Qualities of a Father

This past father’s day I wrote a few stories from my life about the qualities of father’s. I have recently relocated these stories and thought I would share them. So happy father’s day…

PATIENT

Ben, the youngest child of six, was constantly teased and this made him very angry. When he would get hurt or teased he would scream and get into a rage. One day, upon seeing this rage, his father took him aside. He asked his son, “Ben, does screaming and getting angry stop the pain?” The young child shrugged and admitted it did not. His father then explained that if would be a better choice upon getting hurt or teased to stop and count to 10. After taking this time to breathe and get control, then it is appropriate to deal with the situation. Ben found that after trying this he was no longer angry and as able to deal with his life in a happier and more satisfying way. His father, with loving patients, had taught Ben a lesson that would stay with him and help shape him into a great man.

FAITH

For one of our family trips we had the opportunity to visit Palmyra, the home of the young Joseph Smith. While walking through the sacred grove Ben stopped me, looked me straight in the eyes and bore his testimony of the restoration of the gospel. I had known he had a testimony but having him testify and proclaim of these truths strengthened that knowledge and strengthened my testimony through his faith.


When I went to high school I attended seminary in a building far from my school. Every morning my father would wake me up and rive me to seminary. While I was in class trying to stay awake, my father was out in the car studying his scriptures. There were countless times in which I left seminary to find my Dad so immersed in his studies that he had lost track of time. Seeing my father’s dedication to the scriptures and to his studies showed me how important it was. I began trying to get more out of seminary and to study more diligently. I am one of six children and we each graduated from seminary becayse of the dedication of our father.

LOVE

Larry is a great man but he has one flaw, he faints at the sight of blood. Loose teeth, scrapped knees or small pin pricks made him queasy and sick. One afternoon he walked to the park with his three youngest children. Soon after they arrived his youngest son, Michael, fell off the jungle gym and cracked his chin open. There was blood everywhere, mixed with gravel and tears. Larry picked up his son, and without any cloth to stop the bleeding, rested his son’s oozing chin on his shoulder to apply pressure and started to quickly make the two block walk home. The other children ran ahead to get their mother and get some first aid help. By the time Larry arrived at the home with Michael his shirt was covered in his young son’s blood and the child was soothed. Although it was very difficult for Larry to do this small task of carrying his son home it showed that he loved his children. He got over his own fears and insecurities to save/help his child.

FRIEND

My father made time to play with us and be with us. I remember countless hikes, softball practices, game nights, ect in which he was there with us. I also remember driving with him to the grocery store, just so we could talk; Getting into deep conversations about music, movies and books. This time that my father spent just being with me, getting to know my likes and dislikes and making himself available to talk created a great friendship and bond. I knew that if I ever needed him, he would not hesitate to drop everything and be there to help. I knew that if I ever needed to talk, even if it was about something bar or hard, that he would be an open listener. I knew that he would always be there to be my friend.

PRIESTHOOD DUTY

Melvin Stones was an inactive member and very rough around the edges. He drank, smoked and cursed like a sailor. Melvin had 7 children and the oldest two boys, Mike and Larry, were about to turn 12 and wanted to go to church for scouting and to get the Priesthood. Melvin took his two boys into a room, sat them down and explained to them the importance of the Priesthood. He told them that having the Priesthood was a very serious and great responsibility and that if they were going to make this decision and do this great thing that they needed to be dedicated. Although Melvin did not attend church he knew and remembered the importance of the Priesthood in his life and in the home. Mike soon got the priesthood and Larry began to attend church to receive it. Larry said that he went to church faithfully everyday since that talk with his father ad tried to learn and study the gospel as mush as possible so that he could live up to the responsibility his father explained.

CARING

Ron has a very rough exterior; he grunts for replies and keeps to himself. One day, soon after we moved in with Ron, he commented on the ragged and tattered look of my Sunday shoes. He said that they were not appropriate for church and that I should not wear them again. I felt slightly ashamed and tried to think of a way to afford a new pair of shoes. The next day Ron woke me up and told me the needed me to go somewhere with him. He took me to the store and walked me to the shoe section and said, “Pick any pain; I will get them for you.” Although I was embarrassed and didn’t want him to have to buy me shoes, I realized how much he noticed and really cared about me. It was at that point that his rough exterior melted and I knew he was a wonderful and caring father.

 SACRIFICE

Lawrence Baker had fiver children and worked as a University Professor. In that time (1960s) the possession of extravagances was rare. Margaret, on of his daughter’s remembers that on occasion they would be treated to a candy bar. One candy bar for the entire family. She said that everyone, including her parents, were always so excited for this treat. They would all gather around as her father, Lawrence, opened the wrapping and began cutting the bar into small pieces. She said there was always one piece that was smaller than the rest and without hesitation her father would take this piece for himself. This seems like and insignificant even but it taught Margaret how much her parents sacrificed for her every day. She realized tat if her father sacrificed this small extravagance for his children that he must also be sacrificing more on their behalf.

Stones Family Camp-out

Mat and his family live up in beautiful Leadville, CO and so during the reunion (beginning of July) we all went up and camped at Turquoise Lake near Leadville.   It was beautiful and it was so much fun to go camping with everyone again (We had six tents full).  The food was amazing- Jasen is a pancake expert.  The activities were awesome- baseball, biking, fishing, canoeing, hiking, games and wood chopping. We had fun stories and games around the camp fire. And we even enjoyed it in the rain!!

Ben was the Fishing Master!!

Andrews contemplative fishing face.

I guess it worked. Andrew caught the first fish and Emma caught one later.

Waaa- totally self explanatory

I just LOVE this picture. This is Wyatt excited!!

We saw dad walking from far away and thought he looked naked. We had a good laugh about that one!

Yes- he is in the dogs kennel

Erica said there weren't any pictures of me on my camera so she took a 'Good Morning' shot. Lovely!

This is Taylor and Tonks in a thoughtful model pose.

The second day we went to the Leadville National Fish Hatchery. It was cool to see all the fish in these tanks. There were signs that said not to touch the water but honestly with 6 kids (and Michael David) that was more of a…guideline. We went on a gorgeous hike by the hatchery that ended at a park where we played horse shoes. It was so much fun to be out in nature with family and just get dirty!

Michael exemplifies the rule of...

'Don't touch the water!'

Look at the poor crooked fish

Dad and my new favorite Balderdash word!

Newson Family Hoe-Down

The day began (July 4th) as normal and then aroung 3:00 we were all sucked into an alternate reality and became cowboys and fugitives. There were wooden signs pointing the way towards hoe-down activities; including a scavenger hunt, rope tying, panning for gold, fire starting, fishing and horse lassoing. There were horse riding and gun shooting relays and some old time country dancing. Then we all got to have a true hoe-down meal with biscuits, meat, potatoes and beans (we even had homemade root beer).

That night we all went to a local park for FIREWORKS. It was so fun oooing, awwwing and singing patriotic songs with the kids (when we sang the national anthem the people around us joined in). We got to drive all the teenagers and older kids home with us- we had a sing-a-long in the car (I think Ben LOVED it!!) It was so much fun and very cool to have a hoe-down with the family!

The Grub!

Panning for Gold

Rope Tying with Grandpa

Roping the Horse

 

Fire Starting with Tobin

Family Reunions

Starting on July 1st we had not one but TWO family reunions. That means two times the fun, right? Well it was so much fun, a little crazy and hectic, and we sometimes felt bad that we couldn’t go to everything. But it was amazing to see the families and play with our favorite people (aka the nieces and nephews). So here is what we did.

NEWSON FAMILY REUNION

Friday we MOVED Ben and Brea- yahoo! And then went to the park across the street and played at the splash park!

Sunday after church we had a delicious dinner caught up with each other and just relaxed.

Monday (the 4th of July) we had a family hoedown (more to come on that one!)

Wednesday morning we all went to the park in from of our house and played games (softball and soccer) and then went to the splash park to cool off.

Friday we went to the rec center to swim. Luke had an unfortunate landing on one of the slides and broke his leg (he broke the tibia and fibula right below his knee). He was in a lot of pain on Friday but he is feeling much better now. He will be in a cast for eight weeks and did I mention Sarah is AMAZING!

Sunday was Heidi’s 23rd Birthday (actually not 23rd but we wont mention the real age). We had home made pizza, delicious frilly frothy dessert made by Becky and all the girls stayed up for a spa night (face masks, nail painting and a chick flick). We also had a small talent show and it was so much fun to see the Newson Talent shine.

Tuesday we celebrated Max’s 9th Birthday! We had crepes for breakfast and then went to the Scott Carpenter Park in Boulder and played on their awesome Space Ship jungle gym.

And throughout the week there were always really fun crafts and activities!

STONES FAMILY REUNION

Saturday (July 2) we went to the Denver Temple to do Aaron’s Temple work. It was a wonderful experience. We then went to Erica’s house for lunch, relaxing and games. For dinner we went to Casa Bonita! People say they do not like it because of the food but I would say it is compared to a Coloradian Disney Land- the happiest place in Colorado. It was so much fun to play and see everyone.

Emma smashed the pinata so she got the head!

Tuesday we (the ladies) just hung out while the boys attempted to cut down and pull out stumps in Mom and Dad’s front yard. We were not too cruel and did help- a little. While all of this back breaking labor was going on, the kids made tie-die shirts! That night we had a spur of the moment talent show- let me tell you, we are talented. The ended with games and five cartons of ice cream(we couldn’t decide on a flavor), chocolate sauce, bananas, whipped cream and lots of goey goodness.

And to think- it still took two more days to get it out/hidden!



No decision making skills here!



Emma sang and Wyatt just couldn't help but join in!

Mylie did a DDR dance by MEMORY!

We all tried DDR and...well...you see!

Michael and Taylor tap danced. It was inspirational!

Wednesday- Friday CAMPING (more to come on that later).

Saturday most of the family went on a run (I was thankfully not there yet) and then we again spent the day trying to get that stump out. That evening we had professional family pictures taken (something we have never done before) and it was very fun, not at all as painful as I imagined.

Monday our cousin Mary Elizabeth (Anne’s daughter) came to visit with her family. I haven’t seen her in over 10 years so it was fun to catch up. I brought two of the young women from my ward (Mallory and Alice) to hang out with Michael and Jasey and they all had lots of teenage fun.

Tuesday the family came to our new house and we had a party. The kids enjoyed the splash park and jungle gym (I think Erica might have enjoyed the jungle gym more). It was SO WONDERFUL to have my family over and see everyone!

Picnic in our Front Room!



Emma posing with the Rainbow!



They found a dead dragon fly in the grass at the park. It was beautiful. Alice was a little scared of it!