Some days you have to search…

Today started out very messy. After a long weekend, work shoved its head into the quiet of the morning. My team called to tell me the phones didn’t seem to be working. I put a ticket in with the help desk and got the usual, duh response. Then my main contact at my client called with a totally different problem. Now he rarely calls me, and when he does it usually means storm clouds ahead. This time was no different. Due to someone else not doing their job in a timely manner, as they are trusted to do, I looked bad and my client is now screaming.

Long story short version, I had to come into the office when I had planned on working from home. I had to deal with people that do not report to me but caused the goof. I had to put in place a new, time consuming process to avoid future problems and to babysit said people to ensure they do what they say.

All this before 11 in the morning…

However, I am grateful I have a job that I can get paid enough so that Boo has her mom at home. It pays enough that we have the basics that we need with a few trips to Disney each year (as long as we keep it under a set amount)

I am grateful for a wonderful wife that makes miracles happen with the money.

I am grateful for a house to live in even if it has costs us more this year than we ever thought possible.

And I am grateful that I have my health…ok I feel better now, and it’s not even noon.

 

I just might be old!

On Friday we celebrated my oldest child’s 30^th birthday. I hadn’t given the age much thought until my daughter said, “Does it make you feel old to have your oldest turn 30?”

I was then flooded with memories over the years of her being born, the excitement and adjustment of a new baby. Starting to crawl, then walk, then get into everything. Her personality coming into it’s own. Starting nursery in Primary, starting school. It was then that I hauled up short thinking; your youngest is starting school on Monday. That’s when the mixed part started.

I love being a grand pa (Papa) and am so proud of my 4 wonderful grandkids. I also am a proud father of 4 wonderful kids. Just so happens they range in ages 30, 27, 24 and 5.

So while I felt old for a second on thinking My baby girl is 30 with 3 babies of her own, I also had the tug on my pant leg from a very active 5 year old wanting to tell me about how she could jump off the stage all by herself.

Family is everything to me…No success or joy comes into my life that can compare to the thrill of seeing my kids do well and be happy. Whether it’s doing well at their job, or with their own families, or giving a talk and singing at a funeral for a loved one or just being happy where they are at. Even if where they are at is being able to jump off the stage by themselves.

I love having my grandkids smile when they see Papa has come into the room.

I love seeing my wife smile, which is a true peek into heaven for me.

So yes I am old, but I just don’t have the time to think about it…

Sometimes getting old is cool!

Well, I now am the very proud grandfather to another wonderful granddaughter. That makes 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters.

Mom and Baby are doing fine. As I held her I was overcome with the thought that this is one of the great things about getting old.
You get to see your kids having kids and the instant love and protective feeling that comes with that.

Each of my kids are very unique. The 2 that are married picked very unique people as well.
My grandkids each are their own selves. Their personalities and their mannerisms crack me up.

I am so grateful that I have the kids I do. I am so grateful that at my mid 50 age that I get to have my youngest be 5 and my grand kids be extremely close to that.
It is a magical thing to be a Papa and Dad to preschoolers.

I am also extremely grateful for a wife that not only makes me smile, but gives me strength and support just by thinking of her and looking at her picture.

Jo and Josh I am so happy for you and the boys. Thanks for letting me be part of their lives.

What does my On Line Presence say about me?

What does my On Line Presence say about me? This question was brought to mind by a post I saw on Facebook as well as a story my Stake President shared several weeks ago with the High Council.
He told of how they were called into the office of the First Presidency to be interviewed to become Mission President. He told of the feelings he had has they asked if his affairs were in order.
At first he knew they meant his finances and such but then it quickly branched out in his mind to all that he does. His relationship with kids, parents etc.
His life in general.

The post on Facebook told the story of the new Young Women's President that was just called this past weekend. I include part of that post here: form http://www.latterdaysaintwoman.com/?p=187

At General Conference this weekend, a new General Young Women’s president was called. (This means she oversees the program for teen girls internationally.) She may be the first General Young Women’s president who is into social media. Bonnie Oscarson has a very active Pinterest page as well as a Facebook page. (I haven’t checked out the other social media sites yet.)

Now, here’s your homework: Wander around your social media sites and imagine you’ve just been called as the president of one of the Church auxiliaries. Before you’re called, the prophet is going to do a social media review on you. (I don’t really know if they do that, but just imagine.) You realize the prophet will know what is on all your sites. In a few weeks, the whole world will be rushing in to see as well.
Do you find yourself wanting to erase a few things?


Well I did go through my blogs and even my often neglected Pinterest and was grateful on what I found. My main problem was that I do not post enough but I am going to try to fix that.

What does your online presence say about who you are? Is it really the real you? We could add to the public sites the history list from your web browser...what does that say about you? Would you be uneasy if the prophet called you in and pulled up the history to talk to you about it. How about your Spouse or your kids?
Deep thoughts.........................

A Twofer

Twice a year we get a "twofer" weekend.
I am not the first to use this title...Basically Church Meetings on Sunday do not happen we have Conference on Saturday and Sunday. Now there was a time I may have thought "great two Saturdays!!!" I would look forward to those times...Now I say somewhat the same but it is "Great two Sundays!!!"
I love conference weekend! This weekend we sat on the couch for all sessions, notebooks open, taking notes and talking about it (I love discussing the Gospel with my wife. Her insight is so refreshing to me.)
Another great part about it is hanging out in your PJ's all day!

I always look forward to several speakers and this time, as always, they did not disappoint.
Elder Holland Rocks!
Elder Perry looked great!
Pres Packer made me smile.
And after hearing Pres Monson I no longer fill as bad about the destruction I did as a kid....

New Calling

After 5 years and 2 months I have been released form the High Council.
During this time I have served under 2 Stake Presidents and have seen ALL of the Bishops be replaced. (Single Ward 3 times).
I have loved every minute of it and will miss some.

I am now 2nd counselor in the Stake YM. Which will be very busy quickly. We have Father and Sons in May then our Stake Youth Book of Mormon reenactment called Quest- Stand firm in Christ. in July.

I am so looking forward to work with the group doing Quest.

As for everything else in life...it keeps going forward.

I will have to write more later when I have time. (which means it may not happen...)

Spring? Almost

It is finally getting a bit warmer here in Bountiful. I was so sick of the snow, I was also sick. Spent the last 3 weeks with my head clogged up, so much so that it sounded like I was listening to people while sitting at the bottom of a swimming pool.

Thank goodness I can now hear.
A few items from our life.

• Boo keeps asking to go to Disney World or Land
• LJ is having a little girl, so come July I will be Papa again and have 2 of each (for now)
• Nat is still in YW and doing really well with the new style of teaching.
• (She also continues to rock my world every time I look at her!)
• I am still on the High Council and enjoying the challenges that come.

Nothing really big or important happening, just living life.
I have once again told myself that I need to do better...just pull out the same old list and start at the top again...Maybe this time.
Isn't it great that we can all have a do over time after time after time and still be able to have the hope that it will click this time!

5 Years ago...

5 years ago our lives were forever changed.
This weekend was Boo's 5th birthday which means 5 years ago exactly today she was placed in our arms by a wonderful, brave birth mother who felt that Nat  was meant to be Boo's mother.
We first saw Boo in the hospital Sat night, placement was scheduled for Monday night. (for the story  click here: http://travelingtheroadtoadoption.blogspot.com/2008/02/it-works.html)
What a wonderful time it has been. It is hard to believe it has really been that long but then Boo will come zooming into the room and say something and i just smile.
It is also hard to remember what we did before Boo.
Each of my kids are special and wonderful and Boo just completes our unique family make up.

Every night as Boo and I sing our night time songs I tell her thanks for letting me be her dad. (She usually replies "You're welcome silly boy"

I am so grateful for Jess (Boo's birth mom and her family)
I am so grateful that I have a job that allows Nat to be a stay at home mom and that she loves doing it.

Today Boo had her yearly check up and the Doctor once more confirmed that she is just perfect.

New adoption support group

Check out a great new grassroots group Nat and I are part of.

http://unitedforadoption.blogspot.com/?m=1

What A Week!

This has been one crazy week for us.

Monday I did wash, we had seen the sink backing up more than usual so I being a great husband and wonderful handyman, bought some Drano and poured it done the drain.

It seemed to help so I did 3 batches of wash feeling pretty manly and proud.
Nat came down and said "Why is the rug in the bathroom wet?" We turned on the light to see that the tub was full of water, the toilet had backed up and overflowed and then notice the floor drain by the washer was wet.
Our sewer seemed plugged. More Drano, plunging and a few swear words later nothing really work. Then we let the stuff sit over night and it looked like Tues morning we were ok. Nat went up and took a shower, I went downstairs just to make sure, and sure enough we were flooding again.
Called some people but they could not come until Wed morning.

So Wed morning a guy from Scott Hale Plumping and heating comes. Unclogs the main drain but in looking at the camera we find that our pipes are all bad and close to a major break and collapse.

So after talking to him and looking at the camera footage we sign the agreement for over $11k to fix and put in a new pipe system. Worst part is we have to not only do from the house to the street but the added cost of fixing a problem that lies under our basement concrete. (Why the price is higher than usual).

We are happy that this time bomb was found when it did and that we can fix it.
So happy with the drain guy, he was very likable, professional and seemed honest.

They will be starting digging into the basement Monday morning....oh joy! But when all is said an done we will never have to worry about this type of problem.

Also, Wed night we got a ice storm that turned our street into one solid sheet of ice. I could not get out of the drive way so worked from home.
It was crazy watching people try to drive up the street or down, several wrecks.




But life is good and I am so happy with it!

New Year New...Habits?

Wow a new year! Last post was months ago...I am still here, still grateful and very excited for the new year.
In the last 3 months we have:

• been to Disney World for 2 weeks with Nat's family.
• celebrated Christmas
• seen cancer take Nat's Grandfather, Dec 29th
• still working at Xerox (just passed 9 years) and on the High Council (just passed 5 years)

In review of the past year I learn more about myself and what I want to do this year.
Goals for this year:

• come in top 3 for the Biggest Loser Bountiful. ( Nat says she is going to win and who am I to argue)
• so from the previous line, lose weight and get in better shape. I just realized that I am mid 50's now and that stinks.
• read more. In 2011 I read 103 books, 2012 I read 17. This year I set a goal of 50 but want to break that.
• write more. What can I say but that and then do it.
• fix the house up, finish the ongoing projects as well as redo the bathroom and kitchen
• cut back more in the yard.

These are just a few... not to mention the scripture study, FHE, memorizing "The Living Christ"

So, I am still so very grateful for my life. My wife is my best friend and the one person I want to hang out with and make sure she in happy.
My kids are each amazing in their own way.
I have the privilege of having older kids with their own lives and families and then Boo who keeps me on my toes.
So to up date my profile...for right now until Feb
I have 4 kids ages 28, 25, 22 and 4 as well as 3 grand kids 3, 2, and almost 1 (plus another in the way)

As of Feb it changes slightly to 28, 25, 22 and 5 and grand kids of 3, 2, 1, and on the way

I have the feeling that I will be on the High Council for a few more years and am OK with that. I have to admit, I am good at what I do and this calling more than any other allows me to use unique talents I have been blessed with. I still miss teaching but that's OK