Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The casket...

  There is a story that goes with my Dad's casket that I don't think is JUST a coincidence!  Back in June, Brandon got a remodel job for an older couple named Jim and Annie Houser.  He came home one day and said 'lets go for a drive.'  I asked him where we were going and he said he wanted me to meet the couple he was working for because he knew I would LOVE them.  They are the cutest couple, constantly arguing, but have been by each others side for years!!  There is something about little old men that I have always loved, maybe it's because I loved being with my grandpa Porter so much, but whatever it is, I instantly fell in love with Jim(I love Annie too!).  While out meeting them and visiting with them, I commented on how I loved all the old barn wood in their home.  Jim looks at me and says, 'you know where I bought that wood?...I bought that wood at Tenney's old lumber yard in down town Heber back in 1968-69.'  Brandon then broke the news to him that I was 'Tenney's' daughter.  We had a great conversation about how much they liked my dad and how he helped them get power to their property years ago.  Well...the next day Brandon went back to work and started tearing this old barn wood down to replace it with sheet rock.  Brandon asked Jim & Annie what their plans were for the old barn wood.  Jim informed Brandon that he would just be having him haul it to the dump.  Brandon then said, 'my wife would love you forever if you would let us buy it from you!'  He told Brandon we didn't have to pay for it and that we could just have it if it meant that I would love him forever:)  So that day Brandon came home with the most beautiful old barn wood I've ever seen!  I was so excited thinking of all the different things I could put him to work doing with it!

 The old Barn Wood!
  Well...that night we went out to the ranch and my Dad pulled Brandon aside before we left and said 'I know it would be a lot of pressure but I would love for you to build my casket.'  Brandon then told my dad, 'well dad, i have the perfect stuff.  it came out of your lumberyard (which was milled at my grandpa's sawmill) back in 1968-69.'  Of course when we told my Mom she was having a hard time picturing burying my Dad in old barn wood, but of course my Dad and Brandon could see the vision of the end result.  Little did I know that my old barn wood would be used for such a sacred cause...I think it turned out beautiful!!  It's not a coincidence that Brandon got a remodel job that happened to be removing old wood that came from my Dad's lumberyard years earlier...I know that God is in the very details of our lives!!

After it was all planed down








I soon learned what my dad meant when he said the 'pressure' of building his casket.  Although there was pressure there to make it good enough, big enough, nice enough, we wouldn't have traded that privilege for anything!!

A big THANK YOU to Jane Duncan for doing the beautiful drawing on the inside of the casket and to Donna Bigler for doing an amazing job on the lining of the casket!!  They were two of the many Angels sent our way in our time of need!!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Broken Arm + 1st Day of School...

 This is being posted late, but it all went down the week my Dad passed.

Our poor little Mallori broke her arm...same arm, same place as Maron did 3 months ago.  It was a buckle fracture, and we are still trying to figure out how it happened.  She says she fell off a bed!!
 Mallori showing off her arm!

School started the same day Dad passed.  He hadn't passed yet, but we knew he was getting close.  I did come home to see them off and to grab a few pictures.  Little did we know just hours later we would be saying goodbye to Grandpa. 
 Porter...5th Grade!  Mrs. Maner

 Michael...5th Grade!  Mrs. B

 Paul...2nd Grade!  Ms. Crandell

 Morgon...1st Grade!  Mrs. Willis
 Caden...1st Grade!  Mrs. Honsinger

 Zach...2nd Grade!  Mrs. Perguson

 Tristen...FRESHMAN!

Eva...7th grade!!

Still trying to figure out how I missed getting a picture of Amelia!  I should get mother of the year award!!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Dad's Obituary...

Though hard to post...I want it for my records!

 Tenney Jr. obit
 
Lewis Noble Tenney Jr. died Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at his home in Heber after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born Dec. 30, 1942 in Phoenix, to Lewis Noble Tenney Sr. and Wanda Peterson Tenney. Lewis was the fourth of 11 children. The vast majority of his childhood and youth were spent in Glendale.
 
In 1959 his family moved to Snowflake where Lewis graduated from Snowflake Union High School in 1961. Snowflake is also where Lewis met the girl of his dreams, Mary Lovine Porter. The high school sweethearts were married April 23, 1962, a marriage that would last for more than 50 years and brought them 11 children, 54 grandchildren and six great-grand-children. After brief stints in Provo, Utah and Mesa, Lewis and Mary moved to Heber, where their family has spent the last 48 years.
Nothing was ever as important to Lewis as his family. Never was there a father that was more supportive of his children and their activities than Lewis. Time with his family was sacred to him. He was a wonderful role model to his children and he knew that the most important work a man can do in this life is within the walls of his own home. He also believed that the best thing a man can do for his children is to make sure they know that he loves their mother.  He was a wonderful husband and father and has left a legacy as to the important role that strong, traditional families play in today’s society.
While living in Heber, Lewis was always self-employed and through the years owned over a dozen different businesses, many of which are still in operation today. From gas stations to hardware stores, restaurants to saw mills, motels to trucking companies and everything in between, Lewis enjoyed the world of small business and often remarked that it was “worth a hundred thousand dollars a year” to be his own boss and set his own schedule. Over the years, Lewis employed hundreds of people. He cared deeply about his employees and many of them became some of his dearest friends.
Because of the way his family was blessed with the success of his businesses, Lewis believed deeply that he needed to “give back” to his community. So “give back” is exactly what he did. It is hard to find a board or organization in the White Mountains that doesn’t have Lewis’s stamp on it. Local water boards, sanitation districts, fire districts, chambers of commerce, school boards, and many more have all been blessed with his leadership abilities. Lewis had a remarkable ability to ”bring people together,” to solve problems and to build consensus. He spent over 25 years on local school boards and was instrumental in the formation of the Heber-Overgaard School District. The first day of school at Mogollon High School in Heber in August, 1989 was a wonderful day for Lewis.
His public service extended well beyond the Heber-Overgaard area. He served on the Navajo County Planning and Zoning Commission, and in 1996 was elected to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors. As a Supervisor, he quickly became a leader throughout the state and the country and he served as president of Arizona’s County Supervisors Association and was on the executive board for the National Association of Counties. He worked hard as a Supervisor and was very successful as he worked with the Governor’s office and the state legislature to improve county government and the lives of Navajo County’s citizens. His influence and perspective will long be felt throughout the state of Arizona.
Perhaps the only thing more remarkable than Lewis’ willingness to serve his community was his willingness to serve his God. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Lewis knew that God blesses His children here on earth through the service of others. He loved his Heavenly Father and his Savior Jesus Christ and he lived so as to honor them. Lewis had the opportunity to serve in many positions in the church. He loved being a youth leader and inspired many young people to be better followers of Christ. Lewis served as Bishop of the Heber Ward, was a counselor in the Taylor Stake Presidency, and then was called to be the Taylor Stake President. He was a counselor in the Mesa Arizona Mission Presidency and in 2008 was called to be the President of the Snowflake Temple where he served until November 2011. As a true follower of Jesus Christ, Lewis always tried to live by the New Testament scripture in John 13:15—“By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The mark that Lewis left on the lives of thousands of people in the Heber area, the white mountains, the state of Arizona and beyond is undeniable.  Lewis was often heard to say that “the world is run by those who show up!”  He didn’t just say it, he believed it and he lived it.
A  long time friend had this to say about Lewis after learning of his passing; —“With the death of Lewis Tenney on Aug. 8, northern Arizona lost one of its giants – a giant in stature, a giant in accomplishment.  He was a worthy descendant of pioneer ancestors –the Tenneys and the Hamblins - who lead the settlement of northern Arizona beginning in the 1870s. Among other achievements, they were the first with the wisdom to develop deep and trusting relationships with the Navajos and Hopis, which in no small part made possible the peaceful settlement of northern Arizona by non-Indians.”
“Lewis’s life continued his ancestors’ tradition in a very different world. His dedication to his community ranged from always extending his over-sized helping hand to neighbors, to the gentle smile and kind words he had for friends and strangers, to service on countless public entities, including leadership of the Navajo County Board of Supervisors, to answering the highest callings of his faith. He was a leader of leaders. He was selfless, kind, and dedicated. He will never be replaced, and what he did for our community will long endure.”
Mary and the entire Tenney family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, kindness, love and support at this difficult time.
Lewis was preceded in death by his twin sons, Shaun and Shane, sister Amanda (Nikolaus), and his dear friend Duey Franco.  He is survived by his wife, Mary, children: Ronald and Melanie Tenney, David and Gay Tenney, Jamilyn and Tim Slade, Travis and Kalee Tenney, Jacob and Courtney Tenney, Joseph and Chantel Tenney, Randall and Cynthia Tenney, Tiffani and Brandon Martineau, and Ben and Taera Tenney, 54 grand children and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings: Kathryn and Ivan Hancock, Linda and David Hansen, Sylvia and Rick Allen, Diana Tenney, Armeda and Paul Stapley, Bill and Peola Tenney, Joseph and Debra Tenney, Ambrose and Shari Mexican, Warren Tenney, and Kem and Wade MacNielle.
A public viewing will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17,  at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Heber Chapel Highway 260 in Heber. A viewing will also be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m., preceding the funeral service which will be held at the Taylor Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 309 W. Willow Lane in Taylor at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, followed by his interment at the Heber Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Monday, August 13, 2012

He'll Carry You...

The words from this song have played over and over in my head over the past week..


He knows your heart
He knows your pain
He knows the strength it took just too simply breathe today
He sees the tears that you cry
He knows your soul is aching to know why
He hears your prayers each humble word
When you said you couldn’t face another day he understood
He knows the path that you will find
Though you felt alone he’s never left your side

He knew there’d be moments when no earthly words

Could take away your sorrow
And no human eyes could see what you’re going through
When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do
He will lift your heavy load and carry you

He’ll bring you peace and leave you hope

And in the darkest night he’ll comfort you
Until you know the sun will rise and each new day
You will have the strength to live again

And when there are moments when no earthly words

can take away your sorrow
And no human eyes could see what you’re going through
When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do
He will lift your heavy load and carry you

He hears you when you’re crying in the night

He hears you when your soul longs to find
Till the morning will come
And the light of the dawn reassures

That in the moments when no earthly words

can take away your sorrow
And no human eyes could see what you’re going through
When you’ve taken your last step and done all that you can do
He will lift your heavy load and carry you

song by Hilary Weeks

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

"When you come to the Red-Sea place in your life, 
when, in spite of all you can do, 
there is no way around, there is no way back,
there is no other way but THROUGH: 
Then trust in God with a soul sincere, 
 till the dark and the storm are gone. 
He will calm the sea and part the waves 
as He says to your soul GO on!"