Frankie

Frank the cat passed away today, November 4, 2011, after a long and happy life with the Stone family. He came to us in Laramie, Wyoming, from neighbors who wanted to give him a good home. Frank and the Stone family were a perfect fit. We think he lived to be 12 or 13 years old. He will be remembered as being a very smart, affectionate cat. He would communicate with his voice in two syllable bursts that sounded more like words than cat meows. He loved to hunt prairie dogs and mice. He loved to play with cat toys and balls. He would chase and jump and bat them with his paws. He and his adopted brother, Oreo, loved to rumble and hiss at each other. They loved to chase and pounce and pretend to bite. Frank gave Oreo a final hiss today as if to say, "Be tough little brother--don't be sad." Frank's best attribute was his love for his people. He was just part of the family. He loved to snuggle in the warm laps of Jean, Michelle, and especially Emily. He and Emily had a special connection: a bond of love that best friends enjoy. He was known to all who loved him as "Frankie." He will be greatly missed, but always have a special place in our hearts.

Lauryn Brooke Stone

Our new grand daughter arrived April 22nd 2011 on Good Friday. Hayley and Eric went to the hospital that morning and things got started with the doctor about 10:30 a.m.. Twelve hours later Lauryn Brooke was born. Thirty seconds later, Jean, Emily, and I entered the maternity waiting room and were greeted by Cory Duckworth, Hayley's dad, who told us the baby was just born! She and Hayley snuggled "skin to skin" for about 45 minutes then we got our first peek at her. Her eyes were wide open and she was adorable with deep blue eyes and curly, light brown hair. Her cute little nose and mouth resembled her mother and her ears and eyes resembled her father. As I write this, Lauryn is getting the blue light treatment for a little jaundice. She is scheduled to leave with her parents some time this evening. What an amazing Easter gift to the Stone and Duckworth families!

Room #36

Recently, my brothers and I took a trip to Yellowstone. We picked a very rainy day making it almost impossible to fish. After a soggy day, we finally arrived at our motel in West Yellowstone at about 9:30 p.m. We had stayed at this motel 2 years earlier and kind of knew our way around. So, after checking in and getting our room (#36) key, we went back to our car to get our bags and then climbed up the stairs to the room. From our previous stay, we knew our room was upstairs and our host had said #36 was the last room on the end. At the top of the stairs, turning left, we came to room #40. Room #39 came next. After that: room #38. Then we came to room #37. But, alas, the next door had no # posted on the door, but it had to be #36 since it was the last room in the hall. I tried the key and sure enough the door opened. When we turned on the light we entered a very strange motel room. It had a large living room with several couches, a TV, a stove, and a refrigerator. Checking the bedroom, which was separated by a door, we found only one bed! Dang, one bed for 3 very tired travelers. "Oh well," we said, "she must have had to give us the left overs." We looked in the bedroom closet for extra bedding but only found torn, soiled, stained sheets, and an old bed spread. "Oh well," we said, "I guess it will have to do." So, Dave took the bed, Dan took the couch, and I took the floor. Dave and Dan took a shower before we retired but I was too tired from driving all day. We all went to sleep but were roused about 2:00 a.m. by a phone ringing. Dave and Dan thought it was my phone, but I knew it wasn't because my phone was dead. I figured it was one of their phones so I didn't worry about answering it. We went back to sleep but were awakened again at about 4:00 a.m. by a door opening and closing. Dan and I just thought it was Dave getting up to go to the bathroom. Dave figured it was one of us. At 6:00 a.m. Dan was sitting up reading when the door to our room opened and a slightly perturbed white haired fellow poked his head in and asked what the heck we were doing in his room! He went on to tell Dan that he was the maintenance man and stayed in the room from time to time. Dan asked why our room key worked and he said that he just left his room open since he didn't keep any personal stuff there. (There was no food in the fridge, no clothes in the drawers, no shaving kit, etc., which would have given us a clue that someone stayed there.) He also told Dan that our room was at the end of the hall just below his room but on the 1st floor. If we had gone down the stairs and looked, we would have seen it. So we gathered up our stuff, folded the soiled and torn sheets and bedspread, and high-tailed it down to room#36 where we found two queen sized beds and a sofa bed waiting patiently for us to arrive. Well, we didn't sleep in the beds, but I took a shower. Before we left, I decided to go talk to the motel owner to see if she had heard what had happened. She had. I apologized but she just said, "Did you really think I would put you in a room with one bed and no clean linen? Why didn't you call and check with me when you saw the room? What were you thinking?" I apologized and took responsibility. "It was our fault," I said.
"Yes, it surely was!" she agreed. "Please don't hold this against Mark and Halli. We are the 3 stooges not them." I saw a little smile on her lips when I turned to go. I felt the wind from the disgusted shake of her head as I went through the door of shame back to the car.

Jean's baptism

I thought you'd like to read the account of Jean's baptism from my journal: "Monday, November 24, 1975. Saturday morning has got to be the most wonderful experience of my whole life. I got there early about a half hour and the baptismal fount was full. I found the janitor and he turned off the water and gave me some paper to make a sign. I took it over to the other stake center so nobody would go to the wrong place. It was a very crisp and clear day and the tape wouldn't stick and the sign was holding by one corner when I drove back to the North Stake Center. Jean was there and we talked for a minute. My parents were the first to arrive with Larry, Danni, and the two kids, Matt and Brandon. But many more soon came. Jean's Dad, Clark, Holly Seeholzer and mom, Roger Wilson, Ned Nelson, Bryon Anderson, John and Barbara Bennion, Bill Emmett, Kristy Larsen, Bruce Jensen, Jay Haws, Brad Sorenson, Mike Egan, Diane Galbraith, Sue Brown, and many others.
"The program was Brother Tingey, conducting; opening prayer: Kristy Larsen; talk by Holly Seeholzer, who told about Jean and their experiences in California and about their close friendship. She did such a good job. Then Paul Thurston gave a good talk about taking time for God and how Jean had taken time for God. Then Brother Tingey added some choice remarks about baptism and the Holy Ghost.
"Then Lynn Broadbent and Deb Olsen sang two very special songs: By my Side and God's Love, Pass it On.
"Jean looked so pure and glowing in her white dress the missionaries supplied. We sat together before the baptism. Jean's excitement was pretty evident. Her eyes were bright and a little extra shiny. Tears came a little when the talks were given and the music played. Then we went down into the water and I whispered to Jean and she seemed relaxed.
"The words of the prayer of baptism are so simple--yet so very sacred. Jean went down completely under the water and back up. Those watching chuckled as they would to see a new born babe gasp for new air--the breath of life--Jean was born again by water. I signaled the OK sign to the people after Jean went up out of the water into the dressing room. They chuckled humbly--a prayer of thanks.
"A few minutes passed. We both dressed and I was a little quicker than Jean. She came out and chair was placed in the front of the room. All of Jean's friends that were there joined the circle. I remember President Baird, Roger Wilson, Brad Sorenson, Jay Haws, and others.
"I remembered the words just before placing my hands on Jean's head and my knees shook just a little.
"Jean Marie White, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold, we lay our hands upon your head and confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and say unto you--receive the Holy Ghost.
"The prayer that followed mentioned Jean being cheerful and an example to others. I'm sure Jean remembers the words.
"The testimony meeting that followed was the climax. Roger Wilson (my high school coach and friend of Jean and I) started the testimony meeting. He said some nice things about the growth he had seen in both Jean and I. Deb Dance added her sweet testimony and it was nice to have her stand because she and Jean were good friends. She expressed that this was something she had always hoped for. Deb's baby was 12 days old.
"When I stood up and looked around there wasn't a dry eye to be seen. Everyone was so full of love for our sweet friend, Jean Marie White. I found it hard to keep from letting the tears go when I saw Mr. White's strong face show emotions.
"Soon, Jeannie sprung to her feet and bursting with love and excitement, bore the most wonderful testimony I've ever heard. She said, 'I know I'm doing the right things and I know this is the true church.' The meeting ended with Ken Tingey, the man conducting, quoting chapter 4 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Diane Galbraith gave a wonderful closing prayer.
"Everybody stayed around and hugged each other for a while after the baptism. Lare took our picture together. It was such a crisp, cold, clear, beautiful day.
"That afternoon, Jean and I packed a couple of sandwiches and headed for Blacksmith Fork Canyon. We realized that we were meant for each other and we talked about getting married. It was a most sacred and wonderful afternoon. We spent some time by the old family fishing hole.
"I think this was the most wonderful day in both of our lives."

signing off

Dear Fellow Bloggers,
This will be my last post on this website. I thank you for tuning in. Love to all.

Frankie is back

Frank, our blue eyed cat, (named after blue eyed Frank Sinatra) has come back from the dead again. After a three day journey on his own in the neighborhood, Frank found Jean and I as we were taking a walk. Jean thought we should go home a different way (three wise men did the same thing) so we walked near the place where Emily had seen him last. Not far from there, we stopped to see another cat and as we paused to look, there was Frankie, walking toward us from who knows where. We took him home, 7 lbs of mostly bones, and started feeding him and giving him water and milk. That night and throughout the next morning he had a seizure about every 30 minutes. It was awful, so we took him in desperation to the vet. The vet wanted to do blood tests, but when he saw Frank have a seizure, he started talking about whether we were ready to say "goodbye." I wanted the doctor to give him seizure meds, but he said they take a month to start working. We settled on valium given in pill form for a week to see if we could calm Frank down and help him rest. Jean went to Smith's pharmacy where she found out there is another Frank Stone living in American Fork (no relation to me or Frankie). Frank has responded to the pills by resting and not having any more seizures. Little miracles are the best!

turn, turn, turn

The kid I kicked out of seminary, his parents, and I met on Monday afternoon. The kid had done a complete turn around. He promised to make a positive difference in class--and a day later--he came through on his promise. It was a miracle; a softening of the heart by God and a affirmation of the Atonement.