5 Whines

 

Sharing 5 whines and burning them up felt extra good... especially shared and understood between good friends in an evening of fun with Marci and Garth... Fake wine, assorted cheeses, yummy caramel apples rounded the evening out quite lovely. Thank you Garth and Marci : )

ahhh! carpet

The repair work from the flood continues in the basement... walls are painted and we have been playing musical chairs with the bedrooms to get new carpet. It feels so good on our feet. Claire is the best carpet layer in the world and a life long friend. I love this man and our good visits. The balance for me when he comes to lay carpet is to leave him alone as best I can so he can get his work done : )

friend time

Catching up time with friends... Becky and Anita (daughters McKelle and Alexa too) visited non stop this afternoon. It was wonderful to see them :)

nhs orem high

We went to the OHS National Honor Society Induction meeting with Abby. Mr Downs spoke and afterwards, the girls got together with pictures of their favorite teachers... brain power :)

-Brenda

KayAnn, Rachel, Abby, Mr. Downs, Ali, Claire, Rebeka

Olimpia, Ali, Abby, Miss Young, Claire, Rachel, KayAnn

ohs sadie hawkins 2012

The girls asked. The boys said yes. They had a fun time together with a homemade dinner  and games at Ali's house, the Sadie Hawkins Dance at the school and then back to our place for ice cream and more fun. Abby had a wonderful time and is enjoying her senior year quite a lot :)

-Brenda

Janae, Oscar, Melanie, Parker, Lars, Abby, Michael, 

Ali, Angie, Max, KayAnn and Jake

tuesdays with brenda

I loved my time with Brenda. I know it was hard for her to accept help at first and she felt that she was imposing on us… but I always told her that I was the one that felt blessed… blessed to be with her and get to know her better. Blessed to help her. Blessed that being with her always put life back into perspective. Blessed to be part of the many women that love Brenda and Tom and their family… While I don’t always understand God’s plan, I hold tight in my faith that there is one and that it will make sense one day. I do know I have learned more about love and will miss most watching Tom and Brenda on their walks through the neighborhood. I believe this is God’s gift for all of us around them to learn from and pattern our lives after.

When I first started to come to Brenda’s, I cried a lot. It felt awkward and unfair to talk about anything light hearted.  But that was not what she wanted, she was happiest when we just visited as friends and wanted to hear about life outside of her world. When her son, Matt spoke about the secrets that Brenda knew at her funeral, I smiled. She knew so many of mine, I could tell her anything and she would just smile. Yes. I did most of the talking and I know she liked to hear the details of my life, no matter how seemingly unimportant they were. We could only be sad for so long and then we talked and laughed and Brenda would smile. She remembered everything and would ask me the following week how things were… always keeping me in her prayers.

I loved pampering her and getting out a very warm, wet washcloth to lay on her face. The warmth felt good to her and then I would scrub her face a bit here and there as needed and put lotion on her. It was her day spa moment and she loved it. She looked radiant and I always told her that Tuesdays must be Tom’s favorite day of the week because he got to come home to a radiantly beautiful Brenda. She loved having her hands and arms lifted in the air and rubbed with lotion. I liked how she would roll her eyeballs once in a while and I knew what she was thinking and we would smile together.

Brenda loved treats. I would sneak her treats even after we were told to limit her food. I would ask if she wanted a chocolate covered nut or raisin and her eyes would light up with excitement. What is life without a treat from time to time? I don’t think I was the only one that did this though.

She liked to surprise her family with meaningful gifts at Christmas. One year we did Christmas ornaments, another time, pillows with Tom and Brenda’s handprints. I loved shopping for Tom when Brenda wanted to surprise him with a gift. We framed pictures of their family through the years and it was lovely to see them on the walls… to me it felt like they were surrounded by love. They still are and will always be surrounded by the memories, spirit and love of Brenda. We all will be and that brings me joy.

-Brenda

brenda sederberg

My friend Brenda Sederberg passed away this week. She and her family have been on my mind. I know it was a blessing and I feel joy that she is now released from being bed ridden with MS. But it is also a bittersweet time with all who love and miss her, most especially her kids and husband Tom.

Her funeral was perfect and uplifting and I walked away with wanting to do better in the important things. I thought her son Matt did such a good job as he talked about their family life and what he has learned from his Mom, living these past 17 years with MS in their home. President Brady's talk with the Beatitudes was wonderful. This family allowed themselves to be molded by God in such a loving and graceful way as they served one another. I will miss the most, seeing Tom's love for Brenda as he took her for evening wheelchair walks in the neighborhood. They were always a reminder of their deep love for each other.

The women who helped Brenda through the years sang the Hymn 'Each Life That Touches Ours For Good'.  I have loved being able to serve Brenda these past years. I know the Lord opens up time for us to serve one another. I know we were a blessing in their lives, but those us who were able to help her were far more blessed in return. My Tuesdays with Brenda are gone, though my phone alarm still goes off as a reminder of the times I need to be there. I like that. To honor Brenda, I will look for others to serve.

I was able to help with the luncheon at church after the funeral and loved being with my church family friends. We all love Brenda and we love our Heavenly Father.

-Brenda

1953 ~ 2012

Brenda Clark Sederberg passed away peacefully at home on 3 September 2012. 

Brenda was born in Provo, Utah, on 3 May 1953 to Alan and Janet Clark and was raised in Utah and Idaho. She attended Ricks College, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education from Brigham Young University. In 1978 she married Thomas W. Sederberg for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Brenda loved her profession and taught grade school for five years. When she became a mother, she dedicated her teaching skills full time to her own family. She and Tom were blessed with eight wonderful children. She instilled in her children a love of learning, of family, of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and of music. 

In 1995, Brenda was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, which she battled valiantly for the final 17 years of her mortal life. Though this trial diminished her physical abilities, it increased her faith and refined her beautiful character. She remained as involved with life as her weakening body would allow; she volunteered at her children's schools for several years and attended church every week without fail. For the past seven years, Brenda required extra care, so dozens of compassionate neighbors organized to assist her with her daily needs. 

Brenda adopted the motto "I can do hard things," which is a prominent part of her legacy. She will be remembered for her generosity, thirst for knowledge, perennially positive attitude, dedication to her family, zest for life, unselfish nature, and Christlike demeanor. 

Brenda is survived by her husband, Tom, and their children: Rebecca (Michael) Kellogg and

their sons Thomas, Isaac, and Maxwell of Saugus, California; Matthew (Tricia) and their children Henry and Camilla of Orem; Maria of Salt Lake City; Timothy (Christina) and their sons Zachary and Owen of Vineyard; Mark (Jill) of Fort Worth, Texas; Laura (Wolfgang) Jaeger of Orem; Angela, and Michael.

She is also survived by her mother, Janet Clark, of Idaho Falls, Idaho; siblings Doug (Michelle) Clark of San Antonio, Texas; LeAnne (Ron) Bunn of Nicholasville, Kentucky; Marie (Brad) Ritchie of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Gordon (Lisa) Clark of Pocatello, Idaho; and Curtis (Karla) Clark of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held at the LDS chapel on 1051 East 200 North in Orem at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, with a viewing from 8:30-9:30 a.m. A viewing will also be held at Sundberg-Olpin Funeral Home at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah, on Friday, September 7 from 6-8 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, Brenda encourages donations to the general LDS Church Missionary Fund or the Perpetual Education Fund.

Jeanne, Connie, Donnell, Brenda, Jan, Laura Lee

My favorite picture of their family all together, when she had 

just learned she had MS

Her family now...

Laura, Christa, Virginia, Sandra Kathy Jo, Terry, Jeanne, Rosemary, Laura Lee, 

Julie and Laura Lee

Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

1. Each life that touches ours for good

Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;

Thou sendest blessings from above

Thru words and deeds of those who love.

2. What greater gift dost thou bestow,

What greater goodness can we know

Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways

Strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

3. When such a friend from us departs,

We hold forever in our hearts

A sweet and hallowed memory,

Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.

4. For worthy friends whose lives proclaim

Devotion to the Savior’s name,

Who bless our days with peace and love,

We praise thy goodness, Lord, above.

catching up time with talbots

With our growing families, we have to grab time whenever we can to catch up and hope that everyone can make it. Tonight everyone made it except for Ransom and a tantrumus Phoebe who stayed home. Life is good whenever we can get together...  We love you all!

-Brenda

Talbots and Birrell's

my birthday

I believe I am almost caught up with our family news. I do seem to take a lot of pictures of our day to day memories...

In trying to figure out why we have so many birthdays in April, I counted backwards and landed in July. What's in July? Larry's face lit up "It's my birthday!"

For my birthday this year, I had to finish up a new prairie collection deadline for Pebbles Inc. at American Crafts until 7pm. I walked in the house and was surprised to find everyone here and the table all set with a homemade fondue dinner that was 'straighten your toes out' delicious. It is times like this when I feel surrounded by love with Larry and the kids. Conrad picked me a bouquet of happy dandelions. Katie gave me a cool journal. Each card has 10 lines, one for each year. We will be able to look back and see what we have done on each day. Love it! Conrad's fondue plate had little sections and he was sure to keep each spot filled. 

Later in the week, my friends made dinner for me over at Marci's.... a yummy salad, fresh out of the oven rolls and a 'I think I died and went to heaven chocolate cake". It was wonderful. The years have been good to our friendships. We share in the good times and help hold each other up during the hard times. Life is filled with both as we make our way through it. Mistakes are made. Family that I thought would always be a part of my life, are not a part of it any more... strange how the years go by without them. It doesn't seem possible, but somehow one day turned into a year and will soon be three years. It isn't about placing blame, it's about forgiving and moving forward. It has been my immediate family and friends that have stepped in and helped fill in the holes. Thank you for my Happy Birthday!

-Brenda

day 2 for jack

Amazing what a day will do for a newborn baby... skin is less mottled, head shape completely changes and they are a bit more perfect, as if that is possible? Time has stopped for us as we enjoy time bonding with our new little one. We still pinch ourselves continually and thank God always that he is here. He will grow up in love...

-Brenda

baby shower for ashlee

It is hard to think of this coming baby without thinking of our good friends and neighbors that we live near. We have fasted and prayed together through the years and now we are all gathering together for a baby shower and celebrating his upcoming birth. Ashlee glows and has had such a good pregnancy. I think she is just so full of thanksgiving that any aches and pains are just part of this miracle for her. She loves being pregnant and I catch her softly rubbing her tummy throughout the day. Thank you to everyone that came, so many of you. She felt so loved. We all did.

-Brenda

hunger game shirts

What to do on a friday night? Abby, Mikayla and Rachel have started to create their Hunger Games t-shirts as they look forward to the midnight premier of the first Hunger Games movie that is clear in March. Listening to them talk and plan has been fun. Seems far away but these girls are giddy and ready to go!

-Brenda