K2

O hi Ben!

For some reason the picture of you and your brothers talking about Minecraft (or tereria or whatever game you were discussing) last Monday at grandmas house has really stuck with me. I’m really grateful for you three, what great boys you are, how well you’ve always gotten along, the mostly happy sounds we’ve always heard from you. You’re brothers were especially content after that, I hope you were too. Of course, it made me emotional for old times. Not that I want to be in any other time of my life, but grateful for the times we have had, the happiness and the ability to learn and grow through challenging times. I hope I’m doing that now, I know you are, I see your mom doing it, even your brothers (though I’m worried about Jacobs grades, please don’t say anything).

Yesterday we took up where we left off with grandmas front garden. She bought some shrubs and flowers and some mulch and we got everything planted. I’m pretty proud of the job we did. Mom helped by shopping for the items with grandma, Joey and I did the labor. Uncle Tim called and asked if he could help, but by then, we were about done. Jacob went with mark and Jordan to do windows, I think the dealerships. They got back in time for grandma to make us all chicken sandwiches for lunch. Like I said last time, I sure feel content being over there

We were inspired by grandma to do a little work on our own garden. Mom bought some flowers and stuff that she put in the big green pots on the front porch, along with some hanging flowers for the front and the back porches. She weeded the front garden and added a few flowers. I weeded the back garden and planted 3 tomato plants. Mom’s students had given her some seeds that she got to sprout, so we planted the ones that were ready. We’ll all be excited to see what grows. Luckily, it’s been raining here, so weeding and planting was easy.

Tomato gardening always reminds me of you. Before you were even walking you would scoot out to the garden and pick the tomatoes right off the vine and eat them like apples. I think that led directly to the salsa drinking incident. Man were you a great kid.

I had a long hike on Thursday. It was cool enough that I stayed in the valley. It was in dimple dell park near grandmas house in sandy. It was 6 miles in total, with only one steep spot. It’s neat that there’s a park right in town that they’ve kept so natural. I remember when I was 4 or 5 my brother had a scout camp there. I remember it seemed so far away. I don’t remember any buildings anywhere near by. I mostly remember getting to sleep in my dad’s old (new at the time) 1970 Chevy suburban with my dad and my brother had to sleep with the scouts.

Friday I had a pretty good temple session. They’re playing a different film, I think the less popular of the new ones. I always wonder how you get to play the role of Satan in those.

I need you to pray for something for me. On Thursday I was contacted by a friend who works at a company called young living. It’s a company not too dissimilar from Neways. They are hiring a Creative staff including a Creative Director. It’s a long shot, but i think I’d be a great fit. 

Today was ward conference. Do you remember elder Holland’s talk, Behold the Lamb of God? And do you remember the part about reverence for the ordinance of the sacrament? And the emphasis on sacrament meeting reverence? Well, we got an earful. I think we have some work to do in that department. I agree we could and need to be more reverent, but I also love the friendly intercourse in our ward. I’ve been in wards where nobody talked to each other. Those were not my favorite wards. In other ward news, still no new Bishop. 

Oh, and sister McMullen asked how you were doing 

Today Zac and Camille blessed baby Reese. You know my sentiments on the actual cuteness of babies, but she is really cute. Anyway, because of the situation with aunt Patti and uncle Patrick, they didn’t do it at church, they did it at Zac’s parents house in Lindon. It was crowded. It seemed natural to see uncle Patrick at first. I don’t think I’d seen him since last summer. But then I think of all the pain and worry that he’s put aunt Patti through, then it gets awkward. It was nice to see Aunt Patti up and around though. It was also a nice blessing. It’s interesting to see how people ebb and flow. Some are moving forward, some just floating along, some fighting the current, and some sinking. Sometimes I’m not sure which one I am. 

As you know, joe’s birthday is coming up. He’s asked for a tortoise. I’m not sure what he’s going to name it, my vote is for K2. I bought most of the paraphernalia, the big tub, the lights, the pine shavings, the bowl, food etc. we had settled on another Russian. But one of the pet stores had one that grows to potentially 200 pounds and lives for over 70 years. It was dang cute, and fairly hyper. I told Joey that we’d buy one nearer to his actual birthday, but we’ll probably get it this week. He somehow talked his mom into agreeing on the giant turtle, which seemed like fun and games until we watched some YouTube videos on them. They can burrow through walls, they dig tunnels 20 feet deep and 30 yards long. They have man sized turds and pretty much do as they please. I think joe has come back to wanting a Russian like Kevin, but I’ll keep you posted.

Well, love you brother. I look forward to communicating with you tomorrow, best part of my week.

Pops