These are a Few of My Favorite Things.

"When the dog bites, when the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel, so bad."
(Apologies to Julie Andrews-Sound of Music)

This has been a tuff week, due to my responsibilities of being Bishop. Since the hard parts are things I cannot talk about, I will try to focus on the good things in my life. I'm sure that some of these pictures have shown up before, but they bring a smile to my face !!!

SO === >>>
I like my family--

Including my wife, best friend and eternal companion---
My children, along with their spouses and children.

I like vacations, especially with my grandchildren--

I like sunsets over the ocean

and the waves crashing the rocky shores.

I like spending time with my grandchildren -

I like family dinners - food is good almost any time (my wasteline shows that) (Spelling was intentional)

And I really, really love watching my children become the great parents that they are!!

Education week, etc.

It took a little longer to get a post together. Sorry.

We went to Utah to see family and to attend Education Week. It was wonderful.

One of the better things I got out of Education week is the list below.

Ten Commandments of A Spiritually Healthy Person:

1. Decide now which way you will face and which God you will worship.
2. Search you soul with earnestness and Honesty and Confess your sins to God and to His servants.
3. Repent of your sins and move on with your life.
4. Do not focus too much on the Blood and Sins of this generation.
5. Live a Sane and Balanced life in the mainstream of the Church.
6. Search the Scriptures, Ponder the Revelations and commune with God thereby.
7. Do not take offense – Assume to the best.
8. Strive to acquire and extend to others, the Love of Christ.
9. Improve your time while in this Life.
10. Enter into the Rest of the Lord thy God.

It did take us almost 3 full hours to get through those 10 items, and there is a LOT of meat to discuss. Pondering what each of those means, and how to achieve could be the the subject of daily scripture study for a long time.

One afternoon we walked dwon to the park with Peter and Ben. The boys showed us how good they were on the park equipment.

Peter climbed clear up on the Jungle bars, or whatever they are called. He got up all by himself, and got back down with only minimal encouragement, helping him get his feet right.

We spent two nights watching Kennedy. She had a cold and wasn't feeling well, but she was cute none the less.

Then she showed us how happy she can be when she has no clothes on.

That's My Girl

Kennedy had a few new experiences while visiting.

With the heat, Kennedy tried a little ice. She came back for more even though it was cold.

She ate some vegetables - Carrots and Zucchini mixed with the yummy grain cereal.

Kennedy may becoming anorexic. Here is a movie of her sticking her fingers down her throat so that she will gag. She doesn't actually in this clip, but you can see that her fingers go down quite far. But she is cute when she does it.

New Friends, Old Friends

So Thursday, Lecia and Kennedy flew into town. Lecia met her friends Friday night, but Kennedy stayed here with Grandpa and Grandma. She was very happy and very good. She went to sleep a little late, but slept through the night - first time.

Lecia , Brityn, and Lindsey all had baby girls within a month of each other. Brityn's baby, Madilyn is on the right, she was born first. Lindsey's baby, Sophie is in the middle. She was born exactly one month after Maddie. Kennedy is on the left, born between the other two. Had I thought about it, we would have arranged the babies in birth order, but it didn't seem important at the time. What is important is that the friends from elementary and high school had a short reunion, and their daughters are getting to know each other.

We got a short video of Kennedy and her laugh. It is a delight to have her and her momma in the home.

VICTORY

We had a rain shower last night for a couple of hours.

The Result -- (drumroll)

NO WATER in the HALLWAY

Weather Update

I'm fixing a hole where the rains gets in,

And keeps my mind from wandering...

(The Beatles)

I thought that becuase we have not had the VERY HOT days (107 and above, up to 115) that our "monsoon" season would not be very good. The hottest it has been has been 106, once. I don't think we even hit 100 degrees on 15 of the 30 days in June (although I did not keep track.)

With that introduction, Tucson has been blessed with a bunch of very good thunderstorms this past week. Then last night, we were treated to a 2 hour natural fireworks show, and it rained here for about 6 hours. We had our ward potluck breakfast this morning, and the sun was out. It was muggy, but a slight breeze kept the event from being too sultry.

The only probem with the rain, is that we found out that our roof has a small leak. It isn't too bad, but the carpet in the hallway is a bit stained, if you look close. So I had one trip to Home Depot for some Henry Roofing Patch stuff. I am fairly confident that I found the place where the water was getting through. 30 monutes later, I was sweatin' up a storm, but the project was done, at least until it rains again and proves to me that I didn't get the right spot.

Fathers Day

I Feel Very Blessed on Father's Day

Twenty nine years ago my first son was born. Over the years, two more boys and a girl came into my life. I have had the privilege of being their father. They have all grown up, better than I could have ever hoped. They have begun lives of their own. I still am very proud to be their father.

Gabriel, Phillip, Kelly, and Andrew.

Ben and Peter in front, Tiffany and Tim in back.

Tara and Mike

Matt and Lecia, holding little Kennedy Mae

I have been very blessed in my life, but never so much as in my role as father.

PS Hey, I also hooked up my Web Cam today. So if you want to chat on Skype, you can look up Gerald Bishop, or my "handle" is grandpabishop.