My Sweet Wesley

Picture courtesy of Desiree Menjivar

My Brother

What a STUD my brother Garrett is!

What a hard job my brother has had this past month. For those of you who don't know, Garrett is my only brother. Alot has fallen on his shoulders. He is now the patriarch of our family...the Campbell family. I know he feels the heavy burden, but he IS prepared for it. Throughout our families trial we all leaned on Garrett for hugs, thoughts, guidance, and most importantly the Priesthood. I didn't have my wonderful husband with me, so Garrett served as one that I could go to for blessings and guidance. Garrett was absolutely wonderful! I was amazed at how when us girls would cry and lose it, he would come up to us and cry with us and just hug us...bear hugs...he just isn't as big as my Dad. (: Once at the hospital I had a melt down and he walked with me around the grounds outside. I talked with him what was on my mind and he shared with me counsel and several things out of the scriptures. He knew just what to say. He was perfect...just like my Dad. My Dad and Mom have raised such a wonderful, caring, obedient, kind, funny, witty, smart, awesome son. The list could go on. I am so proud of my brother and what he has done and what he will continue to do. I know my Dad is so proud him.

During the funeral services, Garrett was nominated to give the eulogy...wow! My Mom and him wrote it together and they came up with a perfect synopsis of my Dad's life and what he is about. I know it was hard for Garrett to do, but he delivered it with such brilliance and love. After he read what was prepared he gave an INCREDIBLE testimony. You could tell from what he said and how he said it that he knows of our Heavenly Father's plan WITHOUT a doubt. I was so proud of the MAN that my brother has turned into...not sure when he stopped being a young man...but in those moments I saw the man my Dad always knew Garrett was and IS. My brother also had the task of dedicating my father's grave. (These are the moments when I am glad I am a woman and do not have the priesthood..(:) He said a sweet sincere prayer. I know that must have been very hard, but again he was brilliant. It is hard at any time of your life to lose your Dad, I don't think it would ever be easy...I am not sure how he was able to prepare himself for these moments...but he did. I know he was very prayerful and he listens to the spirit. He keeps himself close to the Lord. He is an honorable priesthood holder. He is amazing.

I am excited to see the path that Garrett will take in his life...wife, kids, company, career, etc. I know he will do it righteously. I know he will love his wife just as my Dad loved my Mom. Garrett...all of us...have seen what a marriage should be like...we have the perfect examples. I know he will be a fun, caring, supportive husband. I know he will be such a great father...I hope he can handle it. (My Dad taught us what goes around comes around (: ) I know he will have a great life. I love Garrett and am so proud of him. He is the greatest brother one could have!

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The world is yours Garrett! Love you!! XOXOXO

The Plan of Salvation

This week for FHE I made donuts and we talked about the recent events that have taken place in our family. I have been a bit worried about Dylan...he was my Dad's buddy! Dave and I talked to them about the Plan of Salvation and Dave had them draw it out. To my relief the kids knew more than what I gave them credit for. After we talked about it, Dylan turned to me and said, "Mom, I think that Grandpa is teaching the gospel. And I think that he is teaching Michael Jackson right now." We laughed and told him he may be right. I bet that Dad is "moonwalking" with Michael right now....(:

Gotta LOVE kids!

My Mother

My Mom on the left...isn't she beautiful?, me, and my handsome husband

My Mother is simply the most amazing woman. At times in my life we have not seen eye to eye and I know I frustrate her and she does me. Lets be honest..mothers and daughters sometimes fight. But we never hold it against each other and we love each other very very much. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders. She gets excited for me and my accomplishments and my families accomplishments. She cries with me if I am having a hard time. She is wonderful! I cannot imagine being the mother of 6 and being able to be the best for each one...but she is.

My Father would be...no, I know he is so proud of her and will continue to be proud of her as she continues her life here on earth. She never gave up hope and had so much faith. She is truly inspirational. I had an increase in my faith because of her. She was my Dad's biggest cheerleader! He coded once with us there and she cheered him on..."Come on Rick, you can do it! We need you! We love you!" She wasn't hysterical. She was calm. She made sure my Dad heard her. He did. After they stabilized him I noticed her in deep sincere prayer as she held his hand and cried. I saw the concern and love she has for my Dad. I saw the way she prayed...for the Lord's will...yet still pleading to take care of my Dad. Shortly after, she was talking to my brother and together they cried and prayed. They then asked us sisters to come in and to be with them. Together as a family we prayed and asked for the will of the Lord. She told us how faithful we had been...and are. That it was time to turn our faith and to let our Dad go. Each of us stood there and cried as we held each other. The most amazing feeling of peace came over me and I knew that it would be ok. Each of us one by one went over and said our goodbyes. At that moment we had "angels" arrive to visit us...the Thurman's. They stood quietly in the corner not knowing what they had come in on. We needed them at that moment. I do not know if I could have ever led my family the way my mother did. She was so unselfish. She was willing to let her best friend go. She was willing to have a very foreign future because of her faith. During this time she led us in prayer, in scripture, in faith. All of us followed and tried to be like her. I think we did. My Mom lets others comfort her and she cries with them. That is not an easy thing to do. She is also so so strong. She knows the lords plan and she knows where she is heading. She knows my Dad is preparing a garden for her and is waiting for her arrival. It will be a sweet reunion. She talked of the time when she said goodbye to my Dad for two years as he went on his mission. She said it was tough but she knew it was what he was supposed to be doing. She said that it was a great moment when they were reunited after his mission and knows that when they are reunited again it will be just as great and sweet. It is amazing how she finds comfort in this time. I feel I fall apart and forget what I know. I really don't but some days are just tough. I know she has those days. She handles them with such grace.

My Mom is the meaning of grace to me. She carries herself in a way that is pleasing with the Lord. She tries to be the best she can. She loves others. She is a great friend. She loves her children. She loves her husband. She has lived a very unselfish life. She is a hard worker...at home and at her job. She has taught all of us to be like this. She has taught us the gospel and has taught us to apply it to our lives. She is a beautiful woman...inside and out. I watched my Mom closely in the days that I was with her and my Dad. She never got angry with our Heavenly Father, the doctors, others around her. She listened to the information and made the choice to be positive and hopeful. She knew that everyone around her was doing their best. She handled herself in such a beautiful way. My Mom is grace. I love her so much. I know she will be ok. What an example she is to me in my life...my whole life. I am grateful for her. I am grateful that she is my mother. I am grateful for the time she takes for me and my family. I don't know if I can ever repay her for all that she has done. I guess I do as I teach my family the way she taught me. I am grateful for her faith. I am grateful for her. I love my Mom.

Doctors and Nurses

From day one, my Dad had the best of the best by his side. We had the most wonderful nurses and doctors trying to figure out the mystery behind my Dad's illness. The nurses took such great care of him. Many of the nurses allowed our positive thoughts and ideas overflow onto them...our faith carried us through and they saw it. Some of the nurses were a bit tougher and looking at the results of his serious condition would tell us that we needed to be realistic...soon we won them over and brought them to our side. (; They saw and felt our faith too. The doctors would come in wanting to tell my Mom good things...good news...but they didn't most days. They studied and searched for new ideas and ideas they had forgotten about. They did their BEST. one doctor told us that he loved going into my Dad's room, it felt good in there...different. We brought the nurses treats every shift change...they needed to know we appreciated them...we did and still do. We got great care from them and we love them for the hard work they do. After my Dad passed the doctor told us that he had heard of us...our family. That we were kind and positive and cooperated with his staff and he thanked us for it. It is funny because we were just being us...being the way my parents expected of us....the way they raised us. We heard as well that my Dad's passing has affected them differently and they cried when they heard. They never spoke to my Dad just cared for his body and his family. I like to think that they know my Dad through us...his family. We love the staff at Riverside community and will always be grateful for them and the care they gave to our Dad. 

At my Dad's passing there was a P.A. there with him...a P.A. that my Dad sent on a mission as Bishop. I told him how sorry I was that he had to be there to witness that. And he told me that it was his honor to be there to see him graduate. he stayed with us the rest of the night and told us how hard the doctors and nurses fought for my Dad...for us. I feel such great peace with the knowledge of this and that David could be there for my Dad and for us. We will eternally be grateful to him as well.