December 30 -- Willie's Birthday #17

Happy Birthday, Willie! This post comes a day later than anticipated, but you were born 7 days ahead of schedule so that means this birthday post could be a week in advance. I know you don't want to hear that lame excuse --

Your birthday was a great day and after a few downs there were plenty of ups! Your sister and nephews did an awesome decoration job on your room; a cute young lady delivered birthday balloons to you; you got a bunch of birthday texts and tweets; you spent some time driving around with your mom, another sister, and Molly; you ate your favoite lunch -- hot dogs and garlic bread; you placed an order for your letterman's jacket; you got some nice birthday greetings in the mail; you celebrated with your favorite dinner -- pizza and garlic bread with a few family members; your sister who decorated your room also made you a delicious cherry-chocolate cake; and, your grandpa wrote in your card "you are getting to be a BIG boy". In my estimation, that was a pretty good birthday.

Thank you for being such a great son! You are smart, tall, good looking, thoughtful, and most of the time a dang good kid! You add excitement and activity to our family. You keep me focused on what life is all about! Happy Birthday, posted the day after!

Game Day!

Did you ever see the movie "Cat Ballou"? It's an old western starring Lee Marvin and Jane Fonda. Well, there's a part in the movie where Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin) gets ready for a gunfight. If you can imagine a western legend getting ready for a gun fight -- beginning with the fancy underwear, shirt, pants, vest, boots, and finally the gun holster, gun and the hat . . . .

Well, fast forward to this morning (and every game day with Willie). He starts early getting every part of his basketball attire laid out on the couch. Then, he washes his hair and gets it just right. Next, the tighty underclothes; the socks and the warm-up clothes; and, everything uniform related in the bag. "Did I get everything?" is repeated 2 or 3 times. I get his snack ready -- orange, fruit snacks, and a Powerade or Gatorade. Then, he walks to the refrigerator to get his lucky mouthful of squirty whipping cream and then he's ready to head to the school.

Trust me, this is repeated before any and every basketball game; much like Kid Shelleen in "Cat Ballou" -- after all it's game day!

All of the time on preparation and then it's over in a few hours . . .

Well, Christmas Day has come and gone and the days of preparation were well worth the time and toil and stress and anxiety. The best part of my Christmas was being with my kids and their families and watching the little ones (under age 20) open their gifts with excitement and happiness. It's pretty cool to look at everyone gathered in the family room and see how our family of five has grown to ten with a new little one to join us in June.

I also enjoyed Christmas at Dad's. I wasn't sure what to expect with Mom not around, but things went pretty well. Dad wanted to keep things as much the same as he could. That meant some shopping, new socks for everyone, and the traditional Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day snacks. Thanks to everyone, all activities went well.

Well, now it's over for another year and many of us have a few days off to relax and enjoy the company of family.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is almost here!

I am taking a break. I have been organizing and wrapping gifts all day long. My knees are a little weary from standing. I still have a few more gifts to wrap and then some grocery shopping to do and then I am ready for the big day.

I listened to KSL talk radio this morning during the Doug Wright Christmas gift "find". Every year just a few days before Christmas he starts this call in, text in process of people needing to find gifts and people who stumble across the gifts on the "find" list. I listen because there is always someone looking for some obscure gift like: Purple Pie Man (Strawberry Shortcake character); a sugar glider (rodent); a Costco singing Teddy Bear; and, Scottish Dog magnets were some of the more interesting.

I have purchased some pretty lame gifts over the years. In my older age, however, I try to stay true to things I know (hope) will be nice and also useful.

Enough for now -- back to the wrapping!

People Pass On

Not to put a damper on the holiday celebrations, but people I know are passing away. Tonight I received a late phone call that one of the "over 80" sisters in our ward passed away, Hope Latham. Hope and her husband Ron had gone to Jim's Restaurant to celebrate his birthday (he is also over 80). She collapsed at the restaurant and could not be revived there or at the hospital.

Hope has been confined to her home pretty much the past 2-3 years. She hasn't been able to get to church or drive her car or go shopping. I was her visiting teacher for a year or so and she told me many times about how she worked with Ardith in the Primary and she bowled on Tuesday nights at Delton Lanes probably in the same league as my mom. She lost her first husband 50 some years ago and has been married to Ron for most of those 50 some years. She lived a vibrant and active life. In fact, Willie and Karl visited with her just yesterday afternoon and she was looking forward to going out to dinner tonight.

Two weeks ago, we lost a young sophomore student at Hunter High -- she collapsed after school, was taken to the hospital and later passed on -- internal bleeding.

A friend of mine lost her aunt last week. Another friend lost her mother. A young mother in a neighboring ward died leaving two young daughters behind. Ross' great uncle passed away last week.

On Saturday, my dad and I were talking about how you [all of us] have only a certain amount of time on earth as mortals. When your time is up you pass on to an undetermined amount of time in the next life. It is so important to make the most of the time you have while you can in this mortal existence. You only get one opportunity to be here. Time here does not allow for repeating events and experiences or making up for lost opportunities. So, try to do what's right, be kind and nice to others, count your blessings and offer thanks, take care of those around you, love as many people as you can, study and learn everything you can about this life and all that it involves, and believe in God and His Son and live their commandments.

What's on your Chirstmas list?

Willie wants some money and love; tie and white shirts, too; swim suit, shoes, and homework help, and a basketball hoop. Dad just wants a Hunter shirt; Mom a good night's rest. Christmas, it is coming fast; Mom's a LITTLE stressed.

So, after decorating a Christmas tree for the second time, I am ready to focus on the Christmas gifting purchasing process. I always hold out for the big bonus check that never seems to come my way as $$$$ for Christmas. Since that will never ever happen, I get into the savings account as a huge and thankful for resource for the purchasing of the gifts.

With only a week to go for "wrapping' things up for the big day, I'm shifting into full gear this week. If there are any pointers you can offer or any great sales here or there, well, send them my way.

Winning Team!

What a way to start the basketball season! Winning team Hunter over East! It was an amazing game. The kids played as a team and they battled hard. I was so very proud to be part of the winning team and not the losing team.