Last week I turned to my cousin Hanna and said, "I'm so grateful for the gift of time." She responded, "It's the best when it's the gift of time together." She helped me see a pattern I hadn't explicitly recognized: it is the time with family and friends (and sometimes even strangers!) that I feel the most grateful for this summer. Here are a few of the highlights of what the gift of time has brought my way:
An afternoon visit and a Family Home Evening night with Helen Burton
Shortly before I was to return to the states, I received word that my dear mentor and friend, Helen Burton, wasn't expected to live more than a few days. She was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer just a few months ago and her body was succumbing to the effects of the terrible disease. Over the Christmas holiday, I had spent an afternoon with her and her husband. Some of you may remember that she was the inspiration for a blog post I wrote soon after that visit. In that post, I recounted how the first question she always asks me is this:
'Are you happy?'
While writing the post, I realized I hadn't ever asked her why it was that she asks that particular question. I thought, "I'll ask her next time I see her." I couldn't believe that I might not get the chance to see her and visit with her and hug her again. And I most likely wouldn't be able to ask her why it is she asks me that particular question.
Sis. Burton hung on! I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. She's fiercely independent. :) She hung on to watch her Spurs win the championship (she was an AVID Spurs fan)! (The first thing I said to her when I saw her was, 'The Spurs won!!" She smiled and said, "They did!!") As I contemplated our reunion (knowing that she would soon pass), these were some of the thoughts that kept running through my mind:
What do you say in those kinds of moments?
How do you express to someone you love so deeply and who has had a profound influence on you what they mean to you when you know they are about to pass?
She answered those questions for me by what she and Bishop Burton did that day:
They gave me the gift of their time.
(Photo courtesy of Boyd Burton. Thank you Boyd!!)
I dropped by their home unannounced after having the distinct thought I needed to stop by that morning (Wed., July 9th) and not delay. When I arrived, Bishop Burton greeted me with a smile from ear to ear. "Sarah! Please come in. We don't receive visitors, only family. You are like family!"
He then proceeded to say, "She's in a lot of pain and has been sleeping a lot. I'll wake her as she would want to see you and visit with you for a few minutes." He gently caressed her arm and said, "Sarah Compton is here to see you." She opened her eyes and smiled. That was the beginning of an afternoon I got to spend with her!!
She asked how I was doing and wanted to know if the guy Lisa was marrying is a keeper. (He is!! :) :) :) I LOVE Sis. Burton!! She then asked, "Is she happy?" I said, "Yes. But she's also really nervous" to which she responded, "Of course she is!! She's getting married!!" I just laughed. The cancer had overtaken her body but it had no influence over her mind!! I was able to ask her why it is that her first question to me is always, "Are you happy?" Here's what she said:
When Topper was serving as the bishop of the singles congregation (for young adults between the ages of 18-30), I realized that many young single adults were unhappy. They often expressed that they couldn't be happy until ___(fill in the blank...usually 'I get married')____ . They were wrong. You can find happiness now--at any stage of life you're in. Please don't wait for ___(fill in the blank)___ to happen before you'll let yourself be happy.
It seems that Pres. Uchtdorf and others have been mentored by Helen, too. :)
I almost didn't ask Helen that day why it is she always asks me that question. I wasn't sure exactly how to phrase the question and wanted to wait for just the right moment before I asked her. I'm SO GRATEFUL that I didn't wait, though, until I had formulated the question perfectly or waited for the perfect moment to ask. I didn't know it at the time, but that would be the last time I would see her before she became too weak to speak. Had I waited for the 'perfect' moment, I would have missed the moment. John Mayer was right: "Say what you need to say...It's better to say [or ask] too much than to never say what you need to say again."
That day, as well as the following Monday evening (they welcomed us into their home for a Family Home Evening night), God gave us the gift of time to spend together. Helen used that time to teach me and love me and remind me of those things that matter most. I always thought I'd rather lose a loved one suddenly or unexpectedly. What I learned through this experience, though, is that it is a gift to have time to love, laugh, cry and grieve together. What an incredible gift it is to know Helen and what a priceless gift I was given in making it home in time to visit with her. I look forward to our happy reunion one day!!
Ferry rides to Suomenlinna and Tallinn
Esther and I had Suomenlinna and Tallinn on our places to visit while she was in the country.
We made it to both places!!
Introducing Suomenlinna:
Fortress wall.
Sitting on the fortress wall taking in the cloud formations.
and enjoying the BEST strawberries I've ever had. Esther picked them out at the farmer's market before we hopped on the ferry.
This is where hermits live, I think. I couldn't convince my brain that this was, indeed, a real place.
Then to Tallinn, but not before playing a mean round of...
Set. My new favorite card game. At some point that night, we realized that our glasses were a set. :)
(A huge thanks to Laura for graciously hosting us!!)
Introducing Tallinn!
The view from the ferry we nearly missed. Thank heavens for a taxi driver that was in the right place at just the right moment. Seriously. I've never been more sure we were going to miss a boat than I was that morning. :)
Freedom square. St. John's Church. We arrived just in time to listen to recital by an organist and violinist who played the works of some of Estonia's most revered musicians. It was part of the festivities leading up to the song festival that's held every 5 years.
Town square. We enjoyed this view--soaking in the sunshine--while enjoying some great Indian food
We stopped by the longest running apothecary in the world. Turns out, it was closed for two weeks. The pharmacist was taking his summer holidays. Sad day!!
At least we got to see some of the inside through the glass door.
The pharmacy has been here since at least 1422.
A little bit of TEXAS in Tallinn!! :) :) :) :)
Tallinn lays claim to having invented Marzipan.
The next day, Esther and I boarded our flights. She flew to Italy and I flew home to TEXAS!!
Time with nieces and nephews
My best bud!!
My little sweet pea's elephant. She wanted her elephant to be able to enjoy the fireworks, too. :) Kids are seriously SO SWEET!!
My little yogi--watching one of the videos I made for them. It filmed side-ways. Ada oriented her body to the laptop/screen before I had a chance to turn the laptop 90 degrees so we didn't have to crane our necks. LOVE THIS SWEET GIRL!! This visit she came up to me twice and said, "I'm your little yogi!!" AWWW!! Yes, ma'am!! You are indeed my little yogi!!
Here the girls are with their new 'friends', (courtesy of grandma and/or Lisa...??). They LOVE them.
Pedicures. Trying to keep little girls to sit still for more than 3-4 minutes is a CHALLENGE!! Oh my goodness. Every 12 seconds they'd rub their toenails and exclaim, "They're dry!!" Oh mercy. :)
I thought if we did a little photo shoot, it might keep them stationary (and their hands occupied) for a few minutes. Ada put her arm around Sadie and said, "Oh Sadie--those [your toenails] are beautiful?!" It was the most sincere expression of delight that I've heard in a very long time.
Michael wanted to try out his robot on Sadie's hair--to see if it would curl it. It was, well, less than effective....
TRISTAN! Love this little boy! He is the most easy-going and HAPPY little glow bug. His face lights up whenever he hears his daddy's voice or sees him. I got to spend time with him in Texas AND in Arizona. One day we'll convince his dad to move back to Texas!! :)
Country dancing.
This statement was more of a dream than it was a reality when I wrote it two years ago:
I study by day and dance to country music by night.
Granted, I did my fair share of dancing across the wood floors in Eija's house. But, since being home this summer, I've been dancing to country music with people I LOVE and ADORE!! The smiles speak for themselves:
John, Ben and Jen. We celebrated Lisa and Sean's wedding night and my last Saturday as a thirty-something year old painting the town red at Wild West!! Had they not had a 7am flight the next morning, they would have been there with us, too. :)
The next weekend, Abby, John and I celebrated a certain someone's birthday dancing our hearts out at Denim & Diamonds in Phoenix, Arizona!!
I. love. country. dancing.
---
This is all I have time for tonight. Can't wait to get caught up on the rest of the incredible experiences. In the meantime, I hope that you'll take a few minutes to reflect (and record!) on the many sweet, tender and happy moments you've been given with those you love and adore!!
An afternoon visit and a Family Home Evening night with Helen Burton
Shortly before I was to return to the states, I received word that my dear mentor and friend, Helen Burton, wasn't expected to live more than a few days. She was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer just a few months ago and her body was succumbing to the effects of the terrible disease. Over the Christmas holiday, I had spent an afternoon with her and her husband. Some of you may remember that she was the inspiration for a blog post I wrote soon after that visit. In that post, I recounted how the first question she always asks me is this:
'Are you happy?'
While writing the post, I realized I hadn't ever asked her why it was that she asks that particular question. I thought, "I'll ask her next time I see her." I couldn't believe that I might not get the chance to see her and visit with her and hug her again. And I most likely wouldn't be able to ask her why it is she asks me that particular question.
Sis. Burton hung on! I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. She's fiercely independent. :) She hung on to watch her Spurs win the championship (she was an AVID Spurs fan)! (The first thing I said to her when I saw her was, 'The Spurs won!!" She smiled and said, "They did!!") As I contemplated our reunion (knowing that she would soon pass), these were some of the thoughts that kept running through my mind:
What do you say in those kinds of moments?
How do you express to someone you love so deeply and who has had a profound influence on you what they mean to you when you know they are about to pass?
She answered those questions for me by what she and Bishop Burton did that day:
They gave me the gift of their time.
(Photo courtesy of Boyd Burton. Thank you Boyd!!)
I dropped by their home unannounced after having the distinct thought I needed to stop by that morning (Wed., July 9th) and not delay. When I arrived, Bishop Burton greeted me with a smile from ear to ear. "Sarah! Please come in. We don't receive visitors, only family. You are like family!"
He then proceeded to say, "She's in a lot of pain and has been sleeping a lot. I'll wake her as she would want to see you and visit with you for a few minutes." He gently caressed her arm and said, "Sarah Compton is here to see you." She opened her eyes and smiled. That was the beginning of an afternoon I got to spend with her!!
She asked how I was doing and wanted to know if the guy Lisa was marrying is a keeper. (He is!! :) :) :) I LOVE Sis. Burton!! She then asked, "Is she happy?" I said, "Yes. But she's also really nervous" to which she responded, "Of course she is!! She's getting married!!" I just laughed. The cancer had overtaken her body but it had no influence over her mind!! I was able to ask her why it is that her first question to me is always, "Are you happy?" Here's what she said:
When Topper was serving as the bishop of the singles congregation (for young adults between the ages of 18-30), I realized that many young single adults were unhappy. They often expressed that they couldn't be happy until ___(fill in the blank...usually 'I get married')____ . They were wrong. You can find happiness now--at any stage of life you're in. Please don't wait for ___(fill in the blank)___ to happen before you'll let yourself be happy.
It seems that Pres. Uchtdorf and others have been mentored by Helen, too. :)
I almost didn't ask Helen that day why it is she always asks me that question. I wasn't sure exactly how to phrase the question and wanted to wait for just the right moment before I asked her. I'm SO GRATEFUL that I didn't wait, though, until I had formulated the question perfectly or waited for the perfect moment to ask. I didn't know it at the time, but that would be the last time I would see her before she became too weak to speak. Had I waited for the 'perfect' moment, I would have missed the moment. John Mayer was right: "Say what you need to say...It's better to say [or ask] too much than to never say what you need to say again."
That day, as well as the following Monday evening (they welcomed us into their home for a Family Home Evening night), God gave us the gift of time to spend together. Helen used that time to teach me and love me and remind me of those things that matter most. I always thought I'd rather lose a loved one suddenly or unexpectedly. What I learned through this experience, though, is that it is a gift to have time to love, laugh, cry and grieve together. What an incredible gift it is to know Helen and what a priceless gift I was given in making it home in time to visit with her. I look forward to our happy reunion one day!!
Ferry rides to Suomenlinna and Tallinn
Esther and I had Suomenlinna and Tallinn on our places to visit while she was in the country.
We made it to both places!!
Introducing Suomenlinna:
Fortress wall.
Sitting on the fortress wall taking in the cloud formations.
and enjoying the BEST strawberries I've ever had. Esther picked them out at the farmer's market before we hopped on the ferry.
Set. My new favorite card game. At some point that night, we realized that our glasses were a set. :)
(A huge thanks to Laura for graciously hosting us!!)
Introducing Tallinn!
The view from the ferry we nearly missed. Thank heavens for a taxi driver that was in the right place at just the right moment. Seriously. I've never been more sure we were going to miss a boat than I was that morning. :)
Freedom square. St. John's Church. We arrived just in time to listen to recital by an organist and violinist who played the works of some of Estonia's most revered musicians. It was part of the festivities leading up to the song festival that's held every 5 years.
Town square. We enjoyed this view--soaking in the sunshine--while enjoying some great Indian food
We stopped by the longest running apothecary in the world. Turns out, it was closed for two weeks. The pharmacist was taking his summer holidays. Sad day!!
At least we got to see some of the inside through the glass door.
The pharmacy has been here since at least 1422.
A little bit of TEXAS in Tallinn!! :) :) :) :)
Tallinn lays claim to having invented Marzipan.
The next day, Esther and I boarded our flights. She flew to Italy and I flew home to TEXAS!!
Time with nieces and nephews
My best bud!!
My little sweet pea with her cousins and uncle. Love the 4th of July!!
My little sweet pea's elephant. She wanted her elephant to be able to enjoy the fireworks, too. :) Kids are seriously SO SWEET!!
My little yogi--watching one of the videos I made for them. It filmed side-ways. Ada oriented her body to the laptop/screen before I had a chance to turn the laptop 90 degrees so we didn't have to crane our necks. LOVE THIS SWEET GIRL!! This visit she came up to me twice and said, "I'm your little yogi!!" AWWW!! Yes, ma'am!! You are indeed my little yogi!!
Here the girls are with their new 'friends', (courtesy of grandma and/or Lisa...??). They LOVE them.
Pedicures. Trying to keep little girls to sit still for more than 3-4 minutes is a CHALLENGE!! Oh my goodness. Every 12 seconds they'd rub their toenails and exclaim, "They're dry!!" Oh mercy. :)
I thought if we did a little photo shoot, it might keep them stationary (and their hands occupied) for a few minutes. Ada put her arm around Sadie and said, "Oh Sadie--those [your toenails] are beautiful?!" It was the most sincere expression of delight that I've heard in a very long time.
Michael wanted to try out his robot on Sadie's hair--to see if it would curl it. It was, well, less than effective....
TRISTAN! Love this little boy! He is the most easy-going and HAPPY little glow bug. His face lights up whenever he hears his daddy's voice or sees him. I got to spend time with him in Texas AND in Arizona. One day we'll convince his dad to move back to Texas!! :)
Country dancing.
This statement was more of a dream than it was a reality when I wrote it two years ago:
I study by day and dance to country music by night.
Granted, I did my fair share of dancing across the wood floors in Eija's house. But, since being home this summer, I've been dancing to country music with people I LOVE and ADORE!! The smiles speak for themselves:
John, Ben and Jen. We celebrated Lisa and Sean's wedding night and my last Saturday as a thirty-something year old painting the town red at Wild West!! Had they not had a 7am flight the next morning, they would have been there with us, too. :)
The next weekend, Abby, John and I celebrated a certain someone's birthday dancing our hearts out at Denim & Diamonds in Phoenix, Arizona!!
I. love. country. dancing.
---
This is all I have time for tonight. Can't wait to get caught up on the rest of the incredible experiences. In the meantime, I hope that you'll take a few minutes to reflect (and record!) on the many sweet, tender and happy moments you've been given with those you love and adore!!
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