tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80251170506835221782024-03-21T03:54:45.929-07:00Grandma LaurieMom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-59302359944507906392009-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:002009-07-19T20:58:49.893-07:00Eternity depends on it<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m1SdVsE0hjQXruWuCfH2MIW1ZWcdtnMGKW6sY637uijAorG6umtQgo0zd400nn1GL35llFUUA_CiH_Qny6zQeS3coxe3GM-DPs5t9b2zqfwPWfDTW2fykva0e0doWKO0XDV0isk2kso/s1600-h/pink+rose.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m1SdVsE0hjQXruWuCfH2MIW1ZWcdtnMGKW6sY637uijAorG6umtQgo0zd400nn1GL35llFUUA_CiH_Qny6zQeS3coxe3GM-DPs5t9b2zqfwPWfDTW2fykva0e0doWKO0XDV0isk2kso/s320/pink+rose.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360386839047781170" /></a><br />Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality. <br />Eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-58868152827418678052009-04-07T09:54:00.000-07:002009-04-07T09:56:25.298-07:00Pearls of wisdom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_gp4Ru3Lv9sRhhzYoUndGpmgHa2b1R5aUO8gANoMwXrK_Xj_-uLgnRbrsf-TqxvuwLIUwZTwXBL8Q_y8AEkDGMH9Dysrhnbc2T0U5Ns_g7MxpTHY_BOf8y2t3w4-WbcSX-wvH4qBvk8/s1600-h/Akoya_pearls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_gp4Ru3Lv9sRhhzYoUndGpmgHa2b1R5aUO8gANoMwXrK_Xj_-uLgnRbrsf-TqxvuwLIUwZTwXBL8Q_y8AEkDGMH9Dysrhnbc2T0U5Ns_g7MxpTHY_BOf8y2t3w4-WbcSX-wvH4qBvk8/s320/Akoya_pearls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321994381651768066" /></a><br />My favorite lines from conference<br /><br />Feast upon that which perisheth not.<br /><br />Reverence is profound respect.<br /><br />Reverence invites revelation.<br /><br />Knowing that the seed is good is not enough. We must nourish it.<br /><br />We all fall short of the glory of God.<br /><br />Out Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever.<br /><br />It is always the right time to walk in his ways. It’s never to late.<br /><br />The Lord will shape the back to fit the burden.<br /><br />Our days are days long anticipated in the history of the world.<br /><br />Discipleship is a journey.<br /><br />Ask and ye shall receive. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.<br />The Lord’s words,<br /> “This is my church and I will establish it and nothing will overthrow it.”<br /><br />Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time. One will dispel the other.<br /><br />His arm is sufficient.<br /><br />Pray always, increase in faith and personal righteousness, strengthen your family and serve others.<br /><br />Hold fast to the iron rod. There is danger of drowning in dirty water.<br /><br />Family prayer and family scripture reading will strengthen families.<br /><br />There are opportunities everywhere to help someone in need. For are we not all beggars?<br /><br />The Savior made the loneliest journey ever made. Even those most precious to Him would not stand with him in the end. Judas betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver; Peter, James and John slept; Peter denied Him three times; all the disciples left and fled. The supporting circle around Jesus grew smaller and smaller until in the end he endured the paralyzing despair of divine withdrawal. “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” It was required for the atonement that the Father had to briefly withdraw his spirit from His son. He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but to die spiritually which leaves one to feel hopelessly alone. Jesus Pressed on. He restored physical life and brought redemption. He pleased His father perfectly.<br /> <br />The Moral footings of society continue to slip.<br /><br />If we allow ourselves to dwell only on what’s wrong we will feel oppressed. We must focus on our blessings.<br /><br />God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and a sound mind.<br /><br />The Lord said, “Be of good cheer and do not fear for I will stand by you.<br /><br />If we make the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of our lives, we will be victorious. <br /><br />Faith gives us the strength we need.<br /><br />The temple expands our vision.<br /><br />Whenever we build a temple the bells of hell begin to ring.<br /><br />God’s wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.<br /><br />There is protecting power in the temple ordinances to those who honestly hold a name in standing in the holy temple. No weapon against them will prosper.<br /><br />The devil despises the Lord’s house.<br /><br />The protection we have from the temple stands as a great obstacle to Lucifer.<br />The temple is a refuge from the storm.<br /><br />Now is the time to labor. Cast away the things in your life that stand in the way. Spend your time on the things that matter most and the fire of the covenant will burn on your heart.<br /><br />Everything that is good and enticeth to do good is from God. <br /><br />We can always trust the living prophets. Their words are the mind and will of God.<br /><br />The field is white already to harvest. Open your mouths and they shall be filled.<br />If we love and serve one another, we stay connected to our covenants and each other.<br /><br />Greed shows itself in the face of entitlement. <br /><br />Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.<br /><br />The plan of the gospel of Jesus Christ lifts us above our selfish desires and teaches us what we can become. <br /><br />“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” —Mother Teresa<br /><br />We are happier and more fulfilled by what we give, not by what we get.”<br />Eternal life is the greatest gift of God.<br /><br />Satan’s pathways lead to destruction.<br /><br />Jesus is the Christ.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-88044633699762100912009-04-07T09:49:00.000-07:002009-04-07T09:54:03.246-07:00A Beautiful House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr3JgWuLwHGXUMaelxMLqjWW89t1wtt1h9IE9KMxjgyA-hNtDcwehWktCXoyjRyxP0-SesOmD46bG7OkpnBnSMywLDMFGflU2HyhfdtgLGekdCX2X4f-QlZFyXRMty2OUuWyluNb0iow/s1600-h/draper_lds_mormon_temple%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr3JgWuLwHGXUMaelxMLqjWW89t1wtt1h9IE9KMxjgyA-hNtDcwehWktCXoyjRyxP0-SesOmD46bG7OkpnBnSMywLDMFGflU2HyhfdtgLGekdCX2X4f-QlZFyXRMty2OUuWyluNb0iow/s320/draper_lds_mormon_temple%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321993781922384578" /></a><br />A Beautiful House<br /><br /> Scott and I took Anne Wilkinson with us Saturday March 22nd to the Draper Temple dedication that was held in the Draper temple. We arrived at one of the nearby chapels to be bussed up to the temple. As our bus wound up the mountain between numerous large and luxurious homes, several of us noticed that at one of the homes an angry looking woman stood on her balcony in a defiant pose with her arms held high giving the finger with both hands to all the passing busses. I couldn’t help wondering what had made her so angry. Was it the inconvenience of all the traffic caused by the dedication? Was she angry because of Proposition 8? Was she just a Mormon hater? Did she believe in Jesus Christ and if she did, why was she filled with such animosity? <br /> As I sat on that bus, amazed at the hate of that woman, an image of the “Tall and spacious building” from Lehi’s dream came to mind. <br /> “And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; and we heeded them not.” —1Nephi 8:33<br /> As we entered the temple that day, and felt the peace and beauty there, I felt so thankful for this beautiful new “House of the Lord”. Scott and I had previously had the opportunity of bearing our testimony in one of the sealing rooms during the temple open house. For five hours we bore our testimony of the gospel and felt the power and light of the temple. It is truly the “House of the Lord” and we felt His presence there.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-72349316922999026832009-04-07T09:18:00.000-07:002009-04-07T09:48:43.883-07:00The snow sparkles when the sun shines on it<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9u3LgrajXSMCYdwQdt6-kZ7Fyp5i4iRPxLdkNDDKyhVECwufwAnWI3t4Jd9GQic5E6lxcZrSZkXO_U2wC94vQ_o0U6pyUv3NNdl4_H_kcqH5talBOGcJyancxAp0KCyDTJFh1lufuOE/s1600-h/sparkling+snowflake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9u3LgrajXSMCYdwQdt6-kZ7Fyp5i4iRPxLdkNDDKyhVECwufwAnWI3t4Jd9GQic5E6lxcZrSZkXO_U2wC94vQ_o0U6pyUv3NNdl4_H_kcqH5talBOGcJyancxAp0KCyDTJFh1lufuOE/s320/sparkling+snowflake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321992392792821186" /></a><br />The snow sparkles when the sun shines on it.<br /><br /> The other day Amy called to tell me I’d had a small influence on Zack. A newly fallen snow had just covered the earth and she suddenly heard Zack yelling, “Mom! Mom! Grandma was telling the truth! The snow does sparkle when the sun shines on it!!<br /> We’d just spent Christmas with Amy’s family and it had snowed a lot. Everyone seemed so upset by all the snow. I told Zack that the snow can be really beautiful and that it sparkles when the sun shines on it. Somewhere that thought was stored away in his little boy brain and he was looking for the sparkle and on that day, he found it.<br /> Last month Scott shared with me some interesting facts he’d learned about the chandeliers in the new Draper temple. The designer for the temple lives in our stake and her husband, who is on the High Counsel with Scott, shared some enlightening information about chandeliers. When I heard what he had to say, I thought about Zack and how the snow sparkles when the sun shines on it. Here’s what I learned. <br /> The creation of a chandelier is an elaborate and very intricate process. The inside base is made from Copper, Brass or Iron. The frame has hundreds of tiny holes—because most of the crystals are placed<br />individually by a little hook that attaches to the hole. Some of the crystals are already in a ring that goes around the base. Part of the challenge is making sure you’re placing the right sized crystal in the right location because the sizes typically are supposed to alternate larger, smaller, larger, smaller to create the design and the lighting/prism effect.<br /> It takes 4 or 5 people about 3 or 4 hours to do one this size for a sealing room. The much larger Celestial room chandelier takes that many or more people a couple of days. Each Crystal itself is unique, regardless of size, in that because of the way it is formed and where it is placed on the chandelier it reflects light and even colors can be seen as in a rainbow. Another interesting fact is how the crystal is made. A crystal is an amalgamation of lead and glass. The glass used to make crystals is made from fine sand. The sand is heated to a very high temperature until it melts and can be formed into the needed shape and allowed to cool. Lead has to be mixed in with the sand to come up with a crystal piece. The right proportions of these substances have to be well calculated so imperfections can be avoided. <br /> When Pres. Hinckley was asked by a certain dignitary, what meaning is to attach to having these beautiful chandeliers in the Temple sealing rooms and Celestial room, he said simply…to give off light!<br /> There is an obvious metaphor here. A prism only becomes beautiful when it reflects light. In darkness a prism is nothing to look at. We, like these prisms, only reach our potential when the light of Christ shines through us.<br /> “The Lord said, “Trust me, learn of me, do what I do…If you follow me, I will lead you out of darkness” <br /> One prism is beautiful but many prisms together, reflecting the light off of each other is extraordinary. We also can become extraordinary when we are carefully placed by the Lord to reflect his light to each other. Every crystal is part of and contributes to the whole just as we are, when we take upon us the name of Christ and become part of His church. <br /> Each prism must go through a refiners fire just as we must go through a refiners fire to know of a surety that they have a loving Heavenly Father and that the Atonement is available to all. <br /> I love the temple because it is filled with light. Not only the light from these beautiful chandeliers, but it is filled with the light and truth of Christ and when the Son shines on us, we truly do sparkle.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-40649168122266863012009-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:002009-02-03T11:40:56.549-08:00Here's Keith's latest.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ba908RB1pa8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ba908RB1pa8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AOBC-Jtcm2A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AOBC-Jtcm2A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-78032079224002120112008-12-09T08:52:00.000-08:002008-12-09T08:56:13.546-08:00Dr. Robert John Williams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04MnN4D3NCqXO42czKbLnGlJQo_VK_zVQnlKrZAIs7LTDMMyxTGSCOv37aoo3qmTSWAAlDOsBjOPTfeVhtSpJG3VpbPCWV8U1LiBZpag1KUp3yB1zYhr7EqwRg7sJLDGzsfYsQhSMPB0/s1600-h/DSCN0039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9dA1s4SKiZL0EMwYSo9H6pZpbrJ5msPtApKaoCpinYllfmpE7GkXsarXfCTJ0y0mv8HdmV0g2K-iDrbvb1qoHMlx4MEk8c3-12aYrReXsmBFDmFW78sRcQh9bVpdC_lyfynEeC44wuc/s320/DSCN0041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211590331557816338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe8-iiHnKdfmlYqgyHB719lK_LuAz0U2gUvb31_oZaztglwygCKIS0UaTFJtfCL0ta-arRu_MZpwrLTajh_5952FBnKS6UFnNPK3tK1DrTvL1Zf-ls-ja9xyoRZ7RlGyTAqf-dD5ogeA/s1600-h/DSCN0048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe8-iiHnKdfmlYqgyHB719lK_LuAz0U2gUvb31_oZaztglwygCKIS0UaTFJtfCL0ta-arRu_MZpwrLTajh_5952FBnKS6UFnNPK3tK1DrTvL1Zf-ls-ja9xyoRZ7RlGyTAqf-dD5ogeA/s320/DSCN0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211590101510597138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkhbuW89JfhJlMdn4gb2iP5O8zM8GvAojFflgh-mJpBe3kAfXfZz7crQ2hqqxJ-miS2bGApEySKAEsm8Fs96DPMVBi8anOv6y3LO301uwcjDgJZ5BVHbjuk-BpojIxFiQ7rdlxpMW2ec/s1600-h/DSCN0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQn_C3Fzhv5K_J1K4iRWPFAoaBOFLPLfwb6imo_P2E5f0hF1AdRR4Pir0xqrkuHlN8CH9qA_NBz2gc8gLwmnDWzV_MMIn-SYuvCU7w2t8GE0ZxmJVl-lprXvUtmyFh0J2cvtb1BjbKLA/s320/DSCN0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211589589740395010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZCzGASoOTI9Us-qpzTOmOCqRisbnzG2CjSEqI7huN2_BztX_kAn9_-8pxYYX7ZRvN7SD55aej0anbEjVTNW01zgAZDpjODH6NvXU5PdZOWufmqyOS7tw7BSW_Fz94VvY8np5GxtZPW0/s1600-h/DSCN0002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZCzGASoOTI9Us-qpzTOmOCqRisbnzG2CjSEqI7huN2_BztX_kAn9_-8pxYYX7ZRvN7SD55aej0anbEjVTNW01zgAZDpjODH6NvXU5PdZOWufmqyOS7tw7BSW_Fz94VvY8np5GxtZPW0/s320/DSCN0002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211589465754320466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX72BCGKQ1MflF_Td09jfujHed0Al5TfifWeoaM67Dulc8qKsl1B4gQFOn4PpqruT1Jt_zb-p8jv-o-wrhkFbfJ_TOJBYXW1pu2mCih9q774tGsuOCBzR3iSLGlNMnR3M8WQKJ44NILg/s1600-h/DSCN0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX72BCGKQ1MflF_Td09jfujHed0Al5TfifWeoaM67Dulc8qKsl1B4gQFOn4PpqruT1Jt_zb-p8jv-o-wrhkFbfJ_TOJBYXW1pu2mCih9q774tGsuOCBzR3iSLGlNMnR3M8WQKJ44NILg/s320/DSCN0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211589332510688418" border="0" /></a>I had to delete and re-upload this post for technical, search engine reasons...<br /><br />(June 13th) Dad and I just got back from a great trip to Irvine. The first day Dad took a deposition in LA while I played cars with Harry. I'm always "Sister car" (A red, white and blue emergency vehicle) and Harry is always "Brother car" (A cool race car with fire painted on the tops and sides). Every time I come to visit, Harry gives me the same car and, of course, he is always the same cool racecar. I could easily pick those two cars out of the hundreds of cars in their car box. This sort of identity happens only after hours of playing with the same cars.<br />The next day we surprised Miles at school and made our long promised trip to "Lego Land". We didn't dare talk about it till we were well on our way as all of our other attempts have been foiled. Harry felt a little sick but not enough to back out. I made one critical error. I didn’t consider my audience. We should have started on the kiddy side first as this is what they enjoyed the most. Unfortunately the park closed early (5:00 p.m.) because it wasn’t summer season yet. (6 more days). I felt bad because the kids were just starting to enjoy themselves. Harry did get a chance to drive a Lego car all by himself. He was very serious about it and never took his eyes off the road. On his third time around, with out looking up, he yelled out, “I’m winning!” That was the best part of Lego land for me. We told Miles and Harry they could choose a toy and it was a bit stressful for Miles. To many choices I guess. Miles asked if he could call Isaac and ask him which toy he bought last summer at Lego Land. Decisions! Decisions!<br />On Saturday, June 7th we went to John’s graduation and saw him be “hooded”. The Lady announcing who each graduate would be “hooded” by, kept slipping up and saying “beheaded ” Miles asked me what beheaded means and, unfortunately, I told him the unvarnished truth. He seemed a bit shocked so I quickly added that nobody does that anymore. Dad and I are very proud of John. What a great accomplishment. Congratulations Dr. Williams!!!Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-12713774437166703242008-10-09T08:39:00.000-07:002008-10-09T09:13:47.667-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFRu5BTzLJQgvwNSO_3M2puf874bLbw1ZDOMXLG7bjhDgGwQ06FUXclXPW23jGCHIQ95aUlA5vdF_pZ15pcbKQAYv-Yw5q3X3uLue0I5066SPJ7at-uJMjuWIAdJlxULKVdhgy7mZT7Q/s1600-h/Abigail_Adams.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFRu5BTzLJQgvwNSO_3M2puf874bLbw1ZDOMXLG7bjhDgGwQ06FUXclXPW23jGCHIQ95aUlA5vdF_pZ15pcbKQAYv-Yw5q3X3uLue0I5066SPJ7at-uJMjuWIAdJlxULKVdhgy7mZT7Q/s320/Abigail_Adams.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255188074542833570" border="0" /></a><br />October 9, 2008 <br /><br /> Dad and I recently watched the “John Adams” series on television and recommend it to all. Kath and Alex gave us the DVDs and we’re watching it a second time. Because Dad’s read David McCulluogh’s book on John Adams he elaborated on his life as we watched. I love this quote from a letter Abigail Adams wrote to her son after a difficult and perilous journey with his father to Paris.<br /><br /> “These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman.”Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-12817152392431199812008-09-22T14:25:00.000-07:002008-09-24T11:56:08.994-07:00Courage is More Exhilarating<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP5UgSpAih20YnG1Q6kfkhNGiqqLux5kAsORk-_yXn_s5zqxoJtHttekp4ZivWOO2-W-bCqXSMZTbjzsYB8SL7H0CEvxotIa5HOLEIQfjmgBm5f9eM0XKsqOD4AB4C17-OuDmWlodAbM/s1600-h/IMG_0179.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzP5UgSpAih20YnG1Q6kfkhNGiqqLux5kAsORk-_yXn_s5zqxoJtHttekp4ZivWOO2-W-bCqXSMZTbjzsYB8SL7H0CEvxotIa5HOLEIQfjmgBm5f9eM0XKsqOD4AB4C17-OuDmWlodAbM/s320/IMG_0179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248977042035780754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_x7qXDJLnPTM62TzVdrdcDvP8IFeWAI6aZlPINejZuJR-It-5biaKw8WnEQ2wNd3kDM4MnJCdbxCEUoNdCaE0WZet-lSzJSzysJA2_6vG3ueqMuP8eoUbKNr4vgF2nst3y46i4WfBBY/s1600-h/IMG_0177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_x7qXDJLnPTM62TzVdrdcDvP8IFeWAI6aZlPINejZuJR-It-5biaKw8WnEQ2wNd3kDM4MnJCdbxCEUoNdCaE0WZet-lSzJSzysJA2_6vG3ueqMuP8eoUbKNr4vgF2nst3y46i4WfBBY/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248976931242523906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzozJ8HInWpC0DKzR4bisatWDPrYfxy6bZZfZ5vs2IN-UojNMiDfAxOzwq3VDi4riVl_f0FzcUifTvdZvDx1Q_k7LDEtgytCRefaU6bNnJVGHz2gTxe6SeES8_8q-gpeArhMHruEpoPg/s1600-h/IMG_0184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzozJ8HInWpC0DKzR4bisatWDPrYfxy6bZZfZ5vs2IN-UojNMiDfAxOzwq3VDi4riVl_f0FzcUifTvdZvDx1Q_k7LDEtgytCRefaU6bNnJVGHz2gTxe6SeES8_8q-gpeArhMHruEpoPg/s320/IMG_0184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248976757667418402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm23EQ6ZMWbyekSg6IeEvJUWDNU5ZWkr3kAfIR0vLhltC3Oq6CWOvtSkHe-SVxxJK4H5xPT0vqW9mRiHMREVXLUDg4kzhd9efh7xYOed4By03MpZfSFLHhRkFvn8ZCVvGx_7xFQrgc3k/s1600-h/IMG_0183.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigm23EQ6ZMWbyekSg6IeEvJUWDNU5ZWkr3kAfIR0vLhltC3Oq6CWOvtSkHe-SVxxJK4H5xPT0vqW9mRiHMREVXLUDg4kzhd9efh7xYOed4By03MpZfSFLHhRkFvn8ZCVvGx_7xFQrgc3k/s320/IMG_0183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248976570238551458" border="0" /></a><br />Dad and I just got back from a trip to New York. Dad got the courage to drive through the taxi maze of New York City and we escaped to Hyde Park to see Roosevelt’s home and presidential library.<br />Roosevelt never wanted for anything in his younger years. He grew up an only child of wealthy parents with every opportunity for education and success. He married Eleanor and had five children and was heading toward a successful career in politics when, one day, after he’d spent a weekend visiting a boy’s camp, he was exposed to polio. He came home from the camp not feeling well so he walked up the stairs to his bedroom to rest and never walked on his own again.<br />When he woke up the next morning he was unable to move anything from his neck down. His mother gave up on him and expected that he would live his life as an invalid but Eleanor wouldn’t hear of it. She pushed him to exercise and encouraged him to keep living.<br />After a lot of encouragement from Eleanor, he was able to sit up and after a time could use his arms and hands. He never felt sorry for himself and didn’t want anyone else to. He refused to talk about his disabilities and instead would make a joke that put those around him at ease. Every day he would have someone push him to the drive in front of his estate and would try to walk to the end. He could only go a short distance before he’d fall on his face and then he’d get up and try again, and would go a little further, fall on his face and then try again and again until he reached the mailbox at the end of his driveway. He did this day after day until he could walk with help.<br />He and Eleanor had a lot of hardships in their life and made some mistakes but I felt inspired by the fight and courage of Franklin and Eleanor.<br />Eleanor said, “Courage is more exhilarating that fear and in the long run it’s a lot easier. We don’t have to become heroes overnight.”Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-79404219728302022022008-09-10T09:01:00.000-07:002008-09-10T09:41:54.781-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kr2d11nt2sU0-Rg2AIZtxHX_dxP09vC9W7XOgLBcMtuf01Uzrv46XZu83nr-SX6Ujoo0tk-YCMmg6NHwz-nNoAb2i8uhrexSYdKZG9I58ktcy1FLYo49iczIV5-6O8sT4SjMdVWr7qg/s1600-h/Spring+Flowers+I+Daffodil+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Kr2d11nt2sU0-Rg2AIZtxHX_dxP09vC9W7XOgLBcMtuf01Uzrv46XZu83nr-SX6Ujoo0tk-YCMmg6NHwz-nNoAb2i8uhrexSYdKZG9I58ktcy1FLYo49iczIV5-6O8sT4SjMdVWr7qg/s320/Spring+Flowers+I+Daffodil+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244433760388252162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">“We are troubled on every side,<br />yet not distressed;<br />we are perplexed,but not in despair;<br /> Persecuted,<br />but not forsaken;<br />cast down, but not destroyed.<br /> For God,<br />who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,<br />hath shined in our hearts,<br />to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of<br />Jesus Christ.”<br /><br /></div> — 2 Corinthians 4:6-9Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-68027870591884566752008-07-29T10:12:00.000-07:002008-07-29T10:28:43.962-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_pKrzFkh1Jig9oqL_MWuDgeSKI2UVW0sIkILbPi-xPh6UIEzWMaXaTgwWBOx6v13X4WMPgD-LHQsEZ_eKaiC56ZbdwAF_uqKJloh6yFiwdOft8dPV5WpkjAm_cj29RqOZPPJjd6FgCg/s1600-h/man_in_the_moon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_pKrzFkh1Jig9oqL_MWuDgeSKI2UVW0sIkILbPi-xPh6UIEzWMaXaTgwWBOx6v13X4WMPgD-LHQsEZ_eKaiC56ZbdwAF_uqKJloh6yFiwdOft8dPV5WpkjAm_cj29RqOZPPJjd6FgCg/s320/man_in_the_moon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228489234500976402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Recipe for a Good Nights Sleep</span><br /></div><br /> Ingredients:<br /> One Child (about 40 lbs.)<br /> 1 Pair of Pajamas<br /> 2 Heavy Eyelids<br /> Several Teddy Bears<br /> Picture Books (to taste)<br /> A Handful of Yawns<br /> Method:<br /> First heat the bed to the correct temperature,<br /> Place the filling in the pajamas.<br /> Add the rest of the ingredients and sprinkle with yawns.<br /> Put the mixture into the pre-warmed bed.<br /> Lower the light and leave for several hours.<br /><br /> If well done the child will rise nicely. Turn out on the right side of the bed.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-61011507606329139712008-07-15T21:17:00.000-07:002008-07-15T21:38:20.955-07:00Our Deepest Fear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKIESJWkG_U9Cpk_LO9X7TvzOrH7WPDibJiYUiCOpcnSDCdTWCKpMwleMNy-O6Gr80Sd8sVUpWzR3cBGUO2SsGl2MQczzjQ1zZV5MQwcXq_uMEVwYEW7qtppy4m-msZ3iPgPp1HqRVmE/s1600-h/Bulb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKIESJWkG_U9Cpk_LO9X7TvzOrH7WPDibJiYUiCOpcnSDCdTWCKpMwleMNy-O6Gr80Sd8sVUpWzR3cBGUO2SsGl2MQczzjQ1zZV5MQwcXq_uMEVwYEW7qtppy4m-msZ3iPgPp1HqRVmE/s320/Bulb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223466603451599714" border="0" /></a><br />“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-23013055133409957282008-06-22T20:31:00.000-07:002008-06-22T21:46:12.831-07:00A Single Tear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg633t-K5uaKnT3nQ-KI9KVIurV-CNDo8TDvI9EpjlGFALP6XeHczU3KCAxFKBRH9SCnm2PHEuuPRVljgbDLiYRHTTpievH6zgjWMjQfoktyNRTnza9eiR-ww7NCAW5KLqUciUmFM618UQ/s1600-h/TeardropSized.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg633t-K5uaKnT3nQ-KI9KVIurV-CNDo8TDvI9EpjlGFALP6XeHczU3KCAxFKBRH9SCnm2PHEuuPRVljgbDLiYRHTTpievH6zgjWMjQfoktyNRTnza9eiR-ww7NCAW5KLqUciUmFM618UQ/s320/TeardropSized.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214933666350166034" border="0" /></a><br />Today after church I went to visit mom. Usually when I visit, dad is there, but today it was just mom and I. She was wide-awake and seemed intent on everything I said. I've noticed that mom always seems to give the right response if it's only two or three words but when she tries to say much more, the words get all jumbled up. I told her about John’s graduation and she said, "How wonderful." I told her about little River and that Amy is having another girl that she might name Lily. She said, “That’s great.” I told her that Dave is working on an MBA and Becky made a new CD and she said, “That’s swell.” I told her about how busy I’ve been with the Young Women and that I just planted geraniums because, like she always told me, they have the least amount of pollen and that Kathryn has planted a vegetable garden. She said, “That’s good.” I rambled on for a while as she seemed to be so interested but then I stopped short. A single tear fell down the side of her cheek. A realization shot through me and pierced my heart. She’s still in there. She knows I love her and that tiny tear told me that she loves me. There are bonds stronger than death and I felt that today.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-54968737668896724242008-06-02T15:33:00.000-07:002008-06-02T16:08:26.180-07:00Grandma Vivi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VncyAU7yy0s4p2PMJ1RBa2obQ43kEqHWSTQTRJWLgEdiCkjHtkdtAYtgMW8pZkWJsVEON0ecOls7B9K4RdpJ6Ma8IbvZ5cj119ZQknFokhbD3TX56ujA34cpbUQMB3v2-rHYglvfJFQ/s1600-h/DSCN0090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VncyAU7yy0s4p2PMJ1RBa2obQ43kEqHWSTQTRJWLgEdiCkjHtkdtAYtgMW8pZkWJsVEON0ecOls7B9K4RdpJ6Ma8IbvZ5cj119ZQknFokhbD3TX56ujA34cpbUQMB3v2-rHYglvfJFQ/s320/DSCN0090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207424937676471778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP51qCnhBYnUZ8STMkAxMIsJB_jKH-Q5ezbMt0imZFZsIkQ9gw2h0MYnaC3xsQtxw-jd5Olbi2o-kNt-k02mA-EA53mzjCUbMeM2ezFjmUbcucie76cxbDGk1qpFBp90nYu2E-wUHM-Qg/s1600-h/DSCN0102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP51qCnhBYnUZ8STMkAxMIsJB_jKH-Q5ezbMt0imZFZsIkQ9gw2h0MYnaC3xsQtxw-jd5Olbi2o-kNt-k02mA-EA53mzjCUbMeM2ezFjmUbcucie76cxbDGk1qpFBp90nYu2E-wUHM-Qg/s320/DSCN0102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207424830302289362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvqNB5SDPNXCKjXztVhdHbzDJer_JFjt2G6JEFcvdgbZqtDhigNJh8TFzuD4PhbUn-GdbzuyvKCTNycOPkGuIwftmc1HsxDFxBWzUzM8ek02Pu9cxfVuwjZx7_ugWe_Iy2JH453kJh2E/s1600-h/DSCN0007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvqNB5SDPNXCKjXztVhdHbzDJer_JFjt2G6JEFcvdgbZqtDhigNJh8TFzuD4PhbUn-GdbzuyvKCTNycOPkGuIwftmc1HsxDFxBWzUzM8ek02Pu9cxfVuwjZx7_ugWe_Iy2JH453kJh2E/s320/DSCN0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207424697158303170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmACKI2LwL1HN_ggovNv_pR0r6tc6iQe_n-C-5KgYi_G44LCXgCw3DNind1zLcK2TFaFrADeV6lggX28H12HwUSHfRrFL4bPqdCmWGMvF27Kv87GSk0IkboZz56lW6i7QOErhNfG-m71M/s1600-h/DSCN0010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmACKI2LwL1HN_ggovNv_pR0r6tc6iQe_n-C-5KgYi_G44LCXgCw3DNind1zLcK2TFaFrADeV6lggX28H12HwUSHfRrFL4bPqdCmWGMvF27Kv87GSk0IkboZz56lW6i7QOErhNfG-m71M/s320/DSCN0010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207424572604251570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDN_BJZtCqOTs8ufPfqHrWylDrZFK705unl_US-8mhS0KsRI6lHuxnvjzTW0uLt7c__wchJQKjkPm6npfYqf0SB9UlTwPm9bvRcw9hgQN9td18J86SdB2Fb0mGsquO01nfYMPGealkbw/s1600-h/DSCN0011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDN_BJZtCqOTs8ufPfqHrWylDrZFK705unl_US-8mhS0KsRI6lHuxnvjzTW0uLt7c__wchJQKjkPm6npfYqf0SB9UlTwPm9bvRcw9hgQN9td18J86SdB2Fb0mGsquO01nfYMPGealkbw/s320/DSCN0011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207424306316279202" border="0" /></a><br />Grandma Vivi is doing a lot better. Big John had asked the nurse to give her some Lortab for back pain and it turns out that is what’s been making her so listless. They stopped giving it to her and she perked right up. Yesterday Kathryn, Becky and I took River over to see Grandma Vivi. Grandma smiled when she saw the baby and Big John was so happy that we came.<br />River is growing fast and adjusting very well to her new life. She has had some colic but seems to be doing better at night. Kath and Alex both commented that it seems like River’s always been with them. I think she’s known them for a lot longer then 3 weeks.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-12732890140880165412008-06-02T15:28:00.000-07:002008-06-02T15:32:30.662-07:00Every chance we get<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfk4F9-lExjxxBi49gQS2DjyXQhyphenhyphenCAM7h62qo49J3koc7urWYrgPd0NoPWYMlb4z_pjOFCE_PxhX9qnO_2Hm5ZD8CNn07QUtaDKG1qzTGrwaYM7LrQnBF67bPNsp_Qwwyxa4KVQfeN5I/s1600-h/DSCN0029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfk4F9-lExjxxBi49gQS2DjyXQhyphenhyphenCAM7h62qo49J3koc7urWYrgPd0NoPWYMlb4z_pjOFCE_PxhX9qnO_2Hm5ZD8CNn07QUtaDKG1qzTGrwaYM7LrQnBF67bPNsp_Qwwyxa4KVQfeN5I/s320/DSCN0029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207415660547112338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNC7FE_3zGacruf2sOYuTWpJ68Ib-ZwsPrzcHJYkb8FE_-4mJx1xMSkxbKfdNKB_rhvxQ9r6KJ8WtjAKcsHXY7ghy2n52HNK-1WduMpwHDvccVZMzejVwYRSA7VrMltXiDZmkzWCAesQ/s1600-h/DSCN0019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNC7FE_3zGacruf2sOYuTWpJ68Ib-ZwsPrzcHJYkb8FE_-4mJx1xMSkxbKfdNKB_rhvxQ9r6KJ8WtjAKcsHXY7ghy2n52HNK-1WduMpwHDvccVZMzejVwYRSA7VrMltXiDZmkzWCAesQ/s320/DSCN0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207415505928289666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAA66Z74vxevAlbpCNbX-wI5rH8KNI55cglsMwO2DwX_0L2Zp51pbWKfdFMKragcbKNc3efv-NQrqwAR5oss1a2Bi79DxagnqUp7R92G2pzdQVYvsBhuc863gByQSr3xOGVTrlMTZ5xc/s1600-h/DSCN0013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAA66Z74vxevAlbpCNbX-wI5rH8KNI55cglsMwO2DwX_0L2Zp51pbWKfdFMKragcbKNc3efv-NQrqwAR5oss1a2Bi79DxagnqUp7R92G2pzdQVYvsBhuc863gByQSr3xOGVTrlMTZ5xc/s320/DSCN0013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207415282589990258" border="0" /></a><br />Last week we had a great visit with Amy, Trav and family. We went to the YMCA for a swim, watched Isaac at his Quan do class, played horsey, monopoly and wii, drove to Leavenworth and saw a black bear on the side of the highway and did a lot of drawing. It’s hard to believe how fast our grandchildren are growing up. We love to see them every chance we get.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-84821599177388158162008-05-30T11:36:00.000-07:002008-05-30T11:45:00.400-07:00In praise of what's inside the diapers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDM-tyifE13mEW-LytxkjTQ9F3ulB6HPuRhY1VwCnxGHBddlTBpYSmIJX2uuPamhdI61L5wSfykuzMqSFDgRfp0yxYGLoJHyeL52vBg2fDO2IPd0GxJnJXU5Exy2KHZ4lcKi8srrjxU7c/s1600-h/mba0774l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDM-tyifE13mEW-LytxkjTQ9F3ulB6HPuRhY1VwCnxGHBddlTBpYSmIJX2uuPamhdI61L5wSfykuzMqSFDgRfp0yxYGLoJHyeL52vBg2fDO2IPd0GxJnJXU5Exy2KHZ4lcKi8srrjxU7c/s320/mba0774l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206243760303281570" border="0" /></a><br />By Orson Scott Card<br /><br />I WATCH THE younger couples in our ward (which, these days, is most of them) lugging around diaper bags and strollers, with babes in arms crying or sleeping, toddlers trotting along or getting dragged, and I'm envious.<br /><br />Child-rearing is the closest we can come to understanding God. Giving all we can when the little ones are hopelessly dependent on us. Standing back and letting them make their own mistakes when they hunger for independence long before they really understand the consequences of their own choices.<br /><br />It's a glorious ride, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.<br /><br />I hear other grandparents joking about how the best thing about grandkids is that you can give them back.<br /><br />I don't get the joke. I think the worst thing about grandkids is that I have to give them back.<br /><br />Though at the moment, the worst thing about grandkids is that all of mine live in the state of Washington, the opposite coast from me.<br /><br />So I adopt children in the ward. Not officially, of course. They all have perfectly good parents. I just get hungry to hold a baby in that rocking-back-and-forth posture that puts them to sleep, or to tuck a squalling youngster into that football-carry position that often calms them down. I like to hold them by their wrists as they grip my fingers and push up from my lap, trying to stand.<br /><br />I've found that as long as I'm holding onto a child's tiny hands, I can walk for half an hour or more all around the church as the child toddles along.<br /><br />Best is when you earn their smiles. Second best, when you earn their parents' smiles because you've given them a bit of a break to get something else done — like deal with the other child whose need is even greater.<br /><br />When I was growing up, our society didn't give men as much of a chance to get involved with small children. Even now, there are still plenty of men at church who sit there like Buddha while their wives deal with a half-dozen squirming, squeaking children.<br /><br />Are there still men who, when the weight, solidity, moistness or odor of a diaper indicates that it's time for a change, pass the kid along to Mom to change?<br /><br />What a mistake.<br /><br />What such men don't realize is: Diapers aren't icky. No, let me rephrase that: The diaper of your own child is never icky, as long as you accept the responsibility.<br /><br />There are things we do for our own kids that would make us gag if we had to do them for somebody else's. But when it's your kid, and you accept the responsibility, then the globby item half-blocking the airflow through a nostril is something you have to take care of. If you have a tissue, great. If you don't, your finger will do just fine. Because if you don't deal with it, who will?<br /><br />How sad for the men who answer that question, "My wife."<br /><br />Intimate personal service is how humans bond with other people. If you find your own child's bodily excretions disgusting, it means you haven't been helping with the kids enough. Because once you've taken full responsibility and bonded with that child, even the gloppiest mess is simply a problem to be dealt with — and then, later, a funny story to tell to other parents.<br /><br />My boy-children loved being tossed in the air — not far, but enough that they felt that moment of weightlessness at the top of the toss. I learned, however, that this should not take place immediately after the baby has nursed. The excitement reverses the normal alimentary flow. Did I like the taste of half-digested human milk? Not much, I can assure you. But it came from my child, so it's now just a funny story.<br /><br />You become a connoisseur of diaper loads. You can discern amazing things about your child's health and diet. You also get their looks of gratitude when you clean that nasty uric acid from the sores on their bottoms and replace it with whatever balm you're using.<br /><br />It feels good to know that there are things that make your child cry that you can actually do something about. It feels even better when your children are just as happy to see you as to see their mother.<br /><br />You and your wife have the ritual of diaper-changing in common — you're truly partners in slime. Having seen the same things, you know when something's wrong.<br /><br />There's nothing in a diaper that a grown man should be afraid of.<br /><br />I'm not volunteering to change every baby in the ward, you understand. I'm just saying that I envy those of you who still have that responsibility — and privilege.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-82082975736956266232008-05-13T21:18:00.000-07:002008-05-13T22:05:35.744-07:00Welcome River<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFuUaS0I7rmRJWHVL8ye_3pbUWGCemRVlAdQ9GP1K6NSyIRaGip1xm-mqyr_LGOkeAVjIwXMCR-qEw_C5vuMtJyGOM2ZKWx1Tjoe8jiR321Lor42wLc-U8jZbvyA1P26M-L4ojh0O_6Q/s1600-h/DSCN2097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFuUaS0I7rmRJWHVL8ye_3pbUWGCemRVlAdQ9GP1K6NSyIRaGip1xm-mqyr_LGOkeAVjIwXMCR-qEw_C5vuMtJyGOM2ZKWx1Tjoe8jiR321Lor42wLc-U8jZbvyA1P26M-L4ojh0O_6Q/s320/DSCN2097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200095268125777106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcZjY4BPa1NRIsTtOYSPw9LypkdvjPRPoRgDNVo8bjWcdNo68wZOhtsEONW7jl1oZcxXtiz7lHFRoP1YrC5tUP87_FOo1_lZ5-8KsRmhkE9cIHakx362JMTTCkMmcfJN78UY2W6A9tvk/s1600-h/DSCN2098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcZjY4BPa1NRIsTtOYSPw9LypkdvjPRPoRgDNVo8bjWcdNo68wZOhtsEONW7jl1oZcxXtiz7lHFRoP1YrC5tUP87_FOo1_lZ5-8KsRmhkE9cIHakx362JMTTCkMmcfJN78UY2W6A9tvk/s320/DSCN2098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200095134981790914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4Hsh7nUcdLk4YlQRJb2bNnhJWAdDqz8Y2mbE_dfy85_UFD2zQn2jD3YDpfZnbwMlS7Ut2hUfDR-ZxyEI1Q8sAShTP7vb54gOVbzwxW7kjg_hmgVvVhrrWX_kZQXarlcIVTSGO8vB9WY/s1600-h/DSCN2100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4Hsh7nUcdLk4YlQRJb2bNnhJWAdDqz8Y2mbE_dfy85_UFD2zQn2jD3YDpfZnbwMlS7Ut2hUfDR-ZxyEI1Q8sAShTP7vb54gOVbzwxW7kjg_hmgVvVhrrWX_kZQXarlcIVTSGO8vB9WY/s320/DSCN2100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200095014722706610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_86rJKOtqswfdL9sMNOUhJauhhLAMHYFJC0BLnQxG__rO3dNLyBmMWy_As7kgwezZ8N_jFTFaBTmRRv13iEFEolnJg8ZgfUlWrpM3VtequYWj9fusdT7fWKcEAxkx34lvCZR-Qgw3QU/s1600-h/DSCN2101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_86rJKOtqswfdL9sMNOUhJauhhLAMHYFJC0BLnQxG__rO3dNLyBmMWy_As7kgwezZ8N_jFTFaBTmRRv13iEFEolnJg8ZgfUlWrpM3VtequYWj9fusdT7fWKcEAxkx34lvCZR-Qgw3QU/s320/DSCN2101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200094898758589602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4GU-G-drAd3FcRmxkworn8Xo0eKa1KwKsaVnRDm-RQayXZt0r2BD5ATOtCpDpEA3aGlLvitvdruNw5v7mvovHKzZpjfEO6VJL31wifdMXCbJE-_H8oKlK0I-QVXPnWYTNqw82-uNZqo/s1600-h/DSCN2104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4GU-G-drAd3FcRmxkworn8Xo0eKa1KwKsaVnRDm-RQayXZt0r2BD5ATOtCpDpEA3aGlLvitvdruNw5v7mvovHKzZpjfEO6VJL31wifdMXCbJE-_H8oKlK0I-QVXPnWYTNqw82-uNZqo/s320/DSCN2104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200094795679374482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOWtEssSf5ACJ8T8q6ibrXb6KBK-Aw8U7SLuxkXLAUMbCXYlJ6B3SKMng7tBcsuD8HTirdFhUj0mzOoplNmc_8QFb2D3uxaLxA8o40YDUhuS-AN3IIAUFnWSBUp3v0TL1rnp18JCPBcE/s1600-h/DSCN2109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOWtEssSf5ACJ8T8q6ibrXb6KBK-Aw8U7SLuxkXLAUMbCXYlJ6B3SKMng7tBcsuD8HTirdFhUj0mzOoplNmc_8QFb2D3uxaLxA8o40YDUhuS-AN3IIAUFnWSBUp3v0TL1rnp18JCPBcE/s320/DSCN2109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200094250218527874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL64zebXeebYzhBXP6ziYxTseGv9is_jJvA8WFb3WKIlpQ5oqMy89pJkWVubDk6oQs1hDo4FdvEizKHHlYsGYBlolVsUdRIrtvPJI2JWb2crdMuE6zOqHoYbsVw-da13DT2lHaDwjPoo/s1600-h/DSCN2110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghL64zebXeebYzhBXP6ziYxTseGv9is_jJvA8WFb3WKIlpQ5oqMy89pJkWVubDk6oQs1hDo4FdvEizKHHlYsGYBlolVsUdRIrtvPJI2JWb2crdMuE6zOqHoYbsVw-da13DT2lHaDwjPoo/s320/DSCN2110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200094129959443570" border="0" /></a><br />We’re so excited to welcome our newest grandchild, River Leone, to the family. She was born Friday, May 9th at 8:33 p.m., weighed 6 lbs.13 ounces and was twenty inches long. She is a lucky little girl to have such a wonderful mother and father. Kathryn had to work hard to get our little granddaughter here and in the middle of hard labor asked if she couldn’t take the oxygen mask off as it was rubbing the sides of her head so bad. They told her she could take it off for a few minutes but the oxygen was to help the baby during delivery. As soon as she found out it was for the baby she insisted they leave it on. In that instant I saw a mother’s love in Kathryn’s complete devotion to this sweet little child. She, like all devoted mothers want what is best for their child. Kathryn will be a great mom. And Alex? He was immediately and totally smitten the moment he saw his little daughter.<br />In addition to the new baby, Alex started nursing school last Thursday (He missed Friday of course) and they have to be moved out of their Provo apartment by this Friday. Since both Kath and Alex had family in town for mother’s day, we took the opportunity to move most of their things last Sunday. Alex’s mom and dad and his sister Megan and her husband have been so wonderful to help them move and get organized in their new place. Kath and Alex have been staying at my house till things get settled. They’ve had a lot coming at them but they’re doing great.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-34431878815365077072008-05-04T19:35:00.000-07:002008-05-04T20:11:41.992-07:00Dave's Graduation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj3EPQvn1Kp3xWQjiFXIx3cYqWjSsiogcLQ_Mkh2xDt-h_8ESQRZvriEHzWScA7tSi0VhgZH1EO7MeCib4rVstRni3Ruvtd0AIzuuYqni47sRXe7myadVAUw9aADuorhJ-4EdlaTn_pM/s1600-h/DSCN2080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj3EPQvn1Kp3xWQjiFXIx3cYqWjSsiogcLQ_Mkh2xDt-h_8ESQRZvriEHzWScA7tSi0VhgZH1EO7MeCib4rVstRni3Ruvtd0AIzuuYqni47sRXe7myadVAUw9aADuorhJ-4EdlaTn_pM/s320/DSCN2080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196726144830634546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGmDEAqddEYwSfyfA7btbKXv5eOLVI-4EaANvMQ4XlJ4Y7kRWL4n0zc6TTE1UZRoLhZFaWkz0r374AyYBd5grm3WicfN8EIlz2k8OIZSdqA-dTmEzvFGgAoipqLb4O9HVjSOIIfF5YZk/s1600-h/DSCN2081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGmDEAqddEYwSfyfA7btbKXv5eOLVI-4EaANvMQ4XlJ4Y7kRWL4n0zc6TTE1UZRoLhZFaWkz0r374AyYBd5grm3WicfN8EIlz2k8OIZSdqA-dTmEzvFGgAoipqLb4O9HVjSOIIfF5YZk/s320/DSCN2081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196726050341354018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBr5vrHoBaLhkTdJ8DHVGfnNcAvUORVW4Lwg883CPmkwmdYQ4sWQ5yCg9oSNWZePvu5Wlc33xlevrOi5SR3qvjfgYO5EiJLfBU2BW1R1_pY0ZoBUgX6UsPemOgEIleuHxEQLCl7s8Rao/s1600-h/DSCN2083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBr5vrHoBaLhkTdJ8DHVGfnNcAvUORVW4Lwg883CPmkwmdYQ4sWQ5yCg9oSNWZePvu5Wlc33xlevrOi5SR3qvjfgYO5EiJLfBU2BW1R1_pY0ZoBUgX6UsPemOgEIleuHxEQLCl7s8Rao/s320/DSCN2083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196725917197367826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDtY7PxcMuDpYh59phwD4xKnTf5rhEe5seCkfFDUifI1Cgnl-hugUl0W7B2rQvBNnShpJLfp0nVJ6TFuX76vdXzh5TnH31gPRCCEeqOw1CPQwomhF6L0oXnzt4nZIpIxu1ODoRAyfKY0/s1600-h/DSCN2086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDtY7PxcMuDpYh59phwD4xKnTf5rhEe5seCkfFDUifI1Cgnl-hugUl0W7B2rQvBNnShpJLfp0nVJ6TFuX76vdXzh5TnH31gPRCCEeqOw1CPQwomhF6L0oXnzt4nZIpIxu1ODoRAyfKY0/s320/DSCN2086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196725723923839490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiJyWaJIFIRL53VQ3RuTOhKDi6-Xt1KYD6VjgA4K-NP_cttfg7CRigEFPumjW2f9c2mfpr0ic35BwoT2HmbpwF_U8y_W3j0qd1E0MXPC-JcYp2lVQK5334J-XAs_z4PQ38QvozCGNGUo/s1600-h/DSCN2082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiJyWaJIFIRL53VQ3RuTOhKDi6-Xt1KYD6VjgA4K-NP_cttfg7CRigEFPumjW2f9c2mfpr0ic35BwoT2HmbpwF_U8y_W3j0qd1E0MXPC-JcYp2lVQK5334J-XAs_z4PQ38QvozCGNGUo/s320/DSCN2082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196725526355343858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQUQzyMTaH1WnB-eFjvdZNU5H3VqjacYT-T8BDm_G7nElpM5_V4BqAKTRNrCJp4HP693k0nu5jr6ODzvNg4_H3CRzHa-eVlMdLgwoKJVmWZH57POurlHCzy72WaS0qzU2zir-LGcwlA0/s1600-h/DSCN2077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQUQzyMTaH1WnB-eFjvdZNU5H3VqjacYT-T8BDm_G7nElpM5_V4BqAKTRNrCJp4HP693k0nu5jr6ODzvNg4_H3CRzHa-eVlMdLgwoKJVmWZH57POurlHCzy72WaS0qzU2zir-LGcwlA0/s320/DSCN2077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196725371736521186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgGwL5ByGd_SHgDwzGPRaJhyKEzN8FSgziKkmmMGTQicTWTDER9Sn0SlZn3RjZUFky7SlzMsODgznUsHAi90NjW4DiJ2-wjJcr4qTBp0WtNMD3cNeZdp-at4W010rrAO3VLrcMN7CHj8/s1600-h/DSCN2073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgGwL5ByGd_SHgDwzGPRaJhyKEzN8FSgziKkmmMGTQicTWTDER9Sn0SlZn3RjZUFky7SlzMsODgznUsHAi90NjW4DiJ2-wjJcr4qTBp0WtNMD3cNeZdp-at4W010rrAO3VLrcMN7CHj8/s320/DSCN2073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196725195642862034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn3gcPVaHNhOexp3gjYj0sPkHKFYya-t8alLrOXdI3-xrtBNK4UpNk8sq-r1COoItBJHKxjNclr7LsNlamKc9nyJNzT00Tts3PV7zSCDqCV3z8WzxCyb4mHEu4R711DiMwj3ylY4SpB8/s1600-h/DSCN2072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn3gcPVaHNhOexp3gjYj0sPkHKFYya-t8alLrOXdI3-xrtBNK4UpNk8sq-r1COoItBJHKxjNclr7LsNlamKc9nyJNzT00Tts3PV7zSCDqCV3z8WzxCyb4mHEu4R711DiMwj3ylY4SpB8/s320/DSCN2072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196724976599529922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Yesterday Scott and Kathryn and Alex and I went to Logan for Dave’s graduation. That’s right I said Kathryn and Alex. River didn’t seem to care that her due date was May 2nd and Kathryn’s doctor said she was only dilated to a one so they decide to come with us. It was a bit risky but better than staying home and “being bored”.<br />Dave and Mikelle have done a miraculous job fixing up their little basement apartment. It was so bright and cheery and Mikelle had made some amazing designs to hang on their kitchen wall. She is truly gifted.<br />Dave showed us the car he’s been working on, which he plans to race in Montreal when it is finished. He’s pretty amazing. He also won third place in a national design contest and was awarded a $2,500.00 design program for his computer. He didn’t even bother to tell us cause he thought it was no big deal. It’s a good thing he has a wife so we find out what he’s up to.<br />Kath and Alex have a lot happening in the next couple of weeks. Besides having a baby, they will be moving up to University housing soon. We’re so excited to have them in Salt Lake. We found out Saturday that Alex got a full scholarship for next year. He’s amazing too! Wait a minute; I just realized that all my kids are amazing. (Just kidding, I always knew.)<br />Here are some pics of our trip.<br /><br /></span>Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-7535656368573060592008-02-22T11:09:00.000-08:002008-02-22T11:11:57.772-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqxj9kC-5uBhHm5A7gR6BS111L48BB3p2I35QEIEbKLstDK90KDcN8odumFUVrWf7XWK5KtiHR8_gN95CpOZnHNdYPSgu5rwrhhn3e0PNhpDG7PI6Jnp4dD_dVCPJru4W0AYCWm5BnFM/s1600-h/cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqxj9kC-5uBhHm5A7gR6BS111L48BB3p2I35QEIEbKLstDK90KDcN8odumFUVrWf7XWK5KtiHR8_gN95CpOZnHNdYPSgu5rwrhhn3e0PNhpDG7PI6Jnp4dD_dVCPJru4W0AYCWm5BnFM/s320/cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169884348448886114" /></a><br />I'd rather see a sermon than hear<br />one any day.<br />I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.<br />The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than<br />the ear.<br />Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s<br />always clear.<br />And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,<br />For to see good put in action is what<br />everybody needs.<br /><br />I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let<br />me see it done.<br />I can watch your hands in action, but your<br />tongue to fast may run.<br />And the lecture you deliver may be very wise<br />and true,<br />But I’d rather get my lesson by observing<br />what you do.<br />For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,<br />But theirs no misunderstanding how you<br />act and how you live.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-84302335332874100362008-02-13T11:24:00.000-08:002008-02-13T11:36:42.248-08:00God in disguise?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaZcgAUuzu0g6pIcju95PYukEzf0uzFE7AHyxqVmS18ep2mVJcCVPxCb1FNuCTI5032zlKgZCmV1eBmbCdDqTZk4NGGtXSkYfZezQKt7qSKF1vCTPU5FxnmAgz0dNajcHTevUUBs8pZY/s1600-h/Larry+King.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaZcgAUuzu0g6pIcju95PYukEzf0uzFE7AHyxqVmS18ep2mVJcCVPxCb1FNuCTI5032zlKgZCmV1eBmbCdDqTZk4NGGtXSkYfZezQKt7qSKF1vCTPU5FxnmAgz0dNajcHTevUUBs8pZY/s320/Larry+King.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166550487459548498" /></a><br />Last week when we were home teaching at the Wilkinson’s, Anne was telling us that Larry King said he was an agnostic and his reason was, “How can anyone believe in a god that would allow something like 9/11 to happen’” How can God allow such horrible things that happen in the world? If there is a god, why doesn’t he stop the pain and suffering of his children?<br /> I like C.S. Lewis’s explanation:<br /> “Why is God landing in this enemy occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is he not landing in force, invading it? Is it that he is not strong enough?<br /> Well, He is going to land in force; we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us a chance of joining His side freely. <br /> God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks onto the stage the play is over. God is going to invade all right; but what is the good of saying you are in His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else—something it never entered your head to conceive—comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left?<br /> For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it. <br /> “If a thing is free to do good, it is also free to be bad. Free will is what makes evil possible. Why then, did God give us free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata—of creatures that worked like machines—would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for his higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that, they must be free. <br /> Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way; apparently He thought it worth the risk. Perhaps we feel inclined to disagree with Him. But there is a difficulty about disagreeing with God. He is the source from which all your reasoning power comes; you could not be right and He wrong any more than a stream can rise higher than its own source. When you are arguing against Him you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all; it is like cutting off the branch you are sitting on. If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free-will—that is, for making a live world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings—then we may take it, it is worth paying.<br /> So, I agree with C.S. Lewis’s argument for agency and I feel that each of us at each moment is progressing to one state or the other.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-61934572357548112992008-02-06T11:11:00.000-08:002008-02-06T11:14:57.559-08:00How I Miss Gordon B. Hinckely<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt3j3c__rEUYeqbtHit7JGcm43r2yLBigqAM2PpF1-sTJOjoMLBGtoSzxCg36Q9XDCZqrA-6X6NrMNMKWdWY1JzDZpWoEL6EtVhZ00FMRGnmvZN7db_pwvFw4rS1HQ-DykdEvVCgUvAU/s1600-h/president_hinckley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt3j3c__rEUYeqbtHit7JGcm43r2yLBigqAM2PpF1-sTJOjoMLBGtoSzxCg36Q9XDCZqrA-6X6NrMNMKWdWY1JzDZpWoEL6EtVhZ00FMRGnmvZN7db_pwvFw4rS1HQ-DykdEvVCgUvAU/s320/president_hinckley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163947779584272338" border="0" /></a><br />How I will Miss Gordon B. Hinckley<br /> I never personally met President Hinckley, he didn’t know who I was, yet I loved him. I felt such a loss at the death of this great and wise soul. What a tremendous influence he has had on me and on the entire world. He was as meek as a lamb and as wise as a fox. He knew full well of the evil in the world and warned of such, yet he was always filled with optimism and hope.<br /> As I thought about his far-reaching influence, I began to understand how Christ’s spirit can influence all mankind. We don’t have to see Christ or meet Him personally to love Him and be influenced by Him. If we seek him he said,<br /> “I will impart unto you of my spirit, which will enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.” — D&C 11:13<br /> All we had to do to be influenced by President Hinckley was to believe that he was a prophet and listen to him. The same is true with the Savior. If we believe in HIm and listen to Him, we will have his influence and spirit to be with us.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-55653008010615127572007-04-28T15:29:00.000-07:002007-04-28T16:05:55.855-07:00SunshineApril 28, 2007<br /> The past three weeks I've been going to the Mount Olympus Senior center with mom. We're taking a chair exercise class and a songbird’s class. (Singing oldies with oldies) I started taking mom so she could get a little social interaction but it has turned out to be the highlight of my week. I think the reason is that I find myself totally relaxed. It's like being with little children in the sense that you have to slow down and enjoy the moment. Everyone came up to us and asked us our name, gave us a hug and welcomed us. We felt totally accepted.<br /> Our first Songbird class the piano player took charge and said, “Where are all the men today? Where’s Bob? Did he die?<br />Is Frank in playing Pool? Somebody go get him.” etc.<br /> A little round lady leads the music. She sometimes sings different words because she can’t see the words but she has most the songs memorized. One lady had a banjo and several had guitars and they were all pretty good. As we were leaving after the first class mom said, “Everyone here is smiling.” <br /> The last week of each month the Songbird class performs for the lunch crowd. One of the little ladies sitting by us said, “I don’t think we know the song well enough.” The little lady next to her said. “It doesn’t matter. Most of them can’t hear us anyway.” There’s no pressure.<br /> One older man stood up when we were singing “Springtime in the Rockies” and asked one of our group to dance. As they waltzed off he said, “My mom always told me to try and be a gentleman. She said you might not make it but you can try.”<br /> I loved it.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8025117050683522178.post-38820869960755279422007-04-09T17:34:00.000-07:002007-04-26T16:38:51.454-07:00Earth Art<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEHF5hok6yWLKG1q36ROHtaNouLAc5UIBbCiAccyhNJ8aVwXR9zQd_bjaJrURIIdj6KBpCRjRHFX_GTULoigk3QIU0nRT0mROKr6nGnaEpEGIv-lTSL6ESwYRot6wVk4dO5auS36rjFQ/s1600-h/DSCN1947.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEHF5hok6yWLKG1q36ROHtaNouLAc5UIBbCiAccyhNJ8aVwXR9zQd_bjaJrURIIdj6KBpCRjRHFX_GTULoigk3QIU0nRT0mROKr6nGnaEpEGIv-lTSL6ESwYRot6wVk4dO5auS36rjFQ/s320/DSCN1947.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057885428267118994" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYtZiJJ70tJ2u_X_Q_7t3KMZtctpowOFL-lZA4fSC2eg1NG-EhCA_RmcmsI-2z1DFYgoEYyNzvssOTBiLc-mr8KIwN7UKBL4KtkRimEQhykm-gEP9s5pDWn1TmbEsdfeqdwsOFpEfGj0/s1600-h/DSCN1942.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYtZiJJ70tJ2u_X_Q_7t3KMZtctpowOFL-lZA4fSC2eg1NG-EhCA_RmcmsI-2z1DFYgoEYyNzvssOTBiLc-mr8KIwN7UKBL4KtkRimEQhykm-gEP9s5pDWn1TmbEsdfeqdwsOFpEfGj0/s320/DSCN1942.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057885174864048482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ytka4yRtQUVqCG86bU7-MxBERKqBvaXwSw0JyQ9suaQ8K2loQMYBQKd50McYQmE36hVh4QZAhIppiB5cRPhQxds1M1gMddHtJSDLrlCCy4W_Qp9oZSHjeAzrUZkSRmMtOQc1N97HUWg/s1600-h/DSCN1944.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Ytka4yRtQUVqCG86bU7-MxBERKqBvaXwSw0JyQ9suaQ8K2loQMYBQKd50McYQmE36hVh4QZAhIppiB5cRPhQxds1M1gMddHtJSDLrlCCy4W_Qp9oZSHjeAzrUZkSRmMtOQc1N97HUWg/s320/DSCN1944.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057885179159015794" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EhyhNPN-vlQJZ5cLjqOIgSwzRjmUMdqNuKjkqL-Tmf1flPIDDBlaZU1lKGhLr-4tbTpVt0hcBfNYHLq4RcZx0Kbd1ZxCP4SaE7bVLNu6MG2A7NhOUMYM2pSTmqApFbqD0c-Lc_q_o7I/s1600-h/DSCN1946.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EhyhNPN-vlQJZ5cLjqOIgSwzRjmUMdqNuKjkqL-Tmf1flPIDDBlaZU1lKGhLr-4tbTpVt0hcBfNYHLq4RcZx0Kbd1ZxCP4SaE7bVLNu6MG2A7NhOUMYM2pSTmqApFbqD0c-Lc_q_o7I/s320/DSCN1946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057885187748950402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfPGfE3Zimw5S5uSl-g8uYoQTJXJkFE5y2BgAKL-fJlcI2prQYcL-V238oWi5QdEixU0t6R9uhyOSbkt-yIPZG2NS-lL_Cnm9NeyW0CSBDWEslQO2yH3PRmACNmCczsm6LZc4RFdK0IQ/s1600-h/DSCN1948.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfPGfE3Zimw5S5uSl-g8uYoQTJXJkFE5y2BgAKL-fJlcI2prQYcL-V238oWi5QdEixU0t6R9uhyOSbkt-yIPZG2NS-lL_Cnm9NeyW0CSBDWEslQO2yH3PRmACNmCczsm6LZc4RFdK0IQ/s320/DSCN1948.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051593357384244706" /></a><br />Kath and Alex came up this weekend and went on a hike with us up to Bell Canyon Lake. Dad did a little fly fishing and Kath and Alex and I did some hiking. Alex is getting really good at earth art. Take a look.Mom and Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12351600066957581049noreply@blogger.com0