Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, thirty years ago today, this family got started. Can you imagine that?

 How did it all begin? Well, at least from my perspective there is a bit of a story. At the beginning of my sophomore year at BYU I had a new roommate. She was so spiritual and I really admired her. I thought I would like to grow up and be just like her. After a long thought process,I decided that one of the reasons she was so spiritual was a result of her having served a mission. I called my dad and asked him about going on a mission when I turned twenty-one, a year away. My biggest concern was the knowing that my brother is two years younger than me and would then be going at the same time. I didn't know if that would present a hardship fir my family. My dad assured me that they had been saving money for missions and there would be plenty of money for both of us to go at the same time.

 I signed up to take the missionary prep class at BYU and was very excited about the whole thing. At the beginning of the winter semester, I attended a fireside or perhaps it was a devotional, I cant remember which. The speaker talked about how important it is to pray about all of our important decisions so I decided that a mission is really important, so I prayed about this decision. I prayed and the answer I received was "Just wait." So I thought okay, I can do that.  A few weeks later I prayed again. The answer was the same. I was a little frustrated but continued going to class, doing my homework, and doing my church calling of teaching relief society once a month, which I absolutely loved. After a few more weeks I figured it was time to try again. One more time my answer was "Just wait." I just kind of shook my head and thought this was pretty weird. The end of the semester was getting closer and it would soon be time to go home to California.

 One last time, just a few weeks before finals when I prayed I got a different answer. It was totally crazy. The answer I received this time was "You are going to go home and get married. "  I thought that was the.most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. There was absolutely no one in my home ward to marry, nor did I know anyone since I had been away in Provo the past two years and had only been in California for the one year before that, my senior year in high school. And there wasn't anyone that I was interested in at BYU.

So I decided that I wasn't going to tell anyone about my personal revelation. What if I was wrong, what if I really wasn't in tune with the spirit, what if I made a fool of myself. So kept quiet and continued on the with my mission plans. I began to fill out my mission papers. I had a physical. I had my wisdom teeth extracted (not fun) and took the language test. I did really well on the language test, so I was hopeful about going to a foreign country since I have always enjoyed traveling. I kept my eyes and ears open and continued to pray and to keep quiet about any wedding ideas.

After about a month of being home it was missionary transfer day in our area and one of the elders in my parent's ward was heading for home as his mission was over. As is tradition, he and his companion visited some of the families that they were close to to say good-bye. I guess the Hein family had befriended the elders so our home was one of the stops. There was a knock on the door and I answered it. I invited the missionaries in and my family all gathered around. Elder Anderson announced that he was leaving but would be back in a month to go to school. My immediate thought, "That us who I am going to marry." A month later when he returned our ward was having a Fourth of July breakfast and he invited a girl.  Boy was I annoyed.  She had to leave after a while so I invited him to come to our house for homemade ice cream that evening. I didn't tell my family in case he didn't show up and I didn't want to be embarrassed, but then I was still embarrassed when he did show up. I am sure he felt very uncomfortable when everyone probably wondered what he was doing at our house.  And the rest is history.  

52!

I remember this particular general conference so vividly.  Brad had gone to Payette for the week-end and watched conference on TV there, while we went to the Pasco Stake Center.  We were sitting on the right hand side of the chapel kind of near the front.  The last speaker of the last session of April 2000 was President Hinkley.  The title of his talk was ""A Time of New Beginnings."  Some of the highlights from his talk are: 

"Let us take a little time to meditate, to think of what we can do to improve our lives and to become better examples of what a Latter-day Saint should be.  I hope that each of us will long remember what we have heard, but more importantly, what we have felt. May it become an anchor in our lives, a guide by which to live, a training time where we learned to shape our actions toward others and our attitudes toward ourselves.

I hope that each one of us will be a better husband or wife, kinder to one another, more thoughtful, more restrained in criticism, and more generous with compliments. I hope that as fathers and mothers we will strive more fully to rear our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), treating them with respect and love, giving encouragement at every opportunity and subduing our critical remarks. I hope that as sons and daughters we will be more respectful than we have been, that we will look to our parents with the knowledge that they love us, and that we will try to be more obedient in following their counsel.


Let us study the ways of the Lord, reading His life and teachings in the sacred scripture He has given us. Let us take a little time to meditate, to think of what we can do to improve our lives and to become better examples of what a Latter-day Saint should be.


NOW COMES MY FAVORITE PART OF PRESIDENT HINKLEY'S MESSAGE!

"Now, in closing, may I give you just a very brief report on temples. As of today, we have 76 in operation. That is many more than we had a few years ago. We will dedicate the Palmyra temple this coming Thursday. That will be a great occasion. The temple overlooks the Sacred Grove. Then on Sunday—next Sunday—we will dedicate the Fresno California Temple. We plan on dedicating altogether 36 new temples in the year 2000. I think we will accomplish all we set out to do. Quite a number of others in construction or announced will not be completed until 2001 or 2002.

Now, additionally, we announce at this conference that we hope to build a house of the Lord in Aba, Nigeria. Brother Pace, we may be delayed in Ghana, but we hope there will be no delay in Nigeria. Others in Asunción, Paraguay; Helsinki, Finland; Lubbock, Texas; Snowflake, Arizona; and somewhere in the Tri-Cities area of the state of Washington."

I remember distinctly the pause after President Hinkley said, "Snowflake, Arizona" and he slowly said "and somewhere in the Tri-Cities area of the state of Washington."  If we hadn't been in the stake center I imagine there would have been applause, but people stood up and gasped and you could tell there was such excitement in the air.  When the closing song and prayer were done everyone couldn't wait to hug each other and let the feelings roll. 

For a while we all wondered where the temple would be built and I know our family was really excited about the prospect of having a temple so close to our home.  As soon as the location was announced, we decided to celebrate by buying McDonalds and having a picnic on the temple grounds before building even began.  The empty field wasn't fenced in yet next to the chapel on Gage Boulevard so we had a great time tromping on the new temple grounds.  Our excitement continued as we went over periodically to check the progress of our temple.  When the builders were doing the foundation we all wrote our names on rocks so they are now part of the foundation of the temple. 

I remember standing on the hill above the temple as sprinkles of rain came down as the Angel Moroni was being hoised to the top of the temple. (We skipped school that day.)  That was so cool to have that vantage point.  I felt bad for those down on the bottom of the hill as we were one of the first to see the big box opened and the golden statue sitting inside and to watch as the crane was attached around him and gently put in place on top of the temple.  I had the opportunity one night to put the crystal chandelier together in the larger sealing room.  I stood on a tall ladder and with soft white gloves on my hands, put crystals on the hooks of the light.  Another sister helped me and it was quite a privilege to do that.  I still look in that room and think of it as my sealing room.  (Courtney and Erin were both sealed to their spouses in that room as well.)

Then autumn came and Michael went off to BYU.  We knew the temple was so very important and we wanted our kids to know that as well, so one of the week-ends of the open house we flew Michael home so he could go to the open house with us.  We didn't want him to miss it.  Lissie and Gary Haynes and family came up from Twin Falls, Idaho to tour the temple as well.  And then another week-end later it was time for the temple dedication.  We flew Michael back up to the Tri-Cities so he would be there for that.  Our session was the afternoon session which was really nice as it gave a chance for the little girls, Kylee and Kaitlin, to be able to participate being too young to go to the dedication, to attend the outdoor cornerstone part of the session.   Then later that afternoon we attended our assigned session and we were privileged to actually be able to be inside the temple for the dedication. 

And what a fantastic dedicatory prayer as well.  Here are a few highlights from President Hinkley's prayer:

"O God our Eternal Father, Thou great Elohim, Thou who art Governor of the universe and Judge of the nations, we come unto Thee in solemn and sacred prayer. We are met to dedicate another House of the Lord, a temple built to the Most High where Thy divine ordinances may be performed in behalf of the living and the dead.



On this day of dedication we are profoundly grateful unto Thee for Thy revealed plan of salvation and exaltation. We honor Thee and love Thee. We honor and love Thine Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer of the world whose great atoning sacrifice makes available to all of us the blessings of immortality and eternal life.


We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith to whom Thou didst reveal Thyself with Thy Son to part the curtains and let the light of the true gospel again shine upon the earth. We thank Thee for the coming forth of the great testament of the New World, the Book of Mormon, which is a witness of the divinity of Thy Son. We are so deeply grateful for the restoration of the holy priesthood, "that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world" (D&C 1:20). We thank Thee for the restoration of other keys, powers, and authority in this the dispensation of the fulness of times.


Now, we as Thy grateful people have erected this house. It has been visited by many thousands. They have come out of curiosity and have left with appreciation. May their hearts be inclined to Thy work and may there grow within them a desire to learn of Thy revealed truth.


And now, acting in the authority of the holy priesthood in us vested and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Master, we dedicate unto Thee and unto Him this the Columbia River Washington Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wilt Thou accept of it as the offering of our hearts and our hands. Wilt Thou let Thy blessings rest down upon it that it may truly be the House of the Lord with holiness unto Thee. Wilt Thou cause that Thy Spirit may dwell here at all times and that its presence may be felt by those who serve here, be they workers or patrons. We would be pleased, dear Father, if Thou wouldst visit this Thy house and leave Thy voice of approval upon it.


Touch the hearts of Thy Saints that they may wish to come here and enjoy the blessings of peace to be found within these hallowed walls.

May there come into their minds and hearts an indelible witness of the reality of Thy plan of salvation, under which the immortality of the human soul is assured and the blessings of eternal life are promised to all who walk in faithfulness to Thee and to Thy divine will. May those who come here to be married and who kneel at the sacred altars of this temple, have implanted within them an assurance of the eternal perpetuity of their union if they will honor and respect the covenants which they make before Thee. May all who gather here be instructed in Thy ways and after Thy pattern, and take upon themselves promises eternal and binding in their nature. May a great work in behalf of the dead be carried forward in this Thy house, that there may be rejoicing on the other side of the veil.


We pray that Thou wilt smile upon Thy people and their families. Open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon the faithful who contribute of their time and resources according to Thy will and law. May the whole earth become as Zion as Thy work spreads among the nations."

What a beautiful home for our Heavenly Father.  I love the spirit I feel when I go there and sit in the Celestial Room.  I often wish I could stay there forever and bask in the spirit.  About a year ago, Bishop Moon asked Brad and I to go to the temple every week.  He knew that we needed to have the opportunity to feel the spirit more often and to feel Heavenly Father's great love for us.  It has been a tremendous sacrifice to work out a time to go to the temple each week but we have been tremendously blessed for our sacrifice.  I know the kids at home had to sacrifice as well as we occassionally went to the temple on a Friday or Saturday night.  I am grateful for their willingness to allow us to attend the temple each week.  We usually tried to go during the day, sometimes Brad and I went at the same time, and sometimes we went at separate times, depending on the week, but I never missed.  The temple was closed for two weeks in August so I wasn't able to go those two weeks, but I did double sessions in a couple of the weeks so I would be able to have 52 sessions this past year.  I have written about some of the most touching experiences in my journal as there were times I felt the spirit so strongly that I know that the sisters I was serving were present.  I look forward to this next year as I do another 52. 

In closing, I would like to share a two quotes.  The first is  by Ezra Taft Benson:  "I promise you that, with increased attendance in the temples of our God, you shall receive increased personal revelation to bless your life as you bless those who have died."   The second is by Thomas S. Monson, our prophet, 
"To you who are worthy and able to attend the temple, I would admonish you to go often. The temple is a place where we can find peace. There we receive a renewed dedication to the gospel and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments."    I have a strong testimony of temples and the sealing power of the priesthood.  I am so grateful to know that we can be together throughout all of eternity if we live worthy of those blessings and do all that we have been asked to do.  
 
Remember our Family Motto:  NO EMPTY CHAIRS!

Sister Bassett

          One of my dearest friends passed away last night.  I have known it was coming, but it is still hard.  Rochelle made everyone feel as if they were her only best friend.  She treated everyone so kindly and was the first to not volunteer, but to jump in and do.   The world has lost a wonderful spirit, but I know Heavenly Father has been working hard to get her over there to help the spirit's in Heaven.  The Bassett's fought hard to keep her here.

         I remember when she first moved to the Pasco 2^nd ward.  Cole was just a baby.  Fairly soon after, I was assigned to be her visiting teacher.  My baby at the time was Kaitlin and she was three and my oldest was 15 or 16.  At first I felt like we couldn’t possibly have anything in common.  As I continued to be her visiting teacher and she became my older girls primary teacher I got to know her better.  She was by far my girl’s favorite primary teacher and not just because she tossed them candy if they answered a question.  They knew that she cared about them – truly cared.  

           I was serving in some presidency at the time and I guess she had a certain impression about me and who I was as I remember a comment she made one time while I was visiting her.  I had told her about a family vacation where we had gone to Oregon to the lava caves.  The caves were so short we had to crawl on our hands and knees to get through them.  Her comment was, “YOU did that!?”  I have always remembered that as a great lesson to me.  Don’t be so uptight or at least give the impression of being uptight – let loose and have a little fun.  That is a lesson I once again need reminded of with my new set of teenagers.  Sometimes we focus on the school work too much and not on the fun.  Thank you for such a great lesson.

          After serving in the primary she was called to the young women’s organization and once again my girl’s benefitted from having her as a teacher.  She taught them memorable lessons and got them to open up and come out of their shells.  They have become good women, leaders, wives and mothers because of her.  If my girls had an extracurricular activity she would find out about it and then go to it to support them.  I remember seeing her at plays, sporting events, concerts, and none of her kids were performing.  It was her Young Women she was coming to see.  She treated all the young women as if they were hers.  They knew that she loved them and cared about them and she always went the extra mile.

          Then she became my visiting teacher, along with Danielle Belliston.  We were all pregnant together too.  Danielle with her first, Rochelle with her second, and I with my seventh.  I loved when they came every month and we would sit and rock in my banana chairs as we talked.  I was always sad when it was time for them to go.  I think it was the only time that I loved having my visiting teachers stay a long time.  They weren’t just my visiting teachers, they were my friends.  Even after we all had our babies, we continued to visit and enjoy each other’s company.

          I remember after they moved out of the ward and going to her house to visit and let the kids play.  Conner loved their toy closet under the stairs.  We have one now, just not quite as cool as theirs.  We went to great parties at their house and it was fun to see how much she and her husband, Ryan, love each other and how great they treated each other when we would come over as couple’s.  Such a shining example to Brad and I. 

          A bit more than four years ago, Courtney got married.  My mom and sisters who had never met her before were especially impressed.  They had come to the reception and then Sister Bassett drove her family home and returned to help us clean up.  She was hauling around a huge vacuum cleaner all over the gym floor.  It was just a couple of weeks later that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

          Nearly three years ago was the best birthday ever.  I spent the day visiting with her while she was in the hospital.  Her cancer had moved to a part of the brain and she was in the hospital for a few days having it removed.  We had so much fun talking and laughing.  I loved it and will treasure that day always.  A few days later she realized it had been my birthday and apologized profusely for me spending the day with her, but I loved it.  It was a lot of fun!

          After moving to our new house she kept bugging me about letting her come over and spackle my nail holes and doing a little bit of sanding and painting.  She wanted to come over and scrape all the stickers off my new windows.  I am so glad that instead we just talked and let the kids play.  My nail holes will probably be forever left undone until we move out as it isn’t really that big a deal.  I have learned from her that spending time with family and friends is what counts.  Who cares about anything else. 

          I am so glad she was able to have her family around her the last few days.  They are the most important of all.  I just wanted my family to know how much I love and admire Sister Bassett and to remember the great example she has been to me since the day we met until all eternity.  She have been a great influence on my family and on so many other families as well.  I could not have ever asked for a better friend.  Thank you for such a guiding influence and friendship. 

          Please feel free to follow her story and read people's comments about her at  http://www.rolumpybreast.blogspot.com/  The world was truly a better place for having Rochelle Bassett here.  I hope we can live up to the legacy she left for us.  This is something I am going to work hard towards.

          I am so thankful for the Plan of Salvation.  Our church is the only one with the answer to what happens after we die.  I know Heavenly Father loves us so very much and wouldn't just leave us hanging.  I feel sorrow for those who think that this is the end.  I am grateful that I will see my dear friend again and I know that she was greeted by a boatload of people on the other side.  I know that she will also be one of the first in line to greet me when I die as well.  I know she is in a better place and that she is happy and that she will continue to watch over her family and wait for them to join her in the Celestial Kingdom as I know that is where she is at.  There aren't many who are much better than Rochelle. I know I have a long way to go to even be half as good as her.

     Dear family, I love you all so much.  Please remember that in all you do and say.  Heavenly Father loves us and He wants us to live in such a way that we can all return unto Him some day.  I know that I am sure going to try to do better.  Please remember our family motto:  Celestial Kingdom with No Empty Chairs.  

January 2011

Sunday, January 16th - called Zach to see how he was doing.  Could not get a hold of him.  We called and called.  Finally he answered!  He had been out doing his home teaching.  What an example to us - most wait until the last moment - and here he was out just the week-end after school had started back up.  I was impressed.

Just as Brad and I were preparing to celebrate our 27th anniversary, his mom passed away.  It was very unexpected.  She had gone to church with us the day before, but was a little under the weather that Monday, January 17th.  Grandpa and I had gotten her all cleaned up and tucked in to bed and I knew she hadn't been herself that day, so I teasingly said, "Tomorrow you will be up and running a marathon."  As I left the room she whispered, "Thank you, Pam."  And sure enough, she was running a marathon the next day.   We called the kids to let them know the funeral would be in Payette on Saturday but we didn't expect them to come.  It would be a long drive and bad weather.  We would rather they be safe, plus we figured that they had lots of work to do between school work, jobs, etc.  Brad and his dad took the van and drove to Payette with Grandma.  I borrowed Spurgeon's (our home teacher) Suburban.  We waited until Friday afternoon when Courtney, Will and Whitney arrived from Cheney and then began our long scary drive to Payette.  I don't like driving.  I despise driving at night.  I abhor driving in the snow and ice.  It wasn't fun.  I found myself a traveling buddy, usually a big semi that wasn't moving at snail speed, and would follow behind him and where ever his lights went, I followed.  The Suburban drove very nicely and I was impressed as we passed many overturned cars, truck, and other accidents along the road.  We arrived safely and a few hours later the rest of my kids from Utah arrived.  It was a sad occasion for a great family reunion.  Uncle Louis let us all stay in his trailor home.  It was crowded and cold, but it was free. 

Grandpa and his 3 brothers

We played games, discussed scriptures, ate food, and enjoyed each other's company.

Christmas 2010

At Thanksgiving time Brad's parents came to live with us.  Brad drove to Payette, Idaho on a Wednesday, celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday, packed and loaded a truck Friday, drove back to Washington on Saturday, and they moved into the master bedroom upstairs and we moved into the storage room downstairs.  It doesn't have any walls nor a door, but that's that.

It was a quieter Christmas than usual as we were missing Michael and Allison, and Erin and David.  But it was still fun.  Just a few pictures (or actually quite a few) to highlight the bedlam of the day.   The first two pictures are the ward Christmas party.  Conner was a sheep.  He wasn't too excited about the part, but at least he went along with it.  He is right there in the front. 


The kids were thrilled to sit on Santa's lap!!!

Whitney's first Christmas - let's see how much stuff I can climb on.

What is this!



What am I going to do with all this junk!



Our first time going to "First Night" the New Year's Eve event held every year in the Tri-cities. 

Zach heading back off to BYU.  Kylee and Kaitlin going back to school after Christmas break.  Dad off to work.

It was freezing cold as we waited for Zach to leave.

Missing Zach!

Cardinal Puff Club

When I was growing up this was an exclusive club to join.  My dad would demonstrate the initiation and we would have to copy it.  If we could, we became a member.  He loved to invite people to join after a Thanksgiving feast or some such big meal.  So, one of my brothers and all of my sisters are members of this club.  Lissie had her husband Gary, and I had mine, Brad, also join this club shortly after marrying into the family.  Quite a number of years ago, after Ron and Kellie Wright had come over for a Sunday dinner, my older kids asked about joining.  I demonstrated the initiation and after much trial and error, Michael, Courtney and Erin all join.  As did Sister Wright.  Brother Wright just sat and laughed at all of us dorks.  A few years back, Courtney wanted Will to join, so after a big meal we opened initiation for this club.  Will joined, as did Zach, Kylee and Kaitlin.  (We kind of fudged with Conner, so we will have to make him do this again when he is older to make it official.)  I looked and looked for the picture I took but can't find it and I am tired of looking.  Zach scoffed at this game - "It's just an old drinking game."  Oh, well.  Hein family tradition lives on!

It's All About Kylee

Couldn'd resist using that title since I just recently did a post about Martin.  Here are a few pictures from Kylee running Cross-Country for Chiawana High School in the Fall of 2010.  Then there photos of her Sweet Sixteenth birthday party.  The theme was Fear Factor and we made sure it was kind of gross and fun like the real show.  Too bad it is no longer on TV. 



Kylee is third from the far right.



Now to the birthday party.  Sorry - lots of pictures and not much commentary.  Kylee would have to identify all the people for me as I surely can't.  Ice cold water (ice cubes floating in the water) trying to get as many balls out as you can and trying not to freeze to death at the same time.

An orange is behind their backs and they have to move as quickly from the starting line, around the ping pong table and to the finish line in the shortest amount of time without dropping the orange.

This challenge was that the kids were tossing marshmellows over their backs and trying to get as many into their partners buckets.

This challenge was really gross as far as I am concerned.  It was a relay race passing real worms from the front of the line to the back.  The person at the front of the line would have to dig up a worm from out of the bucket of dirt and then pass it back and then run to the back so the next person would then have to dig up and pass a worm, and so forth.

In this challenge the kids had to catch as transfer as many live crickets as they could from one bucket to another.  I can tell Elizabeth Spurgeon loves this activity!

This challenge uses a different swimming pool. This one has apples in it so the kids could bob for apples. The only trick was that there are tons of goldfish swimming along with the apples.

Now comes the best challenge of all - eating the gross food.  We had anchovies, jellyfish, snails, larvae, baby octopus and vinegar.  The kids had to roll a die to see what kind of shake they got to eat.  We did have some upchucking into the sink with this event.  Just a note for Michael - while I was shopping for gross food - I found balut.

 

 This challenge was to get a piece of bubble gum that has been covered with whip cream without using your hands.  Then chewing the bubble gum and making a big bubble.  First one done wins.  We had shower caps for those who didn't want to get their hair all sticky. 

 For this challenge there was an orange inside a nylon that was tied around your waist.  The kids had to use the orange to hit their balloon across the room and then back.  Another race!

 Another gross race.  Crack an egg then pass it down the line trying to be the first team to fill the cup.  We did this outside as we knew it would be a messy challenge.

Last of the gross things and this could possibly be the grossest of them all.  We had various toppings like carmel or chocolate ice cream syrup or ketchup or soy sauce, etc. and then live crickets.  If you ate the cricket without any toppings you got more points than if you ate the crickets dipped in something.  Of course, those who didn't want to participate surely didn't have to, as with all of the challenges. 



Pooped out party-goers.

  For refreshments we served pop and cow-patty pie.  By the end of the party, some of the kids were a bit nervous about trying this as they weren't sure what we had come up with for real.  It was really just crunched up chocolate cookies and chocolate pudding served in a disposable diaper.  I think it was the diaper that got them!