Hope for our future

The primary program in church today was one of the best I have ever attended.  The spirit was so strong and I was moved to tears at multiple times.

The children sang so beautifully and clearly.  They know the songs and sang them from their hearts.  It is always especially touching when they add sign language to the singing.  The children work hard to learn the songs, practice them, and learn the sign language that accompanies the lyrics.

Seeing their bright and hopeful faces, hearing their testimonies in song, and feeling of their spirits, gives me hope for our future.  They are truly a great generation, saved for this dispensation of time to usher in the second coming of our Savior.

Solar Eclipse

Today we will experience a partial (70%) solar eclipse today over the next 3 hours or so.  Last night the kids and I made some viewing boxes similar to what I made in 3rd grade when ironically enough I was living in Arizona (Chino Valley) and fashioned a similar tool out of an oatmeal can.  February 26, 1979 also a Monday.  I remember very clearly making the viewer the week prior then safely watching the phases of the eclipse.  Back then solar glasses were not nearly as readily available and we did what we could with what we had.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Solar_eclipse_animate_(1979-Feb-26).gif

Very very cool that my kids can now experience something similar.

My father is on his way up Wyoming Peak even as I write this, of course if I know Dad he probably left plenty early to be in position well before necessary.  I wish I could have made that hike with him.  I made that hike with him from the Old Mill in Dry Creek Canyon and back (50 miles round trip) when I was 11 as part of the 50 miler award for scouting.  Dad just texted me as I am writing to inform me that he is on top.  Talk about being in sync!!!  

Today is also President Monson's 90th birthday and I challenged the kids to do something kind for someone else per his birthday wish.  This past weekend Carter and I participated in Stake Youth Conference and we were able to do a lot of service for several area charities and non profit organizations.  From 9-4:30 then a pool party from 6-8:45, then Sunday evening 6-8 for the wrap up.

The First Day of School 2017-18

Well we have begun a new school year.  Lots of preparations leading up to this day.  School shopping to find all the cutest outfits for Madelyn and durable clothes with room to grow for Carter.  New shoes, Open House events, schedules, planners etc.

Last night I had the cherished opportunity to give each of the kids a blessing.  I remember my father doing the same for me and my siblings as we progressed through our respective academic journey's.  I can clearly remember getting a blessing from my father each year of college as well.  I have gone to my father at other times when changing a job and getting ready from my mission and then marriage.  I remember asking my Uncle Evan to stand as proxy and give my a father's blessing before I started my job at General Motors.

I'm grateful that I have continued this tradition with my children and that they look forward to getting these blessings and the fact that they've learned that the Priesthood is very real and that they can and are truly blessed by it.  It warms my heart when they remind me that we need to have blessings before the first day of school and of course when they feel sick or need other spiritual lifting they have come to me and asked for a blessing.

I know that Satan is aware of the blessings of the Priesthood as well and that he is working overtime on our family.  We have reestablished a habit of Family Home Evening as well as nightly Scripture Reading.  These both help to build up our family so it makes sense that the he would do more to counteract it.  Knowing this helps us to put things into perspective and remind ourselves that when he's working hard we must be doing something right.

On the way to work this morning I was listening to Alma Chapter 7 and like many places in the scriptures reference was made to the Atonement and the infinite sacrifice that it is.  I pondered the fact that he did this for ever person I was passing on the freeway coming and going, for every person I'd ever met or seen regardless of their situation in life.  I reflected by to a time on my mission where I stood on a bridge for a fireworks display and the river bottom what filled with a sea of people in both directions for as far as I could see.  I remember an announcer commenting that there were a half a million people in attendance.  The shear magnitude of that many people is mind boggling and to think our Savior atoned for multiple times that many people.  Truly an infinite sacrifice.

I am grateful for the Priesthood throughout my life and glad that I can carry on the traditions of my forefathers.

The Journey of 1000 Miles

It is said that the journey of a 1000 miles begins with one step.  Events of the last couple days have reminded me of this.  I'm also reminded that we never know where our influence will end or how far it will go.

In September of 1996 I spoke in Stake Conference at BYU on the topic of missionary work.  I had recently returned from a trip to California where I had place a Book of Mormon with My Uncle Dan and Aunt Betty (Uncle Stan Fittinger's sister)  Although the placement didn't result in a commitment to hear the discussions from the full time missionaries, I had planted a seed.

In August of 2006 I returned to California to attend the wedding of my Cousin Bret.  At one of the receptions my Aunt Betty approached me and said, "You'll be happy to know we joined your church and we were recently sealed in the temple." Of course she meant The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Not only had Dan and Betty joined but my cousin Steve, their son, and his family had joined as well.  They too received the blessings of the temple.

Yesterday afternoon I got a message from the Bishop I served with in Maryland and he thought I should know that Leonard Evan, someone I had a long history with, was getting his endowments out today.  I mentioned this to Elizabeth and felt like I had the sky miles to make the trip.  Liz wanted to go with me so we used all the miles and a little bit of savings and caught a red eye flight first to Atlanta then to Philadelphia.  The Bishop picked us up at the airport and we made the trip over to the temple.

Now, back in 2008 I met Leonard for the first time as I was an Elder's Quorum President working to reactivate members within our ward boundaries.  In time Leonard came back to church and little by little became very active in the church.  In 2014 I moved to Arizona and the family remained while we worked to sell our house there.  In 2015 on a return trip to Maryland I was able to attend Stake Conference where Leonard was presented and sustained to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.  I had the great honor of conferring that priesthood on Leonard and ordaining him to office of Elder.  And then earlier today, I got to see the priceless expression on his face as I entered the chapel to go through the session in which he received his endowment.

Liz and I had been part of the building of the kingdom that brought about the Temple in Philadelphia so it was an added bonus to get that chance to attend this particular temple.

Back with my Bishopric.  (Left to Righ) Randy Griffiths - 2nd Counselor, Me 1st Counselor, Leonard, Bishop Coldesina. 

Married in the Salt Lake Temple 18 years ago next month

Reflection

I'm looking at a deep blue sky filled with puffy white clouds spanning Arizona as far as I can see.  I'm reflecting on my heritage and all of the generations that went before me.  My ancestors and their trials and the lessons they taught and still teach me.

I stumbled across a "resume" that my great uncle Darwin wrote.  It is a nine page write up documenting a little bit about his parents and siblings.  Having grown up in the same Rocky Osmond that he refers to as the 80 acre family farm it takes me back to my own childhood and frankly reminds me once again that I would very much like to put on paper my own life story.

I can't help but wonder if someone will take as much interest in my life as I do in the lives of my ancestors.  It's amazing to me that in my 45 years, now in my 46th, all of the places I've been and the things I've seen and the people I've met.  All that I've accomplished seems in some ways to be a result of my DNA.

Anyway just a short note but a statement of resolve that I will one day write my story if even only for myself.

Our Eagle Scout

Between 7-8 PM this evening Carter went into a room with 3 gentlemen selected to represent the Boy Scout Council and gave an accounting of his journey to Eagle Scout.  Carter recited the Law and the Oath like he'd done a hundred times before, but this time he had to explain to the Board what those things meant and what they meant to him.

Carter has worked hard for the last 5 years and just five days past his 16th birthday he was unanimously approved to receive his Eagle Scout Award.  He was told that he had completed an exceptional project and that his packet/binder, that tracked all of it, was the best they'd ever seen.  They asked him how much of it he did and how much his parents did and he proudly reported that he had done all the work.  Elizabeth and I helped him along the way but Carter did the work and the project is intended to have the Scout lead and not to do all the work.

Carter cried on the way home because he felt the magnitude of what he had accomplished.  Only 4% of all scouts actually achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.  I am part of that number and I am proud to welcome Carter to the Eagle's Nest.

We were instructed not to plan a Court of Honor until we receive the official paperwork from National but the date recorded for his advancement will be January 12, 2017.  The nice thing about this is that the weather will be more conducive to family visiting and we have plenty of time to plan and prepare an excellent program.

The Literacy Event Eagle Project

Well all the planning and preparation finally came to a pinnacle.  Carter and 18 volunteers traveled to the Sojourner Center and read to the women and their children.  Using books, that we collected over the past two months, shared topics about kindness and appropriately handling emotions.  The messages were well received and the volunteers got to see a slice of society they probably don't get exposed to very often if at all.

When we were finished with the reading and the activities associated to them we had donuts.  At this point a large group of the youth and one leader left to head home.  The rest of the leaders and I stayed back with the scouts (Carter, Jackson, Ethan, and Evan) to string lights in the courtyard .  Julie Peterson one of the other directors there was moved to tears by the showing of kindness toward the residence.  She said, "In the eight years I've worked here I've never seen anything like this."

Some of the children on sight lit up as they say the pretty lights and I think it's great that his project coincided with the kick off of #LighttheWorld that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has initiated this year.

On the way out of the shelter I noticed two young mean visiting with one of the residents.  I walked over to confirm and indeed these young men were Missionaries for the LDS church.  They were having a lesson under a street lamp on the cold sidewalk.  Elizabeth (as a director) quickly made known to them that they could meet inside a classroom that is inside the first gate but not inside the second.  For three weeks they had been having their lessons with this woman on on the curb.  When you think about it it was really just like the way the Savior would have conducted his ministry.  I'll be curious to see how things go with the discussions and her progression through them.  Definitely the meek of the earth.

On the way home Carter went on and on about how he felt the spirit while engaged in the reading.  How he felt impressed that what he was doing was making a difference in the lives of these children.  I of course agree that what he did for his project was a wonderful thing and how proud he and his mother are of him.

We have some paperwork to complete but for the most part Carter is done with all the requirements he needs to receive his Eagle Scout Award.  Our goal was to complete it prior to his 16th birthday next month so he would also qualify for the Denali Award, the highest award possible in Varsity Scouts.  He had most of the requirements for Denali completed but he had to have a rank advancement as one of the requirements while a Varsity and in connection with the other requirements.  Since he became life before he was 14, Eagle was the only rank advancement left to complete.  So it was great incentive to get going on his project since he already has all the merit badges completed and then some.

I AM proud of Carter and how hard he's worked to get to this point.  Nothing has ever come easy for Carter so this is a tremendous accomplishment.

Solar Eclipse

I remember participating in a partial solar eclipse on October 2, 1978.  It was my grandfather's birthday and I was a student at Chino Valley Elementary school in Chino Valley Arizona.  I would have been approaching my own 7th birthday and in Mrs Gertijensen's 2nd grade class.

I remember building something out of an Oatmeal Can to safely observe the eclipse.  I can still remember the experience in the playground very clearly.

On August 21, 2017 we will have a total Solar Eclipse and I look forward to sharing the experience with my wife and kids :)

To New York & Back

What an Awesome trip we had.  Liz and I had a great retreat for just the two of us.  We flew into JFK and rented a car, which we drove to Maryland.  We stayed the first and second in Newark DE just across the border.  On our drive into Maryland, for the wedding the next morning, we got pulled over in a very predictable spot (same place Liz got a ticket when we lived there).  The officer was very nice, and once he saw my Arizona license he told us he wouldn't give us a ticket.  He did run it just as a precaution because apparently Arizona is the most commonly faked ID.  Ironically we saw one the night before when a college girl, trying to get into the same Pub we were eating at, got busted with a fake Arizona ID.

The wedding for Kayla was very nice.  Kayla is a young lady that I home taught and saw baptized as part of a part member family.  I ordained her younger brother to the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods in the time we lived there.  We have stayed in touch with this great family and we are hopeful they will all return to full activity in church and for Kayla to make it to the temple to be sealed to Will and her boys.

We got to visit Kilby Cream for some delicious ice cream that we loved while we lived there.





                                               

We 

We got some delicious crab cakes and salmon at the hotel restaurant after that.  Desert first became a theme on the trip. 

Sunday morning we went to church and got to reconnect with a lot of members that were part of our lives for the 8 years we lived in Maryland.

The drive back to JFK, to return the car, took us twice as long as the drive to Maryland (about 5 hours) because of the traffic in the city and accidents didn't help.

We got the car returned and caught the metro into the city for our first show.  Beautiful was very good even though we were late getting there because I had the time wrong by an hour.  We missed the first 40 minutes but we made the most of it.  For dinner we at at the Bar & Grill in Bryant Park, not far from our Hotel.

 

On the morning of the 18th we got an early start and went to China Town, Little Italy, and SoHo where we got a Chinese reflexology on our feet and a short shoulder and back rub.  We had a delectable lunch in Little Italy which was very romantic (I had gellato before we had lunch, theme)

CHINA TOWN

             

                       

LITTLE ITALY

                                           

                                      

                                                  

                                 

After the Fashion District in SoHo we made our way to Chelsea's Market to check it out.  It was cool but not spectacular.