"Go To Bed Better Than When You Woke Up"

NY Jets head coach Robert Saleh said something like that in the middle of an interview I heard today. Terrific! I think I may cheer for the Jets for the first time this year, with Zach Wilson and Tristan Hoge on the roster.

Other thoughts:

• Susie left for a little get-away with her sisters and mother this morning. Our children are watching the neighbor's child, Clara, as well as doing their work, going to the school, etc. All while I am here. So far, so good!
• In our sacrament meeting recently, Ramsey Hennis, referencing Jeffrey R. Holland, reminded us that "God loves broken things." He then expounded on the different ways God fixes us. Wonderful.
• Rachel gave an excellent impromptu talk in sacrament meeting a few weeks ago. Andy and Renata Johnston assigned to speak, and they have decided that, biology aside, that our younger children are their grandchildren. (Why not? We love them!) Before the pandemic, Rachel would periodically sit with them during the meeting, so, as Andy went up to the dais, he invited Rachel to sit with he and Renata. Rob Crown then stood to announce the meeting and, not sure why Rachel was up there, assumed she was speaking as well and included her in the line-up. Rachel spoke about a family night lesson we had, discussing lessons from the pandemic, and bore her testimony. It fit the meeting extremely well. And, Rachel set an excellent example for our ward!
• Rachel is class president for the YW that are 15 and under. Lucy is the class president for the older YW. Joshua is in the Deacons quorum presidency. Andrew is 2nd assistant to the Bishop. And, I just found out Rachel was just barely released and will be officially released Sunday.
• Andrew is the president of the Chevaliers singing group in high school. He was recently awarded a presidential scholarship to Weber State. Excellent. And yet, somehow, he was not even admitted to BYU.
• Lucy is trying out for the musical and Excaliber/Chatelaines this week. Good luck! Her voice amazes me.
• Someone said something about canker sores, and I, using amazing empathy, said something like "I love those!" Esther replied, "Yeah, they are a mix of a kangaroo and dinosaur." That was quick!
• We recently started playing racquetball a couple of times a week. I am dead after every excursion, but I love it. Joshua especially is picking it up fast.
• I never wrote anything, as I recall, about Joshua playing flag football last year. His team did well, and so did Joshua. Like me, his feet aren't super quick, but once he gets moving he goes fast. He had a couple of nice deep catches for touchdowns.
• Joshua's sixth-grade teacher is Bailey Ondricek, nee Dryer, Hannah's friend from high school. 
• Joshua's voice is changing quickly, so I expect he will be singing baritone/bass in middle school choir next year.
• Rachel is first chair violin in orchestra.
• I have this quote from some kind of Nielson family get together, and I think it might have been Charles, referring to vices in the last days: "Sex, drugs, money, brownies and rock-and-roll".
• Looks like I will only have to go in Riverton to work once a week once the pandemic is over. Things are changing, and I love much of it!

That is a few highlights I remember from the last few months. Now, today, make sure you go to bed better than you woke up this morning.