June 9th 2014 Monday

It is a crazy day at the Bosch Kitchen Center. It has been really really slow.  I know Alma is concerned. Frank had his surgery and Mom's funeral was incredible. Everyone that didn't participate in Dad's funeral, participated in Moms. Kent, Philip and Frank spoke.  And Frank looked as good as he could, but it is like he said they will pay attention to what I have to say, just because I look so bad. But no pain even as he stood in the line at the viewing. My girls with there cousins sang "Love one another" with another song sung at the same time. It is beautiful, one of Jennifer's companions in the mission field made it up. Caylyn played the piano. All in all it was beautiful.  Cheri gave the life sketch because she is the oldest grandchild. It is so hard to think that they are both gone.  I will miss them greatly and even though Frank spent the last few years with them, he will miss them as well. It is hard to think that life can end so quickly.

We were hit with a pretty big bomb shell last night, which we never expected. My daughter who is 21 years old is dating a guy that is older.  He is 33 years old and should be out ther looking for a 30 year old. Why should my daughter suffer because of his choses. He is a guy trust me if he wanted to be married he could be. I think it is kind of interesting, she says she had decides to date him, she has been hanging around him for months non stop. If you don't call that dating I don't know what you call it. I remember years ago Bishop Craven my father in law counseled my brother to be careful about marrying a particular girl. Because their backgrounds were so different. (Of course Frank's Dad didn't tell him about this conversation until years and years later.  When my brother was married to someone else and they had children of there own) A marriage can't succeed when backgrounds are so different.  My brother married her anyway and they were divorced about 4-5 years later. She lived right up the street. He had had a conformation, he knew this was right.  Everything I think my daughter is feeling. No one could tell him different.  You can't, talk to someone,once they have made up there mind it doesn't matter what you say they aren't going to listen.

It is very sad, because of life's experiences we as her parents know better but she can't see it. But I know my daughter and she will figure this out. I had a dream and saw the guy she would marry and it wasn't this guy.  I just wish she would go counsel with someone who isn't involved, a bishop or institute teacher, or someone she respects.

June 2nd 2014

My sweet mother in law died on April 10th.  Her funeral was on April the 16th.  On April the 13th my children were taking down my parents willow tree.  Benje and Michael decided that it would be a good thing to do.  Everyone was in town including all my children, grandma's funeral will to be on Tuesday.  As evening approached it looked beautiful out side.The boys had done an incredible job taking down each branch, there was one branch left.  A large C-clip was thrown up over the tree branch.  It got stuck. Now you have got to understand this is up in the air 20 feet or more.  So the boys started to pull on it because they couldn't climb up and get it. Unfortunately my husband was standing in the wrong place. He was watching his nephews having fun on a 4 wheeler.  This was Curtis's children. Luckily he had turned his head back around to look forward when a huge blunt instrument hit him right above his left eye and across his forehead. It took him down like a fallen soldier, right in the middle of the road.  He said it felt like a freight train just hit him. Everyone was screaming.  I was standing on the front pouch watching Curtis's children, I am just so grateful that I wasn't watching what happened. A neighbor of ours saw it as well and he came over to see what he could do to help. He is a primary teacher of mine and his name is Brother Shurard. Anyway my husband of course acted very independent and he was going to go upstairs to look at it.  He came back to the stairs and sat down, after making a quick dash to the bathroom from outside. I told him he needed to go to the hospital, he consented. Michelle and Michael put him in Michelle's van and took off. Michael had the police follow him all the way and were extremely anger at him. I think Frank was going it to shock and that concerned Michael more than the police.  They followed him right to the hospital and gave him the 3rd degree.  Mike explained to them what had happened, they really didn't care. Frank even tried to stand up for him. Michelle ushered him in to the hospital. I guess Michael finally talked his way out of it and went inside the hospital. Of course I followed behind, after getting my self under control. By the time I got there, they were ready to stitch him up. Everyone left and I was there alone to hold my husbands hand and watch as the doctors took over and stitched him up for it seemed like hours.  I kept asking him if he was in pain. He said, "No", which I thought was incredible. It certainly severed his nerve which I thought was sad but to have no pain was incredible.  They took a cat-scan and said there were a lot of little pieces of bone floating around and it could cause him to go permanently blind. So they have scheduled two surgeries. One for the nose area and on above the eye.  When it is all said and done it will cost us about 14 thousand dollars. Such a difficult time especially when he has to speak at his mother's funeral on Tuesday and then he goes in for surgery on Thursday. I am just grateful he is alive and that he turned his head just at the right time.  If he had not he would have been killed

January 8th 2013 Tuesday

 My wonderful father in law died on July the 13th of 2012. It was a very sad day.  He was in and out of the hospital for about a week, before he was brought home to be taken care of. His funeral was on the 18th of July which was my twins birthday. He is an extra special man. He had a stroke about a year ago, and hasn't been able to communicate as well as he would like. But have enjoyed very much being around him, it's fun to watch him laugh at himself when he can't get what he wants to out. He has communicated with Frank a lot, and explained where things are so Mom will be well taken care of. We are so grateful for that little miracle.
All of his children were at the funeral and some of his grandchildren. All of my children were there and many others.  Frank took care of all the arrangements. All the children that were from out of state ended out speaking at his funeral.  He insisted that his funeral only be 1 hour long and that every person who spoke at his funeral testified of Christ.  It was absolutely wonderful, because that is exactly what happened.  It is so wonderful to be members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Because the funeral was so simple and yet so spiritual. I am so grateful to be who I am, and have such great examples that have gone before me.
     My mother in law is lonely.  Frank spends every day over there with her.  He is with her constantly. But I know she misses Dad.  She will be 90 on the 25th of this month. And all she wants to do is die and be with Dad. She wants to know why she can't go. She is ready to be with her husband, but she says there is obviously something she needs to learn. She is studying Dads books and scriptures.  She puts together puzzles. She is incredible.  She keeps telling me that I will be so happy when she is gone, because I will be able to have my husband back.  I reassure her that I want her to stay, it will not be fun without her. She had the pace-maker put in when Dad died, but she still can't breath.  Her heart is only pumping at 20 percent. All the hospice care people tell us that she should have died a while ago.  There is no way she should still be alive.  The Lord knows each one of us and when we should leave this earth.  To me that is a miracle in and of its self.  She can stay around forever as far as I am concerned.

May 20th 2013

I haven't written in this blog for quit some time.  So it is time to play catch up.  So many small tender mercies have happened to our family, through many experiences.  I would like to share with you a few of them over the past year.  Last year on July 13th my wonder Father in law passed away.  It was a hard time for all of us.  We will miss him so much. All my children came in town on Wednesday the 11th of July to say good-bye. He had a massive stroke during the night on Sunday night. So they all wanted to go to the hospital for one last good-bye. The stroke caused major damage to the rest of his body so he was in a comma and would never be the same. Franks family would all gather together on Tuesday to release Dad, then he would be brought home so we could care for him until he left this world. It will be hard for us all, but we know it was what he wants. We as the Craven family gathered around  Dad's bed to release him. Only his children from Utah could be there. Curtis would catch a flight in the morning and would hopefully make it before Dad left this world.  Frank and I, Kent and Caroline, Philip and Janet, Diana and Steve were all present at the bed sight, and of course Mom.  The most amazing miracle is that Cindi was in town.  She came to see grandpa.  So she was there for Dad, replacing Mark because He couldn't be there. Jennifer came down to see Cindi, later Michelle came.  The were all invited to come in the room for the blessing. Everyone was allowed to say something first.  The last person to speak was Mom.  She talked about some wonderful experiences she had with Dad.  The thing I was most impressed with was his tenderness and love.  She talked often of people coming up to them and commented on there love for each other. She said Dad wasn't afraid to go up and talk to anyone, and he usually did.  By the end of the conversation Dad would be their best friend. It was wonderful how he had genuine love for others.  Mom talked about him being the perfect companion. I know she will miss him as we all will.  Frank gave the blessing of release and of course we were all in tears.  It was a very spiritual time for all of us.  Mom is left and I am sure she will have her really hard days. But we will be there for her.  Especially Frank, his father knew he could count on him. And Frank will fill that void of him passing.
     The hospital ended out bringing Dad home on Wednesday morning.  Of course Frank stayed with him in the hospital most of the day from Sunday to Tuesday.  Then he spent the night with Mom and Dad on Wednesday night. Swabbing Dads mouth most of the night so it wouldn't get dry.  Then Phil and Janet offered to stay with him on Thursday Night. He died early on the morning on the 13th of July. Frank was pretty upset to think his father left this world with out him. But he was tired and needed some time at his own home. His funeral was then scheduled for July 18th.  It was hard to watch him being taken from his home.  The place he loved, to no longer return.  Curtis arrived but to late.  That was hard as well. Some very hard times,  but such a wonderful family to all come together to be there for each other and great support. Mom went to the hospital to receive a pace-maker, the day Dad died.  She kept saying that Dad was coming to get her.  We were all very concerned. She was in surgery much longer than we all expected, we thought for sure the desires of her heart were going to come true. We all went to the hospital with Curtis so he could see his mother, even though he was to late for his Father. Curtis arrived at the hospital and gave Mom a big hug. We all suggested staying with her.  But she didn't let us until Curtis said, Mom I am staying.  I think she needed that. Curtis stayed!

July 5th 2012 Thursday

I and the girls came to see Lisa and her family today.  The drive was wet and rainy and at times we couldn't see where we were going. We were glad when we finally arrived.  My husband had to concentrate on business, so he wouldn't come.  I feel bad because yesterday was the 4th, one of my favorite holidays and my husband spent the whole day doing yards.   Everyone got up this morning and went water sking, except of course me.  I thought Frank went water sking, but he went to take care of his parents yard.  He spent the whole day weeding yards and mowing all the lawns.  He spent the whole day working hard, which was a very sad thing for me.  I felt like the whole day was just working.   But we planned a trip to Lisa's so hopefully my vacation won't be a loss.   I have all the rest of the week off from work.

May 29th Wednesday

I often ponder on how special our friends and family are.  I attended a funeral yesterday of a dear friends mother.  I knew this family when I was young.  I was in the ninth grade when they moved out of our ward.  It was great to see everyone again.  Cathy just cried and cried and it brought tears to my eyes.  I knew how much her mother mean't to her and how much she will miss her.  As I watched the people at the funeral I realized how important the gospel of Jesus Christ is and how much it impacts our lives.  I am so grateful for it, it means so much to me.  I am so grateful for a good husband, and special children.  I know that the Lord is watching out for them, because they are such good wonderful children.  Sometimes our lives don't quite go in the path that we want.  But the Lord will guide and direct our paths, because we are trying to do our best.  We are constantly praying for each other and that is why the Lord takes care of us.  I marvel at the Lord's tender mercies toward us.  They are constant.  I didn't feel like I could do my sharing time this week because I felt so nervous, but everything went wonderful.  We have had some incredible people join us in Primary.  I am so happy that the Lord continues to bless our Primary with good people.  It certainly makes my job easier.   My daughter had surgery last week, miracles happened for her because the surgery wasn't as extensive as it was suppose to be and not as hard of an operation as it was suppose to be. It was truly a miracle.  I went to the temple the day before for her, and the Lord certainly answered my prayer. She was truly blessed.  I love the little tender mercies of the Lord.

April 14th Saturday

Once again I have neglected this post of mine,  but I wanted to remember some important things that have happened in the last 2 weeks.  Michelle called me and told me of an experience that happened to their family where she knew that the Lord intervened.  She went out to lunch with her sister in law, and her mother in law.  They were at a cute little parlor eating out on the lawn, because it was a pretty small parlor and there wasn't room for everyone in the parlor.  So everyone was eating on the lawn.  Tessie her little 2 year old anounced that she needed to go to the bathroom, so Michelle walked her across the street.  there was a carousel and Tessie wanted to ride it.  Michelle said, we need to go to the bathroom and after we get through eating we will come back and ride the carousel.  So she took Tessie back across the street to the parlor, everyone finished their lunch.  Michelle was nursing her baby when her oldest daughter anounced to was time to go ride on the carousel.  Tessie took off running.  Everyone was screaming,  Tessie stop!!!! She wouldn't stop, everyone was shaking.  Michelle yelled at her oldest daughter to run after her.  It was to late and her daughter turned back to her mother.  Suddenly her sister in law grabbed Tessie.  Michelle went running to her and said,  Thank-you for saving my daughters life.  Everyone knew she had been hit.  She went right between two cars so there is no way anyone driving could see her.  A car swerved to miss her but the other one was right there.   Michelle said she knew Tessie was dead.  She knew that someone was there an stopped her from being hit.  It was a miracle and her life was spared.   Miracles happen every day in our lives, and I am so grateful that little Tessies life was saved. It was certainly a big blessing in all of our lives.