Time Experience Thoughts

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...

[ A poem written for my Mother’s 75th birthday.] We all yearn for, discover over and over again, and live in and deeply feel the love of our mothers. And those who have mothered us. Today, this poem is offered to all the mothers out there, birth and otherwise -- those who yearn to be mothers, who will be, and those who may never be… We love you all -- and your heart. Sure: Our Mother’s Love (Nothing Wavering) Gentle words Washing over us Since before we can remember Loving heart Entwining with ours Every minute we’re together Acceptance Without condition Effortlessly felt in our soul Genuine Impulses of love Constantly, gently make us whole The Fullness Of this pure sweet love Penetrates to our very core Filling us With such perfect peace Forever never wanting more Scott L. Vanatter, 11-12 March 2008 http://scottvanatter.blogspot.com/2008/03/sure-our-mothers-love-nothing-wavering.html

One Waiting, longing,   Searching for that one. Finding, discovering,   Yearning to become. Seeing, loving,   Becoming at last One. Scott L. Vanatter, 1 October 2010 (Poem in honor of Mike and Sydney. What a wonderful, special, beautiful couple.)

MY ONE TRUE LOVE With such comfort as time lends, With such longing as hopes yield, With such love as tears reveal -- Hear now our Hope and Desire. As great and precious promises anchor our souls, As eternal ties bind us, As experiences knit us together -- Grant us true Companionship. Being strengthened in struggles, Being tried in trials of faith and will, Being refined in furnaces of affliction -- Help us Overcome all. Together learning through love, Together stretching through service, Together growing through giving -- Make us Instruments in thine Hand. How we worship thee, How we understand thee, How we commune with thee -- So reveal thyself, thy True Nature. With experience we truly know thy character, With yearning we find our true selves, With true love we see our destiny. -- Wrap us in the everlasting arms of Thy Love. Scott L. Vanatter, 24 December 2000 (Christmas Poem for Becky, my Love)

Our days become decades, Our years, eternities, Our minds and heart ever more one. Your smile becomes my beacon, Your love, my very life. Your deepest soul enlivens me. Our eyes and our lives, even more closely united, Your face, even more the sight I yearn to see. Your soul touches mine at the very moment I want to feel . . . As now and throughout all eternity. Scott L. Vanatter, 20 July 2004 (Poem written for Becky's 50th birthday.)

Gentle words Washing over us Since before we can remember Loving heart Entwining with ours Every minute we’re together Acceptance Without condition Effortlessly felt in our soul Genuine Impulses of love Constantly, gently make us whole The Fullness Of this pure sweet love Penetrates to our very core Filling us With such perfect peace Forever never wanting more Scott L. Vanatter, 11-12 March 2008 (Poem for Mom, late for birthday 74, early for birthday 75)

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...

Christmas 1967. Becky is all elbows and sharp angles. I have hair. (We were 13 years old. I was about to turn 14.) Duarte High dance, 1969. (We were 15 years old.) Christmas Eve, 1971. (We were 17 years old.) December 1973, just before my mission. (We were 19 years old.) December 1975, just after my mission. (We were 21 years old.)

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

Shimmering stars Give way to the faint glow of a pale blue light The glowing yellow sun Bathes a crisp morning air Midday Burns bright white A warm afternoon Of orange and red The fading blue sky Turns a dark purple And late In the comforting cool of the night The light of our love ever warms us Scott Vanatter, 14 February 2007 (Poem on Valentine's Day)

(Father-Mother-Son; Man-Woman-Boy; Husband-Wife-Child) The spark lay buried; Dormant—smoldering—comforting, deep within; Waiting to jump into flame. Long hidden from view, Never really known; though almost shown By inklings, and flashes and glimpses. Anxious, now, To make it to the air, finally did it pierce through; at just the perfect, select moment; No more to be concealed. Impatient waiting, and now seeing, The flame grows into an enduring, Eternal light; Capable of sparking others. The burning, now, Creates life on its own; now sees the full light of day. This “burning” Sets on fire the souls that now perceive; and comes together as One; Over altars, and glances, and (kind) words, and gentle (forgiving) hearts. Wiggling and vibrating Long, and strong, and sure; echoing again and again new found freedom. The Child Comes in an instant to Father and Mother, Who seek to erase any pain, and gain the desire to impart… all. Everything. Every good thing. Child grows old; Child grows wise;...

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...