Projects

What ever happened to working hard? I don't mean hard physical labor; I mean taking pride in the work we do, being willing to go the extra mile, and understanding that no gain is ever made without effort. It seems that everywhere I look, people increasingly have a sour attitude about being asked to do anything beyond the bare minimum. Everybody wants a paycheck, but nobody wants to work hard. My wife is the anthesis to the work avoider. She delights in a project. She loves to plan and ponder and design a project almost more than doing it. She loves to ponder and solve a problem. She teaches that skill and that love to ponder and work to our children. She is the ultimate hard worker.


If you know Rindy you know she loves the power of the paintbrush. As such she and Mackie have attacked a refresh of Mackie's room. New paint, new linens, new pillows and a new look indeed.

Hard work is the only thing I know of that can make you thinner, richer, more knowledgable, and happier without costing you a penny. Find a project to do. So let's not be afraid to put in a few extra hours, go the extra mile, go out of our way to solve a problem for someone else, push a little harder in our workouts, or do more than we're asked.  Success will naturally follow!

Christmas leftovers

Ever find those holiday photos that you forgot to post.
Happens to me all the time.

Here a a couple from this past season:

She loves her Grandma

Larry, Rindy's brother visited from England

Brigham and Evan delighted us with their visit (note upside down tree)

Mackie's favorite present from Brigham
(you'll have to ask her)

the big kids

More christmas leftovers

So Rindy is competitive with my Dad and Honor in finding the most obnoxiously fun Christmas presents for the masses. Though I think screaming howling monkeys will always be my favorite; these nurf, air propelled rocket launchers are a close second. They were the Christmas eve 'actively engaged' present that all from any age could enjoy and play with - Merry Christmas to all and to all a fun night. The one was an attempt to capture Dean in his humble attempt to get grandmother and the other children of a greater age equally entertained.

Favorite quote of the day

Our minutes together are longer than your minutes


Anna explaining the joy of one night with the one you love in Joyeux Noel.

a movie that is at once a tender love story, a tragic story of the waste of war, and an uplifting christmas story

Let's not forget those church activities

The storm was Friday and by Saturday afternoon the roads made for easy driving so our Stake AP/YW activity went forward as planned. It was a late afternoon into early evening activity : Pasta with the president for all 12 -18 yr old.

We started with dividing the 130+ youth into four large groups and rotated through: Balloon Basketball, Ping Pong Football, Giants, Dwarfs and Elves along with Human Sculpture. Great interaction and fun for all. Next hour was a break for a pasta dinner; followed by another hour of the stake presidency introducing the 2012 Mutual Theme Arise and Shine Forth.

Staying the course the Church has assembled terrific videos which I recommend. The song below is a catchy tune I enjoy.



Sunday night was the 100th Anniversary of Seminary. Rindy, Mac and I went and in candor it started fairly flat. Elder Packer spoke and was seemingly waxing nostalgic of the fun facts and  tantalizing tidbits regarding the early seminary classes;  then he turned a doctrinal corner and it was a fantastic meeting

Some of  what he said in my haiku, cryptic notes:

• The youth are growing up in hostile, enemy territory if you can discover how the holy ghost operates in your life then can operate safely in enemy territory
• Will not have evil befall without being warned by the Spirit before hand
• Don't go where can't hear the Spirit
• Pray - you are never alone  - you can make sure you are never alone by having the spirit
• Be clean - 
• Avoid defacing body, don't be embarrassed by those who would tease you regarding virtue
• Gender is sacred, don't act on temptations - always have a choice - have agency- deny self of all ungodliness   ; key word is discipline - root in disciple of Christ; not too late repent and use atonement, repent again until get control - understand the atonement
•  Resist temptation by asserting agency
• And he will remember your sins no more - Isaiah 1:18
• Don't squander years of seminary instruction
• Entitlement isn't there you must pay the price - there is a price for happiness - obedience
• Doesn't matter what you do what matters what you will be
• Do not fear the future
• Spirit will guide you

We live in a wonderful time. Grateful to have the opportunities we do and the fullness of the gospel and the spirit to guide.

SnowStorm

Chicago is certainly proud of its weather and tremendous storms. I simply think none of them have lived any further north in their lives to capture a larger perspective of what a big storm really is. All week we had the hype concerning the big storm brewing and destined to drive us to a halt. The day of the storm people were leaving work before they even arrived in anticipation of the 'big event'

The lot started thinning as soon as the snow started falling; and continued as the day wound on. By 4pm you can see what was left. I needed to stay late to get a project done; and by the time i left there was alot of snow but easy driving. made it home in normal drive time.

By the time we got around to shovelling they had plowed our streets dried and the 6-8 inches were fluffy and light; so me with the snow blower on the driveway and my partner with the shovel on the walk made an end to it in no time. Snow Storm - pffft.

Side note , though no photo. I had forgotten how bright the white snow makes the night. totally enjoy that.

WWDTM

Well, if I have to define the initials for you- well, that really is a shame,but for the sake of clarity I will: Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. A weekly current affairs radio game show on NPR hosted in the Chase Theatre in downtown Chicago. Most Saturdays we either take a break from chores, or during a late breakfast, or driving to an activity will turn the radio dial and listen in as they entertainingly present a recap of the weekly news.

Rindy, ever the good present buyer, bought tickets for a live recording. I like the show, so maybe I am predisposed in a positive way but truth be told it was a great present. It was a snowy evening, but a relatively painless drive downtown , straight in and right on time. The crowd was younger than we anticipated but looked NPRish.

Paula Poundstone was one of the three guest panelist and she is hilarious. The show clipped along and I was surprised that they recorded as much content as they did to get one hour. It flew by, we had a great time, and chuckled again on the Saturday the played it. The program date it aired was January 14, 2012. If you listen closely you can hear my gentile chortling in the background.

Tru Confessions

I have long been both a Disney Channel fan and a Shia LeBeouf fan; and the combination of them- well works well for me. In 2002 when the movie, Tru Confessions came out on Disney TV I remember it moving me to tears and reflecting deeply on our Evan and our Evan experience. Not being able to sleep tonight , I turned on the Disney channel to see what was on - and voila Tru Confessions. I quickly wrapped myself up in a blanket, moved to the basement couch and TV and stayed up and was moved once more. Just finished but thought I should post Among the most moving scenes is as follows:

Eddie: It’s not fair.
Tru: What’s not fair, Eddie?
Eddie: I wanna be done being different. I wanna be the same as everybody else.
Tru: Everybody’s different, Eddie. Not just you.
Eddie: No, no, Tru, I’m real different! 
Tru: You know what, you’re right. You are different. But if you were just the same as everybody else, you wouldn’t get all that special help in school, you wouldn’t be allowed to rollerblade in the house and you wouldn’t be the amazing brother that I love. 


If you want the essence of the show watch





I'm grateful for our Evan
grateful for his incredible mother,
grateful for his loving siblings,
grateful for Stuart J and all the other Stu's of Evan's life
grateful for the blessing the journey has been.

A Complex Man

Just because I’m a married man
Doesn’t mean I don’t need love
Just because I have calloused hands
Doesn’t mean I don’t wear gloves

Just because I think a lot 
Doesn’t mean I don’t say prayers
Just because it doesn’t grow on top
Doesn’t mean I don’t have hair

Just because I’m always watching sports
Doesn’t mean I don’t like to go to a ballet
Just because I don’t talk too much
Doesn’t mean I’ve got nothing much to say

Just because I have two left feet
Doesn’t mean I hate to dance
Just because I don’t argue much
Doesn’t mean I can’t take a stance

Just because I didn’t call today
Doesn’t mean I will be late
Just because I rarely take a chance
Doesn’t mean I can’t tempt fate

Just because I wear blue jeans
Doesn’t mean I don’t own a business suit
Just because I live modestly
Doesn’t mean I have no loot

Just because I write simple poems
Doesn’t mean I don’t like to read Voltaire
Just because I didn’t shed a tear
Doesn’t mean that I don’t care

Just because I may appear one way
Doesn’t mean that I’m that man
Get to know me just a little better
And you’ll see how complex I am

(I've adapted a borrowed poem slightly)

Some images from a few years ago

Merry Christmas 1968

I was looking through some old files and found an old photo instead.
It brought a quick smile and a warm heart.
Love the guy.