Life With Jon

Remembering That Wonderful Day

For Jon and Dawn

 

One of Her Gifts

It is Kelly's birthday and as i've been preparing our celebration
(which means stocking up on favorite ice creams to consume in her honor,
a tradition she observed in memory of her father who could tell you where
to find the best versions in nearly every major city in the country)
a very tender memory came to mind...

First of all
you need to know that her father, Peter
is a gifted muscian.
His favorite instrument is the organ.
Secondly, you must understand that Kelly
was her father's only daughter and
she, too was musically gifted.
Her instrument: the piano.

We all know
on some level or other
how music
well...
how music can change us...
alter one's self like nothing else can.

If you have ever been so moved
then i do not need to explain
(i couldn't, anyway)
that Kelly and her father are connected
on a level so few of us ever experience.

And yet
you also need to know
that Kelly is the last person to
say anything about any of her gifts.
She is chatty, very witty
not ashamed to be silly
does not suffer fools gladly
and
like her father
a BIG tease.
In other words:
they are anything but boorishly serious muscians.

They rarely talked about it.
They both played at home, daily
mostly for fun
Peter favoring any number of traditional American
folk songs
usually bursting out with boistrous vocals, as well.

Many years ago
when the family was living in San Jose, California
and Kelly was a teenager
(i think she was 16 or 17)
Jo and i were visiting for the Christmas holidays and
disappointed that we had to fly back home late Saturday night
before church services on Sunday when
Peter and Kelly were to perform a piano and organ duet.
Happily, there was time for me to join them
for an afternoon rehersal before i had to leave.

Pamela, Jo and i went over to the chapel with them.
They asked us to sit in the back
to listen and give feedback re: volume and balance between the two instruments.

They both played a few bars
Peter adjusted something or other on the organ
they tested those few bars again
and then
father and daughter looked up at each other
then back to the sheet music
and muffed the beginning.
Kelly sputtered
they worked out a new cue
and then
began again.
This time, Peter smiled
and they continued on...

i do not remember the name of the piece.
It was by one of those classical composers whose name
i should probably remember also.
i'm afraid to try and find and listen to it performed
by anyone else.

It was...

Luminous.
That is the word that keeps coming to mind.
Their music filled the cool, dark, reverent space
and it washed over and into each of us.
The three of us sitting in that last pew
could hardly speak we were so ...

i was so happy
to have been a witness to those moments
to be with family
alone, in that space
with Kelly and Peter as i'd never experienced them before.

i can see her now
if she were listening to me tell you this
she would shrug
rattle off the name of the piece
and then quickly ask, with a gleam in her eye,
"When do we get the ice cream?"

Happy Birthday, Kelly!!

Van Halen and The Clapping Song

i see angels all around and above

and today i'm celebrating that young
golden boy who stole my heart

who i created this blog for
because he loved to see so many
of the things i do.

And, one of my favorite things about
that young man
was his eclectic taste in music.

i remember the impassioned musicappreciation lesson he shared with me one evening on his last visit to this garden...all about the fine art of wailing guitars, Van Halen and what sets them above all the rest.
Then, half an hour later, he was singing the praises of bass-baritone Paul Robeson. Then, he went online so i could hear another of his favorite songs:

  

That boy is a delight!!

Happy Birthday, Dear Jon!!

Happy Birthday, Kelly!!

In honor of our beloved sister, daughter, niece, cousin, and friend, I have put together a little slide show using a few photos I've saved over the years. The first 3 are ones Peter took when Kelly was a toddler (he sent them to my parents and I inherited them). I've included the adorable ones of her 3 older brothers David, Joel, Jeffery, and her mother, Pamela. There is also a snapshot I took of Kelly and her sweet young cousin, Kris, when Cheri and her family were "on leave" from Iran in 1976. Next is a series of black and whites that Peter asked me to take in 1984.

When Kelly and her two oldest boys, Tyrie and Kelson, visited us in 1990, we went out into the garden. The slide show ends with a snapshot of the family during a reunion in Baltimore/Washington a few years ago.

If any of you have photos to share, please let me know...I would like to add them! AND...be sure to eat some ice cream today, in honor of Dear Kelly!! :^)

Music is from George Winston's "Summer" album

One has to believe...

...that Kelly and Jon are celebrating with an intense round of games...and a yummy, paradisaical Birthday Dinner!

 


Happy Birthday Jon!
We miss you both, with all of our hearts

 

"So near you are, summer stars..."

One of my favorite memories of time spent together is from that unforgettable--at least for me--Sevey family reunion up in the Uintas when I had my "little adventure." (but that's another story)...and now, whenever I happen to be outside on a clear night, I stop, look up,  and remember star gazing...and marveling at life, with Jon.

One evening, Jon and I found ourselves walking together back to the cabin. It was too beautiful a night to go back indoors just yet, so we took some folding chairs outside, and placed them where there was a wide gap in the canopy of pines, revealing a sky filled with stars. We both slumped down into the chairs so we could lean our heads back comfortably and gaze at the sky. As our eyes adjusted to the night, we marveled at the dazzling scene above us...and we talked, and laughed, and marveled at the stars, and laughed and talked, and marveled at the universe and people and, well...all the marvelous little things that came to mind. Jon and I always had lots to talk about.

One of Jon's best qualities, in my estimation, was the way he noticed--and treasured--the precious beauties and little (let alone big) wonders of this earth, life and people. It's why talking with him at times like that was always fun--and so often enlightening. And it's why, now, my heart leaps into my throat and I must focus my camera through tears  whenever I behold a marvelous sky...as when I took this photograph from the top of our little hill a few days before Thanksgiving.

If you click on the photo, a larger version will open in a separate window

"And for all this, nature is never spent;   
  There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;          
And though the last lights off the black West went   
  Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—   
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent   
  World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings."

                                                                                                           Gerard Manley Hopkins

I love this picture of you and Jon, Dawn! I am not sure that Jon could come up with a birthday cake as fabulous as what you created (even tho he had been crowned "Iron Chef" at work)...but I know he would have figured out something special for you!! I hope you had a fabulous day--and enjoyed cake, or trifle, or something you truly love to eat!

XOXO

from vick

Celebrating Dawn and Jon

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Happy Anniversary! (to Jonathan and me)

Dear Everyone,

Just wanted to write a quick note of thanks to all who came to our wedding/sealing last year. It was a great day--the best, most happiest day! But at the wedding dinner I didn’t take the opportunity to say anything and I really regret that. I was feeling so tired after the celebrations of those past couple days that my brain wasn’t working quite coherently, so I wanted to say the things I’d been thinking then, now. (Thanks for waiting J).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I waited so long for the right person and when I found him he was perfect for me. A lot less hair than

I anticipated, but I found out I loved bald! There wasn’t anyone sweeter, more concerned about me and more respectful. He treated me so well, was cultured and appreciated the person I’d tried to become. And he was so funny! We would laugh like crazy together. And he loved the Lord, had lived a righteous life and was worthy to go to the temple and marry me forever. And our names even rhymed, Jon & Dawn—it was a sign J. I loved that he helped me do the dishes, that he ate my rice krispy encrusted fish, that he understood when I was sick and was trying to be more budget conscious. And he was such a good, kind person and always treated everyone well. And he was so cute and could pick me up and swing me around, what a bonus! He would read out loud to me and with me (my favorite). He would read the scriptures, would hang out with my family and would take walks with me and talked to me. And he actually liked going shopping with me, or pretended to very well—something my own mother, family and friends would tire off after only 3 or 4 hours. What stamina! He was perfect. I loved the person he was, but moreover I LIKED the person he was and soon knew I wanted to be with him forever.

But also, I wanted to thank everyone who waited with me while I was waiting to find the right person. It wasn’t easy for me a lot of the time and sometimes I was sad, ornery and impatient J. I had a lot of family and good friends who stuck with me and cheered me up and onward when I was feeling disappointed. So, THANK-YOU to my family and friends for sticking by me and loving me and a big THANK-YOU to Jonathan’s family and friends for raising him so well and loving him, it made him into a person who was easy to love and be loved by.
 

And now, I owe you all another big thank-you for all the prayers and love and patience you’ve had with me since Jonathan’s death. It’s been difficult but how much harder it would have been without you. Thanks for the phone calls, visits, emails, the flowers, gifts, lunches, dinners, notes, laughs and “thinking of you’s” and again, especially the prayers. I’ve felt blessed. It’s been really, really, really appreciated. And I know Jonathan appreciates it too. J How lucky we were to be sealed. How much stronger my testimony is of God’s love for his children. That the Plan of Salvation is the Plan of Happiness. That Christ’s life, death and resurrection make it possible for Jonathan to be resurrected. I know this. I know that the only things that matter in life are our relationship with the Savior and our relationships with other people. How lucky we are.
 

Love you all,

Dawn Andrus Paine
 

P.S. Jonathan is definitely going to get me a great anniversary present this year! I just haven’t actually decided how good it’s going to be. J
 

And, there’s more! I decided to add the last entry Jonathan made in his journal. Just to end on a happy note.
 

Jonathan’s Journal: Fri 9-19-08
 

Today we had our wedding reception. It was billed as a “pre-wedding celebration” since Dawn isn’t good with staying on her feet all day and since she needs her rest, we divided it up into 2 days, and since we didn’t want to stick around after our wedding we did the reception first. We had tons of help. Kelly & my mom, Jo & Vicki, other friends & family, Jeff & Carolyn + kids were there (and will be tomorrow. It was all great. Well, I gotta get to bed because…

I’M GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW!!

Vicki here (editor of this blog and Jon's aunt)...I loved the poem that Jon wrote about his beloved and thought it appropriate to share it here again today:

A poem to Dawn….

No sunshine in my mourn
E’en though the sun was shining.
In darkness slept forlorn,
Morose, self pity pining.

Not til my afternoon
Did slumber turn awakening –
A stirring opportune
When, through clouds,
Dawn came breaking.

To Know & Love Jon...

...is to understand just how much he loved football.

He is--I'm sure--so chuffed that the Cougars beat Oklahoma last night!

And, this is the week...when the NFL season officially begins.

Jonathan's Testimony

From Jonathan’s Journal:

4-8-07

      I figure with it being Easter, I would take the time to bear my testimony of Jesus Christ. To whoever is reading this, I testify that Jesus Christ lives. He is the only begotten of the Father, the firstborn of the father (in the Spirit), the only one born of the Father in the flesh. He was conceived of a virgin by miraculous means approximately 2000 years ago in Bethlehem in the humblest of circumstances. At about 30 years old he started his ministry, organizing His church, working miracles, teaching the gospel. At 33 years old He, after living a perfect, sinless life, the only person to ever do this, he suffered for every sin that was and will be committed. He did this in the Garden of Gethsemane and it was almost unbearable; It would have been for a mere mortal, but he was the Son of God, and for that reason he came into the world. After such great suffering that he bled from His pores, He was arrested on false charges, humiliated, tortured, and crucified by being nailed to a cross. He died, was buried and then, three days later, rose from the dead, being the first to be resurrected (If I recall correctly). He did all this so that I can repent of my many sins, and so my body can be resurrected and perfected. He is my Savior, my Lord, and I love Him. I love Jesus Christ. If my writing is simple, and/or unrefined, don’t let that take away from the truth of what I’ve written. I know that I don’t know even close to all there is to know about Jesus, but I do know that He is my Savior.
 

Testimony of President Monson

4-6-08

By the way, I just want to testify that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God, that the Church is the one and only true Church of Jesus Christ; that He lives and would be my Savior if only I repent & endure to the end.