Service Counts

What a great week it was.  To talk to all of you live (or piped in via Skype and Face Time), 3 birthdays, Christmas, and I got to actually do something productive for my home teaching family.  It was great.

I really enjoyed talking with each of you.  Skjelse, I hope you get feeling better, and Gavin, I hope you are fading into normality again.  At least you got it over with early on your mission.  

Kieren looked so good and happy in her current assignment.  Like Mom's favorite video of new years, "sometimes you never consider that the future can be better than the past".  And this area has been that for you.

Gavin looked waaaaaay better than we feared after hearing how sick you were.  And I am so pleased at how positive you are through the good and the difficult.  And you Spanish is so much better.  You are speaking so quickly now I can't even dissect words or phrases.  Not that I knew what they were before, but I could tell the drift of many things.  Not now, just a blur of sounds.

Skjelse was too sick to have a lot of fun.  I hope that changes so you can enjoy the rest of your trip.

I went up to Craig's and am working on patching some holes in the walls caused by girl's flipping each other over in Kung Fu practice.  

Then I saw that Spencer's were looking for a plumber referral.  I had to check so I called him.  Turns out the water heater went bad the day after Christmas.  Not such an exciting thing to spend money on.  I finally talked them into letting me help replace it.  But they don't operate this way usually.  So they didn't even know what to buy.  So I helped them shop, then I removed the old and put in the new.  It had a power vent system so that caused a bit more issues since the new and old were not exactly the same.  Like always!  But after a few hours we got it back in, gas, venting, and plumbing lines back up and going.  We only had to move the plumbing and vent lines.  But the next morning there was a drip.  It was not there when we checked it all that night.  At least they had hot water again.  So I ran over, we emptied the pressure, and I was able to add solder to the one joint and get it to seal up again.  Now it is all great.  I saved them about $4-600 based on quotes they had gotten.  I was happy to finally be able to help them in a meaningful way.

Mom's birthday was great.  I had worked with Aunt Carol (s) and in the end Carol Baker helped me get a new sewing machine from her shop she works at for less than half price.  Cost plus 10% as a special Christmas to employees only deal.  This was an investment in "tools" for mom.  She has needed it for so many years and I finally took some savings I had for tools (jobs from the past that I saved the tool money for) and for her a high end Brother that does tons of things.  She LOVES it and has just begun to learn how to use all the features.  It automatically threads the needle!  Tons of stitches including decorative ones, and it will do lettering also.  I hope this is the last one she will need.  I think it will be.  More reliable, better quality, just a good machine to last a lifetime.

I spoke at the Dayton branch today, thanks Kieren for your input on the "for unto us a child is born" topic.  I used your thoughts as well as some study mom had done on referencing each word/phrase of Isaiah 9:6.  And for nearly each one I had mom's scripture reference, a conf quote/story, and for many a personal story to share and illustrate the point.

I like how on the "mighty God" I had learned that when Handel wrote the Messiah oratorio, the first performance was a charity concert and all the money was used to free people from debtor's prison in Dublin Ireland.  142 men were freed from that event.  I found it interesting that the very thing that freed the men was the story of Christ freeing us from sin and eternal despair.  

I have now removed the grill from the house much to my dismay and to mom's delight.  I have build a custom cabinet front over that area and it will be the audio visual cabinet.  I have figured out how to run electric to behind the TV on the fireplace and to have the HDMI etc. cables to go through the brick and via the attic to the AV cabinet.  So all will be hidden.  It looks good so far but still a lot of work to do.  That is with the new mantle and fireplace surround plan that mom has.  I am trying to do that this week.  I had planned to last week but ended up spending my time helping others. Above that area I am putting the old window from mom's house growing up.  I took the flowers out of it (that we had not used for 4-5 years) and did a custom frosted glass pattern.  Then we can use that for a dry erase board to note down scripture study goals etc for each week and what we want to remember.  I painted it black so it matches the cabinet front I made.

 Around the black metal wood stove surround we are putting tile.  Do you think we should complement the brick colors with additional "glass" type tans and browns, or go with a "pop" of color of some type?  I worry about the color because it won't change for 20 yrs, but the browns already dominate the area.

Love you forever, it was great to talk to you.  Keep working hard.

Dad

3 John 1:4

The Positive Power Of Social Media

Happy birthday to Kieren.

Happy birthday to Gavin.

Happy birthday to mom.

What a fun week.

This past week I spent most of my time facilitating special events for our company.  An adjacent group was starting some major projects and we have a process to gather the correct foundation starting points that help everything be better along the way.  Normally our development takes around 2 years so the right starting point and direction is important.  So I spent nearly 3 days helping guide them through that.  It was draining for me because I have to be front and center so much, but I think it helped them.  I got good feedback from my "customers" so it worked well for them.  Too bad I can't charge them consultant rates for my time (since I replaced the consultant they regularly use.)  I actually did the same for 2 days over in China for our groups there.  For some reason I am becoming a source for many groups.  Not sure why but at least it is another skill set to put in the bank for educations, skills and learning.

I got the motorcycle back over to the repair guy and he rebuilt the carbs again.  It is running again and I have trouble shot the warning lights etc.  So I think I know all the issues.  It runs OK, just have the plug fouling issue still to deal with then it will be great.  I think it is the choke plungers.  Now I just have to figure out where those are, what they do, and how to fix that.  So much for knowing what's wrong when I have no clue how to fix it.  But hey, it's the first step.  I rode it back home in the dark, on a freezing night.  Augh, COLD!.  It was biting being in that wind.  But I thought that would make you happy Gavin!  I do want it running well if we are going to have it around.

Friday was a wonderful anniversary.  Skjelse called from England where she is visiting and that was a highlight that was unexpected.  Mom poted a wedding photo on instagram celebrating our 25th and she got more likes and comments than ever before.  She is now a social media titan.  And by titan I mean tiny little mouse since we have like no reach on social media since we don;t build up any networks etc.  I think Skjelse is queen on that side of life!  We went to the temple and did sealings during a session that was at the exact time as our marriage 25 years ago.  The sealer was really fun, and made sure we got back to the alter one more time so we could celebrate our 25th.  He commented that he really enjoyed watching us at the alter as we looked at each other and loved each other.  Even he can see how much I love your mom!  We were overcome during the last couple we were proxy for.  I am just so blessed to have mom.  I am so excited that we have 25 down, and like 25 bajillion gajillion more to go together.

We then shopped for mom's recital snacks, some Christmas wrap up things, and cooked dinner at home which is what we wanted. During the recital I was the kitchen help.  Quite a turn for me but I did OK to keep things cooked and stocked, and everyone eating and happy.  

Ty was home sick and had to miss his laser quest lock in with science olympiad.  He still is not really back to health.  I feel bad for him.  But I have tried to be extra kind and helpful to him.

Mom had her recital open house and it went fantastic. It was fun to hear all the songs especially from Ty and Alysia.  It made me want to have all 5 of you here and playing songs you know on piano, brass, strings, or recorder.  It's always fun to have music ringing through the house.  You have brought much joy to me through the years.  Thank you.  The greatest joy is when you make choices that take us on the path back to Heavenly Father as a family.  I cling to the covenants we have in the temple that allow that to be a real event, based on our faithfulness.

Speaking of temples, last Sunday I had a temple revelation in Sunday School.  We were talking about Israel and how he got his name.  I have never dissected his name but it ends in ...el.  If you consider that he called the name of the place he had his temple experience Bethel, or Beth...el.  Meaning house of God.  And Israel meaning one who is with God.  The common thread here is ..el.  Elohim, or God.  And when you are with me in the Temple someday remind me and I can tell you more about that ..el.  It just came with great power and clarity that the "mysteries of the kingdom" and the eternal truths I have learned all my life are based on truth and that I again got a witness of the plan of happiness' reality.

So, to the point of the subject line.  This week at work I heard of a neat story that they were awarding to an employee.  Here is the true story.  A few years ago a group of friends were out in the Netherlands searching for metal scrap with metal detectors.  One of them came across what turned out to be the top of a mess kit from WWII.  They were in an area where the allied forces had been.  On this piece was the stamped name of the soldier that this belonged to.  They could have just tossed it as junk but instead took it home and tried to research who this was.  They got back to the Sidney area and spent two years trying to work with the city and county governments to find the owner or family of the soldier.  After two exhaustive years they still had no answer.  Then they decided to post this situation on Facebook.  In two DAYS they had come in contact with the family of the recently deceased soldier.  The son works at Emerson in the plant.  They arranged to send it to him.  And when Emerson heard about it they asked if they could help and they framed this piece in a shadow box and awarded it to the employee in a ceremony honoring the soldier (who had worked at Emerson also).  I just found that amazing how the social media can be used for such good in the world if we harness it for that good.  I like how Gavin included that in his last letter, Sending friends to the #sharethegift site.

So there you have it, more than enough to read this week.  I look forward to talking to all of you on Mom's birthday.

Love you forever, really, that came so true in the temple this week.  FOREVER!

Dad

3 John 1:4

Everything's Better With The Spirit

So I had a very loooooong week in China. The best part was getting home Saturday eve and being with everyone again. It was a productive trip but very long days. I spent Monday and Tuesday in Shanghai, Wednesday and Thursday in Suzhou, then back to Shanghai until I left Saturday mid day. 

When in Suzhou I was to conduct a training event with a large group there. But the person who asked me to lead that did not do so well in giving me the details I had been asking for. So until the very day before I had little to no information on what they were trying to accomplish, the goals, what the people had been training on before etc. so I tried to prepare but could only be generic in what I had. 

Then the night before I got a better email and had only a short drive to look through material and be ready for the next day. This is along with all the major things I was primarily over there for that weighed heavily on my mind. I was very nervous and was not sure what to do. That morning I prayed for extra help to just do my best in a way that would help the people. And during the training I got constant help. Not only did it go better that I could have hoped, afterwards one of the groups even said "I'm going to go back and do this with our group". And the biggest reason for the subject line is that they had tons of questions which is generally good. But sometimes they were really trying to apply it to their work, and I got momentarily worried I would have nothing to help them with. Just at that moment I had such clear and distinct impressions come I almost felt guilty. They were clear thoughts that related exactly to what they needed and I know they were an answer to my prayer. I even had to give a silent prayer of thanks they were so clear and direct. I truly got help this entire week. 

In Suzhou we went to a "hot pot" restaurant where the cooking is in a broth right at your table. As part of this place they had a "noodle dancer" come and be amazing with a noodle dough before it was put in the broth for cooking. It started out about a foot long. Then by the time he was done it was about 8 feet long. You can see part of it in the picture. It was really neat. 

At a layover in Tokyo we took off at near dusk. It was amazing and unexpected. It does not show well in the picture but I could see Mt. Fuji so clear out by the red sun. Totally amazing!

Thanks for sharing all your great stories and experiences. I really enjoy reading about the people you are teaching. And Skjelse, I don't get enough in writing!  Send more. 

Enjoy also the Santa Claus in China. They have no clue about it but are starting to post it everywhere just because they have heard about it. I thought it was pretty funny. 

Kieren and Gavin, let us know soon when you are going to be able to call on Christmas so we can plan our day around when you can call. It will be wonderful to speak to you. 

Gavin, Elder Barfuss is a zone leader now and I saw him at stake mission correlation today. He was excited to hear how you are doing. 

Skjelse, we want to hear all about the new job. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Learning Around The World

I never cease to be amazed at how I can learn things no matter where I am. I left Wednesday and travelled to Germany, I had two very good days of productive meetings with the team there and met my adopted nephew Matteo. He is Italian.

While I was there it happened to be the day that St. Nicolas came to visit the children. It was like a family work party of some sort. I only got to stay for his visit and then the taxi took us to the airport, but it was fun to see.

I was then off to a connecting flight in Paris (too bad did not have enough time to see anything, like usual) and then to Shanghai. I got here Sunday morning and then after stopping at the hotel for a short while I was off to church. I am beginning to recognize some fo the families and then during testimony meeting it seemed like half of them are leaving this month to move home. It must be hard for the branch.

But...to the point. Here is a shout out to Kieren. We read and discussed from Daniel today. Where it lists the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery and dulcimer. I had fun thinking of you trying to play all of them in your life. But i learned from the comments shared when they discussed Daniel and the lion's den, and king Darius. His words lead you to understand that he was himself in a pit of frustration and sorrow due to his actions. A pit like the one Daniel was in but emotionally and spiritually. It is much like the Savior and our lives. Due to our actions, or at times the actions of others, we are in a pit. And in the morning we come running to the Den to see if God has delivered us. And due to the atonement we know He always will if we just come to Him. It is enlightening to read Darius' words as he laments, worries and cannot sleep the whole night.

Then we discussed the talk "Stay in the boat" from last conference. Another hour of really good insights led fby the elders quorum president. We likened keeping on a life jacket to holding fast to your covenants. When you do, no matter the rapids, no matter the situation, you can be safe eternally and be able to cling to the covenants like you would cling to the raft or the paddle when going down a white water river.

A sisiter gave testimony that she recently received her call to the Quebec Canada mission. I thought if you Skjelse (you are 'almost" Canadian) and then she said she would be spanish speaking! So then I thought of you Gavin. She has studied French for 6 years and will be teaching in Spanish. But I'm sure she will get to use her French along the way.

I got surprised when brother Clark (SS teacher) invited me over for dinner with the young single adults for fast Sunday dinner. That was so nice. I went and it was very kind of them. It was neat to meet their family, another couple who is teaching at the university through the BYU Kennedy Center program (another nod to Skjelse) and they even have met the Bjorkman's. They also had all the YSA over included a YM who is just taking the semester off school and has just been travelling the US and other countries. I'm not sure where his pocket book is financed but he seems to be just popping around where he feels like it. He came to Shanghai on a whim. Didn;t think about it until Friday and then was here. But he was at church and was contributing great comments along the way.

They played some games and talked, and I got to know the family some. It was very nice to have a home feeling while away from home.

From here on out it beomces crazy schedule, long days of meetings and reviews, travelling to Suzhou and back, and then after meetings getting on the plane back home. I fly back Saturday so I can be home for the ward Christmas party.

I love you all, make good comments in your meetings, listen, ponder, and share your insights, they can help others to learn more of the gospel.

I hope Skjelse tells you her good news, I will not so she can.

Dad

3 John 1:4

Poconos Winter Wonderland

We have been having a great time in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania.  We got our timeshare here like many others, just kinda find something available and within striking distance.  But it's quite nice like the others and we had a very pretty hike yesterday.  We had quite the misadventure getting to the hike, for about an hour and a half, then on the way back got smarter and it was only about 10 minutes.  We had directions from the office but I am sure they did not check them and what they said.  It took us right past where we needed to be, down far past even where we went to church, then on to a toll road that we could not get off for some time, past where we wanted to be again, then ended right then and there on the toll freeway!  So we continued on, got off when we could, and backtracked around another way and found it.  It was quite the discussion about life as well.  Linking in all the analogies with God's plan for us, knowing our destination, listening to others voices, getting stuck with the consequences of our choices and having to work through them, knowing God's plan is the shortest distance back "home" etc.  It was fun while being frustrated.

When we were on the hike we saw the large bridge of the toll freeway as we hiked along.  It was really pretty to see the magnolia foliage all over the place.  We hiked to the falls, again getting lost on the way because this area has no clue how to make signs that tell you where you are going.  It took a .3 mile hike and made it into a 1.5 mile hike.  But it was way worth it.  As we found the falls we explored and found the main trail and where we "should have" veered off.  But without the extra we would not have seen the frozen river areas, and all that was beautiful with them.  

On the way back mom decided we should go on another trail.  Ty wanted to get to some other falls other hikers had said they went to, but when we passed a hunter and he smiled and said "bear season" mom was done right then and there.  Back we went!  It was a neat fall hike in the winter temperatures.

Church was fun at a small branch.  The lessons were all about being thankful for the circumstances we have.  To not find the negative but find the good in all we do.  We could have really been upset at the mis-adventure.  We could have whined about the cold.  But it was awesome.  We could have doubted our purpose instead of doubting the things that were distracting us form it, but we didn't, and it was all worth it. (Pres. Uchtdorf "doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith" came to my mind).

We will be in NYC Monday and Tuesday.  We hope to just have fun together.  And anything else is icing on the cake.  We will see Lissa and Trent and families and that will be really fun.  It's about 2 hour drive from here.

I loved Kieren and Gavin's letters this last week.  Totally fun to read and they got me laughing hard.  Your experiences are wonderful.  Keep sharing them.

Skjelse is taking care of the house and cat while we are gone and being so nice to do that.

Mom and I got invited by my boss to use company tickets to go to the UD season opener. It was a fun night and mom even used a sport analogy for her standards night talk!  Shocked us all. 

I got the best LOVE note in my lunch this week. I had to post it. It's me smile all day. 

Work your hardest in all you do.  And keep the right priorities which will bring you happiness.  Amidst the chaos of life, joy will be found when you center your life on the Savior.

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Mom is AWESOME

She did so well tonight for the standards night/community family values night.  They organized a wonderful night, with recognition of people in the community not of our faith that help youth uphold values.  It was neat to see.  And mom started it off with a short talk, using.....a sports analogy!  Pres. Valencia later said he was shocked and was not expecting that at all from mom.  It was really fun to see and listen to her.

Saturday I got up, go figure, before anyone else.  I thought I did well because it was after 7 before I got out of bed.  Mom and I loaded wood form the back pile to the house for a while.  I did about 1 1/2 hours, my app tracked I went almost 4 miles, and we have a huge pile at the house.  So we have had a fire since then.  Did we tell you Ty was making a fire a while back and when he closed the door a limb was in just the wrong place and the glass cracked from the tippy top corner.  It was sad we could not have a fire.  I found a place online to get glass for 1/2 what they wanted locally but it still was over $50 for the little piece of glass.  It is because it is a ceramic glass that can withstand the heat.  But its nice to have the fire again.

I went to a special training on Thursday night with a general authority who was visiting the mission.  They had a night meeting for bishops, ward mission leaders, stake presidents, and high councilors over missionary work.  It was really great.  I love hearing from them.    I like how he described that on your mission your time is not yours. You have consecrated it to Him. You don't have the right to use it as you want. You make that covenant of consecration. So you work your hardest and do all He wants of you, and then of course you see the blessings after you show your faith.

He then shared the story of Gideon.  How we got 52,000 to fight an innumerable host of Middionites.  Then that was too may so God had Gideon have them go home if they were afraid.  32,000 went home.  But he still had too many, so they drank when thirsty as a test.  Those that scooped it up were worthy to be in Jehovah's army.  There were only 300.  Then he used them to defeat the Middionites.  He then related that to God does not need many, He just need faithful, obedient, committed followers.  He has all power in heaven and earth, he doesn't "need" our power, He has that and will support us.  "I will be in your midst" He has told us.  He just needs us to be faithful and his work will be accomplished through us, with His power.

And interesting news.  The missionaries can now go with new converts to the temple to do baptisms at any time.  As long as they new convert has family file names.  That is a blessing for the new convert to have that continued support, and for the missionaries to go to the temple more often.  Is this the same in your missions? (Skjelse, no need to answer that one:))

Our gospel principles class today was wonderful.  It was on temple and family history work.  One new convert had all sorts of honest, good questions, another investigator getting baptized this week was so pumped about all this because she sees how great it can be, and another recent convert testified of his first visit to the temple and how moving it was for him.  He talked about one ancestor name where he just felt something he could not describe.  All in all it was amazing to listen to the call discussion.  The teacher did very little and just guided the discussion.  It was just perfect.

It was a really fantastic weekend.  I love being with family.  I just wish any and all of you could have been here for part of it, that would have made it better.  But in reality Skjelse is the only one that could have even possibly stopped by.  But I do love all of you and am so pleased with the good things you do.

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Christmas Week

Ty put up Christmas lights this week!  We did the string lights streaming down like a star again.  He did it from the tree out front and it looks great.  I thought he wanted to do lots of Christmas lights so I asked him what else I needed to buy.  He did the Ty thing and about as succinct as can be done said "I'm done!"  That's all folks.  But we have some lights.  He did put up the triangle of colored lights we have had.  So we are festive, and early!

Skjelse came by Saturday and it was fun to have her and Jeff over.  She was a huge help in looking at NYC and where things are for us.  We plan on going for one night when we are at the time share in Pennsylvania.  It will be a weird Thanksgiving but we will do the traditional on Sunday after we are back.

I had a stake missionary fireside tonight and did the I'm a Mormon theme again in Middletown/Springboro.  The people did great.  Kaitlin Nall played the piano and she just got back a couple weeks ago from.... drum roll, ......Brazil!.  And Brailee did one of the talks and she leaves in a little over a week to Mexico MTC then Ecuador.   Caleb got his call this week, to Finland!  Your uncle Bryce would be proud.

I learned a great comment form President Porter of the Ohio Cincinnati mission.  The day you leave your comfort zone and start to do things that make you uncomfortable is the day you really start your mission.  Because that is when you begin to develop real faith and learn to rely upon the Savior.

I really enjoyed Priesthood meeting this week.  Bro. Spencer led the discussion and we had tons of comments.  It was a great spirit as we discussed the need to lead the way in coming back to Heavenly Father but ensuring we love everyone and accept them as children of God.  Steve, the new convert asked a good question about how we can judge so much when the scriptures say to judge not that ye be not judged.

How would you answer that?  The JST translation came out and that is really helpful.  Look it up!

Work is nutso for the next few weeks.  Lots of major meetings and annual reviews and yet there are accelerating things going on with the regular work.  I am not sure how to keep up.  But whenever things go wrong, I step up my prayers and the calm returns, the things fall into place better, and it turns out better than I could have done it myself.

Kieren, does this make you smile?!

I sent this to Gavin, but it makes me smile so much I thought I should send it to all of you.

​

Enjoy the smile.  Look it up in the scriptures!  SMILE.  in 2 Nep I believe.  

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4