Time Experience Thoughts

“Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Carrie, Scott and Family http://www.forevermotts.blogspot.com/  (Roseville, CA) Carrie is a busy, stay-at-home mom and blogger. With her blog, she both creates an ongoing family history, and also keeps grandma and grandpa up-to-date. She serves as 2nd counselor in the Young Women organization. Scott, her hubby, works as a financial planner/stock broker at Merrill Lynch. He serves as the ward Elders Quorum President. This past summer he also had successful thyroid cancer surgery, with the related radioactive iodine treatment. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33.) Scott is of good cheer. Carrie and the boys are very glad to have him with them for a long time to come. Sean (2) and Ryan (4) will be welcoming a new baby brother into the family, due to join them in early April 2008! Carrie and the boys visited us this summer; Scott then joine...

Thanksgiving 2007

Grandma Becky bought several costumes for Ryan and Sean to play in, a fireman, a policeman, a knight, etc. Ryan ended up staying dressed as the fireman most all the first day or so that they were here in Virginia. (In this pic, he was actually watching TV . . . in his fireman outfit.) Ryan said several times over the past week or so that when he grows up his "job" will be Superman. Evidently, he wants to go to Superman school. This is kinda neat, seeing as how when I was but a young boy I read my fair share of Superman comic books (though I was not a big fan of reading lots of other comics). And, of course, I watched a fair amount of the TV Superman. I dreamed of Superman many, many times. Scores of times I dreamed -- at night -- of flying. Maybe a hundred times altogether. Also, as a kid, I dreamed -- literal daydreams -- of being a hero; of being in tough situations; of being -- through no fault of my own -- on the edge of annihilation, but miraculously coming out on top at...

On the fly, we came up with this motorcycle game. Ryan and Sean act as my motorcycle -- their arms are the handlebars; their wrist is the throttle, etc. (BTW, both are solid as a rock; they are in shape. If you look close you can see the muscles work in Sean's back, shoulders, and arms, etc. And Ryan is that much more solid. You can tell they are physically active. A real good thing.) First, we "pop a wheelie." The first time Sean (2) was the motorcycle, I yelled out that we were turning to the left. After turning left, without missing a beat, Sean then said, "Turn right!" After we turn left, then right, we slam on the brakes to just barely avoid "crashing." (Boys like to crash and smash -- or come close to it.) They (and I) could do this all night. But, who will run out of gas first? So much love. NOTE: Ryan, Sean, and our friend Giovanni Freret (Maggie's really cute son) can be heard on this clip. Sean is the one calling out, Right, Left, and Sto...

I. Sometimes, When I least expect it , I happen to catch a brief glimpse of, say, The side of your face, As you are talking in a crowd. Just then, In an instant , My heart leaps, then burns with a cool freshness -- A crisp blast of a winter breeze That burns in and through and out of my chest. II. I simply want To sit there and stare -- Slack-jawed and wide-eyed -- And enjoy the sensation, the revelation, the vision; To drink it all in, And taste it fully to my soul’s satisfaction. I want To freeze this moment in time And gaze and wonder and enjoy -- Though I quickly avert my eyes So as to not make a scene by staring at you. III. But, just as quickly, I glance over at you again And again without letting anyone -- not even you -- notice; Stealing a few more peeks ; Warm reminders Of the many insights and experiences and ideas we've shared For all the decades we’ve been together. IV. How many times I have marveled at how, for so long, I've known Who you really are, and who ...

Sean wiggle-walking. (Was titled, "Wiggle When You Walk; Giggle When You Talk . . . ") He went on like this for a long time. I thought he might stop; but he kept going. I finally got out my cell phone to take this movie. He went on and on and on -- what a "journey." Kids laugh. Kids skip. Kids smile. Kids love. And ALL so naturally . . . and so full of life! (4 August 2007)

Guess which sister? (2007)

During their visit to Virginia this summer. (2007)

Thank heavens, my parents misled me. Come to find out, faces, in fact, do not "stick that way"! (2007) For another picture of Ryan pulling a "face" see also his mother's blog here . The boys constantly remind me (via their funny faces, or just their youthful-boyhood love-of-life escapades) of the immortal Calvin and Hobbes. Wow.