Fathers and Sons Outing

This last Friday night/Saturday morning was the annual Fathers and Sons outing with my ward. I've gone myself since I moved into the ward, and I've taken Jayson ever since he was born (he was about 9 months old the first time he went). The only year I missed was last year, when I was extremely sick.

How did it go this year? Now that's an interesting question. My son almost fell asleep in the car on the way up there. I awoke him when we got there. He wasn't interested in his dinner (with the exception of the chocolate milk and the toy. Yes, I went through the drive-thru on the way up there. Maybe we'll cook something up there when he's older). He sat in front of the fire, but looked like he was about to fall asleep and possibly go face first into the fire. Since I don't worship Moloch, I'm not particuarly interested in feeding my kids to the fire, not even on their worst days.

So I had him help me get things from the car, and I started to set up the tent. He didn't want to run and play. He wanted to sleep. So I set up his sleeping bag inside the tent and bade him good night.

I enjoyed the remainder of the evening. I had some nice chats with some of the other brothers in the ward. I had two smores, which I didn't need, especially considering the contents of my dinner. I also brought some extra chocolate and graham crackers to share with others. I've mooched a couple of times over the past years, and figured it was my chance to repay the good karma of others. The fire was very warm, as one of the other attendees had brought a large stump to add to the wood supply in the fire pit. The presentation by the bishop was also very well done, and a good reminder of the unique and great power that I have been given. Most celebrities do not have the power that I have been entrusted with, and it was a good reminder for me.

Then came bedtime, and things went steadily downhill. I couldn't find a comfortable position. The ground seems to be harder than it was when I was younger. It rained, which got our tent and some of our stuff wet. Also, Jayson didn't sleep particularly well. A couple of times I was about to fall asleep, and he started talking to me. After going in and out of short sleep blocks until about 4:45, I finally got a decent block.

We woke up late the next morning. The ward was preparing breakfast. Most of the pancakes were gone, but I grabbed one for Jayson (along with a couple of pieces of bacon) before heading off to the restroom. When I came back a few minutes later, all of the pancakes were gone, which didn't make me very happy. We packed up and came home.

So a mixed bag? Certainly. But I will be back next year. Assuming the tent has dried out by then. :)


P.S: I was just kidding on the last sentence. I set the tent up shortly after we got home, and it was bone dry later in the day, along with everything else that got wet.

Visiting the Mouse

It's been over a month, but I'm finally posting some pictures from our recent Disneyland vacation. Yes, I know I said it would be a few more years before I returned, but we decided to go again this year. To make things more interesting, we drove. A few years ago, driving from Orem to California would have been daunting, but after last year's drive to Minnesota and Ohio, it seemed like a walk in the park by comparison. :) We also went solo for the first time. On our other trips, we have gone with at least one other family member or friend.

The drive both ways was uneventful, other than rain and wind on the way down. The weather was beautiful, the complimentary breakfast at the hotel was tasty, and the kids were reasonably well behaved. I was also grateful for my cell phone (a fairly recent purchase, yes I know, now I can join the 20th century), which made it very easy to split up and then meet up later.

Some of my favorite moments were taking Esther and Jayson on a roller-coaster for the first time (both of them loved their first ride, Jayson didn't enjoy the second time around), a brief solo excursion to Tommorowland one evening (including catching part of the fireworks show in the park), and meeting up with family one day and a close friend on another day.

In a nutshell, the trip goes far smoother when the kids are a little bit older. :)

Here are a few pictures from our most recent adventure:



Lizzie enjoyed riding the "ponies."



This picture of Lizzie is almost identical to one taken of her big sister Esther four years ago.



What is this Mickey Mouse operation anyway? ;)



Esther near the carousel in Fantasyland.



Jayson eagerly anticipates the day's adventures.



Lizzie caught in a moment of spontaneous Disney magic and happiness. I had just finished taking another picture while looking the other way. I turned around with the camera in my hands, and was able to capture this priceless photo. Sometimes you get lucky as a photographer. :) I've always felt that the best shots are the candid ones.

Hey, How is Everyone?

October 2009? Ugh! It goes without saying, but I'm not the best at updating my blog.

I'm really not sure what I will be typing tonight. Sometimes things are random like that.

The kids are getting bigger. Esther is more than halfway through first grade. She is learning more about math, reading, writing, and spelling. In fact, her spelling is at a third grade level! Not bad at all. Jayson will be starting kindergarten in the fall. I'm hoping he will be using the potty regularly by that point. Lizzie is three and a half, and is getting much better at using her words to express herself.

I'm very very tired tonight. Not quite fully bone-weary, but that probably has more to do with the short nap I got this afternoon. It has been a very busy 2010 so far, physically and emotionally. In some ways, it has felt like a prolonged ride in a whirlpool (the river kind, not the warm water in a tub kind), or spinning through an endless void. I'm hoping that things will calm down a bit over the next week or two. A couple of the bigger pieces that have kept me spinning have been resolved over the past week or so, so I'm crossing my fingers.

Something that I wish, that I'm not very good at. It seems like most of us put on our best faces, our superman capes, and our fake smiles, and pretend that everything is all right in our worlds. And we don't allow other to help us. I wish that people could be more honest with themselves and with others, and that we could accept and give help to each other. It would make things so much easier. I'm not suggesting that we always stay despondent and down in the dumps. But it would be nice if we could ask for the help that we need, and have others there willing and able to provide that help.

Well, the old grey matter is shutting down, so I guess that I have written what needed to be written. I hope it is helpful for someone other than me. If not, well, I guess you get what you pay for. :)

Reflections from General Conference

It's been an interesting an thoughtful two days. I've learned some important (and sometimes difficult) things about myself over the past two days as I've listened to those the Lord has chosen to lead and guide us, and also the whisperings of the Holy Ghost in my heart.

First and foremost, I feel the need to repent. No one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. The disposition to commit such is not in my nature. But I have not been as dilligent as I should have been. I have allowed anger and fear into my heart and countenance, thus blocking the Spirit from operating in my life as I would like. I have also become casual in my scripture study and prayer. All of these things have affected me, as well as my family.

Feeling the stirrings of repentance, I have pledged to have morning prayer and improve my evening prayer, and recommitted myself to daily scripture study. These two things, prayer and scripture study each day, make a huge difference. There is a noticable difference when I am doing what I should be doing.

I have also apologized to my wife and kids for my poor behavior over the past little while. I have been angrier than is needful, which has lead me to snap at my wife and be a mean Daddy (not in the helpful sense of "mean" either - you parent know what I mean).

I can also bear testimony of the power of the Lord to sustain. About a week ago, we had friends visiting. There was a night where several members of both family were sick and throwing up. I was already on my last legs physically and emotionally, and this rapidly drained my meager reserves. At about the time I ran out of energy, something remarkable happened. I was able to walk back and forth, and up and down, to do what was needful. I was able to be gentle, kind, and loving. In a literal way, I felt carried. The Lord always keeps His promises, and He is always there to lend us strength when we need it.

That is the other thing that I took home from Conference. Even though I have not lived the commandments as I ought to have done, repentance is always available. I can begin today, tonight, this very moment to do the things that I should. I can humble myself and pray for forgiveness. I can listen more carefully for the quiet whisperings of the Spirit, which can direct me in all that I do. For this, I am grateful. And it is available to all, no matter their race, gender, skin color, or age. The Lord is truly no respector of persons, and all are under the umbrella of His love.

Wisdom from a Two Year Old

Wisdom can come from the most unlikely of places. I've often found that my children can be unusually wise, as they are as yet untainted by the world. Today's wisdom comes from Lizzie (although she will be three in just over a week, she still qualifies as a two year old for now). My eldest had just finished her prayer for dinner. Then comes this wisdom from Lizzie:

"Jesus gimme hug. Jesus love me."

I assured Lizzie that Jesus would indeed give her a hug if He were to appear. And I know that Jesus loves Lizzie. I'm gratefully that Lizzie knows this too, and at the tender age of two (almost three).

Our Latest Family Member

I'm a little late posting this, but better late than never. About two months ago, we became the proud owners of a mini Rex rabbit. His (her?) name is Dash. Susie originally bought him, but he has quickly become the family pet. He has brought great joy to our family with his antics. I have discovered that this particular rabbit is friendly, curious, clever, and more than a little bit mischevious. Not unlike a toddler, really. :) Also, he does not like being picked up. Although I can empathise with that. I wouldn't want to be picked up by some alien twenty times bigger than me either.

This is the first time in my life that I have had a pet. It is very enjoyable, as well as a decent amount of work. But it is very rewarding when I am petting Dash, and he flops down onto his side next to me. Or when he gives any available skin on my arm or leg a good washing with his tongue (a rabbit way of saying "I like you"). It is a bit frustrating when he quickly figures a way around a poorly placed gate and gets into places he knows he shouldn't be. And it is nice to have another family member.

And there is one big advantage to owning a rabbit versus raising children. I can put the rabbit in his cage if he misbehaves too much. :>

Anyway, here are some pictures of our new addition.



Dash chills out in his hutch upstairs



Dash enjoying lunch



Dash likes having his head rubbed



Dash checking out Esther



Lizzie and Esther giving the bunny some loves

Weary

Why is it that I am still up when I know I should be in bed?

Why do I know that a thing is wrong...and then do it anyway?

Why do I sabotage my own efforts to change and improve?

Why do I make so many mistakes and cause myself and my family unnecessary heartache?

When will I do all the things I know to be right, letting go of my fear of the unknown?

When will I cry and let the pain out instead of storing it inside?