Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 18 - Sister

Christmas is coming. I cannot think of Christmas without thinking of my Sister, Bonnie. She was a lot of fun when we were kids, but she was especially fun at Christmas time.

One year, I remember that we watched from the doorway as Santa placed all of the presents under the tree. As soon as Santa and his helpers had left, we waited about three minutes. We went into the room. We rearranged things the way we thought that Santa should have done it in the first place. We proceeded to wake up everyone in our household. We continued by calling all of the neighbors until every light in the neighborhood was on.

When I was a young GI in Colorado Springs, Bonnie gave me a special Christmas gift. She knew that I loved to paint and that I had a blossoming interest in ceramics. She gave me a greenware nativity set. I enjoyed preparing it. I enjoyed painting it, and for more than 35 years, that nativity set has been the centerpiece in our holiday celebration to remind us about the true meaning of Christmas.

I grateful for my sister for her thoughtfulness, her kindness, and for her love of Christmas.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 17 - My Little Brother

Some say we look alike. There was a time in our lives that people kept mistaking each of us for the other. I have threatened to buy a cap that says "I am not Larry" and buy him a similar one that says "I am not Kent".

I enjoyed him and his family when they lived in Littleton. It was so fun to visit his home and see the things that he was doing to try and teach his children. He would put his arm around me and tell his children, "This is my Brother and I love him." I knew he meant it, and it motivates me to be better.

The picture above is of my little brother and I love him. He is a man of integrity. He works hard to meet the commitments he has made in his life. He made a commitment to write to his family, and for months and months he sent us a letter detailing the progress of his family. When he believes something to be true or right or worthwhile, he strives for it even though it is difficult or unpopular. I love my brother and would follow him anywhere. I am grateful for his example.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 16 - My Grandchildren

Matthew was the first to come into our life. Because he was first, we got to know him quite well. Betty quit her job so that she could stay home and take care of him. It has been fun to watch him grow from infancy to manhood.

He is a wonderful young man. He's considerate and kind.

He's an artist and he's especially into Japanese art. He's looking forward to going to Japan with his school. If I struggle with my computer or with setting up my phone, I can rely on Matthew to help me figure things out.

Luke was born almost four years after Matthew. Matthew was so happy to have a little brother. They enjoy each other most of the time and I enjoy watching them interact.

Luke is a skate boarder. One time Luke came to spend a little time with us at our house. We took him to the skate board park to let him express himself. He took a good fall on his backside. I know it had to hurt, but he didn't complain even a little bit. We're proud of our Luke and love him a lot.

Aubrey was born about a month after Luke was born. Grandma had to run to the north to be there where she was born.

Aubrey loves to read and was really into the Bratz. I've always been amazed at the little tiny toys that Aubrey loves to play with.

Right now Aubrey is really into Dragons. She always has her nose in a book.

Ashleigh (Pictured above with her brother, Luke) is a rambunkshus second grader that keeps her mom and dad jumping. She likes PE. She doesn't have a boyfriend and doesn't want one. She loves to talk to her Daddy on the Cell Phone and to torment her Mom and brothers. Ashleigh really likes Spounge Bob Square Pants. Her best friend is Caylee, Johnna, Viviana, abutt She likes Jackson yellow teeth, he's older than her.

Hannah three months younger than Ashleigh. She's her daddy's sweetheart. It has been a while since we were with her. We went to the restaurant with her and her daddy. She was just so proper and well mannered.

I asked her if she had a boyfriend and she informed me that she did. Here daddy looked at her as if to say that she didn't when whe said, "He said to me Hey you pretty!!".

Aunt Andrea says she's a good swimmer. We don't see Hannah as much as we would like, but we love her very much.

Chloe is our youngest grandchild. She just had a birthday. Chloe is her momma's baby. They have a very close relationship.

Chloe has music in her blood. When she was just a baby, she couldn't walk yet, but she could pull herself up to the table and could wiggle her bottom in time with the music.

She loves the camera. You can point a camera anywhere in her house and she'll be in the picture.

She's the youngest martial artist in her class.

Each of my grandchildren is an individual. Each sees the world in their own way. It is a pleasure to interact with then. No man is poor who has grandchildren. I am grateful for each and every one of them.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 15 - My Boy

Rob, wherever you are, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. I wish that you could be here with us. I tried calling you, but never was able to make contact with you.

I am grateful for the time we were able to spend together and pray that we can again soon.

I'm grateful for your creative way of viewing the world. I'll never forget the ingenious way you had of drying your wet Levis when our dryer was broken. I'll never see another ceiling fan without thinking of you.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 14 - Daughters

I have two daughters. One was mine from birth and the other came into my life when I married her mother. I love them both and am very grateful that they are part of my life.

If I am down or discouraged, talking to one of them really can pick my spirits up. I love spending time with them.

Andrea will be coming tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with us. Brenda will be at home in South Dakota. I'll be missing her.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 13 - The Beauty of the earth

We all have seen a beautiful sunset or a beautiful sunrise. At those moments, it's easy to stand in awe of the beautiful colors and the dramatic contrasts between light and dark.

This evening was one of these evenings. The reds were beautiful and the black shadows of the trees against they sky were striking. I am grateful for the beauty of the earth.

The real challenge comes when the sky is not painted red, but is bleak and gray. It is difficult to recognize the beauty at times when crops are dry or wilting. We struggle to find beauty in blowing dust and sand. Whether we recognize it or there, it's there.

I grew up in the San Luis Valley. Sage brush and alkaline soil are abundant. Weeds grow freely. Even in that dry environment there is beauty, but one must look beyond the seemingly barren, arid landscape. Along the roads there are plants that I grew up calling Sego lilies. They were beautiful white flowers. Yuccas also have beautiful blossoms. The drifting sands of the dunes on the northeastern side of the valley have a special beauty of their own. I am grateful for the beauty of the earth to be found in unlikely places.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 12 - Anticipation

The holiday season is a time that we all are full of anticipation. We are anxious for visits from family. We are eager for time off. We can't wait to see gifts and entertainment that the holiday season brings.

There are times when that anticipation becomes desparation. Will we be forgotten? Can we affort the holidays? Merchants have made a beautiful time of year into a financial burden for some people.

Tonight, I am feeling good feelings. I am looking forward to visiting with my family. Betty is scrambling around the house cleaning and arranging things so all will just perfect for the holidays. I know that it will be a pleasant day Thursday. I wish for you the fulfillment of your holiday desires.

I am grateful for the anticipation that spurs us on to doing the things we need to do to make others happy.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 11 - Serenity

Alcoholics Anonymous has a prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

As I thought about this simple prayer, I thought what it would mean in my life. One of the things I cannot change is the past. What was, was. No effort on my part can change it. I am grateful for the serenity I feel with that statement.

I can change how I behave today. I can make the most of each day. I can make more of an effort to say, Thank You, Sorry, and I love you when appropriate. I can keep my mouth closed when silence is best. I pray that I will know which is which.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 10 - Erasers

Most pencils are made with an eraser on one end. It's an important part of the pencil. Frequently, it's worn and dirty, and often it's worn completely off. I am grateful for erasers.

With an eraser, I can make modifications to whatever I am creating. Those modifications can make the difference between a good creation and something that is not worth the effort.

There have been times in life when I needed an eraser. I did and said things that I wished that I could undo. I have made choices that I wished later that could unmake.

We have been provided with just an eraser on the pencil of our lives. We are able to make needed changes. That eraser is repentance. Jesus Christ came to the earth and paid the price for our sins. I am grateful for his gift to us that allows us to make changes in our lives.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 9 - Health

Betty and I were discussing what we are thankful for today. The subject of health came up and I have to admit that I am very grateful for my health. Especially after the last couple of years.

A while back, I reached behind me in my pickup and a pain shot through my shoulder. It became difficult to reach behind me and I finally went to the Dr. Several tests concluded that I had torn my left rotator cuff and surgery was recommended. The surgery was completed and after a course of physical therapy, I again have full use of my left arm and shoulder.

I developed pneumonia and the Physician requested more diagnostic imaging. A dark spot was evident in the films. After a battery of tests, I was diagnosed with Cancer in my thyroid gland. The gland and other tissue was removed from my throat. The Dr. told us that the tumor was close to the vocal chord and that there was a possibility that I would lose my voice, and he reviewed the options that we would have to continue if that were to happen. It wasn't necessary, and gratefully it appears that the cancer is completely gone.

I started to have pain in my thumb and again headed off to the Dr. Another surgery was recommended to resolve a trigger finger, a condition caused by inflammation of the tendons in the hand. After the surgery and recovery, I have full use of my hand again.

This sounds like a list of things I am sharing for a bit of sympathy. That really isn't my purpose. Rather it is to express gratitude for the miracles of medicine and of faithful prayers offered by my family. All of the problems I had have been addressed and I am healthy. I can walk and talk and have full use of my arms and hands. The things that have happened recently have served to help me see just how precious health is and how important it is to safeguard it.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 8 - Technology

I knew that Monday was going to be a bad day when I turned on my computer and tried to connect to the Internet. I opened my browser and got a white screen with a message that the page could not be found. I went to call support to get the problem fixed so that I could go to work and the phone was dead because my work phone relies on a connection to the world wide web. I pulled out my cell phone and called support. It sounded like my connection to India was not good so I hung up and called again. I finally got a good connection and made an appointment for that afternoon between one and three. The hours between the phone call at 6am and the appointment helped me see just how dependant I had become on having an Internet connection.

For the last five years I have been able to telecommute. I have the convenience of working in my home and still being as productive as if I were in my office. I'm able to attend a meeting with participants from three continents. Although I can't see the faces of the people in the meeting, I can look their pictures up in the corporate phone book on-line. Without a connection, I can't do these things.

Betty wanted to visit someone. She wasn't sure just where the address was. She came to her computer to look up the address on Map Quest. It's so easy to find directions. A friend showed me how to use Google Street view. We could even move to a map that showed a 3D image of the addresses. It's convenient and it's fun, but without a connection to the Web, I have to rely on the old fashioned methods.

Email is so quick. I can send a message to someone and have a response in minutes. Sometimes we see things that are funny or entertaining on YouTube. We can store our pictures and order prints from Walgreen's or some other store to pick up later in the day.

Several times a day, my sweetheart checks on our balances. We no longer have to pay postage to pay a bill. We don't have to buy a newspaper to catch up on the news or see what's playing at the movies. We can do it online as long as there's a connection.

I have really learned to enjoy staying in touch with family and friends through blogs. Since I opened a blog for my parent's family, there have been over 2,000 transactions. A year at a time had passed with fewer than 12 letters from family members before. I am getting to know family members in a way that I was not able to before. Will I lose touch with my family without an Internet connection?

I love genealogy or family history as it is now called. I remember a time when it took years to submit genealogy work. It now takes seconds as long as I have a link to my network.

For a week now, I have had a really good high speed connection. I'm grateful.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 7 - Members of the Armed Forces

I am especially grateful this year for the Armed Forces. I am grateful for the families that support them. I am grateful for the privelege of living in this free country.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 6 - Friends

Feelings run deep, emotions are strong
Returning to home for companionship I long.
In lonely places I grow so weary,
Evenings are dark and oh so dreary.
Needing encouragement or a pat on the back;
Dear friends come by to offer what I lack,
Sending my heart into peaceful joyous song.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 5 - Anerner

I'll never forget that October day when my life was changed forever. I spent her first night at home alone considering all that it meant to be a Dad and having a daughter. I was glad to bring her and her mom home from the hospital.

Andi was my first child and I saw the world differently because she was mine. I remember going out and buying a little toy stove. It wasn't appropriate for an infant as it had little tiny pieces that Andi would not be able to handle for a long time, but I was thinking of my little girl and things that she would enjoy seeing and doing. Boy did I have some things to learn!

She used to sit and play in the flowerbeds. Actually, she was just playing in the dirt. She was handling it, wearing it, and devouring it and digesting it. She enjoyed the dirt as she does everything in life.

She had a little friend that couldn't say her name. When she said, "Andrea", it sounded more like Anerner. That worked for me and it became my pet name for her.

The hardest thing I ever did in my life was to watch her walk down to the end of the block and around the corner on her first day of kindergarten. I was later to get a job in the same school and was able to go to school with her and her brother and come home with them and to see the world through her eyes. I am grateful to my little sweetheart for her innocent view of the world. That would change.

Life isn't always easy. Mistakes I made in my life led to a divorce from Andi's mother and a separation from Andi. I missed those years that we might have had if we had continued to live in the same home together, but my love for her never wavered.

Andi came to live with me at the age of 16. I was so excited to have her in my life daily again. Andi's perspective had changed, and I too got to develop a new perspective.

My little Andi could be a challenge! I could always count on her to say the darndest things at the most inconvenient times! There have been times that she has tried my patience, but when I have been discouraged, she has lifted me up and encouraged me.
Life goes on. Andi has grown up and now has a family of her own. It's fun to watch her interact with and teach and love her children.

This year, Andi sent Betty a Mother's Day card with a picture of a girl with broccoli up her nose and she sent me a Fathers Day card telling me that of all the people who exasperated her, she loved me most. It's nice to know that you've been remembered and that you are loved. It's nice to be remembered with a little bit of humor.
Andi is so good at seeing herself with a bit of humor. She posted this picture of herself, and I love it. She's a beautiful girl, but doesn't take life too seriously.

I am looking forward to seeing her this Thanksgiving. I am so very grateful that she is part of my life and that I am part of hers.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 4 - Family Home Evening

I have lots of memories of Family Home Evening. When we were kids, Mom tried hard to see that we had home evening each week. Dad wasn't so eager. Mom would prepare a lesson, an activity, and some refreshments. She would turn the TV off and say to Dad, "It's time for Home Evening."

He would respond with, "Well, get it over with!". In spite of the rocky beginnings, we did have some good lessons and activities. I had fun with the activities.

When Robert and Andrea were little, we tried to have home evening each week. We were rather hit and miss, but we enjoyed doing things together.

Once in a while, Betty and I have been were at younger brother, Larry's, home on Monday evenings. They were faithful at having a good home evening each week. I enjoyed watching how each of them had a part and did what they were assigned. They set a really good example for me.

Betty and I joined her Aunt Esther's family when we moved here and we had a home evening together. We both really enjoyed it. We rotated the assignments for prayer, the music, the lesson, the refreshments. We were faithful at doing it with them, but when they moved further south, it became to difficult to make the drive back and forth each week.

Betty and I are trying to have home evening with each other each week. We've been having a prayer, a short lesson, an activity and refreshments. I really have enjoyed playing games with Betty and sharing the desserts with her. We've had some really enjoyable evenings together, and we are stronger because of the conversations we've had with one another. I know that this is a good program and I'm grateful for it.

We are trying to get an "empty nester" group together after the first of the year. Hopefully we'll be better at having a quality evening each Monday night that way.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 3 - My Ward Family

Today is Sunday. Today is the day that I get a break from the weekly routine of work and chores. Sunday is the day for me that I get my batteries charged for the coming week.

Today began early with Bishopric Meeting and PEC meeting. Leaders began the day discussing members of the ward and the things that need to be done to carry on the Lord's work in this ward. I enjoy these meetings because I see first hand the love that the local leaders have for each of the members of the ward. If this love is expressed for other members of the ward, I know that the same love is available to me and to my family.

Sacrament meeting today was exceptionally good. Talks were given about the importance of the family in the eternities. The Sunday School lesson that came next spoke of the covenant that God made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and us regarding our families and their purpose. Priesthood meeting followed with more instruction for the men. The messages were inspiring. The messages were well prepared and I felt a warm burning as I listened and learned. I left church today determined to be a better husband, father, son, and grandfather.

I always enjoy seeing the people here that I have grown to love. Sometimes we exchange a few words, but sometimes we exchange no more than a wink, a smile or a handshake. I draw strength from these exchanges with the members of my ward family. They help me be stronger, and hopefully, I can do the same for them. Together, we are stronger than any of us is individually.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day 2 - Parents

I like, Nephi of old, was born of goodly parents. They were two sweet people who set my feet squarely on the path of life and securely placed my hand on the iron rod. I am grateful to them for the love they have given me and for the faith they have had in me. I am grateful for those principals that are part of me because of them.

My father was not an educated man in his own estimation. He completed the eight grade formally and then completed his education in the school of experience. He was proud of his children as we got our diplomas. I am grateful for his encouragement to complete my college education.

Dad taught me to love the mountains from whence he came. He grew up in the mountains near Fox Creek Colorado. As a boy, he loved to hunt and fish. I didn't inherit his skills of hunting and fishing, but I did learn from him to love the mountains. I am grateful for the the ability to find beauty in God's creations.

When Donnie went on his mission, I was given the opportunity to work in the service station with my Dad and my brother, Larry. I loved those years. They gave me the chance to see a wonderful side of Dad.

In my last conversation with him before he passed away, he was helping me through one of the tough times between my wife and I. He told me he didn't always know the answers, but he told me he wanted me to be happy. He told me of his lack of confidence in himself, of his desire to see me make the right choices in life and of his love for my Mother. When I looked at my Dad, I saw a man who did his very best to provide for his family and to love them. I saw a man whose example I wanted to follow. I am grateful for his love for my siblings, for me and for my mother.

My Mom has always been my friend. She has worked hard at helping me develop my testimony of the Gospel. She has always worked hard at being a good example. I am grateful for her example.

She has sacrificed to give me what I needed spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I'll never forget the lesson that she gave me about the Ode on the Grecian Urn. I always get a warm feeling when I think about the year that she cut her winter coat into pieces to make me a warm winter coat. I will always be grateful for the year that she came to live with me in Colorado Springs. She, Betty and I were like the three musketeers.

Mom continues to be a dear friend to me. She still lives her live in an examplary manner. I am grateful to her for that.

I am grateful for the anticipation of being together with my parents again. That makes the hard times easier and the good times more rewarding. I am grateful for good parents.

Thirty Days of Gratitude - Day one - My sweetheart

This month is November, the traditional month in our country for Thanksgiving. On one of the blogs that I have been reading regularly, someone is doing 30 days of gratitude and has challenged her readers to do the same. I would like to take that challenge.

On the top of my list is my sweetheart. I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on. She had paint in her hair and a red flannel shirt that had a torn pocket. I knew from the minute that I met her that she was someone special.

Our first date was one that I'll never forget. That day, we took in a big band bash at the Broadmoor. We drove to Buena Vista and took a rafting trip down the Arkansas river. We enjoyed a long drive back to the Springs afterwards. We were so tired that we had to take a nap along the side of the road. I love her for the memories.

Betty believed in me at a time in my life that I really needed someone to believe in me. That belief has been so strong that I have found myself wanting to be a better man. I have wanted to be worthy of her love. I love her for making me a better man.

When my children came to live with us, it wasn't always easy. She opened her arms to them and extended her heart. I love her for that. I believe that they do too. We had fun growing together. I love her for her support.

When my job took me away from Betty's home and family, she came with me willingly. Together, we made new friends and started anew. I love her companionship.

As her Mother passed away and her Dad was alone, she wanted to come home and support her Dad. I love her for her selflesness.

Betty is a primary teacher. She loves her students. The ones that she is teaching now, and the ones that she taught decades ago still hold a special place in her heat. She puts her energy and creativity into each lesson. I love her for her talents.

She is true to her beliefs. It isn't always easy or convenient, but she is as true as the northern star. I love her for her faith.

Betty's laugh begins from her toes and wriggle its way to her crown. She loves a joke or a funny story. Her grandchildren's stories of discovering the world around her tickle her senses and dance in the twinkle of her eyes. I love her sense of humor.

Betty is a good friend. She is a good friend to the friends in her Old Hen's Club, she is a good friend to her neighborhood friends and she is a good friend to me. I love her for her loyalty.

Each day with Betty is a new experience. Each sunrise is greeted with anticipation and each sunset is appreciated in awe. I love sharing my life with Betty.

Winter Storms in South Dakota

We were talking to Brenda and Tim and their family this evening. They are having a major winter storm and have huge drifts from the blowing snow. Betty got some pictures and they are pretty impressive.

Last night, they got a fireworks show when the top four feet of a pine tree broke off and fell into the power lines. They were without power for the night and were worried about how they could stay warm. They all huddled together in the living room.

I was talking to Chloe. She was telling me all about the snow. I asked her if she had played in the snow yet. She she couldn't because she didn't have any snow shoes. Being the ornery old codger that I am, I told her and Aubrey that I used to use burlap bags for snow shoes. I was really dissappointed when I got no reaction. I told their mother that she has the duty of teaching her little girls what burlap bags are. When I spin a yarn, I want them to understand.