Time Experience Thoughts

[ Becky wrote our Christmas letter this year. ] Greetings family and friends, Our thoughts over the last year have been enlightened by the events of the world. We sense a need for greater spiritual strength in the face of overwhelming adversity. Our Stake President recently made the observation using a line graph that the increase of evil in the world parallels the increase in the building of temples—good and evil both on the rise. I think the case can also be made that the amount of good and evil trail the breakthrough of the Information Age. Our choices in this life have never before been so vast… the choice to live a life in pursuit of an inner strength to become a person of integrity or the choice to live a life in pursuit of every carnal whim. Each would claim its victory in the pursuit of happiness, but one would give lasting joy —eternal— joy and happiness while the other gives fleeting pleasure and feeble attempts at lasting joy. “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom...

In her diligent efforts to clean out our garage, Becky moved some of my boxes of stuff (memorabilia) from one spot to another. Before being placed safely in its new spot, it got tipped over and out spilled some of my papers and art work from elementary school and junior high school. I am guessing that I drew these two pictures in the late '60s. I seem to recall that I added the song lyrics -- my own words to live by -- at a later date. Looking back we have laughed that prior to me getting religion, these two phrases made up my entire moral view of the world. My religion. On the chopper, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance." (John Lennon). And, on my version of a flat track racing motorcycle, "Whisper words of wisdom . . . let it be." (Paul McCartney) Of course, I was influenced by the times, pop (rock) music, the Beatles, etc. And, to be honest, I also drew one other picture of a motorcycle and had this third motto inscribed on it, "I don't wa...

He was Just here, But not now. Like Heavenly Father He was there when we needed him. Like Heavenly Father Many times we failed to check-in. Still, I hear him. Still, I see him. Ever, will I love him. Silently (there) he cares for us (here). Together, We said our goodbyes. Now he's in our eyes, Forever . . . Scott L. Vanatter, 13 February 2008 (Poem for my Dad, after his funeral)

Eugene Russell Vanatter Eulogy August 17, 1932 - January 16, 2008 Eulogy delivered by Scott Vanatter, his son, January 22, 2008, in Fort Scott, Kansas. REMEMBER My Mom, our dear mother Dorothy May (Lifer) Vanatter, my sisters Gina and Tracy, the entire family, including Dad’s sisters Loretta and Kathleen, and I . . . thank each one of you for joining with us this morning. Thank you for your loving expressions of care and concern. The good people here at Cheney Witt Funeral Home have offered the most kind and comforting service; our heartfelt thanks to you, Jared, and the whole staff. Tears of Sadness and Joy Today we are here to remember Eugene Russell Vanatter—“Gene” to most of you, including to our Mom . . . but Dad and “Grandpa Gene” to us. It is entirely appropriate that we shed tears of sadness—and also tears of joy—as we remember Dad. DEATH TO UNDERSTAND ETERNAL LIFE Faith whispers to us that life is eternal; that our personal existence does not end upon our death . . . we live o...

FUNERAL, ORDER OF SERVICE January 22, 2008, Fort Scott, Kansas ~ Prelude Music, Peace in the Valley (Elvis) ~ Welcome, by Rev. Jared Witt ~ Opening Song, Church in the Wildwood (The Jordonaires) ~ Opening Prayer, by Sydney Vanatter ~ Family Memory, by Carrie Motley (and Introduction of that Dad and Tracy danced to at Tracy’s wedding.) ~ Song, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground (Willy Nelson) ~ Eulogy, by Scott Vanatter ~ Song, My Way (Elvis) ~ Closing Prayer, Carrie Motley ~ Masonic Service . . . ~ Interment Prayer (U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas) # # # FOOTNOTES 1. Why We Visit (“The Vision-Place of Souls”) Many, though not all, families and friends naturally gather together at special events: graduations, weddings, reunions, etc. and, of course, births and deaths. Sometimes we all are drawn to visit the places where those special, even sacred, events took place. Sometimes long after those who were there with us have gone on. Why do we visit these sacred places? Thi...

Peace In The Valley Elvis Presley (Thomas Dorsey) Oh well, I'm tired and so weary But I must go alone Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes Well the morning's so bright And the lamp is alight And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes There will be peace in the valley for me, some day There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray There'll be no sadness, no sorrow No trouble, trouble I see There will be peace in the valley for me, for me Well the bear will be gentle And the wolves will be tame And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes And the beasts from the wild Shall be lit by a child And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes There will be peace in the valley for me, some day There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray There'll be no sadness, no sorrow No trouble, trouble I see There will be peace in the valley for me, for me # The Church in the Wildwood The Jordonaires (Words & Music...

By Dorothy Vanatter, my Mom (Poem written in 1954 about me, their new son) He coos and he talks. He laughs and he grins. He’s loved from his sox To both of his chins. His baby blue eyes – How they twinkle and glow. And, oh, when he sighs, Such contentment they show. He brings us such love As none else can do. From heaven above He was sent us, it’s true. He smiles so to say That he loves everyone. That’s our baby boy. That’s our baby son. With a little chubby hand And his tiny baby feet He’ll play in the sand With the kids ‘cross the street. What he’ll need is a pup To tag at his heels, And as he grows up, Share the love that he feels. He’ll grow up like Dad – Be big and be strong. He’ll know what is bad, He’ll know right from wrong. We’ll teach him in love The best that we can. And too soon he’ll grow up And he’ll be a man. And when he is grown In the life that before him, He’ll surely have known How much we adore him. ~ MY COMMENT: This poem by my angel Mother offers beautiful insight...

Funny video of a dad singing about putting his kids to bed (to the tune of Pachelbel's Canon in D major).

Together alone, as I watched him there asleep, I gazed deep into that angel face. Every angle, every curve, every shape… Every peek into his soul … did I trace. That first day that held him; I held him close for a while. And back and forth his eyes followed mine it seemed. I wondered. My mind wandered. It drifted upward , And then I dreamed. What will he become? Who will he be? I wonder what he sees. And then I remembered how long he’d been – Eternities, upon eternities . His father that raises and cares for and loves him -- And helps him now to grow, Has already seen and accomplished, spiritually, More than most will ever know. The glory they trail together , having come from such lofty heights -- And having lived with those Great Souls -- Will spread throughout their every shared path, And bless all those with whom they sow. What this choice son will see, and what he will become, Will largely mirror the reflection he beholds In the lens of his father’s life and eyes ; Even in ...

Jared Demke, 1957 ~ 2006 Hallelujah, All the Time Without the slightest exaggeration, I count it as one of my life’s great blessings that Jared Demke was my friend. To paraphrase Brigham Young regarding Joseph Smith, “I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew [Jared Demke].” So thankful am I for the love and perspective of thirty years of close friendship. The Things of God For more than fifteen of those recent years, my wife and I have been privileged to have Jared stay with us in our home in northern Virginia, during his usual twice-a-year business trip to the DC area. When not visiting in person Jared and I would talk on the phone -- often. Ginger related to me that one of his friends commented that talking with Jared on the phone was like going to Disneyland. I wholeheartedly agree – the printed theme on the sign outside Disneyland is “The Happiest Place on Earth.” That’s Jared. He brought prodigious amounts of happiness and shear joy -- and ligh...

Rol Allen, 1919 ~ 2005 Eternal Nature * About one hundred fifty years ago, the poet William Wordsworth began writing one of his most inspiring and insightful pieces on what he deemed a crucial idea: that of man’s eternal nature; not only that we all would continue to live on after death, but that we, each of us, came from somewhere before we were born. AND that knowing where we came from, and who we were then and who we really are now, at our very core, makes a big difference. He got the poem to a certain point, setting the stage for illustrating his main idea, but then laid it aside for a year and a half while he continued pondering the subject. He came back to it and penned these words: Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: The Soul that rises with us (our life's Star) Hath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God, who is our home: Character John Roland Allen - “...

(Links of Love in a Chain of Remembering) Looking back with love, and sweet peaceful longing, Into the long ago past, We discover anew what he did and what he saw -- And what will last. And "what will last" are gentle thoughts and warm feelings, Of all that he loved; Links that connect us all in a 'chain of remembering' - Of those that have gone 'back home' above. Grandfathers long gone, and new ones becoming, may not have met Here on this earth, But will meet once again one day in the distant future -- in a glorious reunion And look back on our birth. We'll get to know each other once again, and muse about the trials and struggles We faced. Father and son and son; we'll look back and speak of what we learned In this place. That dealing with all the struggles and all the trials and the pain And yes, some loneliness, Makes the deep burning reunion All the more glorious. Dads introducing their Sons to their Fathers that have helped to make them What they...

With Grandpa Tru and my Dad in our front yard in Duarte. That's my '55 Chevy in background. (1971) When Grandma Bert married Grandpa Tru they all ended up moving to Kansas. Dad and his sister attended a one-room schoolhouse there in Uniontown, KS. We visited there a few years ago (circa 2002) and took this picture. I picked up part of the siding/walls as a piece of family history/memorabilia. I understand this old schoolhouse was torn down sometime after our visit.