A whole week

Dear family,

My apologies for going an entire week between emails. I hope you know how much I love each of you. Looking forward to seeing each of you tomorrow!

Much love,

Dad

Sunday, May 30, 2021
11:05 pm

Woah, a whole week between journal entries. My nighttime routine has been disrupted. Here's a quick recap of the week.

On my way home from work one day early last week I saw a young man on an electric scooter crash face-first. I pulled over and he was unconscious. I called 911 and waited until medical personnel arrived to help. He came to before they arrived, but had a nasty cut on his forehead and was a bit out of it still. Not sure how he ended up doing, but it looked rough.

Thursday morning I went to Neil's school and participated in the "Are you smarter than a fifth grader" contest. They did a series of three Kahoot quizzes. I took first place all three rounds. That was kind of fun.

On Friday we joined the Albertson's for dinner to celebrate the last day of school. Burgers were delicious and we played Pit. I didn't win a single round, but we all had fun.

Yesterday I spent a couple hours helping Mike move some stuff out of his storage unit back to his condo. It was damaged a year or so ago from a backed-up sewer line. Sadly, the home is filling again with stuff and is pretty dirty. I feel bad for him.

Today was a full day at Church. I taught a combined second-hour meeting with all the young women and young men. We talked about accomplishing all things through Christ, and finding out from the Lord what He wants us to accomplish. It didn't feel as engaged as I hoped it would. It's tough to connect with the youth. I also conducted some interviews that I think were meaningful. I can testify of the guidance that comes to bishops, and am grateful for that. I could not fulfill this calling without that constant help.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Covid has cancelled this year's program in the cemetery again, but I'd like to find a way to honor the day with my kids. Also hope to play some games and do more than fold laundry and do chores. Looking forward to talking to Mark and enjoying a BBQ with dad and mom.

More later…

"Pop" goes the door

Dear Family,

If I hurry I can help mom clean the kitchen, eat some ice cream, and be in bed before 11:00 pm. Wish me luck!

Mark, your headphones should arrive in the mail any day. Your tax refund hit your account this week and you have a certificate maturing soon. I can give you more details on Monday.

Much love to all!

Dad

Friday, May 21, 2021
10:07 pm

I was surprised by how well received the Priest quorum activity was on Wednesday. Sam Larsen wanted to do a sewing activity. We figured making white handkerchiefs was pretty simple. It still ended up taking a long time, but the boys were quite engaged. I was pleased by that. I also did a temple recommend interview for Bro. Trevenen.

Also Monday I had Association Board meeting and our CU Board meeting. Suzanne attended for the first time as EVP and reported on a couple aspects. I'll have her attend most meetings going forward. Attending and presenting in Board meeting was an important part of my professional development. I also had lunch with the other Utah County CEO's. We went to India Palace. Not bad, but it just doesn't compare to the Bombay House. Nathaniel got my leftovers.

Yesterday I felt like I was able to organize my day a little more effectively. Working in the basement is a different experience. I am isolated from the "energy" of the regular lobby activity, but I'm also much farther from interruptions and distractions. It takes a different approach to the day to figure out how to organize my efforts and stay engaged. It's a work in progress, but it's good. In the evening I went to a marching band meeting with Spencer. I really like his band director; he has an obvious interest in the kids. He focuses on character development, service, and becoming the best people they can.

Today I spent a fair amount of time developing a training plan to help David and Eliza begin transitioning into their new role. I also worked on reinventing our approach to how we think about our account relationships. I think I'm on to something that will help us serve members in a different but better way. It's still in its early stages, but I think it's going to be good.

Tonight Dennis Miller joined us for dinner. It was nice to visit with him. He helped me work again on our bedroom door that "pops" when it is opened. We thought we fixed it… but we might have celebrated too early.

I think I hear some ice cream downstairs calling for me.

Thankful: I'm thankful for the Holy Ghost. He inspires, teaches, softens and restrains. I need all of those blessings.

Ministering: It was nice to spend time with Bro. Miller. I also felt like I ministered to some of my employees as I work hard to develop training opportunities for them.

More later…

Good quote this week.

Today we wore our new t-shirts at work. They're popular!

Alma 33:16

Dear family,

Time for bed! Read on.

Much love,

Dad

Tuesday, May 18, 2021
10:55 pm

Much more productive day today. Focusing on projects in the morning seems like a much better idea. The Task list is still overflowing, but I got the important stuff done.

I left work a little early today and tried to adjust our bedroom door so it will quit "popping" when it is opened. More than once that has woken Nathaniel up early. I took the door off, planed and sanded it, oiled the hinges… and I think it may be worse, not better. Back to the drawing board.

Tonight was nice. Reid and I didn't have any appointments set; we just walked through the neighborhood. It worked great. We visited with Sis. Bolschweiller. She is sad her recovery from knee surgery is very slow, and she decided to retire from her job at BYU. She loves being in charge of a building and working with her student crew. Then we visited for 15 minutes or so with Jodi Hoerter. I've been in the ward nine years and that was the first time I met her. Very pleasant visit. She especially thanked me when I expressed our desire to meet them where they are and be supportive, not pushy. The Lord has an eternal perspective; we don't need to insist that things happen on our timeline. Then saw the Obers and had a nice visit with them. They thanked us for the work we are doing, saying that they knew this is the right time for us to serve, bringing our unique strengths and perspective. It was really nice to hear that.

Scripture insight from my drive to work this morning: Alma 33:16. God is not angry with us because of our sins (at least when we are contrite). He is angry with us when we will not understand the mercies God bestows upon us through the mercy of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Ministering and thankful: See above.

More later…

Working on the door...

Short message

Dear family,

Sorry, tonight's entry isn't terribly interesting. I guess I should add a slightly funny story. At lunch today (see journal entry below) Kurt asked how old my child is that needs the carseat in my car. I proceeded to list the ages of each of my children. After listing several ages, he looked at Suzanne, his eyes asking if I was being serious. She assured him that in fact I was completely honest. Ten kids. Life is good.

I love you all!

Dad

Monday, May 17, 2021
9:11 pm

Had several meetings today. Lunch with Kurt Weiland from a consulting company called Jefferson Smith. Trying to figure out how to realize the vision I have for the credit union and our employees. Had some time this afternoon to work on projects, but found it hard to get engaged and started. That was frustrating. I'll try working on those items first thing tomorrow, and leave some of the minor tasks for after lunch. Maybe that will be more effective.

Wow, not really a lot to tell about today. More later…

Three of my wonderful daughters

New glasses

Love to all!

Dad

Tuesday, May 11, 2021
9:41 pm

Good day. First full day working from the basement. I'm getting better organized to use my time well. Need a couple more days to get there. Started the day at the optometrist. One eye got a little worse, the other got a little better. Dr. Hawkins said that doesn't happen often, he's not convinced the new glasses I got are going to work. We'll see.

Tonight I had several Bishop visits. They all went well. In each case, I felt like I received an idea or prompting of what to say or ask, and I tried very hard to act on that prompting promptly. (Now there's a phrase that should come from General Conference! Follow promptings promptly! 😊)

Bro. Pike suggested calling a couple to a Sunday School calling. My first reaction was that they are dealing with so many struggles now that a calling was not a good idea. But I couldn't stop thinking about the suggestion, so Ied them in to discuss whether a calling now would be appropriate. I didn't get much past the suggestion when they accepted, saying that a Sunday School calling is their favorite.

I visited with another young couple that isn't active, but have testimony of the gospel. I asked him about his missionary service, and he spoke very positively of it. Another person responded positively to counsel regarding what they need to do to renew their temple recommend. It was a good night.

Sleep last night was hard to come by due to Nathaniel not feeling well and Hazel having receiving immunizations. Julie the saint finally took both of the babies downstairs to sleep. I think we al slept better that way. Mom the saint came in the morning and took the middle kids to school so Julie could sleep a little more. I think we're all going to make it.

Thankful and Ministering: See above.

Bedtime snack, then going to bed. More later…

Trying on new glasses. I (think) I ended up with the one in the big photo.

A new office

Dear family,

It was wonderful talking to both Jessie and Mark today. It's also wonderful talking with the rest of my family that still lives under my roof! :)

Have a super day!

Love,

Dad

Monday, May 10, 2021
9:26 pm

Last week, David and Eliza, two of my part-time employees, both graduated from UVU. Today they started full-time at the credit union. To make room for them I moved my office downstairs to our conference room today. I expect to be there for about the next nine months until our Springville office is done, although I might move upstairs if we do some remodeling and make room for another workstation.

I had a great talk with Mark this afternoon. He's learning so much. It's terrific. Jessie was home this afternoon and helped make Pasta e Fagioli for dinner. It was amazing. FHE tonight was a little late but well done. Kids in bed. Nathaniel seems to be coming down with a cold, and Hazel got shots today so she is not a happy camper. Camilla and Neil also had visits; Camilla got her kindergarten shots and was so brave – not even a whimper, although she asked for a hot pack for her arm while she falls asleep.

Thankful: I'm thankful I am getting more organized at work. As I've been looking over my responsibilities, I remember some counsel Elder Gong gave when we visited with him a couple weeks ago. Basically it was to remember the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. Bring everything I have to God and it will be enough. I think I can be more effective by intentionally improving my focus on different areas. Of course I will never be done in any area. But rather than letting that overwhelm my efforts in another area, I can choose to work one something for a specific amount of time, then end that and move on to the next. I want to try this.

Ministering: I received an email this morning from a ward member asking for counsel regarding a matter that is a struggle. Responding to that email is next on my list.

More later…

The view of my new desk. I've upgraded from two monitors to three! 😎

Happy Mothers' Day!

Dear family,

It was nice to spend time with you today (Mark, nice to hear your voice while you chatted with others in the family). I love you all!

Love,

Dad

Sunday, May 9, 2021
8:58 pm

Ouch, it's been a few days since I last wrote. Here are some highlights:

Thursday was a busy day. I had a meeting to discuss an option for our 401k program. Our current provider is really frustrating me. I spent an hour helping Doug Huntsman at Utah Federal CU learn how to build queries to get data he wants from our system. I felt good spending time helping him learn how to do this. It's something I use often and appreciate it. It was good to help share that knowledge with someone else. Neil and Isaac had a primary activity that evening.

Friday was a busy day at work. Suzanne and I identified several areas that we need to focus on improving. There are some uncomfortable conversations in our future, but I think we are at the point that the pain of not changing exceeds the pain of change.

Julie's favorite mission companion, Madison Jolley, arrived on Friday and spent a few days visiting so she and Jessie could attend the homecoming of the DL from the area she served during the COVID lockdown. She said they became like family as they were isolated so long. Madison was bright and happy, and it was fun to see her and Jessie together.

Friday evening we had dinner with Stephen and Dani Jones. Stephen is the Bishop of the 7^th ward and Spencer's seminary teacher. His wife suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks last month. Having been through something similar, I wanted to just spend time with them and let them know that we are thinking of them. We got take out from the Bombay House and ate at the Mapleton city park. Dinner was delicious, then the wind got nasty. We relocated to the stake center (because we have keys! 😊) and played games and visited until about 9:00 pm. It was a pleasant evening.

Yesterday we worked hard I on chores. Spencer and I tried to help with a service project, but we were so late getting out of the house that it was nearly over by the time we got there. Julie planted flowers, I mowed part of the lawn and cleaned the stove. We brought summer clothes out of storage. I made a late night run to the grocery store to get potatoes for dinner today. That was frustrating. Smith's closes at 11:00 pm; I got there at 10:45 but they turned me away because "they were already closed." Super inconvenient. So I had to drive another mile or so down the road to Walmart which also closes at 11:00. But, I was able to get in, get what I needed, and be back in my car at 11:00 pm. I probably won't shop at Smith's again except in emergencies.

Today was Mother's Day. I made banana nut muffins for breakfast. Church was nice. We had a picnic lunch of tuna noodle salad on the front lawn because it was "so warm" today. Sixty degrees isn't terribly warm to me, but I wore a jacket and did just fine. I put Nathaniel down for a nap then fell asleep myself.

Tonight, Dad, Mom and Randy joined us for Mothers' Day dinner. As usual, it was amazing. Then we sang a few hymns and tried to do some Come, Follow Me study. It was hard to wrangle the kids' attention, but we managed well enough. After a double dessert of chocolate mousse cake and something deliciously frozen made with raspberries, whipped cream and marshmallow cream, I read a couple chapters of The Wild Robot Escapes.

Thankful: During Church today, Bro. Diede talked about faith and seeds. He described the miracle of planting a zucchini seed and having it turn into many zucchini fruit to leave on people's vehicles. It was lighthearted and humorous, but gave the Spirit an opportunity to bring a new insight into my mind. I've always associated the faith/seed analogy to the seed growing into a living plant. And it is true that it becomes a plant, but it also bears fruit with seeds of its own. Our faith doesn't just become a living thing testifying of the truth of the principle we are exercising faith in. It also bears more fruit with more seeds of faith, helping us build more faith in new and wonderful ways.

I realized that I want to have a "garden of faith." I want some zucchini – fast growing, prolific, and with an abundance to share.  I also need some walnut trees of faith – slow growing but steady, resilient, and long lasting. These are anchors to my conversion and last through seasons of plenty and adversity. There is place for flowers of faith to bring beauty. It was a nice insight.

Ministering: I issued a temple recommend and patriarchal blessing recommend today and texted a few people to let them know I'm thinking of them. I feel like I didn't do as well as I could have today. I'm glad I can improve day by day.

More later…

This week we planted the climbing roses I got for mom for Christmas. Fingers crossed that they FLOURISH!

Got to get dinner home safely!

Frisbee!

Dear family,

Nathaniel was less diligent in his sleeping last night. I'm going to give Hazel a bath and hope to find myself in bed shortly thereafter. I am grateful to be in your family!

Love,

Dad

Wednesday, May 5, 2021
9:26 pm

Mutual tonight was enjoyable. We met at Big Hollow Park and played a couple get-to-know you games. The first one wasn't as effective, but the second was fun. There were a series of questions that the Bishopric had answered. Reid, Andy and I spread out on the field, then Abbie and Spencer read a simple question that each of us had answered, and read one of the answers. The kids then lined up behind the Bishopric member they thought it applied to. Of all the people there, only Nellie Watkins guessed that my favorite TV show was Star Trek. Funny.

After that part of the activity we ate nachos and played ultimate frisbee. I shouldn't have dived (dove?) for one throw that was clearly out of my reach. I didn't notice at the time, but my right knee is a little tender now. Abbie bent a finger nail and it really hurt her. She came to the sideline so I could use my pocket knife to trim off the broken part of the nail, but she sprinted back on the field to try to catch a throw before I could finish trimming. And Spencer was competitive the entire time. Ah, we love giving 100%.

As Abbie, Spencer and I left, Julie had her hands full with the younger kids. I called Mom and am so grateful that she was able to come help out.

Work was pretty good today. It was busy and I think I made good progress on several projects. At lunch I finally started working on Mark's taxes. They aren't due this year until May 17 due to COVID. I want to finish this week.

Ministering: I tried to be involved with the youth tonight during mutual. I also talked to Chris Chamberlain today. Her husband Kent had back surgery not too long ago. He is coming home tomorrow, and I was able to help identify some ways we can help during his recovery.

Thankful: I am thankful for ideas that come when I study the scriptures, and especially when those ideas are helpful in my calling as Bishop.

More later…

Another way I ministered today - I saw this for sale sign on my way to work, so I pulled over and sent a photo to the family that sent me a text on Sunday looking for a home.  Who knows, maybe they'll get it!

 

Delayed note

Dear family,

Sorry I haven't written in a few days.

Mark, I saw Boyce Simons at Church yesterday and he asked about you. He mentioned that he hasn't gotten a letter from you in a while. Want me to print your emails and deliver them to him?

Love to all,

Dad

Monday, May 3, 2021
10:18 pm

My evening schedule has been all messed up. Quick recap of the last several days:

Friday we went to Thanksgiving Point with the Albertsons. Abbie stayed with Julie while Julie fed Hazel. Trevor and I took the rest of the kids through the gardens. They were more interested in rolling down hills and splashing in fountains than looking at the flowers, but we all had a very nice time. We got back to their house in time for a late dinner.

Saturday was my turn to work at the credit union. I got a lot of catch-up and admin work done, which was nice. In the afternoon we went back to the Albertson's to finish activities that we didn't get to on Friday. Dinner there again was yummy, especially the fresh fruit.

Sunday was nice. I was finished with meetings by 3:00 pm. The sister missionaries newly assigned to our area dropped by for a visit, and we all enjoyed getting to know them. They're good workers and have a bright spirit about them. After dinner we suggested singing a couple hymns before bed; someone launched into a song from Scripture Scouts, and we ended up singing several favorites. Funny.

Today I took Scott to lunch for his birthday. We went to Guru's and enjoyed our time together. I got more done at work, and it felt good. We had a special Board meeting in the afternoon to discuss our Springville building project and think we have selected a contractor. FHE tonight included launching Alka-Seltzer rockets in the driveway and a lesson on the sacrament.

More later…