::: blog

( this was in an email that my grandpa sent out to all the family. he loves to write poetry, and always is writing poems for birthdays and holidays. he even has a blog where he posts stuff, check it out here ).

As we approach this special time
And contemplate God’s gift sublime,
Let us look at Christ’s life as the way
That we should live our lives each day.

We know that He overcame each trial.
He always walked the second mile.
He healed the sick and raised the dead.
He made sure the hungry were fed.

“Come follow me,” was His request.
“I promise you that you’ll be blest.”
In crucifixion, He paid the price
So each of us could be blessed twice.

Resurrection is for all mankind.
Not one soul will be left behind.
He made it so that if we endeavor
To be like Him, we’ll live forever.

At Christmas time our thoughts are turned toward family and friends because of how each has blessed our lives.  We are grateful for how we feel about the purpose of life and the opportunity to live in this beautiful world with people who love us.  Our heart goes out to those who are seeking the same and pray that they will find the peace that we enjoy in the knowledge that God does live and that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Redeemer of all mankind.  The greatest gift that can be given is the promise of eternal life.  “For God so loved the world that he gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

We wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a New Year full of many blessings.

Lots of love and best wishes, VerNon and Bernice Bingham

eliana and i spent the evening together, going to a play (seussical at the scera theatre) and then getting some frozen yoghurt.

here are some photos from an evening drive along the alpine loop with my family

my grandpa takes care of everyone he can. he always has, as long as i can remember. in seattle, his car was known as the Lord’s taxi because he would always give rides to the widows and the old who couldn’t get around to and from church as well as other doctor’s appointments or errands. at church they called him the candy man because he would always have smarties in his pocket to give away to kids, youth, and the not-so-young as well. i remember one sunday in particular, when i was visiting on my way up to Alaska. it was shortly after they decided (and told others) that they were going to be moving down to salt lake city. there was a handicapped youth that was particularly fond of my grandpa and was mad at him for leaving. he knew just what to do, though, and spent the next hour with her, making her laugh. after moving down here to salt lake, this tendency to serve seemed to only increase. the neighborhood where they moved is something of a residential community and is full of widows or those who need help around the house or rides to the doctor’s office.

all of this, however, is just background to the fact that just over two weeks ago while helping a neighbor change a light bulb in her house he lost his balance on the step stool and fell, breaking his hip, landing him in the hospital and in the surgery room where a plate was put on his hip with a number of screws to hold the bones in place.

(carolee and grandpa)

he hasn’t enjoyed his hospital stay all that much, and would rather be back at home, in his own bed, and would rather spend time helping others than resting so his hip can heal.

it has been good to have family close by though, and my dad has been up there a number of times, as well as the rest of us. after conference this last sunday, we all piled in the car and went up to see him and my grandma in the care center where they recently moved him from the hospital.

(grandpa sporting carolee’s shades)

(the lot of us)