Around the Bend comes Number 10...

A different Kind of Day

This morning as we woke up, Kayleen asked if I wanted to do something different. It turns out, an old steam locomotive would be coming through and would be scheduled to leave the train station at 9:00 AM.  So we packed up some chairs and books, and found a place to look for the train. At 9:15, sure enough, the arms come down and a train passes.  It didn't appear to be anything different than a diesel powered engine. 

 So we waited and 15 minutes later, another train passed, but from the other direction.  It also was not the steam locomotive.

After an hour, Kayleen said, "is today the 12th?"  I said, "No, it is the 8th.  This is my five year anniversary of being ordained a Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." She realized that the train was supposed to come through on the second saturday of the month and that was to be the 12th.  I told her that sounds like November.
We had a very enjoyable morning. It was cool and crisp, and I was in the very best of company.  And we scouted out a very good place to watch the Steam Locomotive come through in five weeks.

Education Week

We did go to education week.  We did attend classes, but the best part of the week was spending time with family.  Cameron seems happy to see Grandma too.

This is a great picture, Big Rock with Little Rock.  Little Rock was holding court with Grandparents. Seems he approves of all four.

We spent Wednesday afternoon at the pool. Kennedy puts on her water wings and becomes part fish.  She loves the water.

We went to a photo shoot.  I managed to annoy the professional photographer by taking a few pictures for myself.  Here the family seems like a normal, happy family ...

The boys seem to be all polite smiles and best behavior .....

At least until the water sprinkler comes on ....

The boys get soaked in their Sunday best.  The smiles now seem a little more devious than polite...

And soon the whole thing deteriorates into an all out war. Hunter in packing two heaters looking for anyone he can.

The next morning, Peter shows his skills at Soccer

 In Ben's first ever game, he scores a goal early in the first half...

 And Hunter managed to get some frosting on his face.

Lecia Dawn's 85th Birthday Party

We flew up to Idaho for a short weekend to celebrate Kayleen's mother's birthday. All of Kayleen's siblings were there, along with many of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  We had a lot of food and some very good conversation.  Here are some pictures of my grandchildren just being cute.

Rock had a hard time, but he was able to chill somewhat.  

Kennedy and Cameron played outside a lot.  Kennedy spent a lot of time in the pool, even when she was in clean pajamas and wasn't supposed to get in the pool

In order to eat the corn, we had to sit around and shuck the corn.  Hunter supervised the process.

Kennedy enjoyed the fruit of the labors, along with everyone else.

Peter and Ben payed "that tennis" game. It was the first time they played, so they each used two paddles in an attempt to gain some advantage.

After playing hard, it was only right that they were at the front of the line for dinner.

Cameron, on the other hand, mostly looked cute and won over the hearts of many.

Its nice to remember that there are areas of the country that can grow things. I really do love Idaho.

Todd is getting married this week. I need to let his future wife know that he was hanging out with another women. But then Cameron did win over the hearts of many.

A Great Holiday Weekend

This weekend was for Rock Avery Bishop.  He certainly is cute and very responsive, enen though he is only 6 weeks old. 

Saturday I helped Lecia watch the children while most everyone else helped at Tim's house, get ready to paint and re-decorate. We let the boys play with the water table. Hunter, of course, preferred playing in the mud instead of the water table. 

 Sunday dawned, and Rock was looking pretty grown-up and studly in his new suit. Mike was a little nerveous, but pronouced a beautiful blessing. 

 We went to Tara's parents for a nice luncheon after church.  Peter and Ben picked a few cherries and ate a lot of Cheetos.  Monday morning, Peter, Ben and Hunter took their dad and me to the balloon festival.  It was interesting until the wind picked up and through a balloon onto Hunter, Peter and Tim. I saw it coming and got Ben out of the way.

 This is just a picture of the boys hanging out by a balloon that is being inflated.

 I went over to Lecia's to help with the boys again.  We decided to let them paint. It was a great idea for Peter and Ben. 

It may not have been a great idea for Hunter. You can see his war-paint and his hands. What you can't see are his socks. He walked over the top of the picture.  It may have been artistic license or something. 

We went back over to Rock and Carol's house for a bbq in the afternoon.  It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend.  Its to bad Kayleen couldn't be there, but we will return to the motherland in a few weeks.

A Week With Mickey

The week went by as fast as the Dumbo Ride. It seems you stand in line forever and then in the blink of an eye, the ride is over. So it was with the whole week.

Each one of the grandchildren had their own favorite rides and memories

Hunter didn't get to go on as many rides, but he found some good hiding places where only he could go.

 We all met with Mickey for a family picture.  Some cast members used our cameras to make sure that everyone of us got into the picture.

We had to rest from time to time. Grandpa did pretty good, but still isn't as strong as he used to be. 

On Thursday morning, we had a breakfast with in Ariel's Grotto. Several of the Disney Princesses showed up to meet with the guests. Here they are with Sleeping Beauty.

Minnie Mouse showed up. She was Kennedy's Favorite

Cinderella took time to pose with Ben and Kennedy

Ben and Peter competed in the Bumper Cars. I wish I had video of the first part of their ride.

Friday Morning, our grandchildren found Mickey just inside the park entrance. The park hadn't officially opened yet, so we got some good pictures. Our family was the last ones they let take pictures before Mickey had to go with his escorts.

Kennedy loved the car rides. She didn't want to get out of this car, but luckily it was stationary. When she rode in the car for the Monsters, Inc ride, she WOULD NOT get out when the ride was over. I think she liked the little TV screen that was there for her to watch.

The week went by quickly.  We are tired and sore, glad to be home, but feel  blessed to be able to spend Marriott Points building memories in this way.

Burning a hole in my pocket

Wally called.  A distribution of Mom & Dad's estate is coming.  I'm thinking of using it for a "gathering" of the entire family.  Top choices would be...
1) Hawaii (Maui or the Big Island)
2) Disney World / Disneyland
3) Aruba- or another island in the Caribbean
4) A cruise (Alaska? Caribbean? Hawaii?)

I'm thinking that the Beach gatherings would be held in June or July 2012 and that the Disney gatherings would be Christmas 2012.

Any thoughts or further suggestions?

Building Faith in Christ Part 3.0 to 3.2

Learn of Me

As the Savior prepared His apostles for the final sacrifice, he prayed, “Father, hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:1-3)

     This is a most important concept, that the Atonement is to reconcile as men and women to God, so that Father may grant eternal life as a gift to His faithful sons and daughters.  But in order for the atonement to be effective, we need to come to know God. We come to know Him, by becoming acquainted with the Savior. So then the question is, what must we do to become acquainted with the Savior?

     The first thing is to study the scriptures, especially the New Testament and the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ.  These two collections teach us about the life and mission of Christ, about the things he endured for our sake, and about the life He asks us to live.  Early in his earthly ministry, he taught, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

     The people wanted a Savior to free them from bondage. Jesus promised deliverance, but not from the political bondage of Rome, but from the spiritual bondage of sin, and from the bondage of the “traditions of their fathers.” When they refused to recognize Him as the promised Messiah, he told them to read the scriptures, and if they truly searched, they would find that the scriptures testified of Jesus of Nazareth. Eternal Life, as promised in the Scriptures, can only be realized when we know who are Savior is. So first we study the scriptures to find out who Jesus Christ is and what we need to do.

     The study also includes the words of the modern apostles and prophets. These words teach us about what Jesus has on His mind for us now, the things we need to know and do in order to survive the current temptations, trials and conditions in our days.

     Many people have searched the scriptures before we have.  Same have written books and papers on their studies, sharing insights and epiphanies gleaned from their studies.  It is okay for us to read and understand some of their insights. But for us to come to know the Savior truly, we need to personally engage in the study process and gain our knowledge of the scriptures. Moroni promised us that as we read and engage the scriptures, we will come to know of their truthfulness, that is, to know of the Divinity of the Risen Lord.  The spiritual witness of the Holy Ghost is the knowledge we seek first.  That spirit lets us know that our hope is not in vain, and that Jesus has prepared the Way for us. Personal scripture study provides the basic doctrines and witness, a stake in the ground for us to always return to when times become turbulent.  

     The second thing is to obey the commandments. The commandments are not harsh restrictions merely to prove that He is our master.  Rather obedience teaches and disciplines us to chip away the imperfections of our character and to build the strength of spirit needed to control the knowledge, power and responsibilities that Father wants us to receive.

     The great artist Michelangelo was asked how he was able to create the amazing statue of David from an imperfect, discarded piece of marble.  He replied that he visualized the statue inside the rough rock, and chipped away and polished everything that did not belong.  The commandments of the Lord are to help us visualize the ideal, the person we want to be, and to begin to remove those characteristics that do not belong. 

     Obedience is not optional, if we desire to truly seek to know the Savior.  Jesus was obedient in all things. In order to understand His character and nature, we too must strive for obedience in all things. As mortal men, total, complete obedience is not possible.  The striving for obedience and the repentance process moves us closer to the Savior. Not only do we understand His Character, we also come to rely upon Him to help us overcome these weaknesses, transgressions or outright sins.

     At times we seek for selective obedience. We justify a little sin, telling ourselves that since we are working on some bigger sins, these little things won’t matter much. We must come to realize that the “little sins” will keep us away from the promises of Eternal Life as much as major transgressions. As Elder Neal Maxwell used to say, we cannot seek our mansion in Heaven while keeping our summer cottage in Babylon.