Time Experience Thoughts

A couple of Sundays ago, Becky & I drove out to Bull Run Park with Sydney & Mike to walk through the Bluebells.

This week I have been in San Francisco at the RSA Conference. At the conference I got this caricature done by Zach ( www.caricaturesbyzach.com ). He asked me if I was a retired military colonel. Told him I wasn't, but that I used to be a wrestler and a football player.

This afternoon, Becky and I got all bundled up and took a trek around our back yard where the boys (Ryan, Sean, and Kyle) would run and play. In many places the snow was up past our knees. We enjoyed exploring the deep, white snow drifts right in our own backyard.

"This Bird Has Flown" Freckles, our beautiful and personable cockatiel, passed away last night or early this morning. Sad day. However, as she was pretty old in bird years (approx 14 years), this was not so unexpected. Really, she gave us so much pleasure and joy over the years. While sad, I have such fond memories of how fun, loving, and yes, sometimes ornery, she was. (Well, she was not that ornery with Becky!) She was so sweet (at times), so teeny tiny, delicate, and with SUCH personality! The past night or two, she spent some extra fun time boxing a leather toy Becky gave her -- and ringing the little bell connected to it. Over the past couple days and nights, she seemed to spend some extra time sitting on the floor of her cage resting. In years past, this meant she was getting ready to lay some eggs. Not this time. When I opened her cage today, she was sitting peacefully there on the floor of her cage, with her head elegantly dipped down, and her chin gently tucked under...

Becky was sitting at her desk. She glanced outside and knew that, as the sky was of a certain hue and contrast, there would be a rainbow. Sure enough. She called out to me, and we found this rainbow on our street. It was dusk, with a high level of contrast and color. Rainbows remind me of one of my favorite songwriters, and one of his best songs. See below. # Ribbon in the Sky (Stevie Wonder) Oh so long for this night I prayed That a star would guide you my way To share with me this special day Where a ribbon's in the sky for our love. If allowed may I touch your hand And if pleased may I once again So that you too will understand There's a ribbon in the sky for our love. Do...do... Do do do do do... Hmm hmm... This is not a coincidence And far more than a lucky chance But what is that was always meant Is our ribbon in the sky for our love, love . We can't lose with God on our side We'll find strength in each tear we cry From now on it will be you and I And our ri...

~ Grandma's Christmas Thoughts ~ Someone recently said that in the doldrums of winter while all the earth goes to sleep and the gardens die and the trees go bare (at least here in Virginia) that this is truly the best season of the year… There is a spirit that permeates the world. Imagine a world without Thanksgiving and Christmas. To me, as the years roll by, the two holidays become inseparably connected. Thankfulness turns to honor and worship of that One Sacred Life that gave us ALL. It is a season in which we celebrate new life… the birth of our Savior… the hope of the world. It was also in this season of the year that new life came to our family—twice. Every year, I remember rocking my tiny little infants in front of the Christmas tree, gazing into the sparkling lights, and singing Silent Night as a lullaby. Imagine a new mother, holding her infants in her arms, and deeply contemplating the layers of meaning in that song not only for the world, but for our family. To me, they ...

Scott Serves now as first counselor in the bishopric. Works for a competitor to his last company. Finalized move of three wards into a new chapel—including ours. Drove to Kansas to spend Christmas with mother and sister—just got home. http://scottvanatter.blogspot.com/ Becky Serves as the shift coordinator every Thursday evening at the Washington D.C. Temple (with President and Sister Tingey—Scott’s former mission president!). Teaches the Adult Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class. 8th year working for BYU—Coordinating the Washington D.C. Student Teaching Program. Sydney Moved to Arlington (Crystal City) this year. Now in the Colonial Ward. Works in the Washington D.C. Temple on Thursday evenings on Becky’s shift. Traveled to Greece this fall. Is dating Mike! (“Love is in the air!”) http://photogal98.blogspot.com/ Carrie and Scott (along with Ryan, Sean, and Kyle) Summer and Thanksgiving in Virginia. Bough...