On Becoming Perfect

Earlier this week, I went to lunch with the guys from work to a Chinese restaurant. (Did you know that fortune cookies are really a Japanese custom? The Chinese took it over in the US when we rounded up all the Japanese and put them in camps during WWII.) I got this fortune cookie. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? It has set me to thinking, almost obsessing, about this. It has become apparent to me that I am never going to achieve perfection in this life. Thankfully, I know that I have all the rest of this life, the time I will spend in Paradise, (if I make it there) and the entire 1000 years of the Millenium before I need to be perfect. I like to think that I might just be able to get there ahead of schedule - maybe 950 years into the Millenium. Is that prideful? Anyway, I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what this piece of paper is supposed to mean. Am I going to die soon? Could this just mean that I will become perfect in some individual way? After all, I am perfect in some things. I can check off the box at the doctor's that says I don't smoke anymore. Come to think of it, though, that's about all. Or is this just a crummy piece of paper created as a torture device by some fortune cookie guru? My last one said something sensible " You will soon get a good paying job" ( I gave that to my son-in-law, Joseph) I normally pay no attention to these things, but this one is bugging me big time. I would appreciate any advice anyone has about putting this one to bed.

A Trip to the Mailbox

Every once in a while, the ordinary is transformed into something of beauty. Last night, about 10:30PM, I realized we had not gone down to get the mail. I didn't need to go do that at that late hour; I knew there would only be bills, credit card offers and charity requests (sometime I will have to expound on that!). But as I turned to head back up the driveway I was greeted with this view of our home during a snowstorm. Having worked on some very nice homes in Park City, I sometimes feel that our home is somehow too ordinary and plain. I think I needed this little reminder of how excited Janene and I were as we laid out the plans and then built this home with the help of our whole family, and the joys we have experienced as six little ones (and two not so little ones) were raised in this home. In the concrete of our doorstep is inscribed this little phrase " THIS HOME IS BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF LOVE. MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS ALL WHO ENTER". This has truly been the case, and I would do well to remember that.

A Tender Mercy

I came home from a long day at church today just in time for dinner. Brooke and Steve came over for dinner this Sunday with their two little ones, Michael and Lily. We had a pasta dinner with Janene's specialty sauce made from our garden vegetables. While Janene was cleaning up and I was talking with Janene's Mom, Steve's brother John came over to return some borrowed tools. The next thing I knew, Steve was at the top of the ladder in our living room asking me how to disassemble the top section of our fourteen foot Christmas tree. He and his brother took the tree completely apart and packed it up in the special containers I built last year and hauled them out to the garage.

John was amazed at how heavy our tree is and that it takes three casket-sized boxes to hold it all. (I think it likely that I will be buried in one of those boxes because I will probably die either putting the tree up or taking it down.) A couple of months ago I tore my rotator cuff and have been going the physical therapy three days a week to fix it. I can't lift a jug of milk with my left arm. I had no idea how I was going to get the tree down this year. Elder Bednar talked about how we should be grateful for the tender mercies we experience in our lives and recognize that they are not accidents or coincidences, but gifts from God. God doesn't reach down in some miraculous lightning bolt to ease our problems. Instead He whispers to a listening ear through the Holy Ghost and inspires someone to perform a Christ-like act. Thus we bless each other and all are edified - the giver and the receiver. Tonight was one of those tender mercies for me. I will be forever grateful for this loving gift.

A Dream Realized

The 44th President of the United States of America was sworn in today in a what could be considered one of the most historic moments in the life of our country. In my lifetime, I can remember a colored section on the city buses, where some of our own citizens were relegated to a back seat in our society. Today, for the first time, we have a black man at the head of our country. This day was a fulfilment of Dr. Martin Luther King's dream of a country where people are not judged by the color of their skin, but by the quality of their character. In 1968, I never thought I would see this day. People claimed then that they would vote for a qualified black man, but the reality was that race discrimination was deeply embedded in our nation's psyche. When Dr. King spoke, the climate in the Capitol was tense and filled with fear that the thousands gathered on the mall might turn on the authorities. Here, a short 40 years after that speech on the national mall, Barack Hussein Obama took the Oath of Office in the same place again with a large police presence, but this time, the police were there to protect those assembled from outside threats instead. In 1968, relations between the races came close to destroying our country and the fabric of our nation, today our differences unite us. Whether you supported President Obama in the election process or not, you have to admit that this is a historic day.

More Wedding Folks

Wedding Folks

Weddings are such great times to get pictures of the family. Everyone is happy and ready to be photographed.

Mindy and Tales Get Married

Melinda Gail Barber was married today to Tales Brito in the Bountiful LDS Temple. Mindy has looked forward to this day for a long time, and everything worked out beautifully. Tales' family was all able to come here from Brazil, which is a miracle in today's world. They were sealed by Elder Zwick who took quite a bit of time with them in his office, and spoke to the family in the sealing room in English and Portuguese. He made this a memorable day in the temple. He reminded us the comment from President Faust that we can pray in German, French or English, but we will always receive our answers in Portuguese.

Outside the temple, it was freezing cold, but all of Mindy's bridesmaids were regal in the dresses Mindy picked. Even with the cold, Mindy couldn't quit smiling. The picture taking was kept to a minimum - a fact that pleased just about everyone.

At the luncheon later, Mindy picked up a few smaller bridesmaids and had a fun time dancing with them. Mindy has always been known as the fun aunt. Our grandkids always got excited when Mindy came home because she always took time with them, sometimes dancing, sometimes singing and playing dress-up.

We know Mindy will be happy to be married to Tales, but it is sad to see another of "our girls" leave the nest. She will be a great Mom and her children should be beautiful and happy. We will always remember the time we spent with her in our home. It was like Chelane had a twin sister after her other sisters grew up, married, and moved away. I have a picture of the two of them in my office and most people think they are both my daughters. I don't feel inclined to change their perception.

Sisters Forever

Our newly found photos reveal the unique bond that our daughters have with each other as sisters. We seem to have few pictures of our individual girls. They are always together sharing the experiences of our lives, arm in arm. I can rarely think of Angie without also thinking of her roommate Heather. The same goes for Brooke and Chelane.

The times they shared together brought them close to each other. The bonds they forged in their youth have kept them close to each other as they have each gone their own ways, with their families of their own. They still do things together with their children including zoo trips, museums and family trips together.

One of their unique activities is a regular Sister's Day. On Sister's Day they all get together with mother and meet at one of their homes. They spend time together on a project - maybe pulling weeds, maybe painting a room, sometimes routine cleaning. Someone watches the kids or they take turns with the children so everyone can pitch in together. When the work is done, it's time to play with games or treats for everyone.

They remember to invite their other sisters, Shon's wife Melinda, Lisseth, Doug's wife Angie, cousins Krystal and Karissa, sometimes even Mindy and Katie. They can't all come every time, but they keep it up. A priceless tradition and an idea that could only come from loving sisters who long to be together again, just like they were when they brought joy to our family together in our home. Sisters forever, forever loving, forever together and forever strong.

Brooke Pictures

Brooke has always maintained that we didn't ever take pictures of her. She says we either didn't like her or we got tired of taking pictures of her by the time she came around. The truth is that we took slides for years because we couldn't afford to develop film. And then our slide projector broke down. We had all these pictures, but no way to show them.

Here is a picture of Brooke with all the kids (that fuzzy headed kid is Adam) at Newspaper Rock.

And my personal favorite of one of the few times David was not teasing Brooke. We have uncovered a treasure trove of new family pictures and will be posting more as time goes on. Isn't this fun?

Famous Birthdays

Lily celebrated her first birthday today. I don't have pictures - you will have to look at her on Brooke & Steve's blog. She was adoroable! I thought I would show some other first birthdays. Here is Elsie on her first. - I think!

Here is little Sam. Wow! does he smile like Ben or what?

And of course - Here is Mindy!

Happy New Year!

Remember this? This was last year on New Years Day. We were enjoying the new year in our new hot tub in the sub-freezing weather. How soon the proud are fallen! This year, no hot tub - no midnight party. Oh - we had a party last night at our house all right --- but we weren't there. Janene and I were sound asleep in our comfy little bed while Chelane and her friends were downstairs watching "Transformers" on the telly. I have never understood why it made sense to stay up way late, overeat, party, and then wake up with a headache on the first day of the year. How is that a good way to start the new year? Well, the answer is ... it's not. So we were fully sober and responsible as we sat down and planned out our goals for the year and then went off to Heather and Joe's home to help them get their new bathroom ready for sheetrock. Are we just a little boring?