Yellow Tulip:
I remember trying to play the keyboard in church. Between my nerves, that horrible keyboard, no real chairs, and that crazy chorister-wow am I glad that I had that experience. I'm a pro at playing for those dynamic branches who have their own styles. No more nerves for me!
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Mindy Vance. She and I had some good talks. I cleaned her house and she gave me rides to church a lot. One of the talks I wrote down was a time when I was feeling really inadequate as a primary teacher. "She told me how grateful she is for primary teachers who have taught her children. But, it wasn't so much the amount of knowledge the children gained from their classes but the feeling that is there that helps them feel loved."
I love the verse in the New Testament that says, God is Love.
Mindy Vance lost her husband in a plane accident a few years ago. I admired her strength in France, I wonder how she is doing. I imagine she is even stronger now.
I loved Mindy! I remember they had me babysit their kids for a whole week once! By the end I was ready to go crazy! Brandon wouldn't brush his teeth, and so, I was ready to put him to bed without brushing them. I started carrying him to his room, "Brandon, if you can't brush your teeth, then we will just go to bed without doing it." That set him off howling, "But I will get CABITIES!!!!!!!!"
It was the cutest thing a kid has ever said to me. He was also obsessed with watching River Dance! What a great family.
You know when my friend Holly and her mother came to visit me in Paris, the Yates wouldn't allow anyone to stay at their house. I didn't know where they could stay, and Mindy overheard me talking about it and said that they could stay in her spare room. They stayed there for almost a week and the Vances just welcomed them into their home! What an amazing family.
Brother Vance set me apart when I became the Primary chorister. He gave me one of the most amazing blessings I have ever had.
God is LOVE!!
Yes, the Vances were yet another family that I gleaned so much from. I was there one afternoon chatting with Mindy about my decision to either stay in France after you all left, or to go home and begin going to school. Mindy was adamant that I stay in France. She explained that that time in my life was precious, and though other experiences in my life would also be precious, none would be quite like the experiences I was having then. "There is always time for school", she said. The cool thing to me was that this wasn't coming from a woman who somehow envied where I was and what I was doing, encouraging me to stay because she wished she'd had that opportunity. She loved her life and her family. It seemed like she had little regrets. She was encouraging me to stay because she truly believed I'D never regret it, and I don't. Her advice did a lot to sway me in the direction of staying, and even helped me appreciate my decision at moments when I was uncertain.
I wish I could've known her better. I taught piano to her kids for a bit but not for very long. I've thought about her a lot since I heard about her losing her husband. I wonder if we could find her and tell her our thoughts. That would be doing something. I'm sure she'd appreciate it. One thing that amazes me is that adults are so needy for encouragement. It seems stupid but I never realized it growing up. I didn't think that I, as a young person could really influence them. At least I need encouragement. I feel so down when a babysitter has a hard time with my kids. That young person really affects me. We should let her know!
I have Collin Swenson's email. I wonder if his family has kept in touch with her.
I have emailed Collin and I tried googling by her name. There are a few Mindy and Melinda Vance's out there... we'll keep looking.
I was able to get her email but, haven't heard back from her yet.
We need a new memory to post.
:)
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