Moose on the Loose

I have lived in Utah a long time - in fact my entire life except for a short 12-year visit to Kansas.  Living in Kansas we had many animals grace our yard from squirrels to rabbits and an occasional possum (boy are they ugly!)  Here in Utah we don't get as many, but once in a while we see a deer here or there.

But Saturday morning  we woke-up to quite the sight.

 

We were surprised to see this young bull moose wandering around our house trying to figure out where he was.  He was in the back yard by the trampoline and then came up to the front (see above.)  He then took a stroll down the street (see below) and over to the school play ground. Finding no other moose boys or girls to play with he strolled across the highway and into the next subdivision.

It was nice to have him visit but I hope he found his way back home.

Marathon Men

In the mid 1970s there was a movie with Dustin Hoffman called Marathon Man.  I don't remember him being a long-distance runner - I think he was running from bad guys.

Well hopefully we are the good guys! Michael, Christian and I all participated in the 2011 Northridge Fun Run 5K.  Michael, who usually prefers a bike, was kind enough to join us for his 2nd 5K and Christina ran in his very first!  Luckily for all of us I did not have a heart attack but lived to see another day.

Thomas Lyle & Celia Renee - Enchanted!

On April 30, 2011 Thomas Lyle Cooper and Celia Renee Verbitski were married in Salk Lake City.  It was a beautiful day - full of sunshine, smiles, two great families coming together and, of course, those little events that make the occasion memorable.  But we made it through the unexpected bumps in the road and the wedding, dinner and dance were wonderful.

 After exchanging vows it was finally time to exchange rings and tie the knot.  Thomas is a lucky man and we LOVE having Celia Renee as part of our family.

 Celia Renee enjoyed a dance with her father Michael.  Do you think he is smiling because Celia now belongs to Thomas?  Well, having given a daughter away I understand the joy that comes from with a day like this and to see the joy on your little girls face.

 

Faith enjoyed a very memorable dance with Thomas.  A little bitter-sweet when you let you son go but you gain a daughter.  Tears of joy.

The entire Cooper Clan was all decked-out for the occasion.  It was so nice to have Shane and Kris join us from Nephi.  Forrest was best man and everyone joined in the dancing and festivities.

The Army of Heleman

It is official!  On Wednesday July 6, 2011 Elder Forrest John Cooper entered the MTC in preparation to leave on July 26th for the Oregon Eugene Mission.  He was excited to leave and is very well prepared to be a missionary.  It is something he has been preparing for his entire life.  There were no tearful goodbyes, just lots of smiles and happiness.

We received his first letter and quoting Elder Cooper "I love it here."  His MTC companion is Elder Johnson from Canada.  Half of his district is going to Eugene and the other half is going to Canada so there are seven Canadian Elders in his group.  One Elder said he had been to Camp Bartlett - and Forrest remembered finding his glasses at the bottom of the lake!  Lots of fun times ahead.

The Turner Award

Charity has always been a wonderful daughter.  But as school ended we were able to share part of her wonderfulness with the rest of North Layton Junior High.  At the end of the annual Awards Ceremony they give out The Turner Award to the student who shows excellence in academics, extra curricular activities and most of all, humanitarianism. 

The award recipient is selected by the teachers as they observe the students throughout the year.  They look for acts of kindness by students who are always putting others before themselves and looking out for those who are often left out.  They referred to Charity as the queen of random acts of kindness.  She was very surprised to be selected.  As they were describing the award winner she kept thinking "Who is this person" not realizing that it was her.  We were so proud of her, not for just getting the award, but for being the kind, giving and loving person she is.

July 10, 2011 - Happy 24th Anniversary

It seems hard to believe that after 24 years, raising 7 children, participating in three weddings, moving to Kansas and back - and last but certainly not least - putting up with me, Faith is still smiling.  As you can tell from the above photo, Faith ages much more gracefully than I do.  Either that or I married her right out of Jr. High.

The truth be known, marring Faith was the greatest single event and the greatest blessing to ever take place in my life.  She has cared for our home and our children while I work, she studies the gospel and then shares all her new found insightes with me and most of all, she reaches out to help others.

I love my wife with all my heart.  She is my soul mate and my eternal companion.  She is my better half and will always be my guidance and inspiration.  Twenty-four years is such a short time when compared to what lies ahead, but I think we are off to a pretty good start.  Happy Anniversary sweetheart.

Happy Birthday Daniel

It' s official - Daniel is 4-years old!  Faith and I had the chance to visit Reese and Tammy for a special birthday lunch with our grandson and the rest of the family.

We dined on pizza, salad and Faith's homemade bread sticks.  It really doesn't get much better than that.  We have included a few pictures for your enjoyment.  So from Grandma and Grandpa Cooper - "Happy Birthday" to the best grandson ever!


The happy family along with the birthday boy and Cookie Monster cupcakes.



Grandma Faith joins in the fun.



New Thomas The Train Engine PJs.  What a sharp dresser!

 

It's Sprig Already? Shut Up!

I love springtime.  The days become warm and inviting, the lawns green-up and I get to play in the yard.  The beautiful flowers start to bloom and I quickly realize that the long, cold winter has finally come to an end. 

The first thing to bloom is the Forsythia Bush with it's ubundant yellow flowers that are so bright in the spring sunshine.  We like to let it grow wild and crazy, it really adds to a festive year!

Next is our Ornimental Plum that is found in the front yard.  Wonderful pink flowers laced with a purple hue.  It aways adds a wonderful smell to the air when we sit on the front proch and watch the passers-by.

 

Then we get the Tulips - What an amazing aray of color with the reds, yellows, whites, purples and oranges. The cooler nights allow the blossems to last for a week or more, enableing all who stroll by to enjoy them.

But as I gaze at the calendar I am shocked at what I see. May? Is it really May? All of the wonderful creations God has allowed mt to have in my yard come to life at the end of March and early April. But May? Yes, it is sad but true. Let's hope the cooler nights last a little longer so I can continue to enjoy all these colors have to offer. I know its not nice to fool Mother Nature, but she has got the best of us this year.

Christian's Concert

Christian has been practicing the piano for about a year now.  He loves the pieces that move quickly and sound exciting.  He doesn't really LOVE to practice yet, but he has a patient mother that sits by him every morning and listens to his scales and works on his pieces with him.

We hope you enjoy listening to "The Tempest" by Nancy Faber.

Grandparent Week

As we continue with this new year, one of the first memorable things (after Chinese food with the Flittons) is grandparent week.  The calendar week runs from February 11th - 18th and is a time to remember our parents and our children's grandparents.  "So what is Grandparent Week?" you may ask.  Strange as it may seem, all four of our parents died in the same calendar week.

  My father, Dayle Wilson Cooper (1918 - 1973) passed away in Valentine's Day
  in 1973. Dad always had elevated blood pressure and cholesterol and had
  suffered two strokes. But on Valentine's Day he had a blood clot enter his lung
  and it hit him just like a heart attack. He passed away at home with mom holding
  his hand.   He gave it a squeeze just before he died. I remember the day well, I
  had been at   basketball practice at Granite High my sophomore year.



Three years later, Faith's father, Herrick Tune Muhlestein (1916 - 1976) died on February 11th and was buried on Valentine's Day. Herrick worked at Geneva Steel in Orem as a maintenance electrician. He was walking down the catwalk at work when he had a heart attack. They feel that he was dead before he hit the floor. Both fathers left behind young mothers and children at home. It was difficult for both families.

Joyce Terry Muhlestein (1934 - 2004) was only 42 when she was left a widow. She spent the rest of her life raising her posterity and serving others. She sang in the Tabernacle Choir among many groups. She served a mission with Marilyn Elizabeth in Louisiana. She loved her eight children and her forty-two grandchildren. I remember sitting on the couch downstairs listening to the Choir's Valentine's Day broadcast that year she died. They sang love songs and as I held her hand she longed to be with her Herrick again. Joyce died of cancer four days later on February 18th.

Mom (Priscilla Hendrix Cooper 1923 - 2007) was the last one. How we enjoyed our visits to Richfield to see her. She was active and always had energy. She was 49 when dad died and had worked for the church, filled three different missions and always raised a garden. She was surprised when they discovered lung cancer around Thanksgiving. It really took its toll quickly but I always thought she would hold on till the week came. And she did, passing away on February 11th. We buried her and dad on the same day, just 34 years apart.

Besides the happy memories of our parents, many other wonderful

things have happened during grandparent week.  I entered the LTM in preparation for my mission to Japan on February 10th - the day before Herrick died.  I started my career with New York Life on February 10, 1983 and have been in insurance ever since.  Faith and I had our first date at a Valentine's dance on the 13th.  We moved to Kansas on the 12th.  My letter from the First Presidency calling me as a Bishop was signed the 13th.

Much of our life as a family has been shaped by the events of Grandparent Week. Each year we look with a little anticipation to see what might come next. This year was very uneventful, but that is alright with us.

My 55th Year

Yesterday was the 1st day of my 55th year.  Being in the life insurance business for the past 28 years I constantly talk about life expectancy tables and mortality tables.  Both of these tables take into consideration occupation, avocations, personal health and family history.  I often refer to my own family history to offer an example.

My father died at the age of 54, as did my grandfather and great-grandfather.  As a 16-year old I thought my father was old. The older I have become the more I have come to realize just how incredibly young he really was.  I always thought that being born in 1918, driving a model T, and fighting in World War II made you old.  My children think that being born in the 50's and listening to the oldies radio station makes me old.  We had a party line growing up, listened to records, 4-tracks, 8-tracks and cassette tapes.  No one had cell phones, computers or microwaves.

I think of my father often, I miss him and wish I would have had him around longer to share my life with.  He once told me that the age 54 scared him and that if he could make it to 55 he could go to 100.  On the contrary I am excited for 54.  My health is good, I give blood regularly (I am up to my 8-gallon pin) and I watch my cholesterol and blood pressure.  In my training classes I always laugh and say "I take after my mom."

I miss my dad and can't wait to see him again.  But I can certainly wait another 25 to 30 years.  2011 has all the makings of a wonderfully fantastic year.  Thomas is getting married, Forrest will go on his mission, Charity will enter high school and start driving.  Not sure about the fantastic part of that last bit.  My job is going well and my wife loves me.  2011 will end on a real high note - I will turn 55!  May this new year bring blessings to each of you and your families.  Lyle

2010 Cooper Family Christmas Update

Reese and Tammy have had a wonderful year.  Reese graduated from the U in the spring and is working hard to provide for his growing family.  Daniel received a little brother - William James and is a great older brother.  Tammy is the best mom we could hope for and does a great job of keeping her three boys in line.

 Alexis had been living and working on her own for several years and decided to go back to school to become a Surgical Technician.  Changing her work hours to part time to accommodate her class schedule allowed her to move back home for the next year.  We love having her around and spending more time with her.  She is smart, cute, helps a ton around the house and just a joy to be with.

 Katie and Jeff are still in Rexburg, Idaho.  Katie completed her student teaching, graduated with her teaching degree and had our first granddaughter all before summer had ended.  She stays at home and supports Jeff in his school and work.  She loves being a mother and spending time with Kayley Irene all day long.  Next up: an internship somewhere, we will keep you posted.

 Thomas enrolled at Weber State with a full class schedule and also worked full time as an account service rep for AT&T.  He would go to school from 7:30 till noon, do some home work and then work from 2:00 to 11:15 PM.  He had long days and we are proud of his efforts.  He also found time to get engaged to Celia Renee and they are planning an April wedding after Celia graduates from Weber State with her degree in Elementary Education.  We love her already!

 After graduating from High School and spending another summer on the water front at Camp Bartlett, Forrest started school at Snow College in Ephriam, UT and loved his first semester.  He is very involved in their music program, being a part of Cadence (Snow's Performing Small Ensemble) and in A Capella Choir.  He is BSA and Red Cross Lifeguard certified and also First Response certified.  Next spring he will take an EMT course and is thinking of pursuing a career as a trauma nurse.  He is starting his mission papers and will be ready to go right after his birthday in June.  He is so excited and can't wait to get out there and get started.

 Charity has spent the year focusing on her musical talents.  She is learning the guitar, singing, writing a little music and taking voice lessons.  She was in the Jr. High production of Music Man and in our stake production of Savior of the World.  She is excited to work on her driver's license this year and is getting ready for High School.  She is also taking a cooking class and is our own little Iron Chef and will definitely not get "Chopped" from our kitchen.  She is also learning "What Not to Wear".

Christian has been working very hard in school and with piano.  He has participated in two recitals this year and loves to practice.  He will be playing basketball next spring, has an awesome imagination and is a pure joy to be around.  He is a friend to all and shares his joy with everyone he meets.

Faith spent most of the year as the director of Savior of the World.  She had a cast of 95 with many rehearsals and three performances.  The play was a huge success and touched the lives of many, many people, including her family.  She shares her incredible talents freely with everyone and will need to find things to do to fill all her spare time.  However, she will be a service project leader at BYU Women's Conference in April and with a wedding two days later I think she will be plenty busy.

I have been working for Insphere Insurance Solutions, training agents on life insurance.  I usually travel once a week to train individual offices and then work from my home office the rest of the time.  I continue to serve as the Stake Young Men's President.  I played the part of the Apostle John in Faith's production and it had a very profound impact on my life.

We have many fond memories of our dear friends and family, especially at this time of year.  We have enjoyed receiving your cards, letters, e-mail and updates.  Know that we are thinking of you and send our love to everyone.  With joyful hearts we celebrate the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ.  May each of you feel of His love not only at Christmas time but throughout the entire year.

Lights on Temple Square




Charity, Forrest & Christian

 

For Family Home Evening last night we ventured through the cold and crowds to see the lights on Temple Square.  There is something special about being among the light, seeing your breath - all the sounds and feelings.  It was wonderful!!!  There is a special spirit there that adds to the Christmas Spirit, adding a little magic to the season.



Faith and Me





Happy Thanksgiving - 2010

What a magical day yesterday!  We had all the family over to the house for food, laughter and love, along with some parade, football and Nintendo.  After all, what would Thanksgiving be without Nintendo?  Our family is growing - with William, Kayley and Celia Renee joining us this year we number 15.  I look forward to the day when we top 50 with grandchildren running all over the place.

 It is nice to all fit into the dinning room.  Won't it be wonderful when I have to schedule the church?  It is really nice that we could steal the married children from the in-laws and have everyone together.  I don't know what we will do next year.  Forrest will be on a mission and the older children will probable scatter.  Maybe we will go back to Zion Canyon like last year.

 Good thing they have a beautiful mother.  Heaven forbid if they had to look anything like me.

 Thomas and Celia - We are looking forward to April 30th

" I think she needs her grandma" was heard several times yesterday.  It really doesn't matter who has little Kayley Irene, when grandma wants her grandma gets her.

 I think William James enjoyed his first Thanksgiving.  The thing I love about Will is that when he smiles - he smiles with every fiber of his whole body.  Thanks Tammy for a wonderful grandson.  Oh ya, you too Reese!

 What's This?  Me holding one of my grandchildren????  It is amazing what you can do while everyone else is comatose on the couch with tummies  full of turkey and stuffing.  You see, there is a method to my madness.  Cook good food, feed them more than they can eat, sit them on a soft couch and then jump in and steal the babies.  Watch out Kayley, you're next!

What's next?  Well here is a clue - "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...."  Faith has spent hours adding the additional stockings needed this year for the upcoming holiday.  We have enough hooks for 22 stockings so we have 7 open spots.  My Christmas wish for my children - "Fill those hooks!"  But all in due time.

I have the most incredible family in the entire world.  Yesterday was a wonderful day that had me teary-eyed all morning.  I am blessed in abundance with gifts from on high.  I feel the love of my Heavenly Father and see His hand in all things.  My blessings are without number.  As we now enter full swing into celebrating the birth of our Savior, I pause at this time of thanksgiving to remember the greatest blessing of all - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  May we all remember Him each and every day in all things and in all that we do.

Savior of the World

This year our family had an incredible experience.  It was last October the Stake President called Faith and me in for a visit - a kind of unofficial visit.  He told us that they wanted the Stake to perform Savior of the World and ask Faith if she had ever directed a play.  Even though she hadn't, she knew that this was something she had to do.  If Nephi could build a ship, she could direct this play.  With the help of the Lord things started to fall into place.  The next few months would be life changing.

Neither of us had ever seen the play, which is performed at the Conference Center every year.  As I listened to the music and learned the story my spirit was touched deeply.  The first scene starts with Zacharias and Elizabeth and the foretelling of John the Baptist and ends at the manger with the birth of the Savior.  The second act starts at the tomb and the resurrection.  Christ appears to the Mary and the Apostles and the play closes with His ascension into heaven.

 Well, one year later we were thrilled with the results.  Faith ended-up with a cast of 95 and assistants all over the place.  Charity was one of Mary's nieces, in the women's ensemble and in all the major scenes.  Christian was our boy soprano and sang in Hebrew.  Lexie helped on stage crew getting people on and off the stage, making sure props were where they needed to be and that everything happened at the correct time and in the correct order.

I had the privilege of playing the Apostle John, the third part of the Peter and James trio.  Faith did an amazing job working with the choir and cast.  With her assistants Karie and Sue they worked for 8 months to make this production the very best possible.  What an amazing group of talented people in this stake.  Mary and Joseph were awesome and their voices blended so well.  Elizabeth and Zacharias did such a good job and finally pulled it all together just in time for the first show.

The Apostle Thomas was so sincere in his emotions and feelings for the Savior as was Mary at the tomb.  The Savior was portrayed in such a  tender and touching manor that it sent chills through us all.

We viewed this play as an opportunity to share our testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ with all those who came to see it.  We ended-up with almost 3,500 people attending the three performances.  I loved playing the part of John and feeling of his spirit and the incredible love that he had for the Lord.  I add my witness to his, that Jesus lives and that he will return.  He is the root and the offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star.  And I echo John's plea - "Come Lord Jesus!"

Veteran's Day

Yesterday was Veteran's Day, a day when we remember those who have served our country in times of war.  As I pondered on this special day, my mind was drawn to memories of my father.  Dayle Wilson Cooper (1918 - 1973) was a Quarter Master Second Class assigned to the USS Little, a destroyer stationed in the South Pacific.  A Quarter Master tag-teams with the ship's captain and relays orders to the rest of the ship.

The USS Little was involved in two major battles - Iwo Jima and Okinawa.  At Iwa Jima dad was watching for the flag to be raised on Mt. Funabashi when someone asked him a question.  He turned and responded and when he looked back the flag was upright.  For all intents and purposes he was there and saw it happen.

At Okinawa they were not so lucky.  Four Kamikaze planes struck the Little and split her right in half.  She only took 5 minutes to sink!  Dad received some minor injuries but nothing serious.

Dad's younger brother, Ballard, was a bombardier in the air force. He was flying a mission over Europe and had just dropped all their bombs.  He looked out his window and saw flack just outside the plane.  Flack is shot-up in groups of three.  He saw the first explosion, then the second and just had a second to cover his face with his arms when the third on hit the nose of the plane.  His arms and flack jacket took the brunt of things as their plane went down.

There is a story that Grandma Cooper went to her mail box and had two letters.  One stated that her son had been shot-down over Italy and the other said that dad had been sunk in the South Pacific.  Not  a good day for mail.

I heard that Ballard was on a transport to the hospital when he heard over the radio that dad's ship had been sunk.

Dad had an honorable discharge from the Navy and was excited to marry his sweetheart Priscilla.  They had been introduced by a Navy buddy, Tony Francis,  just before they shipped out.  Mom was working in an airplane factory in California.  They only met for the weekend and then he sailed off.  Mom began writing letters and over the next year they got to know each other very well.

During the year mom had moved to Utah, so when dad reached Oakland he wrote and invited her down for a visit.  He proposed, obtained a six-day leave and made a very fast trip to Salt Lake, Pocatello, ID and Ely, NV to be married and meet both families.

I love my father very much.  I still miss him after all these years.  He was kind and loving, a great teacher.  He loved God and he loved his country, and spend his life serving both.