Cream of Wheat and toast

Oh hi Jacob!

I saw a picture that your Mission President posted from Stake Conference today. You were in it, and you looked really good, so I assume you’ve vanquished Covid. It made me feel happy seeing you better. I think since my friend passed from Covid it’s become way more serious and scary in my brain than it is in reality. I noticed that you looked a little more chiseled, a little more manly. I love seeing pictures of you

I guess by now you have news of transfers. I hope it works out how you want it to.

So I told that head hunter that I wasn’t interested in the position he had told me about. I did this over text. He texted back sheer disappointment, like he was an old friend and somehow I wasn’t letting him help me. So I agreed to talk to him again tomorrow afternoon at 4:30. I’ll take the call if we’re not chatting due to transfer, but if we are, I’ll blow him off. I do want to hear from you early as practical, but I won’t make first contact.

I had my one on one with my boss on Thursday. He said it was time for a promotion, that I was doing great. I told him I didn’t want a promotion just because everyone was leaving, that I wanted to earn it. So I told him about a couple things I was working on that I wanted to launch and then we could talk promotion. I’m not noble or anything in it, I’ve just learned that in the business world, if you don’t back up your position, you’re a target when management changes, and management always changes. You’ll experience that first had when you get a new President. People will act differently and try harder for a time, it will take him several months to see the real character of people. Character always shows. You can gauge him by if he respects those with character, or, in other words, those that do what the say. If he falls for just what people say they do, then you’ll know his values.

I’m presenting a power point template to the CEO tomorrow. My boss acts like it’s the biggest presentation of my career….pffft. I’m not too worried, and I’m prepared, so I should be fine. I’m taking it seriously, but it’s not the epic highlight of my career like my boss thinks it is. I do appreciate the chance to work without the CEO, he seems like a decent person.

Yesterday was just another day of chores and errands. We did get up early and go to a temple appointment for endowments. I had a name from my dads side of the family born in 1776. His name was Jose de Jesus Rivera, he was from Santa Fe New Mexico. When I got the new name, I felt the Spirit very strongly. When that happens, I like to imagine that maybe I was really close to this man in the pre existence, and that he was glad that it was his time to make these covenants. It makes it a little easier to be attentive during the process. It really makes me feel like I’ve done a little good for someone. I wonder what it will be like when we get to meet them later on.

Later, mom went with grandma to a funeral with grandma. Joey wanted McDonald’s and a haircut, so you know I respect both. I had seen a sign at IFA, the farm store next to Petersons that had a help wanted sign up. I convinced Joey to go ask. He filled out an application and later got a call for an interview tomorrow, so keep a wee prayer for him.

I finished the trim and paint job I was working on. It looks fine, if unnoticeable. I was going to put up a fancier hand railing to replace our dirty white one. But I really didn’t find anything better than that old one so I cleaned it up and painted it a super dark blue with some old paint I had. It looks better than before. I started to cut some wood for a new mantle. For some reason, my power tools kept tripping the breaker, so I didn’t make much progress. But it will look good when I get it all milled down and assembled. It will take a few weeks at least for sure. Once done, I’ll need to demolish the current fireplace mantle and tile. Mom will be thrilled with that mess.

Today was one of the fast Sundays that proves Ben’s point about abolishing fast and testimony meeting. This guy got up and talked about almost loosing his testimony over President Neilson’s mask recommendations. How he’d done his research and he knew he was right, and that he wasn’t okay with the prophet until he had heard that the mandate was for political reasons by the church. I can’t stand how people listen to Fox News before they listen to the prophet, and how they have to approve the prophet’s reasoning before they accept it. It occurred to me that we should just just be obedient no matter what the prophet asks us because someday soon he’ll be asking us to do things we can’t explain. I’m glad Ashley didn’t come today, but I’m sad about Ashley. She doesn’t come with us anymore and she doesn’t trust her bishop. So I don’t know if she’s going to be baptized anytime soon.

Next week is the super bowl. I’m more rooting for Weddle than for any team. I’m not super excited to have so many people over. It gets a little old having everyone come over only willing to contribute by consuming your food.

The week after we’re headed up to Wyoming with uncle Tim to see that military museum in. I’m looking forward to it, especially because I have to skip the Jeep trip next Saturday. But he was hinting at sharing a room with us, which should be a good source of new uncle Tim-isms.

Ben had one of the funniest rants ever. He ranted about how this one particular saint who had written many of the hymns in the green hymnal was the most over rated hymn writer ever, and didn’t even know how he could be a saint. Mind you, this rant went on a good five minutes when we were on our way to grandmas after church. I was laughing the whole time.

Well, enough from me for now kid. I love you immensely, I’m so proud of you, and I think you are a warrior. Talk soon.

Pops.

P.S. for some reason, Mark asked his mom to make Cream of Wheat and toast for their Monday night family meal. Oh man am I ever grateful for your mother. While I do really like cream of wheat, that sounds more like a prison meal than anything else.