Primary Songs

All I need to know in life I learned in primary. That's a statement, but it rang true again today. Think of the primary song that says "some people walk away from you, but I won't, I won't..." Today Brother Jones gave a fan static spiritual thought at Ward council about a discussion he had at work. And how when we will take the time to get to know others that are "not like us" we begin to love them as we get to know them. Then he finished powerfully with the truth that he has Easton in his life (severe severe disability) and how although he is different he has been such. A blessing in his life and has changed his life forever. It's a great lesson of a lifetime. 

I have also been considering how no matter how much we try it seems we can do well to help some people while offending others. Please always look past surface behaviors, even if wrong, and take the long view when things are not right. Don't take offense at what others may do but realize what is most important eternally. The. Follow that along until you can settle out the prior challenge. You will find that life is much better when you can do that. 

We had a great Saturday when we slept in (to me anyway) and then we went up to the temple. I helped with baptisms for new converts who were there for the first time. It was wonderful to see many of them with their ancestors names and seeing them really feel the difference in the temple. 

Then we drove back eating Arby's. Mom had next to nothing, Lys normal, I had quite a bit and Ty had four and a half sandwiches and I just can't figure out how he eats so much. We hustled and did a bunch of jobs like getting the final wood for winter fires, vacuuming cars clean, bathrooms and vacuuming etc. many hands make light work. And the house and cars appreciate us. 

I am teaching the priests quorum next week, then speaking in Sacrament for Ward conference the next. I wish you could all be here to help. It seems like there is always a lesson or class to get ready for. It's constant but gives me good topics for study and pondering each day. 

The weather has been cooler but really nice. It seems that we are looking around the corner for spring. I hope it comes to stay in a few short weeks. 

Love you all,

Dad

3 John 1:4

The Power of Counseling Together

I had two really great experiences this week that taught me stronger the power of counseling with those around us. Church, school, family, work. When you work together the results come out so much better than when we think we have it all handled alone. 

First was early morning seminary.  We had a lesson going on, but the. One of them asked a deep question. And it was great that the teacher let the discussion go that way. The youth had lots of discussion and sharing of insights with each other. Everyone added great perspectives to a question of the soul. In the end I just commented that while I could add lots of my own thoughts, theirs were wonderful. And I only shared that I can't wait for them all to enter the temple to receive their endowments that they might learn at the greatest university where the very topic they were talking about would be opened up to them incredibly. 

The second was at BYD tonight. I had some great advice from a full rim missionary in the Hermosillo Mexico mission who suggested that I have some of the youth really share some favorite scripture and most importantly why it is favorite, and how that has impacted your life. Well tonight I took that advice and had all the seniors share. They did a remarkable job and each had powerful and deep comments to share with the rest of the youth. The. We had a few others share meaningful scriptures and why it mattered to them. It was a great discussion that we all learned from. Especially me as some of the thoughts shared caused me to think of other scriptures and how they are linked together in ways I have never noted before. 

This past Friday we were at the high school also for comparative religions class. The sister missionaries led the class and mom and I helped with questions. They spent about 20 mins on basic beliefs and then had the rest of the time open for questions. Each class had no problem filling the question time and really had great questions about beliefs, comparisons, doctrines etc. it was fun. And they voluntarily took 30 copies of the Book of Mormon with them as they left. 

I have been learning hard lessons that what ever we do, it is really beneficial to some, and to others it offends or turns them off. It's a weird thing to contemplate and try to do your best. Work, church, wherever. 

It was such nice weather Saturday and today. Yesterday I even washed all the road salt off of buzz and then today Ty rode the motorcycle down to BYD and back. Alas, it gets cold again this week. We are almost out of wood right by the house and we are trying to decide if we should haul more over or just call it the winter end of fires. But we like having them. The "comfort" factor is very high for all of us still here. 

Love you all forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Snow!

We finally am getting some. Enough to actually slide a bit on the road. Enough to have crazy Ohio drivers go so slow they make problems of their own. Enough to make it seem like winter. Enough to actually make it nice. 

But not enough to really make it difficult to get around, not enough to cause concern. 

To top it off they would sooooo call it a snow day tomorrow but it's a holiday anyway!  So no snow day. Of course the resort of the human world goes on in spite of snow. Work, government, medical, about everyone but the feeble education world. 

Ok, so my opinion once again is know.  Just bundle up and learn to drive in the snow. It comes every year. It's not like it's a surprise. 

We had such a nice valentines weekend. I got mom a special flower arrangement made by Sis. Hung. 

And then we went to a fun dinner together to spend time with my love of eternity. Saturday was so, well, strange. I had nothing and did close to it. Forget that I started at 7 with a PPI and then a temple recommend interview. But after that just so little. I cleaned the bathrooms to help out. Like, I make them dirty so I should clean them!  I tried to do them while everyone else was still asleep, but they did get up by 9 or so. 

I have been struck this past week with the power we can pull out of prayer when we really, earnestly, deeply turn to it. I also have been learning that we really are so in charge of our own life. If it's miserable, it's in our control, if we are challenged, it's in our control, if it's happy, that's in our control too. It depends upon our attitude, faith, and willingness to see the good in all we encounter. Peace amidst the tribulation is a gift and key to a good life. 

Ty found another family in family history work. He is doing so amazing. There are so many families and ancestors that are still to be found. It's amazing what you can find as we focus and search for them. And learning about them has been fun. 

Ty also made National Merit Finalist. It's amazing. What an honor for him. Congratulations. 

And Kieren recently got her ORCA grant. Which is really nice for her too. 

Skjelse and Jeff are in gypsy mode and moving around like its the fashionable thing to do :)

Ty got his wisdom teeth out and is a cubby bunny face. Do y'all remember doing chubby bunny?  It makes me smile. It also makes me remember Gavin and his long recovery. And then my horrific memories of dry sockets and never wanting that again. But I can also remember that it was that experience that gave me an undeniable witness of the power of priesthood blessings. It brought about an immediate change and relief after suffering for over a week with medical professionals trying what they could. But nothing helped until the blessing and then immediately the pain was gone and I rested for the first time in days. It's a cherished memory of He tells me #youareloved

Remember how good you have it in your life. I see and counsel with so many who have such a difficult time. We should daily remember the tender mercies He provides for us. 

Love you all forever. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Sick Stinks

Nothing like a good down bout to make you remember how yucky it is to be sick. I spent the entire week not doing well. I had a volcano in my throat and a nose to match. I wanted to lay down constantly and wouldn't you know it, each day at work had so many key things that I just couldn't miss. I was pathetic and on Thursday night lost my voice to boot. Today I really could not sing anything as it totally stresses by throat so I just followed along in a lip sync. 

Thursday was a really long day at work, and then we had set up a special meeting to go through the entire Ward list, name by name to determine what we know, where we should reach out, and where we should just let them be for a while based on their request. It's amazing what a Ward council can do to bring out lots of good info to make things better. We found that 25 people had moved, and another 7 had asked us not to come back. So we respect that but the rest we still continue to invite to come back to the spirit and peace they once felt. Any so far there is a significant number who do want to work their way back. Just need love, support, teaching and time. 

We got 3 of our 4 missionaries transferred out this week. And the 4th just came last transfer. So all new faces and learning. I sat down with them and walked through what the Ward is trying to do with missionary work, and expectations to live by. I also think I have come to realize that the mission president always puts really new missionaries here. We again have one of them that just arrived in the field. This is like the 4th one since I have been bishop. Maybe he knows we will train them well so they come here new. I don't know. 

On Friday I had some interviews and meetings but by about 1 I was done and exhausted. I was finally able to leave, drove home, and slept for 3 hours. Heavenly. I needed that so bad. Rest really does work. 

Saturday was hyper productive. Mostly small things but I. Got tons done. Including getting the motorcycle a workout in the driveway so it could get a few minutes of run time during the winter. I charged up the lawn mower battery, fixed an exhaust rattle on Buzz, replaced the glass hinges on Thunder, put away items in the attic and shed, did dishes, fixed the couch cushions that were sagging down and others I can't recall. And sat down tons of times in between to try and catch my breath since I can't breathe well. 

I gave the lesson in Priests quorum today, and I challenge you to do the same. When you come upon a decision this week, stop and think of the various consequences before you make the decision. And consider what is really most important eternally. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4