"2 mistakes" that can change your life

Well hello again! This last week was a doozey.But Julie was able to cover for me at the b-ball games and even a trip to the temple with Chris and Hannah on Friday. Chelsae attended Preference on Saturday and seemed to enjoy herself. There were 8 in her group and that made for some variety in all their activities. Many is good. Blessed is the man (woman) that has a quiver full of good friends. Looking back on our childhood, I wish that the gospel had more dominion in my life. As I look back at our friends in high school and even after our marriage, the 2 mistakes I made the most was #1 judging the outside of people and#2 using the world's definition of friend to gauge those around me. Even in high school there were moments when the Lord was reaching out for me but I stubbornly refused His attention. Did He give up on me? Nope! He turned me around with the smile of a beautiful woman. He knows me all too well it seems. Yup, I am talking about Julie Ann.
She was and still is my best friend and because of her my life has hope. She makes me look good.
She has an intuition that has helped me see the big picture and can out cook me any day. She is the greatest mom that any one could wish for and you kids better remember her always. After all that she gives of herself all she wants in return is a hug and a kiss.
Well now that we have that said let me add that the gospel is the center of your family and you will benefit the most if you allow yourself to be involved with His work. The adversary will bend your thinking. Just as the world will define friendship and love at times in the most coarse manner, you must be able to steer a straight course and not be swayed into strange paths or short cuts.
Enough of the soap box already. We love you all and pray for you every day. We as parents do not always know what challenges you are facing at this time but I'm confident that your relationship with the Savior will be determining factor in resolving your difficulties. He has never let us down. He will ever love you. No matter what !!

Bobcat fever

Tonight is the big girls basketball game vs Canyon Ridge out of Twin Falls. So Chelsae is "dawning" her cheer leading outfit, curling her hair and painting her face just in case there are any cute boys from Canyon Ridge, heh-heh. Mom is accompanying her tonight alone 'cause I've home teachers coming at 7:00 and a mtg. at 8:00. Our home teachers are J.Craner & S.Sanders who are working really hard to get their HT done. They are great and love our family. I learned many years ago that your home teacher's schedule is busy too and you really need to be flexible with the times that they would like to come. Matter of fact their schedule can be twice as busy considering the two brethren's time availability. So make it easy to be home taught and they will love to come. Show them your appreciation for taking time away from their family to teach you about the gospel. Home teaching and visit teaching are callings that we are never released from. With this in mind, maybe the Lord is preparing us for what is to come. Service to others & sacrifice things we want to do.

Bacon,toast and the " rough" day

Well that wasn't so bad thanks to Nickie so here goes. Had a rough day so came home and pigged out on bacon ( no pun intended ) and french toast. My, My what a difference a little pig fat can make. Can't wait for another "rough" day! Julie went exercising and worked off hers while Chelsae and I waddled around the house. We are a little behind in our reading of the Book of Mormon so we each re-committed ourselves to "kechup". Our family home evening was just reading the B of M and I then gave a spiritual thought given to me by Bishop Kleopfer on Sunday. He recounted a meeting he had attended on Saturday with a member of the quorum of the twelve, Elder Russell M. Nelson who was visiting our area. In the meeting Elder Nelson had you envision the baptismal font in the temple with the font being supported by the twelve oxen. Reminding us of the gathering of the twelve tribes of Israel. Elder Nelson reminded them that the oxen are each looking out away from the font in symbolism of the work that is needed done by us in this gathering of those tribes. What is the gate by which you enter into the path toward the Kingdom of our Father? Only through the gate of baptism are you directed toward His Kingdom. Each time now when I see the font I will remember this wonderful symbolism and of my responsibility as a member of His church.

We have been blessed with 4 wonderful children and now we have one more son and one more daughter through marriage and also 4 of the cutest grandchildren in the world. Julie & I have been married 35 years even though she looks 29. We hope that through this blog we can convey to our children & grandchildren our love for this family,country and the Father who made all of this possible. I do not type well so please be kind. And with practice I am sure this will improve. I'm encouraged by my daughters, Nickie & Hannah. So here goes. We as a ward we have been challenged by our Bishop to read the Book of Mormon by the end of May. This has been both a blessing and a challenged for us. But we will do our best. We have one child left in our home and she is a senior this year. She ( Chelsae ) is a cheerleader and a very good baseball player. She also can squat 300 lbs. and so you do not mess with her.

Julie is hard at work at the bus garage and by being a good secretary and a super mom and grandma ( a term she loves ) to those near and far away. She is getting younger while this old guy looks a little more bent each day. I work at a delivery service company as a truck driver and daily give thanks for our jobs and good health to perform there. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and love what the church has taught us to raise our family on this troubled earth. This has been a blessing that will pay off through out all generations.