Short entry

Hi Jessie,

I'm afraid there's not much to tell today.  It was a normal, busy day.  And now I'm ready to fall asleep sitting in my chair!  I hope your day was nice and that tomorrow is really good.

Love,

Dad

Friday, July 31, 2020
9:31 pm

Work today was really busy, and that's a good thing.  I had three employees out today, so even though our lobby is closed there was plenty to keep me hopping.  I can't really think of anything else to report about today at work.

Tonight after dinner we went outside.  I visited with Pam Trevenen and Patrick Bates for a few minutes.  We played on stilts and balancing planks.  Abbie reviewed the list of books to read for high school.  It has been quite hot the last couple days and was 103 today.  The wonderful thing about living here is that even when it's that hot, the shade offers rest from the heat.  It was quite pleasant outside tonight.

Thankful: I'm thankful for pleasant evenings.

Ministering: Agreed to help Bob Trevenen cut down a tree tomorrow.

More later…

Mark is learning to juggle clubs

Double-stilts!

One project on hold

Dear Jessie,

Bedtime!  I hope you have a great day tomorrow and know how much you are loved by everyone at home.

Love,

Dad

Thursday, July 30, 2020
9:52 pm

Early start today.  Kimberly Parkin came over at 6:30 am because her sister was attending another ward's YW camp and Laura needed to go to work.  I folded two more loads of laundry this morning before work.

I met with the folks that are going to provide our IT support.  I feel good about what I hope to accomplish with them.  Also did some work on Self-Reliance.

Today Julie and the kids went to the Salt Lake valley to go on a hike Julie found.  They had a great time.  They got home late tonight.  While they were gone I decided to be helpful and replace the bathtub drain as Julie asked.  I know how to do it, but unfortunately the old drain is so old that it corroded and the crosspieces that you are supposed to be able to use to remove the old stopper tore right out.  There is another tool that will take that out, but after going to THREE stores, I determined that they don't exist in Utah Valley.  I'll have to order it from Amazon and wait for it to come.  What was supposed to be a thirty minute success turned in to a two-and-a-half hour exercise in disappointment.  Humph.

Thankful: In spite of the plumbing frustration, the problem really isn't that bad (I hope).  I'm thankful that the bathtub still works and I just need to wait for an ordered part to show up.

Ministering: I tried to do ministering through my calling today by working on the Self-Reliance program.

More later…

Here is the piece that broke out of the drain stopper.

Wanna fold laundry?

Dear Jessie,

If I send this quickly I can fold a basket of laundry before bedtime.  I love you lots and enjoyed our chat today!  I hope you have a great week.

Much love,

Dad

Wednesday, July 29, 2020
9:21 pm

I spent two hours driving today to attend the retirement open house for Randy Gailey, a fellow credit union CEO who worked for the same credit union for 41 years.  Amazing dedication.  I'm glad I took the time to join him.  And on the drive back to the office I listened to a conference call that I probably would have skipped if I had been in the office.  A good decision all the way around.

I got Julie's camera cleaned today.  I enjoyed joining the family in a video chat with Jessie this afternoon.  We played Quiddler tonight after dinner.  I got a download issue fixed for the personal financial software I use.  I talked to Mike on my way home and tried to be a good friend.  That's about it for today.

Thankful: I'm thankful for the peaceful goodness of life, even when there is turmoil in life.

Ministering: I ministered to Randy Gailey today and Mike.  Neither efforts were dramatic, but I wanted these friends of mine to know they are important.

More later…

Did I show off my tomato sandwich from a couple days ago?

Stiff-necked

Hi Jessie,

Yesterday when I was putting my briefcase in the car to go to High Council meeting, I felt the muscles in my neck and shoulders knot up.  I just reached wrong and kinked it.  I woke up this morning pretty sore.  A little ibuprofen and a hot shower helped.  It's feeling pretty good now and hope it's not stiff again tomorrow morning.

My journal entry tonight isn't very inspiring.  Tomorrow's will be better.

You are always inspiring!  I hope you have a great day.

Love you!

Dad

Monday, July 27, 2020
10:15 pm

Blah.  I got almost nothing productive done at work today.  Lately my computer has been freezing randomly.  I've tried a bunch of things to get it fixed, but nothing has worked.  When I got to work this morning it was not running properly, even though I rebooted it when I left work on Thursday.  I finally bit the bullet and did a Windows Refresh, essentially reinstalling Windows, then reinstalling all my apps.  I think it's working better, but won't know for a day or two.  But the process took most of the day.

FHE tonight was nice.  Julie taught a great lesson from Elder Christofferson's Conference talk from October 2006 "Let us be Men."  I had forgotten how much I love that talk and am going to listen to it again.  Dessert (my responsibility) was cookies that Julie picked out, Mark and Spencer made, and I baked.  They were chocolatey, very rich, and yummy.  I could only eat one.  No room for toast and tomato tonight.  That will be lunch tomorrow.

Thankful: I'm thankful for sleep, and that enough sleep solves many problems of perspective.

Ministering: Out of stock. Check back tomorrow.

More later…

Dealing with technology.  This is actually two monitors for two different computers.  I figured I'd hook up a spare PC to my second monitor so I could keep working while my main computer reinstalled.  But, naturally, that one needed to be updated too so I had TWO computers tied up doing updates.  Can't win!

Forgot one photo

Photos tonight journal tomorrow

Worked ALL DAY today getting firewood. You would have been so proud of your siblings. Mark, Abbie and Spencer were amazing. Love you very much!

Happy Pioneer Day!

Dear Jessie,

I love you and hope your day was great!

Love,

Dad

Friday, July 24, 2020
11:49 pm

Late night, but fun day.  Started with breakfast at dad and mom's.  Their neighbor Richard Trotter and his friend Chris were there too.  Fun to visit with them, got a suggestion to control bugs in the garden – use lemon dish soap mixed with water.  I'll try anything at this point.

After breakfast I went to Scott's to help him put some railroad ties down at the back of his driveway to finish an area he is preparing to lay sod.  It was nice to be with him.  Then I brought his truck and trailer back home so I can take it to get firewood tomorrow.

Next was off to David and Lisa's.  We went to their neighbor's house to go swimming.  Everyone had a lot of fun.  Stayed for dinner and dessert, then came back home in time for the fireworks show in Spanish Fork.  It was a good show this year.  The crowd was smaller this year so we didn't have to wait as long to get home.  Also picked up Dad's truck so we'll have two trucks to fill with firewood.

Mark read Bunnicula while we were driving.  The book is funny, especially when Mark is reading.

Thankful: Everything.  Today was just nice.

Ministering: I ministered to Scott with his yard project.

More later…

Helping Scott in his yard

I love tomato sandwiches

The fireworks were great!

I have a vacuum buddy

Dear Jessie,

Not much to write tonight.  I love you!

Love,

Dad

Thursday, July 23, 2020
9:16 pm

Work had some good moments and some frustrating moments.  Realized again how important it is to focus on doing the little things consistently and correctly.  If you don't do that, you run the risk of undermining everything else you do.  Also was reminded again that people will rise to their potential if you trust them.

This evening Nathaniel and I picked two tomatoes.  He got his first ride in the red backpack as I vacuumed the front room and living room.  He didn't love it, but he seemed happy back there.  That's good, because soon he'll get to spend more time in it as we go hiking.

Thankful: I'm thankful that we got the house mostly cleaned up tonight, and that Jennie is spending time with Spencer tonight.  She's so kind to him, and I think they truly have fun together.

Ministering: Hmm.  Not much to report here tonight.

More later…

I love rain

Dear Jessie,

It was so nice to visit with you this afternoon. I'm glad we could connect and visit.  I forgot to ask - are there any people you are teaching that we can pray for by name?  I hope you have a great week until we can talk again.

Much love,

Dad

Wednesday, July 22, 2020
9:44 pm

Everyone is feeling quite a bit better today, but poor Nathaniel still has a cough and stuffy nose.  Poor kid.  I am going to ask Mark to help me give him a blessing tonight.

At work today we uncovered some fraud that one of our members was an unwitting participant in.  Scammers make me so frustrated.  They cheat other people and don't care whom they hurt.  All they care about is getting money.  Sometimes money disgusts me.  I want sufficient for my needs.  I want my family to have sufficient for their needs.  I want my neighbors and friends and people I don't even know to have sufficient for their needs.  And once we have enough for our needs and reasonable wants, with a little left over to save for the future, that's enough.  At that point, more doesn't bring any additional happiness or contentment.  In the hands of the righteous, more money brings the ability to do good and minister to others.  In the hands of the wicked, it brings only more greed and envy.  It's a sad irony, but the more you have of something you don't need, the less fulfilling it is.  Bah!

Okay, enough ranting.  Nathaniel and I spent a little time outside tonight.  We'll have another tomato ready tomorrow.  There weren't any more strawberries tonight.  I found a grape branch that had broken off the vine so I took it to the animal yard and fed the goats.  They were very happy to eat the grapes.  Nathaniel and I sat and watched the goats and chickens for several minutes, and I noticed that the goats have started eating the bark off the apple tree.  That's bad, so Abbie and I wrapped the trunk in chicken wire to hopefully keep them from killing the tree.  Side note – Anise's cheek is doing MUCH better.  So happy for that.

Thankful: I am thankful for rain.  We got a little rain this afternoon, and it is delightfully cool tonight.  I am also thankful that I got to talk to Jessie this afternoon.  Julie and all the kids were on a hike so we had a little time to ourselves.  It was just nice talking to her.

Ministering:  I sent a text to Jared Robinson to check on his mom.  I didn't get a reply from him.  I'll try giving him a call tomorrow.

More later…

Lunch today was so yummy with a homegrown tomato slice!

A regular day

Hi Jessie,

It's p-day tomorrow!  I'm looking forward to talking to you and hearing about your week.  I hope you have some fun p-day activities planned.

Much love,

Dad

Tuesday, July 21, 2020
9:21 pm

When I got home from work tonight Nathaniel and I visited the garden.  The zucchini and pumpkin still look pathetic, but we picked four more strawberries and another tomato.  I fertilized the lawn, put weed killer on again, and cleaned the reusable furnace filter for the upstairs furnace.  We played catch with baseballs outside after dinner.  Anise's face seems to be doing much better.  I worked on a bunch of projects at work today and made good progress.  And this is a run-on paragraph without any concern for theme or style.

Thankful: I'm thankful our lawn looks nice and that the weeds in the lawn are dying.

Ministering: On my way home from work today I called Erik Watkins, one of the brothers I am assigned to minister to.  I also talked with Chris Chamberlain at work today about some home repairs they want to do.  She teared up when she expressed how much she appreciates the help we have been able to give her, and what a difference that has made.  I always feel good when I hear things like that.

More later…

Neil on Sunday pretending to be a TV-watching sloth a-la Calvin.  He didn't think this position was very comfortable.

Unexpected blessings from indexing

Dear Jessie,

Happy Monday!  Today was a busy and productive day.  Read on for more details.  I love you!

Love,

Dad

Monday, July 20, 2020
9:25 pm

Nearly everyone is already feeling better from their cold.  Julie's sore throat is gone, now she's just got a runny nose to finish dealing with.  Nathaniel also seems to be feeling better, but he is improving slowest.  But everyone is definitely feeling much better.  Hooray!

Tonight for our FHE activity Neil had us running a series of race-type activities outside.  Julie sat on the porch with Nathaniel and cheered us on.  Toward the end of the activity Nathaniel started clapping too.  We got him clapping on video when we got back in the house.  He doesn't understand it yet, but likes the attention and celebration!

Work was really busy today.  Dalley was a saint and delayed her lunch by a full hour to open an account for some Portuguese speakers.  I really appreciated that because I was the only other foreign-language speaker there that could have done it for them, and I had some other projects that I wanted to work on.

Something funny from today – Someone called us from a law firm in Kansas.  They had received a fax from "Freedom Credit Union" that had important information they needed to document, but it was missing other important information that would have let them identify which case it was related to.  There was no fax cover sheet, no return contact info, just a signature and sloppily handwritten credit union name.  They Googled Freedom Credit Union and called us.  I had them send me the page to confirm that it really wasn't us, then I tried to figure out how to help them.  As I was looking and looking at the scrawled info at the bottom of the page, suddenly my years of indexing experience kicked in and I was able to make out the full name of the credit union – Freedom 1^st FCU.  They are also in Kansas.  Bingo.  I was able to give them the contact info they needed.  Yes, indexing really does bring blessings! 😊

Today the Church announced some changes to the endowment ceremony in response to the coronavirus.  There were no details given and we were asked not to speculate on the changes, but to be prepared to worship in the temples again when we can.  Without speculating, I have some ideas of what changes would make sense.  And after far too long not being able to attend the temple, all I can do is work on indexing until our temples open again.  And with increasing COVID cases in Utah, I suspect that isn't likely for several more months.

Thankful: I'm thankful for good health and recovery from illness and that Julie especially is feeling better.  And I'm thankful that we harvested the first tomato from our garden!

Ministering: Can I count ministering to the law firm in Kansas?  😊

More later…

The first tomato.  Nathaniel was my helper and held a strawberry.

Feeling better

Dear Jessie,

Happy Sunday!  I hope you had a very good day today.  What do you think about attending multiple sacrament meetings each week?  I have had that opportunity in several callings and enjoy the opportunity to take the sacrament multiple times and learn through different perspectives.  Interestingly, I never had that opportunity as a missionary.  In my service, we often had multiple companionships assigned in the same ward or branch, but I don't know of any area that had one companionship assigned to more than one unit.

Here's today's journal entry.  Happy reading!

Love,

Dad

Sunday, July 19, 2020
9:23 pm

I joined the Fourth Ward council meeting this morning via audio only because I was still in my PJ's with uncombed hair.  Zoom meetings aren't all bad! 😊  Their ward is doing a really great job administering the programs of the church and caring for their members.  It is a privilege to work with them.

I was going to attend their sacrament meeting today, but with a number of sick people in the house decided to err on the side of caution and stay home instead.  I would have enjoyed attending with them.  Our sacrament was nice.  After administering the bread and water, we sang some hymns.  Sitting in the throne, I fell asleep after two songs.  I heard the family continue singing more songs, including a forte rendition of Come, Thou Fount, but it wasn't enough to keep me from sleeping.  I heard Julie explain that I was up several times with different children over night.  That was true, but Julie was too.  On the other hand, she got to sleep until about 9:00 am, and I was up before 7:00.  That's the wonderful thing about a giving marriage – there is no keeping score, only trying to serve each other.

This afternoon we had a Self-Reliance class online.  This meeting was interesting because I didn't know what I wanted the outcome to look like.  Often times meetings are to present a plan and get buy-in.  This one was not.  I had no idea what the "plan" should look like and was hoping for good ideas to come from the discussion.  I think that happened, which is nice.

Julie planned an activity from Alma 33-34 related to prayer that they did while I was in my Self-Reliance meeting.  After dinner I did an activity related to humility, using finger puppets to have the kids teach practical applications of humility.  Honestly, I didn't think my activity was nearly as good as some others we have done together, but the kids really seemed to enjoy this one.  Go figure!  I'm just glad they enjoyed it so much and hope we are able to cultivate additional humility and teachability.

Thankful: I am thankful that most of the kids seem to be feeling better.  I checked on COVID symptoms in kids, and it was totally unhelpful.  Each symptom listed was displayed by one child, but no one had more than two symptoms, and none of us has been exposed to anyone who has tested positive (that we know of).  So the fact that everyone seems to be on the upswing already leads me to believe (HOPE) that this is some other mild virus and is on its way out.  Unfortunately, Julie is developing the sore throat that Neil started with.  ☹

Ministering: Today we ministered as a family by NOT getting in contact with anyone else.  Spreading germs is stinky.

More later…

Our finger puppets for teaching about pride and humility...

It's stinky feeling sick

Dear Jessie,

I hope you're staying healthy in Canada.  A cold of some sort is visiting the little people in our house.  Naturally, the COVID boogeyman is a possibility.  Blah.  Lots of people to pray for!

Have a terrific Sabbath!

Love,

Dad

Saturday, July 18, 2020
10:40 pm

Ugh, many of our small people are sick.  Nathaniel did NOT sleep well last night.  As Julie described it, he wanted to be touching her with every part of his body – hands, feet, head, arms, everything.  He spent most of the night snuggled up with her in our bed, meaning she didn't get much sleep.  Neil has a fever and feels gross.  He's sitting by the toilet now (I hope he's overreacting) and Abbie's reading to him.  Emma has a runny nose and has already woken up crying once tonight.  The rest of us are trying to avoid germs.  Spencer has band camp next week and asked to sleep in Mark's room in the basement.  At first Mark agreed to trade rooms, then he heard all the sniffing/coughing/moaning from upstairs, and decided he would break his "I don't sleep with other people" rule after Spencer committed to sleep on his own side of the bed.

Today we got a slow start to the day, sleeping in a bit.  We got a lot of cleaning done.  Abbie cleaned out the goat barn and we worked together to clean out the goat poop from between the deck slats.  Abbie's goat Anise seems to be doing a lot better.  Her cheek isn't swelling up with infection and Abbie put her back in the goat pen.  Baltimore especially seems happy to have her back.  The lawn looks nice.

Today we smoked burgers for dinner again.  They were delicious.  We shared some with the Chuns.  Their baby Anthony (I had the name wrong a couple days ago) is doing well.  We also shared some zucchini chocolate cake with the Bates.  Rachel came over today and sprayed some bug killer that she says works really well.  Hopefully that will make a difference in the garden because our zucchini is pathetic.  But the first tomato is turning orange!

Thankful: I am thankful for our home.  The A/C works so nicely.  The yard looks nice.  The garden is growing.  We have good food.  So many good things to be thankful for.

Ministering: We ministered to the Chun's today and shared reciprocal ministering with Rachel Bates.  Good day! 

More later…

Cleaning with Abbie

Grandma made me a new face mask

Star gazing

Hi Jessie!

Sorry for no message last night.  Read on for an explanation.  Love you so much!

Love,

Dad

Friday, July 17, 2020
10:55 pm

Last night Julie and I went on a date, and it was lovely.  I picked up Bombay House on the way home and we went to Dad and Mom's to enjoy dinner with them.  It was my birthday present from them.  After a delicious dinner we sat in the living room for two hours and visited.  Mark and the other big kids were in charge at the house and all the little kids except Camilla were sleeping when we got home.  It was really nice.  But it totally threw off my routine, and I didn't write in my journal or email Jessie.

This evening was nice.  While we ate dinner (haystacks), the ice cream maker was busy churning Julie's amazing lemon raspberry ice cream.  We cleaned up after dinner then enjoyed a tasty treat.  Then I went with Mark, Spencer, Neil and Isaac up the canyon to look at the stars.  We realized that it stays light so late in the summer that you have to stay up REALLY LATE to really see the stars.  Late September might make more sense – it gets dark earlier but isn't freezing.  Nevertheless, we had a very nice time.  We identified Hercules, Bootes, Cygnus, both dippers (they're easy), and Draco.  Spencer took a couple long-exposure photos, and then we drove back home.  Very enjoyable evening.

A couple good things – I called Isaac and Emma in from the garden to help unload the dishwashers and they both came running the first time I called.  It was great!  Isaac was really good all day.  He woke up early, got dressed, read scriptures, and practiced his piano all by himself.  He got the red plate for dinner.

Major gross – Abbie's goat Anise has had an infection in her cheek.  Yesterday the large bulge popped and started leaking infection.  Abbie was teary yesterday morning and asked me to help her.  I used a syringe to suck it out.  Yuck yuck yuck.  Mom and Mark followed up washing it out with iodine.  Abbie has spent the last couple days being Anise's companion because she didn't want to expose her other goats to the infection.  Fortunately she seems to be getting better.

Work the last couple days have been busy and productive.  And now I'm really tired.

Thankful: I'm so thankful for the good things we did today.  Ice cream, stargazing, gardening.

Ministering: I tried to minister to my boys this evening as we went up the canyon.  We were also ministered to by Rachel Bates next door – she brought us some zucchini bread she had made, and it was yummy.

More later…

Eating ice cream while nursing a goat back to health.

Another scripture to memorize

Dear Jessie,

It was nice to visit with you today.  Sorry I had to step away a couple times.  Next week I am going to take a late lunch so I am not at my desk and can concentrate on our conversation.

Your taxes are finished.  Your total refunds are a little over $700.  :)

I hope your week is great!

Love,

Dad

Wednesday, July 15, 2020
10:06 pm

I spent much of the day working on marketing plans and I think I came up with a couple good ideas to boost loans.  It's nice when I come up with ideas that I think will help other people.

At lunch I read scriptures and found the next verse I am going to memorize – Alma 33:11.  "And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son."  To help myself memorize, I handwrite the verse a couple times, and today I drew myself a series of pictures:

With a little work, it helps.

I enjoyed visiting with Jessie briefly this afternoon.  I had a few interruptions at work during the conversation, so I had to mute it a couple times, but it was still nice to see her for a bit.  Jennie joined us for dinner tonight then played games with the kids before leaving with Spencer to play tennis.  They all had fun being with her.  She is a very kind aunt and they all love being with her.

I finished filing Jessie's taxes this evening then put another coat of plaster on the ceiling where I put my foot through.  And now it's bedtime.

Thankful: I am so thankful that we have our home.  Reyna has been looking at houses, and the least expensive homes on the market today cost what we paid for our home eight years ago.  Incredible.

Ministering: I think my family was ministered to today by Jennie.  She is so kind to our kids.

More later…

Our strawberry field is doing quite nicely!

The ceiling repair is looking pretty good.  Not perfect, but good.

Pineapple Upside-down cake

Dear Jessie,

I've got your taxes nearly finished but I need your 2018 taxes to validate your identity.  Do you know where I could get access to that?  The deadline to file is Wednesday (probably the day you read this!)  I looked on your computer but couldn't find it anywhere.  If you get this early enough in the day, please send me a message through Hangouts so I can submit before 10 pm.

I love you lots and hope you have a great day!

Love,

Dad

Tuesday, July 14, 2020
10:13 pm

Got a lot done at work.  Had a new battery put in my iPhone so it will last longer than seven hours.  Enjoyed pineapple upside down cake tonight to celebrate grandma Kissling's birthday.  Did Jessie's taxes after putting the kids in bed.  Feeling good and looking forward to sleeping.

Thankful: I'm thankful for summer and air conditioning.

Ministering: Reyna wants to buy a house.  I don't blame her.  I helped her understand more about the process.

More later…

Short

Dear Jessie,

Sorry tonight's entry is short.  I need to go vacuum the front room as the final part of my service to Neil tonight.  I love you very much!

Love,

Dad

Monday, July 13, 2020
10:09 pm

We are way past the kids' bedtime tonight and they're still struggling to get/stay in bed.  I worked until close tonight, and it took longer than usual to wrap things up.  Had dinner and an excellent FHE.  Activity was doing something nice for other people.  I misread my assignment, and ended up doing Abbie's chore when I was supposed to serve Neil.  So then I did a chore for Neil too.  After FHE Abbie saw me make a funny face just as she took a drink. She choked on her milk and it took her several seconds before she could breathe again.  Scary, but she's fine.

Thankful: I noticed on Saturday that the Toyota was leaking coolant and had to get the water pump replaced today.  I'm thankful I have a good job that provides a vehicle for me to use.  That is a real blessing.

Ministering: I texted a couple of people today including Sami Chun. He didn't text back, but Sis. Pike came by the house this evening to wish Julie a happy birthday.  While here I asked about the Chuns and she said that their baby boy was born today, named Alexander Mark.  Don't have many more details.

More later…

I didn't take any pictures today, but here are a few from approx one year ago.

Photo journal

Super busy day all day. Lots of yard work. Put up another new ceiling fan. 👍 Also put my foot through the ceiling. 👎 Mark and Abbie searched for a recipe for Boston cream pie. And poor Camilla didn't want to stay in her bed so she finally fell asleep on the floor with a towel for a pillow.

Safely home

Made it home safely just after 10:30. Helped someone with car trouble before leaving the park. Complimented a guy with an "I love Jesus" hat. Got mild sunburns. Happy to sleep in my own bed tonight.

Hoodoos

Hi Jessie, thanks for the email today. I always love hearing from you! Went swimming all morning, ate lunch, then hiked 3.5 miles. My first time hiking into the canyon. Carried Camilla for most of it. Went back into the park after dark to stargaze. Amazing.

Bryce Canyon photos

Dear Jessie,
It was a nice day today. Travel to Bryce went smoothly. Hotel is nice. Crock pot dinner in a hotel room made even better using a liner for the crock pot so there was no clean up! Swimming tomorrow while Mark has Spanish class. Here are some photos of today. Love you lots!