Late Night

It's a bit late.  I've been out at a movie.  Decided to go see this movie Unbroken which is a true story.  It was quite good.  I liked it anyway.  It has been a day of snow.  When I got up this morning I noticed it and it seemed very light.  Well, it didn't stop for the majority of the day.  That is a good thing and I certainly hope that there is a lot more accumulation up in the mountains.  Lots of shoveling today.  It was good.  I am fixin to pass out so I'm going to close this entry.  Unbroken - I think it is worth seeing.  That's all. 

Stressing A Bit

I went to bed last night a bit stressed about the registering for classes thing and school starting on Monday and just not feeling very prepared.  I also began stressing about how I am going to do it all.  I really have no idea.  I was cleaning house, doing laundry and was wondering how I was going to manage that aspect of life.  Again, no idea.  I guess I am just going to have to figure it out as we go.  It is all a bit overwhelming at this point and I have some fears about managing myself to a point that I can be the father to my kids that they need.  I don't want to slip in that area of my life in fact I want to do better in that regard.  It is a scary thing to be diving into but I will trust in the Lord and do my best. 

Late to Register

So I have been working on getting back into school and have made it difficult on myself.  The entire thing has been a process of time but I have not exactly been concerned about getting registered and had a series of things to do before I could even do that.  I completed that series of things and began the signing up for classes.  Apparently that is not a good thing.  I am finding it difficult to get in to some classes.  I have managed to sign up for two classes and am on a waiting list for a third.  I need to get into a math class but they will not let me in because I have not met the prerequisite.  It is a class I took once already and passed with a B so I thought I could get in it no problem.  I guess I will have to call tomorrow and see what can be done.  If I get that then I am loaded up for the semester, assuming the wait-listed class comes through.  Looking at the hours some of these classes are scheduled for is going to make working and schooling a bit of a challenge, not to mention being dad and taking care of the family.

Well, next semester should be much easier.  I won't be trying to register so late in the game.  Wonderful.  

Temple Run

Not talking video games here.  If that is your passion this will not be the post for you.  When I say Temple Run I'm talking a drive down to the St. George Temple.  I wasn't sure I was going to make it on time and almost cut my preparations short and didn't go.  I pressed forward in my preparations and was able to go down.  I got in at 7:45 PM just prior to the last session of the day.  No matter, I was going to do initiatory work anyway.  It was great.  Took up some names that Clorinda asked me to do.  It was good.  I certainly love being in the temple and am glad I made the trip, even if it was a quick run.  Speaking of quick, I am starting to pass out so I am drawing this to a close.  I do love to serve in the temple. 

A Plow and a Shovel

You know that I love a good snow storm.  At least I love the first storm of the year and probably the next few storms after that.  I don't know that my love for snow storms continues through April and definitely not in the month of May but I do enjoy a good snow storm.  I find great satisfaction in wielding a snow shovel and practicing the art of snow removal.  There is only one thing that I think I enjoy more than a snow shovel and that is the snow plow.  I get to use the plow from the hotel next door to plow the parking lot at the Brick House.  It is pure joy.  Today we had a few stalls before fully realizing that pure plow driven joy.  The truck was overheating and so I had to shut it down every now and again and let the engine cool.  There is something the matter with that old truck.  Hopefully it gets squared away because as good as I might be with a shovel, that parking lot is big and I might not get the entire thing shoveled prior to the snow actually melting. 

Anyhow, I shoveled yesterday morning and again last night when I got home.  I shoveled again this morning prior to leaving for work where I shoveled some more.  I was getting ready to head over to the church to go shovel there and Kevin Barrett was dropping off is step daughter for work and told me that he had just finished the church with his 4 wheeler.  Ahhh, the 4 wheeler with the plow, that sounds like fun.  I might need one of those some day.  If I had a spare several grand I might could get one but I don't so I will stick to the shovel.  Anyhow, didn't need to go over. 

I'm kind of a snow shoveling geek I suppose.  I drive around by myself but I carry two shovels in the back of the vehicle.  I guess I want to have a spare at the ready in case I break the first one.  My current rate of breaking snow shovels is actually quite low so my chances of actually needing the spare are minimal. Oh well, I'm prepared I guess.

Snow plows and shovels, a mans best friends on a day like today.  Well, that and a nice warm fire.  Who doesn't like a nice warm fire on a cold winters night?  

White Christmas 2014

Last night when I bedded down the wind was howling.  Had Jack been around he would have probably said "There's a storm comin John!" but he was not around.  I tried to sleep through the night on a headache, didn't work all that well.  In the morning the wind had stopped but the snows had come.  It has been snowing for most the day.  This is really good for Cedar as we have needed it.  I do love the first real snow of the year and this is certainly that.  We have had a couple little sprinkles prior to today but this is a significant storm and much needed.  Hopefully we will see a lot more of these this winter and we can build up the snow pack.  Naturally I had to go out and do some shoveling.  It felt good.  Went over to the folks after that for breakfast and Christmas day festivities.  It was a fine day.  We had some good times.  Good food, good laughs, good games, fun times for sure.  Certainly I miss my children and trust they have had a wonderful Christmas.  They are such good kids and I am grateful to be their dad.

Christmas 2014 has been nice.  I have enjoyed the holiday season and some of the things that I have learned.  I am grateful to give.  We don't have a lot of money and so big, expensive gifts are not common.  The giving of a few small gifts and giving out fudge, that feels good.  I know it isn't much but it is what we could offer, it was our mite.  I went in this morning not expecting to see much in the way of gifts for me.  I was shocked.  Mom and Amy stuffed a rather large stocking for me.  I didn't plan on having one.  Stuffing a stocking for myself seemed kind of silly.  It was nice to be remembered.  Mom and dad also picked me up a number of gifts.  One being a great new coat for winter.  It was a bit small for me, not sure why mom picked me up a medium, I don't know that I have ever worn a medium shirt before, ever.  It was good, I tried to put it on just for fun and found the sleeve was sewn shut on the inside.  I am sure I looked real good trying to squeeze into this coat and having a stump arm.  We had a good laugh and I reminded them of the left handed golf clubs I got one year.  They didn't do me much good but pops got some life out of them. 

I am truly grateful for Christmas and the celebration of the Saviors life.  Not just his birth but his life and his teachings, his atonement and the gifts he freely gives to us.  I know he lives.  I know he came to earth and suffered on my behalf.  He also established his gospel and that gospel is available to each of us.  I am grateful for the Savior and pray that I can follow in his footsteps.   Merry Christmas all!

Who Got the Fudge Out?!

Over the last few years I have struggled to put together gifts for the neighbors and friends for Christmas.  That would primarily be fudge.  I actually got it together last year but never got it delivered.  I was a little embarrassed after Christmas to actually deliver it.  I didn't want to flake out again this year.  This morning I got up and made two batches of fudge.  I purchased some tins for it yesterday and those turned out nice.  Just how it looked when I was a kid.  I got it wrapped and then got out there and delivered it.  It felt good to get that done this year.  Things just happened to work out where I could do that.  It seemed well received.

One of my deliveries was to Ken and Georgia Bettridge.  I sure do love Ken and Georgia.  They have always been so kind to me and to the kids.  Anyhow, I dropped the fudge off, was invited in for a minute and then invited to go get a drink and go on a little ride.  So, we went.  It was a good time, really nice to visit with them and to just relax and go for a ride.   

I saw on facebook that the fudge for the missionaries arrived.  It looked like something had happened to one of the bricks during shipping... Sister Sweeney posted a couple of pictures.  She was excited for the fudge to come in.  I'm glad it got there and hope it is all in good shape.

We had a little fondue evening at the folks.  The group this year included Dave, Dani and Griff, Amy, Dan and Sam oh, and Sam, Mike and Liana, the folks of course and me.  We had two pots of broth going, we had two pots of cheese plus a crock pot of Velveeta, we had a deep fryer outside and I deep fried shrimp, mushroom, zucchini and broccoli.  So at the start of the meal all the deep fried veggies that needed tempura were already prepared.  It was great.  We also had a white elephant exchange and we had a root beer blind taste test/rating thing.  I am full, I am ready for bed and I am grateful for this time of year. 

One of Those Days!

There are two days in the year that I don't like.  Today was one of those days.  What about the day did I not like?  I don't like leaving my kids at the airport.  It is wonderful for them to spend time with their mom and I support that but it doesn't mean I like to see them go.  That is a hard thing.  They did arrive in Alaska safely.  They met their moms new dog and apparently he is huge.  Not much else to say.  I spent the day on the road.  I am tired and ready to sleep.  I don't know what I am going to do tonight as Andy won't be here to come and get in my bed in the middle of the night.  What the what?  I might actually sleep pretty well... ahhh, now we're on to one of those nights!

Making a Tradition?

A little over a week ago I was talking with Jack, it was actually about my lesson on the birth of the Savior.  Anyhow, we were discussing Christmas Traditions and one of the things we talked about was sending the fudge to the missionaries in the Scottsdale Mission with President and Sister Sweeney.  We decided that it was a good thing and that we should do it again this year.  We made the fudge and today I wrapped it up and we shipped it out.  We'll have one more Christmas with President and Sister Sweeney at the helm of the Arizona Scottsdale Mission and we can make this a tradition and send fudge to them again next year.  We will most likely do so.  After that we may need to figure out where else to send the fudge, what other mission will we have ties to? 

We know that it isn't much and we could probably come up with something more meaningful but fudge is something Fontano's do, especially at Christmas.  It is meaningful to us because it allows us to give something.  We don't do a lot of receiving at Christmas by way of toys and the commercial stuff.  We do receive a lot of goodies from neighbors and friends and that is wonderful.  The kids however, know that things are tight and there isn't much coming.  Sometimes our best gifts to ourselves come because we look at giving something to someone else and we forget about what we want.  I am grateful for those opportunities.  Making them a tradition?  I think it is a good thing.  

Drive Time

We got up this morning and had a little monkey bread for breakfast courtesy of Jay and Sara.  It was a good visit though it was too short.  Andy was upset with me that we were not staying longer.  Natalie didn't want to leave either.  Jack would stay for days if it meant he could tend the chickens and collect their eggs.  I think it is pretty tough when your cousins who were your neighbors for nearly 4 years move away and suddenly you can't see them all the time.  So the kids are telling me we need to spend a week next time.  I don't know that Jay and Sara are ready for us to move in for a week but we do need to visit again and more often.  The drive time really isn't too bad.  I think the mileage is just over 200 between our driveway and theirs.  With speed limits of 80 mph it is a 2.5 hour trip.  That really isn't that bad. 

Speaking of drive time.  We had a great drive home.  Enjoyed some Neil Diamond hits and I shared a few random quotes from the movie Airplane with the kids.  "The fog is getting thicker!" "And Leon's getting larger!"  Good times.  We got home in time to change and run over to the singles ward for sacrament meeting and their Christmas program.  It was quite good and I was glad we were their for that. 

Had dinner with the folks tonight.  That is something we usually do prior to the kids leaving for Alaska.  A nice Sunday dinner and visit with the folks.  They gave the kids their Christmas gifts tonight and they were all quite excited about what they received.  We had a good visit.  Now it is pack and clean time as we hit the road Tuesday morning for Vegas.  The kids fly out just before noon.  A little more drive time coming our way. 

Fish, Trains and the Lights at Temple Square

I've wanted to bring the kids up to see the lights at Temple Square for some time.  This weekend we made that happen.  After a fun filled day with cousins we headed up to Salt Lake.  The drive went well and we parked under City Creek Center, I think that is what it's called.  We walked towards Temple Square and were there prior to the lights coming on so we stopped in at Deseret Book and the boys played with an Apple cider making station.  It was entertaining for sure.  We spent just enough time in there that we came out and the lights were on.  We walked in and enjoyed the lights. The kids were impressed by the details and how every branch was lit.  We went in and checked out the tabernacle.  It is quite an impressive building.  We then went out and saw the nativity, always good and a childhood memory for me.  We then walked around to the front and checked out the mirror pool or reflective pool.  The kids liked that as well.  It is all impressive and quite beautiful.  We stopped in at the Joseph Smith memorial building, listened to a live choir, saw the huge tree and then the highlight, we went out the revolving door.  Jack spotted it and was eager to try it out.  He and Andy both made one and a half rotations in it. Who knew that would be the highlight? Or was it?  
We went back down to City Creek in search of ornaments, no luck but Andy spotted fish in the creek and was quite excited.  We had to examine the water feature more carefully the rest of the time we were there in search of more fish.  Yet another highlight. 
There were a lot of people in the mall and around Temple Square.  It was busy,lots of trains running and posts of people on them.  Jack really wanted to ride the rails.  We did.  Traxx is free downtown so we went for a couple of stops, got off and rode back on another train.  Jack was in heaven and the rest of us enjoyed being there wit him.  Yet another highlight of the trip. 
Hopefully this is a positive  experience that they will remember fondly.  I have always enjoyed the lights on Temple Square and am grateful to have shared that with my own kids.  Certainly it was an enhanced version with Apple cider brewing, revolving doors, fish and trains but what does that matter? We had a good time.

Road Trip

We are up in Springville tonight at Jay and Sara's house for the next day and a half.  It is great to be here and to have the opportunity to visit and to watch the cousins play together. 

While driving up, somewhere between Scipio and Nephi Sweet Caroline by the great Neil Diamond came on.  We all sang along and had some great laughs.  It was fun.  I told the kids it reminded me of driving down the road with my dad listening to Willie Nelson sing. On the road again.  I told them that whenever they heard
Sweet Caroline they could remember that time we were driving on the highway in the middle of nowhere and were belting it out.  Fun stuff.  Hopefully.

Walking Dead

This is not a review of the popular TV show which I happen to be a fan of.  No this is merely how I feel right at the moment.  It has been a long month.  Well, it has been a fast month in that I cannot believe it is already the 18th.  The long month comes from the volume of catering jobs we have been involved with this month.  I can now say we have done the last catering job.  I feel like my December experience and that of my children has been stripped away by this catering stuff this year.  It has just been exhausting and I am feeling it.  Hence the walking dead reference.  I feel that.  A long nap would be nice, some time off wonderful, just a good nights sleep would be fantastic.  I need one of those.  I am just happy that I don't need to go in and rearrange the banquet room in the morning.  Just need to rest well so I can wake up. 

Hawaiian Food

Yesterday I posted that we had one more to go.  That was in reference to our holiday party catering.  I was incorrect.  We have one more tomorrow evening.  It is a small group and their order is already in so it will be easy but it is still one more.  Then I found we had another group reservation for Friday.  I only thought we were done.  So anyway, the one that I thought was the end of it today, it was a good one.  The group was from Valley View Medical Center and they had decided on doing Hawaiian Food.  We are big fans of Hawaiian food.  No doubt because of having lived there for four years while growing up.  Anyway, the menu was good.  We served sticky rice, mac salad, kalua pig, bulgogi beef and shoyu chicken all on a bed of shredded cabbage.  For dessert we served a pineapple cream pie.  It was well received.  We had some leftovers and I was able to give each employee working today their own box lunch.  It was a great meal and it was fun to share some with the employees.  Everything was dialed in food wise, well, about as dialed in as a couple of haole boys can get.  That Hawaiian food never gets old.  Love it!

One to Go!

Tonight we knocked out two big groups.  One was upstairs and the other downstairs.  Downstairs was off the menu and upstairs was a three course meal.  It was good.  All went well and everyone seemed happy.  That is good and that makes me happy as well.  What makes me even happier at the moment is that we have one to go.  One more catering job to do and then we should be done so long as nobody with a last minute need arises.  I am ready for the last one finishing and we get our lives back.  That may have been a bit dramatic though life has been very busy.  We are grateful for that as well.  My goodness, I must go to bed. 

What's Predictable?

There are a lot of things in life that can be pretty easily predicted.  There is a pattern and it can be followed.  Well, the restaurant industry does not make prediction very easy.  I looked at today being Monday and figured on us having a fairly slow day.  I staffed accordingly.  Monday's just haven't been that big, especially of late.  There was no reason to believe we would stay constant throughout the day.  Well, it happened.  It was great.  I ended up having to work later because I tried to anticipate the load based on the last several weeks and figured to have nailed it.  Not so.  We made it though.  Pushed through it just fine.  It is just hard sometimes to know exactly what is predictable. 

Love the Lord

As I reflect on my life it is easily recognizable to me that there are many things that I could have done better and many things that I can improve upon.  Part of the lesson that I referenced yesterday discusses our learning line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.  I think we can all look back and see that there are things that maybe could have been handled better.  I am grateful for a loving Savior who knows that, who suffered for my failings and short comings and who invites me to lay that upon his shoulders.  I am grateful that I have an opportunity to repent.  I am grateful for that gift from the Savior. 

At this season of the year we focus on Christmas and some of the fun things that go a long with that.  Giving and receiving gifts is certainly a big part of it.  I was out on some home teaching visits this afternoon and shared a message about the gifts that we are given from the Savior.  Truly they are many.  We discussed a few from the scriptures that included the heavens, peace, love, the resurrection and the gift of eternal life.  With the Arnold family we talked about tender mercies, the little things that let us know that He is there and that He is aware of us.  I am grateful for those moments and for these wonderful gifts of the Savior.  These gifts are ours always and not just a Christmas time.  I love the Lord.  I testify that He loves each of us and that He stands with open arms and beckons us to come unto Him.  Peace and love are ours as we heed His call.  

The Shepherds

I have been preparing a lesson for Elders Quorum over the last couple of weeks.  The lesson is from President Joseph Fielding Smith and is about the birth and life of the Savior.  President Smith discusses the story of the Saviors birth and spends a little time discussing the shepherds.  He speaks of their humility and their willingness to follow the angel of the Lord immediately, without hesitation.  I have reflected much on this and have grown a greater appreciation for the shepherds.  I always thought they were cool but never really spent a lot of time reflecting on the significance of their lives and inclusion in the story of the birth of the Savior.  I have always looked at the birth and the Savior and not thought about the others in the story.  Maybe on the wise men in later years and how they followed the spirit and did not return to Herod but honestly, not a lot of thought on what the shepherds did.  I am grateful to have had time to reflect on them this year.  I have been taught and I appreciate their example, their faith their action.  I hope that I can be such a man, that when the Spirit speaks I will listen and not only will I listen but I will act, immediately.  President Smith talked about the beautiful simplicity of the story of the Savior birth and how it never grows old.  Indeed it does not.  I am grateful for his life and hope to keep my eyes fixed on him and to be quick to follow in his footsteps. 

If It Could Go Wrong...

Had a fabulous day today.  I was running around for a few things this morning and whilst on my way to the bank I got a call that the computers were not working.  I tried to guide them through a couple of things I thought it might be but those simple fixes didn't need fixing.  It had to wait a bit until I got there. I then had our credit card machines stop working.  Both of them out of the blue.  I ended up having to call in because none of the simple fixes were working.  Turns out that several customers of the product were suffering the same thing we were.  The terminals are dead and we need knew ones.  The new ones wont even ship out for 3 to 5 days.  Frustration!  We managed to get our square register up and going so we will survive off of that for the time being.  While I was out getting the Ipad for the register the power went out.  Things were getting a skosh hectic but we managed to pull through.  It just seemed that if something could go wrong, it did. 

2 Hours!

To carry on with last nights post, it is 8:27 PM and I am sitting down to type the blog roughly 2 hours ahead of my scheduled blogging time.  The lack of sleep seems to have caught up to me and I am ready to hit the sack.  Hopefully the boys are at the same point because this is getting pretty crazy and I just need to get them to sleep and then retire myself.  Really very sleepy at the moment.  That is all.

Not Sleeping

The last three nights have not been really good for sleep.  Sunday night Andy was up puking.  Monday night Jack was up puking.  Last night Jack was up and down all night and had a rough time sleeping.  It is right now 12:20 in the AM and Andy is up.  He is too afraid to sleep in his bed.  He is not staying in the bed I made him on my floor. And so again he ends up in my bed and I have kind of grown tired of that and find it very hard to sleep soundly when he is there.  Well, not much to say other than I am very tired and I need some sleep time.

Brain Fried

This is one of those months at the Brick House that is managing to fry my brain.  We've just got a lot going on with holiday parties and more to come in the next week and a half.  I imagine it will slow down the week of Christmas.  That will be nice.  I am arranging and rearranging the rooms upstairs daily.  We've got some big stuff hitting us tomorrow again and Thursday we'll have more.  As good as that is it is also a bit tiring.  Last night I mentioned my heel is aching.  All the being up and on it doesn't help but what can one do?  I can't simply take off because my foot is in pain.  I remember a friend talking about working up in Alaska in the fishing industry.  She sorted fish and what not and said that when the fish came in they had to work.  Sometimes that meant very little sleep.  When the work is there we have to get it done.  Anyway, there are times when the brain is tired and it's feeling a little fried.  I have moments when that seems to be the case. I miss certain things and cause a bit of confusion for myself and for others.  Gotta stay focused.  

What the Heel?!

What the hell is with my heel?  I am experiencing a lot of pain in my left heel.  Not exactly sure what I have done to it but it hurts.  I sleep with a brace on it and that tends to help and the day starts off fairly well but after a while it starts to throb.  I was foot racing Jack a couple of weeks ago and was wearing my work shoes.  All I can figure is that I injured the foot through impact while running.  I do my best not to let it slow me down and it really hasn't.  It is just a matter of enduring the pain and carrying on.  I've got to figure it out though as a good long hike might be out of the question and short hikes will require some recovery time.  Hoping whatever is the matter will heal itself, soon. 

Pressure

I am suddenly feeling a bit of pressure regarding this schooling thing.  People are all up in my business asking me about what classes I am taking, am I still going to work, I should live off loans... maybe I should just not talk about it period and quietly go about returning to school.  It's all good, I don't mind and I get some ideas from these people but it just adds a little pressure.  I'm just trying to get back in.  That is all I can say at this point.  Gotta get back in, gotta figure out what I need to take, gotta roll through a lot of general stuff again I am sure.  As for the number of classes or credits I am going to take, I really don't know.  18 credits sounds like a ton.  I've never done more than 12 and though I was working when I did those 12 I was not a single parent with three kids.  My head may just explode.  I want to get through as quickly as I can but I don't know that I can tackle 18 credits.  15 might really be pushing me.  Yep, pushing me, killing me, whatever.  We gotta do it and when we do it the pressure will come off a bit and that will be nice. 

10 Minutes

Somehow I managed to get all the kids off of electronics this morning and focused on cleaning the house.  Perhaps it was the fact that I said we will clean the house in 10 minutes that got them moving without complaint.  I put Andy on the floors, Jack on the garbage, Natty took the bathroom and I tackled the kitchen.  It went pretty well though we didn't quite get it done in 10 minutes.  Natty and I went another 10 and the boys got back on electronics but they had done well in their responsibilities.  I was happy with the entire situation.  I may have to use this 10 minutes thing again.  I know I could always handle moms 5 minute pick ups.  The time is short so it isn't a factor.  Fortunately the boys did not argue and everything turned out pretty well.  I don't know, 10 minutes seemed to work out for me today, I'm sure I'll use it again in the future. 

The Stats!

I don't really look at stats on this here blog.  When I log in I see a graph showing blog views and that is about it.  Today there was a bit of a spike so I decided to check out the stats.  It is interesting that I have some viewers in Russia, France, Barstow California.  Just kidding about the Barstow, not really sure if there are any Barstow viewers.  If so, thank you.  You are very kind.  At least I hope you are kind.  I don't really spend a lot of time in Barstow.  I think I saw a gay cowboy there once, some twenty four years ago.  We were moving back to the mainland after living in Hawaii and somehow ended up on a road trip that took us through Barstow.  I'm pretty sure the cowboy was driving in a Firebird complete with t-tops.  I think it was the boots and the hat that causes me to remember him as a cowboy.  It was the purple tights and lovely blouse and perhaps a little makeup that leads to the gay part.  I don't know for sure.  A lot of assumptions here and clearly this is a tangent that was not intended when I started this post.  It is a Barstow reference from my teenage years.  Enough, we move on, or back.  It is interesting to see the viewership of the blog and to see that people in other parts of the world are seeing this.  Really people, it is just the way I keep my journal.  It isn't much, I know that, just a habit I developed 20 years ago.  I should probably focus on writing things of more value instead of old stories about gay cowboys in Barstow.  Anyway.  Over 30,000 views of my blog in the last 4 years.  Not much for some.  I've never put out some viral piece, not really what I am going for here.  But interesting to think that stuff I write about has been seen 30,000 plus times.  More value, not a bad thing to think about and to focus on. 

Greatest value I could share.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is real.  Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we, all mankind, may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel.  The fullness of His gospel is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  There are living Prophets and Apostles on the earth today.  I am grateful for these humble men who are special witnesses of Jesus Christ.  Joy comes to my life and to the lives of my sweet children through the gospel, as we strive to live it and as we follow the Lord and His prophet on the earth today.  Learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ and of living prophets at lds.org.  Incidentally, there are missionaries throughout the world who can help you grow closer to the Savior, they are in Russia, France and even Barstow California.  These are wonderful young men and young women who love the Lord. 

What matters most.  I am a single father of three beautiful children.  These are the things that matter most in my life.  They are all good children, I have been blessed.  They are strong, they love the Lord and they try hard to do what is right.  I love my children dearly and feel a great responsibility to teach them well and to lead them to the Savior.  That can be a hard thing to do but through the Gospel of Jesus Christ I find great strength and a tremendous resource. 

There you are my friends around the globe.  The most important things in my life are the Gospel of Jesus Christ and my family.  I know it's true and that brings peace in troubled times. 

The Poop... Pool

The boys and I headed over to the aquatic center tonight in hopes of getting in a little pool time.  I dropped Natty off at Cedar Middle School so she could watch a friend of hers play in a band concert.  We went in and approached the desk only to see a sign that said the leisure pule was closed for the day and should re-open tomorrow.  For the love of all that is good and holy people, do not come to the pool if you are sick!  Two out of the last three times we have been to the pool this has been the case.  It sucks, especially when you have boys that tend to freak out when you tell them sorry, we can't go swimming.  Granted I didn't ask for the specifics tonight on what happened in the pool but there are only a couple of reasons they shut it down, poop or puke.  Urine, who cares about urine?  Seriously though, if you are sick, have been thinking about being sick, get queasy when you think about swimming in other peoples urine, don't go to the pool.  If you have an infant or a young one who cannot control their bladder, get a swim diaper on that kid.  Nobody wants to go hang out in the poop.  No, we go to the pool, we don't think about the urine, we trust the chlorine and other chemicals to take care of that, and we relax and enjoy ourselves.  Poop just causes problems as does puke for that matter.  Well, puke in the pool anyways.  No need to get back into the subject of puke though I do feel fantastic today.  Alas, we will try again tomorrow evening, maybe.  We will hope for better results.    

Um, Maybe Not

So last night I posted about puking and just getting it out of the system.  I know, not the funnest thing to read about.  I did puke, several times.  I kept feeling like there was more but nothing would come.  It was very frustrating as I was just trying to sleep but could not.  I guess I should also note that an hour after getting in bed Andy came into my room, went into the bathroom and puked his brains out.  Fantastic!  So happy he didn't launch on the top bunk.  I've had to clean that up once before and never want to experience that again.  Well, after a number of uncomfortable hours I approached the throne once again and released the kraken.  It was a brutal moment and perhaps causes me to want to pull back statements made last night.  Um, maybe not.  It was truly worth it because even though I had to take a shower after it, I was able to sleep through the rest of the night, comfortably.  I also managed to carry on with my day.  I didn't feel 100% by any means but I felt good enough to work and carry on my responsibilities.  Being sick is definitely not one of my favorite things.

In other news, I made Zucchini Casserole tonight.  First time ever.  Shocking really since it is one of my favorite dishes.  Can't believe I haven't made it previously.  I know, great chaser story to my discussion on puking.  No talk of puke can tarnish the deliciousness that is Zucchini Casserole.  I recommend this tasty dish anytime but especially for those times when you spent the night previous puking and have yet to eat anything for fear of the unknown.  I found it quite enjoyable and certainly have not had any indication of the pukes returning.  And now that I have wet your appetite with this fine commentary, feel free to comment if you would like the recipe.   

For the Love of Puke

I do not believe I am alone in this, perhaps, but I don't think so.  When I am sick and I feel like I am going to puke I just want to get it over with.  Let's get it up and done and get to feeling better.  That is what I prefer.  Doing everything I can not to puke, not interested.  That fight is not comfortable for me.  I know that puking is not the funnest thing to do.  I'm certainly not suggesting that I look forward to being sick so I can puke my brains out.  Not at all.  I do like to get it out though and whilst I type these words I am preparing for such and event.  Came home this evening and have been feeling like complete garbage.  I have had some quality bathroom time, some quality puking time and I am ready to go get it done again.  Not pleasant, not my favorite thing but I want to feel better.  This is my tribute for the love of puke.  Let it go, get it done.  I'm off...

Just Keep Trying

I can't help but think about Dori from Finding Nemo.  She was the fish with the short memory who kept reminding herself at one point to just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.  Life can be challenging and doing what is right can be difficult to do sometimes.  Certainly there are times when mistakes are made and maybe we beat ourselves up over them.  Sometimes frustration peaks and we might feel like quitting but we cannot.  We just keep trying.  If at first you don't succeed can stretch into if after hundreds of tries you don't succeed, try, try again.  We press forward and continue on, we do our duty, we lead our families even when we are hated for it.  I have a little boy who throws a tantrum quite often when I call the family together for scripture and prayer time.  It gets a little old.  If I quit calling the family together for scripture and prayer I would no longer have to endure that behavior but at what cost?  I will just keep trying and maybe trying is the wrong word here, maybe it should be just keep doing.  Keep doing the hard things, don't give up, don't quit.  I am not the expert, far from it, but I do believe in consistency even in the face of opposition.  So I'll get yelled at for calling the family together for scripture and prayer.  I will trust that the Lord knows better than I and I will do my best to follow His will.  I will continue to press forward as best I can and I will just keep trying to follow Him.  And as a side note, I'll just have to keep repenting for my many failed attempts.