Cloverne Allred

Taken in 1968

One of the great blessings of our children getting married was getting four more amazing children to call our own.  The additional blessing was we got new friends who raised those amazing children.  When Cathy told me that her mom passed away this morning I remembered how they welcomed us into their home and made us feel like family immediately.  She was a family history expert and her love of being a temple worker was inspiring.  Cloverne had cancer for a number of years and in spite of that she was always positive and encouraging in her approach to life.  She will be missed but how wonderful for us  to know that she is again in the arms of her sweetheart.  Could we ask for anything more?

Graduation Day!

Thanks to some creative decisions from South High School, Miriam participated in a graduation ceremony.  The students were wearing masks and doing social distancing.  The audience was limited to two guests per graduate and the graduation was live-streamed so I had the privilege of watching the program.  It reminded me of being in New Hampshire and watching Owen's graduation from the same high school just four years ago.  I'd like to share with you some of the achievements of Miriam that she should be very proud of.  I want her to know that I an very proud and not a bit surprised by her excellent academic record.  Along with receiving a $32,000 scholarship to Manhattan College she also was recognized for earning the AP Scholar with Distinction award, The President Scholars Award Nominee, Academic All State Silver Team award, and the Presidential Education Gold award in excellence.  You are amazing Miriam.  I look forward to see what is ahead for you.  I'm sure it will be awesome!

Next Chapter

Tomorrow I give the keys back to the property management person and I begin a new chapter in my life.  It was bittersweet when I thought of the time we spent there and remembering that this was the last place we lived before Grandpa passed away.  I am sometimes so sad to think he is gone but then I have to remember how hard his life had become and how much better he is now.  Uncle Christian and Aunt Amy have welcomed me into their home with open arms and I have to admit that I am loving people around to talk to.  I actually like not having a TV to watch!  For now everything is in storage and I love the playroom turned Grandma's room.  I feel very content for the time being!

The storage unit was full to the brim!

Dresser and bed to the left and chair and desk set to the right

Miriam's Graduation is Coming!

Most likely to be a crazy cat person

Quietest Person

For Miriam's graduation these were the three superlatives that were given to describe her by the senior class.  Aunt Becky said that they know her too well!  They asked her to take pictures reflecting the three things they mentioned about her!

Most likely to graduate with Honors

Grandpa's Legacy

I wanted to share the eulogy that Uncle Andy gave at the graveside service for Grandpa.  I think he captured the essence of Grandpa who made a wonderful difference in our lives.

"As I was thinking about how to structure the thoughts I was going to share today I kept remembering the scriptural edict found in the ten commandments and re emphasized by Jesus during his ministry: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

I was left considering how we should show that honor not just during the lives of our parents but continuing on as a legacy to them. So I thought about what legacy Dad has left and what he might have wanted from us as expressions of honor.

Dad took as his standard a faith in Jesus Christ and a desire to follow his gospel. All of his efforts during his life were filtered through that perspective. Since his mission in Switzerland that started his adult life to his mission in New Hampshire that completed his earthly labors he strived to live the gospel as he understood it. His legacy started with those he served with and taught.

The next significant part of his legacy was his education. Dad always valued education and worked hard at obtaining his education which continued to getting his masters degree. He also continued to learn throughout his life. He was always with a book and went back to school while he worked on getting his teaching certificate. His value of education passed to his children and he also worked hard to ensure each of his children had an education as well. His efforts paid off as all of his children honored his value by earning college degrees.

The next important part of Dad's life was when he met Mom. He became a husband and father which I think was his highest priority and greatest legacy.

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World it says, "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. Dad always strived and hoped to be a good husband and father. His children all saw his example and each of his children followed his legacy by becoming husbands or wives and parents who, like him strive and hope to be good spouses and parents. I think it is safe to say that when held to account for his charge to raise his children in righteousness he will be found worthy.

One of Dad's greatest legacies was the example of love and honor that he demonstrated to Mom. This legacy was shown in his quiet example and his tender expressions of love. This example was so poweful, in a quiet way, that all of his children absorbed it to their cores and show their own love and honor to their spouses in their every day lives.

The next part of Dads life was all the years of just regular living. He spent his time working at his jobs, working at church, working at home and occasionally he consented to a little leisure. His legacy of work has been passed on to his children who like him all work, both inside and outside of the home to provide for their families. He spent most of his free time on behalf of others. I remember going along with him and I know Bill and Ben did too as he visited home teaching families for hours long visits to lonely seniors while we tried to be patient and fended off overly attentive dogs. I remember when Granddad would be fixing the car while visiting us and Dad would be out in the garage with him trying to be helpful and trying to avoid the wrath that frequently arose in those fraught interactions. But he persisted and when Granddad was helping us build on our living room expansion at the house on Apple Creek he was there every day following Granddad's direction and together they built that room. One of dads big contributions to that effort was the great big bookshelf along the entire north wall. Dad liked woodworking projects and that bookshelf was probably the most substantial woodworking project he undertook. And that seems appropriate since he valued books so highly. Dad was always reading something and his Christmas gifts usually consisted of a few books. I remember him reading to Amy in her room each night before bed. Les Misérables is the one I remember best but I know there were others. His love of reading is a other legacy that he has passed on to all four of his children. And his reading didn't stop with his children. All of his grandchildren who came to visit would eventually end up in the playroom with Grandpa reading to them. That legacy continues for another generation. And whenever the grandkids would visit Grandpa would be crawling on the ground playing dogs with them or building blocks are driving toy cars. He really did get down on the ground with them and engaged with them. I believe when he was a teacher that he was that way with his students as well.

Dad worked hard his whole life. If he was home he was working hard fixing sprinkler systems for the vast majority of that time but in between he was mowing or planting and maintaining our annual obedience garden. Occasionally though he scheduled in some leisure. Frequently this was a family road trip. We visited family often and Utah a lot. We usually made it to the beach each year but some of the other memorable trips include going to San Diego and San Francisco. Those trips exposed us to restaurants and attractions that seemed to be on the cultural side. Museums, old town San Diego and the Mormon Battalion Museum. Those vacations helped us to share in his appreciation of cultures and other people. And a little terror at his sometimes crazy driving. And he also spent time one on one encouraging us at our pursuits. I remember I got a book about bird watching locations on Southern California and him taking me to many of those places and we would go together to walk around trying to learn what birds were there. I know he tried to support the interest of others of you as well. When he spent his leisure time on himself he did puzzles or books of crosswords or other similar pursuits. His interest in those kinds of leisure have been passed on to all of his children and their children. He also had a great interest in baseball and watching sports on TV and that legacy has been passed on to... well to Ben at least. But also many of his grandchildren. I remember once from my childhood an experience when the movie Airplane came on TV (edited for TV I should probably clarify) and Dad and I and at least one of my siblings but maybe others were up late watching it and laughing and laughing at the absurdity late into the night after Mom had gone to bed. I think he was an influence on the legacy of the unique Duncan sense of humor.

Of all the things I think Dad would like to feel was his legacy one thing stands out. He always had his scriptures on the table by his bed. He would read the scriptures at night and he would write in his journal. And every time at general conference he would take pages of notes in his tiny, hard to decipher scrawl. He felt there was value in the truths contained in the scriptures and the example he set has passed on a legacy of faith to his children and grandchildren all of whom value their religious commitments and study of the scriptures.

So he has maintained or created many legacies. And lately I have been thinking about how we honor him and those legacies he has established in the culture of our family. I think that when we do things with our children like he did for us we honor him. When we go on family trips, when we read scriptures together, when we laugh at silly movies together, when we love our spouses, when we do the good things he did, we honor him. I have seen the lives of Dad's children and grandchildren and feel we are living our lives in a way that honors him and his legacies. Our challenge going forward is to remember the source of our legacy. We need now to find ways to consider his life. Remember who he was and impress on our children the legacies that he was the source of and help our children know his part in that legacy.  

A Treasure

In sorting through various materials in my closet I came upon some envelopes in one of the boxes.  In them I found a number of treasures.  Old report cards from when I was in elementary school, the original telegram that was sent to my dad telling him that your great Uncle Bill was born.  A number of pictures of my parents I had never seen before.  I also found three pictures that I thought would be interesting to those of you who have gone with me to South Mountain.  I wanted them to see what your Great Granddad did when he worked with the CCCs (Civilian Conservation Corp).  I had seen the one with me and my Granddad Lambert but not the three here.  Meg, Uncle Andy and Uncle Ben can tell you it looks much different than it did when it was first developed. 

(L to R) My dad, me, my mom, and my Grandad

(L to R) My dad and my grandfather, Marion Franklin Lambert

To the right is me up on my dad's shoulder!

Happy Birthday Becky!

Happy Mother's Day Mom

My mother was truly an incredible woman.  She married at 17, had her first child a year later and sent her husband off to war.  She kept our family together through thick and thin and actually did it with a smile.  She was a friend to everyone and supported her children.  She was the buffer in our family who gave balance to our lives even in the most difficult times.  She was an incredible woman and sadly I didn't realize how special she was until I had children of my own.

           Happy Mother's Day Mom.  

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm not sure why I was blessed to be tutored by some of the most amazing mothers but I was.  I wish I would have had their insight, patience, love, abilities, and examples when I was raising my children.  Cathy, Angela, Becky and Amy I want you each to know that I have watched in awe as you have raised my amazing grandchildren.  They can easily say "I know a name a glorious name, dearer than any other...it is the name of mother."  Your commitment to each of your children has been a labor of love that has reaped a beautiful garden of amazing children who can each achieve so much because of the love and belief that their mothers had for them.  Happy Mother's Day ladies--you truly are the best of the best!

Goodbye...Again!

It was hard to say goodbye to Lincoln four months ago.  Today it was deja vu all over again.   Same place--different destination.  Let the adventures begin!  Keep your fingers crossed that he has a great new companion!

Owen's Graduation

If a nasty virus hadn't turned the world upside down, Owen would have been dressed in a cap and gown today and would have received his much deserved diploma from Concordia University.  Never to let a great moment go to waste a mini celebration was held for those students who would have graduated today.  In August they will have a formal graduation ceremony and I will share that with you then  In the meantime, let's give a shout out to Owen for leading the way in graduating from college.  In the Fall he will head back to school in Missouri to earn his Seminary degree.

Summa Cum Laude!

Aunt Becky wrote, "We are so proud of Owen.  The school held a worship service and then an award ceremony for the graduates.  The school is still intending to have a commencement ceremony in August but it was nice to have a type of closure and recognition.  The school had sent the yard signs out, I really appreciated them.  Next step is seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.  He's already been accepted and is looking forward to next fall."