December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
December 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
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44<br />
Grandparents can nurture tender<br />
relationships with their grandchildren<br />
as they share every<strong>day</strong> moments<br />
with them.<br />
and my in-laws separate visiting and<br />
home teachers, and they treated us<br />
as separate households. <strong>The</strong>y did not<br />
assume that, having met me or my<br />
husband, they now knew the entire<br />
family. <strong>The</strong> bishop also extended<br />
callings that my in-laws could fulfill<br />
despite their health limitations.<br />
Emily Milner, Lindon 14th Ward, Lindon<br />
Utah West Stake<br />
When things get tense, ask yourself<br />
these questions: How important<br />
is this issue in the grand scheme<br />
<strong>of</strong> things? Is it going to affect<br />
my eternal progression?<br />
When you get frustrated,<br />
think <strong>of</strong> the special<br />
moments you spend listening<br />
to your grandchildren<br />
tell <strong>of</strong> their <strong>day</strong> at school, or <strong>of</strong> the<br />
picnics you have with a toddler on<br />
&<br />
QUESTIONS ANSWERS<br />
your bed, or <strong>of</strong> those rare occasions<br />
when you get to have heart-to-heart<br />
talks with your daughter. Those<br />
moments can make it all worthwhile<br />
and are opportunities you may not<br />
have shared had you not been living<br />
in the same home.<br />
Rashona Carraway, Pelican Creek Ward,<br />
North Las Vegas Nevada Stake<br />
An elderly parent can do many<br />
things to make the transition into a<br />
new living situation<br />
easier. For example,<br />
you might make the<br />
following decisions<br />
ahead <strong>of</strong> time:<br />
1. Decide if you’ll be<br />
eating with the family or<br />
cooking on your own. Will<br />
you be buying your own groceries<br />
or will the family be providing<br />
them?<br />
2. Who will be the responsible<br />
driver? If you have a car but don’t<br />
want to drive, are you willing to<br />
share it—perhaps in return for<br />
some chauffeuring? Remember that<br />
a driver may not be available at all<br />
times. Be mindful <strong>of</strong> schedules and<br />
get rides where appropriate.<br />
3. Consider paying a predetermined<br />
monthly amount to help cover<br />
the family’s increased utility bills,<br />
telephone charges, groceries, gas,<br />
and so on.<br />
Eugenia S. Hancock, Plymouth Ward,<br />
Westland Michigan Stake<br />
Don’t worry about the burden you<br />
think you will cause; realize<br />
instead what you can contribute<br />
to the family. We learned much<br />
about Grandpa’s youth and<br />
early life as we visited with<br />
him and encouraged him to<br />
tape-record stories <strong>of</strong> his life<br />
that I later transcribed for<br />
the family. He shared his<br />
testimony with us and even<br />
with the nurses and health<br />
aides who came to care for<br />
him. He would occasionally<br />
give us advice and counsel<br />
from his experience and<br />
Elderly parents may want to<br />
keep in touch with the friends<br />
they left behind by planning<br />
visits, writing letters or e-mails,<br />
or making telephone calls.