Family History

We started an amazing effort to help the youth find names and do family history. We had 26 youth voluntarily come and we indexed and started to do family history searches. 6 youth started the work to search names and in just the first hour, with most of it being teaching about family search, we found 5 names. And Ty found 3 of those. Norwegian ancestors at that!  Heia Norge. 

It was fun to see so many doing the work and having fun together. We will be doing this each week as we take on the #templechallenge. 

It was a good day at church. Good messages on teaching in the home and in the church. And just good learning for teaching in general. We started the effort to plan and set goals for the coming year in Ward council. It sure is interesting how so many different perspectives can come out in just one Ward council. But I feel strongly what the Lord wants the wad to accomplish, so taking what He has provided, and listening to the Ward council, I will come up with a vision for the Ward, and then we will work goals to support that vision.  I know it leads us to the temple but still working on the rest. 

It has been a long week at work as there has been much to do. I am trying to do the regular and work with many different groups across the globe, but also I am undertaking a major effort to gather learning from our latest product launch so we can improve our efforts next time. I spent nearly 20 hours last week alone on that. And this week will be similar. Then I have to make sense of it all and develop action plans to make a difference. I also am preparing for a major 4 day seminar to help us map out the future condition we want to be in, and find the gaps compared to today. It is all taking a lot of time but we can't wait too long or the experiences of everyone get stale. 

I spent a chunk of Saturday putting together a table Ty is making for JP. He had all the cuts, and I put it together while he was spelunking in Kentucky.  The Priests quorum went down there Friday and Saturday. The table has to be just the right height to fit under her bar, and above the stools she bought. So we had to custom make the base. We will paint it black and then there is a black top to put on it. But we will just screw it down to the base so we just have to paint and then affix the top. 

You can see also that Ty is doing the same class as Gavin. Gavin did a catapult, Ty is doing the trebuchet. He is now looking for heavier weights. Gavin, he is even using e same base you did!

Mom is preparing for an amazing YW in excellence coming soon. She has done tons of work and it will be a phenom. She always does amazing things. 

Mom and I went on a date to see a home show house that was nearby. It was fun to see the trends and styles of what they are doing recently. We still really like what we have done here. 

Join Ty and Lys and search your ancestors so you can take names to the temple. I know Kieren also has lots of names she is working through. It's great to have us all working to unite family. 

Love you forever. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Fantastic Sabbath

This week I turned my world upside down. Or more likely backwards. I worked from home on Wednesday Thursday Friday only because on Tuesday night Wednesday night and Thursday night I worked third shift so that I could be on meetings with Asia.
I would be either on the phone from nine until one or so or I would get up at 12 or one and be on until four or five in the morning to be able to participate in meetings and get good information. It was quite crazy and kind of confused my body but not as much as if I traveled over there.  Each morning I would pretty much go back to bed after family scriptures and prayers and Ty and Lysi were off to school.  Mom would walk or do other things and I would sleep for a few hours and then I would get up but I'd be able to have a great and fantastic day all to myself was my best friend, mom.
Sunday was a pretty awesome day this week. We got to have President Porter of the Cincinnati Ohio Michigan come and he and his wife talked at sacrament meeting, then I met with him and the ward mission leader during the second hour and then he did a group lesson and discussion during the third hour with all the adults and youth. It was amazing how he could take the doctrine of Christ and be able to wrap it in for such a long discussion but kept everybody engaged and beautiful to have everybody learning new things.  I really like how he made a connection of the letter C going from keeping commitments to keeping the Commandments to entering and living covenants to taking upon us the character of Christ. It was a great progression as you think about how you go on the path from where we are now back to perfection and eternal life.
After that wonderful day I only had a few interviews and then I was able to come home and work on a bunch of follow-up things to be able to keep some new initiatives in the ward going. Working really hard on family history, the temple and missionary work. Everyone of them has really good people doing great things as well as reaching out to less active and teaching in the ward and the homes. It's really awesome to be a part of the work of salvation.
For bishops youth discussion we had a conference review but I had given handouts to all the youth to read a conference talk to be prepared to share some specific learning especially a quote that they would put on a poster and if they were going to make a conference poster.  They all did a really remarkable job and many of them shared some great insights and learning that they had had with the others. We probably shared about 15 different talks that came from Conference and amazingly enough none of them were repeated.  I got that idea from somebody I know that is in our family that happens to be serving in Hermosillo Mexico. Thank you Gavin for your great idea and it worked out really really wonderful.  I think it was a great experience for all of us that were there.
Recently I have also learned more directly the power of fasting and prayer. I was amazed as I had a specific topic that I was considering as I went in earnest prayer and started my fast and carried that into the Sabbath day how much I learned from that as I went through today. But the biggest miracle was how fast my request for help through prayer and fasting came to be as I received answers that very day. I don't think it's usually supposed to work that way but I felt very blessed and it was so amazing to be able to have answer so quickly and in such a strong way.
Whenever you need that extra help and support to be able to take care of a challenging problem or concern that you have, please remember that prayer and fasting are remarkable tools that you can employ at any time in your life.  You don't even have to wait for a fast Sunday.
Love you forever,
Dad
3 John 1:4

A Week Of Firsts

Wow, a week of firsts I have never done before. Not things I really want to have experience with but nonetheless I now have these behind me. So end of last week Cindy Johnston in our Ward passed away unexpectedly. I found out while attending a baptism and went directly over after. First time to comfort and meet with a family after a death. First time to be there before the coroner had done their work and carried away the body. First time to meet with and plan services for a member when all of the remaining family is not a member of the church. First time to coordinate with a funeral home, first time to arrange the dressing of the body. First time to conduct a funeral service, first time to give a plan of salvation talk at a funeral, again to mostly non members. First time to dedicate a grave. Many firsts but not so exciting!

Now it was also a first today when Kerry's brought over a treat for "clergy appreciation day" which I have never heard of but turns out to be a national day. That was fun!  

It actually was a good experience to ponder so much about the gospel and how it really influences lives. She was a member since she was 20 when she discovers the full truth of the gospel. She was very involved, serving in the stake primary presidency. And she was a temple worker and loved to be there. It was neat to witness of the eternal covenants made in temples and the way they fit into the plan to bind families together after this life. 

On Friday, the day of the funeral and burial, mom was so nice and came with me all day. But it started great as we went to seminary that morning and went to Lys class. Great day where I recognized new types of Christ in the Joseph of Egypt story. There were tons of them. We then had the comparative religions classes at CHS and we had the sister missionaries present. They did fantastic at summarizing our beliefs in a brief way and then fielding all sorts of questions from every angle. But the students were very respectful, inquisitive, and at the end of the day more that 30 took up the invitation to take a Book of Mormon on their way out if they would like one. And it was fun to help answer some of the questions. 

The work week was one with not a moment to spare. I really had meetings and commitments from 7 AM to 5 or after everyday last week. Good things. It just not a moment to catch my breath. And with the funeral, viewing, mutual, etc. I had no evenings either. Crazy!

Saturday was a day of rest. I slept in, yes I really did!  I did odd jobs with everyone or with myself during the day except for an hour for a PPI with president Valencia. Gavin, I rode the motorcycle up, it was too nice a day not to!  He is a great one. Always helpful to me. 

We cut up all the wood that had fallen in the forest from storms etc. all of us worked together and in less than an hour had it all cut up, broken up, and stacked ready for use. It will be nice to have the fire for the winter. We mowed, fixed, checked etc. rear defroster that had one line bad, a chair seat that had broken through, hoses put away, broken chairs etc put in garbage and just a good day of lots of little jobs to be done. 

Today was another amazing day. I had to get up to church a bit early to make copies etc because my executive secretary is out this week. (Skjelse, it's brother Crouch, they still miss you!). So I was up there at 5:45 to be ready for bishopric meeting, then PEC, then Ward council. I will say it again, councils are phenomenal. They bring out so many perspectives that help to create a better end result. I am so appreciative for them and all those who serve. 

I had one interview set when the day started but by the time I went home, I had 6 that "created" themselves out of nowhere. But they were very positive and lead to great results with improved lives. The minute we decide to want a change from something we have done wrong, that is the instant the Atonement has claim upon us to move us forward. 

I would send you my funeral talk but this is already long. I want the best for each of you. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Best Weekend Of The Year

I love conference weekend. Always a great chance to relax, focus on what is most important, and to spend extra time with everyone. We missed Gavin at the priesthood session but thought lots of you while there. I have cherished the times to be together. Ty seemed to have a stubborn streak with me and I think we both won. Neither wanted to choose where to sit!  So in the end we both made partial decisions. I while aisle, Ty which row, then I did the side. He made me laugh as we were trying to choose as time was winding down to the start. I love being with all of you. I find it fun and best use of time. 

I had a crazy week at work, a major review for two of the big programs to get ready and present the material to ban agreement to move on. But in the end it went well and we are progressing on. There is always more to do than can ever be done. But I just try to go after the more important and work down from there. And communicate when something can't be done or will be later so everyone knows. 

On Saturday we went to Tabitha Whites baptism and that was really nice. I enjoyed seeing the spirit affect those there. While waiting for them to dry and change clothes, I got pulled out and a sister in the Ward had passed away. She is the only member in her family. So right after it ended mom and I went to visit with the family. It was very unexpected and she is the first to die in their family even thought they are all older. But not real old so a surprise to them. The funeral will be late this week. 

We also get to do the comparative religions class at CHS this week. The elders and sisters will be leading that and we will be there for support and questions. 

I really enjoyed Elder Hollands talk on mothers and women. I hope you all listened to that. Mom is the best example. I feel like I need to simplify and center my life from the talks given. 

Here are two quotes I really liked:

1. If you want to be more than you are now, reach up not over. Elder Hales

2. The future of your faith is determined by choose, not by chance. Elder Anderson

Since we got sisters back in the Ward I have been trying to make sure we get them into the workings of the Ward as soon as we can. They have gone out with some sisters already and been here twice for meetings and dinner. It is nice to be trusted with two sets of missionaries again. We need to put them to work. We have plenty we can do. 

It was really nice to be with Ty at the recognition assembly for national merit semi finalists and commended scholars. 

Saturday was also the traditional pumpkin giveaway. We went early and it was fun to watch Lys wander and wander the whole patch to find the one calling out to her. Then we had to go back around the building so she could get a donut. She is fun to race and goof with. 

Work hard at doing what is not good, or even better, but what is best this coming week. 

Love you,

Dad

3 John 1:4