Ben’s new calling

Oh hi mister elder Joseph,

How does this letter find you this week? How is the work going? How was your interview with President?

This week has been back to normal, as it is, mostly. Everyone is busy, not much happened on the job search. I’m still hopeful that job I interviewed for at the start of last week (it seems far longer than that). I’m hopeful for a second interview and I’m hoping to hear about it this week (please add that to your missionary prays for me if you wouldn’t mind). I must admit that I’m much more anxious about it than I was last week at this time. Tomorrow I’m speaking with some sort of job service that I received as part of my separation agreement. I don’t know what that means but it will be worth following up on. I told myself not to freak out until after the holidays, my dream is to have something lined up for January. I guess it’s more than a dream, your mother has set the example of asking for specific things, like for that job and to be working in January, so that’s what I’m doing. In related news, I heard that brother Carver was laid off this weeks too. That news hit hard, it seems to be the season. I can’t seem to pray for me without asking for help for the Carvers too. 

A don’t have much of a day by day breakdown for this week. Tuesday the repair guy for the washing machine came by and told me that they were going to have to order a part, so I’ve been spending a lot of time at the laundromat. He’ll be back Wednesday.

Everyone around here is busy with finals this week, they’ve been working hard. Ben is going to Washington DC on Tuesday with Jacob following on Friday. It’s going to be a quiet weekend around here.

Speaking of Ben, he was called to be the second counselor in the elders quorum this week. I can tell president knight is very excited about it. I am too, Ben will do a great job. He was set apart today after church. For some reason after the setting apart the high councilman said that our family was “the best of the best.” You can imagine the rants that came from that on the walk home.

The highlight of the sports summary is that Kyle Whittingham is coming back for next season. The Utes also hired a new offensive coordinator from New Mexico, who may be bringing in his own quarterback with him, which lead to all of our QBs to enter the transfer portal, all I can say is “Wilson, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!” No word yet on Rising, it won’t surprise me if he does come back. Amidst all the transfers, the Utes signed a 4star linebacker and a 4 star running back, so they had a good signing day. On the fun side, byu fans are all butt hurt because they are not in the playoffs and are going to the Alamo bowl against Colorado, who I predict will kill them.

Friday night mom had a night off from the temple, so mom was home but she had homework. It was nice to be together with her though. Ben and I watched Interstellar after, I’m getting to appreciate that movie more every time I watch it.

Saturday we stayed pretty busy. Mom had papers to write and Ben and Jacob had homework too. Mom made a fabulous waffle breakfast. After I finished my small speaker kit. They aren’t perfect, but I’m getting a little better at finishing my wood working projects. I put them in my office with a cheap little amplifier I had laying around and a digital streamer. They sound fine, but are lacking bass. When I’m once again employed, I’ll be ordering a small subwoofer kit to hopefully round that out. I’m really enjoying this hifi hobby. I guess it’s how I express my musicality since I’m not musical.

I have been reluctant to spend money on the bedroom make over for the board and baton we want to put behind our bed, so I decided to trade effort for money by creating the boards by sawing up a sheet of 1/2 inch MDF I’ve had in the garage for four years. I sliced it into rough pieces on the floor with my cheap track saw, then I sawed them to size on my table saw (I love that thing, it may be my favorite tool), then I rounded the corners with my little router. I didn’t quite finish, but I made good progress and they’ll be ready to install next week.

Jacob had come out to tell me that it was time to go to the basketball game, it was starting at five, not at seven as I had assumed. So I jumped in the shower and mom took us to Apollo burger because of the time change we didn’t have time to make dinner. I told you about the game, if the Utes hadn’t had such a bad first half we could have been in it. It was fun to be with your brothers though. 

We got home and the boys were watching the conference championship games. They were pretty fun. After we stayed up and watched a mom movie called The Good Lie. It was about the Lost Boys From Rwanda. I really liked it, though I’m sure it was not edgy enough for your brothers.

Today has been a pleasantly quiet Sunday. Mom made tostadas and this incredible apple pie. She also made crunchy bread. Your mother is a miracle. 

We’re watching the Christmas devotional right now and aunt Patti and Artie just came by on their way to Camille’s house, it’s nice to have them here.

I’ll finish this up for now, as always I really look forward to hearing from you tomorrow. I love you my son.

Pops