Spark of Divinity

I admit that I made all my kids posters assignments when they were in school. I remember Jeff came home from work late one night and I told him to just paste a few things on the poster here, here, and there to appease my conscience and make it seem like he had done some of the work. Heidi was sitting in English class receiving a poster assignment when the teacher pulled out a couple of posters to use for examples of what she wanted and Heidi realized that they were “posters that Jeff and Nikki had turned in years earlier that neither one of them had touched.” I justify my involvement because I think making a poster for an English class is not relevant to the subject and it is next to impossible for a teenager to find the money, transportation, equipment, and supplies to make a really cool poster and I just really like doing art projects.

There is something about color and design that is exhilarating. Even as a child having a box of Crayola crayons and a blank piece of paper was an adventure. An art easel with a tray of poster paints and one of your fathers old shirts was a delightful gift. Colored pencils and magic markers are implements of shear pleasure. A sewing machine, material, and quilt block patterns are stock for hours of therapeutic escape. What is it about creating something artistic that is so healing? Why would we spend tedious hours piecing a quilt when Bed, Bath and Beyond sells comparable ones for ridiculously low prices? It is the divinity in us.

In a talk entitiled, “We are Creators” Mary Ellen Smoot said, “I marvel when I think of this world so rich in beauty, so perfect in function. This world was created by Jesus Christ under the direction of our Heavenly Father. Creation is one of the characteristics that defines God. He takes matter without form and molds it into stars, planets, and solar systems. “Worlds without number have I created,” He tells us.
Brothers and sisters, we are children of God. Shouldn’t we be about our Father’s business? Shouldn’t we be creators as well?”
Well that’s a lot of rhetoric. I just wanted to post this picture of the quilt I gave Heidi when she got married. She puts it on the guest bed and when we go down to stay with her I remember how much I like the colors and how much I enjoyed making each block.

Jordan had to read 25 books when he was in the fourth grade. We did it together. Here he is with book report posters which we obviously did together. Isn't he cute in that gawky, geeky, awkward, school age stage.

My Happy Place

Painted on the arched doorway of a bowling alley, in the basement, of one of the multi-million dollar homes that we toured in the St. George home parade, was this saying "EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A HAPPY PLACE". With yet another snowstorm pelting Cache Valley causing gray, cold, wet, and blizzard like conditions, I decided to visit my HAPPY PLACE today and bought this darling serving stand. The rush of epinephrine (or whatever the body releases under such pleasant circumstances) as I first discovered the stand, decided to buy it, and then made my way to cache register, will be tonic enough to hold at bay any bouts of seasonal depression, I figure for about a half a week, when I again will have to go back to the DI for another fix.

Pottery Barn quality if you ask me! I think it would look so classy with some of Nikki's cupcakes, or lemon tarts on it but they are so not on my diet. Hence the fruit.
These jackets are two of my favorite and most prized purchases. The photo doesn't do the colors justice.The Logan DI. My HAPPY PLACE:)
This donation bag from the 1940s features the beehive, symbol of industry for the Church Welfare plan, as well as one of the stated goals of the Desert Industries; "Help others to help themselves." Photographer: Holger Marius Larsen.

One of the primary purposes of the Deseret Industries was "to set up, in so far as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with."

I figure I am helping myself and not being idle when I support my local DI:)

The only thing that would have made the day better is if my DI shopping buddy Karla (my sister) could have been with me!

The Greatest Generation

Only a dad with a tired face,

Coming home from the daily race,

Toiling and striving from day to day,

Facing whatever may come his way,

Glad in his heart that his own rejoice

To see him come home and to hear his voice.

Only a dad, but he gives his all,

Smoothing the way for his children small,

Doing with courage so stern and grim

The deeds that his father did for him.

These are the lines that for him I pen,

Only a dad--but the best of men.

My dad is 82 on February 14th. Happy Birthday Dad!

My Dad has always been handsome and a member of "The Greatest Generation". He has been a tireless worker. He was a school teacher and later a principal but he always had part time jobs like selling shoes, World Book, putting in sprinklers, and pulling up milk in the grocery stores. And he kept an immaculate yard and bountiful garden without any weeds. He has spent countless hours in Church service, serving in some pretty high profile positions.

One thing that I have always known in this crazy world of ups and downs is that my Father loved my Mother, they loved God and kept his commandments, and that they loved us children. I felt that so sure and strong. Their love and commitment to Christ's teachings was as sure and constant as the north star (to coin a phrase from President Hinckley). They created a stable home of solid values when social mores were being buffeted by the Beatles, flower children, drugs, free love, Vietnam, civil rights chaos, and a miriade of other evils that subtley and boldly infiltrated our culture during the 60's and 70's. I had the unequaled blessing of knowing who I was and what God expected of me (Fiddler on the Roof).

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How beautiful are the words of our prophets. When the Proclamation on the Family first came out, I was a little surprised that they would speak out on such common everyday knowledge. But I have been sheltered and have come to realize that the way I was raised is now not the norm for an alarming number of children.

A quote by Jeffery Holland from "The Hands of the Fathers" makes me so grateful for my wonderful father: "I suppose no book I have read in recent months has alarmed me more than a work entitled Fatherless America. In this study the author speaks of "fatherlessness" as "the most harmful demographic trend of this generation," the leading cause of damage to children. It is, he is convinced, the engine driving our most urgent social problems, from poverty to crime to adolescent pregnancy to child abuse to domestic violence. Among the principal social issues of our time is the flight of fathers from their children's lives."

THANK YOU DAD FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR US!

I asked Dad what advice he would give us after 82 years of life experience and this is what he said: "Stay close to the gospel. Pay your tithing. Read the scriptures. And most importantly, spend time with your children.

We had a little dinner at Chillies to do some celebrating. It was frustrating and hilarious because some of us are almost as deaf as Dad is. Amidst the noise and confusion of the restraunt we were yelling, "WHAT - WHAT - DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID? - WHAT- WHAT:)

Picture Perfect

A family picture is a project. Find a time when the whole family will be together. That can be tricky with parts in Boise, North Salt Lake, and Hurricane (opposite ends of the spectrum). Find a photographer willing to work after 6:00 on Saturday night. Decide the dress code and color. i.e. casual, jeans, black and biege. Make sure everyone knows the address of the studio. Who will ride with who in what car. Make sure you take your cell phone to direct the car behind you and the one coming from the east part of town. Pay a $49.00 sitting fee. Get everyone situated on the set. Some will stand on phone books and some with arthritic knees will kneel on phones books. Try to get a sick baby to smile. Have kleenexes ready to wipe tears. Make all kinds of ridiculous noises to make the baby smile. After numerous shots amidst sarcastic comments about not being photogenic the photographer thinks he may have gotten a "good one." A few days later look at the electronic proofs. There is not a really "good one" of everyone. So through the magic of modern photo technology, the one smiling baby image is superimposed on the best picture of the smiling everyone else. And what a bargin! It only costs $30.00 to superimpose the baby and $25.00 to change the blue shirts to black. Two hundred dollars later you have a perfect family picture. It was worth the effort! We will not be all together again for two years.

Jordan's Letter

I am posting this letter from Jordan. I will not post all of his letters but this one is especially cute and made us so happy. He really puts an exclamation point after almost every sentence. Ben King is one of his good friends who came home from the MTC and now is back. Rajin is a little deaf Indian friend who lived next to us in Kaysville. Scott and Jadin are his really good friends from Sky View and Dev is his bosom buddy ( who is getting ready to go on a mission because of Jordans influence I believe.) Elder Bennion is also a friend from high school. At this point we live for the mail to come on Friday to hear how he is doing. I am thrilled and so grateful that he likes the MTC. Jordan has always loved being with people and having friends around him 24/7.

Mom & Dad
I am doing my laundry today, well actually right now. It's not so bad here anymore. But breakfast is still nasty. I would do anything for one of your famous breakfasts Dad. The last two days here have been great. I think I can do this now. I can now bring somebody closer to Christ. I have mastered the first "discussion" (We call them lessons now). I took a long time but it is worth it. You would be so amazed with what I am learning. We had a super Tuesday last night and President Costa of the seventy came. The Spirit was so strong. I am doing swell. Everywhere I go I carry my backpack full of books and scriptures, my planner, and the Spirit! It is an awsome feeling to be worthy enough to have these feelings.
Today I become an old guy. New load of elders today! Hurray! I talk to Rajan, Scott and Jadin everyday. Ben King is here. I had a party in my room lastnight. The chips and dip lasted 2 minutes. The sandals you sent are way to big and heavy - but perfect. I still think about you everyday! You need to get me more pictures! How is my Dev doing? I really miss that kid. I miss my neice and nephew so much! How is Spanky! I miss him chewing my toes down to the the bone!
My zone is great. They are very nice and we share a lot. I have 2 giant Tongans who live next to me. They teach me their language. They scare me sometimes. It's kind of like living at home because of Elder Bennion.
I am going to the temple today at 1. I am excited. Always a good feeling! I need more white socks. P-day is great! My laundry is done now and folded. My companion has the same black socks and we shared the same dark load, so we just split them. All my roomies say I take too long of showers . I think its funny.
I'm glad you are doing so good & things are working out. We had a lot of good times together. Wow that is a lot of snow! I got your pictures. There is a cowboy here & he really is more interested in Dads tractor. I think I set up my E-mail today. Class is in 1 hour. My teachers are so cool. I went to the refferal center yesterday & talked with a lady for 30 minutes! That is super long. 5 mins is the usual. She statred off swearing at me, then calmed down, then we talked about the restoration & then she cried & then asked for the missionaries in her area. It was so cool.
Well we are having a contest to see who gets the biggest package this week! So I'm asking you to make me a winner!
I love you both & pray for you. I'm happy & glad things are good. Getting letters everynight is the best!
Make sure Dev gets my address.
Love Jord

Ten minuntes from my house

One of the perks of living in Logan is that the temple is ten minutes from my house and just one block from my office. It is so convenient to just slip over in the afternoon and do a session. No one even misses me. I substitute sometimes at the clothing rental desk. We don't get many patrons on weekdays so it is very quiet. I just like to be there because it is such a haven from the world. If you haven't been lately there are some pleasant changes to the ceremony.

Jordan's Letter and Snow

We received Jordan's first letter and he assured us twice that he was "still alive" and that "it was not that bad". He said the Spirit was strong his testimony was strong and his loving nature would pull him through. The MTC is the best place for a 19 year old boy to be. Oh the great plan of HAPPINESS! Feburary 3, 2008. Lots and lots of snow and more in the forecast for this week. You just have to appreciate the seasons in Cache Valley. We will cozy up to the gas log and watch the presidential candidates debate.