Let's Get Opinionated

Hello all.

It's been a busy few weeks as you may know. We are going to be moving up to Roy in the next month with my new job on Hill Air Force Base. I will be working at DISA (Defense Information Systems Agency). I went to school for an Information Systems degree and am very excited to put it to good use. Many have told me that working for a Federal Agenciy is great. My first day is April 28.

We are also in the process of buying a house and I was hoping to find out what people think. I'm guessing that if any of you don't like the looks of it you won't be bold enough to say anything but nonetheless I'd love to hear your thoughts - positive and negative.


Here are the pics



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Now playing: Sam Bush & Friends - Molly And Tenbrooks
via FoxyTunes

Reflections of Hser Nay Moo

I was blessed by the loving smile of Hser Nay Moo a few times. She attended our church with her family, who was seeking love in a foreign land. She really did have a warming smile that is hard to forget (with or without her two front teeth).

As I have listened to people ask the question "Why?", I have thought to myself that even though this may seem like a senseless act of evil, we may be able to extract some light out of it. The media has helped to make the community aware of the refugee situation in the Salt Lake Area and they have only covered the tip of the iceberg.

In the past four years of living in this neighborhood I have personally worked with about a hundred missionaries. My efforts haven't been great but enough that I know that refugees need help and lots of it. Not just food, money, clothes and other material items but the opportunity of becoming a good part of the community. This communal integration can't be brought about by one person with a lot of time. It takes the entire community giving a little here and a little there.

I feel if we must have an explanation to the disappearance and eventual death of Hser Nay Moo then this is it. The community should seek out ways to help integrate refugees into our community so that they can lead successful, enjoyable lives in this exciting but strange land. Maybe just offering a smile. Taking some time to talk with them, giving them an opportunity to practice English. Finding out about their culture. Help them with work/education opportunities. Simply being nice.

I only knew Hser Nay Moo through her smiles and doing the "twist," but I bet she would want us to know that her life and death can serve a purpose for good.

God bless her family, especially her parents. May He comfort them.

We love you.

Easter Thoughts

I thought I would write some memories from this Easter Weekend. Saturday night we dyed Easter eggs at Grandma's. I took a photo of Kai's egg in the red dye and it reminded me of blood. Later on that night, Jason and I were talking about the Atonement and Resurrection and the symbols of Easter. I indicated that maybe we dye them as to symbolize our bodies being born (perfectly clean...white like an egg) and as we live our lives we have to go through a refiners fire (boiling the eggs to become solid) and then as we get old and have many aging spots and cracks (dyeing the eggs-sometimes in red dye and getting cracks here and there) we then die. After we die we will eventually be resurrected and given a new body that is perfect (cracking open the egg and seeing a hard boiled egg that is white and perfect and clean again, but this time it is solid/whole and won't break like the white outer shell). Just a thought.

Another thought that came to my mind was the fact that Easter came so quickly upon us. I wasn't at all ready for it. Since our front room has been under construction I didn't get any Easter out till the night before. I was totally unprepared and procrastinated till the last minute. Having done this made me think of the Second Coming of Christ. Will I be ready? Am I procrastinating? This Easter "sprung" upon me so quickly...just like the Second Coming...it too could come any time whether I am ready or not...my lamp being filled or not (or my Easter baskets as my comparison).

Another thought...

The humorous part-The Easter Bunny hid our hard boiled eggs throughout our play room. The kids went searching and found all but one. I was in no way going to leave the one not found. Kai had a great idea..He said, "We should email the Easter Bunny and maybe he could tell us where it is." If only we had done what Kai and said. Sure enough the last egg was found hiding on top of the computer (hidden under a half fallen picture frame). If we had gone to turn on the computer to email the Easter bunny we would have found it a lot quicker.

The more serious part-I thought about that last egg. I wasn't about to leave that egg in the house not found. Just the thought of the smell or the mess it could bring if Eli found it, or whatever, it HAD to be FOUND! It reminded me of the Savior and how He knows us personally and cares for each of us personally.

Matthew 18:11-13
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred asheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

The song in my head is about this very idea/scripture. I absolutely love listening to Stephanie Smith. http://www.stephaniesmithmusic.com/

I hope you enjoyed my Easter thoughts.

Best Wishes Uncle Brandon

It's been a week since Uncle/Brother Brandon went to the Mission Training Center. We're so proud of him. He's going to the Washington, D.C. South Mission. Jason was very excited for him, knowing what wonderful experiences he'll have there and on his mission. The MTC brought back many memories for Jason. It's hard to believe Jason went into the MTC 10 years ago and 1 week prior to Brandon. Two years goes fast.

Remodeling

Well, the dungeon is looking better all the time. Ever since we have moved in we have noticed a musty smell every time it rains and the furnace kicks on. It never concerned us to much until my birthday a few months ago. When we were cleaning up we discovered about thirty square feet of wet carpet behind the couch. It has taken a few months and a lot of melting snow to actually pinpoint the source but we're almost there.



As much as I didn't want to tear down the entire wall this Friday I decided it had to be done.



HERE'S THE FUN PART. When I brought Kai home from the bus I asked him if he heard about the earthquake. He had and I said, "Wait till you see what it did to our apartment." He couldn't believe his eyes. His reaction was, "WWWHHHAAAATTTT the Heck!" (Picked that up from his dad.)

When Kezia came out and noticed the wall she asked me, "Dad, are getting the rats out of the wall?"

Playing along I said, "Yes."

"Where'd they go? Did you throw them away?"

Chuckling, I responded, "No, I just let them go find another wall."

"Oh!"

It can be a lot of fun when kids aren't taken too seriously. She is such a cutie.

I sort of like the "New York Overpriced Penthouse" look. Since there will be messy sheetrocking to be done, we are also adding in little closet. It will help with the clutter.

Eli's First Birthday

Well that year went a little too quickly. Eli had an excellent party due to the wonderful family that we have. Many cute outfits and some fun, mostly educational toys. His mother went to town on the cakes (thanks Eve for all your help) all while sufferings symptoms of some flu-like bug. Check out the pics.

Look at that, I have more to say after the pics. I wanted to mention my feelings on the passing of Pres. Hinckley. It's amazing how we only fully realize what we have when we lose it. As has been said many he left a legacy of Temples, Communication, Indiscriminate Love and many other things.

My testimony has most been strengthened by his legacy of love. When I went to say my goodbye's to him I was overwhelmed by the feeling of his love towards me. His responsibilities covered millions, even the billions of people on Earth and for some reason I could feel that he loved me personally. It was humbling. It helped me better understand how much the Savior loves me personally.

Finally, as I contemplated the new presidency of the church I found myself feeling very confident with the selection that was made and I look forward to the exciting progression they will bring to the church and world. I know Pres. Monson is the prophet of God and as Pres. Hinckley led the church in inspired ways, so will he.

Monster Mayhem

Anybody that knows Kai, knows he loves Monster Trucks. We found this fun video on Youtube and thought we would share it with all. Take care.