Last week

I don’t know why I didn’t post this. I took the pictures. 

Chillin before his race. Rockin the beard and shades. 

Josh and his people. 

The home stretch. 

He wasn’t happy with his time. And now I’ve forgotten what it was. 

Tomorrow his his last cross country meet. Kinda crazy thinking we are doing things for the last time this year. 

But still I am grateful that he has found good people for his friends. 

Ba humbug

We are the worst at Halloween. Josh decided years ago tha he was no longer into Halloween, and Boaz followed right along. So no costumes for us. 

We were happy to see the Dodgers force a game seven in the World Series. 

I am handing out fun sized chocolate bars. I say pick one. We live in an area where they hand out full sized bars. But I get a bit irritated when kids who are getting free candy think they should grab a hand full. 

On little girl picked two and said, " I can’t decide." I told her several times to "pick one" and she just held them both until her brother, the last of the group took one out of her hand and left her with one. She wanted me to tell she could have them both. Some kids just took two. She wanted permission. I didn’t give it to her. 

Silly me. 

But. The reason for this post. I saw this picture on Facebook. 

Darling pineapple. I miss her. Glad she is having fun. 

Scripture - 2 Nephi 33

As Nephi finishes his record, he reaffirms what is most important to him. 

Plainness - he is the one who quoted so much Isaiah. As I have read the Book of Mormon multiple times, those Isaiah chapters have become familiar and sweet. Nephi unlocked Isaiah for me. Not that I understand all of him, or even half or some other fraction of him. But I can hear music when I read him. I can love the poetry that he speaks. I can see his testimony of Christ. 

Truth - he left his home, more than once, and lost part of his family because he chose truth over compromise and error. 

His Jesus - he has full faith, even knowledge, of the role of Jesus and His love for us. Nephi’s full purpose in writing was to bring us, his readers, to Jesus who will redeem us from death and Hell, as He already has done for Nephi. 

A true scriptural hero. 

Scripture 2 Nephi 24

This verse has given me comfort for a while now. He is cunning, resourceful, and malicious. But when it comes down to it, this is what we will be able to say. 

While he gleefully rages now, there will come a time when true power will conquer. Those who remain true will see what he is. 

Those who remain true will also see the true majesty and power of God. 

The difference will be stark and compelling. 

Santa Ana winds

I’ve been watching the local coverage of a local wild fire. It’s crazy. This is the second time this year this area has burned. 

From my house. 

From Craig’s office. 

This fire is in Anaheim Hills, close to Orange. It’s south of the 91. For those that have a bit of knowledge of Southern California. 

So sad. I’m watching home burn to the ground. The fire is actually pretty close to our church building. 

Saying good bye

Today is Elder Hales funeral. We ha e all known that he has been ill, for a long time. I have been thinking lately that I can remember all the 12 being called. I can remember the counselors in the First Presidency being called. 

I can remember President Monson being an apostle from my earliest memories. This past General Conference is the first time in my memory that he did not speak from the pulpit. 

A new era is about to open in my life. An era when I will no longer hear the stories of little Tommy Monson, I will no longer hear the stories of his widows, I will no longer hear his memorized poems. 

But I know he misses his dear Francis. 

These funerals remind me of how old I am. 

President Eyring told a lovely story about Elder Hales. He had been golfing and felt that something was wrong. He made a long putt before he was rushed to the hospital. President Eyring saw the medical personnel working long to save him. After some time, a doctor came and brought Pres Eyring to Elder Hales. Elder Hales opened his eyes wide and said "They made me come back."

I guess I love that story because Craig would probably love to go out that way. The last act on earth - sinking a long putt on the golf course in the company of dear friends. But he came back and continued his mission. I remember someone reporting a conversation they had with Elder Hales in General Conference recently. "What do you do when you can’t do what you used to?" This younger apostle asked him. He replied, "you do the essential things."  His last act on earth was writing his final testimony of the goodness of Jesus and His power to save. 

He is a true example to us all to be true friends and obedient to the Lord. 

Cross country

Today was a bit hectic. I picked up Boaz in the crush of school just getting out and we raced to the park where Josh was running. I thought his race started at 3. We got to the park about 3:10. But his race really started at 3:30. 

Awesome. 

It’s better when I think it starts earlier rather than later. But still it was a bit stressful. 

I got a few pictures. 

Keeping loose before the race. Note the bright shoes. 

Team huddle. 

While on our way to the 2 mile point, I stopped to take pictures of the pelicans. 

And the turtles. 

I have learned about taking a screen shot from a video. Super cool. 

And again. Stretching for the finish. 

He came in at 18:02. 

After the race shenanigans. Also I learned more about air dropping.