New Year Predictions and Speculations

It is always fun and exciting to look forward, wondering what will be in store for us this year. Last year we had 3 births, a funeral, a wedding, family pictures, two college graduations, two trips to hawaii, BYU education week, visiting general conference, as well as a whole bunch of day-to-day living experiences.

So what will 2010 bring? I have some thoughts, conjectures, predictions and dreams.

Here are the top 10 predictions for 2010. I am tryin to sell these to the National Enquirer but so far, they have declained.

1) World peace. Probably won't happen immediately, but I will begin work in that direction by starting with myself. I will work to be a more peaceful person, even when confronted in not so peaceful situations.

2) Continue building memories. We will continue to strive to build memories with our children and grandchildren. Two years ago we took a family to Disney World, and last year we took another family to Hawaii. We have some plans to continue this process this year, but reservations have not yet been firmed up.

3) Saving for Retirement. We have a very good start on retirement funds, but we do not have any extra. We don't think the dollar is going to be worth very much in 10 years, but still, we should do what we can. I will be doubling my 401(k) contribution (which I can becuase the other HC employees are no longer considered HC, which means I can give a bigger percentage without going over the discrimination limits.)

4) I think there will be a general rebellion at the ballot box against un-restrained government spending. It will get bigger, but the corruption in the governement will be too powerful for the people's voices to be adequatley heard.

5) My back pain will continue to get worse, as it has this year, and will deteriorate to the point where I will no longer be able to work full time. I will then need to devote my time to my wife, children and grandchildren.

6) Intenet viruses will effectively shut down the electrical grid on the East coast.

7) Al Quada will run out of suicide bombers. The new recruits will realize the lack of upward mobility and will decline their assignments.

8) Congress will shut down talk radio as subversive and inflamitory

9) The pope will declare, as an official communication, that he as been visited by an angel, who said his name was Maroni, and that Joseph Smith really was a prophet.

10) Unleaded gasoline in Los Angeles will exceed $5.00 a gallon.



So how visionary am I? Feel free to post your own predictions here.

Happy Thanksgiving

Matt, Lecia and Kennedy flew into Phoenix on Nov 21, and stayed until Friday afternoon. Kennedy had a huge smile for us as she got off the plane, as though she remembered who we were. She kept up the smiles all week and it was wonderful.

SO==> This little lady controlled our house for a few days. Her bright eys and "full-body" smile kept smiles on our her grandma & grandpas faces. By the way, she is NOT camera shy. This sequnce of pictures shows her reaction to the camera. In this first picture of 3, she doesn't really recognize that grandpa is taking a picture.

Then in this picture, she sees that, "oh ya, the camera is on!" Her eyes open up a bit and the face begins to animate.

She then turns it on for all the world and posterity to see. Still, she deserves the attention, just for the smile she turns in our direction.

She loves to have us help her walk. We could see her getting better and stronger as the week went on. Her smile seemed bigger when she could show us how big she was getting.

Oh yes, we did have a dinner here. The food was excellant. Only two pies, but we were only four adults, so it was okay.

Then 15 minutes later, the bellys were full, the food was partially consumed, and we were pretty happy.

Here is some bonus footage, of Kennedy showing here pacifier skills. I think all of our grandchildren have shown exceptional dexterity and skill with the binkie, and Kennedy is fitting in nicely.

2009 in Review

SUPER LONG POST

( but most of it is pictures)

The year started out with our 5th grandchild being born. We gathered at the hospital, knowing that this would be a sacred time - a time of joy and of sorrow. Little Emma was born on January 15th, 2009, but unfortunately, her little heart had stopped beating a few hours earlier.


This was one of the most difficult times I have ever experienced. The raw emotions of birth and death in the same room. The saving grace for me was the absolute knowledge that life does go on - that Emma has a different calling and work to accomplish. This was confirmed a few weeks later as I pondered in the temple. I might add here that my sure knowledge and understanding that families can endure through the eternities, cannot be expressed in this forum. The experiences are too sacred and private for public venue.

I carry a mental snapshot of the picture below, the small casket with Lecia playing prelude music. Lecia was due just one week after Tiffany's due date, so this was an especially difficult time for Lecia.
Then in February, on Andrew's birthday, Kennedy Mae Melville was born. Kayleen again went to Utah to be with our daughter. Kennedy is a delight to the family. We sometimes wonder how well Kennedy and Emma knew each other. Kennedy seems to bring an extra smile, to help ease the pain of her cousin moving on already.
In March, Kayleen and I trooped to Utah again. This time for a wedding. Phillip was able to arrange his two week leave during this time, and we were able to get Kristen to take some wonderful family pictures.
We were able to go through he temple with Tara for her endowment, and then witness their sealing in the Salt Lake Temple. We love having Tara in the family.

At the end of April, we flew up to Utah once again. Matt graduated in Math Education, and Mike graduated in Psychology.

We celebrated Ben's 2nd birthday by flying to Hawaii with Tim, Tiffany and the boys. We went hiking in a rain forest. The picture is of Peter and Grandma holding a leaf that some one (not in our party) cut off a plant. It was supposed to be an easy hike, but we were all extremely tired, sweaty and ready to be back in the Condo.

After Peter showed us the leaf, Ben apparently wanted to show us some leaves too. He called them "udder leaf".

We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Tim and the boys went over to the FIJI island and they got some cool tats.




In July, one of Lecia's friends returned home from a mission. Lecia and her friends had a reunion in Tucson. Brityn, Lindsey, Nicole and Lecia came to breakfast one day. The non-missionary friends each had a baby girl, and they were all born within 4 weeks of each other. Kennedy is on the left, Sophie in the middle, and Madelyn on the right.

In August, we again went to Utah, this time for education week. We stayed at Tim and Tiffany's, but we were pretty busy with classes, dinners, visits and such. I received a comment afterwards that we need to visit just to visit - no classes, no funerals or weddings. It is a good suggestion.

We flew up to Utah again in October for Conference. I was able to take Tim, Mike and Matt to Priesthood session, and then we went to dinner at Applebee's. We had one of the funner dinner's that I have attended.

I probably took more than my share of time off for vacation this year. It was a very good year in some ways, very difficult in others. My back pain is getting worse. But as with other trials, Father has a way of helping me through. For me, he sends dreams. I understand more about the pain and the reason for the adversities because of the specific messengers He has sent.

We still have a couple of months left in 2009. We are expecting our 7th grandchild in December. Matt, Lecia and Kennedy will be here for Thanksgiving. Life seems to be getting better and better - also busier and busier. I cannot help but wonder why Kayleen and I have been so abundantly blessed !!

Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow ... (revisited)

So the other day, I got a message on facebook asking that I look at a website dedicated to my graduating High School class. I looked up the website, registered and starting looking at some of the people I used to know. I added a two pictures, but unfortunately, they do make me look like I swallowed a bale of hay.

The class roster indicates those of our class who have left mortality. I knew about some of the recent ones (I have a link on my home page to the "Daily Herald" and I have been reading the obituaries faithfully for the past 3 or 4 months), but I have found out over 20 of my classmates have passed away. 50 or so of the class of 300 have registered on the website.

I have passed naturally into my role as a grandfather, but it is weird to think of all of us as having grandchildren. These are people I knew when I was 18. And since I have attended -0- (zero) class reunions, I have out of touch with the class for 37 years. And so, I put a few of the older pictures here, as a reminder that time does go on, and we ALL change.
In my case, I lost my hair and my "hang time."

So time passes on. I am excited about making contact again. I don't think I am trying to re-live my childhood. But it will be good to see where everyone has landed, what they have done, and what they are doing now.

Kayleen's Birthday

Yes, I will admit it now. I took Kayleen away for her birthday, and the airfares to Honolulu were cheaper than to Utah, or North Caraolina, or Florida, or Just about anywhere.

We stayed at the Marriott on Waikiki Beach. Someone got ahold of my credit card information, so I had to stop that card while I was here. We were on the 26th floor of the hotel, with a view of Diamond Head.

We looked around a bit, learned to ride the bus, and to hang out in the party scene. I will add a movie when I have a better connection, to show you what I mean.

It was a long weekend, but we fit a lot into it. It will be nice to be home again.

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.