Yard Work

so we rose at 6 am and drove to share in house chores in Watertown. Evan and Rindy helped paint a bedroom and a bathroom; Mackey hung out with Eden; while Blair and i dug weeds and grass, edged, planted bushes, put in edging and mulched in a rain ranging from drizzle to drench. We left around 5pm so Evan could get home in time for a party. parker hung at home working on a school project with a group of guys. Good things - close enough to drive up to Julie & Blair's to help - that our kids are willing to help each other - that parker is motivated enough to do his homework - that Evan has a social life - Life is good

Connections

What a delight to receive an unexpected call from an old friend. Today while watching Parker's rugby game I was called by a long-time friend from out of the blue. Few things are more delightful and enjoyable. You know its a friend when you can pick up a conversation as if you had just spoken yesterday. The challenge to any reader - give someone an unexpected call. Delight someone.

Visiting the Grand Parents

So last weekend we visited the grand parents.

I had a few photos that it took awhile to get posted.

great visit.great parents.great kids. great to see the grand daughter at the pick up point.

Shooting Sports

What an odd scouting outing.

I am NOT an advocate of guns but I am an advocate of boys.

The stake planned and executed a varsity scout shooting sports camp out and I brought our group believing that scouts exposes boys to a host of activities that may develop into passions, hobbies, or careers; they do not necessarily all need to be things I enjoy or endorse. The boys were able to shoot 22s, shot guns and high powered rifles. (The later i really am more opposed to because they are primarily weapons.) { perhaps i should have boycotted the entire affair for as Brigham pointed out i am acting as an enealber} The earplugs were critical to survival.

We had beautiful weather, a great group of guys, and our Stake President gave a great thought / talk Friday night on being men of God and tied in navy Seals and Somali pirates - he had the boys attention.

How much is enough?

An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.” The American then asked the Mexican why he didn’t stay out longer to catch more fish. The Mexican replied that he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife Maria, and stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”

The American scoffed. “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA, and eventually NYC, where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long would this all take?” The American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then, señor?”

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich - you would make millions.”

“Millions, señor? Then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire - move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”

Feed My Starving Children

Feed My Starving Children is a wonderful program designed to provide nutritionally sustainable foods to starving children wherever they might be found across the globe. They have a facility in Brooklyn Park, MN where our Ward's youth have gone many a time to assemble meals of dehydrated chicken, soy, vegetables and rice; and sealed in a pouch and shipped away. And so our youth, our Naperville Ward, went tonight and worked donating time and enjoying it immensely.

jeanealogy - I am doing it my jeanealogy

The Recession Collection from Bloomingdales offers moderately priced denim (enlarge the image or click on the link those are the word they use). Value pricing just isn't for Walmart & Target anymore in a recession value pricing is everywhere. Start shopping.

Rock & Republic Recession "Berlin" Skinny Jeans in Stimulus Wash for $132

a funeral an uplifting time

Tom Kealy is a wonderful father, brother, and friend and clearly missed in his untimely early passing due to a struggle with cancer. His son Matt is a good friend of Blair's through high school and now as adults. And so Blair and I with many others attended his memorial service this afternoon. You have to love a service where they sing a song from the doobie brothers ( find here a garage band version - not the kealy brothers but - linked here).

It wasn't per say a religious service, though the first part had two songs from a church group in which Tom played drum; the one carried the thought of can people see jesus through you / me. Tom's life was full of humor and loving people; two fundamentals that should fill my life.

Lyrics to another song shared which I enjoyed:

* From the Beatles - the last song on their last album:

And in the end

The love you take

Is equal to the love you make.

and from Paul McCartney- a delightful song I was not familiar with - but now quite like

The End Of The End

At the end of the end

It's the start of a journey

To a much better place

And this wasn't bad

So a much better place would have to be special

No need to be sad

On the day that I die

I'd like jokes to be told

And stories of old to be rolled out like carpets

That children have played on

And laid on while listening to stories of old

At the end of the end

It's the start of a journey

To a much better place

And a much better place

Would have to be special

No reason to cry

(whistling)

On the day that I die

I'd like bells to be rung

And songs that were sung to be hung out like blankets

That lovers have played on

And laid on while listening to songs that were sung

At the end of the end

It's the start of a journey

To a much better place

And a much better place

Would have to be special

No reason to cry

No need to be sad

At the end of the end

a baptism In obedience

Michael's baptism was wonderful.

A great spirit attends ordinances and covenants;

it is especially sweet when it is done for obedience as is Michael and was Evan.

An extra blessing was being there with so many dear friends. it was great to catch up with so many at one time.

Web Cam

Just spoke with Sara and her kids on Dale's webcam via skype.

We have long been skype advoates but adding the web cam is great.

Got to get me one.