Time Experience Thoughts

The family at Kyle's blessing Sydney Carrie & Sydney Carrie & Scott Motley Ryan, Kyle, and Sean Motley Ryan, swinging and jumping Sean, swinging and jumping Kyle, jumping

[ Becky wrote our Christmas letter this year. ] Greetings family and friends, Our thoughts over the last year have been enlightened by the events of the world. We sense a need for greater spiritual strength in the face of overwhelming adversity. Our Stake President recently made the observation using a line graph that the increase of evil in the world parallels the increase in the building of temples—good and evil both on the rise. I think the case can also be made that the amount of good and evil trail the breakthrough of the Information Age. Our choices in this life have never before been so vast… the choice to live a life in pursuit of an inner strength to become a person of integrity or the choice to live a life in pursuit of every carnal whim. Each would claim its victory in the pursuit of happiness, but one would give lasting joy —eternal— joy and happiness while the other gives fleeting pleasure and feeble attempts at lasting joy. “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom...

Walk into our house at Christmas and there, in the middle of everything, is our beautiful Christmas Tree -- warm, inviting, delicate, interesting, varied, colorful, meaningful . . . full of love and memories. Every ornament placed on the tree a cherished memory of family and friends. While it is a reflection of our family's history and interests and connections, really it is a mirror image of the love and breadth of my beautiful wife. This is her gift which she gives to us and all those who cross our doorway (or for those who drive by and glance into our living room) at this enchanting and sacred time of year. I look at the tree and see the love with which we've been blessed. Every day I look at my beautiful, warm, inviting, delicate, interesting, varied, colorful, and meaningful wife (My Eternal Sweetheart) and bask in the love and memories and the future we share. Thank you Becky for such beauty and love.

In December 1967 we had been going together for over 6 months. (Note: It took me a whole five months to muster the courage to give Becky a smooch.) This is our earliest Christmas pic together. "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

OUTLINE Remembering The Sacrament Time, Experience, and Thoughts How We Remember Remember What, When The Power of Symbolism Jesus is Bread and Water The Sacrament Invitation: Come Unto Me Intercessory Prayer The Sacrament: Each Phrase The Bread The Water Comparing Bread and Water Time, Experience, and Thoughts Dream of the Savior (Go to Sacrament Table) We Who are Poor, Broken, Captive, Blind, Bruised REMEMBERING I remember my best friend Terry. He died in 1978, under the pier at Balboa Beach. We were 24 years old. He never married, never had children. I still remember his intelligence, his athleticism, his wit, and his friendship. You also remember beloved friends and family members. How can we show that we love them and remember them? As importantly, how and when do we remember Jesus? THE SACRAMENT Inspired by General Conference, Bishop Brandenburg asked me to speak on the Sacrament. I have pondered this topic both, lately, and really, since I joined the Church as a senior in high sc...

In her diligent efforts to clean out our garage, Becky moved some of my boxes of stuff (memorabilia) from one spot to another. Before being placed safely in its new spot, it got tipped over and out spilled some of my papers and art work from elementary school and junior high school. I am guessing that I drew these two pictures in the late '60s. I seem to recall that I added the song lyrics -- my own words to live by -- at a later date. Looking back we have laughed that prior to me getting religion, these two phrases made up my entire moral view of the world. My religion. On the chopper, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance." (John Lennon). And, on my version of a flat track racing motorcycle, "Whisper words of wisdom . . . let it be." (Paul McCartney) Of course, I was influenced by the times, pop (rock) music, the Beatles, etc. And, to be honest, I also drew one other picture of a motorcycle and had this third motto inscribed on it, "I don't wa...

I. Her wisdom’s words – spoken long ago, but now fully quieted -- Still sound in our ears, pointing out the way. II. The binding power of her love’s selfless acts – given for so long, but now all bound up -- Still echo in our hearts, blessing us today. III. In all our days of need she was always there for us. Now she’s just . . . there. In all her days alone she sits there silently -- without us. Soon we’ll be there. For now, her communication is Soundless and unspoken, Dulled, muted, and verbally stifled Till that Great Day when none shall be voiceless. IV. Sitting all by herself, with Heaven alone looking down on her -- and into her soul, She’s stares out the window, Alone again. Now together with her again, Sometimes she stares blankly straight ahead, but then in a moment, straight into our eyes. We sit with and talk to and walk with her – looking back deep into her eyes and heart. Too infrequently, the silent sound is Broken with a Hello or a (heart-rending...