Traces of time...Aug 3-9, 2015

Traces of Time . . .
This week ~ August 3 to August 9, 2015 ~ in MINNESOTA and IDAHO.

August 3, 2015 - Monday
First thing, Sarah is leaving for  YW Girls' Camp...from Monday to Friday somewhere in Iowa. It's her second year for this annual adventure.

Here is the "before" photo of Josh as he is getting braces on this morning.

The next day I got this "after" photo of him with his braces.
My camera card would not download, so I put in the new camera card I had with me.  I have several photos that are still on the old camera card.

Monday was a perfect day for a picnic, so off we went to the Rochester Kutzsky Park
A nice cool afternoon in August in the mid-west--very rare in this hot-humid climate!

Jen picked up Dr. Brewer from the Mayo Clinic.
All too soon it was time for Jerry to go back to his afternoon appointments and work.

We stayed in the park while Jen drove Jerry back because the kids were having so much fun on the playground equipment.
Then it was time for the rest of us to go back home.
Grandma Sue took this photo.

Then I took this one with her in it.  And I didn't get one on my camera with me in it.

For family home evening Jerry told a story about a young boy who went to his friend's house to play.  The friend got out his father's gun to show the boy. It accidentally went off and the boy was shot through the chest, paralyzing him from the chest down.
In spite of this handicap, the young man got a college degree and had a successful life.
    Jerry pointed out three morals to this story.
    1. Don't go to places that you know are dangerous.
         (The boy didn't know there would be danger in his
            friend's home, but sometimes we do know ahead
            that a place can be dangerous.)
    2. When you realize that you are in a dangerous place,
         leave immediately.
    3. Even though the boy was paralyzed by this tragic accident, he went on with his life to accomplish great things.
     Joshua did a good job of conducting.
       We all missed Sarah being there. We hoped she was having a good time at YW Girls' Camp.


August 4, 2015 - Tuesday
  We went with Jen to take Josh and Lizzy to their swim lesson at the YMCA.

Then we went outside for Jen to teach a gardening session to 100 kids at the YMCA Kids' Camp.
 (Those photos of these cute kids picking onions, broccoli, and basil from the garden on on the non-functioning camera card.)

Walt called David Gibbons to get Ruth Melling's cell phone number because he called several times yesterday and it wasn't going through.  He found out he did have the wrong number written down

When Walt called Ruth this morning at 9:30, she told him the sad news that Don had passed away thirty minutes before.

We have lost a great man -- our friend and neighbor:

Don Ray Melling

March 8, 1935 to August 4, 2015

Age 80, 4 months and 27 days.

DON and RUTH MELLING

TOGETHER FOREVER

DON and RUTH MELLING'S CHILDREN

John, Kirt, JaNaé, Scott, Kaye, and David.
The order of their birth: 
Kaye, David, Scott, Kirt, JaNaé, John.

One more of Don and Ruth in their younger days...

One more of Don in his sorting and penning days...

And one of him in his Levi's with his orange hat.

Jen had a fun surprise when her book came "hot off the press" that she has just had published: We Are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father --  Striving to Live the Young Women Values.

This is her fourth published book, and she is an excited author!  I think she said it will be available on Amazon August 11.

Tuesday evening we sat on the front porch, watching the kids play outside, while the mini-meat loaves were cooking, and waiting till Jerry got home at 7:00 p.m. to have supper.

Adam and Anna played on the front sidewalk and lawn.

As Walt watched Ben make some baskets alone he thought: "All that scenario needs is his Dad to be playing with him."
Just then Jerry drove up, and after he greeted us, he went over to play basketball with his son.
"Now it's complete," said Walt.

After supper, we listened to Jen reading bedtime stories to Lizzy. Adam had fallen asleep as supper started, but the day before when Jen read their new book "There was an old lady...who swallowed a fly... when it ended with "There was an old lady who swallowed a horse.  She died, of course!"
Adam exclaimed in total surprise: "She died?!"

August 5, 2015 - Wednesday

 We got up at 2:30 to be ready to leave at 3:15. Jen drove us to the Minneapolis Airport, where we arrived at 4:45.

Jen took our two big suitcases in, then arranged for someone to get Walt a wheelchair.  We made it to our Gate with about 25 minutes until they began to board.

When we landed in Denver and they got us over to Gate A-38, they began to board that very moment. Close connection!
 We landed at 9:31 in SLC, 3 minutes ahead of schedule.
Julie and John had driven our car up to long-term parking the night before and Steve picked us up at Passenger Stop #4 and took us and our luggage over to our car.
   Then we had breakfast and lunch with Steve = Steve and I ordered breakfast and Walt ordered lunch.
    The Village Inn in north Salt Lake has "free pie day every Wednesday" so we also had a piece of pie.

    We appreciated everyone's help in getting us to and from the airports for this delightful week we had with the Brewers in Rochester, Minnesota.

I drove from north Salt Lake to Tremonton where we needed to get gas. Then Walt drove from there to 15 miles before home.  His shoulders had started to ache--which they always do after he drives awhile--so I talked him into letting me drive on in.

We stopped at the Idaho border and Walt got a photo of me.

"It's awful nice to go travelin' but it's also nice to get back home."  We pulled in to our driveway about 3:15.

We cried when we drove by Melling's home before we turned the corner to our home, just one home--Tom and Irene Blayney-- in between theirs and ours.  We've been neighbors for 43 years.
    It just doesn't seem real yet that Don will not be there anymore.

We went right over without unloading anything to give Ruth and the Melling family our condolences but just Marielle (John's wife) was there with their three children.  She told us that all the others had gone to make the final arrangements at Rasmussen's Funeral Home, then pick out the flowers for the casket, and then go eat.

We went over in the evening to see them.  Also Bishop Steve and Sister Michelle Gerratt came, along with Steve Ormond.
John liked the idea of getting a photo of everyone.

     
Today was their 55th wedding anniversary.

  They shared with us how Don was in such agony before the pain medicine was given to him and how miserable he had been.  After his passing on Tuesday morning, Ruth said he had a very serene and peaceful countenance.  He was out of pain and at peace.
   They have calmness knowing this is just a "temporary separation" as JaNaé said, and that they will be reunited for the eternities.

August 6, 2015 - Thursday
  Walt had a medical appointment in Twin Falls, so we went early and did a session at the temple.
Here's a photo of the temple by Joe Larsen from the air. 

Our beautiful Twin Falls Temple that 

was dedicated on August 24, 2008.

Walt had an appointment with a cardiologist in Dr. Harris' office who was out of town. Troy Badger, an Interventionist Cardiologist, checked Walt because he has been having a slow heart beat--down to 40 bpm--off and on since last Sunday.  The EKG was normal.  Walt will have a Holter monitor put on next Tuesday to have a 48-hour count of his heart beat.
We were very impressed with this new cardiologist who has recently moved to Twin Falls to practice.

Then we enjoyed supper with Dale and Connie at the Sizzler.

Connie took one for me to be in the photo.

August 7, 2015 - Friday

Did family history this morning with Kathleen Hedberg, our ward and stake familysearch leader helping us.

Had a Friday night movie of "Ah, Wilderness," with Mickey Rooney and Gloria DeHavelan. 
I didn't take any photos today.

August 8, 2015 - Saturday
 Watched a couple of historical TCM movies about the white abolitionist John Brown.  It was interesting to learn about this person who was trying to free slaves before the Civil War started.

We did some grocery shopping after a couple of weeks of not going to the store.
I baked some bread and we took it over to Mellings.  It was great to see Scott who had just flown in from Poland.
I also made some stew.

The only photo I took today was of Ron Bench and his wife as we left Mellings they were just coming.  He's the one who built the beautiful ramp for Don's wheelchair.

We had some stew and bread as we watched the Lawrence Welk Show, then called it a day.

August 9, 2015 - Sunday

  About

Happy Birthday to our daughter-in-law, Michelle Swan Petersen today.  The "40" milestone one.  Now all of our children and their spouses have reached their 40's.  Does that make us old or what!?.
Michelle, on the right, with her sister, Nicole in the #9 shirt.
They are both beautiful!

Here's Brian with Emma, Taylor, and Avery when we visited them in Tennessee Sept. 2012.

Here's Michelle with their youngest daughter, Lizzy, who is 4.
We wish her a very "Happy Birthday" on this milestone day.

We had a great serendipity this morning! Lorna and Carl Coombs came to see us.  They are here this weekend for Carl's 40th Burley High School Class Reunion. (I told him it couldn't have been 40 years since he graduated!)

Lorna helped us so much when our children were growing up.  We will love her forever.  And we love her husband and family.  We can hardly believe that they have 8 grandchildren now!

It was good to see all of Don and Ruth Melling's children in Sacrament Meeting this morning. Ruth was home taking care of John and Marielle's baby who had two swollen shut eyes with pink eye.  
I didn't get a photo of any of them.
Don's well-written obituary was in the Times News today.
We had a fun chuckle over the line: ""While Don loved to fish, his greatest catch was Ruth Olsen, whom he met and married while attending Utah State University."

We had a jolt when it was announced that Bonnie Fronk was being released as the Gospel Doctrine teacher.  In class she said when she was called in and told she was being released she said: "Oh, no, no, no," but added, "I know when I am called to something new, I will grow."  She will be a Relief Society teacher and coordinator of the Relief Society meetings.  
We have loved her as our Gospel Doctrine Teacher! 
Today from Lesson #29 "The Number of the Disciples Was Multiplied" that just as the Church in the early days increased its leadership with seven men ordained to supervise the temporal work of the Church, in our latter-day restored Church as we have grown "the Church leaders have added Quorums of the Seventy to eight and organized the Church into areas presided over by Area Presidencies."  The Lord is in charge, always. 
Thank you, Sister Fronk. We will cherish always your time as our teacher.

We had a good 3-hour Church block from 10:50 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

When we got home, Kaye Melling (Benham) called to borrow some cottage cheese.  I don't often have cottage cheese--since Walt doesn't like it (because his Grampa Bide said it was curdled milk).
But yesterday, when grocery shopping, even tho it wasn't on my list, when I saw it, I decided to buy some.

When Scott came to pick it up, I forgot to tell him that they didn't need to worry about returning any of it, they have enough going on this week.  So glad we had it to share with them!

From 3:30 to 4:30 on Sunday afternoons, we are teaching a darling couple Temple Preparation lessons.  We love learning together with them all the blessings of receiving our endowment and being sealed by the restored Holy Priesthood Temple Ordinances.

We enjoyed the stew and homemade bread again today for dinner.

After dinner we had a short Sunday nap, then I have been working on the blog.  Bishop Garrett called about 9:45 to see if it was too late for him to come by.  He has two Sisters for us to teach the Temple Preparation lessons to.
We appreciate all our bishop does for all of us.  No one knows the hours they put in for all the members of the ward.
Reminds me of the quote: "He didn't say it would be easy.  He said it would be worth it."

We pray you have had a peaceful and restful Sabbath Day.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 when, as a 14-year-old boy, he prayed to ask "Which Church is the true Church?"  He was surprised when he was told: "None of them."

He was showed where ancient golden plates had been buried by the Prophet Moroni which was a record of his people and another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Read the Book of Mormon -- it will change your life for the better and result in priesthood blessings that will give you eternal happiness.

Of this we testify on this Sunday, August 9, 2015.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.  
Walt and Eileen Petersen - Burley, I D A H O

Attached is the Obituary of our neighbor and friend -- from The Twin Falls, Idaho Times News:
Dr. Don Ray Melling --  young

Recent photo -- this is how we remember Don.

Dr. Don Ray Melling

March 8, 1935-August 4, 2015

BURLEY | Don Ray Melling, age 80, of Burley, passed away Aug. 4, 2015, at his home, surrounded by family.

Don was born March 8, 1935, in Cedar City, Utah, to Lucy Genevieve Dover and Joseph Raymond Melling. He was the youngest of three children. As a child, Don spent every summer at the Melling Ranch on Cedar Mountain. These childhood experiences began his lifelong love for horses, cows, and the outdoors. He cried every fall when he had to come home to start school. Don was an outstanding athlete at Cedar High School and College of Southern Utah (now SUU) where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Southwest Indian Mission where he served and loved the Navajo and Hopi people. He accepted an extension to his two-year mission at the request of his mission president.

After his mission, Don transferred to Utah State University where he majored in Biology and also received his masters degree in education administration. While Don loved to fish, his greatest catch was Ruth Olsen, whom he met and married while attending USU. They were married Aug. 5, 1960, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. They moved to Boulder City, Nev., where they both taught school. After the arrival of three children and teaching and coaching for seven years, Don decided to go back to school to become a dentist. Don and Ruth moved to Iowa City where he attended the University of Iowa Dental School, graduating in 1972. He then brought his family to Burley, Idaho, and started his dental practice. He practiced dentistry for 26 years while also enjoying his farm, black Angus cattle, and horses. He loved hunting, fishing, and ranch sorting. He loved his wife and six children dearly and supported them in every way.

As a life-long member of the Church, Don served in many capacities, including stake athletic director, high councilor, and bishop. He and Ruth served a proselyting and temple mission to Birmingham, England, for one-and-a-half years, where Don also served as a counselor to the England MTC mission president. While in England, Don began researching the English Mellings, beginning his love for and dedication to family history work. He and Ruth loved serving in the Twin Falls Temple.

Don was a friend to all. He never said a bad word about anyone and was a man without guile. One of Dons greatest traits was that he loved and accepted everyone unconditionally. Don humbly went about doing good. His many acts of quiet charity were truly an example of the Savior's charge to, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." He was a great example to all of those whose lives he touched.

Don is survived by his wife, Ruth; six children, Kaye (Brady) Benham of St. George, Utah, David (Kim) Melling of Spanish Fork, Utah, Scott (Kristen) Melling of Ft. Sill, Okla., Kirt (Lezlie) Melling of Lehi, Utah, JaNa (Steve) Black of Tampa, Fla., and John (Marielle) Melling of Chicago, Ill.; 29 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his sister-in-law, Mary Lou Melling. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert; sister, Jane L Imlay; and brother-in-law, Derol Imlay.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Burley LDS 3rd and 7th Ward Church, 2200 Oakley Ave., in Burley, with Bishop Steven Gerratt officiating.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at the Cedar City Cemetery in Cedar City, Utah.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.

The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the many neighbors and friends who have shown love and compassion.

Copyright 2015 Twin Falls Times