Mom and Dad,
I have been struggling. I live 4 hours away from you guys!
I can't come by for lunch, come by after work, take a half day off, or spend the night with you because of my geographical location.
I envy my brothers and sister that they are with in an hour of you.
I think about you two so damn much! there isn't ONE moment that goes by in my days that i am not thinking about you guys, our family or the evil thing called cancer.
All growing up our house was like a hotel.
We always had people staying with us that were in need of help. You two would sit down and talk before any one would move in and see if it would benefit that persons life, and/or if it would hinder our family in any way.
Dad i am sure you had the pro's and cons on one page like you would always have us do on any decision that we would come to you for help on.
If you thought it could help someone get back on their feet or better that persons life you guys would take them on like they were your own and teach them what they needed to learn or just let them stay until they needed to move on. because of your kind hearts and willing, no, WANTING to help everyone you two possibly could, we were able to get the best brother in law we could ever ask for! so many lives were changed, and so many people were effected due to your love and compassion for others, and wanting others to succeed in life.
You two are the true examples of Christ.
You guys would teach me to not judge people. that can be so hard at times! but you guys showed me the way people SHOULD BE through your actions! you guys love people for who they are and not their decisions. (mom you did hint on a mission for many many years ha ha) but you love me for me no mater what i did, no matter when I got in trouble for mooning the third graders at Carden, all the fights that I got in, my broken noses, when Cory and I borrowed your car, when I wrecked your car doing donuts (of age), fires I started, Shane and I ditching school in kindergarten, all the windows we shot our with B B guns, or even when the cops showed up at your door.
You still loved all of us for us!
Mom and dad you amaze me every day!
You two are the best!
I love you more than i could ever put in to words.
I will be there tomorrow
Chris
here are some pics from last weekend
My Mom Dad and our family
My dad feeding Kade
(my 5 month old baby boy)
Mason, Cassie, Dad, Me, Baby Kade, Aiden
Me and my Pops
Chris you don't need to be there physically for your dad and mom to know how loved they are by you. It's wonderful that you can spend as much time as you do. We wish you all well......
ReplyDeleteLove Gayle and Fred
Dear Gary and Raynee,
ReplyDeleteEvery time we think of Lyon, France we think of you two with love and admiration. You made a big difference in the lives of the young adults as well as the young missionaries serving there. Now Lyon is going to be the new mission headquarters! We always loved being with you because you were always so positive and had such wonderful testimonies of the gospel. We slept better at night because you always had such good judgement about how to problem solve with our missionaries. We wish we could be closer. We're sorry we've been North when you've been South and vice versa. Our prayers and thoughts have been with you during this time in your lives. We send our love and gratitude for your treasured friendship. Steve and Margaret Nadauld
Gary and Raynee didn't just take in strays in SLC, they took in Maren and me when we wandered over to Lyon. One of my favorite memories was watching Gary park in a two inch space.
ReplyDeleteJulie Reynolds
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ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteyour parents know how much you love them and feel your love and support, even if you don't live close by. Your parents truly are amazing but so are each of you kids. You guys are following in their footsteps. If I recall last October when I had a car-full of kids and my car wouldn't start (and it was late, no less)......who showed up to help me out? YOU! Thanks again for helping me and for your patience! :) You're awesome!
Hang in there, Chris! We pray not only for your wonderful father but for you mom, each of you kids and for all that love Gary.
We are grateful for the close association we have with your family.
Love,
Tammy
Chris this was a very touching message you sent out to your parents. It just shows the great job that they did raising their family. And the love that they have to allow you to be who you are. The one thing I can say since I have met you Teague and you father is that everything you say is so true and it is a testament to who they are. Your Father and Brother both taught me many things while I worked for them. One of those things was that they cared about everyone who worked for them no matter who or how we were. There was a time when my wife's Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Me and Sandy left for Idaho the Day before her surgery and it was very last minute with not much notice. Since we both worked there it was during the busy season is was a hardship for the business. Most employers would have a problem with letting not one but two of their employees leave with such short notice but your Father and Dad said nothing but we wish you the best let us know what is how it goes. There was no mention as to when will you be back or anything like that. We came back as soon as we knew she had survived the surgery. I was expecting to be told next time to give more notice or can only one of you go next time. No that was not what happened the first thing that was said by both Teague and Gary was is everything ok and are you going to be ok. They were not concerned with the fact that we left them in a bit of a bind. In fact when I apologized for leaving without very little notice all Gary said was don't worry about that somethings in life are far more important than work. I saw this happen a few other times with other employees over the five years I worked for them and the result was always the same. It gave me a better appreciation for work and what is really important in life FAMILY. Your family is a great example of that. I just want to thank the Whole Bengtzen clan for putting up this blog and sharing your updates and stories with us all your all inspiring people.
ReplyDeleteHey Chris -
ReplyDeleteI would suspect that you think back on those "RMP St. George" days with fondness - when it was just you and your dad. What a special time that must be to you. I remember that Gary always used to refer to RMP - Orem as "the mother ship" during those days! Of course, when either of you showed up in Orem, it wasn't without a tan and a smile. We were always glad to see either of you. Hang in there - a few miles can appear to make this hard and I'm sure it is, however, the love your parents have for you (and your family) makes a few miles seem like only inches. You in our prayers as well...
Danny