Susie and Hannah Sing on Christmas Eve

 

Joshua & The Others

There are so many rules about publishing things with children, and don't dare say a thing about the other three youth in this lovely quartet, of which Joshua is a part. The microphone on the left had really high reverb and sounded very distant and tinny, so the balance was way off. Still, it sounded good, especially for a junior high group!

Of Lice and Women

Dearest, here is an account of our family adventure this evening, with some background.

Susie felt that Esther had lice and took her to the doctor. Her head was constantly itchy and irritated. Then Rachel started having symptoms. But, the doctor said Esther did not have lice. 

I think medical professionals should take mothers more seriously.

Three Videos from Our Really Big Shew, June 18, 2022.

"Shew" is my attempt to have you think of Ed Sullivan. If you didn't think of him saying "Really Big Shew", then you are probably younger than my parents. 

On the Monday evening of June 18th, members of our stake did a patriotic show for the residents at Apple Village Assisted Living. I thought the idea behind the program was terrific. We had slides to go along with the music. At one point, slides of all the Veterans at Apple Village were displayed.

Unfortunately, many people came down with Covid right before, so our family did some extra filling in. I was grateful we could do it!

I must add that the Apple Village audience is the best audience performers could ever hope for. They shout out their appreciation for every number. Many of the residents spent time with my children, asking them questions and complimenting them and flirting with my girls. Simply wonderful!

Building On a Sure(ly Beautiful) Foundation

 I really, really like this:

The Past, Present and Future Walk into a Bar. ...

 ... It was tense.

I just wanted to share some things that I didn't want to lose.

Following are some of Andrew's thoughts about his mother on Mother's Day. Our bishop asked him to share some experiences or stories. I appreciated his thoughts and was very grateful he took the time to do it. FYI, I found one part typed up a little weird, so I edited it.

One thing that always comes to mind when it comes to Mother being Christ like, but that is probably hard to share over a pulpit is her patience while I was going through medication changes, mental health issues, and side effects of medications. We were changing medications for eight years (from third grade to my junior year) and never during that time was I where I knew she wanted me to be. As humans we always have a "fix now" mentality with problems, and I can't imagine it was different for mother while I was growing. But she was patient, and gave me time to learn and grow. Even during the hardest times she always had the faith and hope to not stop trying. Something interesting at Zone conference that was said but very true is a missionary in a talk said, "We all know faith without works is dead, but faith without patience is pointless". I know it was hard for her, but mother keeping trust in Jesus Christ and his careful handiwork on me followed Christ's example, and helped us both grow more then a quick healing would have.  

A Turtle Walks Into A Bar ...

... and orders a glass of water. The bartender complies, and the turtle takes the water out on its back. The next day, the turtle, looking stressed, again walks in and again orders water. This repeats for a few days. Finally, the bartender asks if the turtle would like a beer or something instead. The turtle snaps back, "Not now! My house is on fire!"

My dad told me that joke today. I thought it was a good one to get back into bar joke titles.

I am sending this email because I wanted to tell Elder Benge a couple of things but then realized I might want to let everyone know.

Junior High Merfolk

Rachel and Joshua were part of the terrific cast of CDJH's The Little Mermaid (junior version). Enjoy the video of the full show and some photos.

Appropriately Worried

Susie and I went to the Dr. Strange movie last week. Isaac and Sam were right: it is really a horror movie, and meant to be much scarier than typical Marvel fare.

But, Susie got a kick out of the emergency exit door:

The door was not panic-stricken. Nor was the door oblivious to danger. It was just alarmed. Well done, door!

Quotes Worth Pondering, +

The following three quotes got me to pondering, and I felt they could be the basis for a good lesson or speech. And then I added my favorite demotivational poster that just makes me giggle every time I see it.

Courage is knowing it might hurt, and doing it anyway. Stupidity is the same. And that's why life is hard.

- Author uncertain.

The people made worse off by slavery were those who were enslaved. Their descendants would have been worse off today if born in Africa instead of America. Put differently, the terrible fate of their ancestors benefitted them. 

- Thomas Sowell

I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. 

- Mark Twain

Some Family History Combined with Travel History

I started this post almost a year ago. Maybe I better wrap it up. "Memorial Day" mentioned below would be May 31, 2021.

John Walker & Lydia Holmes

For our family night lesson Sunday evening we visited the grave marker for my maternal great-great-great-grandfather, John Walker, in the Farmington Cemetery:

Lucy gave a sweet lesson on a Memorial Day theme, and I shared some things I learned about John Walker.

May the 4th Be With You!

 I just had to share my wife's Grogu-inspired breakfast this morning.

(This post does not in any way endorse the eating of children.)

Footless and Fancy Free Verse

Quick updates/thoughts.

Older children might remember my friend Keith Stearman. We spent a night at Beck Locey's Bear Lake Cabin once with Beck's family, and Keith and his wife, and my previous boss Ken. Keith is a large man. His wife is from Italy. I remember we sang for the group the evening we were there. Keith owns a software consulting business, and has been leading and assisting us at work. 

Over a year ago (um ... I think it was even before the pandemic shut down) his foot became infected. He doesn't talk about it much, but I believe the infection is resistant to antibiotics, and flesh-eating. Having Type II Diabetes (like me!) and poor circulation in his feet makes it worse. He's been visiting a doctor twice a week to fight this infection: cleaning, trimming away dead material ... .

Until today. He had his foot amputated. Say a little prayer for this good man, if you get a chance.

Ship Shape

 Lookin' good:

Staying Dry (and Out of Jail)

Some reporting for today to share with Elder Benge and everyone.

Our stake president shared this TED talk by the late Clayton Christensen, and I recommend it for two main reasons: 1) it contains remarkable thoughts on what success really is and it is measured, and 2) I think it is an excellent example of how to incorporate the Gospel in our everyday lives, sharing messages of salvation to the world on a level they understand. Elder Christensen was a brilliant professor at Harvard. He spoke to my department at work a few years ago, and it was the most career enlightening talk I have ever heard.

Susan's great uncle, Grant Keeler, passed away this week at the age 103. We attended his funeral in Layton. I don't know if any of you older children remember when we visited him. (He lived near the "Surf-n-Swim" water tower near highway 89.) His son spoke and mentioned some of what was in the aforementioned video, and said that at the end of his class, he would ask his students three questions:

Ancestor Stories in "Saints"

I am posting this for family that may be reading the blog.

My ancestors, William Holmes Walker and Nicholas Paul, are part of the story starting in chapter 12 volume 2 of Saints. For anyone wanting to learn a bit of their family story, check it out!

William Walker is my great-great grandfather. My great-great grandmother is William's fourth wife, Harriet Paul, daughter of Nicholas and Harriet Paul.

There are likely other ancestors and relatives that are or will be mentioned.

City Called Heaven

The Central Davis Junior High choirs concert was March 8th, and Mr. Campbell had the students in District Honor Choir and State Honor Choir perform some of their numbers as quartets or octets.

Rachel had the solo for City of Heaven. She tried out for it with the District choir, but wasn't selected. (The selected soloist was really, really good, as I'm sure you would assume based on Rachel's fine version.) I thought this number was the highlight of the concert -- although Joshua sang with the boy's choir and did a fantastic job.

Indiana Will Be Blessed

It happened. We dropped Elder Benge off at the Missionary Training Center in Provo today. The drive was fine until we came to Orem, and then it started to snow. We had lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Benge and then crawled up the icy road to the MTC where Elder Abney (heading to Ecuador soon) greeted us and escorted Andrew into the building.

Two Fine Young Missionaries

I am very grateful for these two wonderful young men.

Monday, Elder Nielson is leaving for Dallas, Texas, as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On his heels, Elder Benge will enter the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday and then head out to Indianapolis Indiana to serve.

I love these good men!