Father's Day

June 16, 2013 (Father’s Day)

Dear Family and Friends,

                We wish you Happy Father’s Day from North Carolina.  We have fathers here also—lots of good ones and some not so good.  I suspect it not much different than anywhere else in the world you may be.  Regardless reflection on the goal of fatherhood and its meaning and influence on the world is an important discipline to exercise occasionally.  It is a day we can reflect on the efforts of our own fathers and their sacrifice in our behalves. 

When I remember my father I see several images. All of them are of a man working hard.  I see a straw hat with a perspiring face as he is hauling hay, bucking a sack of spuds, slopping the hogs, fixing fences, leveling the land, docking the lambs, planting straight rows of potatoes, cutting down a tree with an ax or setting a dam and shoveling in a gap.  I see him kicking my butt, scolding the sheep, being disappointed in my disobedience.  I see him proudly recognizing my accomplishment.  I see him at the MTC witnessing my setting apart and supporting me through much sacrifice on his part. I see him with hands laid on my head ordaining and giving me blessings.  I see him at the airport telling me to “have a great mission”.  I see him teaching Sunday school, leading the choir, leading a troop of boys at scout camp.  I see him in the school teaching students, finding those not attending class by going to Bears, watching and participating in football and basketball games.  I see him leading us as a family in scripture study, family prayer, and leading the making of homemade root beer on the back lawn in family reunions.  I see him announcing the death of his son, our brother.  I see him and mom in Woods funeral home struggling for answers and then witnessing the calming influences of the Holy Spirit distill upon and sustaining them for many days.  I see him humbly kneeling and pleading for continued answers and then witnessing tender mercies from above through one of his sons again to him and mom.   I see him orchestrating family vacations to California, Oregon, Yellowstone Park, to Arizona, to Illinois to Mount Rushmore.  I see him leading us to Logan to Uncle Earl and Aunt Emma’s on Thanksgiving Day.  I see him standing under the tree at the family home shedding tears as his family is leaving to return to their homes after a week of family reunion.  I see him singing and dancing with mom in the living room.  I see him scheming with Tom Brower (who had a house full of daughters) and hiring a dance instructor to come to our home and teach us ball room dancing.  I see him with Mr. Music buying the piano and a clarinet.  I see him enjoying showing the slides of pictures taken over the years.  I see him in the bank helping his children with loans and money management.  I see him sitting on the Farmal tractor using the farmhand lifting trusses up on Dean and Kathy’s home in the new forty and then watching them fall.  I heard words which turned the air blue but then felt the anguish of a humble and repentant man.   I see him at the cemeteries on Memorial Day sharing histories.  I see him as a missionary as he and mom boldly drive out of our driveway in Perry on their way to Oregon wishing they could turn to the right at Tremonton instead of going straight.   I see him following direction from his Priesthood Leader leaving the home he built and the farm he loved and moving to Fairwinds with mom.  I see him in the hospital struggling with the challenges of an aging body.  I see him at the rest home striving to get well so he could return to Fairwinds.  I see him in the casket ready to be placed in the Ucon cemetery that he worked so hard to ready for such occasions.  My Father was not a perfect man, however he was a great man who loved his family and loved the Lord.  I see him with mom, David and Julie orchestrating and directing, as he can, the patriarchal duties of the future.  I am confident on this day he is honoring his many fathers he is with and more than likely working with his children here on earth so we can all be together again.  What a choice heritage we all enjoy.  I love you Dad. Thanks for a noble example and a lasting heritage. 

To Grandpa Rushton who we are privileged to still have with us on this side of the veil.  Happy Fathers day.  I remember the first time I met Ned Rushton—it was at the family home in Vaughn, Montana.  I was quite at home immediately.  You took me to see the pig project.  Took me to Sterling Nielsen’s to see the cows and proudly shared the opportunities given to your family to help milk each week.  I remember how impressed I was observing a family who were more interested in things that matter rather than things.  I have learned over the years from Grandpa Rushton the value of missionary work and of sacrifice and hard work.  I’ve observed a lot of rough edges however I’ve also observed a heart in the process of change.  A heart that now mirrors the heart spoken of by Alma in Chapter 5.  Probably the single most important assignment I received from Grandpa Ned was to assist him and Grandma in going on a mission to Virginia.  Completion of that assignment has brought more to our family than we will ever know.  The spirit of our Heavenly Father—especially of missionary work, came into our home and has helped us a thousand times more than we ever helped.  The blessing you have given our children to know and serve you is so valuable.  We are all so proud of you and who you have and are becoming as you patiently and maybe not so patiently await the time to continue your progression.  We pray for you each day that enduring to the end will be your lot.  

To our sons and sons in law—we see great men. We thank each of you for doing your part to carry on the Andrus and Rushton family legacy.  Thank you for taking care of our daughters and daughters in law and our precious grandchildren.  Thank you for your efforts to follow the Savior and your efforts to lead your families back to Him.  The most important work you will ever do is within the walls of your own homes.  We pray daily for your success in this most important of assignments.  We marvel at your abilities and capabilities and are so grateful for the support we receive from each of you. 

To our dear extended family and Perry friends and missionaries, we wish you a Happy Fathers day.  We honor each of you great fathers and spouses and families this day.  We continue to glean from you great examples and patterns of what fathers are suppose to be like.  Thank you for your love and support to us and our families.  We send President and Sister Reeder our love and support as they embark on their assignment of presiding over the Philippines, Naga mission.  We would love to be the office couple in that mission.  What a joy that would be for us to be under your leadership and stewardship. We, however love being right where we are and have confirmed to us almost daily that we have been called to serve where we are needed.   Elder Andrus was called this week, in addition to the other duties already assumed, to be executive secretary to the mission presidency.  In this assignment, I will have the opportunity to facilitate more formally presidency meetings with the members of the mission presidency.  President Craven desires mission presidency representation In each of the stakes council meetings.  I will be responsible to schedule these.  I will be responsible to set up and facilitate the new electronic meeting equipment that has become available.  PVC is the acronym used which I believe stands for Personal Voice or Vision Communication.  It is the Church’s “Skype” system.  I obviously need to learn much more than I do regarding this but am excited to be a part of the team.  Many of the meetings will take place electronically with vision and voice real time capability. The Lord is hastening his work.  I will share more with you after the meeting next weekend (June 23) where we can sit in on the instruction that will be given to President and Sister Reeder and other new mission presidents and spouses.  We are looking forward to that.

 It would be great if someone would give us a report of APTC.  We appreciated the clip of “The Princes Pat” shared by Jim and a picture of the hike up Grizzly Peak to Camp.  It brought a tear to a wrinkled old face.

 Again we love you all.  Have a great week

Elder and Sister Andrus, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Don and Ruth.