Meet your new baby sister Gus

Howdy Benjamin,

Well, today was the day. Even though it’s a full week-and-a-half before your brother Joseph’s birthday, he got his gift. Yes, another tortoise. It’s another Russian, just like poor old Kevin. She’s a girl according to the girl at the pet store. I suspect Kevin was a girl too based on the description we we given on how to tell the difference. We spent dinner time trying to think of names. My options were KJ (for Kevin jr.), Shelli, olive, Hillary (for sir Edmund), and Gus (short for Augustus). Mommy and your brothers had a bunch of suggestions too. Just before bed Joseph informed me that he’s going with Gus. I like that. I wanted to name one of you boys Augustus, I guess a pet tortoise will have to suffice. We set up a tub identical to Kevin’s in joe’s room. I plan on also making him an outside pen, so that Gus can hopefully avoid the same fate as Kevin.

Monday I had an appointment with an employment counselor at the Utah division of workforce services. That’s the state agency that manages unemployment benefits. The meeting was required to continue to receive benefits, so I dutifully complied. I met for an hour with a guy named Len. He gave me some good input on how to reformat my resume. I went in prepared to be humbled, maybe even humiliated. With his advice, I came out feeling reinvigorated on my outlook on things. He said he could tell that I would and do interview well, he answered several questions on I had in this whole process in general. He told me there was good job creation in my field. He also told me he had heard some less than positive things about xactware. He said he would follow-up with some suggestions he had for my resume. He didn’t send them till this morning, so I spent most of today working on it. I sent my revisions to both Len and Chris Bigelow for edits. They’ve both given good feedback and I’m planning on sending it to employers tomorrow. I’ll attach a copy here in case you’re curious. He also said that I should set a goal to land a job within a month, boy would that be something.

The second potential humiliating experience for Monday was a trip to the bishop’s store-house. Mom made the order on Sunday with the relief society president, talk about humiliation. Well, my experience may have been humbling, but it was far from humiliating. The Bishop’s store was clean, well manned, highly organized and very efficient. The food I brought home was all super high quality. One volunteer guy there thought I was a Bishop, only because I was still dressed up for my meeting with Len. Everyone there was treated with kindness and respect.

I made dad spaghetti that night with ingredients we had gotten earlier. It was stinking good to be honest with you.

I’m about to doze off for the night, I have more to tell, so I’ll finish tomorrow.

Well, it’s 4am and I woke up with gas cramps...there are worse things to wake up with.

Tuesday I had a really great experience at the temple, the Jordan River one. Nothing with messages or revelation. Just one where I felt alert and in tune with the Spirit. I’m so grateful for this time I’ve had to go so often. It’s been the key to me being able to truly appreciate how amazing the opportunity to serve there is.

For lunch I met my Neways buddies, Jimbo and Jason. I’ve been pretty open with them about my challenges and spiritual experiences during this trial. They seem really interested in them, more then most people would. Not that I share them openly, but I’ve known those guys longer then I’ve known Joseph, you build trust over that kind of time span.

Okay, getting sleepy again, I’ll try finish this within the next several hours.

Oh, hi again.

Joey has lagoon day today, so he’s home with me. I asked mom if she had any suggestions for how we could spend the day, her answer was “yard work”. Shouldn’t have asked.

Well. I should have sent this last night. My plan today is to send my shiny new resume to several new job postings. There’s one in particular that I really hope bites. 

I forgot to tell you about my experience on Tuesday morning. It was that time between being asleep and awake. That time when you’re mind is clear and opened. I usually try to fill that time with a prayer before I get up, before I even have a chance to get on my knees for a more structured prayer. That morning before any of that I heard distinctly in grandma Irene’s voice, the voice from when I was her kid, before she was old, her confident and loving voice saying, “”things will be back to normal soon.” I felt happy and contented all day after that. I believe it Benjamin, so I’ll keep you posted.

Well, Love-YA-I-tell-YA! 

Pops