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.