It hasn't been a year yet...

So I noticed that the pictures from my previous post are quite old and that many of the people pictured are in totally different situations now. Anyone who says that their life is on hold just needs to look at a picture of themselves from the previous year and they'll be able to see whether life has changed them, or they have changed their life.
It seems like this family has always lived in Canada

In a couple of months, this will be a family of four:

The lovely lady below doesn't even live there any more and the tall kid could be living anywhere in the world speaking who knows what language in a few more months.



And this kid is managing performances and looking down the barrel of a bachelor's degree.

















All this while my wonderful wife and I watch the seasons change much too quickly out our back door. We must be over the hill because changes seem to be picking up speed!

So where'd that year go?

As my son wrote his year in review for his blog, I noticed that it's been a year since I blogged. Let's see if I can find some high points from my past year...

Way to go Keith and family: a masters in education!

It's best to shoot these in their natural habitat: on the move!

Our "Idaho Adventures" are always fun.

New Years is the perfect time for a weenie roast.
More to come!

Of Zoos and Zoobies

First of all, could someone let me know how to turn these wretched photos? They were rightside up before I put them in here.
This past week we went to SLC to meet up with family close and extended. In the morning, we had a wonderful time at Hogel Zoo with kids and grandkids.

She wasn't scared at all

No, the zoo occupants are NOT my extended family.

That lion was roaring and making Anni wonder what was going on

This little girl kept us all on the move.

My brother's daughter was married which brought family from near and far. It was great to see my nieces and nephews from a couple of states away, and we made plans to see them again next year for Spring Break/Training.

Oh how fun it was to hear about how many of these, my family, actually met while living at Campu Plaza while attending BYU. Hmm, maybe CP actually stands for Celestial Potential?

Great Grandma with one of her many Annabelle

Well the whole event was just a lot of fun!

Stonework: After the Crash

So I loved this grand stone BBQ when we moved into this place.













But after I found out just how obnoxiously difficult it is to actually cook on, I made plans for its removal. What I didn't know was just how much of the monolith was cement/mortar.  So upon examination prior to destruction, I noticed a crack up the back of the chimney. It took maybe 10 lbs. of pressure to make a 4'x2' slab fall four feet to the ground.  The rest of it came down almost as easily, the tough part being separating the mortar from some of the stone, and clearing the cement pad on the bottom.


Now, what am I to do with all this cement?

Oh the Places I've Been...

So summer has slipped away and I find myself neck-deep in school, soccer, side-work, and service.  I look back at where the summer went, and I see all the places where I went. What a grand summer it was!

There was Roosevelt:

The Salt Lake Temple Square Youth Conference:

The Empey Reunion in YC:

Redfish Lake Resort:

Glacier National Park:

and Bone Idaho:

What fun it's been, and even though one might think it's back to the grind now, actually I'm continuing to go other places and enjoy being with even other people:

Like soccer:

and family:

So keep a goin', and doin' and seein' and you'll find so much joy in the rememberin'.

The Dad I Hope to Be

The greatest influence on me being the father I am comes from how my dad approached the calling.  Granted he had plenty experience before I came along since I was child #7, but his efforts to raise me so impressed me as to make me want to be a wonderful father as well.

Ol' HG never gave me cause to wonder about my value to him as a son or human. I understood to give proper respect to authority, women, and life not because he demanded it from me, but because of his character showing such respect to others. If I have any liberal view of the world it is from his wisdom when speaking of civil rights and compassion in helping and giving to others. When creating or repairing any item, my perspective is influenced by a man that could make anything work given baling wire, epoxy, and a tool found roadside. Athletic contests introduced in my youth at home were boxing, wrestling, football, basketball, and baseball. My children love the big three but have acquired a taste for soccer and Foosball. Love of the great outdoors flows genetically through our blood, feeding campfires and long hikes. Thank you dad for setting me up for a wondrously fulfilling life.
Now, what makes me the father that I am is my wife. To be a great dad, I really needed a partner that is a great mom. Never would I have become any kind of father without the constant, loving encouragement of my dear wife. I credit her for my becoming what I am today and continue to treasure her companionship in this eternal work we have commenced. Thanks dear for this wondrously fulfilling life.

A Little Dab'll Do Ya

It seems like we usually get at least a dusting in town sometime around Thanksgiving each year.  This surely increases the ambiance of the season for we are most certainly grateful that we don't have lasting snow quite yet, as well as being thankful for the warmth and productivity of the previous summer with its harvest.  After growing up in California's Central Valley, I appreciate a good snowy winter here in Idaho.

Even this past week when I ran my early morning miles while temps were in the teens on Monday and through the snow on Friday, it was refreshing and quite enjoyable.  This morning's fun run was also nice, but quite a bit longer than what I'm used to.  I'm glad the the senior project collected so much food for the food banks, but I was excited to see the amount of participation by good people that may not be fantastic runners but did their best even in the sub-zero (Celsius) temps and through the remaining snow on the fields.  Yep, I'm convinced that I'll be running all through the winter this year and have fun as well as health.