Time Experience Thoughts

That's me, the tight end on the left side of the picture, number 87 for the Citrus Junior College Owls. We were Mission Conference Champions that year, the Fall of 1972. (Gina used Photoshop to 'warm up' the pic.)

After playing football at Citrus JC (1972 season) and before my mission to Australia (1973-75), I coached the sophomore football team at my alma mater, Duarte High School (1973 season). Head Coach Whalen is on the right; I am on the left -- Assistant Coach, and Offensive and Defensive Line Coach.

This week the Washington Redskins visit Oakland Raiders. "Just Win . . . "

Becky and I drove to the Washington DC Temple late Sunday afternoon. A wonderful day. Clear, cool, bright. We walked around the temple, sat and read and talked or a while. Becky is blessed to work/serve in the Temple every week (Thursday evenings). Beautiful place, beautiful feelings, beautiful company.

It was a beautiful, crisp morning. Perfect for football. (Taken from our front yard.)

FOOTBALL. Love it! Even though I only watch a handful of games. (Hardly any from beginning to end. Good to know it is there if I want it.) I won bragging rights last year -- if not a little respect from the small group I competed against in ESPN's Pigskin Pick 'Em game -- by picking the most winners for the entire year. We shall see what this year brings. (Though I am hoping against hope that the Raiders will not embarrass themselves yet again. Blast.)

Becky and I went to a local car show with some friends, Karl and Belinda. (Karl builds hot rods for fun.) I'm guessing there were over 200 cars, including at least five '55 Chevys! The camera angle is pretty low here because we had Becky sitting in a wheelchair. No real need; we're just being extra careful so as to not mess with her recent surgery.

On the way home from work I snapped a few pictures of what appeared to be a snow-capped mountain hovering above Northern Virginia -- our own version of an ephemeral Mt. Rainier.

Sydney dropped by for a quick visit today. I took these pics out in the sunlight. (Well, one turned out a little dark.) Beautiful.

Sean remembered that we hadn't done any computer drawing yet this trip. First Ryan drew his picture. Then Sean thought what he could draw. He chose to draw the rear tail light of a 55 Chevy. MY 55 Chevy. So, I drew the curved chrome (gray) part, and he drew he red tail light line and filled in the red, green, and gray parts all by himself. We thought we might end with just the chrome part with the red light. Ryan suggested we draw the actual green part of the car. Sean said, "If we draw the car you'll be more impressed!" How could we not?

Ryan chose to draw from scratch and from memory Mace Windoo's purple lightsaber. He designed and drew it 100% all by himself. Including the red button, and the yellow light (which, he says, if on, signifies how much damage the lightsaber can do). Note the two colors of the actual lightsaber; the outer/lighter color being the "glow" of the inner/actual lightsaber itself. Ryan's idea, design, and accomplishment. Ryan further informs me that the tan color is part of Luke's Obi-Wan's cloak/robe on the Jedi's arm.

Tonight Becky and I experienced the Fourth of July fireworks show in DC with grandsons Ryan, Sean, and Kyle (and their parents and Sydney). As usual, the show was over-the-top fabulous. All three boys were transfixed. Though, about 3/4 the way through the show, Sean (4 years old) got a little distracted, maybe even a bit bored with the constant flow of color and light and sound. However, he could not keep from being drawn back into the drama of the "Finale." Always a crowd pleaser. This year was no exception. As it got going, he re-engaged and could not help from dancing and bopping to the sight and sound of beat of the constantly exploding fireworks. I caught him on video in a freeform joyous dance. Towards the end of it all, he was so excited he let loose with a spontaneous sommersaut. Enjoy. We sure did!

[NOTE: Double-click on the arrow in the center of the movie immediately below.] Dear Scott, We are so glad we met you. So glad we know you. So glad we know you and your heart so well. So glad you love and respect Carrie. So glad you love your boys. So glad you are who you are. So glad you are part of us. So glad you love and honor the Lord. We are SO glad. With all our love, Scott & Becky

[NOTE: Double-click on the arrow in the center of the movie immediately below.] Dear Ryan, 'What a wonderful world' it is because you're in it. Happy birthday. See you next month! With love, Grandma Becky & Grandpa Scott

Just ran across a print of this photo. Carrie, you are GLOWING! Happy Anniversary you two! Love, Scott & Becky

MY ONE TRUE LOVE With such comfort as time lends, With such longing as hopes yield, With such love as tears reveal -- Hear now our Hope and Desire. As great and precious promises anchor our souls, As eternal ties bind us, As experiences knit us together -- Grant us true Companionship. Being strengthened in struggles, Being tried in trials of faith and will, Being refined in furnaces of affliction -- Help us Overcome all. Together learning through love, Together stretching through service, Together growing through giving -- Make us Instruments in thine Hand. How we worship thee, How we understand thee, How we commune with thee -- So reveal thyself, thy True Nature. With experience we truly know thy character, With yearning we find our true selves, With true love we see our destiny. -- Wrap us in the everlasting arms of Thy Love. Scott L. Vanatter, 24 December 2000 (Christmas Poem for Becky, my Love)

Sean pulling funny faces Ryan pulling funny faces Both boys pulling funny faces, plus (Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes pulling funny faces.)

Within seconds of Carrie getting down onto the floor to play, the boys jumped onto her back playing horsey, etc. (with light sabers)! They are full-on boys, rough-housing, and having fun, fun, fun whenever feasible. (Always a good thing!) Grandma Becky reminds me that the boys are as quick to play horsey, etc. with their dear ol' Mom when she gets down on the floor with them, as they are with their Dad. The boys love love LOVE their Mother. They tell her so; they tell her she's pretty; they follow her; and respect her. She is -- along with her dear hubby -- raising a team of righteous sons. A sight to behold (their interaction, their eyes, their council, their nightly prayers, their Family Home Evenings, etc.). Happy Mother's Day Carrie. (And Grandma Becky, and Grandma Lee, and Grandma Dot, and all.)

The boys have MOVES! A little bit of Kung Fu Panda, add in some Star Wars lore, and a lotta BOY, and you get excellent martial arts moves. See the movie for a long strectch of Ryan's improvisational Kung Fu moves. Loved being with and watching and admiring and loving these boys.

[During the last half of April Becky and I visited Carrie and all the Motley Boys: Kyle, Sean, Ryan, and Scott Motley. Of the 1,000 stories I could tell of the experience, here's one.] Well. I missed shooting Part I. (And boy did I miss something.) After spending a Saturday afternoon walking up and down a river in Auburn, CA, skipping stones, and taking in the blue sky and mountain air, we stopped by McDonalds for a soft ice cream cone. It was a pretty hot day. Everyone got their own one, except Kyle. He was just turning one year old. I ate the top portion of my cone, then handed the cone and a short mound of ice cream to Kyle. He was sitting wedged in the corner next to Grandma Becky. So, he puts the cone up to his mouth, and begins tasting, then eating it. After a few seconds of getting the full measure of the vanilla taste, he suddenly realizes how REALLY good this ice cream stuff REALLY is. He raises both his hands (cone still in one hand), and with a wide-eyed, big wide smile ...

Dear Sean, Happy Birthday, you "beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy." We like to listen to this song every now and then before we fall asleep at night -- and think of you, "darling Sean." Can't wait to see you ride your bike! See you soon . . . With lots of love, Grandma Becky Grandpa Scott

The light of the night shadows o'er the sun. The darkness of day spares none. In plain sight we miss, while not discerning, And seek what we're unknowingly yearning. It never was lost, but always right there. We find deep inside that now we're aware. Scott L. Vanatter, 6 January 2009 (Poem on turning 55 years young. Grateful for seeing what I see. Thanks Becky.)