Tender Mercies

This week has given me some tender mercies that I am grateful to receive from Heavenly Father.  In each case, I have been blessed to get encouragement in my knowledge that this is all part of a great plan of happiness.

I found something about nearly all of the kids from other sources about what good things they do.  It was so pleasing to hear the good things they choose if we are around or not.  That is one of the core principles of integrity.  Being the same person no matter where you are, or who you are with.  It brings great peace in life when you live that way.

I also had some remarkable learning in the temple.  I continue to see new insights into the plan and how it all came to be.  I gained an even greater appreciation for Adam and Eve and the choices they made.  They really had hearts of gold as they looked upon what they needed to do to help man come to be, instead of only thinking of themselves.

I spoke today on "He is risen" in the Kettering ward.  It was nice to see so many I know and love there.  I shared many experiences that have helped me to know that Christ really is living and has made it possible for us to declare like Job, "yet in my flesh shall I see God."  

This witness became even stronger today as we learned of Dakota.  Brytten's oldest child (Cathy's grand daughter).  She was travelling home from late night at a friend's house and was speeding to make it before curfew.  They missed a turn of the road and rolled over a few times.  She broke her neck and died instantly.  Her friend who had a seat belt on was hurt but not so bad should could not run for help.  But it was too late.  She was 18, a month from graduation, cheerleader, student body officer.  Cathy saw her every day at school since she also teaches there.  Tragedies occur, but the reality of the resurrection can help to eventually overcome the heartache and know that again we can be together. 

We went to Heather and Darrin's for dinner.  It was fun and good to be with family.  Mom made a jello and had placed it in their fridge.  When Darrin went to open the fridge for something else, it fell out and in an epic way shattered on the floor.  Bid mess, awesome sound, and no jello for dinner!  I love jello but the sound was a pretty good second.

Gavin did a wonderful job in the Les Mis play.  He changes costumes so many times its amazing.  It was really fun to see him and so many others from the ward in lead and supporting roles.  As well as the pit.  Which did a remarkable job.  It was long, lasted 3 hours.  But fun to see.

Mom and I picked out 5 large buckets of compacted dandelions from the forest and surrounding areas yesterday.  My back is aching for that.  But they were all yellow and I would rather have them out than to spread.  The yard is looking really nice.  We also transplanted hostas so they could continue to spread in other areas.  

Love you forever, I always want to be with you.

Dad

3 John 1:4

Easter

What a great Easter sabbath. I hope you enjoyed it also. A singularly remarkable event over 2000 years ago that changed everything. I got to give the opening prayer today and that was nice. The songs were the best part of today. I love those hymns and the messages they have. I love to sing them also. 

The yard is so pretty this time of year. All the flowers coming up, the grass is green, and the leaves are starting to break out. We transplanted lots of ground covers from the flower beds where they are spreading too much and out to parts of the forest where we hope they will spread crazy. Gavin and Ty helped me also lift down a dead tree that had tipped into some others. Then we laid it and another out from the bridge.  You can see it attached. You can also see Gavin in his camping hammock. He is sleeping outside tonight. 

Gavin is excited for Les Mis to start next weekend. He will be great. 

I am so glad to be back home this week.  It was a shock to go from 90+ to below freezing and come back to recent snow. But home is home. I had Friday off from work so I got to spend more time with mom. In the evening we went to the Easter cantata and they did a great job. But the weather warmed up and the weekend has been awesome. Perfect weather. We have been sitting down on the patio a lot and enjoying that. 

Love you much and forever. Nothing can stop that. I hope you will join us eternally. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Fantastic Sabbath

I continue to be amazed by the ways in which He can teach me and reinforce He is there.  

I went to church today in Makati City, Philippines.  It was the week they had scheduled to watch general conference.  Since they are so different in time, they do it the next week.  So I had planned to go to Sunday morning session since I missed that as I had to fly during that time and had no way to avoid it.  

I continue to be impressed with the saints here and their faith.  You can just feel it by being with them.  As I sat waiting for it to start, you could watch around and see the goodness of the people and the faith that drives their lives. 

I loved the session.  It was totally amazing.  I especially liked Elder Bednar and his thoughts on the atonement and how it can be a part of everyone's life.  Good, bad, struggling, anything.  And Bishop Stevenson's comparison to the 4 minutes of time was really good to think about.  What are we doing with our 4 minutes here on this earth?  Are we giving it our best?  Are we performing at the level we want.  We only have 4 minutes to prove out our time here on earth.

During the session the choir sang A Child's Prayer. As I listened to that hymn a remarkable thing happened. I witnessed the unbridled faith in Christ of these incredible saints as they without restraint quietly sang along. I heard the voices of children and adults. First the sisters, led by a young child right behind me, as they asked "Heavenly Father, are you really there?"  Then without prompting I heard the boys and men singing along with the refrain "pray, He is there". Their faith will move me for my life. I witnessed an expression of faith that shows me the path that we should all follow.  I could just quietly hear them blended with the actual choir as they could not stop from just singing out what they know to be true.

I liked also Elder Ballard and his thoughts on inviting others, and using Preach My Gospel in our families.  I am so glad we have been doing that for so long.  It has made some nice family discussions and chances to learn together.

I had invited everyone to go with me, but in the end they all wanted to go shopping.  Too bad they don't realize they missed out completely.  I cannot force others to know the truth, but I can invite, and keep doing so out of love and genuine kindness.

Given that I don't have a whole lot I can do, I had a long nap, and have been trying to study up for my talk this month.  I will be in Kettering ward this time.  I couldn't get a bunch done because the internet is being really troublesome.  I mostly can't get sites to load.

I am so excited to get back home.  I miss mom and everyone.  I have a long day tomorrow, from 7:15 AM until midnight or later, and then up at 3 to leave to the airport, but worth it to get home.  It has been a worthwhile trip, much accomplished for work, but a long week.  We worked until 7 or 8 nearly every night, and until 1:30 on Saturday when we just had to stop to get to the airport.  In it all I have been blessed to have grown in the knowledge i have that He is there, is aware of me and my situation, and wants me to continue on the path back.  And the desire to do so is increasing always.  I see more and more how He is part of my daily life.  In work, home, play, anything.  Who I am eternally is just a foundation that is underpinning everything I do in this life.  It's a great 4 minutes so far!

You would love the food I have at breakfast (usually the only meal I can enjoy as the others are a bit sketchy for my personal tastes).  So many choices, any way to prepare it, all different ethnicities. Just choices galore.  One of the people I work with is vegetarian so I have been thinking often of Jeff.  I don't think I would enjoy that choice, but it is interesting to see closer how the food choices are morphed to fit the vegetarian style.  A little more work, but still many options to choose.

Pray hard, it is a great tool.  Do it all day every day, come unto Him.

I hope you have a great week leading up to Easter.  The most amazing event of mankind occurred over 2000 years ago this coming Sunday.  I know it.

Love you,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Invitations

So I have arrived in Shanghai for another work trip. I had to miss Sunday sessions but I get to see them this Sunday in the Philippines as they are having the broadcast then. I did see Saturday and the priesthood sessions at home. 

As part of the trip, I always arrange to attend church, and this time since I have people traveling with me, I invited them all t go with me to conference.  I don't know if anyone will take me up on it, but it will be a great day anyway.  I wanted to travel to Philippines on Saturday eve since I know if is easier to get to church there than in China.   

I watched again the Saturday session while I was waiting at the airport.  There were some really good talks and I liked Elder Anderson's talk a lot.  I also really liked Elder Ridd from the priesthood session.  He had some fantastic analogies on technology and it's use for benefit or drawback. He talked about the youth being the choice generation.  As in ones that have a host of choices and those can impact for good or bad.  

I also liked Pres. Monson who indicated we need to have the courage to do not what is easy, but what is right.   

I will be here in China this week, in two different places.  I am in Shanghai, then Suzhou, then back to Shanghai, then off to Philippines, then home.  In Philippines I have meetings from 8-6, then with another group from 8-midnight.  The second group works the night shift and supports the US. I am doing some training with them so I have to work their hours.  Thien I leave at 4 am for the airport.  It will be a looooong day.  But I wanted to get home, so I packed it all in.

Thanks for being fantastic, cling to what you have been taught.  It will make you the happiest over your lifetime. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4