So Jess has been talking a lot about some guy named Jim. I overheard her two days ago on the phone telling a friend.
Not sure if I should be worried or not. She says she has just started going to Jim's again?
Again????
When did she used to go to Jim's?
I don't remember her going to Jim's since we've been married.
Apparently she's gone over to Jim's two or three times in the past week.
Supposedly Jim makes her feel really good.
This Jim claims he's gonna help her lose weight. What guy says that to a girl? (I tell her she looks great just the way she is.)
The weirdest part is that last night she actually admitted to me how excited she is to be hanging out at Jim's on a regular basis again. She says she now has more energy and is a lot happier.
Maybe I need my own Jim.
Or maybe I should start spending more time at Ms. Pool's.
Haven't hung out with her much since high school.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The Journey--Entry 1
Well, I'm making progress again.
I've been on a journey to lose weight for a number of years and have been very successful at losing weight. It's just keeping it off that's a challenge.
Of course, I have lost the same 20 or 30 pounds at least 20 times since I returned home from my mission, but I always gain it back (often with a little extra).
This time I am planning on a different outcome. So far, so good. I'm down 18 pounds since I started. I'm not quite ready to announce my actual weight on the blog, I think I'll wait until I;m closer to reaching my first milestone. Suffice it to say--this journey's gonna be long. My first milestone is 50 pounds. If I can do that, I can do the rest. So far, I'm down 18. 32 more to go. I'm trying to take it slow and steady--eat better, decrease my portions, and exercise at least once a day (sometimes twice).
I'm gonna hit that first milestone. Hopefully by the end of October--October 27th to be exact. The question is, what am I gonna do to celebrate when I get there? Eat?
I've been on a journey to lose weight for a number of years and have been very successful at losing weight. It's just keeping it off that's a challenge.
Of course, I have lost the same 20 or 30 pounds at least 20 times since I returned home from my mission, but I always gain it back (often with a little extra).
This time I am planning on a different outcome. So far, so good. I'm down 18 pounds since I started. I'm not quite ready to announce my actual weight on the blog, I think I'll wait until I;m closer to reaching my first milestone. Suffice it to say--this journey's gonna be long. My first milestone is 50 pounds. If I can do that, I can do the rest. So far, I'm down 18. 32 more to go. I'm trying to take it slow and steady--eat better, decrease my portions, and exercise at least once a day (sometimes twice).
I'm gonna hit that first milestone. Hopefully by the end of October--October 27th to be exact. The question is, what am I gonna do to celebrate when I get there? Eat?
Sunday Thought--First Day of School
Tonight we continued a tradition dating back to my early youth--Father's blessings on the night before school.
I remember the special Spirit that came each year as my father would lay his hands on each of our heads and bless us the night before school started. I was always anxious at the start of a new school year and the blessings were a great source of strength and peace for me. I am so thankful that he was always there for me.
Tonight I placed my hands on Tayler's head in preparation for first grade. I am so humbled to be her dad and so excited for all the learning and growth opportunities that will be hers this year. She has such a sweet spirit and I love her so much. It seems like only yesterday that she was heading out the door to preschool with a Dora backpack that was as big as she was. It was slightly less than a year ago that Tay and I headed out to her first day of Kindergarten. Parents came for the full two hours that first day and Jess was in the hospital with Jayson. Tay was so excited. I was close to tears. It's a lot tougher than I thought to watch your kids grow up.
Tonight Jess cried. Then Tayler cried. Rylee wasn't sure why all the tears were coming, but she climbed up on my lap and asked me why I wasn't crying. "Just saving it until later, Rylee, when everyone else is asleep". Just like my dad did I suppose.
I remember the special Spirit that came each year as my father would lay his hands on each of our heads and bless us the night before school started. I was always anxious at the start of a new school year and the blessings were a great source of strength and peace for me. I am so thankful that he was always there for me.
Tonight I placed my hands on Tayler's head in preparation for first grade. I am so humbled to be her dad and so excited for all the learning and growth opportunities that will be hers this year. She has such a sweet spirit and I love her so much. It seems like only yesterday that she was heading out the door to preschool with a Dora backpack that was as big as she was. It was slightly less than a year ago that Tay and I headed out to her first day of Kindergarten. Parents came for the full two hours that first day and Jess was in the hospital with Jayson. Tay was so excited. I was close to tears. It's a lot tougher than I thought to watch your kids grow up.
Tonight Jess cried. Then Tayler cried. Rylee wasn't sure why all the tears were coming, but she climbed up on my lap and asked me why I wasn't crying. "Just saving it until later, Rylee, when everyone else is asleep". Just like my dad did I suppose.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Our Idiot Tooth Fairy
Riley is at the "copy big sister" stage of development. If Tayler does it, so will Rylee. If Tayler wants one, so does Rylee.
When Tayler approached me about a note for the Tooth Fairy, Rylee wasn't far behind. I had only begun writing Tayler's note when Rylee thrust a tattered piece of colored paper in front of me so I would write her one too. Tayler was concerned about the ramifications of Rylee's note, after all, Rylee hasn't lost a tooth yet. Would this be too much of a waste of time for the Tooth Fairy?
On Rylee's note we wrote, "Dear Tooth Fairy, I haven't yet lost any teeth, but I can't wait until I do. Love Rylee".
Problem was, the Tooth Fairy forgot to check for the note under Rylee's pillow.
Idiot!
It was there, waiting to be read. When Tay put her note under her pillow, Rylee did the same.
Thankfully, Jess cleared it all up in the morning so both girls were apparently satisfied.
One Rylee side note:
Apparently, I must "march" off to work each day. When Rylee imitates me, she puts my work ID badge around her neck and states in her deepest voice, "I go to work. I go to work" (while she marches--high stepping--around the kitchen). She laughs as she marches around the table--especially when I try to catch her.
Strange thing is, from my perspective, it feels like I drag out of here each day. Ne'er do I remember anything close to "marching" off to work.
When Tayler approached me about a note for the Tooth Fairy, Rylee wasn't far behind. I had only begun writing Tayler's note when Rylee thrust a tattered piece of colored paper in front of me so I would write her one too. Tayler was concerned about the ramifications of Rylee's note, after all, Rylee hasn't lost a tooth yet. Would this be too much of a waste of time for the Tooth Fairy?
On Rylee's note we wrote, "Dear Tooth Fairy, I haven't yet lost any teeth, but I can't wait until I do. Love Rylee".
Problem was, the Tooth Fairy forgot to check for the note under Rylee's pillow.
Idiot!
It was there, waiting to be read. When Tay put her note under her pillow, Rylee did the same.
Thankfully, Jess cleared it all up in the morning so both girls were apparently satisfied.
One Rylee side note:
Apparently, I must "march" off to work each day. When Rylee imitates me, she puts my work ID badge around her neck and states in her deepest voice, "I go to work. I go to work" (while she marches--high stepping--around the kitchen). She laughs as she marches around the table--especially when I try to catch her.
Strange thing is, from my perspective, it feels like I drag out of here each day. Ne'er do I remember anything close to "marching" off to work.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Tooth Fairy
Well Tayler lost her first tooth while we were in Boise a week and a half ago. The tooth had been dead (and gray) for weeks. I attempted on two occasions to pull it out, but Tayler is pain averse. When it finally fell out Tayler was ecstatic. She hasn't yet put it under her pillow because she wants to keep it.
We finally came up with a solution. We would write a note for the Tooth Fairy explaining how we wanted to keep the tooth, but still wanted money for it. So last night I wrote out the note. We only had a small piece of paper and if Tayler wrote the note in "almost first grader" font (which you can find at the very bottom of the font drop-down menu in most Microsoft products) we would need a whole page, and a bigger pillow. Tayler asked me to leave some room at the bottom for a picture. She drew a picture of the Tooth Fairy. The Fairy is carrying a bag of teeth (makes sense to me). She also added "I love you". Must feel good to be the Tooth Fairy.
Just as we were finishing the letter, Tayler asked me if I had ever written a similar note to the Tooth Fairy. I lied. "Oh yes, I wanted to keep my first tooth too". Tayler was reassured. Turns out, with five year olds, lying can sometimes be the best policy. As I reflected upon that lie, I remembered I have lied about the Tooth Fairy before.
As a 7 year old boy living in Germany, I stole (I still prefer to think of it as "borrowed") a $20 mark bill out of my mom's purse. I felt incredibly guilty for taking this unapproved loan and decided the best way to solve the problem was to buy my mom something with it. I might have been a lying little crook, but I was still incredibly generous, a "Robin Hood" complex I guess. So I went to this little German gift shop on the corner and purchased a porcelain horse for my mom. (Of course I kept the change. After all, I was a very generous son who deserved a little extra.) I was so excited to give it to her that it didn't even occur to me she might be suspicious as to the source of funding for the purchase.
Sure enough, she thanked me and then immediately asked where I got the money. Thank goodness I was quick on my feet. I grasped for the only source of money I could think of that couldn't be verified or traced and had absolutely no tie to my parents whatsoever, "the Tooth Fairy left it for me". Nice. Solid. Undisputable alibi. (Granted, this was about forty times the going rate for a tooth when I was seven, but hey, maybe the Tooth Fairy really liked me--how would my parents know the difference???)
So I guess I'm still a liar. About the Tooth Fairy anyway. At least I'm not a crook anymore (Just don't tell Jess I "borrowed" a dollar out of her purse last night. I have a tooth to pay for that I don't even get to keep.)
We finally came up with a solution. We would write a note for the Tooth Fairy explaining how we wanted to keep the tooth, but still wanted money for it. So last night I wrote out the note. We only had a small piece of paper and if Tayler wrote the note in "almost first grader" font (which you can find at the very bottom of the font drop-down menu in most Microsoft products) we would need a whole page, and a bigger pillow. Tayler asked me to leave some room at the bottom for a picture. She drew a picture of the Tooth Fairy. The Fairy is carrying a bag of teeth (makes sense to me). She also added "I love you". Must feel good to be the Tooth Fairy.
Just as we were finishing the letter, Tayler asked me if I had ever written a similar note to the Tooth Fairy. I lied. "Oh yes, I wanted to keep my first tooth too". Tayler was reassured. Turns out, with five year olds, lying can sometimes be the best policy. As I reflected upon that lie, I remembered I have lied about the Tooth Fairy before.
As a 7 year old boy living in Germany, I stole (I still prefer to think of it as "borrowed") a $20 mark bill out of my mom's purse. I felt incredibly guilty for taking this unapproved loan and decided the best way to solve the problem was to buy my mom something with it. I might have been a lying little crook, but I was still incredibly generous, a "Robin Hood" complex I guess. So I went to this little German gift shop on the corner and purchased a porcelain horse for my mom. (Of course I kept the change. After all, I was a very generous son who deserved a little extra.) I was so excited to give it to her that it didn't even occur to me she might be suspicious as to the source of funding for the purchase.
Sure enough, she thanked me and then immediately asked where I got the money. Thank goodness I was quick on my feet. I grasped for the only source of money I could think of that couldn't be verified or traced and had absolutely no tie to my parents whatsoever, "the Tooth Fairy left it for me". Nice. Solid. Undisputable alibi. (Granted, this was about forty times the going rate for a tooth when I was seven, but hey, maybe the Tooth Fairy really liked me--how would my parents know the difference???)
So I guess I'm still a liar. About the Tooth Fairy anyway. At least I'm not a crook anymore (Just don't tell Jess I "borrowed" a dollar out of her purse last night. I have a tooth to pay for that I don't even get to keep.)
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sunday Thought--Happily Ever After
Yesterday I had a great spiritual experience. I was invited by a couple I have home taught for more than three years to come to the Temple to watch them be sealed to their new little girl Peyton. They had tried to get pregnant unsuccessfully for years and then one night, about six months ago, their prayers were answered when they received a foster daughter. They officially adopted her a week or so ago.
The Spirit was really strong during the sealing. Peyton looked like a little angel in her white dress and white bow. I teared up. I couldn't help it. I was reminded of the importance of families and how those relationships can, and should, endure eternally.
On my mission I spoke with people of all faiths about family relationships and never talked to one who really believed family relationships were supposed to end at death. No matter what their church's official doctrine on the subject, they believed in their heart of hearts that marriages and family relationships were intended to last forever. That's how eternal truth works. It "rings true". How sad would it be if the people who provide us with the most joy and happiness on earth were not with us on the other side, or if we had a different relationship to them on the other side?
A vital step in an eternal family is the joining of the family unit by someone holding authority (granted only from God) to do so. Christ taught this to Peter, his chief apostle, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven". I believe that six days later, on the Mount of Transfiguration, the translated Elijah delivered those "keys" to Peter. A marriage performed by Peter didn't need to end with the words, "Till death do you part". He now had the power to seal the marriage in heaven.
I believe this "sealing" power has once again restored to the earth.
It is my understanding that since the time of Passover, Jewish tradition has a place set at the Paschal feast for Elijah, and at a certain point in the feast, the door is opened to admit Elijah as a forerunner of the Messiah who was to deliver Israel from bondage.
How fitting it is than on April 3, 1836, while Jews around the world opened their doors for Elijah, he actually appeared. But he didn't appear at a passover feast, instead he appeared in the House of the Lord. It was on this day that Elijah the prophet appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Lord's Temple at Kirtland Ohio and restored the keys of the sealing power of the priesthood. His intent was to allow husbands to be sealed to wives, and children to their parents; allowing for treasured family relationships to endure forever. I felt the effects of that power stronger than ever on October 27th, 2001. And I felt it again yesterday.
The Spirit was really strong during the sealing. Peyton looked like a little angel in her white dress and white bow. I teared up. I couldn't help it. I was reminded of the importance of families and how those relationships can, and should, endure eternally.
On my mission I spoke with people of all faiths about family relationships and never talked to one who really believed family relationships were supposed to end at death. No matter what their church's official doctrine on the subject, they believed in their heart of hearts that marriages and family relationships were intended to last forever. That's how eternal truth works. It "rings true". How sad would it be if the people who provide us with the most joy and happiness on earth were not with us on the other side, or if we had a different relationship to them on the other side?
A vital step in an eternal family is the joining of the family unit by someone holding authority (granted only from God) to do so. Christ taught this to Peter, his chief apostle, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven". I believe that six days later, on the Mount of Transfiguration, the translated Elijah delivered those "keys" to Peter. A marriage performed by Peter didn't need to end with the words, "Till death do you part". He now had the power to seal the marriage in heaven.
I believe this "sealing" power has once again restored to the earth.
It is my understanding that since the time of Passover, Jewish tradition has a place set at the Paschal feast for Elijah, and at a certain point in the feast, the door is opened to admit Elijah as a forerunner of the Messiah who was to deliver Israel from bondage.
How fitting it is than on April 3, 1836, while Jews around the world opened their doors for Elijah, he actually appeared. But he didn't appear at a passover feast, instead he appeared in the House of the Lord. It was on this day that Elijah the prophet appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Lord's Temple at Kirtland Ohio and restored the keys of the sealing power of the priesthood. His intent was to allow husbands to be sealed to wives, and children to their parents; allowing for treasured family relationships to endure forever. I felt the effects of that power stronger than ever on October 27th, 2001. And I felt it again yesterday.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Be-Real
After I got Jayson up and changed his diaper and his clothes, he was sitting on my lap laughing. Rylee climbed up (after we pushed her down three or four times) and joined us. She grabbed Jayson's earlobe and said she was "be-tending to pierce his ear". He laughed. I didn't.
Then I asked her if she wanted to pierce her ears. "For be-tend" she stated.
I prodded her a little for fun, "Should we go right now to the mall and pierce your ears?"
With a serious look on her face, which we are lucky if we see from this clown once a day, she replied "No Daddy. Only for be-tend, not for be-real".
Then I asked her if she wanted to pierce her ears. "For be-tend" she stated.
I prodded her a little for fun, "Should we go right now to the mall and pierce your ears?"
With a serious look on her face, which we are lucky if we see from this clown once a day, she replied "No Daddy. Only for be-tend, not for be-real".
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