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

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