Totally Ironic!

Monday I got a call asking me to meet with a member of the stake high council on Tuesday evening. So I spent the rest of the day and most of Tuesday wondering what I was going to be asked to do. I have served in a variety of stake callings over the years so I have some idea what they entail. I was trying my best to be positive and feel that whatever it was I could handle it among all the many stresses and challenges that currently exist in my life, but I was losing that battle. On the way down to the stake center I kept praying that I would just be humble and accept whatever calling they extended, at the same time praying it wasn't going to be the cannery again. Much to my surprise I have been called to be the seminary principal at our building! Considering the post from a few months back when I subbed in seminary and had a less than stellar experience I had to laugh at the thought that I would now be responsible to oversee the teachers and students that attend seminary at 6 & at 7am. The previous principal was a really great guy and he has developed a great report with the kids. He has a new stake calling and cannot do both so they had to replace him. I left the meeting feeling a mixture of relief (that I don't have to do the cannery!)and concern over trying to step into such big shoes. Since I am at the building every morning anyway with the kids it will only mean arriving 20-30 minutes earlier than usual and staying late to lock up. There are a few administrative things as well but nothing overwhelming. I was concerned about what the kids were going to say about having to be there early but I am blessed with children who are supportive when it comes to these things (if only they were as supportive of everything I ask!!!)so life won't change much. Hopefully I will be able to get to know the kids and develop as good a report with them as Br. Ackerman had. Life is so ironic at times!

Here Come the Brides

We're off to a running start this year with two weddings in the spring. Brittney will be marrying Derek Bratton on Saturday May 16th at the Snow Canyon Resort in St. George Utah and Alex will be getting married on April 18th to Nick Balmforth here in the Sacramento temple. We are excited to welcome both Derek & Nick to the family or should I say to the shoe!

Brittney & Derek -Alexandra & Nick

Super Dog!!

Apparently we have a super dog and we were completely unaware of her super powers! Since it is sunny out today for the first time in several days Greg & Carinna took Tank & Harley to the park to run off some of their excess energy. We sent Kaitlin along with Cleo. Since Cleo would wear out long before Tank or Harley Kaitlin could just bring her home when she got tired. Upon arriving at the park Tank was running everywhere with Cleo on his heels. He bounded up the play structure and Cleo decided that she needed to be in the lead. Apparently she did not realize that directly in front of her was a twisty slide and instead of going down the slide she jumped over the edge and "flew" miraculously to the ground! Now I probably should not laugh at this as she could have gotten hurt but I can't help smiling at the image of my little bulldog running unaware off the top of the slide all the while thinking she was beating Tank to wherever he was heading. I do wonder what was going through her mind when she realized that she was flying through the air with no solid ground beneath her! Thankfully the playground is covered in bark and she had a soft landing. She returned home unharmed except possibly her pride. Hopefully she will reign in her super power and not going flying again anytime soon.

Early resolution

At the end of November the question was asked in Relief Society - "What are you most thankful for?" My immediate answer - family & friends. As I have reflected on that question over the last few weeks and also prepared for my lesson next week on Elder Worthlins talk "Come What May and Love It" I have been reminded of all the experiences that have come our way this year. It has been a year packed with family trips, moves and additions. Each of these experiences has added greatly to our lives and to our joy. While not all of them have been easy they have all been beneficial. As I study Elder Worthlins talk I realize that I am okay with the come what may part of it, over the years that has become natural to me, it's the "and love it" part that is often missing! In hindsight I can see and love the lessons learned from the challenge but in the middle of it I often lose that ability. So I think for next year that will be one of my resolutions - to develop the ability to love what ever challenge Heavenly Father sends my way while I am in the midst of it. Knowing the magnitude of that perhaps it should be my only resolution!

Shopping or the Zoo, Hmmm. . .

I realize that I am the odd man (or should I say woman?)out when it comes to shopping, I really, really, HATE shopping! So of course when everyone else is going nuts over Black Friday I have absolutley no desire to participate. I have very strong opinions about the greed and materialism involved and how it is destroying our ability to take a day off and just enjoy our families and express gratitude for all that we have. How many people have to give up their family time on Thanksgiving now just to prepare for Friday's insanity? Then on the news we saw reports of stores that chose to stay open on Thanksgiving just to "get a jump" on the competition. Argh!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say we were looking for some other form of entertainment to occupy us on Friday and discovered that the Sacramento Zoo would have free admission all day Friday. They requested you donate a canned food item for the food bank as the price of admission but it was not required. So we packed up a grocery bag with cans (there were 9 of us going), and headed off. We had a great time and my faith in humanity was restored as the zoo was packed with families who had chosen to spend time together having fun rather than fighting for bargains.


Kelly & Kaitlin having fun

Riley & Kevin getting in on the act

I think if we look hard enough we might find these guys in our genealogy!

The whole crew

So much for dinner

Since we now have 11 people eating dinner every night things were getting a little crowded around our table for 6. So we headed off to Home Depot to get oak planks in order to make a new table top that will seat all of us, or so I thought. Little did I know that it wasn't really a table top that was being fashioned but a track base for the race cars. Needless to say the boys are happy and the girls are eating in the kitchen!

Birthdays, birthdays, & more birthdays!

October & November bring lots of birthday celebrations around here.

Katie turned 29 on October 6thAmanda turned 28 on November 13thBrian turned 29 on November 22nd (yes he & Amanda were both 28 for 9 days) Tyler thought dad was opening his gifts too slowly so he decided to help.Carinna turned 20 on November 23rd Brian & Carinna decided to share a cake since their birthdays are back to back so here is the Princess cake Brian baked for them topped by Carinna's Disney princesses she's had since she was a little girl.