The Chamerlands

Lloyd and Nola Chamberland were friends of my parents. In fact Lloyd was a 70 with my dad and they spend many hours together doing missionary work. Lloyd was a little different. He was a very nice man and had three kids, but because he had epilpecy he could not drive. His wife did not drive either and so they walked where ever they went. Including 3 miles each way to church two times each Sunday. Daddy loved the Chamberlands and when ever he did not have to work on Sunday would give them a ride to Church. Lloyd was also Mother's home teacher after Daddy died and she also loved him. Well it soon came time for Lloyd to join the rest of the human race and die. Nola was an even more simple woman than Lloyd. He had kept all the money and she knew nothing of it. When he died she was left alone, and took it very hard. She said she kept praying to God to take her that she did not want to live without Lloyd. One night her sister was spending the night with her and she had a dream.

In the dream a woman dressed in white came to her and touched her on her shoulder. She motioned to Nola to come with her and told her that she had come so Nola could understand why Lloyd had died. She led Nola down a long hall and they arrived at a meeting room. The woman opened the door and inside were people sitting listening to a speaker. The speaker was Lloyd, Nola said she did not know anyone but did sse George Jones on the stand with Lloyd. The woman then asked Nola if she still wanted Lloyd back and she said no that she would manage without him.

Aunt Wanda got Nola to write down the dream for me, and it was in my scriptures but I can not find it. I thought I had better write it down before I forget it. I know this dream is true and not only did it help Nola but also me.

I have to relate the rest of the story, when I was 16 we built our chapel in San Bernardino. I am not proud of what I did but we were using a bucket chain to pour grout in the wall of the chapel. We as young teenagers were up as high as we could get and just below me was Lloyd Chamerland. These buckets of cement were some times too full and some slopped out and fell on Lloyd. Well I motioned to my friends to watch and each bucket got tipped just enough to splill a little cement on Lloyd. He had on bib overalls and we tried to get it down the bib. Well by the time we were done Lloyd was covered in cement. He never said a word. After my mission I felt very guilty for treating Lloyd that way. And I appoligised to him. He did not even remember it happening. I am sure he did but that was the way he was.

I found out that Lloyd was from Orderville, Ut. where Alan DeMille was raised. One day Alan put up some pictures of old Orderville with Thomas Chamerland and his 28 boys and 23 girls. Fifty one children. Lloyd was one of the youngest. Thomas had a few wives, but he was always my hero after that. Fifty one would have been great but I am most grateful for my seven. I love you all. All 21 of you.

Old stories

This morning I remembered a story about little Sarah when she was about three. George was taking JoAnne and I to the airport for a trip to see Rebekah in Glendale. We were stuck in traiffic, and going about 5 miles per hour. George looked in the rear view mirror and saw Sarah picking her nose. He asked her very nicely to stop, she did for a few seconds and looked over at me and asked "Grandpa do you pick your nose? " Needless to say I was taken aback I told her I had been known to a time or two. She then procided to ask JoAnne if she picked her nose. I had a very hard time NOT laughing out loud, until I was out of little Sarah's ear shot. This is one that I have remembered for a long time. Another just came to me and I think all of you will get a laugh out of this. I was babysitting Jonah one evening in Citrus Heights. He had an accident in his pants, and I put him on the toilet and told him to finish defecating and I would finish cleaning him up. The poor little boy looked up at me and said what is decating? We just call it poo. So much for teaching them while they are young and they will not depart therefrom. These grandchildren I really miss. We spend each Sunday sitting behind a family with little red headed boys like that couple in Fallbrook used to do to us. I can't remember their names. Hibbert? I would ask them why do you sit behind us we make so much noise. And they would reply we just enjoy seeing your little children. I feel the same way now. How grateful I am for God giving us little children. There is another one that just came to my mind. When Jethro was about 3 he was a wide as he was tall. Just a cute as a button. Our old bishop in Canyon View ward would always call him George. It really made Jethro mad. He would do it every sunday until Jethro clinched his fist and pointed it at the bishop and said you call me George one more time and I am going to pop you in the face. Jethro was alway Jethro after that.
I love you all.

Sunday

We had a very nice meeting today. I really enjoy going to Church down here. The people are so humble. Our high priest group leader is a policeman from the American embasey. He has been all over the world and married a girl from Soracaba, my first ward I worked in Brazil. She was not born yet when I was there but her mother remembered me. We had our first home teacher since 2001 and it was good to have someone. Everyone here treats me as if I have lived here my whole life. Sunday school was taught by a woman who was a member in the Sao Paulo ward I worked in second. She has been a member for about 48 years and her son is our home teacher. She gave the lesson on John chapter 9 about the blind man being healed on the sabath. It also was very good. Then we had fast and testimony meeting. One man got up who had been baptized within the last year with his family and said that his family and wife were leaving him because of the Church. But he knows that it is true and he is continueing to come to church. what a man of faith. What a feeling of love was in the meeting. I know the Gospel is true and am thankful for what I have. It is so very important that we all remain true to God at all cost.