HAPE Beckstrands: Family

Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Saturday, March 23, 2013

'Yellow Canyon'

After an anniversary dinner out this week, Rob and I decided to drive down Rainbow Canyon near Caliente (Panaca has no restraunts). We had such a good time that we decided to take the whole family today. Watching for a road off the main to take, we discovered a place that we loved so much that we named it. (For the locals, the turn off is exactly 13 miles on the left after Kershaw Ryan.)

These two pictures are actually on the way out, but this is what this 'side' road looked like. After a recent adventure where Rob and the kids got stuck, we were anxious NOT to get stuck. Consequently, this well groomed road was especially important for us.

The road was narrow, but at the end of it we found room to turn around and a picnic table. Wooo hoo!

A rural 'gate' let us through to some fun hiking.

Yellow rocks='Yellow Canyon'

lots of fun hiking

More random pictures from the hike:

This place will look even better as more and more trees regain their leaves. We'll be back!!!

Who's with us???

~vbb

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A Tribute to Dad

We buried my dad today. He passed away exactly 3 months before his 90th birthday.

May 23,1923 - Feb 23, 2013

His last Sunday at church

Here's my tribute to him that I shared at his funeral today

(taken from a talk given in the 76th ward 5 years ago):

Goethe said, “Happy is he who remembers his progenitors with pride, who relates with pleasure to the listener the story of their greatness, of their deed, and, silently rejoicing, sees himself linked to the end of this goodly chain.” How blessed we all are to be linked in a chain with this great man and my father, J Howard Broderick. Strong families and communities, particularly those daily blessed by the sealing and redeeming power of the Restored Priesthood, make those links possible.

Richard Bushman, in his book Rough Stone Rolling, shows us the roots of how the Restored Gospel and Priesthood impacted my father and his influence on those around him. Though just “an obscure boy” whose “circumstances in life [were] such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world,” Joseph Smith’s impact on the ordinary man was monumental.[1] Joseph ennobled the ordinary father, and thus fatherhood, by restoring the priesthood. Bushman said, “Joseph Sr had given his son nothing for a worldly inheritance, and Joseph Jr. had met this lack by giving his father the power to bless his sons. . . . Whether weak or strong, rich or poor, priesthood holders could pass priesthood to their sons.”²⁶³ Enlarging fatherhood even more, the Melchizedek Priesthood made the sealing of families for eternity available for any in the Church who would embrace it. This included “the millennial purpose of fashioning a righteous generation on the eve of the second coming.”³²⁶ Thus “procreation was lifted to the highest level of human endeavor,” defining the “greatest work” as that carried out ”at home where women were present and central”.⁴⁴⁴

As a child I learned of the simple, nurturing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood at the hands of my father. “These bodies of ours just get sick sometimes,” he would tell me before also using his priesthood to anoint and bless me. Sweet counsel and encouragement along with similarly beautiful priesthood blessings soothed illness, calmed fears, and strengthened me and my family through times of personal challenges.

Surely I have seen the priesthood in action in my life, but what was it that made so many people of Joseph’s day “happy to grant [Joseph] the authority of a prophet”?⁵⁶⁰ “Joseph used his immense authority ‘to return power to illiterate men’ . . . electoral democracy was absent—but if democracy means participation in government, no church was more democratic.”⁵⁵⁹ Church service for priesthood holders and for women offered members real opportunities to serve in God’s kingdom today and in the eternities. Bushman said, “Constructing a kingdom of priests meant as much to [Joseph] as propounding a set of doctrines.”³¹⁶

In restoring the priesthood Joseph restored power to common men such as my father. My father liked to say that as a youth his teachers did not expect him to attend college, but his mother and activity in the church gave him a desire to continue his learning in college and from the world around him. In college he wrote this beautiful essay:

   "The cool breezes begin to move softly by. Where the air is going is as endless as from where it originated. The way becomes a little more difficult as the shallow ruts guide my feet along the dusty road. My feet are first directed to the right and then gradually off to the left. Gradually at first, and then, almost suddenly, the ground begins dropping out from under my feet. The land had sloped down to allow a quiet, fresh smelling stream to go by.

   Across the stream the ground seems to be reaching up towards me. This sensation continues on for several steps. Then walking becomes easier. I can feel my trouser legs and loose shirt flapping in the stronger breeze. A faint smell of rain is riding with the wind ahead of a coming shower. The warm rays of a setting sun plays on my face. The tired feeling of worry and toil is relieved by the penetrating rays of the sun to drift away with the wind.

   The sounds of the ending day drifting up from the valley below are different. The loud rumbling noises of the day [have] slowed down to sharp, understandable, disturbances from different parts of the valley. The laughter and shouting of little children can be heard as they head home for supper after a day of play. Someone slams a door that sends an echo across the valley. The faint tingling of a cowbell drifts up from far across the valley. On this side of the valley, a farmer is hammering the lid off of an empty milk can. Occasionally the barking of a dog disturbs the gathering silence, but gradually and surely the day gives way to the night. When the wind starts to draw its cool breath from the darkening night, my feet feel their way back down the road.”

Continuing his growth throughout his life, my father’s monthly home teaching visits, temple attendance, dedication to church callings and a passionate love for his family helped make him into the wonderful man he is today. His desires and actions made possible the impact he has had on every heart here today and on countless others.

Of my grandfather, Hillard Ruben Broderick, it was said, “He had the sweetest, meekest, most humble personality with which I have come in contact. He was strong in convictions, strong in his love for his family, and strong in his love for his fellowmen. . . . I have often wondered when in the Bible it says ’that the meek shall inherit the earth, ‘ but in Hillard I can understand.’” The same could truly be said of his son and my father.

   I testify of this and the power of the Restored Gospel and Priesthood to facilitate that impact for my father and each of us.
   I look forward to learning with you forever, Dad!
   In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

My favorite pictures from the day

My mom & my siblings

It's been a wonderful day!

~vbb

[1] Pearl of Great Price | JS-History 1:22

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Elective & Basics days

Today is an elective day. (Sorry, no pictures.) Now that our lives are relaxing into a new rhythm with regular employment for Rob and living here in China, we’re shifting into new seasons for our home school. We have 3 ‘Basics days’ and 2 ‘Elective days’ a week.

A Basics day starts with the basics of math, spelling, language learning, reading (for Mathew), and writing. Then we are free to do other projects or activities. An Elective day starts with whatever project or activity, with in the list of things already deemed appropriate for school time, they choose, This also includes Basics, which really does happen quite often, particularly when a child has a reward they are working toward in their Basics. Elective days also include field trip and outing days and days when Mom is not available to assist in Basics (mostly for grocery shopping).

The idea behind these Days came from seeing that morning momentum on an activity or project can be very inspiring. Since we’re home a lot, however, we decided that we only needed 2 days of this kind of freedom per week. And we didn’t want to hit burn out in the Basics, so we limit those to 3 a week. All of this happens after morning meal, daily, and weekly jobs, of course.

Today the kids have, among other things, explored and played in the neighborhood, packed their rooms for our coming move, worked on various projects, ridden bikes, practiced riding our new electric scooter, read, and counted (Mathew). I have gotten caught up on writing various blog posts (!!!), and generally enjoyed the down time. Oh, and we decided to call today an Elective Day when Rob went in to work late after getting home late from a business trip last night. This allowed us to continue the relaxed atmosphere into the day rather than trying to shift into a Basics day behind schedule.

So, there you have it: Basics days and Elective days. We like our new rhythm. May you find a comfortable rhythm in your days too!

~vbb

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Spring Favorites

Here are some of my/our favorite things this Spring:

A Chinese knot to celebrate Chinese New Year

The stairs in my home (yes, that we're leaving) that look cool when they aren't covered with laundry that I'm grateful dries really well on them.

Digestives-A funny, almost sick sounding, name for a yummy tastes-healthier-but-almost-like-graham-crackers cracker, and also a little salty. LOVE this snack. ;)

I bought these house sandals when I purchased slippers for everyone at Christmas time. Slippers are way too hot for me, and these make me happy. Who wouldn't be happy with those sunny faces smiling up at you? I even bought a pair for Mathew yesterday, and Merisa has put in a request for some. Unfortunately, she's the only one in the family now that can't wear about the same size as everyone else, so I doubt we'll find any her size.

My new wallet. It's simple with a pocket for my cash and a pocket for my cards (in this case, my transit card for riding the subway). AND it fits in my Pants pocket. =]

Merisa's new bike is her favorite thing these days. It's not really mine since she rides it around the dining room table, but I'm happy that she loves it. Fun China fact: Holding a bike like this keeps people from cutting ahead of you while getting on escalators.

An Electric hot water bottle that OSHA would never approve but it works really well for coughs, ear aches, and warming hands or beds.

I love birds, but I have no desire to care for real ones. These birds and their cage make no messes whatsoever, and if I keep them wound up, they even keep time for me.

This is our dear Japanese friend Chiharu who is moving back to Japan at the end of the month. She served with Rob in the same mission . . . a few years ago ;). She's been a dear friend of ours and did a lot to help us get settled here. We will miss her and her baking VERY much!