Time Experience Thoughts

Lola Lenore Allen, September 17, 1928 - December 26, 2011 Graveside Service/Funeral for Lola Lenore Allen, Friday 3:30 p.m. Hello all, We will conclude the funeral for Becky’s mother, Lola Lenore Allen, with a Graveside Service today, Friday, December 30, 2011. The service begins at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon at Rose Hills. See address below. Rose Hills Memorial Park (Cemetery) 3888 Workman Mill Road Whittier, Calif. 90601 Thank you for all your messages of love, Scott P.S. We held her funeral on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 in Union City, CA.

Over the last two years we have fallen in love with one of the sweetest Christmas carols, The Little Drummer Boy. Last year in California we sang it with our grandsons who, in turn, sweetly sang it for my mom keeping the beat on bongos from the recreation room. This year in Kansas we all sang it again just after Thanksgiving for Scott’s mom, and her sister convalescing at home. We were asked to make a presentation at this year’s ward Christmas party. We chose to focus on this song. Last week we enjoyed a sweet spirit as two little children sang about the little drummer’s gift to the Savior. Scott added three beautiful overhead slides helping everyone visualize the scene. Interpreting the song (see below), Scott suggested we can think of ourselves as the little drummer boy. So, what is our drum? What gift of ourselves might we give this babe who grew to become the Redeemer of all mankind? It is in and through our continual gifts to Him that we, through His grace, become more like ...

See three new power words f or the boys below -- for discusssion during our week together in Kansas visiting Grandma Dot for Thanksgiving. (New words in blue.) ~ Passion Focus Honor ~ T hink, T ough H abits E xcellence A ttitude N umbers S kills W . . . E . . . R . . . I . . . S . . . L . . . O . . . V . . . E . . . . . .  

Found it! I was looking for a photo of Terry Tenove -- he was number 11, and was our quarterback and defensive back. Today being 11-11-11, I thought of him. Especially a photo of him jumping high into the air to intercept a pass (as a defensive back). I can see the number 11 on his back. Well, I never found his photo, however, I did (finally) locate this drawing of a motorcycle I did in the late 60s. It is the third in a series of three motorcyles I drew when I was a mid-teenager. On this one I actually wrote the Arlo Guthrie verse, "I don't want a pickle, just wanna ride on my motorcycle ." (Page is partially riped.)   I don't want a pickle   Just want to ride on my motorsickle   And I don't want a tickle   'Cause I'd rather ride on my motorsickle   And I don't want to die   Just want to ride on my motorcy... (See the first two motorcyles here: http://scottvanatter.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-dont-want-pickle.html )

More items found in a box in the garage today. We lived in Irvine in the 80s. Every Fourth of July there was a parade. This photo of Carrie (in a local weekly newspaper) was taken on a very hot 4th of July. You can sorta see her red face. Sydney would probably have been in a stroller this year.

Sydney's Early Art I found a box in the garage today, found some old art, papers, etc. The bottom picture Sydney drew when she was almost 4 years old in Primary in Irvine; it is a fish. A while later, before we moved to Virginia, she wrote her name in multiple colors.  

Autumn By Scott Vanatter, 1964 poem (Grade 5) Red, yellow, green leaves,   Tiny bee flying over trees,     Fall singing for me.

This Boy (Like His Brothers) By Scott L. Vanatter, September 21, 2011, poem in honor of Cade’s birthday This boy, Like his brothers, can cover a lot of Ground! We can feel that in this boy, As in his brothers, real faith and true joy Abound. This boy that follows his leaders - His mother, his father, and others - thus also Becomes One. We plainly see the shine of this boy’s deep inner smile - And all his brothers’ - which lights our way back into the bright presence of The Son.

Lest We Forget 9-11 By Scott L. Vanatter, poem written 9 September 2011 Everyday evils are often, even purposely,      Forgotten. Ultimate evil, barely even conceivable by us, rarely      Pierces the mind.      Though it is all around the world. Every day. It's tuned out.      Some other thought takes its place, any other thought.      Attack. Remember      The day, Remember      That act. Never forgetting      The surreal sight,      The first image, that second image,      Unremitting, unreal images,      Unknown questions, unformed thoughts,      Disconnected shock.           Terror, numbed fear.      The horror. The horror.  ...

President Monson in the Washington Post. [Emphasis added.]   http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/911-destruction-allowed-us-to-spiritually-rebuild/2011/09/08/gIQAbkjKCK_blog.html   9/11 destruction allowed us to spiritually rebuild By Thomas S. Monson, Posted at 11:38 AM ET, 09/08/2011, Washington Post “On Faith” The calamity of September 11th, 2001 has cast a long shadow. Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts. It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world. This week, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, along with Tom Brokaw, will pay its own homage to the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001. There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding . Comfortable times were shattered...

Power Words ~ Passion, Focus, Honor ~   T hink, T ough H abits E xcellence     A N S W E R   I S   L O V E

Cade is 11 months old. Look at him go! Love his face, love his excitement in walking (he was giggling half way through), and love him -- and his wonderful family. SO much. [When I rotated the video 90 degrees to turn it right-side up, I somehow lost the audio. I couldn't figure out how I lost it, or how to put it back in the video, but I could figure out how to put some music on top of the video. I wanted to overlay a version of "[Do] The Locomotion" but could only quickly figure out how to insert a song from the beginning. Hence, Footstompin' Music.]

By Scott L Vanatter Poem written August 8, 2011 about my friend Terry Tenove (1954-1978) Still, I think of him -- and often.   (Happily and with affinity.) Sometimes, still, my heart aches then is softened   (Subtly, I see.) His time with us, though shortened, still is not forgotten.   (Not by me.) What he could have created here, is foregone.   (But one day still may be.) Who he was here, doesn’t alone determine who he shall one day become.   (Eternally.) Smiling inside, I know he’s happy even now.   (And free.) In our future reunion all will be compensated, corrected, and perfected.   (Boldly.) No longer in our time, he is forever in God’s.   (Nobly. Still, Terry.)  

Her Heart’s Desire Poem by Scott L. Vanatter for Becky on her 57th birthday The power and clarity of her word, The strength and surety of her promise,   Shows us that she knows. The breadth and depth of her experience, The focus and extent of her knowledge,   Helps us grow as she grows. Because of . . . The light and truth that fill her mind, The yearning and warmth and conscience of her heart,   Our soul’s comfort overflows.     Basking in the shower of her love, we are whole.  # Her Heart’s Desire (2.0) Poem by Scott L. Vanatter for Becky on her 57 th birthday, alternate version. Ver. 2.0 is another take on the same ideas, only more declarative. Becky prefers the original above, as do I. ~ Her words are clear and powerful. Her promises are sure and strong.   We know she knows. Her experience is broad and deep. Her knowledge is focused and extensive.   We grow as s...

From the Newsroom at LDS.org Religion and Freedom 01 JULY 2011 — POSTED by VAL EDWARDS Freedom of religion has been, and still is, an essential moving force in the grand experiment of American democracy. Planting that principle of religious freedom in early America brought about two profound results—the rejection of a “divine right of kings” doctrine, and breaking the 1,500-year European tradition of upholding a state-established church.[1] And with that, a heritage of self government, not to mention distinctly different congregations, sprang up. Yet no one could take freedom of religion for granted. Baptists, Catholics, Jews, Mormons and others have all faced, at one time or another, overt prejudice and serious attempts to curtail their liberties (sometimes coming from fellow religionists). Yet looking back over the long narrative of American religious history and the experience gained, the principle of religious freedom is prevailing. Respecting freedom of religion has brought a...

Permanent Things: Toward an Understanding of Mormons Editorial from the Newsroom at LDS.org. Religion in America is in a state of flux. The 2008   American Religious Identification Survey   shows that the number of those who claim no religious affiliation nearly doubled from 8.2 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2008. In addition, Pew’s 2009   Faith in Flux   survey found that “about half of American adults have changed religious affiliation at least once during their lives.” A study published in 2010 entitled   American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us   maintains that in America “it seems perfectly natural to refer to one’s religion as a ‘preference’ instead of as a fixed characteristic.” CAPTION © 2011 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved In this shifting religious environment it is easy to talk of the fleeting and superficial rather than the deeper foundations of spiritual life. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day S...

How Priesthood Leaders Have Blessed Me and My Family And Helped Us Come Closer to Christ Talk by Scott Vanatter at Oakton Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting, June 11, 2011 INTRO Melchizedek priesthood leaders are taught that “…this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth . . . the key of the knowledge of God.” That “…in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.”(DC 84: 19-20) Good morning brethren. My topic is, “How Priesthood Leaders have Blessed Me and My Family -- and Helped Us Come Closer to Christ.” My family and I have been blessed by inspired words of ward and stake priesthood leaders. We’ve also been blessed by their dedicated lives – by what they do, by who they are. Their eternal perspective, and their connection with us, has created within us a lively, real world hope. This ‘hope in Christ’ provides us calm assurance that we can do it -- we can live the gospel, repent and progress and come unto Christ…. [1] ORDINANCES As impor...