Sabbath Day

Today I had a great time leading a discussion with the youth in the Ward. The adults met for 3rd hour and covered Sabbath Day observance and I met with the youth to talk about the same. Just different angle. I really appreciated that Ty and Lys rally led out in helping to start the discussions and commented early and often. Thanks!  And so did I think over half of the youth. They had great insights and such a deep understanding of the doctrine behind the Sabbath and are far beyond just a lost of do and don't. 

As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught us: “It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.”

The Sabbath is really about becoming, and claiming our blessings that are part of the perpetual covenant of the Sabbath that He has put out there for us. There is so much we can learn as we study the Sabbath Day and deepen our commitment to make it a real restful and delightful day. 

I started with the history of how we got the Sabbath and then moved to Elder Keetch's talk/story about the horseshoe bay in Australia with great waves. Great for surfing. He encountered a group is US surfers who we frustrated and angry. I paused at this point to see who might remember this story from last conference. I was shock-ed and amaz-ed but pleased that every single youth, over 50, all shot up their hands. They are amazing. We know that the surfers didn't like the barrier where the big waves were. It had destroyed their vacation, or to quote a movie "it's ruining our lives-a" :). But then the local surfer showed them the Sharks feeding beyond the barrier, and what they first thought was ruining their fun, was actually the thing that was saving them from "being devoured."  See what analogies you can carry from that story to Sabbath Day observance. It sure helps us to see and know that #youareloved by Him above. 

Now look who I found at our house tonight!  See the picture. 

I spent the first part of the week in Orlando at the annual AHR convention. Worlds largest for air conditioning, heating and refrigeration. I have never been before so it was very educational. Tons of things outside of what I usually deal with so that was good. I saw Emerson people but also some that had worked for Emerson and now work for a competitor. Luigi Zamana. (Pic)

I also thought of Kieren when I passed by the Brazil entourage. (Pic)

My feet hurt so bad both days as I spent all day from 8-6 or 7 on my feet with no sitting down. Oh how they ached. I was Jealous of Gavin's Ecco shoes and knew they would be better. 

I loved talking to Kieren and hearing of her day, then trying to start taxes again this year. 

Then later I got to talk to Skjelse for a while and learn all about her plans and thoughts for work and career. This certainly is the decade of decision for you and Jeff!  So many choices so little time :)

Please recognize that He knows you perfectly and when we trust Him, remarkable things can improve our lives. I love a perspective I heard tonight as someone misread my handwriting. I wrote the infinite atonement, but they read the intimate atonement. How perfect they are together. For it really is all reaching and yet personal for each of us in the way just that we need. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Memories With Mom

Today after church and part of BYC I had to catch a flight to come to Orlando. There is a trade show, the largest in the world, and for the first time since joining Emerson I am here. It starts early tomorrow and continues through Wednesday. 

The thing that is fun for me is remembering trips here with mom and then later years with y'all. I remember with mom trying to find the church on Sunday and having to find "yan yan" parkway which turns out to be John Young parkway. And on the shuttle ride to the hotel we passed it!  I like coming here with mom when we have enough time to spend at the parks together. 

And who can forget Christmas down here, the snow globe at the security check in Dayton, and then the infamous birthday cell phone unveil and getting the "your all jealous I know" comment from Gavin. All for a slider phone. Wow have we progressed since then!  I remember all the park rides, the 327 times you rode Everest while we waited, and I remember with Mom the first time we did the "safari" ride at animal kingdom and we did it first thing in the day and so many animals were out and active and it was way amazing. 

We had a great meeting today for sacrament, and it causes me to reflect deeply even further on the eternal blessings found only in the temples, and the ways we can come closer to Christ. The. As I travelled I spent my time reading (I know, don't go get all comatose or Anything, I do read sometimes) about some things that will help me be a better father, bishop and counselor. Many parts of it ring very true from my life's experiences and other parts are insights I have not previously had. It is always good to continue to learn throughout your life. I have to do that at work also and gain new skills, lately especially in leadership, working with people, and in driving culture and behavior change. 

Friday and Saturday Ty and I went to the barn camp out. Gavin, we missed you. We had great food which most of you would just consider gross and camp out only worthy, but we perfect for the event, then we had the egg drop contest. I did a miraculous job of watching Ty build a unique structure that protected the egg perfectly and was quite ingenious. Many did petty well since they had so many straws to work with. It was funny how so many just wrapped the straws all around the egg in so many layers it could not help but cushion it. Ty's was much more engineered and he worked to have stress absorption at just the right points with a parachute of sorts on top. 

After that we had a great devotional on maki the choice to serve a mission and to prepare for the temple. I finished it up with thoughts around becoming vs. going. And really our purpose here is to become something, not just go, or know something. We want to become what He wants us to be. 

Saturday Ty and I got Bro. Leverett's snow blower going, verified the battery in the mountaineer was OK, and changed the thermostat in Buzz. It had been running too cold. Then we all worked to fill up the wood pile close to the house again. We had run out due to the cold we have had. 

I pray for each of you daily. Thank you for the good choices you make that bring me joy. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Apply This Unto Yourself

I learned a great deal this week from studying the account of the Savior on gethsemane from the four gospels. I was comparing them and likening them to our lives. In each of the first three I learned that when we have hard things, it is good and wise to surround ourselves with good friends, a support network. That is what He did. But even though we have a great support team, in the end we are the ones that individually have to face the trials. We have to change in ourselves, or overcome within. To gain the true strength to be captain of our souls. 

Then I saw in Luke a few other interesting things. When we decide to turn our wills over to God, when it is tough He will send added help. And then as it gets down to the worst, the best thing to do is to intensify our prayers. To plead more earnestly. Elder Baxter said it in this way, "prayer is ignored in the very hour it needs to be intensified."  Finally even though our friends may "sleep" they still want our best and try to be there for us. We have to recognize that people are pulling for us always. 

I had a great week. We had such fun for Alysia's birthday. Lys and mom shopped away while Ty and I shopped for about 5 minutes then worked on homework or other things to be done. It was great!  But we did have fun. Then we stopped for lunch and I happened to just take a nap while they continued. It was a great success.  I did not do much around the house as we spent time doing other things. It was kinda weird for me. Work was busy and we have some current major issues that almost made a guy travel next day from China, but we got enough info late on Saturday that we got ahold of him at the airport so he could cancel the flight before he got on. 

Ty did wonderful conducting BYD and wrapping up with a great message. He is a fine leader as many of you have shown also. I am so grateful for the good influences you are and hope you will always work to inspire people to be better. 

It is tax season again and I have been gathering documents and data to file taxes. I don't like it but like it at the same time. I like the challenge to get it all together and find the best savings I can get. And it plays so much into our budget each year as we make so many decisions about taxes, savings, witholdings, spending, retirement, and such. Such joy!  And mom does not experience that same joy that I do:). 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Winter Has Arrived

So I woke up early to go to bishopric meeting and at 5:30 it was 48 F. When Ward council started someone walked in with big giant flakes all over them. I was so excited. After all of church and my interviews I walk out and the car is covered with snow. It was a winter wonderland. Except that an angel had scraped my windows and made it simple easy to drive home. That was sooooo nice. And it was 23 F. So a 25 degree drop in just a few hours as the day went on. Amazing what weather can do. We just have no clue the effect it can have. But it is beautiful and I am glad to have some snow. It is now only 14F. 

I had a great day. Sacrament was the bishopric talking so I spoke again. I enjoyed having a prompting to share a story about me and my grandpa (TO Smith) and irrigation pipes. It only came to mind as I was sitting on the stand just before my talk. It related to the acronym PIPE which the covenants of the temple give us Power, Influence, Protection, and Endurance. Then I shared stories and doctrine that relate to each one and the temple. I then taught priest quorum lesson on relationships with our earthly and Heavenly Father and how we can improve them. I left them with Elder Ballard's challenge to work with their fathers.  

After some interviews I got done early and actually got a nap!  It was heavenly. I have not been able to do that for so long. Then off to the youth family history class and we had 27 youth plus about a dozen adults. All come of their own choice and even with the poor weather we had more than ever before. It was great. Mom is getting to be a wiz at it. I spent time helping a little, talking a lot, and then prepping for the BYD next week on the miracles that happen during new temple construction. 

This week I went back to work and it was fought to go daily for long days after I had been off for two plus weeks. It's so nice to be home. And spend time with mom and y'all. But it was good, I got much done, and got back in the flow of how much needs to be done and pushing so many things one more step forward. I also got some really nice feedback from my boss on my performance and a plan to give me development opportunities to grow more. Nice on one hand, and a sarcastic yipee on the other since that will mean more work to fit in. But it will give me learning and experience in aspects that I don't now have and will make me more prepared for things in the future. 

Tuesday the priests had a unique activity. We melted chocolate and dipped things in or made chocolate creations. They were pretty gnarly looking but fun. But it was a great tie in to a gospel principle. Enoch told us we all are like the various items we brought. All different, each good, all bring things unique. But when we dip ourselves in chocolate, or the gospel, we are just so much better. I thought it was a good and tasty tie in. 

Enjoy Ty and mom playing chess tonight. We tried to stream the CES devotional but it's having issues tonight. So we will try that later and did this instead. 

Remember that the Atonement has remarkable power. It enables us to say, 'twas I, but 'tis not I about our past shortcomings. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Wonderful Day

It was so fun to have everyone together on mom's birthday. Virtual and in person. It was nice to be able to have everyone together and to talk for so long. We had fun games and time with Kieren and Skjelse and Jeff in the house, and what a treat to talk to and see Gavin for so long via Skype. It was fun to hear all about the new things in the mission and the wonderful things you are doing. It's neat to hear about how people's lives are changing for the better as you work with them. That is how the Lord works, making things better as we will open our hearts and minds to following Him. 

We learned that the family room table is angry with Jeff and jumped out and bit him yesterday. We were playing Spot It and while we were all rambunctious Jeff got cut on one of the metal straps on it. Who would have thought, war wounds in Spot It!  

For Gavin's birthday we went up and helped serve a lunch to 220 missionaries in the whole mission. It was a fun time to see so many consume so much food!  And to see many that have been in the Ward and to talk to them again. Kieren and Ty took turns on the piano for mood music and we helped to restock food and water, and to take around dessert. Mom spent the whole time serving chicken and made her thumb go numb and it still is having issues!  But it was a fund time for a few hours that day. We thought of you lots Gavin. You are doing a great work. 

I have been feeling quite lazy this past week. I have been doing small things but mostly just helping at home, doing dishes, shopping for food and things, and sitting around. I did outdo myself on mom's birthday and made  stuffed pork tenderloin. I have not cooked like that for so long. It was not too bad but way beyond ramen or microwave anything!  It turned out well and mom loved it, so it was way worth it. I stuffed it with a sautéed filling of onions and mushroom with spices and seasonings. Then after stuffing it and getting it closed, I poured in soy sauce and vinaigrette so it soaked in as it baked. Add to the red potato smashers, green beans and rolls (mom the day before) and it made a nice meal. 

It looks like a standard Sunday afternoon for most of us. I know you will someday enjoy this activity Gavin. See Lys and the spaz cat. 

I love you all, work hard this week to serve others and find the joy in making others happy. 

Love you forever, Dad

3 John 1:4

Temples & Uplifting

I have learned much this week about how the Lord will uplift us and sustain us during difficult times.  As I have struggled with the cares of the bishop, I have turned to him over and over. As I do I feel continual steps upward even if at times it is slow in relieving the burden. But as I trust in Him He makes things happen that lighten the load and opens further understanding. I will always trust Him to help understand better how to act in His way so that I can be a better tool in His hands. 

Part of this also has been a ponderization of the temple and the blessings we get from the cove ants we enter into there. They serve as a protection, influence, power and enduring support that lifts and guides through every aspect of life. Things are brought into perspective, reminders are sustained that help me avoid heartache and difficulties, new impressions come that enable me to influence others for good, and I am sustained in my efforts to live according to the pattern He has revealed for lasting peace and joy. 

Sometimes our minds are so beset with problems, and there are so many things clamoring for attention at once, that we just cannot think clearly and see clearly. At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can “see” things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known.

The Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We will be blessed in all of our affairs. We will be eligible to have the Lord take an interest in our affairs both spiritual and temporal. (Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple)

This was another wonderful week. We had lots of time together and lots of fun. I even played games that I usually don't. I do have to clearly state that after an epic fail and Jenga extreme, i e first try toppling the tower, I then proceeded to outlast and was NOT the one to topple it after many rounds. I feel accomplished in life:)

Ty had the priest quorum over for New Year's Eve and we did not get people home and us into bed until after 2 AM. That is not my lifestyle, just to be clear. It about did me in. But everyone had fun and they downed 9 half gallons of chocolate milk, along with a host of food. 

Skjelse and Jeff are likely driving up to Portland right now, so I hope they are safe and use wisdom in driving, it's a long trip with little time for rest. 

Kieren was so excited to come back to BYU home to a clean apartment (because she was the last to leave and cleaned before she left). So amazing after a childhood of, say, less than tidy habits:).

Ty and Alysia are doing great at the family history class for the youth. Lys always finds ways to index hard batches and Ty continues to find family names that we take to the temple. It is also fun to read moms grandma Bjorkman's history and learn about her life. 

Your mom is amazing, she always has the right things to help me. Don't forget to take advantage of her wisdom and insight in your own lives. She and I are always willing to talk through something with you so you can make the best decisions for your life. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4