I do enjoy following our family on the computer and reading and seeing what they put there.  I am becoming used to this relatively modern convenience and find it not only useful, but delightful.  I admit that there are times when it brings bad news and information that I could get along without.  But it defines life the way that it is in 2011 and I am happy to be alive in this here and now.  I guess that I could list lots of things that are different for the 2nd and 3rd generation of our family.  I have even come to the point where I take them for granted.  But when I take time to reflect on them I am quite amazed at the way that things are now.  I hope that you realize a little of what you have that we did not  have when we were growing up.  Then I see that all of this isn't necessarily good.  (It isn't necessarily good or bad on its own.)  But there sure are a lot of problems that can come with all of this progress.  And even though we are pretty much done with the raising of our family we are not separate from them either.  We see Zach's dental surgery in the morning and, of course, Colton's surgery on Friday and it concerns us.  At the same time we know a little of how that affects the parents and the rest of the family.  We are just not 'separate' from any of you.  I wonder is it might not actually be more difficult to see those things happen from a distance, because your concern is actually expanded to include more and more people and circumstances.  No, the lot of being a grandpa is not an easy one, nor a grandma either.  You'll see when you get there, and the way time flies by it won't be very long either.

It seems like several Saturdays since we had one all to ourselves.  What with tending and other stuff we have been doing other stuff then just being us.  In the newspaper Sheila read a story about how to deal with being empty-nesters as if it were a bad thing, but we don't see it that way.  We like it.  I did go into today with a lot on my mind.  I had to be up and get stuff done for Richard and for Charles and other office stuff that needed doing, but I was able to finish all of that by 2 and left the office for the day.  I did some 'pondering' (part of the time with my eyes open) and waited for Sheila to get back from grocery shopping.  Then we actually made it to the temple on the last day of the month before it is closed for 2 weeks.  During the session I heard this coughing and it sounded so familiar.  She had cough drops handed to her and the # 2 lady actually brought her a cup of water.  She did make it through but described the cough as being 'weird' and 'deep'.  Me, I just described it as familiar.  The guy I went through for was born in Chenango, New York in 1805.  I just googled it and it was possible that he heard of Joseph Smith at some point during  his life  (An interesting thought) because they were sorta close, especially to the Susquehanna River area.  Oh, I really broke my Saturday routine by doing the whole shower and shave bit, and not on a Sunday.  Means I can sleep in just a bit in the morning.

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.  I memorized that decades ago and I still have it come to my mind when I want it.  I checked it out today to see if I remembered it correctly as well as who originally said it.  I wasn't sure, but it was refreshed quickly.  It is a quote of the late Earl Nightingale and has been repeated by lots of other folks since he first said it.  I believe that it is the best definition of success that I have found.  It fits the world and it fits the gospel.  I guess one way to improve it in the sense of the gospel might be to just change one word:  Success is the progressive realization of THE worthy ideal.  Either way it works with every day circumstances and helps to see progress as I plod along. On a daily basis I find myself seeing small steps I can define as progress on my journey to that worthy ideal.  But is also sets a context that is forgiving and gently because it allows for a time frame that suits the task, in my case: eternity.  Even me, given that time frame figure I can accomplish whatever I really desire to accomplish.  Ponder about it, memorize it and it will be an effective servant in your own personal pursuit of your worthy ideal as well as 'the' worthy ideal.  Again:  Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.

Sheila has had a little stress in her life the last few days.  She had talked to Sally Murphy (a sister in our ward who supervised and advised her district kitchen job this past school year and who she wants to work with full time [5 hours per day] when the new school years starts).  Sally told her that the particular job that she wants requires an application an interview and letters of recommendation along with a resume'.  So Sheila has had to ask for letters along with all of the other stuff.  She may be going to a class in the morning to help with the resume' and she has to wait for the job to be posted, probably next Monday to apply and be interviewed.  But she has gotten at least 2 letters given from Sister Chapman (her supervisor at the temple) and our Bishop.  I read both and teased Sheila a little about how positive they are.  One might think that she is perfect!  And thinking about that I realize that she IS perfect, and she is MINE (not in a possessive maniac sort of way, but in a 'I am very blessed' sort of way). She is so very special to me, and I realize that my 'job' is to continue being grateful for that and to live a life consistent with showing  that gratitude.  She won't be comfortable with what I am writing, but then that is part of the package too.
She is what she is and I am so much the better for it. 

I received a request from Brooklyn to mention the passing of her pet crab Hermee.  Hermee lasted much longer then was expected, but on 
Sunday last Hermee was found having passed away.  I received no information as to the memorial service, but I am sure that the Porter family showed proper respect for such a long time family pet.  
Nicholas came down and worked hard helping us out with two trips to D I and then a full truck load to transport to Kaysville for Shelli's sale in August.  He was to give Spencer a box of cards per my deal with Spencer and we agreed to get a particular poster to Cortney.  I expect to hear some positive feedback about those two gifts.


I had a 'body guard' on my church rounds tonight.  Zach is here for the night and tomorrow Shelli will come get him to be with her until Saturday when Sharon gets back from girl's camp.  I feel good about my day.  But what good is one day without the day before and the day after.  So I look to tomorrow to validate what I did today, and then I will look to the day after that.  That is the way that it works.

I have fully transitioned back into the work-week.  And I found that I do quite like it.  I like to be able to work and get things done.  You know, progress, success, accomplishment.  It seems to be a very human state to wish you had a day off during a working day, and during a day off you get a little bored and wish for something more to do.  I just got back from the church run and it felt so good.  There was a breeze and it was cool and quite pleasant. But I do have one complaint:  during the morning I have to force myself a little bit, because I don't feel  quite 'into' my day.  Then when I finally do feel 'into it' its night time and the day is virtually over.  I guess I just need something to complain about.  My day is full of so many different things and there is always something that went right.  But I still haven't had a day when everything went right.  Maybe that is reserved for another time and place (another life, perhaps).   I wonder if my standard is too low, like I am happy with only doing a few things throughout the day, or is it my energy that is lacking, as in I only have energy enough to do a few things.  I just can't go full speed all day long.  I just looked at some family pictures on Sheila's Facebook of some of the grand kids from some years back.  I enjoyed remembering them as they once were, but I do like it now when most of them are much older.  I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

A big thank you to the kids who gave 'me' a couple of gift card last Father's Day that I used today to take my wife to a movie and to dinner.  We went to the Harry Potter movie over here at the new Cinemark theater in Draper.  Then we drove almost 2 blocks to the Goodwood restaurant for our dinner, mostly on your dime.  We both had prime rib.  And we shared a strawberry shake as well.  Our morning was well spent just being together and mostly talking.  It was a really nice time.  Our evening was spent, her upstairs and me downstairs with a few trips to the bathroom, but it was nice to wind down our day and get ready for early morning Tuesday.  I realized how much I enjoy just thinking good thoughts and it is even better when we think together.  Anyway, that is hard work too, and I am well spent for this holiday.  I am ready for some more reflecting (new word for thinking, pondering and contemplating) before I go to bed.   (I guess 'edifying' would be another good word)  And then it is back to work tomorrow.  It will be a shock to my system to get back to that, but I've done that before too, so I will be able to do it.I do fret with all the worries that you have.  I have so to fret over for myself, but I don't see them as much to really fret over.  They just are, and life will go on in spite of them.  I just enjoy what seems to be a real rock solid positive attitude (with gratitude) and I just engage the day as it presents itself.  I know what I can't control,  I accept that, I know what I can control and I try to do that as best I can, and I thank Heavenly Father for the opportunity of both.