Querido Familia y Amigos:
I stop today quietly, in remembrance and celebration of our fellow missionary who passed away this week. You will remember that I told you about Elder Gardner, who had a stroke and fell in his apartment. He suffered a closed-head injury and was in ICU here for several weeks. Several of you have asked how he has been doing. He became stable enough here to be flown back to Utah for the therapy not available in Guatemala. There he had a second bout of pneumonia and was called home. As missionaries with him and his wife Joan, we are greatly saddened with this loss.
He and his wife Joan were assigned to the morning shift in the temple. Dad and I are on the afternoon shift, so our contact with the Gardners was limited. He had/has a personality similar to Bob Keddington's, for those of you who know our former neighbour - an upbeat, happy approach to life. I was just becoming acquainted with Elder Gardner and was looking forward to knowing him better. I am feeling his departing as a personal loss. His funeral is next Tuesday in Orem. Dad and I will go and deliver a card from all of us missionaries, also a memory book which includes notes from the temple workers as well. As a group we sent flowers to the mortuary.
The photos below were actually ready for me to post before his death. David Williams, the photographer, saw the pond below and debated whether to keep driving or leave the freeway and find his way back. He did get off, and took this lovely photo. The cardinal is also his work. They are both causing me to cherish the little times we have and little things we see. All too soon they may be gone and there is no calling back someone who has left us, or a moment we wish we had captured and were too busy or unconcerned to take "the gift of stopping".
I stop today quietly, in remembrance and celebration of our fellow missionary who passed away this week. You will remember that I told you about Elder Gardner, who had a stroke and fell in his apartment. He suffered a closed-head injury and was in ICU here for several weeks. Several of you have asked how he has been doing. He became stable enough here to be flown back to Utah for the therapy not available in Guatemala. There he had a second bout of pneumonia and was called home. As missionaries with him and his wife Joan, we are greatly saddened with this loss.
He and his wife Joan were assigned to the morning shift in the temple. Dad and I are on the afternoon shift, so our contact with the Gardners was limited. He had/has a personality similar to Bob Keddington's, for those of you who know our former neighbour - an upbeat, happy approach to life. I was just becoming acquainted with Elder Gardner and was looking forward to knowing him better. I am feeling his departing as a personal loss. His funeral is next Tuesday in Orem. Dad and I will go and deliver a card from all of us missionaries, also a memory book which includes notes from the temple workers as well. As a group we sent flowers to the mortuary.
The photos below were actually ready for me to post before his death. David Williams, the photographer, saw the pond below and debated whether to keep driving or leave the freeway and find his way back. He did get off, and took this lovely photo. The cardinal is also his work. They are both causing me to cherish the little times we have and little things we see. All too soon they may be gone and there is no calling back someone who has left us, or a moment we wish we had captured and were too busy or unconcerned to take "the gift of stopping".
With that same gift of stopping to enjoy the single moments, the single accomplishments, the love we have for each other, I'll talk about some of the things that have impressed me since my last morning of writing for this blog.
Dad and our neighbour Gary Allred walk regularly. I caught this photo of them as they began a walk last week:
Dad and our neighbour Gary Allred walk regularly. I caught this photo of them as they began a walk last week: