Remembering Elder Richardson

A few days ago I was perusing my BYU Alumni magazine.  As usual, I checked the "Alumni deaths" section for the years I was at BYU to see if anyone I might have known had died.

This time, I came across the name of Mark Lynn Richardson printed there.  That was the name of one of the missionaries who taught me the gospel before I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Could that Mark Lynn Richardson listed in the deaths be my Elder Richardson?  After hurrying to the computer I quickly found an obituary on a Google search, opened it, and was shocked to see Elder Richardson's smiling face there.  It was him.  He had passed away on June 30, 2009, at the age of 44 from a heart attack.

I couldn't believe he was gone.  I had just thought about him a few days earlier as we had passed the exit to his parent's home on the way back from our trip to San Diego.  Worse, I couldn't believe he was gone and I didn't have a chance to go to the funeral and say goodbye to someone who made a difference in my life.

So, Elder Richardson, goodbye.  I hope you know how much I love and appreciate you.  You made a difference by having a ready smile for me and everyone else you met. You made a difference by being not only cool and sure of yourself, but humble and meek all at the same time.  You made a difference by writing me letters of support filled with not only goofy pictures that made me smile but testimony that touched my heart.  Even though it meant you had to give up swing dancing at the Star Palace for two years, you made a difference in my life by leaving your home to come half way across the country to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I will be eternally grateful to you for sharing that which has so richly blessed my life.

San Diego!

This past week our family took a trip down to San Diego. Mel has been in San Diego for the past month, and will be there for another month, with her job as a home health aide. With Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the day off between semesters for the boys, we knew we had a long weekend and thought it would be a great getaway.

We left Thursday night and drove all night. Bleck. I don't much like driving all night. We did end up stopping at about 3 in the morning and sleeping for a couple of hours before we finished our trip. It was good because we were very tired, and it was also good because if we continued on we'd get to San Diego at 5 AM, and I wasn't sure Melanie would welcome us kindly at that time in the morning! We got there about 7 AM instead. Kind of early, but not too bad, since Melanie has to be up to wake Jean about 8 AM.


Mel is staying at a condo that is right on the beach. (The picture to the left is from the balcony...see how close it is!) After we arrived we rested some (I went out on the balcony and dozed in the sun!) and then eventually showered, got dressed, and got ready to go on our Whale Watching Cruise.

Craig has done some pins for a lady that works for the San Diego Convention Center. She told him once that if he ever came to San Diego to call her and she'd get him some discount tickets to some of the San Diego attractions. When we knew that we were coming to San Diego he emailed her, and she very kindly sent us not discount tickets, but rather COMPLIMENTARY tickets! We got tickets to go on a whale watching cruise as well as tickets to the Science Center (including an IMAX film). That helped make our San Diego vacation lots of fun!

We had success on our whale watching tour, seeing not only a few whales (lots of spouts and a few tails), but also dolphins, sea lions, and a funny fish called a Mola Mola. A Mola Mola is a flat fish that basically made me think of a dolphin that had been run over by a car and smooshed flat. It was a really fun tour through the San Diego bay and out into the Pacific Ocean. We also saw plenty of things from the Naval base in San Diego, including submarines and aircraft carriers and guided missile cruisers. The tour went for 3 1/2 hours, which was probably about a half an hour to an hour longer than our attention spans (due partially to our all through the night drive). I think it was a bit long for a lot of the passengers' attention spans, as at that point a lot of the passengers (including us) were lulled to sleep by the rocking of the boat.

That evening we had dinner at a little hamburger place in Seaport Village and then went home and went to bed.

Saturday we got up and the family went out to the beach. Mel, Craig, Bradley, and Trevor decided to take a run down the beach. Jacob and I decided to take a walk down the beach. After our runs/walks we all got our swimsuits on and went to the pool for a swim. TO THE POOL! FOR A SWIM! IN JANUARY! I loved it! Afterwards, while everyone was getting showered and dressed, I sat on the balcony in the sun and proceeded to get a slight sunburn. I was darn proud of that January sunburn!

After we got dressed we went as a family to the San Diego temple and did baptisms for the , a vicarious performance of the ordinance of baptism for those who have previously died. In John 3, verses 3 and 5, it talks of the importance of being born of the water in order to enter the kingdom of God. Many have died without this importance ordinance, but a loving Heavenly Father provided a way for that work to be done even after .

Similar to the Savior's atoning sacrifice, once the ordinance is done it is up to the person to choose to accept that ordinance or not, but what a blessing to have the opportunity to have the chance to have this work done even though one has passed on! It was neat for me to have our entire family go to the temple together. As the scriptures say, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 1:4) and I am thankful that my children are "walking in truth" and therefore are worthy to hold a temple recommend and enter into the house of the Lord.

After baptisms we went to dinner at TGIFridays, and then home for the rest of the evening.

Sunday morning we went to church. They were having a Stake/Regional Conference, which was a broadcast from Salt Lake City. They had Bishop Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric, Sister Matsumori of the General Primary Presidency, Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and President Uchtdorf from the First Presidency. It was a WONDERFUL conference, and I am thankful for the messages of inspiration and peace.

Bishop Edgley spoke of being thankful for The One who makes it all better, our Savior Jesus Christ. Sister Matsumori spoke of living what we believe, and leaving a legacy of faith for future generations. Elder Holland spoke of resolving to forgive, both ourselves for the "dumb things" we do, but also others; and to think regularly and often of the Savior who makes forgiveness possible. President Uchtdorf spoke of conquering bad with good: for example, conquer lies with truth, conquer selfishness with generosity. He also challenged us not to stand on the sidelines, but instead to internalize and practice the gospel teachings. He gave us 3 challenges for our lives: 1) To have a current temple recommend, 2) to study the words of God daily, and 3) to pray daily.

Sunday afternoon Melanie and I took a walk, and later we made dinner for everyone. That evening we just hung around and enjoyed each others company.

Monday morning Craig flew out of San Diego. He came back to Salt Lake, and immediately boarded a plane for Oklahoma, where he spent 4 days at Inola Castings, his new company. After dropping him off at the airport, the kids and I went to the Science Center. We did a few exhibits, and watched an IMAX film in the dome theater. We all decided that watching a movie in a dome theater was not our favorite, and kind of made us all sea sick! One of the favorite exhibits at the Science Center was an architectural exhibit. They had a ton on building blocks and the kids enjoyed trying to build towers as high as they could go for quite awhile.

After the science center we went out to eat at a restaurant called Carrow's and then went to an outlet mall that was right by the US/Mexico border. The kids thought it was neat to watch the Border Patrol vehicles whiz up and down the border which was at the back of the outlet mall's parking lot. While we were shopping it began pouring, the start of a huge storm coming in to Southern California.

Tuesday morning we headed for home. I was a little worried about the weather for our drive. The forecast was for some form of precipitation (rain or snow) the whole way home. Luckily though we had a great drive home, and it really only lightly rained on and off for the first hour or so of our ride.

All in all, it was a GREAT trip. It was wonderful to see Melanie, wonderful to do all the activities we did as a family, and wonderful to see the sun and color and flowers in San Diego! I think I could get into being a snowbird...sun and color and flowers is much better in my mind than inversion and gray and snow!

Best part of my trip to San Diego? Probably knowing I'm headed back there in 2 weeks for a little "girl time" with Melanie! I can't wait!