When we first arrived at the LBH Jack was talking about bugles. He is really into bugles and horns right now primarily because Natty is joining the band at the middle school and has been debating between the clarinet and the flute. Jack is thinking about the saxophone, the trombone, the drums (I like that) and then there is the bugle. Is the bugle even part of the band? Funny. Anyway, he decided he would point out that Grandma had two bugles in the shop. I think he caught both Grandma and I by surprise but sure enough they were there, sitting together on the mantle. So he asked Grandma to get him one and then he played us a couple of Jack tunes. A little rough but that is to be expected for his first time. Here are a couple of picks. Sadly I missed the shot with his cheeks fully inflated.
The old oven hood from the Ron and Chris bakery is no longer. I got the last piece down today and I didn't even need to swear. No, really. I was close. I remember Elder Adamson back when I was the Ward Mission Leader in Highlands Ward. He was perhaps one of my all time favorite missionaries. Anyway, we get on this conversation about tasks that don't go quite right and become frustrating. You know maybe a less than appropriate word comes out because that usually does the trick - it's like rust buster or something. Anyhow, he goes on to share that his dad often had these moments that escalated to this extreme and sudden burst of energy that usually did the trick... or completely destroyed something. He called it retard strength. I am sure that this offends someone and I don't mean to offend. The fact is this strength comes from nowhere and it is just amazing, believe me I can relate, and he called it retard strength because when working with mentally handicapped people you learn real fast that they have this incredible strength and when they are determined to do something or not do something it kicks in, this situation becomes helpless. Anyway, we had a great laugh over that because as I mentioned, I can completely identify moments when I experience said strength.
I had two unpleasant moments today. First came when I was removing an old black pipe from the oven area. With the last turn and release of the pipe came a sudden gush of nasty black water. It was thick and chalky water - if that is possible. Anyhow, it got my face, in my ear, all over my shirt, arms and hands. I couldn't clean it for anything - wiped it down as best I could with paper towels. Nastiness. A few minutes later I was turning the wrench on another pipe and my wrench slipped off. I was on a ladder and the sudden slip shot my balance backward and I was on my way down. Directly behind me was the water heater and that was going to be very painful. I threw my left arm up and caught hold of the gigantic black gas pipe that was hanging from the ceiling. I caught the ladder with my feet and kept it balanced then managed to pull my way back up. Impressive right? Like my buddy Jack Burton says, "It's all in the reflexes". Just very grateful those reflexes kicked in or I would be hurtin right now for a few additional reasons.
Natalie gave a great lesson for Family Home Evening tonight. She loves the Friend magazine and pulled out an article she loved from an older issue. It dealt with the resurrection and the love of the savior for each of us using a story of a little girl whose baby brother dies shortly after birth. I listened to her read the story and then she shared her thoughts and her testimony. It was great. It means so much as a parent to see your children grasp the gospel. She then went on to make fun of me because she saw my eyes get a little watery and she saw my sad face... she loves to make fun of me for that. Anyhow, grateful for the great lesson and the great daughter.
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