Who can find a virtuous woman?

Today was an incredible day. Today was the day when we had the honor to pay tribute to my dear grandmother (Realla Jane Johnson Fisher). My grandmother is an incredible woman and lived a great and fulfilling life. She was born on February 25, 1925 and passed away at home with my grandfather close by on April 27, 2008. This passing is a chance for her to continue to serve and to do the things that are particularly important to her.

Eight years ago, my grandmother had a stroke that left her unable to care for herself. I was almost 6 years old when my parents decided to move back to Idaho and live next door to my grandparents. I grew up living next door until I was almost 19 and went to college. During that time I learn many, many things from both my grandpa and grandma.

Today, during her funeral, it was addressed, what was she supposed to learn from these years following her stroke. It was addressed, it wasn't her that was supposed to learn but us that needed to learn.

So, what did I learn from her...?

1. I learned how to work. Growing up, there was no escaping the "opportunity" to weed the garden, mow the lawn, wash windows, clean the garage, vacuum the house, etc., etc. However, this lessons were always taught and with the work came the reward. I grew to love Popsicles as a reward from working hard.

2. I learned to love the gospel. Grandma was faithful in her callings and in chance to serve. She was faithful in teaching us gospel principles and wanted her family to really know and love the teachings of the gospel. She was an example in the way she lived her life so faithfully.

3. The importance of temples. As a child, I remember that grandma and grandpa always had to be home early on Monday because they had to be at the temple at 4 in the morning (maybe up at that but either way it seemed really early) on Tuesdays. Wednesdays that had a later shift that they did. This did this temple for faithfully for as long as I can remember. The served a mission as a couple in the Denver Temple Mission, which was so appropriate to what they were currently doing, only this time it was in a different state. They loved the temple and loved going to the temple.

4. The great blessing of a righteous marriage. I have always had a great love and sincerely enjoy watching elderly couples walking down the street holding hands. I realize now that this might have come from the love that grandma and grandpa have for each other. They were married for 60 years and still so much in love. My grandma adored my grandpa and likewise. They were so respectful of one another and would always put each other first. I have never heard the utter the slightest of negative comment towards the other. They taught me that marriage can be amazing and what true love really is.

This are just a FEW of the things that I have learned from my grandmother during my life. My grandma is amazing and I know that now she has taken the opportunity to serve and continue to spread the gospel. This day of her funeral and with my family has given me a chance to step back and re-evaluate what I'm doing in my life and how I can do better. There are blessings that are awaiting me. I love my grandmother and can't wait to see her again.

A little bit perspective

So... yesterday I experienced something I hope I don't have to experience very often. Mom and dad were in town and all of us decided to to get together for the weekend. We watched conference (okay... watched, slept, played yahtzee, knitted, etc.) and then just spent some time together.

I decided that it was time for me to go home and get some stuff done at home. I took my usual route home and was just driving on the freeway. As driving, I was thinking that there seemed to be a lot of traffic on the road for a Sunday afternoon. Usually, it's pretty empty. At one point, I decided to get in the right lane because that seemed to be the one with less traffic than the middle lanes.

While in that lane, I was passing a minivan on my left. At one point, I noticed that the minivan was started to come into my lane. I increased my speed a little bit to get out of the way, but didn't make it. The minivan clipped my car. Talk about an incredible journey. I think time stopped while I decided to do a 405 degree turn on I-15 and go across 3 (maybe 4) lanes of traffic, twice. When I finally came to a stop I was facing west (which isn't good when traffic is going north). My legs started shaking at that point when I decided I needed to get my car in a more safer location and had to back up into the emergency lane.

I made some phone calls and got out of my car at that point. The minivan that hit me was on the shoulder and another Mazda3 was on the shoulder as well (... for those who don't know, I drive a Mazda3 and love it...). Apparently the other Mazda3 hit the minivan and then the minivan hit me.

Russell and Kim were coming to meet me and about then some things started to hit me.

I was really lucky... here's the reasons why...

• There were 3 cars that were involved, yet 2 out of 3 of us were able to drive away.
• Everyone involved in the accident was able to walk away without a scratch on them. I'm sure all of us are experiencing a little whiplash but considering what could have happened... that's not bad.
• While at the scene of the accident, everyone was so calm and considerate. It was an accident. (Accident [noun]: 1 a: an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance b: lack of intention or necessity : chance ...2 c: an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought)
• I know that I'm going to be sore for a little while, I was able to go to work the next day.
• If the minivan would have hit me when I first noticed it coming into my lane... I would have been hit on the driver's door...
• Russell and Kim were still at Sherrie's and were able to come quickly to help me out.
• I went to the urgent care to get my back checked out and everything looked normal.
• At this point, the collision didn't even seem to hit the framework of the car.
• I have friends that work close by me and are able to help me out until I get a rental.
• I don't know how long it will take to fix my car but I am going to a conference in Portland next week so I won't even need a car if I can make it through this week. :D

Even though the timing isn't great and it's unfortunate, I realize that the things that really matter (me, the young man in the other Mazda, the couple with their 2 kids and their dog) are okay. My cute little car is messed up but it can be fixed. I had a good weekend and am a little sore right now but everything will be okay and back to normal soon.