I Don't

Understand why y'all do these kind of things, but you do make me smile. 

This is a great week. Skjelse and Jeff came here (after seeing you just last week in LA) and Kieren arrived today. And to make a complete circle we get to talk to Gavin Friday. The whole family!  I love this season. 

We had a really cool meeting at church today. We had the piano and organ together for two numbers, both Christmas hymns, and it was awesome. I love the sound and the music. 

We then talked about the impact of music in our lives at BYD. Good discussion and ideas from the youth. After it was over it was so fun to hear Kieren, Ty, Lys and others make music jamming around on piano, trumpet, and sound blocks of all kinds. It was just fun lively Christmas music jazzed up. 

I got back from China, and then the next work day had people from China here to do two all day meetings with them. It felt like no break. But still good meetings. Then I had two jam packed days to try and fit in everything in before the long break for Christmas. But I am off work now until the new year. 

This is a wonderful week as well because we get Three birthdays. Kieren tomorrow, Gavin Tuesday (we will celebrate for you :)) and mom on Friday. Paaaaarty!

I am looking forward to a break from the norm this week. A chance to spend more time here with everyone. 

Ty and I on Saturday replaced the muffler on Buzz since it developed a rust hole at the weld joint. I had ordered it a while back and then Ty helped cut the old one off and install the new. We really had to work the old flange as it was badly corroded and we used the grinder to clean it off. But it seems to have done the trick. I love saving hundreds for a short amount of work. 

Remember the purpose of the season we are in. Take time to give a gift to the Savior this week and become better than we are today. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

There's No Place Like Home

No matter where I go, or how exciting the opportunity sounds, in the end there is no place like being at home. It just brings comfort and peace. And with home being where the heart it, we can make our home nearly anywhere. 

As I travelled home from China this week I was just excited to be back where I love to be and am loved there. I had a few more really long days working there and I am pretty sure they are glad I am gone. One day we worked straight from 9AM until 9PM without any stop even for a break or lunch. We just ate while still working. We had so much to get done and so little time. 

But on the way home I had an exciting time of being able to see Skjelse and Jeff!  I realized I would have a few hours layover in LAX and so Skjelse and Jeff were kind enough to take time and come get me and we had a great time. Then they dropped me off back at the airport to leave for home. It was a red eye flight to Atlanta then home. 

We had the Ward Christmas party Saturday and it was nice. Ty was part of a men's group who sang and then he sang again at the adult session of stake conference. It was fun to hear the bass line coming out so strong and he was the only one on that part. 

Stake conference was really nice. I was struck by the repeated messages of inviting others one by one and also on sabbath day observance. We were given the opportunity to reflect on what we could do differently in our lives, what one thing could we change that would help us individually or as a family to improve the sabbath day. 

I am looking forward to a Christmas break from work after this next week. There is a lot to do before then so I will work hard to make it happen. Kieren and Ty have exams this week so good luck and study hard. Listen to grandma smith and work hard, study hard, pray hard. 

Love you all forever,

Dad