Happy Birthday to Russ

Happy Birthday, Russ! I thought you might enjoy this piece. Have a wonderful day! (This picture was taken at your 1st birthday and is one of my favorites!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwHgeDPhkts

A Classical Birthday Card

Happy Birthday Russ! Since Emily and I don't have kids to sing to you, we thought we would employ the help of some others. Enjoy! Click here to view.

A Preview to Eternity

Last night Dad and I went to the temple. For those who aren't familiar with the temple, at the end of a session you walk through a hallway and into the celestial room - representing "heaven". I like to ponder as I walk through that hallway (which reminds me of the "tunnel of light" that after-life accounts often refer to) of how it will be when it is my turn to pass into the next life. Will family be there to greet me? I was the first from our session into the room and I as I walked in, there was Cheryl Burnett Garner, my sister-in-law who works in the temple, walking directly towards me. How wonderful it was to see her, but made more so by my thoughts just moments before. I don't see Cheryl very often since the passing of Blaine's brother, Smiley, and her 2nd marriage. It seemed significant to me that she was there to greet me. It was really good to see her.

Family Night Tonight

Tonight just as I was about to ask Bekah if she would be in charge of the lesson for tonight's Family Night she asked me, "Mom, please can I do the lesson?" She typically likes to be in charge of everything she can be, so since tonight wasn't really structured, with Jason being gone, I said "Sure." Her favorite topic the last few months is "The Plan of Salvation"...this is because it was her favorite lesson I've taught her about six months ago for family night. I know the ideas for that lesson were inspired from above on how to teach it on her level. She was struggling with being six, being the oldest, having to obey her parents instead of tell her parents how things were going to be done...I don't remember all the challenges she kept having but things weren't going too well with behavior and emotions. Suddenly it struck me that maybe it might help if she knew why she was here, where she was going, and what Heavenly Father wants her to do so she can see the big picture and how bad days can be overcome. So one Monday (we're usually alone for family night since Jason has class late and James goes to bed early) I said to Bekah that I had a very important plan to tell her about and we each got a piece of paper and I drew a part of "The Plan of Salvation" just like it had been shown to me in primary and she copied what I drew on her paper. It was amazing! That lesson lasted about a half hour and she was excited and kept asking all kinds of questions! I realized she listens much better when she can hear, touch, feel, and see what we are learning all at the same time. And she felt so important getting to copy what mom was doing. I share this here because I was so amazed by this experience and thought maybe others might benefit from what I learned from the Spirit that day.

So today she taught me about The Plan. And she asked me to pretend I didn't know anything about it. She made a sort of game out of it where you had to guess the answers to what was on the pictures. Then this last page was really precious.

It says "3 planets. Heavenly Father wants us to be here..." complete with sun, moon, stars, happy, okay and sad faces.

She gets it. Boy does that feel good to a parent when something you taught your kid sticks...or should I say something the Spirit taught. Now she reminds me on bad days what the big picture is. Heavenly Father sure knew what He was doing, putting us in families.

what matters most...

We were all in different settings on the morning of September 11th, 2001, but for a time, everyone's focus shifted to what matters most.

"And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." (Helaman 12:3)

Gradually, people gravitated back to where their hearts are, but some people were changed forever. I cannot think of that day without thinking about children whose mommies and daddies didn't come home that night, for such a senseless reason...

8:46am: Flight 11 smashes into the North Tower
9:03am: Flight 175 smashes into the South Tower
9:38am: Flight 77 smashes into the Pentagon
9:59am: The South Tower collapses
10:06am: Flight 93 crashes near Shanksville
10:29am: The North Tower collapses

This is a link to a video on the main page of the Church's web site. It is a wonderful way to review the long term effects of what happened that day. It lasts about 8 1/2 minutes, but I highly recommend it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkWc_EKLs4E

Whatever else you do today, remember what matters most... remember to say what needs to be said... remember to do what needs to be done... remember to pour your hearts out in gratitude to our Father for his Grace to all of us.

Although I have been given the opportunity to experience fear, uncertainty, and depression, I have been lifted above all that. I know that His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I know that in a much deeper way than I ever did before.

I feel that I have always remembered what matters most -- my Father, His Son, and my family. Perhaps the value in what I have been through is that I know that I know, more deeply.

You are all the joy of my life! I thank each of you for being who you are.
I Love You Eternally! -- Dad

Happy Birthday Emily!

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Emily, happy birthday to you!

Stand up, stand up, stand up and show us your face, your face! Stand up, stand up, stand up and show us your face.

Many love you today, many love you today. Many love you, dear Emily, many love you toooooodaaaaay.

PRESCHOOL - Here I Come!

Here's Kaylee ready to head off for her very first day of Preschool! She's been waiting anxiously for this day since we registered her back in February. She's in a small class with 9 students (5 girls, 4 boys) and 2 teachers. One of the little boys attends our ward (his Mom recommended the school). School is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

Since Kaylee was bringing a backpack, Ashlyn, of course, wanted to bring one as well.

First day of school, and she already has homework! She is supposed to practice writing her name at home every day. Here's her very first attempt (she rejected all of my efforts to help her learn this skill in the past, but, happily, seems more excited about it now.)

And the verdict is . . .

GIRL!!!

A Day at the Dam

Once the wedding was over, I told Dad we would visit the Bonneville Dam since he loves to go there. In our minds this was almost a yearly occurrence, but to our surprise we learned we hadn't been there since 2001! The fish ladder was ladden with fish and the sturgeon bigger than ever. It rained that day in Portland but we enjoyed beautiful weather in the gorge. We met Marlin and Cindy Harker for dinner that night at the Stone Cliff Restaurant on the Clackamas River. Wonderful food enjoyed with wonderful friends. I guess it was just a wonderful day!