Wanna Mac?

Dear family,

I'm going to get more than six hours of sleep tonight. But I have to hurry. Love you all!

Dad

Thursday, April 22, 2021
9:20 pm

I saw a scary headline recently. A study finds that middle-aged adults who get 6 hours or less of sleep per night have a 30% increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Great. That's just wonderful news. So in a demonstration of true maturity, I didn't read the article. 🤣

I had several meetings today and spent a lot of time working on marketing. I think I used my day pretty well, but feel like I need to get better at focusing more of my time developing my employees. I've got several new employees. Since hiring them I feel like I have been sequestered in my office doing important things, but not helping them learn and become better. I'm also getting ready to promote two other employees when they graduate from UVU next month. I need to spend time helping them develop.

I went to Costco after work to put gas in Bertha and get a couple things. While there I saw that they carry the Mac Book Air, and Jessie needs one to be able to do her graphic design work. So… I went to Costco to buy gas and a container of yogurt and walked away with a new computer. It seems like it is working great, which is wonderful. Jessie is working as an independent contractor and needs a computer that doesn't crash every time she tries to edit a graphic design file. I'm glad she was able to get a machine that will work for her.

Thankful: I feel so grateful that I have the resources to provide for my children's needs. When Jessie needs a new computer but doesn't have the cashflow to handle that expense immediately, I can help. That just makes me feel very grateful.

Ministering: Doug Huntsman is the CEO of Utah Federal Credit Union. We use the same computer system. He asked me the other day if I could help him build a query to extract some data he needed. This morning we spent about 45 minutes on a Zoom call and I showed him how to use the tools I am familiar with to accomplish what he needed. I suspect there are better ways to do what we did, but my way is effective. It felt good to spend some time helping someone else. Suzanne joined the call so she could learn it too.

More later…

Hard at work on Abbie's dress last week.

Two meetings successfully completed

Dear family,

I hope you all had a really nice day today! I'm happy with how my day went, and glad that our annual meeting met the minimum requirements. Hopefully next year will be back to normal.

Love everyone!

Dad

Wednesday, April 21, 2021
9:22 pm

Today was effective. We got initial bids for our Springville building, and they came in roughly where I expected – about $2 million. Gulp. Now I need to review our projections and make sure this will work.

I joined Paul Atkinson, Dale Phelps, and Steve Clayson for lunch today; they are the CEO's of Aline, Nebo, and Pacific Horizon Credit Unions. We talked business for a while then Church. Dale served as bishop of his ward and Paul is currently his ward's bishop.

I had Board meeting this afternoon, and it went very well. Then we had the CU annual meeting in the evening. We needed 15 people to form a quorum and had 18. Good enough. I hope next spring we an serve pancakes again.

Tonight for YM we learned about coding web pages. That is Bro. Zabriskie's career and he did a good job introducing some basic concepts to the kids. Spencer totally ate it up and was eager to keep working.

Ministering:  Hmmm. I'm not sure I can think of anyone I ministered to today. Does giving some of the youth a ride home after mutual count? I'm afraid that's the best I've got.

Thankful: I'm grateful that mom came over tonight to help Julie and the kids since I was only home for about 15 minutes between the CU annual meeting and YM tonight. It was a full day.

More later...

Dinner on Saturday. Delicious!

 

Going to bed on time!

Dear family,

Mark, both people I visited tonight asked about you. Sis. Tilley said she hopes you come work for BYU Broadcasting again after your mission. :)

Love to all,

Dad

 Tuesday, April 20, 2021

10:44 pm

Full days. Yesterday I spent a lot of time migrating our calendars at work from Google to Microsoft. Almost done. I think it will help our efficiency, especially once Springville is open. FHE was nice. Julie did a lesson on heroes from the scriptures, and how the things that we admire in our heroes are all Christlike attributes.

Today I was in my office with the door closed most of the day getting ready for Board meeting tomorrow afternoon and the annual meeting in the evening. I think everything is ready.

Tonight Reid and I visited the Mortimers and Alana Tilley. Nice visits both places.

More later…

I love Sundays

Dear family,

Sunday's are so full. I am home only for a few hours, and the challenges I help others deal with are so very real. But God in his mercy makes it possible and sustains those he calls. Thank you for sustaining me in my efforts to serve.

I got to make dinner today and enjoyed it. (Turned out delicious, too!) Mark, I thought of you and our Spanish-languge dinner prep. It was fun to remember.

Sleeping time. I hope you all remember how much I love you!

Love,

Dad

Sunday, April 18, 2021
11:03 pm

Bread is in the oven. Journal entry while it finishes. Today was full and good. Started early with a screaming Nathaniel who refused to be comforted. Or reasonable. Finally ended up in bed with us. Julie and kids made it to Church at noon with the 10^th ward. Bishop Reed said they were welcome, so we took him up on that.

I had several meaningful interviews today, including my monthly visit with Pres. Brinkerhoff. I sure love him and look forward to my interviews with him.

I was directed by the Spirit this week. While reading Elder Renlund's talk, I followed footnotes. Ended up in Hebrews 4:16 and Isaiah 41:10 speaking about the hope and confidence with which we can approach the throne of God when we need his grace. Those scriptures really impressed me and I tagged them to make them easy to find again. Today while visiting with someone I used them to encourage and reassure of God's love. The person with whom I was visiting commented that my counsel and these scriptures sounded very merciful. I teared up as I assured them that the Jesus I know is full of mercy and anxious to forgive. I think sometimes we forget that.

Tonight Reid Heiss (my 1^st counselor) joined us for dinner. He held Hazel, ate "scary vegetables," and interacted with each of the kids. I think they all enjoyed having him with us and asked if we can invite him back again. His wife passed away a couple years ago and he has only one daughter living close that he can visit with. I think we are going to issue a standing invitation (or expectation) for Sunday dinner each week that we aren't with dad and mom.

Thankful: I am so grateful for God's mercy, his forgiveness, and his grace. I am not worthy of it, but none of us is and yet he offers it. I desire more than anything to know and follow my Savior, and lead my family and others to him.

Ministering: Sunday's feel easy to minister. See above.

More later…

I took some photos today, but none have uploaded yet to my sharing site. So here is another from our trip to Thanksgiving Point last week.

Prom day



Good night family, I love you all!

Saturday, April 17, 2021
10:50 pm

Writing fast. Yesterday finished prepping financial statements and sent to the board. Also organized scholarship applications and sent them to our review committee.

Julie has been working all week on Abbie's prom dress and finished it this afternoon. It looks amazing. Abbie is at prom now, and looked wonderful. I hope she has a great time.

Started today at a Sunday School training meeting. I came away with some ideas on how we can enhance the home-centered nature of our worship. Parents model for their children finding ways to apply what they learned in Church. Middle children serve as role models for their younger siblings. The younger children leave their classes with specific suggestions they can share with their families.

Yesterday Spencer and I made a late run to the store. Got ice cream, chips and salsa. Took a carton of ice cream to Curt Kent to thank him for serving so well, most recently working until 2 am with Peter Jordan to get a home he has built ready for its final inspection. Took the chips and salsa to the Swenson's who are quarantining with COVID now. Sent Andy a text that if the sister has been involved it would have had a card, ribbon, and looked cute. But since it was from me, he got it in a plastic grocery bag. Fortunately the Lord can use our srenghts and compensate for our shortcomings.

More later…

Rain is lovely

Dear family,

It rained a fair amount today, which was lovely. Praying that continues.

Jessie's website officially began selling her artwork yesterday, and it is off to a fabulous start. I think she sold $800 worth of prints her first day. (Jessie, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.) So proud of her good work and the difference she is making.

Love to all!

Dad

Thursday, April 15, 2021
10:00 pm

Writing earlier to get to sleep earlier. Yesterday we had pizza and planning for YM. Bro. Zabriskie ran the meeting and did a good job, starting with the boys' interests. I had a bunch of meetings for work.

Today was the first day of the Utah Credit Union Association convention. Normally in person, it was cancelled last year and held virtually today and tomorrow for 3 hours each day. It wasn't nearly as good as meeting in person. I spent a couple hours working on our calendars to get them integrated better with our Microsoft subscription. I think we made good progress. Tomorrow I might tackle my To Do list. Tonight I had an interview with one of our youth in preparation for seminary graduation.

Have a couple emails still to write so I'm wrapping up.

More later…

Abbie, masked up and enjoying the tulips.

Light of the World at Thanksgiving Point

Tuesday, April 13, 2021
11:22 pm

I may never get to sleep on time again, but it is worth it. One time to work this morning, read scriptures first. I love learning about the Lord's blessings to his children and his plan for us. Nothing surprises him. Enjoyed lunch with dad today. Learned that he has been called as the new EQP in his ward. What a joy that will be. He wanted my input as one who has served in that calling recently and who is now a Bishop.

I left work early today to join the family at the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point. I'm glad I did that; there was lots of work still to do, but I felt like family time was more important. And I was right. The work will still be there in the morning. The gardens were nice, and will be even better in another week or so. We're hoping to go back. There is a new exhibit on Jesus Christ that is spectacular. Bronze statues in gardens with natural stone incorporated. Truly loved it. Lost the kids for a while, but all made it home safely.

Had some appointments lined up that fell through due to COVID. Seriously ready for this microscopic pest to be gone. Had good bishopric meeting. So grateful to work with good men. Came home, ate a snack, put Nathaniel to bed, now time to sleep.

More later…

Jesus calling Lazarus from the tomb.