Liberty Jail, anyone??

Sunday is Ward Conference

I have been asked to speak for 8 minutes on (drum roll)

"The Refining Effect of Adversity."

As our family has seen a bit of adversity lately

• Kayleen's father passed away


• Two of her brothers have prostate cancer


• Emma


• Some more private health concerns in our family

just to name a few ( in no particular order. )

I have a few ideas already, but will welcome any comments, quotes or thoughts on the subject.

UNO

I don't usually post two posts in a day, but this is great. The first movie is Peter playing UNO with Grandma.



The second is Ben playing ... whatever Ben is playing- while chanting his mantra for the week; "DAD-DEE."

The Garden of Little Angels

May Our Granddaughter Rest in the Lord

Emma was laid to rest on January 20th in the Provo Cemetary. The funeral was short and respectful. Andi talked about the things we have learned through this experience. Kayleen read a short poem. I talked about the effects Emma has had in our lives. Kristen sang a beautiful solo "Consider the Lilies." Emma's Aunts and Uncles sang "He Sent His Son."




The temprature gauge in my car said that it was 12 degress. (BURRRR). This is actually a picture of Timpanogus with Jim and Becky's house in the foreground.




There is a little corner in the cemetary called the Angel Garden, reserved for small children and still born children. Emma was laid in a little plot where the angel looks over the children.


Tim dedicated the grave, one of the hardest ordinances he will ever have to perform.


We love and admire Tim, Tiffany, and everybody affected by Emma, her birth and her death. Our prayers continue to plead for comfort for Tim's family. Peter and Ben remain behind, reminding us of the love and experiences we will not share with Emma until the next life.

The Newest Bishop

Emma

Emma Charity Bishop was born on January 15, 2009 at 5:33 PM. She was born still. Tim and Tiffany knew going in that the chance of her not making it to her Birth Day was too high. Emma has taught us how to pray fervenatly to understand. She has helped us learn humility and love. She has helped us feel the gifts of peace and love from the Spirit. She has helped us remember that every birth is a heavenly miracle and that every death is the opportunity for someone to return home to Father. Tim and Tiffany now have three children.

They are a beautiful, eternal family. Emma has merely gone on to help prepare the way.

Looking Forward to 2009

The Very Best of Times

The holiday is over. It is time to go back to work. We have had a very good holiday. Mike Lecia and Matt drove in on December 22. Kelly, Andrew and Gabriel flew into Phoenix on the 23rd. Tara came in Christmas night, although with delays and broken engines, she really didn't get in until early morning of the 26th. We played super Nintendo,

Nintendo 64, and Mike brought his Nintendo Wii with him. We played a few games, ate some excellant food, and engaged in frivelous and sometime entertaining conversation. All in all, we had a great two weeks. Mike, Tara and Matt drove back on Jan 2. Lecia flew back the same day, but got back a LOT sooner than her husband and her brother. Kelly and the boys are still here.

Matt got (the DVD) Kung Fu Panda for Christmas, so we watched that movie pretty much everyday. We tried watching a few other movies, but Kung Fu Panda was the Number 1 choice by Andrew and Gabriel. I tried bowling, golf and baseball with the Wii, but bowling was the only one I was any good at. I watched Matt build his own Mii (character) on the Wii, so I decided to try too. Matt called his BIU. I thought maybe it was Japanese for "Good looking Son-in-law), but he said it was simply an acronymn for "Bad Influence Uncle." So I build a guy that was short, pear shaped, bald, with gray / silver hair. He is just like me, except he can bowl. The last 7 games he only had 5 open frames and was well into PRO status. (In the picture below, Gabriel does NOT want his picture taken. He thinks I will steal part of his soul or something. )

So it is time to be serious again. The reality of going to a funeral for my grandaughter is setting in. This time of year at work is my busy season, dealing with month end and year end and the government and regulatory reporting issues.

But I will remember this past year. It has been one of my very best ever, not becasue of where I have been, but becuase of time spent with our family.

Dawning of a New Era

The World was Changed Forever

I have written before about the incredible sunrises and sunsets we experience in Tucson. The past 10 days or so have been awesome. One morning as we were arriving, one of the owners said that we had a "weird sky." I told him to take a second look. With the lighting, clouds and shadows, you could look at the mountains and get a feeling for just how big the earth is. People call Montana the "Big Sky" country, but we have been seeing that now for a while.


Today while driving into work, the sun was reflecting on the clouds both in the East and the West, giving the illusion of both a Sunrise and a Sunset. I was totally astonished. It made me think of how astonished the people must have been way back 2008 years ago. The prophets had told the people that they would know of the birth of the Messiah, because of the "day, a night, and a day" of daylight.

"And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand. And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

(3 Ne 1:15 - 17 )"

It is fitting that the Light of the World was born after a night of light. At the rising of the sun after a night of no darkness, the world was changed forever. We have witnesses of his birth, of his life, of his death, and of His ressurection. Some of the witnesses lived when he lived. But we have modern prophets and apostles who testify of the Risen Lord.

"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-- That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. (D&C 76:22-24).

And now we celebrate His birth. Some people, in the name of tolerance or political correctness, are trying to eliminate Him from the holiday. But He lives. Whether we follow Him or not, He lives. Whether we strive to keep His commandments, or not, He beckons to us. Whether we acknowledge Him or not, He suffered, bled and died for our sins. He truly is the Savior, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, and the Redeemer of all mankind.

Gratitude for our Abundance

Family is our most prized "Possession"

We spent a few days in Utah with our children and grandchildren. It was a very precious and joyful time. We first attended Peter's Birthday party. Peter was an amazing young man, showing gratitude and excitement for any present.

We played Apples to Apples with the group assembled. I didn't do well, but we had a great time. Ben wanted us to know that he was there too.

Thursday was thanksgiving. Thanks to Tim, we achieved an excellent "Pie to Person" ratio. I had been talking about my Ice Cream salad, but we turned it into a pie. Ben and Peter helped me make it. We put the "salad" into an Oreo pie crust and covered it with Heath Bar Shell topping.
We met Tara's parents (Rock and Carol) for lunch. on Friday. I don't have a picture of them, but I do of Mike and Tara.

We were downstairs with the young boys, and I noticed how much Ben watches and imitates his older brother. In the first picture, Peter is lying on his stomach reading a book. Ben is watching. Less than 30 Seconds later, I took the 2nd picture.

We went to the park to play three days in a row. Grandpa had to go to "Time Out" for a while for bad behavior, but Peter was merciful and let him out.

And then, of course, the older boys had to have a contest to see who was better at ...whatever ?