God's Love

Another remarkable week.  I got to visit with President Ward this week at work!  He is over the development program and so annually I visit to discuss progress and plans for the next year.  This is the first time with him so that was fun.  It was also enjoyable to catch up on his plans to retire by Bear Lake where we had such a fun summer trip.

I had a few frustrating moments at work also, when people agree to one thing in meetings then you find just a few days later they are doing just the opposite.  I guess life does not change much as that happens throughout life.  I get challenged by it and have to work hard through prayer to just realize everyone is trying their best in their own way.  At home, at church, at work.  

This is like a discussion we had at ward council.  Among all those that are not like us, (everyone is someone else's weirdo!) we have to realize that to God, we don't look so different.  We all have a long way to travel.  Then as we discussed I had a great feeling come over me that built greater love for all those we were discussing like God's love for them.

Then later as I was doing interviews with the youth, I had such a strong feeling of how he loves all, in their various states, but is especially pleased with those that love Him and put Him first in their lives.  It was a remarkably strong impression that those that sacrifice and work through challenges to draw closer to Him, really bring a strong spirit and He is so pleased with their choices.

I finished putting all the trim on the back door and it is looking really good.  Kieren helped me finish the inside and even Alysia helped to cut off the expanding foam I used to seal the cracks.  

We had a great time at Skjelse and Jeff's before they left.  We will miss them.  They made great kabobs and i even had the last few leftover today as mom brought them to me at church so I could eat during the day.  They were delicious.  Well done Jeff and Skjelse.

Ty competed this week at Science Olympiad national tournament.  He is remarkable.  He and partner took first place in WIDI for the entire nation.  WOW!  The Centerville team took 4th overall.  They did so well.  

Mom is so good to me, from making me kjotteboller for Syttende Mai today to loving me enough to just want to be with me at Seminary graduation even though Ty is away.  I love being with her.  Everywhere we go is a great time with her.

I though so much about Norway today. I loved the parades, the graduating class that makes up the main part of the parade, the Bunads on men and women, each with their distinctive designs representing where their heritage is from.   I loved seeing the way the architecture is done with the buildings right along the waterfront.  And especially in Trondheim to be close to the ward members and their families as they had graduating seniors and how we tried to help them prepare their minds to stay close to the Lord as they moved to the next stage of life.  We worked so much with the youth under the direction of the bishop there.  It was a remarkable time to build a program to help the youth find strength in each other and to build upon a foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I wore my flag lapel pin proudly today.

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4