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.

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.

Weekly Update

Note

The pictures don't have anything to do with the updates. I just like to sprinkle pictures of my family among the posts.

1. So after the Mission President recognized me in Sacrament Meeting, both missionaries assigned to our ward were transfered out. No replacements are anticpated within the near future.

2. We were in the temple on last Saturday. Cameron Hunt and his family were there, along with Amber Burnham. Cameron and Amber will be married today in Snowflake temple. It was good to see Lecia's "brother" doing his thing.

3. After discussing my list of things with the Lord (while in the temple), I had a thought - "what would I talk about if a speaker does not show up?" The answer was there and I thought about it a little on the way home, but gave it no real serious thought. Then Sunday, the companion speaker for the High Councilor did not show up. I already had my thoughts organized (The Law of Justice,) so I finished off the time.

4. I asked Kayleen what she wanted for Mother's Day. She said that she was feeling antsey because we had no trips planned. So I did a little research, and got a gonga deal for our Anniversary. Since we were apart for our 30th, we will do something special for our 31st. Kayleen got to do something special - visiting Lecia and Kennedy - but I stayed home with the auditors.

5. I got a frantic call a few days ago from Kim Mohr. A year ago she had asked Tim Wilson to marry her, but did not give him a date at the time. Fast forward to two weeks ago - she finally called to verify, and he is gone this weekend. Her parents weren't happy, Kim just wanted to find someone who could officiate, and I was available. It turns out Tim would have needed permission anyway, since Kim's records were back in my ward. So I married Kim last night. It went pretty well, all in all, but the stress on my back did cause a little extra pain.

6. We are going to the game on Monday. It is memorial day, and the D-backs and Fox Sports are doing a salute to the troops. I let them know that my wife is the mother of a soldier in Iraq. I am sure they get a lot of such requests, so we will see what, if anything happens.