Semester Done!

My first semester back in school after a 15 year hiatus has officially drawn to a close.  I think it ended up being a pretty dang good semester.  I certainly learned a lot and it was a busy time for me but I believe it was successful.  As things look right now I believe I will get three A's and one A-, well two A-'s because of the lab.  I am pretty happy about that.  I took my last final this morning in my Diversity class and was a little nervous about that particular test but it turned out just fine.  Things feel a little weird right now because I don't have something to do or something that is due.  Anyway, happy for the semester to be over, happy to have made it through my first one back.  Time to get registered for next semester.  Should be fun.

In celebration I took Natty out tonight to see the new Avengers movie.  It was fantastic.  Full of laughs and humor.  I really enjoyed it and Natty seemed to love it.  That was an outing that Kaden and Stephanie Leko put together with several couples in the ward and instead of me showing up by myself I decided a Daddy/Daughter date was a good idea.  I think that was a good decision.  The boys got to go play with grandma and grandpa.  Much thanks for that ma! 

Well, I must call this a night.  Big day ahead tomorrow with SUU graduation.  It think we may be a bit on the busy side. 

3 Down and 1 To Go!

This is not a reference to football that I didn't spell very well.  No this is about finals.  Three are done, in the can, finished.  So far I did good enough on Psychology to secure an A in the class, I managed to get an A- in Dinosaurs and Lab.  Exciting.  I did better on that final then I did on all the other tests.  It was a good enough to keep my grade where it was.  History final was today.  I am fairly confident about that.  Diversity is tomorrow.  A little nervous about that one.  Must sleep.  I am dying here and need to sleep so I can get up in the morning and do some studying.  The final final approaches.  I must not choke!

Got One!

The results are in.  I didn't do very well on my final in psychology managing only an 84% on the test.  It was enough though and I managed to earn a solid A for the class.  That is good news.  I also went in and took my Dinosaur final today.  I need to get at least a 75% to get an A- in the class.  I feel pretty good about the final.  Hopefully I didn't screw it up too bad.  Her tests have thrown me for a loop but hopefully this one turns out okay, at least 75% anyway.  If it comes in a lot better than that I will be surprised and figure to maintain the A- I currently have in the class.  I've been studying for the History final this evening but have to admit that I am a bit tired.  I plan to head over and take it tomorrow morning.  I have done really well on the History exams thus far so I expect to do well here but that success comes with a lot of effort.  I have 10 to 12 pages of key terms I am reviewing and have only managed to get through two thus far.  Looks like a lot of work still to do.  Anyhow, I went in to the Dino test accepting whatever the results will be.  I have done my best there and walked out feeling good about it.  I put in the effort.  I don't do well on these particular tests but I don't know that it is because of a lack of effort.  As much as I want to get A's I really just want to pass the classes and move closer to a teaching degree and working with special needs kids.  So anyway, got one.  Feels good.  We'll hope for more but will accept whatever comes and love it. 

First of Four

Today I had my psychology final.  It was a very frustrating exam.  It is our third exam and seriously, I went into it studying just like I did for the first two expecting some sort of consistency in testing.  It seemed to be a bit off.  I was not the only one who felt this way.  Kyley and Anna from work both felt that way and another gal from the class came in for lunch at the Brick House and likewise expressed similar frustration.  In the end it is what it is but dang, that just kind of through me.  I tried my best but it was not easy.  Hopefully the result is better than what I am currently imagining and hopefully my grade does not drop too much.  I am hoping to get an A in that class.  I went into the test with just shy of 99% for the class and will be a bit disturbed if I can't maintain an A.  Now it is time to buckle down and study for the dinosaur exam tomorrow morning.  Perhaps the same thing will happen in that class and I will perform the opposite of what I did on the first two exams. That would be a very positive thing for me.  I need to get at least a 75% to get an A- in the class.  If I can really do well on the test I might be able to boost that grade up to an A.  I am currently .2% under an A.  It is not an easy thing to pull off straight A's.  Anyhow, three more to go.  I will be quite happy when it is over. 

Not Yet!

Not Yet Herbie! Not Yet!  The Love Bug.  Such a good movie.  Oh, I'm sure it won't be considered one of the great movies of all time but it was certainly one that I grew up loving.  The reality is that this post has nothing to do with Herbie but that line from the movie comes to mind sometimes when something that is going to happen just hasn't happened yet.  Not Yet!  Perhaps in a week or so I'll title a post Now Herbie! Now! 

So what hasn't happened yet?  Well, some may recall that a month or so ago I was given a new calling.  Since that time we have had General Conference and Stake Conference.  There were a few things that had to take place prior to the call being presented and my being sustained.  I thought today might be the day.  It was not.  My replacement for 11 year old scout leader was called but I was not released.  This is not a big deal.  I did discuss it with Brother Leko this evening after some home teaching and let him know I was going to be released.  He said that he was a little confused at the calling being made and was wondering if he was getting "fired".  He thought for sure it wouldn't be me because Jack just turned 11 and I would be able to work with him in the scouts.  I will work with Jack in the scouts but it is going to have to be a little different now.  Sadly.  That might be a good thing for Jack though as it will take him out of the home for the meetings. 

Well, fun week ahead of me here with finals.  I need to get to studying for my psychology final in the morning.  There is much to do.  I want to try and get my History final knocked out too but don't know when I can study for it just yet.  Hopefully I can squeeze it in tomorrow afternoon.  

Catering for Autism

We had the privilege once again this year to provide breakfast and lunch for the Southern Utah Autism Conference.  This year there was more than double the attendance of last year and the most that we have seen in the three years we have done this.  We somehow managed to have the food dialed in just right as well.  I don't think there were a lot of left overs.   That is great.  The entire process pretty much kicked my backside.  There was the breakfast set up this morning that had us at the shop at 7 AM to load up and then over to Canyon View High School to unload and set up.  We managed to get everything up and going in plenty of time and then headed back to the shop to start on the sandwich making.  There were 200 on order.  That is a lot of box lunches.  We managed to get it ready right on time and got it over to the conference without a minute to spare.  It went over quite well though and I got a lot of compliments on the food.  I got to sit and visit with Bob Wasden for a while.  He is a good man and is retiring in a few weeks.  He was given an award today and also will be given an award this week for teacher of the year in Autism.  Anyhow, we enjoyed our visit and he was so complimentary about the catering and the quality of the food.  That is good.  We like to hear that.  Well, once that was done I headed back to the shop and worked on a few things.  I am completely beat tonight but that is okay because we were catering for Autism. 

A Bit of Burn Out!

I was up and studying for finals again this morning.  The psychology final to be exact.  Oh my gosh I am feeling some burnout right now.  Got through the third of the final four chapters and a little bit in the last chapter and I was pretty well done.  Just don't want to study anymore.  I need to and I will but I just had to take a break from it.  I was going to try and knock out History and Psychology finals on Monday but now I am not sure about that move.  We'll see how tomorrow goes and where I am at.  In my mind I am battling the fact that class was over two days ago but I still have to go back an take a final. 

Well, I have to keep going, have to keep pushing.  It is not easy right now but I can do it.  I have to do it.   

To Whom Do We Listen?

The world is filled with voices, a wide variety of voices calling us in various directions.  There are loud voices that call to our natural selves highlighting the pleasures of the world.  They call to us to partake of these things, to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.  These voices can be loud and powerful and they can easily overpower us if we choose not to listen to the still small voice.  The voice of perfect mildness that come from the Holy Ghost.  He quietly calls and petitions to us to obey the commandments of God.  His packaging is not always as loud or as appealing.  Choosing to listen to the Holy Ghost requires an element of faith as we forgo the much louder and call of the natural man.  There is a leap of faith there.  While we see the fun and the joy of those indulging in the things of the world it looks attractive and fun.  We don't often see the quiet peace and inner joy that comes as we try our faith and follow spiritual promptings.  There is great joy in following the Lord, it is lasting joy and not temporary pleasure.  Sometimes we might find ourselves in a self-argument as we attempt to convince ourselves that we are not worthy of the Spirit and might as well give up trying.  We are not good enough for the Lord or the church and therefore we have no reason to continue in our attempts to live the gospel, this is simply not true.  The Lord loves each of us.  He knows each of us.  He suffered in Gethsemane for each of us individually.  He does not force us to follow Him but allows us to chose for ourselves.  Regardless of what choices we make His hands are stretched out still.  He is always there, always willing to take us in.  I am grateful for that and know that each of our journeys are different.  We all travel down different paths, some arriving at the Savior before others.  Regardless of when we arrive, when we come unto Christ, He is there.  I am grateful for my Savior.  I am grateful for His patience with me, for His grace, for His mercy.  I know that through Him I can be made whole.  My prayer is that I can always remember Him and that I can do the things that He would have me do.  I pray that I can hear those voices that lead me near to the Savior and put off those that would lead me astray.  

Done... Well, Almost Done!

Today was the last day of classes for me.  I am done for the semester.  Feels wonderful.  It is a short lived wonderful as the finals are next week and I have to get my studying done.  That is a lot of work in and of itself and there are four of them to get ready for.  Not time to party yet.   Lots of work still to do.  Next Thursday I will have my final final and then I may have to break out into song and channel my greatest Alice Cooper Schools out for Summer routine.  I don't really have that routine and it is certainly far from great, in fact I am not 100% certain that is Alice Cooper though I think it is.  Perhaps I will have to settle for my best Ren and Stimpy routine and sing 'Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy' repeatedly.  I am in position to pull off the straight A's.  Well, my lab may drop down to an A- and my Dino class may be hard pressed to come up to an A.  It is just shy of that level.  But three A's and two A-'s isn't bad right.  Maybe I can do this college thing after all?  I don't know, we'll have to see how the math goes. 

Spike!

I just got on to write this post and noticed a spike in page views over the last day.  Not really sure why that is, only a few views of the latest post so someone must have taken a gander at past entries.  Fabulous.  With spike as a topic I guess I could mention that I went on a date tonight.  It was down in Vegas with Liz.  I met her at the singles conference back in February and we have communicated back and forth some.  Anyway, my nephew Clayton plays volleyball for Mojave High School and they played Clark this evening.  Liz is a PE coach at Clark.  It was a good opportunity to go out with her and get to know her better.  The game was good and Clayton is a monster out there.  He may have spiked a ball or two or three... that list could go on.  Anyway it was a good game, Mojave won.  I got to see where Liz works, enjoy some time with her and watch Clayton play ball.  It was a good day.  I look forward to the playoffs in a few weeks and going back.  Hopefully I'll be able to convince Liz to go out again. I think the chances are good. 

Back to the Tree!

Helped my neighbors with their tree removal project this evening.  We started Saturday night and then ran out of daylight.  We continued this evening and dropped to huge portions of the tree.  One huge limb and then the main trunk.  The main trunk we connected to his suburban by cable and after cutting a wedge into it I put the suburban in gear and gave it some gas while Borden started the cut on the back side.  It took a bit but it came down and came down hard.  It actually nailed the other tree in the yard and broke a few limbs off of it.  No big deal.  It was a big tree.  There are a couple other large limbs that we need to cut but we again ran out of daylight and one of them is a rather tricky cut that is going to require swinging the limb some.  If we fail we could take out the power line between houses and possibly take out another neighbors house.  We didn't want to fail and risk someone or something getting hurt.  We'll give it another try when the sun is out. 

Piano Time

It has been a while since I have sat down at the piano with my simplified accompaniments for the hymns book and played.  Tonight I was walking into the living room and decided to have a seat.  I do enjoy playing the hymns of the church.  I don't play all of them, just a selection that I have practiced.  I am certainly rusty but enjoyed working through them.  I have some of my favorites like Redeemer of Israel, Now Let us Rejoice, We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet, We Ever Pray for Thee, Praise to the Man, A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, Secret Prayer, How Firm a Foundation, All Creatures of Our God and King and several others.  I read the notes for the bottom hand and play the top hand by ear.  Somehow it works.  When I'm a little rusty I miss the top hand a bit.  Hard to explain, it is a feel thing.  I enjoy my piano time and don't spend enough time enjoying it.  I may need to make a few adjustments and make that happen more often.  Andy did tell me that he likes my music.  Nice of him not to notice how badly I butcher things. 

In the Yard!

Had a most wonderful day!  I spent it in the yard.  That means I spent it doing yard work and I loved it.  That is perhaps one of my favorite things to do.  I went to work trying to trim the enormous pine tree in the backyard.  I am concerned with it height and how full it is that it could end up going down in a big windstorm.  I want to thin it out and got to work on doing some of that.  It is a challenge.  I have reached about as far up the trunk as I can reach with a ladder.  I now need to start climbing the tree.  I decided to halt such activities as my arms were tired, I was tired and falling out of a tree 20+ feet up isn't my idea of a good time.  Besides that my arms and legs are completely hammered so a little break was good.  I still had to cut up downed branches and hall them to the street.  I hauled the apple tree branches over, dug up some sod and piled it up on top of buckets full of pine needles.  It was a bit of a mess.  I also edged and mowed the yard.  Later Natty and I went over to the tennis courts to practice some .  Then I gave Borden Jenkins a hand with a rather large tree he has to cut down in his front yard.  Fun for sure.  My goodness, my body is burning and irritated all over right now.  Well, that is what a day in the yard does for you.  Love it.   

Last Quiz

The Geo 1020 -Dinosaur Professor doesn't like to refer to the final test in Lab as the final exam so she calls it the last quiz.  I had finally got my grade up to an A and then I took that "last quiz".  I think I didn't do as good as I was hoping.  I don't know that I studied the right things.  Hopefully I was able to pull it off to where I don't drop down to a B for the lab.  I am really working hard to get all A's this semester, was hoping for no A-'s but I'll take it if it means I don't drop to a B.  Really it probably isn't that big of a deal but I want to do it.  I hear that C's get degrees and while that is true I would rather get the A.  Once I dive into Math that will be a little harder for me, I'm just looking to pass math.  It isn't my strongest subject but maybe I can make it stronger.  I've just got to wrap my head around it and learn it.  Anyhow, very much thrilled to be done with the Last Quiz and the Lab.  Two more days of class and then we are on to the finals.  I need to review that schedule again, I know I have a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday final.  I am not certain.  Whatever, we'll get through it. 

The Not So Wee Child

Amy and Dan and baby Sam came in to the shop this afternoon/early evening.  So good to see them.  After a bit I got to hold Sam who is the not so wee child.  He was way happy.  I would hold him up and he would grin big and then I would blow on his chubby cheeks or his chubby belly and he would laugh and smile big.  So much fun.  I thoroughly enjoy babies.  Joyous moments for sure.  It was funny because baby Sam had just woken up when they got there and I could not raise a single bit of emotion out of him and then, suddenly, he was full of emotion and joy.  Great times.

People

Aren't people wonderful?  I love people.  I love the opportunity to interact with people and to get to know them a bit.  We all come here with our own unique gifts and challenges.  It is a pleasure to take time to visit with people.  Granted there are those that would rather not converse and who can be a bit short and not fun but I don't think that is a majority of people.  I enjoy having the opportunity to just share a pleasant conversation with someone and to smile with them.  I had my psychology professor in today with her fiance and had a few minutes to go over and talk with them.  I found out that he was in the restaurant on his birthday last week.  I asked if he got a cookie sundae on his visit.  He did not.  I then offered to make them one to help celebrate his birthday!  They were touched by this.  I was happy to do it.  They are good people and I enjoyed spending a few minutes with them.  I had another guy who was at a meeting with me this afternoon.  He was presenting some information to the lodging association.  Anyhow, he had never been to the Brick House.  I gave him a card and invited him to come in.  He brought his girlfriend in this evening.  I arrived for a school project right when they were finishing up and had the chance to talk to them.  They loved it and were so happy to have had the opportunity to come in and enjoy it.  Smiles on faces.  It was great to visit with them for a minute and to know they were happy.  People, happy people.  It is a good thing.  I don't have a lot to give in this world but I have a smile and a listening ear.  I've also got some cards that I sometimes give away for a free sandwich.  That helps put smiles on faces including my own.  Makes me feel good to see someone get excited over something simple like that.  John 4:19 comes to mind when I think about people.  Speaking about the Savior John says:  "We love him because he first loved us."  I guess we can sit back and wait for others to love us or we can be the driving force.  Sometimes that isn't an easy thing to do.  I think I will pray for greater strength to do that more consistently and honestly. 

Keep Going!

Needing a little motivation tonight.  Gotta keep going!  School is drawing to an end here in the next couple of weeks and I am starting to struggle to stay motivated.  I've got to finish strong.  I've worked too hard all semester to piddle out right now.  It gets hard when you know it is wrapping up.  Well it is hard for me right now anyway.  It has been a good semester and I have learned a lot.  I am grateful for that and I look forward to getting some stuff together for next semester, well the fall semester.  I am not going to the summer semester though that might not be a bad idea as it condenses the four months down quite a bit.  I think It is the four months that starts to drag on a skosh.  We shall keep pressing on.  5 more classes and then finals. 

Hit Gift!

For the last I don't know how long, Jack has been studying and discussing the finer points to the video game Mario Kart 8.  He has a vast amount on knowledge about this game that he has only played a handful of times on a demo at the store or at his primary teachers house.  This year I decided that when we got our tax return I would splurge and get the family the Wii U and then I would get Jack the Mario Kart 8 game for his birthday.  I learned something that made me quite happy.  I didn't know you could download games to the Wii U.  There is nothing more frustrating to me than buying a game that gets scratched and then no longer functions.  What a pain.  I didn't purchase the hard copy of Mario Kart 8 but rather downloaded it directly onto the Wii U console.  I am excited about that.  Anyways, this evening I had a chance to get the Wii account set up and then was able to buy the game and download it to the console.  Once it finished downloading, which did take quite a while, Jack played the first Grand Prix and won the entire thing.  He didn't just win either, he dominated every race and even knew short cuts and other tricks.  Impressive.  Following his victory he let Natty and Andy join in the fun and they have been playing without incident for the last hour and 20 minutes or so.  Fantastic.  Maybe I shouldn't be letting them play for that amount of time but they were all excited.  The gift is a hit!  The kids are loving it and I am enjoying the fact that they are enjoying themselves.  No worries all, we went out and played some tennis, rode bikes and scooters before coming in and turning on the game.  It's not all sitting down and exercising thumbs!   

Eleven Year Old Boy

Today we celebrated Jacks 11th birthday.  Pretty dang amazing.  Sadly he will no longer be able to say "you can't fool this 10 year old boy" or "you gotta be faster to get something like that past this 10 year old bold" or "your not fast enough to beat this 10 year old boy".  I'm sure he will make the necessary adjustment to the saying and will be finding reasons why something can't happen because of this 11 year old boy.  Well, regardless, we are happy to have this 11 year old boy in the family and don't suspect we'll get much past him.  Happy Birthday Jack!

Stumpy

Pulled out the new chainsaw today and got to work taking down the old apple tree.  That was a chore!  Things went pretty good.  Found the center was rotting out and had an ant infestation.  The chainsaw seemed to glide through that part.  For some reason the base of the tree was incredibly hard.  It was like cutting through steel.  Way heavy, like my eyes,   Must sleep. 

Tennis Time

Natty has decided that she wants to get involved in some tennis.  That sounds great.  I think it was one of those thoughts I had in the back of my head way back when after seeing a commercial of a dad working with his daughter on the tennis court and a reference to how do you plan on building your retirement?  I laughed and thought it would be a great idea.  Well, that never really materialized at a younger age but she is excited to get involved in it.  I think that is a great thing.  She talked to the tennis coach today and is going to go to practice next week.  We went over to the courts tonight to play around a bit.  There was some marked improvement over the course of the hour that we were there.  It started out pretty rough but she started to do better.  We'll probably go practice a bit more tomorrow and then again on Monday evening.  She has practice on Tuesday.  I told her not to get discouraged if the other kids are really good and work her over a bit.  She is completely green and is just wanted to learn now.  Hopefully she can get involved up in Alaska over the summer and we'll just keep practicing here.  I like tennis so this will be a fun thing.  The challenge is that I am not a technique guy.  I play the game, I know how it works but I am not proficient at the big serve.  I can get it in play and that is what I focus on.  We'll give it some time and I am sure Natty will have me running all over the place trying to keep up. 

Limits

Seems that at some point we have to reach a limit right?  I'm feeling like I am pretty dang close.  Just having one of those days.  Some times I don't think there is even one more thing that I could handle in my life and then something happens and one more thing piles on and you just gotta keep going.  I can say this, on my own I am not equal to the task.  I would have crumbled a long time ago.  Everyday I fall short, I don't get done everything that I need to.  I've given everything I have today and still there is a quiz I need to get done and a paper to write.  I can do the quiz between a couple of classes tomorrow and the paper can be done over the weekend but still, I would like to have completed them today.  I'm living in a bit of a disaster zone at the moment and am just doing my best to make it through the next few weeks and out of this semester.  We press forward one day at a time with faith.  Strength comes, the ability to do increases and somehow, someway limits are increased.  I am grateful for that additional strength and those blessings from the Lord.

Dishwasher?

We were talking about OCD in psychology today and I am relieved to say that I do not have OCD.  Granted I am a bit obsessive when it comes to the dishwasher and how it is loaded.  There is an order to these things people.  I am quite challenged with the current dishwasher as there are not a sufficient number of utensil slots in the utensil basket to allow for proper separation of utensils.  It is very difficult to have to share slots.  Regardless, my obsessing over dishwasher loading is not on the OCD level.  If it took me hours to load a dishwasher because of some routine I had to follow every time I went about those duties I might begin to tap into the disorder.  This news is surely a big relief for many of you as I am sure you were deeply concerned for my well being and that of our dishes.  Rest easy my friends.  Actually, I loaded the dishwasher and started it a little bit ago and am not hearing it running.  That is concerning.  It is a dang good thing I hand wash every item before I put it in the dishwasher with soap and hot water followed by a sanitizing rinse.  Really, I don't have issues when it comes to dishes.  All is good here.  Only kidding about the pre-wash treatment for every dish.  I don't actually use a sanitizing rinse, just a plane old hot water rinse.  What a slacker. 

Crunch Time

As the semester begins to draw to a close I am starting to feel the pressure.  It is crunch time.  The challenge is staying motivated to the end and pressing forward when maybe I am feeling like tapering things off and relaxing a bit.  Cant do.  Have to keep the full court press on.  I've got a Geology exam on Friday and then a couple of major papers do next week for Diversity.  I need to make a couple of visits here in town to different organizations that provide services to minority groups or people in need.  We've got orthodontist and dentist appointments coming up over the next two weeks as well and these "extra" activities become a bit overwhelming.  We will make it.  Crunch time!  Oh, crap, I forgot that I am getting a new calling in church not this Sunday but the following... see, lots of stuff going on.  We will breathe soon enough, I hope!

Trim It Up!

Did some more work landscaping at the Brick House today.  Trimmed up some shrubs, trees, rose bushes etc.  I hacked em up pretty good.  No sense cutting them back only a little bit when they need to be cut back a lot.  I would like to dedicate my tree trimming to one Jim Dunlop who is the master of all things tree trimming.  In classic form whilst using my hedge trimmers I managed to cut right through the extension cord.  For some reason the cord stops working after that happens.  It wasn't the first time I had done that which is quite sad.  Anyway, it is coming together.  Hopefully the weed killer I sprayed on Saturday will start to knock out some grasses and weeds that are about.  There is a lot of landscaping to do to really clean up the place and get it looking great.  I don't know how much time I will ultimately have for it but I do enjoy getting out there and getting dirty.  I might not feel that way when I am digging out old rocks and dirt from the beds. Wonderful times.  I am grateful for my family and grateful for the blessings we receive each day.  

I Sustain...

I was doing a little yard work at the Brick House on Saturday when the afternoon session of General Conference began.  Dave was on his way out of the parking lot and stopped to tell me that during the sustaining of President Monson people yelled out "opposed".  Then, while we were discussing it the same thing happened during the sustaining of the First Presidency and Quorum on the Twelve.  Certainly people have the right to oppose though this is not a venue where we typically hear it being shouted from the congregation.  I read later that those opposed are a group of people who planned to go and do that.  Seems to me they made a choice to draw attention to themselves instead of approaching local authorities in the prescribed manner to address their concerns.  Regardless, it happened and will likely continue to happen.  I read an article a moment ago by Erin Hallstrom titled My Experience in the Conference Center During the Opposing Vote.  She captures some feelings there that I think others have felt as well.  She spoke of wanting to raise her hand higher so that her sustaining vote was counted.  She also talked about the power with which the congregation sang "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet".  Awesome.

Last night we discussed this for a bit and Dave mentioned his feelings as he watched President Monson speak at the Priesthood Session and receiving confirmation at that moment President Monson was the Lords prophet on the earth.  I was listening to President Monsons conference talk from last October, Ponder the Path of Thy Feet, as I walked to school this morning.  I too felt a powerful confirmation that he is the Lords prophet on the earth and my heart rejoices to sustain him as such. 

As I was pondering this a scripture came to mind from my mission and a lesson taught by Elder F. David Stanley who was visiting the mission.  He taught us an importance lesson about sustaining our leaders and raising our hands to the square.  When he raised his hand to the square he did not do it lightly or lackadaisically. He raised his hand to the square firmly and with purpose.  In his mind he would say Ezra!  Ezra is in reference to a verse of scripture found in Ezra 7:10 which says: "

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it..."

That lesson stuck with me and when I raise my hand to the square I do so firmly and with purpose.  As I live my life I strive to prepare my heart to seek the law of the Lord and I strive to find myself doing the things that I have been asked to do.  Asked by whom?  The leaders who I have sustained, the Prophet of God on the Earth. 

These words in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 1verse 28 also come to mind "Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" as I ponder counsel given by those whom the Lord calls.  I take that counsel as the mind and will of the Lord, the law of the Lord if you will.  And in Joshua 24:15 "Choose you this day whom ye will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".  We serve the Lord by receiving or seeking His law and then by doing it.

I count it a great blessing to raise my arm to the square, to sustain those called of God to serve, to seek counsel from them and then to do my very best to do it.  I know that President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of God on the Earth today and that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are Prophets, Seers and Revelators.  I sustain them as such and am grateful for their service in the work of the Master.   

Easter 2015

Happy Easter!  Grateful for this holiday and for a loving Savior who makes it possible for each of us to overcome physical death through.  He rose the third day and because of his glorious resurrection each of us will be resurrected.  What a tremendous gift.  In addition he bore our sins and suffered on our behalf in the Garden of Gethsemane.  His suffering makes possible our ability to overcome spiritual death.  As we repent and follow Him and apply His atonement in our lives we can be made clean.  On our own we can never measure up it is the Savior who is the difference.  I am grateful for His life and His love.  I know He lives and that knowledge has been an anchor in my life.  I pray that it will continue to be and that I will not become complacent or relaxed in my convictions but that I will ever remain faithful to the covenants that I have made.  What a wonderful day Easter is.  What a wonderful blessing the Savior is. 

Trimming Trees

One of my two favorite weekends of the year.  It is General Conference this weekend and that Is always very exciting in my book.  I love conference.   I had a message prior to conference that one of my employees was sick and wouldn't be able to open.  That news pretty much changed my plans.  I headed in.  Jack came along.  Natty and Andy remained at home.  Well, I did some stuff at the shop for a while but other employees came in to cover.  I had brought a few items with me that were needed for some yard work at work.  I sprayed for weeds and then set out to trim up some trees.  The trimming tools that I had worked just fine.  It was a big job and took up more time then I thought.  Jack came out and helped and then he and I went in for lunch at some point.  It was a good afternoon and lunch with Jack.  So dang tired right now.  Must sleep.  Rabbit duties are calling on me.  Well, bunny duties anyways.  Then sleep!

These Eyes!

The Guess Who, truly a great band out of Canada.  Love their stuff.  One of their songs is titled These Eyes.  The lyrics discuss how These Eyes, cry every night for you.  These Eyes have seen a lot of loves but their never gonna see another love like I had with you.  Not really where I am going with this post but I couldn't help but run through some of the lyrics to this song in my head whilst preparing to write a little something.  In my second class this morning I was given a document to read and I noticed that I was having some challenges focusing on the text.  Later I went to lab and we had to seperate several small shells as well as rock and plant material.  It was all very tiny, we used tweezers.  My eyes were done after that little project.  Wow!  I don't know if I am just tired today and my eyes are straining because of that or if my eyes are starting to catch up with my age and I am starting to lose a little bit.  Whatever the case I can tell you that these eyes are tired and it is time to call it a day and rest my weary eyes. 

It Continues

Well I tried to make it sound somewhat convincing yesterday though I am sure it didn't take long for any to realize it was an April Fools joke.  If you didn't figure it out then kudos to me.  I figured the April 1st reference at the end was a dead giveaway.  That said, it continues.  I know, very exciting news and a huge sigh of relief from my enormous fan club out there.  Thank you for the support.  Your comments and pleads for me not to step away were overwhelming.  Oh, wait, there weren't any comments. Perhaps there was not a sigh of relief but a feeling of frustration that this blog might continue to show up in your news feed.  Sorry to provide you with a sense of freedom only to come back tonight and crush your free spirit with this deadening news that I will continue writing on.  It's a habit folks, I'm committed like the pig at breakfast. 

Had a visit from some friends this evening.  Jacob and Jessica Sweeney were traveling through with Cindy and Luke and stopped in to see me and to get some food.  It was great to see them.  They are good people.  I've always enjoyed Jacob and his family.  Cindy and Jack were in primary together but they don't remember each other at all.  That's to be expected as we moved out of the Highlands Ward when Jack was 4 and half.  Crazy how fast the time goes. 

Well, not much else to report on the day except that the Brick House won Best of State Local Diner again this year.  We are excited to have that honor once again. 

Final Post

The time has come to draw this here blog to a close.  I find that I am no longer writing things of great importance or significance and simply struggle to put something down on paper every night.  Perhaps it is writers block, I don't know.  I have done this for a long time and it just isn't doing anything for me any longer.  Over 20 years without missing a day, that is an accomplishment I guess.  Granted it is difficult to read the handwritten journals of the first 15 or 16 years but whatever.  We'll call it writers cramp and it is just time to be done for a while.  To those who faithfully follow these ramblings - thank you!  Sorry if you've grown attached and look forward to a daily dose from the Family Fountain.  Maybe I should have slowly drawn this out so you could ease of it like, well, drugs I guess.  No, we're going cold turkey.  Maybe I'll start another blog in the future that will capture random thoughts when I feel so inclined to write.  I could title it the ramblings of a burned out journal writer.  So to all I bid farewell, this is my final post. 

I should not close without giving some thanks to my children who have been my inspiration and have provided much in the way of material for this here post.  Have no fear children, life will go on without the blog.  I should also include an apology to my posterity, sorry this is all of me that you will have.  I hope what I have written will be enough to paint a picture of who I am and what I believe in, that the messages I have shared will influence you for good in some way, shape or form. 

I remind all in closing of what the Dread Pirate Roberts said to Westley each day before retiring.  "Good night, Westley.  Good work.  Sleep well.  I'll most likely kill you in the morning."  And with that I wish you all a happy April 1st.