A treasure delivered

Every time I see my mom's handwriting on something it melts my heart, it's my mom's script. it brings back memories of notes to teachers, notes of love and notes of no importance at all. But it is distinctly my Mom's.

So this weekend, in my mailbox, was an amazing treasure.

An envelope with my dad's handwriting (it's rare).
I can't tell you how comforting it was to come across my dad's handwriting on a letter addressed to me.

I quickly opened the envelope and found six pages of typed script (much more my dads style) stapled together. Six pages that made me sob. And so for my own purposes of saving this for my family is what I received. A poem of sorts that in six amazing pages describe my childhood and made my mind race from memory to memory.

Not to worry, please don't feel obligated to read it, it's long, and I doubt if there is any special significance in many of the words to you. Just know, to me, it's an invaluable treasure.

My Special Eight (by Noel Rentz)
The most wonderful time of my mortal life,
I had the best of all worlds..
to have the honor of raising eight terrific children,
in a country setting… how blessed can one be!

I would rather be with them and my grandchildren
than with anyone else in this world. What a marvelous
feeling to be in their presence, even today, especially today


The following are grammatically incorrect yet meaningful words and phrases that describe many of my feelings of my lucky life, not in chronological order:

In the country, blue skies, fresh air to breathe..
Four cute little boys, four beautiful little girls,

All 8 born under the covenant,
All 8 angels sent from God in answer to prayer,
Forever proud of the entire 8...talents, talents, talents
Precious children.. spirit world our real home,sent here but a short time..
Occasional snow, rain, fires & earthquakes.Children searching, creative, creative laughing, laughter, always
ponies to ride, cables to slide down,jump off the house…pool to cool off in,trampoline to leap on and sleep on..

Sharing, sharing, sharing..
Gratitude, gratitude..bikes to ride, sheep to ride,goats to ride, goats to milk,forts to hide in,rabbits & chickens to raise,
Opps, rabbit tacos..happy little children,always laughing, singing wonderful children, all 8.
Don’t take too much for granted.

Sleeping on the roof, rolling off during the night.
Flatter than a pancake.. Priesthood blessings

Looking for Santa,busy little hands,hard working minds..peanut butter & jelly sandwiches,under the couch and in chairs..
Fry bread, freshly baked sweets.. yummy
kids sleeping on the swings,or on the kitchen floor against the cabinets..hiding in cupboards,hiding in trees...underground forts..
Imperfect parents searching for the Right…

Church, costumes & Halloween, Easter, Christmas, Disneyland,
Talks and prayers..

Crows landing on shoulders,
Accidents, broken bones, Emergency rooms.
Garden produce, fruit from trees, goat milk, eggs,
Work, work, work, humming, singing fun, fun, fun...love

Their lab for life..

So busy, so busy..

Go carts, cycles,
disassembled auto engines in the living room, get the broom..

Water gun fights in the house,
Build many a fire to keep warm.. what cozy winters ..
Temple, temple, temple

Building, fixing, little yelling..
School buses, jack rabbits, pheasant, quail, deer and an occasional bear..

Imperfect parents, searching for right!
Grateful to the Savior to make everything correct...

Sewing with mother,
Cooking & library, everything with mother.
Lovely mother.
two parents to love all 8,never disappointed in any of the 8.now chose their own fate...what a lucky father, what a lucky mother.. how they love you,what joy, joy, joy..born in a family with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ,how deserving they are.. pure from the world of spirits...what wonderful fate..what is the next move,
They must choose..building, building, building,tools, tools, tool...

This place, their lab for life..
Red cliffs, blue skies, arrowheads,
Grandparents bones lie in the graves.. in mountains & valley’s..
Gone ahead, to lead the way..

Mustaches on faces, ice cream in the microwave.. pancakes

Gravel in the gas tanks,
Rush to the window to watch garbage trucks pick up the trash..

Always excited about life…fast beating hearts, fast moving hands & heads..
Great contributors to society..

Wax on the windshields..
Water balloons in shoes..

Busy, happy little troopers, all eight..
Keys in the wall sockets.. o, oh!
sewing, sewing, cleaning cooking, creating,
wounds & stitches..

Jumping on beds, jumping on couches.
No one a burden,
How proud of all eight…Cycles, skates, squirt guns,bee b guns, real guns...
Drawings on the walls & couches,
Always pleased the grouches..
Holes in the walls.. Broken windows..
Busted bee b guns..

Never enough woolen mittens,
Plenty of dogs and kittens.

Fight for hot water,
Struggle to protect a towel..

Glass of water on the doorway ready to fall..
Fire crackers in the shower, oh them boys..
Love and laughter, filled the house..

Television & the shotgun,
Rattlesnakes, bugs & humming birds..
Sweet hands and dirty faces,
Many hugs and warm embraces.

Happy little children,
Always laughing, always singing,
Children make Heaven on Earth..

Falling off bikes, falling off horses..
Falling out of trees, breaking arms & legs
Hopefully, never a broken heart..

Mumps & childhood diseases,
Old time recipes pleases..
The articles of faith, daddy daughters, father & sons..
Auto’s to drive and repair..
This place, their lab for life…

Famous words: hamgummers, grills, where is Day, baby has diarrhea, read the distructions, I didn’t do it my hand did it, ancakes, horry up, biords, etc.
Hot iron marks on my dress slacks, salads in the microwave oven,
Private Boy’s Club with scavenger hunts for candy,
Kids with sticky fingers,
Embarrassment as child yells out in store, you didn’t pay for that daddy. I saw you..

Tested, tested. Slip out of sacrament, down to McDonalds, shame on dad!

Oh how I loved it..
What a lucky man..
The best of the worlds..
A loving and kind wife!

Greeted by sweet songs of I’m so glad when daddy comes home,
Popcorn popping on the apricot tree..
No one had a better life than me.

My dreams are sweet of yesterday…My mainstay on earth are my thoughts of being with each of them, all eight.

My life is full of precious memories….my daily prayers are full of the eight.
A marvelous work and wonder,
The miracle of forgiveness,
A loving Savior..

busy, busy, busy,temple, temple...
To the ocean, hike up our own mountain..
Dolls in suitcases, schools, friends. baptisms, missions, college..
Please put a penny in the old man’s hat.., big Red..
A child left behind, forgot to count..
love, joy & laughter,oh what a blessing to have enjoyed,no luckier parents...
The struggles of life, groaning, the strain.
Smiling, the joy of life..

Our turn on mortal earth..
May it be long, may it be short..
Each day puts us all closer to God‘s goodness…
Productive grown ups who all love the Lord,who seek his guidance in all things...who follow the prophets..No luckier parents...
Tested, tested, tested….
One waits in heaven for her dear ones...Oh how I hope that they all return safely.. I am thankful that they love their children & the Lord...Four handsome men, four beautiful mothers,raising their own children, toiling for their
well being…helping others, serving..

How proud I am of the fine parents each one of them are.

Grandchildren so dear…may they all have this same blessing as I..No one I’d rather be with than all of them or anyone of them…at all times.…
And when I beat them to the grave I will prepare a place for them.. and will continue to pray for each of them daily…for their happiness and progress.. And so will all their grandparents and loved ones continue to pray for them.. None of them are ever alone.. Heaven is so close.

Love you,
Dad

The purpose of the earth is to provide a place where spirits can enter mortality through birth, so that they might know joy, and become more like Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.

To think God would allow me and my spouse to participate in this Godly process is beyond comprehension.

Everything on this beautiful planet is to remind us of the goodness of the Saviors Atonement..