What's in a destination?

What destination are my three children heading towards? Yesterday the "stock train" left the station into a downward spiral of 777 points. Not good. But neither is the train's direction that the government is proposing ... a $700 billion dollar bailout for Wall Streets' mess. Double not good. What train will my three children hop onto? Hummm. Time out for some motherly advice. After all is said and done, there is only one train headed in the right direction; kids--hop on it and STAY on it.

In the words of Elder Marvin J. Ashton, "As we pursue our journeys, let us ever bear in mind that in train travel and in life, there are stations, there are departures, calls, schedules, and opportunities for being side-tracked and diverted. Wise is the individual who follows in His, the Savior's, paths. Safety and joy belong to those who will come and follow Him." ("What Is Your Destination?" Ensign, July 1972, 63)

I know the direction our economy is headed looks weary, maybe even dreary. But my advice to you three in the picture above .... hop onto the Savior's train. Don't miss His departure calls. Don't miss His scheduled stops. Pay your tithing, don't trap yourself into debt, and keep your eye the ball. Study hard, play hard, but don't miss the Savior's scheduled train stops. Don't miss His calls. Don't be side-tracked. Hop on board and don't look back. You'll be headed in the right direction. Always and forever. Everything will work out. I promise.

Daniel Reggie: What's in a Name?

I've made mention a couple of times about "Lloyd" in the names of Trace, Trevor and Tayson. But this morning I want to post a few words about the "Daniel" in Reggie's name. After all, what is in a name? Well, Helaman named his sons "Nephi and Lehi" so they would remember the good works of their "great-great ... great" grandparents.

Reggie ... do you know that you have a great grandfather named "Daniel"? You do. Daniel Skousen. A great man--one of the original pioneers that settled the Mormon colonies in the late 1800's. His reputation was that with a sterling character, a strong testimony of the gospel, a hard worker, a loving father.

My brother is named "Daniel." A man of great character, a "peacemaker" and very "tender-hearted" ... much like the very characteristics not only your patriarchal blessing describes you having, but certainly all of us who know you readily admit are among your personality traits.

One of my favorite prophets is named "Daniel." Courageous, fearless, could calm lions, full of integrity. Much like you, Reggie. A worthy namesake.

You were well named, my boy. I am sure all the above are proud of you for carrying on the reputations they have established.

Hurricane Ike

Last week Trace and I were glued to the tv watching Hurricane Ike rumble towards the Texas coast. I couldn't help but reflect back on the years we lived in McAllen, Texas when I was a young pre-teenager. The view of Galvaston was eerily familiar to the memories I have of Padre Island. For all the times Dad tried to get me to like fresh shrimp ... well ... didn't work. (The only seafood I can moderately tolerate is tuna ... with LOTS of mayonnaise.) Sorry, Dad. Do you remember taking us to a nice seafood restaurant on Padre Island--only for me to order a hamburger? I wish I could say I've matured, but if we were to revisit that restaurant today, I'm afraid my order would only change slightly. I might order steak. :)

I'm so sorry for all the families and animals that faced such destruction. The church's humanitarian machine is in full force, and for that I'm thankful. In fact I spent almost six hours yesterday putting together hygiene and school kits and quilting quilts. I hope those who will receive them know how sorry we are for the disruptions in their lives and pray for their happiness.

Isn't this an amazing picture? A lone house survived this neighborhood. Talk about "living in the world but not of the world."

Rediscovering Simple Pleasures

The last time Trace and I giggled over who would control the hose while washing a car was almost 25 years ago when we were dating, falling in love, and looking for a cheap date. Well, ... until last Saturday. Because last Saturday we rediscovered a simple pleasure--washing the car together. You know what? We had a ball. I won the right to hold the hose by virtue of the fact that I was the girl, but darn it, his revenges are three times worse than any orginial offense I may have "accidently" commited (you know--like SQUIRT him) that it just wasn't worth it. I know, I'm a baby. Regardless, we had a wonderful time together.

Personally, I think this is the best home-made bath the Rav has EVER had. Wait ... has it ever had a home-made bath? Seems I remember Katie shelling out $20 to run it through a carwash. KATIE ... what were you thinking?? This is FUN! Reggie ... grab a girl and have a date washing your truck. Its way cool ... and way cheap. Trev and Colette ... come on--when's the last time you had fun washing your car? Advice from mom ... don't take 25 years to discover this simple pleasure. Next Saturday we're tackling the Expo (our Ford Expedition). The hose is all mine!


BTW ... Katie--notice the tassle and panda bear? Just thought you'd like to see we're taking good care of them.

Katie's 1st Week at BYUI

Here is the four of us (my roommates), were getting along so well, already have so many inside jokes! Breanne (Gilbert, AZ), Stacia (Portland, OR), Me and Erika (Portland, OR).

HEY, JUST WANTED TO SAY HI AND SEND YOU SOME PICS. IM HAVING A BLAST. I WENT TO THE ICE CAVES TONIGHT, WE HAD TO CRAWL ON OUR HANDS AND KNEES ON ICE THOURGH A LONG NARROW CAVE WITH GLOW STICKS! SCARY BUT FUN! i didnt get any pics of that but here is our frist meal (sunday night, we had chicken, rice and veggies) yum

and below is me studying, yes i have like 3 or 4 hours of homework a night, a lil different then higley.

and of course, here is the first time i had to do laundry! good times!

Remembering September 11, 2001

While listening to the radio this morning, the host asked, "Do you remember what you were doing the morning of September 11, 2001?" Yes, I do. With clarity. It is a morning I will never forget. We were living in Beaverton, Oregon. I asked each of my children to record their feelings and observations of the day. Trevor was 16, Reggie was 14 and Katie was 11 years old. Their handwritten thoughts are among my dearest treasures. I don't even know if they remembered doing this, so maybe they won't mind if I post what they wrote to remind them of their youthful, but quite mature, reactions to a horrible attack on our nation on September 11, 2001.

WTC Attack (by Trevor Riley, 16 years old)
"I was on my way to school and I picked up my friend, Tyler. He told me what was happening and I didn’t believe him. By the time I got to school everyone was talking about it and so I knew it to be true. Classes that day were little more than watching the news. The whole school, as well as myself, was in total shock. It angered me to think someone could do such a thing. Somewhere, something had to be nuc’d very quickly for everyone that America lost. It’s amazing how much patriotism has erupted through the country—flags, the anthem and American hymns are everywhere. Osama Bin Laden should be captured and then have a painful, torturous, public execution. Revenge must be served. " -- Trevor

WTC Terrorist Attacks (by Reggie Riley, 14 years old)
7:15. "It started with a phone call from Charise Brown. My mom was gasping for air while hearing what had happened. All my mom told me was there’s been terrorst attacks in New York."
7:45. "I get to school and everyone is around the TV. I wasn’t sure what had happened."
7:55. "I go to my first period class which was Soc. Studies to find a TV watching the news. I sit down and to my surprise I saw the WTC had been demolished to the ground. My heart sank seeing thousands of people killed."
"The aftermath was terrible. Both buildings had been destroyed by hijacked planes. The Pentagon also had been hit by a plane. In total there was 4 hijacked planes and over 4,000 people dead or missing. In our neighborhood almost everyone has flags on their houses and cars." --Reggie

The Mean Terrorists (by Katie Riley, 11 years old)
"I walked down the stairs when I saw on the t.v. (news) there were planes that had flown into the twin towers. My mom was staring there, watching news. As I stood there and saw what happened I was SO SAD. The, I found out that the pentagon was hit too. When I got home from school I found out that one flew down in Pennsylvania. Through out the next week people were giving blood, water, food and many things to New York. Flags were sold out in ever store! Now I think right now we should bomb all of afganastan and get that one guy dead. Everyone that was partying when planes hit they should repent or ELSE!!!!!!!!!! It was mean and if they don’t say there sorry to the U.S.; there gonna PAY!!!! Were gonna get revenge. I know it. It happened on September 11, 2001."

The T. Lloyd Domination

Trevor Lloyd, Tayson Lloyd and Tracy Lloyd

Hogle Zoo. Salt Lake City, UT

September 5, 2008

The Finest Generation

President Hinckley made a breathtaking tribute to the "rising generation" (see below). I want to add my own tribute, in particular to Trevor, Colette, Tayson, Reggie and Katie. You are, in fact, the "finest generation" ever ... and I hope you always know how much faith and confidence we have in you.

"The world is full of naysayers who think that people your age have lost their way. I disagree. Let me say that I am very proud of you. I think you are the finest generation this Church has ever produced. Because of you, I have no fear concerning the future. You are ambitious. You are trustworthy. You are loyal to the Church and its principles. You have great confidence in one another. You work together with love and appreciation and respect one for another. You are faithful, and you are true." Gordon B. Hinckley, "Be Not Afraid, Only Believe," CES Fireside for Young Adults, Sept. 9, 2001

And a chapter comes to an end

I've dreaded writing this post for months ... but knowing it was coming and trying to allow time to soften the blow didn't work. The blow came and it was painful. Can a mother EVER be ready to close the chapter of life that begins with raising her children and ends with letting them go when the time is right? No, I don't think so. At least I was not ready--surely I had a few more pages to write.

On Friday evening, September 5, at about 5:00p, I hugged my daughter good-bye in the parking lot of the Annie S. Kerr BYUI freshman dorm. If I close my eyes and sit real still, I can still feel that hug. Katie is off to write her own book, and I am left to begin a new chapter in mine. My heart is still too tender to dwell on "now what?" in this post, but here are a few pics from our time in Rexburg where Reggie and Katie are now BYUI students.

Reggie is staying in the Somerset Apartments, just across the street from campus. Rooming with his missionary buddies from the Brazil Londrina Mission. Go easy on the girls, Reggie!

Here's Trace unloading Reggie's pick-up in the Somerset Apartment parking lot.

Here's Katie coming out of her apartment in the on-campus dorms, the Annie S. Kerr Hall. There's four to a room with a kitchen and small family room. We met her roommates--one is right here from our own stake--unbeknown to Katie--how cool is that? The other two are from the Portland area--how double cool is that? Orgonians! Took her to Walmart to get groceries. Wait. Katie cooking in the kitchen?? This is going to be good!!

A quick snapshot of Katie's room before it gets messy. Haha

Trace wants to make sure Katie knows we know what the Male Guest Hours are! Katie-Katie!

Here's Katie and Reggie in line to get their BYUI id card, etc. Personally, I'm glad they get to be up there together. REGGIE ... you better take care of your little sister.

The house is awfully quiet around here. Katie's bathroom is clean--still. Reggie's bed is made--still. The kitchen counters are uncluttered--still. There's no piles of dirty laundry in the laundry room. I don't have to turn off lights anymore ... or the turn the music down. Went to bed last night without having to worry about curfews. Isn't this what I've waited for? Honestly ... NO.

THREE DOG NIGHT CONCERT

While taking Reggie and Katie up to Rexburg to BYUI over the Labor Day weekend, we took time out to take all our kids to a Three Dog Night concert on Labor Day night in Orem. How did they sound? Great--vibratos a bit wobbly--but hey--they've been making music for 40 years. All the oldies ... from "Eli's Coming" to "Joy to the World." Fantastic. Did the kids like it? Yea--I think so. Bit different from the Jonas Brothers or Weezer ... but I think they liked the songs neverthe less. :) Here are a few pics from the concert: