Greetings from the Straits of Magellan (on the southern tip of South America).
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given . . . his name is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."
On this wonderful day that we celebrate the Savior's birth, may you find happiness, love, and peace.
Merry Christmas. I love you!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Grinch That Stole Christmas
Beaverton, Oregon, about 1988-1990:
Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land,
Every creature was stirring to try their hand
At sneaking and peeking and discovering the place
Where gifts were hidden for the Chrismas date.
Success eluded them but they were so smart
So smart they found it - what joy to their heart!
They unwrapped each gift, and found with delight
The thing that brought such an excite.
They ooohed and awwwed but suppressed regret
Then came the task of concealing their secret
They wrapped up the gifts and put them back
To conceal their deceit and judgmental lack.
All of a sudden, to their horror they heard
Mother had discovered their treason so dear.
She railed and ranted and said their whole name
As they dropped and shook their heads in shame.
Mother said since they'd ruined the Christmas surprise,
she'd return ALL the gifts,
Not a few
Each and every present from their view!
The children cried and pleaded and begged
But Mother stood her ground to assure they obeyed.
When Christmas arrived, the children discovered
Their treasured gifts had been recovered
Their treasured gifts were under the tree
The children cheered in relief and glee.
The grinch had appeared for a time so rare,
But never again were there groans of dispair.
Never again did the children plunder
Never again did they have to wonder
If Christmas would bring the grinch or glee
Christmas would forver be a wonder to see.
So who was the grinch that stole Christmas past
The kids who sneaked and were part of the cast,
Or the angry mom who squawked in deplore
And said she was taking their presents to the store?
Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land,
Every creature was stirring to try their hand
At sneaking and peeking and discovering the place
Where gifts were hidden for the Chrismas date.
Success eluded them but they were so smart
So smart they found it - what joy to their heart!
They unwrapped each gift, and found with delight
The thing that brought such an excite.
They ooohed and awwwed but suppressed regret
Then came the task of concealing their secret
They wrapped up the gifts and put them back
To conceal their deceit and judgmental lack.
All of a sudden, to their horror they heard
Mother had discovered their treason so dear.
She railed and ranted and said their whole name
As they dropped and shook their heads in shame.
Mother said since they'd ruined the Christmas surprise,
she'd return ALL the gifts,
Not a few
Each and every present from their view!
The children cried and pleaded and begged
But Mother stood her ground to assure they obeyed.
When Christmas arrived, the children discovered
Their treasured gifts had been recovered
Their treasured gifts were under the tree
The children cheered in relief and glee.
The grinch had appeared for a time so rare,
But never again were there groans of dispair.
Never again did the children plunder
Never again did they have to wonder
If Christmas would bring the grinch or glee
Christmas would forver be a wonder to see.
So who was the grinch that stole Christmas past
The kids who sneaked and were part of the cast,
Or the angry mom who squawked in deplore
And said she was taking their presents to the store?
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Santa Knew Tim!
Marina, California, about 1976:
When Tim was about five, we took the children to visit Santa Claus at the Monterey Macy's store. We stood in the line, patiently waiting our turn. When it was Tim's turn, Santa turned to him and said, "Hi Tim!"
Huh???? We couldn't figure it out. How did Santa know Tim's name? Well, we reasoned, Santa did know every child's name, so why were we so surprised? Then, we remembered this Santa was just one of Santa's helpers - so maybe he knew Tim.
Santa smiled, spoke a little bit to Tim, and as he did so, we realized he was our bishop, filling in as a Santa's helper that season.
When Tim was about five, we took the children to visit Santa Claus at the Monterey Macy's store. We stood in the line, patiently waiting our turn. When it was Tim's turn, Santa turned to him and said, "Hi Tim!"
Huh???? We couldn't figure it out. How did Santa know Tim's name? Well, we reasoned, Santa did know every child's name, so why were we so surprised? Then, we remembered this Santa was just one of Santa's helpers - so maybe he knew Tim.
Santa smiled, spoke a little bit to Tim, and as he did so, we realized he was our bishop, filling in as a Santa's helper that season.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Yes We Went Camping
California's Gold Country, 1985
Can you believe it? I actually have evidence that we went camping. WE, as in you and me..jpg)
I know you don't think I was there because I'm not in the photo. Right? Wrong. Who do you think is taking the picture?
We had fun that trip. We went to the Gold Country, hunted for the Werle homestead and mine, panned for gold, and searched the Catholic church records and found your father's ancestors in the baptism registry.
Can you believe it? I actually have evidence that we went camping. WE, as in you and me.
.jpg)
I know you don't think I was there because I'm not in the photo. Right? Wrong. Who do you think is taking the picture?We had fun that trip. We went to the Gold Country, hunted for the Werle homestead and mine, panned for gold, and searched the Catholic church records and found your father's ancestors in the baptism registry.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Best Dressed List
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Marina, California, about 1978:Check out the photo. Notice the matching vests for the guys, and Amy's dress and my skirt, are all made from the SAME fabric. I'm sure you're really impressed that we look so good. I'm sure you'd be double impressed to discover I made the vests, dress, and skirt! You've got to admit, we were one sharp looking family. I was so pleased. Good thing everyone was too young to complain. Your dad? He was a good sport.
It gives new meaning to the scripture to become as a little child: You do what your mother tells you to do. After all, she's the one helping you to look so good.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Disneyland Drama
Disneyland, about 1984:
It's every child's dream to go to Disneyland and have a grand adventure on all the rides, right? Of course, it's right. What child does not want this experience?
Imagine my surprise when, after much anticipation and preparation, we finally went to Disneyland, got in line for our first ride, and Sarah refused to ride! So, I thought, okay, I can deal with this, it's just this one ride. BUT, ride after ride, she would not budge! I had to sit out each ride with her and wait on a bench, while the rest of the family went on each ride.
When pressed, Sarah complained the ship would sink, the train would crash, the People Mover would fall off the elevated track. Didn't I know? She was afraid of heights!
How had I missed this? How did it happen? Had she been watching a scary movie?
What should we do to help her, to FIX her? We didn't have any answers. We only knew that after spending a whole day with her passing on EVERY ride, we'd had enough. We decided to ride the People Mover, and it was so tame, so harmless, that we insisted Sarah participate. We did not allow for any more drama. It was time.
We got in the line with Sarah crying. She was still crying as we boarded the ride, and cried through the whole ride, but we did it. The ride did not sink, or crash, or fall off the track. She did not die. In fact, she was fine after that!
Was this the magic moment that created an everlasting love for the Magic Kingdom and everything Disney? I'll never know. I will take full responsibility, however. It's all my fault!
It's every child's dream to go to Disneyland and have a grand adventure on all the rides, right? Of course, it's right. What child does not want this experience?
Imagine my surprise when, after much anticipation and preparation, we finally went to Disneyland, got in line for our first ride, and Sarah refused to ride! So, I thought, okay, I can deal with this, it's just this one ride. BUT, ride after ride, she would not budge! I had to sit out each ride with her and wait on a bench, while the rest of the family went on each ride.
When pressed, Sarah complained the ship would sink, the train would crash, the People Mover would fall off the elevated track. Didn't I know? She was afraid of heights!
How had I missed this? How did it happen? Had she been watching a scary movie?
What should we do to help her, to FIX her? We didn't have any answers. We only knew that after spending a whole day with her passing on EVERY ride, we'd had enough. We decided to ride the People Mover, and it was so tame, so harmless, that we insisted Sarah participate. We did not allow for any more drama. It was time.
We got in the line with Sarah crying. She was still crying as we boarded the ride, and cried through the whole ride, but we did it. The ride did not sink, or crash, or fall off the track. She did not die. In fact, she was fine after that!
Was this the magic moment that created an everlasting love for the Magic Kingdom and everything Disney? I'll never know. I will take full responsibility, however. It's all my fault!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Happy Housewarming
6018 Chesbro Ave., San Jose, California29 May 1984:
We had been in our home for about six weeks and already Sarah had the chickenpox, Amy had six stitches in her chin when she fell while riding her bike, and Sarah had come home from school with a good case of lice! It was a Happy Housewarming! We were still very much pleased with our new home, the neighborhood, the ward, the schools, etc.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Mission to Mars on Disney's Space Shuttle
Disney's Epcot Center, Orlando, Florida, January 2008:
Bruce and I decided to take a “ride” on the Mission to Mars attraction at the Epcot center. Bruce thought it would be “fun” and argued “even little kids are going on it.” I can’t imagine why I decided to go on this ride because I get car sick just being a PASSENGER in a car. There were even warnings along the way: “Not for people prone to motion sickness.” BUT, every one was doing it so it couldn’t be THAT bad. So, in spite of my bad feelings about participating, we got in line.
There was no time to prepare for this experience. The line moved fast and before I knew it, it was our turn to enter the “space craft” and get strapped into our seats. We were given instructions for the “journey“ one of which was “do not close your eyes because it will only make things worse.”
The attendants closed the space shuttle doors, and our seats tilted so we were lying on our backs looking up at the sky. The countdown began. At liftoff the pressure or G-forces pushing against me were so forceful, I felt my lips being pushed into my ears. I thought I would vomit. I thought I would die. I wished I would die.
When we had reached “orbit” the G-forces stopped, but then we were “boosted” through space at a rapid speed that pushed my body forward and I felt my ears pushing into my lips! I thought I would vomit. I thought I would die. I wished I would die.
To make matters worse we were pushed off course and the capsule began spinning out of control. I thought surely I would die from the spinning. In a last ditch effort to keep from loosing my lunch, I gave up on the instructions, closed my eyes, and hung on.
Finally, the capsule “landed” on Mars. The engines were shut down. It was quiet but I did not feel quiet. I hadn’t died. My stomach continued to tumble, my brain was scrambled, and my body was limp from the strain.
The attendants opened the capsule door and I stumbled to the nearest bench to regain my ability to walk. Then, I had to go to the car and lie down until I could function normally again.
In reflecting on this experience I’ve decided that life is sometimes like this. Sometimes we are thrown into the turbulence without warning. The time for preparation has past, so hopefully before this time, we’ve had time to train, been through flight simulation experiences, so we are ready for them. To do this, maybe we’ve decided how we’re going to respond under certain circumstances and addressed the issue of peer pressure to do something we know we should not do.
When it comes time for “liftoff” the forces against us can be tremendous. Elder Richard G. Scott has said, “Don’t look for a life virtually free from discomfort, pain, pressure, challenge, or grief, for those are the tools a loving Father uses to stimulate our personal growth and understanding. As the scriptures repeatedly affirm, you will be helped as you exercise faith in Jesus Christ. That faith is demonstrated by a willingness to trust His promises given through His prophets and in His scriptures” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 8; or Ensign, May 1994, 8).
Sometimes these experiences might be things we bring on ourselves through bad choices. Elder Richard G. Scott said, “I know that every difficulty we face in life, even those that come from our own negligence or even transgression, can be turned by the Lord into growth experiences, a virtual ladder upward. I certainly do not recommend transgression as a path to growth. It is painful, difficult, and so totally unnecessary. It is far wiser and so much easier to move forward in righteousness. But through proper repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and obedience to His commandments, even the disappointment that comes from transgression can be converted into a return to happiness” (Marriage and Family Relations: Participant’s Study Guide, 23).
During these times, we might even feel sick, think we might die, wish we would die. It is better to give up on what the world is telling us, close our eyes, and go forward with faith. “The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not” (Marriage and Family Relations: Participant’s Study Guide, 22).
At the end of the “experience” we may need some time to regroup, recharge, heal, renew, strengthen and fortify ourselves for the next “ride.” President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Understand that you are being chased. Satan is chasing after you, and you had better run as fast as ever you can” (BYU Magazine, Winter 2008, 23).
While it was close, I did not vomit, I did not die. I am still very much alive. May we hang on with faith in Jesus Christ through the trials of life.
Bruce and I decided to take a “ride” on the Mission to Mars attraction at the Epcot center. Bruce thought it would be “fun” and argued “even little kids are going on it.” I can’t imagine why I decided to go on this ride because I get car sick just being a PASSENGER in a car. There were even warnings along the way: “Not for people prone to motion sickness.” BUT, every one was doing it so it couldn’t be THAT bad. So, in spite of my bad feelings about participating, we got in line.
There was no time to prepare for this experience. The line moved fast and before I knew it, it was our turn to enter the “space craft” and get strapped into our seats. We were given instructions for the “journey“ one of which was “do not close your eyes because it will only make things worse.”
The attendants closed the space shuttle doors, and our seats tilted so we were lying on our backs looking up at the sky. The countdown began. At liftoff the pressure or G-forces pushing against me were so forceful, I felt my lips being pushed into my ears. I thought I would vomit. I thought I would die. I wished I would die.
When we had reached “orbit” the G-forces stopped, but then we were “boosted” through space at a rapid speed that pushed my body forward and I felt my ears pushing into my lips! I thought I would vomit. I thought I would die. I wished I would die.
To make matters worse we were pushed off course and the capsule began spinning out of control. I thought surely I would die from the spinning. In a last ditch effort to keep from loosing my lunch, I gave up on the instructions, closed my eyes, and hung on.
Finally, the capsule “landed” on Mars. The engines were shut down. It was quiet but I did not feel quiet. I hadn’t died. My stomach continued to tumble, my brain was scrambled, and my body was limp from the strain.
The attendants opened the capsule door and I stumbled to the nearest bench to regain my ability to walk. Then, I had to go to the car and lie down until I could function normally again.
In reflecting on this experience I’ve decided that life is sometimes like this. Sometimes we are thrown into the turbulence without warning. The time for preparation has past, so hopefully before this time, we’ve had time to train, been through flight simulation experiences, so we are ready for them. To do this, maybe we’ve decided how we’re going to respond under certain circumstances and addressed the issue of peer pressure to do something we know we should not do.
When it comes time for “liftoff” the forces against us can be tremendous. Elder Richard G. Scott has said, “Don’t look for a life virtually free from discomfort, pain, pressure, challenge, or grief, for those are the tools a loving Father uses to stimulate our personal growth and understanding. As the scriptures repeatedly affirm, you will be helped as you exercise faith in Jesus Christ. That faith is demonstrated by a willingness to trust His promises given through His prophets and in His scriptures” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 8; or Ensign, May 1994, 8).
Sometimes these experiences might be things we bring on ourselves through bad choices. Elder Richard G. Scott said, “I know that every difficulty we face in life, even those that come from our own negligence or even transgression, can be turned by the Lord into growth experiences, a virtual ladder upward. I certainly do not recommend transgression as a path to growth. It is painful, difficult, and so totally unnecessary. It is far wiser and so much easier to move forward in righteousness. But through proper repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and obedience to His commandments, even the disappointment that comes from transgression can be converted into a return to happiness” (Marriage and Family Relations: Participant’s Study Guide, 23).
During these times, we might even feel sick, think we might die, wish we would die. It is better to give up on what the world is telling us, close our eyes, and go forward with faith. “The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not” (Marriage and Family Relations: Participant’s Study Guide, 22).
At the end of the “experience” we may need some time to regroup, recharge, heal, renew, strengthen and fortify ourselves for the next “ride.” President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Understand that you are being chased. Satan is chasing after you, and you had better run as fast as ever you can” (BYU Magazine, Winter 2008, 23).
While it was close, I did not vomit, I did not die. I am still very much alive. May we hang on with faith in Jesus Christ through the trials of life.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Destiny
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Seaside, California, about 1973:Here's a photo of Tim, about age 2, sitting on an antique fire truck with his firefighter dad standing next to him.
Today, Tim is a captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department. He loves what he does and he's good at it.
Seeing this photo, I have to wonder . . . How much of what we do with our children influences how their lives evolve. Take this photo of Tim at about age 2 for instance. Did these earliest experiences impact his choice for a career? Did we actually set the stage or would he have chosen that career anyway?
How would his life have been different if he had not had this experience? I can only wonder.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Fashion Designer
San Jose, California, 1984-1986:
Sarah was the ultimate fashion designer, creating the latest designs with anything she could put her hands on: garbage bags, old clothes, etc.
One day she even stapled some fabric together for a skirt. There was nothing holding back her creations.
Who knew this creative genius would develop into a designer of software, creator of webpages, and dreamer of good things to come?
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