Joyce And Full Proof

Saturday was not as expected. We have been building countertops and getting ready to install them at Joyce Ponder's house. If you remember she has the tops that are totally water damaged and her sink had holes in it. So we went over to rip out the old and put in the new. Welcome to neglect and years upon years of nothing being done. It took nearly half day to tear out the tops, old cabinets that were water damaged beyond repair, and mold and plumbing problems. What an adventure. We did work through everything including not setting off her alarm system when they had run wiring through the cabinets. So we had to tear them down in pieces instead of just uninstall. What fun. But you can see the pic that it turned out OK. I was there all day and into the eve.  Then Ty and I helped Craig's move some furniture back after their carpets were cleaned. Long but good day in the end. 

I was also thinking of how we engage, or don't, in our callings. What do we give as our part? Do we provide full proof of conversion and service to others? Or do we do the minimum to get by and blame others for how things are going. Today I met both kinds as I worked with Ward mission leaders during 3 ward conferences. It made me think of the give full proof of your ministry scripture from Paul to Timothy. It's a good one to read again if you have not recently. It applies to our whole lives. Similar to an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Give it all you have and never look back. When you give your honest best, you never have regrets. I hope you all will do that each day. 

So an interesting experience in how face to face contact always brings a better result.     The Buzz has been getting really bad rust on the wheel wells. I found a while back a guy at oreilly auto parts does work on the side. It turns out his friend has the shop, he just helps some on weekends. So I gave him a call, and through pictures quoted $5-700 to fix it. Too much for the old car. But I would have liked to get it fixed since everything else is in great shape. So I arranged to meet him to look at it in person. He lives in Centerville (shops in north Dayton) so we met at Big Lots. After meeting face to face, and telling him I couldn't put too much into the car, he looked closer, saw it was not as bad as he thought, and poof, $350 for the lot, including buffing out the headlights so you can have full light again. He might even throw in the fix on the trunk lid where someone hit it in the school parking lot and took off without saying anything. Much better deal, much more to my liking, and perhaps I will have a body shop connection to get things done. 

Love you all forever, cling to your covenants. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Dork Of The Day

Thats me!  I totally boffed my meetings today. It was Middletown ward conference and so I was there to meet with the ward mission leader. He actually is newly called and so this was training also. I sure encouraged him to have daily contact with the Elders and Sisters and the whole time I was thinking of Kieren and Gavin. I hope you reach out to your WML daily even if he doesn't contact you. 

So, I went down early for meeting since I remember going to their ward council early recently. Well.....duh, it's a new year and they changed times. So I was thee for Springboro which I went to a few weeks back. Don't I feel sheepish!  I contacted him to see if we could me before the block instead of after. Lucky for me he could so we had a good chat and I salvaged some of my dorkness. 

I went on the way back and since I had been to all meeting in Springboro plus the training, I was going to head home, but it kept coming to me to go to our sacrament meeting instead. So I did and after I got to talk to Alan and Kent Bartholomew who were in town with the Borgersons. Everyone gathered since their mom is going through a very aggressive cancer and is not given long to live. It was really nice to see them and see how they are doing. Alan has a girl about the age of Skjelse and Kieren when he was our home teacher. I told her about how you did his hair and all. She was so shy but you could see she never thought about doing that to her dad. I told her she should do his hair soon with bows and clips and all good things. I think she smiled a bit. 

Kieren, I thought of you today. A sister in Springboro was asked by the mission leader when the next transfers were. She sheepishly but defiantly said "I don't know."  What it turns out is on the next transfers she goes home and has been there for 8 months. She doesn't want to leave. She comes home the week before you. It reminded me again thee is a time and season for all things. A time to serve full time, and a time to end that service and take the next steps in life. 

This week we get to take Skjelse to the airport for her to go to Hadley's wedding. It will be so nice. Other than that I never see you Skjelse. Last time you and Jeff left just minutes before I got home. I was totally bummed out. 

Mom and I went to the temple Friday night. It was so wonderful. I caught again new insights into the whole plan of happiness. Amazing how I still keep getting insights after so many trips. Especially since I keep pondering on the same small portion of the garden of Eden and the choices made there. We got home late but no one had anything so we slept in some. 

Valentine's was great with mom. I made her breakfast. Not much really but I tried to include lots of things she likes and I made the toast heart shaped. I am so blessed to have her. Good thing it is eternally and not just in this life. I just need an infinite number of years with her. 

I saw Jesse Mueller today and he looks great. Growing back his hair but it's still really buzz cut short. 

Kieren, I loved the story of you and the tie tying lessons. I am so proud you could remember that. 

Gavin, we look forward to hearing all about your progress these past few weeks and your new companion. 

Love you all forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

What I Learned About Fishing

So we lost power most of the night and still did not have it as we left for church. So the morning was a bit different. I couldn't use the Internet to look up stuff like I usually do. And it was pretty cold but at least not frigid. 

While at Sunday School (mom taught again) we were talking over Luke and the calling of the Apostles. 

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

Luke 5:4-10

As others were making comments I was caught away thinking about this in a way I never have before. This applies so much to missionary work. When we share the good we have with those we know, love or just met. As they were "toiling all night" on their own, in their own way, they got little accomplished. Even thought they were "professionals" and knew much, they were relying on themselves. 

But, when they listened to the Lord, when they trusted Him, obeyed His commandments, and sought and followed His way, they had so much they could not handle it all. 

So it is with us, if we will trust Him, seek His input as to what we do, and follow His way, we will be overloaded with good and accomplish so much more than we could on our own. 

Saturday was a special day it's the day I got ready for Sunday. (Did you sing in your mind??!!)

We had a plan to help Joyce Ponder do most of here kitchen repair/countertop replacement but on Friday night we went to buy the cabinets she wanted and they did not have in stock the ones they indicated online. So since we have to wait 2-3 weeks for them we did not go over. So I had time to do things here. I started with repairing the Uncle Larry dash were I could not see the needles in the dark. The backlight would work but I could not see how fast I was going etc when it was dark. I had to go buy some new special bulbs after doing all sorts of testing, troubleshooting etc. I had torn apart the dash cluster to the bare bones. But while doing that I also was able to fix one other light that was not indicating right so it was a bonus. Then as I thought I had it all fixed I noticed now the tripometer and odometer were now. It working!  Aughhhhhh. I was so frustrated. But simple things can sometimes be the fix. After playing with the trip reset button a few times it's working again!  So all is good. 

Then I worked to cut down the bar table so it fit the bar stools we have. I carved away free hand with the chain saw and it actually worked pretty good. I got it bolted to be secure and leveled and it looks great. You would be proud of the size of the mess I made with wood chips. Mom was dismayed!  But alas, I knew it wasn't that bad. 

I then turned my attention to finishing the shelves in the old grill area so we could have all the AV easily stored. I even made the bottom shelf a roll out shelf!  I used all the leftovers from Joyce's kitchen tops and pieced together a few places. But had just barely enough for the main parts. Mom likes it and so do I. In the picture if you look close you can also see the new "home" for the FHE chart. 

After that mess I figured I better clean up so I went to work. I invited mom to help me sweep but before she made it out I decided to blow off all the shelves and other areas that were so coated in saw dust firm the last few projects. So when she came out she couldn't stay. So I finished up and decided to go the extra mile. Look at the picture!  Proof that we can fit two cars in the garage again for the first time in forever. 

I was so exhausted but was driven to clean. So I washed the Mountaineer and Uncle Larry and got all the road salt, grime and general winter gross off them. I just used buckets of water. It was around mid 40's so not bad. And they look so much healthier. 

It was a productive day. 

I hope you have had a productive week also. Joy comes from engaging in work that benefits others. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Temples Are Amazing

Mom and I went Friday afternoon to the temple.  I continue to be pleased by the amount of learning that can take place even after I have been many times.  I am not sure how people an go once then don't go again for years.  I learn insights each time.  I learn often about the great plan, and why we are how, how it came to be, and why it was done the way it was.  I can't wait to be with Mom and learn all the rest that is still not filled in.  And then put it to work and create.  Is there anything better?!!

This week I traveled to Lebanon Mo.  I had to meet two people from China there that were gathering understanding on our projects.  I had to drive longer than usual since they were in St. Louis so I met them there, then a 2 1/2 hour drive to Lebanon plant.  It was a useful trip but two long days.  Wednesday we did not get tot he hotel until 12:30 and then Thursday I did not get home until about 10:30.  On the way home I did think it was funny that I talked to Brazil (Kieren's mission office) and then China (a person there we are trying to bring over to the US to work) within a couple hours of each other.  We live in such a smaller world than when I was young.

I learned a trick on math.  I showed Skjelse, Lys and Mom.   They were, um, OK.  But Ty loved it, go figure.  what is 5 X 5?  25.  What is 15 X 15, or 25 X 25, or 35 X 35, or etc.  Up until 95 X 95 you can figure it out in about 3 seconds.  For example 65 X 65 = 4225.  Simple.  The trick? It always ends in 25 (think the 5 X 5).  Then take the first number (6 in my example) and times that by the second "first" number plus 1.  So in my example 6 X (6+1) or 6 X 7 = 42.  Take those numbers, put the 25 behind it and 4225.  Or 45 X 45 = 4 X (4+1) = 2025.  Try it!

I hope you had a great fast Sunday.  We talked about it all week.  The FHE was on the fast, we had sections of Preach My Gospel study that were on the fast, and in general had lots about it all week.  It is a wonderful blessing.  I hope you remember to donate to help others around us.

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4