Week of Wonders

This has been a remarkable week. Really remarkable. 

First I have, yet again, increased my love for your mom. What would I do without her?  She is a pillar to me and I lean on her so much. She is irreplaceable. 

Next, I was privileged to give temple recommend interviews to a member of the temple presidency and the assistant matron. That won't happen again I my life!  

Then I had the most amazing day of training and inspiration imaginable. 

Last I had a wonderful Sabbath and found it yet again to be a delight. 

So today was wonderful. I have great councilor a who operate so close to the spirit. Bringing up difficult things and helping us work through them. Then church was really cool, great speakers and that is saying a lot when one of them makes Ty grin from ear to ear for a loooong time. It was fun!  Then. Had really meaningful interviews with many members for all sorts of reasons and it is a pleasure to work with them. Lives can change for the better when we just believe. And give Him a chance to work in our lives. Then tonight we had a great BYD where the youth shared all they learned from the special youth meeting the night before. They have great comments, great notes, and great attitudes. 

Yesterday was a day to learn and be tutored. I went from morning to night with a bit of break. I left at 8:45 and went to Cincinnati to attend a leadership conference. It was led by Elder Anderson of the quorum of the twelve apostles, and had Elder Gong from the presidency of the Seventy, Bishop Waddell of the presiding bishopric, and Elder Sinclair our area authority. Now add to that 2 mission presidents, and 3 temple presidents. Wow!  And I got tutored for 4 hours, then a break, then we went back for a special youth meeting in the evening. 

I have so much I learned and felt. It's just too much to write. If you want more let me know and I can send more notes. I appreciated the learning in my mind and heart of seeing the unseen. In the sense of the gift of discernment to see the unseen things people are not talking about in interviews. To discern the heart. In general we heard of passing the log of the gospel to the next generation, sabbath day observance, the law of the fast, and working in councils and quorums. You have had letters from me before on that last one!

We had about 30 youth from the Ward that went down to the youth meeting, and Ty invited a friend from science Olympiad to go with him which was such a great missionary success!

With that busy day, I got little else done this weekend. Mom and I did go down and help tear out a large entry and close of tile with the air chisel and compressor. It was messy, loud, and went nicely and quick for what it was. But we got it all out for them and it was so quick compared to doing it by hand. Go destroy something tomorrow (that is appropriate). It's great therapy!

I did finish the brake job on Max, well Ty did anyway, while I watched. He did great and we fixed it right up. Now we have done the entire car brakes. 

Use the atonement daily, it brings personal power. Remember the power of the infimate atonement. The more far reaching the effect, the more personal the impact. 

Love you forever, 

Dad

3 John 1:4

The Temple and the Atonement

What a fantastic sabbath today. It was Ward conference and I loved it. Early early day with daylight savings, but worth it. I got up at 5:30 and finished at 9PM. But a delightful day. Sacrament meeting was just myself and president Valencia speaking. I talked about the connection between the temple and the Atonement and he talked about sabbath day observance and the Atonement. 

I have learned much more about the atonement and the role of it from the learning in the temple than anywhere else. You use the atonement to qualify for the temple, and when you are in the temple you learn to use the atonement. It's a cycle. 

I also shared thoughts about both the redemptive side of the atonement which brings us back to whole, and the enabling side of the atonement which is for all of us to move us forward, to help us become what He wants us to be and knows we can be. 

I also shared the concept of the infimate atonement. It is both infinite and intimate. The more far reaching the effect, the more personal the impact. It is a wonderful doctrine that can really bring it home to in personally if we let it into our hearts. 

Then tonight we had our first ever OSYD. Optional Sunday youth discussion. I had just the priests and laurels and we had round table discussions. We reviewed a few of the questions from the recent face to face for YSA. I figured since they are there soon, it would be good. We had a great time, wonderful comments and insight, and good feedback that they want it more often. It was valuable to them. 

We had a really wonderful sacrament too. The priests did a remarkable job of bringing the spirit with that covenant prayer. 

Saturday mom and I went to the temple and, wow, is it awesome. I still find so many things to know, learn, understand, and discover. Mom helped me too in thinking about how God deals with us, and how we can deal with others. We picked up some family file names we had left before, along with the ones we completed ourselves. 

Right before we left for the temple, we had the missionaries and zone leaders over for a bishops vision meeting. We go through the results of last month, and then they get direction of what we need in the Ward to focus on. We really see that as they increase lessons taught with members present, they got more to sacrament meeting, better progress, and have more members will I to go out. As we finished that, we had lunch which the marvelous mom had prepared. Then when we ate, they wanted to hear our engagement  story. Mom tells it sooooo good. But we only got part way before time ran out!  

I was frantic as I tried to fix the front brakes on the car. Ty had one car at the school while he was at science Olympiad regional competition. (He did very well and team took first overall as well, state here  they come). The mountaineer takes so much gas I didn't want to drive all the way to the temple. But I had the car apart doing the front, and of course it has to have issues. One one side the caliper pin was rusted in a locked position, so the. Rakes would not work right. After beating on it, and working it with PB Blaster, I finally got it out.  It took like 20 mins just for that one pin. I had to run and get a new set of pins so it will slide correctly. I finally get it back together and start on the other side. I get it apart and then it's time to come in for the missionary meeting. I try to compress the caliper and guess what, it's frozen, locked in place. I sprayed it and went in. I called to get the part (not like I wanted to spend the money but.....) but no one has it in stock, and it would take 3-4 days to get it. Sigh!  So I do the meeting and eat. The. I run out while mom is finishing the story and surprise, the PB Blaster has loosened it enough that I can get the caliper to move a little. Not perfect but it begins to free up. Solved problem number two. Then on this side both caliper pins are rusted and going nowhere. I had to beat on this one even more. I put it in the vise to try and break it loose. Of course I finally did, but it was a pain. But replace the pins, and it's magic how it all works right now. I would have had to pay a fortune to get that done. But the parts were not much at all. I am so grateful to my dad for helping me learn so much. 

Make sure you believe inside yourself each day that it is a fantastic day. Then make it that way. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Counseling in councils part 2

It still continues!  I am amazed at work, home and church how working with, and seeking counsel from, others brings a much better result. At work I have a few issues that have never been crossed before, and I have been working with many to find the right forward. As I keep working things begin to clear up and we get a better overall result. I never would have come up with the whole on my own. 

And at church it's amazing how talking through and over things brings out new insights, clarity of the situation, and a better resolved feeling to move forward. Always seek the counsel of trusted people to help you along the way. They are invaluable. 

I had a great day, good meetings, good alignment with others on moving things forward, good spirit present, and great lessons along the way. I got to sustain new presidencies in Deacons and Laurels, award a faith in God in primary, give the lesson (short as it may have been) in priests quorum, set apart people, have great interviews with remarkable people including a returning prospective elder that has such a great family and is ready to work towards the temple, and then off to bishopric break the fast, youth family history hour (29 youth attended today, new record) and then home to watch over a sick missionary while her companion goes out with a sister in the Ward. Whew. What a day. 

I have studied a great deal about grace and the atonement this week. Really a remarkable thing to understand and to further strengthen our knowledge that we are never beyond His reach, regardless. I have read many talks, and some many times. Try reading Elder Bednars talk "bear up their burdens with ease" and recall the truck, the wood, and how "it was the load". 

Saturday we did not accomplish much on our own, but did take Lys to dance instruction with 5 friends and then visited Heather and Darrin while waiting for her. Fun time but Heather is really sick, so remember her. But I had a great day with mom and that was all worth it. 

I have been keeping the fire going a lot this week. I love the warmth it brings but it is getting warmer next week. So I think that is coming to a seasonal end. 

I got an assignment from the primary and found it to be remarkably difficult. It was to select 12 favorite scriptures. Have you ever tried that?  I thought I will pull a few then dig deep and thumb through to find 12. After I brainstormed a few I counted and I had 15. How am I supposed to limit it to 12?  Painful!  So, take my 15 and enjoy a special study session. I would love to hear your favorites. 

Love you forever, 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Helaman 5:12

Moses 1:39

JSH 1:17

Gen 1:26-27

Joshua 24:15

Proverbs 3:5-6

2 Tim 4:7

Mal 4:5-6

Matt 28:19

Luke 24:5-6

D&C 82:10

Alma 53:20

2 Ne 31:20

D&C 25:12

3 John 1:4

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