. We did see some great things though: the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross home, Ben Franklin grave and museum, the Delaware River, and Amish people at the Reading Terminal Market.
Speaking of the Reading Terminal, we had a lot of fun walking through there and looking at all the interesting foods, eating Rick's Cheesesteaks (both Friday and Saturday), and buying little treats. LOVED the steaks! It was also awesome to see Nate, Jenny, Grant and Jack at their home, where we stayed that night after a fun dinner and another late night (poor Hailey). We sure wish we lived closer to all those guys!
Saturday was more relaxing, and was full of fun with family. It was great just hanging out, and the highlight was probably dinner at a fun Italian place by D&H's house followed by Rita's Gellatis - pure, fat-filled bliss. Sunday was a rewarding trip to sacrament meeting and then it was the long trek home to see the kids.
They did very, very well without us, and HUGE thanks go to our friends, the Baughs, for taking good care of our precious cargo. Brig was so happy to see us - he kept going between mommy and daddy, trying to figure out who he really wanted most. We sure missed our Kennan though - this is very hard for us to not have her with us, even though we know she's having a good time in Utah.
I'll upload the pictures of our adventure later, but I want to get this up without any more delay...
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Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008
"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.
... Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in [The Music Man], voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”
f you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”
In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”
Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”
Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”10 May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.
Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."
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1 comment:
Needless to say, we had a blast with J&A here in Philly. We welcome any and all visitors!
PS. Love the new header...
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