Irby N. Arrington

My grandpa returned to our Father in Heaven last Saturday. What joy he must be experiencing. I miss him. It is hard to separate my feelings of loss with my feelings of happiness for him. He was definitely ready to leave this life. He will be greatly missed by all who are still here. I was teaching a lesson on Sunday to my Young Women about Service in the Community. I told them about my Grandpa and what a great example of service his life was. His obituary confirms that.
Irby N. Arrington "Gone Golfing" Irby N. Arrington, age 91, passed away peacefully on Sept. 20, 2008. Irby was born September 18, 1917 to Cammon A. Arrington and Vivian Hickman Arrington in Milford, Utah. He was married to Faith Jeter Arrington on Sept. 8, 1937 in Evanston, WY. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. Irby is survived by his sweet, loving wife, Faith; children, Ann (Bill) Massey, Cammon (Jan) Arrington, Jane (Frank) Hines, Burt (Karen) Arrington and Jeff (Julie) Arrington; brother, Burton Arrington; brother-in-law, Curtis McCullough, and many nieces and nephews. Irby was the "Best Grandpa in the World" as attested by his surviving 20 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. He will be greatly missed by all of us. Irby was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, two brothers, and one grandchild. Irby was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served diligently as a counselor in two Bishoprics, counselor in a Stake Presidency, Bishop, Sunday School Teacher and held various other positions. He loved working with the youth in his ward and always expressed they were the "finest kids anywhere." He had great compassion for everyone. Irby enjoyed participating in many fun activities over the years. Golfing was #1, but he also loved fishing, bowling, boating, hunting and especially being with his family at his Wanship cabin for special days and "Hot Macaroni." Irby was a man of many accomplishments. He served his country during World War II in the US Army. He was an entrepreneur in the Dry Cleaning business ultimately building a successful family enterprise. He was an active member of the Cottonwood Heights Community Council and instrumental in the development of the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center and member of the Lions Club. He served on the Salt Lake County Board of Golf, and was a board member of the March of Dimes. He was a Utah State Legislator for six years and sponsored legislation that led to the "Baby Your Baby" program. Irby leaves a legacy of love for his family. He taught us to work hard, be happy, care for others and be compassionate. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Vernon Liu, Dr. Michael Wall and the Healthsouth Staff for the dedicated care they gave our father. A viewing for family and friends will be held Wednesday, September 24th from 6-8:00 p.m. at Mountain View Memorial Mortuary, 3115 E. 7800 S. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 25th, 11:00 a.m. at the Butler 12th Ward, 2695 E. 7000 S. with a viewing prior from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment, Mountain View Cemetery.

Who is that kid?

At the beginning of summer we had several friend and neighbors ask us, "Who is that kid?", about Andrew. I never realized how much he really changed in 11 months. Where did my dark haired boy go?

Welcome to Holland

I was chatting on the phone to one of my friends the other day. We were talking about how there are some people who are home bodies. I told her that I am not one of them even though she may think so.

I expressed to her the hard time I had when Calli was little so I stayed away from doing things with other people and their kids. I had a hard time keeping her contained, she was a runner. She took off if she was free. I had a hard time because I was afraid of what other people would think about her. Just by looking at her you would think she was as normal as they come.

I have been through the grieving process many times with Calli, and I will probably go through it many more in her lifetime. A few examples of what I am talking about is when Calli will be around other kids her same age and they are so much more advanced than her. She was not able to attend a 4 year old preschool class. She had to repeat 3 year old preschool because she wasn't ready to move on.

This is definitely one of my biggest challenges in life, being Calli's Mom. It is also the most rewarding thing I have ever done to watch her progress. Many of us take it for granted that our kids just automatically learn things that are age appropriate. I have had to change my thinking completely about children. When I see a child screaming or acting bad for their parents I don't think what a horrible parent they are since they can't control their child. I used to. It is really sad to me that sometimes I can see that Calli is irritating others, mostly s, and I tell them that she is border line autistic and their demeanor suddenly changes. They are not as judgmental if they know something is wrong.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has accepted Calli for who and what she is and taught your children that it is OK to be different and accept her. I truly believe that my other children and those who associate with Calli will be better people for it. It is hard, my kids know that the most, but we are truly blessed that she is a part of our lives. I want to share this story with everyone. It sums up the way I feel better than I could ever put it.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND

by
Emily Perl Kingsley.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

I'm going to KINGERGARDEN!

Calli is officially in Kindergarten. She is going to a diagnostic class with other delayed peers. The teachers are amazing. What a great thing our Public School System is. My child would not be where she is today without the great programs she is able to attend.

Happy Birthday to ME!

What a fun day. My husband is the most amazing man in the whole world. He took the day off to spend with me. So here is what we/I did:
1. Started the day off with a manicure and pedicure!
2. Went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory with my Mom and Adam (I think Andrew had the most fun)
3. Shopping at the Mall
4. We stopped off for a visit with my Grandpa Irby
5. Came home to my wonderful kids
6. Got lots of cute birthday surprises and phone calls from my wonderful friends and family
7. My cute Sister in law did a tribute to me on her blog! Funny picture - check it out http://awesomearringtons.blogspot.com/

I am so grateful for everyone. Thanks for making my birthday great.

Together again someday

Life is such a precious thing and I feel like I take it for granted some times. My Grandpa Irby Arrington is in a rehabilitation facility. A couple of weeks ago he ended up at Alta View Hospital in the ICU with a lesion in his esophagus. He went into surgery, they fixed it but he aspirated in his lungs and got pneumonia. He has been trying to recover but he is 90 years old.

While he was in the ICU Jon, Jake and I were talking about some of the fun times that we had with Grandpa Irby. He seems more like a father to me than a Grandpa. He baptized me, gave me fathers blessings when I needed them and on two different occasions I lived at his house. I remember when he was Bishop in his ward I would get to sit next to him on the stand when I went to church with him. What a great example he has been in my life.

When my Grandpa Lynn passed away 8 years ago it was the first time that someone close to me died. Death was scary to me. I talked at his funeral and one scripture that I found to be very comforting was:

Doctrine and Covenants 42:46-47 “And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste death, for it shall be sweet unto them; And they that die not in me, wo unto them, for their death is bitter.”

Death is a part of the great plan that our Father in Heaven created. It is one of the most important and desirable events that can transpire in the eternal existence of the spirit. There is no fear of death in the hearts of the righteous. They seek to live as long as the Lord will permit them to do so. When the time of departure comes, they go in peace.

Tonight when I saw my Grandpa he looked peaceful. The most he has over the past few weeks. What a glorious thing that is going to happen to Grandpa Irby in the next little while, he is going to see his Savior, stand face to face with Him.

What a blessing the gospel is to me in my life. I know that we will all return to our Father in Heaven some day and be united with our loved ones, what comfort that brings to me at this time in my life.