Happy Birthday Trevor!

Even though you apparently died.

Eulogy

Trevor is really good at making friends and creating relationships. People feel at ease around him. He is also generous and sensitive, an excellent catch.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (I couldn't find a different picture)

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Way late tribute; I have always loved Ashley's energy and can-do attitude. I also appreciate how close to the surface her emotions are, she is completely without guile.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Dad!

There are a lot of things to like about my dad. He knows the answer to any question that I have ever had, from water pumps to taxes. His work ethic inspires me as does the way he dotes on his family (including the dog that replaced me when I left home).

Happy Birthday Dad!

Jacket Season

Columbus Day

To celebrate a chilly Columbus Day we went to Great Falls National Park. We 'hiked' (East Coast hiked, meaning flat walking) on the river trail and saw the old canal.

Some of the highlights: The gorge is really beautiful and MD saw lots of 'woo woos' (dogs - woof woofs) and said hi to lots of people.

Some of the low lights: Ann had on her BYU sweatshirt and some guy said 'Go Utah' as his initial greeting. What a horrible way to start a relationship or greet someone. I was so disgusted I couldn't say anything but Ann was very polite as we made a quick getaway.

This Weekend

I ran my first official race on Saturday (since high school), a 5k with a time of 24:26. Which isn't record breaking but about what I was shooting for. There were 1400 participants and we heard about it on Tuesday.

They had a giant pumpkin and a scarecrow on stilts walking around. I thought people would get trampled at the starting line but everyone was very civil and polite. Your time didn't start until you crossed the starting line so there was no need to be in the very front.

I'm debating doing a half-marathon next.

Today

This is Mary Deane.

This was Mary Deane today. Hopefully its just teething (molars) and its over soon.

If God were here what would He say?

Twice a year the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has General Conference. At the conference the leaders of the church (which include a prophet, apostles, and seventies - please see Ephesians 4:11/Luke 10:1,17) speak about important issues for our day and testify of Jesus Christ. The October conference starts tomorrow and ends Sunday.

To listen to the broadcast see the link below, or wait until the talks are printed and read them online.
http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,8870,00.html

Here is a picture of the first presidency of the church: Thomas Monson, Henry Eyring, and Dieter Uchtdorf. President Monson is a prophet of God comparable to Abraham, Noah, Elijah and others from the scriptures.

Hi!

Dry Soda Isn't For Everyone

Last while

The FSU loss still stings. Every time they choke or embarrass themselves like that I swear off football. What is the point of not being a fair weather fan, you know? Its just a game and who wants to watch losers. My problem is that I like teams that win just enough to make you think its possible to go all the way and then crush you. It can't be healthy, in fact its emotional abuse.

Its like a TV show that doesn't end. Each episode (sport season) you get your hopes up that something will get resolved but it leaves you hanging. Thats how the money is made. Your only choice is to keep watching, in agony; find a new show; or stop watching TV.

I don't know if I can keep watching, everybody knows the only two teams worth following are BYU and the Jazz so I can't find new teams, so the third option is the most viable solution. I'm going to stop watching and pick up a book or something until they actually give me some resolution.

That is just a sample of what has gone through my head. I'm starting to soften a little, but I'm still not going to watch tomorrow's game, that'll show them. And I'm taking the fight song off of my blog.

Luckily and unfortunately we were in the hospital during the FSU fiasco. Mary Deane had the flu, possibly that flu, and pneumonia. Her fever got up to 104. We, at least I, did our fair share of murmuring; as if MD doesn't have enough to deal with already.

So I wanted to share something that happened when we got home. We had scrambled eggs for breakfast, which we only do semi-annually, and tried to give MD some. She didn't eat it but did rub it around her mouth and it fell on her legs. A few minutes later she had rashes and hives all over, so to top it all off she has an egg allergy.

The next day at the doctor's office we were going to give her the flu vaccination and Ann brought up the egg incident. Who knew that flu vaccinations are egg-based? And that we would decide to eat them the day before her vaccination. She could have suffered a lot more than rashes if we had gone through with it.

Point being, we have felt Heavenly Father's support and love through the murmurable times. He has tried all of us while still keeping us safe. Like I've mentioned before, I used to believe in coincidences but I think He is more involved in our lives than we realize. Next time I think I'll murmur a little less.

Last while in photos

MD rides the wind

BYU 2-0!

BYU beats Tulane 54-3, on to Florida State.

MD's driving skills

Watch out future drivers!  She talked on the phone and didn't look at the road very much but I think she has some potential; and she still has a few years to get ready.

PS Seth flashes his brilliant smile and says hi to Grandma and Grandpa

More North Carolina fun

Happy 27th Anniversary!

My parents have taught me, from their example, that marriage is important, worth the work, and fun.  I wish everybody was lucky enough to have had parents that care for each other as much as mine do.  

Quote of the Weekend

After much internal and external debate I decided that it was too good to pass up.  The quote of the weekend came from Ann while she was enjoying the ocean.  A particularly hard wave sent her flying and when she got up she said loudly, "I got knocked up!"  

BYU 14 OU 13

For those who haven't heard, the #3 team (Oklahoma) in the nation just got beat by the BYU Cougars.  Just for the record, BYU did not win because Bradford was injured, the defense just played a great game.

Bring down the BCS!

Still bring earplugs

I spoke too soon, I'm pretty sure they're getting the broom handle again tonight.

A Mr. Roberts Moment

The last scene of the film 'Mr. Roberts' remains one of the most inspiring moments in movie history. Okay, maybe its not that great, but I grew up with the movie and it has always inspired me. After learning of his mentor's (Mr. Roberts) death, Ensign Pulver overcomes his fear of the tyrannical captain and fulfills his potential. A clip of the scene can be seen here:


Our neighbors above us have pounded, hammered, and stomped for months, as many a visitor can attest. Today, amidst the stomping, I could bear no more and ran up the stairs and knocked on their door to inform them of our feelings. Of course he was really nice and it appears they weren't aware of the problem. Months and months of bitter plotting (on my part, which included holding a crying MD up to the vents or taking a broom handle to the ceiling in the early morning hours) could have been avoided by a simple conversation. In fact, I think we'll invite them over for dinner.

So the experience didn't match up exactly with Ensign Pulver's but the feeling of accomplishment is the same (and our broom handle will only be used for sweeping now).

Sunday thoughts

Mary Deane says "just say no" to bad things 

What we are is the sum total of our good and our evil actions and desires.

Dallin H. Oaks - From his book 'Pure in Heart'

Also of note today was from Ann's lesson.  She read a talk from Elder Faust that pointed out that Jesus called his apostles as they were working.  Idleness only opens us up to temptation.

Outside the Box

Marines are learning how to use pack mules to take the fight to the Taliban.  I read the thin air isn't ideal for helicopters and neither is getting ambushed with 100 pounds on your back.  Mules cost $5 in Afghanistan so they're cost effective, but it looks like it takes three Marines to run one.

Eventful Weekend

We finally saw our snapping turtle.  It looks something like this.  That neck stretches out really far.  Apparently it is a fan of multi-grain cheerios and banana puffs.

MD's first daiquiri ice.
Lots of pool time lately.  The water is finally warm enough.
MD is oblivious to any and all obstacles in her life.  
.  

Never ceases to amaze

Country

Country was the music that we made fun of growing up.  Secretly I never hated it as much as I let on.  Now we live in an area that has very few radio stations, and most of it is talk radio.  The country station reliably plays music all the time.  More and more I find myself listening to that station and not minding at all.  

Happy Left Handers Day!

Ann told me that it was left-handers day.  We left-handers have come a long way, didn't they used to 'put us down' back in the day?

Happy Birthday Karlie!

Ann took the good picture of Karlie that we had on the computer, so I had to improvise.  Karlie is a fun to be around.  She can talk to you about anything and it will be a fun conversation.  Happy Birthday!  

PS - We're praying for her to get a job this week.

Nap

Right now MD is still sleeping.  She has been asleep for at least two hours.  She is still a little sick so I stayed home with her today.

Join the resistance.

For those who haven't heard, Iran just had an election.  A quick google search should get you up to speed.  I've heard that Moussavi isn't a huge change but I think they can only go up from where they're at now.

Funny Story

I think our three-hour church schedule is taking its toll. 

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=7341904

Happy Birthday Katy!

We had the pleasure of having Katy stay with us for a few days.  Katy has great style, and not just the fashion kind.

She is calm and collected, she is content and is always doing something productive.

You feel comfortable around her because she is comfortable with herself.

She is a great mother/wife/listener/traveler...

I'll save some for next year.

Happy Birthday Katy.

Not a woman yet

(KATIE IS ON THE LEFT)

Several blogs have insinuated that just because Katie is 18 that means that she is a woman.  Unfortunately that just can't be true because women date men exclusively and Katie isn't talking to guys yet (or so she assures me, ...somewhat unconvincingly now that I think about it).

Katie is one of MD's favorite aunts.  She is confident and fun to be around. 

She has ambition and direction, the right kind of direction.

Love you Katie,

HAPPY 18th. 

Good pictures

I think this picture is especially moving.  It brought up so many thoughts.  I tried to write them but I think I'll let you have your own.

  

I thought that this picture was funny.  Its from a strike at a factory, and the workers won't leave.  A side of South Korea we haven't seen yet.  I don't think those are water balloons.

Usually when I haven't blogged in a while it means I've been having a lot of fun

I'm not going to fix them, too much time and I don't know how to.

Fourth of July Weekend Activities

We thought we had enough time to put MD down for a nap before we went to the baseball game, but by the time we made it to the stadium the game was over.

At least we have the freedom to be depressed if we want to.

The day before the baseball game we looked for a free and quick activity; and found it at the NRA Museum.

Just the lingering smell of this place will repel liberals for the next week.

We saw some of Teddy Roosevelt's extensive collection, Billy the Kid's personal sidearm, a history of the rifle (and the story of the first shot that started the USA), a ranking (according to kills) of the Old West gunfighters, and a wall size depiction of the 2nd Amendment.

I even saw an M-4, which was one of my trusted companions in Iraq.  (M-4)

What made it even better, or disturbing, was that MD kept flapping her arms, saying 'Die, Die' over and over again (her word for diaper).

Nothing says Fourth of July like racks upon racks of firearms.

(Just as a disclaimer I don't own a gun and I do believe in diplomacy--but when it fails it sure is nice to have these NRA types around)

I hope you had a Happy 4th!!!

A fun Father's Day

So far this Dad gig isn't too bad.  

Breakfast in bed (Ann will have to tell you the secret of the swirls):

Head massages:
Although you do have to watch out for breakfast pirates:

She wasn't my present, but she enjoyed the paper

Thanks Ann, and MD, for a great Father's Day.