Temples Are Amazing

Mom and I went Friday afternoon to the temple.  I continue to be pleased by the amount of learning that can take place even after I have been many times.  I am not sure how people an go once then don't go again for years.  I learn insights each time.  I learn often about the great plan, and why we are how, how it came to be, and why it was done the way it was.  I can't wait to be with Mom and learn all the rest that is still not filled in.  And then put it to work and create.  Is there anything better?!!

This week I traveled to Lebanon Mo.  I had to meet two people from China there that were gathering understanding on our projects.  I had to drive longer than usual since they were in St. Louis so I met them there, then a 2 1/2 hour drive to Lebanon plant.  It was a useful trip but two long days.  Wednesday we did not get tot he hotel until 12:30 and then Thursday I did not get home until about 10:30.  On the way home I did think it was funny that I talked to Brazil (Kieren's mission office) and then China (a person there we are trying to bring over to the US to work) within a couple hours of each other.  We live in such a smaller world than when I was young.

I learned a trick on math.  I showed Skjelse, Lys and Mom.   They were, um, OK.  But Ty loved it, go figure.  what is 5 X 5?  25.  What is 15 X 15, or 25 X 25, or 35 X 35, or etc.  Up until 95 X 95 you can figure it out in about 3 seconds.  For example 65 X 65 = 4225.  Simple.  The trick? It always ends in 25 (think the 5 X 5).  Then take the first number (6 in my example) and times that by the second "first" number plus 1.  So in my example 6 X (6+1) or 6 X 7 = 42.  Take those numbers, put the 25 behind it and 4225.  Or 45 X 45 = 4 X (4+1) = 2025.  Try it!

I hope you had a great fast Sunday.  We talked about it all week.  The FHE was on the fast, we had sections of Preach My Gospel study that were on the fast, and in general had lots about it all week.  It is a wonderful blessing.  I hope you remember to donate to help others around us.

Love you forever,

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

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