11 dropping to 12

 Oh hi Joseph, I’m getting a pretty late start on this letter. You see, your mother is chatty. Tonight was our Bimonthly, in good weather, Treats In The Street function in our ward. And we have a very nice ward, and you have a very nice mother. Combine that and we somehow stretched a one hour activity into a three hour exercise in social endurance. Actually, It wasn’t that bad, but your mother has been giving many more talents in terms of extending a conversation than I have. 

Tonight when we were chatting with the Fielding’s I again had that sense of answered prayer and miracles. Brother Fielding was in the hospital around the same time as mom and for a short time it was pretty serious. Like, he probably wasn’t going to die but it was a possibility. It was just so reassuring to see him and mom at the same place healed and healthy when at one point so many prayers were going out for each of them to recover. Once again I don’t discount modern medicine, but I do believe prayers are heard and answered.

I think I expressed my stress about work in recent letters. In fact I fasted about that last week and Heavenly Father gave me some insights and answers. The subtle, personal stuff that goes a long way towards fixing one’s perspective. It put me back on my toes after feeling like being on my heels for so long. I think it will be more important for me to flex my experience and express my opinion more forcefully. I’ve done that many times in my past, including recently, but with all the new people, processes and changes, I’ve felt behind or uninformed and it’s difficult for my to assert myself in those situations. But I’m getting caught up again so hopefully I can stay ahead.

I got a text from the number I had marked under Sisters on Tuesday, but it wasn’t the sisters, we have elders back in our stake. I got to teach a kid with them on Tuesday and it was a really good experience. I think he wants to get baptized but his dad wants him to wait until he’s 18, he’s currently nine. So I’m not sure what the elders will do. I kind of think the sisters were a little hopeful that the dad will change his mind, so I guess we’ll just see how that plays out.

Thursday night mom started her masters classes again and Ben was at school late. I didn’t feel like making dinner so Jacob and I went to get sushi. It was fun to be with your brother and the sushi was decent. I got in trouble with your mother for it but i had already weighed that into the decision. 

Friday I was going to make up for it by making grilled cheese for your brothers, the tomatoes are getting ripe and I have a new package of Oscar Meyer Bologna just waiting to get fried up and put in a tasty tomato grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. But aunt Patti invited us to meet her for tacos and mom never gets mad when we go with aunt Patti…I should ask how she feels about sushi.

After we watched the byu vs smu game. Man, both of those teams are just terrible. But byu did hold on for the win. 

Saturday was the game. I got up and your mother was already up, and she looked bad. Her cold was back, hard. I told her that she needed to stay home and I would find someone to take her seat. I believe she actually rested while they were gone. I had the thought to invite bishop Snarr, but then I fell back into my comfort zone and asked uncle Aaron who was working, then uncle Tim, who was at a family reunion. So then I texted bishop. He was interested. We decided to meet at the stadium because he was going to the temple and I wanted to go to lunch with your brothers. We went to Hires Big H, and I again got the kindergarten teacher look from your mom when I told her. Again, worth it. So we got up to the stadium our usual hour early. I had tried to send the ticket to bishop but he never got it, so I waited. Well, it turns out there was a closure on the freeway so it took him a long time to get to the stadium. Then we got our communication crossed and were waiting at different gates. By the time we got to our seats the Utes had scored 17. Oh well, I really like bishop and consider him a friend. At was fun to be at the game with him because he’s a Utah fan and he understands football. But then today as church was starting his wife came by and thanked me for inviting him. She said he’d been going through a rough time and that it was an answer to her prayers. I’m not saying that to brag or anything, in fact, it made me feel bad for not calling him first instead of third. I really want to be more responsive to the Spirit. But I’m mostly glad it worked out.

When we got home mom was resting and looking much better. She had made us a delicious pot of chili and homemade bread, man did that hit the spot. 

The Utes were ranked 11th all week but despite winning and three teams in front of them losing, slipped back to 12. Next week we play Utah State who was Killed by USC, so of course usc leapfrogs us for destroying a crappy team. I like our chances even if rising doesn’t play because of his hand injury, which according to whittingham isn’t serious.

I found out today that mason alger is waiting for his mission call, which is awesome. I’ll let you know where he goes once he announces his call.

Okay kid, that’s it for me, I sure love you.

Pops