Two-for-one entry

Dear family,

I have to get to Walmart before they close to get more diapers for Nathaniel.  Love to all!

Love,

Dad

Sunday, December 20, 2020
11:05 pm

Time goes so fast.  Yesterday I ran errands in the morning.  Got snow tires on Bertha; have an appointment to do the same to the Odyssey tomorrow.  Picked up some Christmas gifts at the mall on my way home.  So glad Julie thinks of good gifts for our children.  In the afternoon Julie and I went together to Seagull Book to look for more.  I pushed Nathaniel around the store in a stroller while Julie shopped.  Divide and conquer.

In the evening I worked with Abbie on a history paper she wrote.  Of course I couldn't start helping her until bedtime, so we worked on it until almost midnight.  Isn't that when the best editing is done?  I really enjoyed spending time with her working on the paper.  It reminded me of when Dad and I used to do that to my papers, and then I did the same with Jessie and Mark.  She had a very good rough draft, and I think she has a very solid paper now.

Today was full as all Sunday's are.  Because this is the Sunday before Christmas, we didn't hold Ward Council the morning.  That let us push Bishopric meeting off until 8:30, which was really nice.  Next year Bishopric meeting begins at 6:00 am.  The Christmas sacrament program went well.  Bro. Heiss wrote the parts.  He gave an introduction, then a young couple from the ward read parts for Mary and Joseph.  I concluded with a reading on the manger.  They were semi-dramatized readings describing how things could have gone.  There were 131 people in attendance, just a bit over our 99 person limit.  (Oops.)

Part of the large attendance came from a baby blessing for the Beagles. I stood in the circle, and quickly realized my arm was at an uncomfortable angle.  A few minutes into the blessing I realized the discomfort came because little Ivy was slipping.  How can eight grown men not hold a baby?  I moved my left arm off the shoulder of the man next to me, hoisted the baby back onto our hands where she belonged, and everything ended just perfectly.  Our wives never would have let us live it down if we dropped a baby during a blessing!

After church I had a couple of interviews with some members needing help.  I am grateful for the resources of the Church to help, and for inspiration that comes through the Holy Ghost to know what to do.  I felt thankful for some positive feedback from some of the Church's counseling resources that my recommendations and the counsel I gave "seemed wise."  That wisdom doesn't come from me.

More later…

Monday, December 21, 2020
9:59 pm

Nathaniel would not go to sleep last night. I finally took him downstairs at 1:00 am and walked with him until he settled down.  We lay down on the couch, and I was reminded that we need to replace them.

Today was nice.  Started the day at Discount Tire to rotate snow tires on the Odyssey.  Remembered that two of the tires are at end of life and need to be replaced.  Decided to do all four so they stay matched and (hopefully) wear out evenly next time.  Wilbur Smith, the son of Wayne and Nikki Smith from our old ward in Spanish Fork, works there and gave me his "friends and family" discount, saving nearly $100.  That was unexpected and such a kind thing.  I'm grateful for those small acts of goodness.

Did lots of laundry and pickup around the house today, but also enjoyed playing Settlers with the boys.  Spencer won one turn ahead of the turn when I would have won.  It was a fun game.

Not good news tonight is that Dad and Mom both tested positive for Covid.  I think they're not feeling horrible, but can tell they're sick.  Hope they are able to recover quickly.

Fun thing tonight was looking at the "Bethlehem star."  Jupiter and Saturn are in conjunction tonight, the closest they have been for 400 years, coincidentally on the first night of winter.  Last time they were visible this close was 800 years ago.  We pulled out the binoculars and could see them together, including one of Jupiter's moons.  A neat thing to see.

Thankful: I'm thankful for the comfort and prosperity in which we live.  When we need to spend money for new tires, we can do it without having to figure out which "budget" the money will come from.  I checked the value of our homes and was astonished by the appreciation they have experienced.  The SF home is now worth approximately $40k more than we purchased our Springville house for.  The SF house is worth 250% of what we bought it for, and our Springville home has doubled in value in the last eight years.  Amazing.

Ministering: I am working to minister to Mike.

More later…

Feeling the baby during FHE.

Watching Peter and the Wolf.  The kids had never seen it and loved it.

Is it bedtime yet?

Dear family,

Time to go driving with Spencer.  I love you all!

Love,

Dad

Friday, December 18, 2020
9:38 pm

Today was so full.  I ran an errand for Julie in the morning and got to work about 9:30.  I tried to get lots done t work, then left at 1:00 pm to help with Neil's Christmas party at school.  We played "snowman Cootie" where the kids roll a die and draw a part of the snowman based on what number they roll.  Surprisingly, none of the kids had heard of Cootie before.  Their teacher had!  Then I taught them how to fold a napkin to look like a Christmas tree.  I was impressed by how good the kids were.  In spite of being excited for Christmas break and wanting to have fun with their friends, they were well behaved and never got out of control.  It was nice to be with them.

Poor Nathaniel woke up with a bloody nose this morning, then fell and bit his tongue a little later and made it bleed.  It was still bleeding off and on when I got home at the end of the day, but I think it's finally done.

I didn't leave work until 6:30 tonight, trying to get everything done so I can take next week off.

I didn't sleep too well last night, so I hope to get to sleep before it is too terribly late.  More later…

Christmas napkins

Neil and his friends with their snowman.  This was the least impressive snowman that was drawn.  You can tell there were no girls in their group.

Here's a photo of a better snowman...

It's snowing!

Dear family,

I need to deliver a 12-days of Christmas item before it gets any later, so I'll paste and run.

Much love to all,

Dad

Thursday, December 17, 2020
9:36 pm

How is it Thursday already?  How is it a week before Christmas Eve?  How??

Today was another productive day at work.  I tried to help my employees learn new things when they asked me questions.  Suzanne and I put words to a problem we have been trying to identify for a while.  Rather than addressing a specific issue – no insurance on a vehicle loan, a piece of returned mail, a missed loan payment – we need to address the needs of our members.  That will require a shift in how we think about our jobs.  When dealing with any of the single items listed previously, I want all of us – myself included – to take a step back from that specific issue and look at the overall relationship.  How can we use this interaction to positively impact our members' impression of us?  It will take work, but if we do it successfully, we will do a much better job serving our members.

Tonight Reid and I delivered gift cards to some members of the ward who are in need.  It was humbling to distribute the generosity of others in the ward.  It was also good to help orient Reid to who in the ward lives where.  And because it has been snowing since late afternoon, I took Jessie's car – the only one with snow tires.  I remembered how much I like those tires in the snow.

Thankful: I'm thankful I finished writing our Christmas letter today!  It probably won't get to everyone until the week between Christmas and New Years, but they will arrive eventually.

Ministering: As Reid and I delivered the gift cards I learned about some additional needs in the ward that I want to proactively address.  I am thankful for the experiences I have had that are now helping me in my service as Bishop.

More later…

No photos today, so here is one from the archives.  I don't remember what we were preparing to celebrate, but it looks tasty!  And these are some of my favorite people.

Miracles

Dear family,

Today was a good day.  I am on my way to read scriptures with Abbie and Spencer.

Love,

Dad

Wednesday, December 16, 2020
 9:41 pm

Thankful and Ministering: I need to start with this today, because I felt humbled and grateful for the kindness and generosity of others.  I witnessed a miracle today through another person listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

As we are nearing Christmas, several ward members have contacted me wanting to help provide Christmas for families in the ward who are in need.  Last night in Bishopric meeting we identified five families that we thought could use additional help.  This morning I reached out to the individuals who wanted to help, and they all were so gracious.  The five families we identified will receive generous help from anonymous friends in the ward.

Late this afternoon I received a call from Pres. Kent.  A non-member who lives in our ward boundaries is dealing with some mental health challenges.  His power was disconnected today and he had no food in the house.  A police officer helped him get some food from a local food pantry, and somehow he made the connection with Pres. Kent.  He and I agreed to meet at his house this afternoon to see how we can help.

On my way to that appointment, I stopped at the house of one of the anonymous Christmas helpers.  As she was giving me the gift cards for the five families, she told me, "There's one extra in there because there's another family in our ward who needs help.  I don't know who it is, but there's one more."  I had to blink back the tears as I told her that I was on my way to the home of someone that I did not know needed the help when we talked this morning, but God did, and he had used her to provide for this man.  She was touched, saying, "That never happens to me."  She had heard the Holy Ghost and acted.  Lives are blessed.  I love being involved in God's miracles.

In other news, work today was good.  Tonight we went to the art museum to listen to Abbie play with the orchestra as chamber music to add to the experience at the museum.  Spencer joined in a duet with Abbie.  It sounded really nice.  I enjoyed the time there, walking with Nathaniel.  Then Spencer and I went driving.

More later…

Abbie and Spencer playing

The family

My art appreciation buddy

Long entry w/ some scripture

Dear family,

I love you all.  This email is long enough that I'll just get to it.

Love,

Dad

Tuesday, December 15, 2020
10:51 pm

Yesterday was very good.  Got lots of "little rocks" done in the morning, then had Board meeting in the afternoon.  The meeting went very well.  I'm grateful for a good job and for a Board that trusts me.  Iin the evening we had FHE and did the Christmas store.  I played with Nathaniel and the kids that weren't in the "store" with Julie.  It felt nice. 

Today was a busy day that went incredibly fast.  I made good progress on several items at work, and that felt really good.  The morning was especially productive.  Enjoyed a leadership webinar this afternoon.  The speaker talked about the power of stories, and recommended that every leader should identify four true stories from their life they can share with others.  The stories should be in the following categories:

1.       Power – A story of significant achievement.

2.       Pain – A story of unmitigated pain.

3.       Promise – A story of absolute potential.

4.       Purpose – A story of unbridled hope.

This was part of a webinar series, and was one of the best sessions I have attended yet.  I'm glad I took the time.

I also talked with the FBI regarding a situation that happened a couple years ago.  We caught someone engaging in fraud and submitted a report.  It has taken two years for them to investigate, and they told me today that this was much larger than anyone anticipated, involving hundreds of accounts across the country.  Many people have been arrested and indicted in conjunction with the case, and a guilty verdict is not in doubt.  They thanked me for my report; I got the feeling the information I provided was particularly valuable in their investigation.  I just feel bad that these bright, talented law enforcement officers have to devote so much of their time to stopping bad guys.  Imagine what they could contribute if instead of having to focus on stopping bad, they could create good.  Some day…

Tonight I "finished" tithing settlement interviews, but will make phone calls to several people that didn't come in that I would like to talk to.  We also delivered Christmas gift boxes from the Kiwanis Club to ten families in the ward.  That was a good experience.  There is so much sadness in the world, but also a tremendous amount of kindness and goodness.

Thankful: I am thankful for the ideas that came to me during scripture study today.  I studies Moroni 10:3-5 and gained several insights.  I was happy for that.  I am also thankful that Mom came over tonight to help put kids in bed while I was doing Bishopric stuff.  That really made a difference.

Ministering: I loved being able to visit with lots of ward members today, both in person and online.  It was a good day.

More later…

Notes from today's study of Moroni 10:3-5

Thoughts on verse 3

Moroni's promise is some of the most important verses in the Book of Mormon. Thoughts on the meaning of the phrases in these verses:

Wisdom in God - The fact that we have this book is a blessing from God. Generations have lived without the knowledge and testimonies contained herein. For some reason, God saw fit in His wisdom to allow me to have these words. Don't take this for granted.

Remember how merciful the Lord hath been - The scriptures recount God's ongoing mercy for His children. Regardless of their disobedience, he continues to reach out to them with an invitation to repent. The Book of Mormon is another demonstration of God's mercy for His children.

From the creation of Adam - The Book of Mormon contains very few stories outside the Nephite civilization. This is a direct invitation from Moroni to ponder the teachings of the Bible.

Ponder - It is not enough to read, or even to read carefully. We need to ponder the things we read. The definition of ponder includes to "think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion." God doesn't just want us to think about the Book of Mormon; He wants us to reach a conclusion about the book. (More on this in verse 4.)

Thoughts on verse 4

When ye shall receive - I think the word "receive" here is used the same way as the command to "receive the Holy Ghost." It is something we actively take into our lives. It's not enough to have the Book of Mormon, or even to read it. We need to receive, or accept it.

Ask God...in the name of Christ - All prayers are to be in the name of Jesus Christ. That is especially important in the case of this book which is another testament of Jesus Christ. He would be anxious to testify of the truthfulness of this record.

If these things are NOT true - Don't ask, "Is this true?" Instead ask, "It's true, isn't it?" or "Isn't it true?" This phrasing includes an implicit assumption that it IS true.

Sincere heart and real intent - To receive an answer, we have to really want to know for the right reasons and intend to take action on the answer we receive.

Faith in Christ - We don't ask with faith in Joseph Smith or the current prophet or our parents or youth leaders or anyone else. We ask this question with faith in Jesus Christ.

Manifest the truth - He will make the truth plain or clear, but it may come in a way that is unexpected.

By the power of the Holy Ghost - This is how the manifesting will happen. It (likely) won't come by direct angelic visitation, and it won't come from a friend, neighbor, missionary, minister, or website.

Thoughts on verse 5

Know the truth of all things - Once we receive this answer and act upon it, we will be able to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. As our constant companion, the Holy Ghost then can continue to teach us the truth of all things. While the Holy Ghost serves as the "light of Christ" to all people, having His constant companionship gives us the opportunity to accelerate our acquisition of truth. It is our responsibility to learn to recognize how the Holy Ghost communicates with us and cultivate that relationship.

The awesome t-shirt Jessie got from Grandpa and Grandma

A holy day

Dear family,

Sunday is a day of rest, but it is the busiest rest I can fathom.  I loved the time I got to spend with you for different parts of it.  I've got a couple more responsibilities before sleep tonight, so I'm signing off.  Love you all!

Love,

Dad

Sunday, December 13, 2020
9:18 pm

I love Sundays.  Today was completely full, but I felt like I used it well to worship God and to serve others. 

This evening Spencer did most of the work on mulligatawny soup for dinner, and he did a great job.  We tweaked the recipe just slightly to leave out the butter and flour to make it gluten and dairy free.  It was delicious.  Using smoked turkey stock as the soup base makes it even better.  It was fun to work with Spencer in the kitchen; he's well on his way to becoming a fully competent cook.

After dinner we watched about half of The Chosen Christmas Celebration.  It included lots of contemporary Christian artists singing songs of Christmas praise.  The songs are different than what we use in our Sunday worship, but they were uplifting and a fun change. 

Abbie and Spencer joined an online fireside with the missionaries in our area (the Spanish-speaking Elders in a threesome and the two Sister missionaries assigned to our stake).  They were talking about how missionary work is taking place online today via social media.  I only saw bits of it, but it seemed like they were engaging the kids.  Neil and Isaac joined them.  Meanwhile, I read a couple Christmas stories to Emma and Camilla.  It was a pleasant evening.

Final stop, Christmas devotional, scriptures and bedtime.  As usual that was a bit of an adventure, but we got everyone in bed.  Part of the distraction was Nathaniel discovering he could play peek-a-boo with Isaac's bedroom door.  He was infernally cute doing it.  In just a couple minutes Spencer and I are going to drop off the first of the 12 Days of Christmas gifts that we help Marie Fisher with each year.  Julie pointed out that this has been a good driving-lesson opportunity for many years.

Thankful: I am thankful for the love I feel for the members of our ward.  I recognize the direct revelation of the Holy Ghost making this possible. 

Ministering: Today I met with and ministered to many people in the ward.  I recognized at least one distinct prompting of the Holy Ghost and acted on it, leading to a tender and uplifting experience.

I didn't take any photos today, so here is another from Randy's birthday yesterday. He is happy to have lots of stamp pads now ... to stamp.

Let it snow

Dear family,

It was a nice day with you.  Thanks for being part of our family.  I love you all!

Dad

Saturday, December 12, 2020
9:21 pm

Happy birthday Randy!  I got several projects done today, and that felt really good.  Spencer and I started the day helping gather food for the Kiwanis Club food drive.  Abbie helped unload at the drop-off spot.  She said there was an astonishing amount contributed, and that the folks running it said this was among the most generous responses they had seen.  What a blessing to those in need.

We got a couple inches of snow last night, so the kids had fun playing in it while we shoveled the driveway and walks.  We enjoyed lunch with Dad, Mom, and Randy to celebrate his birthday.  It was pleasant.  Then we came home and cleaned things up in preparation for some of Spencer's friends to come spend the afternoon.  The house got cleaned and Spencer had fun with his friends.  That's a win.

Marie Fisher came over to visit with Julie for a while.  I got the kitchen mostly clean while they chatted.  We had dinner, dipped pretzels, and did our Christmas devotional.  Sadly, we learned tonight that Diane Miller passed away in the last day or two.  I don't have Dennis' cell phone number, so I can't reach out to him directly tonight.  I'll track him down tomorrow when it's not so late.

Thankful: I'm very thankful for my children.  They aren't perfect, but they are good and I love them.  It is a privilege to be their father.

Ministering: I reached out to Lupe Rodriguez, my former employee, to wish her a happy birthday today.  I also helped with the food drive this morning and had a nice visit with Mike Allman, the previous bishop in the SF 17^th Ward.

More later…

Isaac wrote a message in the snow for all to see.  Amen, Isaac!

Nathaniel wants to get better with a fork.  He's getting some practice on Spencer.

Randy singing himself a birthday rap!  (Actually, I don't think he did a rap, but it sure looks like it in the picture!)