Hoping Against Reality - a little sad and a little funny

Sometimes in life, I hope against reality. I don't want something to be the way it is.  One of those things I don't want to believe is really real is the death of Amos Abplanalp. In order to write Hillary Albplanab's story I have been reading her blog. They are such a busy and involved family. Most of their days are filled with such good and service. Amos is particularly inspiring with all that he is doing for others while still struggling to deal with the pain of cancer and fight death off. As I am reading their story of the last few years they had together on earth, I find myself hoping that Amos will beat the cancer. He has so much good in him. We need people like him.

What I want and hope for isn't always what happens. I know that Amos eventually lost the battle against cancer. I am comforted to know that he may have lost his body to cancer for now, but he won his spirit in his daily walk with God here on earth. Surely, he is doing so much good as an angel now. His short life will continue to inspire so many others through his wife and children and all those he influenced while here. Now he is continuing to watch over them all with a lot less pain, but without them seeing him. I am grateful he is no longer in pain and the knowledge that he will see his family again.

It has made me so emotional to read their story.  If you would like to read it, go to http://www.familymann.org/amos.  Or if you want a brief story version, you can wait until my book comes out and read that.

So, I promised a little funny with the sad.

Sometimes I hope that I won't do something clumsy or that I will over come that specific trait. Unfortunately, that is another hope against reality.  The other day I drove our small 2 door bench seat Toyota Tacoma to the store for groceries. I have been trying not to drive our Toyota Camry very much because we still have a spare tire on that until we can get it fixed (less than one more month). While there I picked up some soda for my husband. They didn't have his favorite (Coke Zero Cherry) and so I got him Diet Coke. It was cheaper to get the big 24 pack than the 12 pack. So I got that and loaded it up behind the bench seat in the truck because that is where there is room for groceries.

I like to conserve time and energy so in an attempt to bring all the groceries inside in one trip I loaded up one hand with the bags and started to flip the box of Diet Coke with the other to expose the handle. Right about the time the handle was finally exposed was the same moment that I accidentally poked through the box with the metal arm seat release. Coke started to spew everywhere. The bags were dropped. The box carefully removed from the metal arm and ripped open to determine the damage. I don't know how I punctured two cans, but I did.

It was a lot of work to clean up the truck and those stinking cans are still waiting in the kitchen for me to clean.- I better go do that. Here is a picture of how I had to carefully carry the cans inside.  Maybe I should start calling the blog - occasional rants of a klutz.

Dreaded Playback

This year I am going to be working hard on a book that I am writing - (side note, it is really hard for me to even announce this because I have fears that maybe I won't be able to accomplish it. However, I have faith that it is something that the Lord wants me to do and I have confidence in Him.)

I started it last year and have already interviewed a few amazing people whose story and life is so inspiring that I get goose bumps even thinking about them. As I was listening to the recording of the interview that I did for Hillary Abplanalp there was a moment when I had to turn off the tape, hang my head down, and cringe. Sometimes I say things that I wish I could take back. I guess that is why I am so imperfect.

Here I was advising an experienced and talented musician about her daughters music career. Me, a completely tone def and untalented in music in every way person. The fact that I have that on tape is horrid and I am so sorry that I even did that. The only excuse that I can give is that it was only the second interview that I have ever done for writing and I was incredibly nervous.

I was so nervous to talk to someone that I have never even met. At times I wished that I could be doing the interview in person because there is no great way to communicate your thoughts and emotions to someone who is willingly telling their very personal story to you over the phone. I was writing notes the whole time, listening, and recording. I was very attentive, but very busy.

The truth is that as a youth I was so afraid to call people on the phone that I avoided it at all costs. Even now, I talk myself out of calling people all the time. They will be busy, they won't be able to talk, etc. However, I know this is a weakness that I need to overcome and so I am working on it.

The story of how I even was able to have that conversation with Hillary is amazing. I was one of millions of people who watched "America's Got Talent" over the summer and truly hoped to see Evie Clair win and for her father to survive his cancer diagnosis. The strength that Evie Clair showed was amazing and inspiring. The whole family is amazing really. I was so impressed and when I found out that they were member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that actually brought me some joy. Joy because when he did pass away, I knew that they knew it was not the end. Amos's spirit is still alive and they will see him again.

I sent a Facebook message to Hillary not even knowing if she would receive it or if she would respond asking her if she would be willing to be a part of a book that I am working on. I know I was inspired about what to write. I prayed so hard and have continued to pray for guidance. Hillary's response was quick and we were able to do the interview over the phone a few weeks from that initial message. I am so grateful for Hillary taking a chance on a relative novice to the book writing world.

Over the next year I will attempt to keep my family and friends in the loop on the book writing process and hopefully have a publisher for my book. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. It is needed and appreciated.

Annual Christmas Letter - 2017 version

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) has been the theme for the Autry’s this year.

The year started with John deploying to Afghanistan with the Army. We had to learn how to remain close as a family even though we were thousands of miles away. Thankfully modern day technology was very helpful in this regard and almost every day we were able to video chat and pray together as a family. While John was away the girls got to spend some amazing time with family and friends in Georgia. We also took the opportunity to play tourist in Atlanta and were able to go to Medieval Times, the Coca Cola factory (Celia’s favorite), the Georgia Aquarium, Stone Mountain, Cabbage Patch land, the Atlanta Zoo, and go tubing in Helen. We loved our time in Georgia. One of our favorite days was spent in the temple with some of the Drummond family.

 John kept busy in Afghanistan helping clean mortuary affairs and helping set up a cross fit area for his unit as well as his usual job duties as a flight paramedic. It was a challenging and rewarding experience that he will remember forever. He came home at the beginning of August in order to do more training to help further his career in the Army. It was great to have him home before and after the training. John was very glad that he got some bonding time with his brother Chris because of our move to Texas. We are so grateful Chris was nice enough to drive with him from Georgia to Pennsylvania to load up our storage unit and then drive all the way to Texas after that. (Did I mention that we didn’t have the key to the storage unit and they had to pick the lock? Oops, we still haven’t found that key)

In addition to being able to spend time with Chris, we also got to go spend a weekend in Iowa with John’s twin brother Daniel and his family. We had such a fun time hanging out with them and were so grateful for the visit. It had been far too long since we last saw them. On the way back we were able to stop in and see our friends the Wagner’s and we enjoyed our night with them. John and Jennifer were able to have a few days together in a cabin in north Georgia. It was very nice and much needed time together. A mistake was made and our cabin ended up much bigger than expected so Celia and Reese joined us for the last night in the cabin. We played pool, enjoyed the hot tub and spent some time in Helen – a little tourist town in North Georgia that is built to look like a German town.

This year Jennifer started school again through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint’s Pathways program. She relied heavily on the strength of Christ to be able to do school work in the middle of the move and with many other aspects of life. In her spare time she has been actively working on writing and is excited for her latest book, “Strong in the Faith: Inspirational Latter Day Saints.”

Celia has been working hard in school and loved playing volleyball for a recreational league. Celia really enjoyed being able to attend girls camp and going to the temple a few times this year. She loves animals and takes very good care of her two guinea pigs. Her favorite part of the year was this last week when we got a new puppy, Rae (a Chihuahua Pekingese mix). She plans on becoming a veterinarian.

Reese loved doing gymnastics in Georgia and looks forward to doing it again next year. She worked hard and can do the splits and a one handed cartwheels, both of which she will perform for anyone interested. She enjoyed being at the same school and even in the same class as her cousin, Lexi, while in Georgia. She misses her and other family and friends since our move. However, she is making friends and enjoying her new school already. She is also very excited about our new dog.

This year had its ups and downs for us as I am sure it did for all our family and friends. During the hard times we were reminded of the grace of God and it helped. At this time of year and always we are grateful for Christ’s life and example and the hope He brings into our lives. May His hope fill your lives with peace and remind you of all the good in the world.

Thank you for being a part of our chosen family. We wish you all the best in the New Year and a very

Merry Christmas!!!