We remodeled the entire house!

 Oh hi kid!

The title of this message is from a dream I had about you this morning. You had just come home and I was putting the last details together from a complete remodel of the house. I was bragging about everything I did even if mom wasn’t excited about it. You were looking at me with confusion and asked me why? I said Jacob, “I just wanted our house to be just like your houses in Mexico!” You just said, “but dad, our house was so beautiful before.” Then I realized that I haven’t even welcomed you home, and unlike Ben, you were willing to give me a big bear hug and I was so happy that you were home. So, while the remodeling part of the house is not a completely accurate prophecy, how I’m looking forward to you being home is.

Speaking of remodeling, I ripped out the old fireplace mantle this week. I had built a structure for a new one several weeks ago and got it mounted up. Mom decided that she wants the tv over the fireplace rather than the piano, so I’m going to have to dismantle it a little to run some wires. It shouldn’t be too bad though. She also wants to get new furniture for the living room, but we’ve been threatening to do that for years now. I don’t think the room will be 100% done by the time you get home, but it will be a little different.

Grandma and aunt Lithia just left. They came over for dinner. Uncle Tim went to go visit uncle David with uncle Steven over the weekend. I was invited  but I nearly convulsed at the thought of spending three days of conversation being dominated by marvel movies and, well, just about everything else. Everyone is excited for you and Jordan to be back home. Next week we’re having Mother’s Day at our house for grandma and I’m trying to convince mom to order sandwiches from the Walmart deli (they’re actually pretty good) instead of slaving over dinner for 50 ungrateful gaping mouths. We’ll see if her pride lets us get away with that plan. For dinner tonight mom, Ben, and Joey made chicken Alfredo with homemade pasta, roasted Costco chicken, garlic cheese bread made in the pizza oven, and Olive Garden style salad. It was really good. For desert mom made this gorgeous coconut strawberry lemon cake. It was the most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen. Your mother is an insanely talented person. Wait till you find someone like her before you get married, and when you do, do not hesitate.

Spring is finally here, it’s nearly perfect outside. I mowed the lawn yesterday. It’s still a little thin. I hope the water comes on this week. The trees are finally starting to bloom. I tried to keep busy yesterday with dad chores. I had the Spector of work hanging over my head this weekend, mostly because there’s a guy at work who’s a complete wild card with no accountability. I decided to follow the prophet’s advice and have been trying to build a connection, or even a friendship with him. It’s harder to have mean feelings for someone when you connect with them. 

With how busy it’s been at work I had to cancel on uncle Aaron who had asked me to go camping in the Swell with him. I had planned to take Friday off and everything. When I was feeling frustrated over not being able to go though, I remembered the feeling I had four years ago being recently out of work. I remembered praying for work so hard I was sure I’d be happy with any job. Well, sometimes that’s a gift a trial can give you. When you’ve needed something desperately bad it’s tough to be negative about that thing once you have it, even when that blessings becomes it’s own trial.

There’s a couple of adventures coming up in May that I hope I can do. One is a trip to the Behind the Reef trail in the San Raphael Swell, and the other is a one day trip around the White Rim Road. I may flake out on that last one, it seems daunting, but then again, it also seems awesome. I look forward to adventures like that with you when you’re home.

My 4Runner is looking really cool these days with the new bumper and all. It’s probably not Jeep Gladiator on 37s cool, but it’s cool nun-the-less. Cheaper and more comfortable than a Gladiator too.

Speaking of adventures, after our call Monday I contacted an old mission companion who lives in Calgary, the closest city to Banff national park. He’s given me a whole bunch of information on things to see and routes to take. I’ll list them out in a future email. I’m also going to start planning a route and itinerary. Of all the ideas we’ve discussed for a trip, this is the one I’m most excited about. 

Well handsome boy, that’s about all that comes to mind for this week. Keep your head up and keep working hard. Have some fun too. I love it when you post pictures. In most of them you look happy. In a few there’s a small hint of how you tell me you feel. I have to admit that you’ve had both of those looks in pictures from your entire life. I don’t think that’s a bad thing Jacob, it’s how you’re built. I also hear and see plenty of evidence of a real testimony in our calls, in your letters, and even in your pictures. But I think that deep down you know that. And I think it’s okay to fear otherwise, it will keep you humble as long as you don’t give up. Humility is a completely underrated quality in our world. But it’s a vital quality for the next one.

Lyity,

Pops 

P.S. i almost forgot to tell you. Your amazing mother earned another award for her great work as a teacher. It was from the PTA. I’m not sure exactly what it was for but they awarded it to her at the big school district meeting and everything. She’s an amazing teacher and professional. I want to be more like her.