Alf Hall is a Puzzle to Me

I found this photo of my great grandfather Alf Hall (my grandpa Hall's Dad) in some files that my brother Mike uploaded to Google Docs sometime ago. Of all the photos I've seen of my ancestors, I think I resemble this one somewhat. None of the others have even been close

A year or so ago I was buying puzzles for Grant to get into (he loves them, and can focus his energy like no kid that age that I've ever seen before). There was a different kind of puzzle there too that allows you to use a personal photo, then makes a map using the 300 pieces that come with it so that you can make you own puzzle from the personal photo. You can re-do it over and over again using different photos.

I thought that was pretty cool, so I bought it and have put a few together. The one above of is my good friend Alf in puzzle form. I don't know if he would approve or not. But I have often thought over the years that I am more like my grandpa Vern than I am like my father (and probably getting more like him every day, to my wife's chagrin) so who knows, maybe I got a portion of his Dad's qualities as well. And not just the dark hair and heavy eyebrows.

When Do You Think?

The first time I remember being asked if, and when, I spent time pondering (the scriptures, true doctrine, the teachings of the prophets, etc.) I was an Elders Quorum President and the stake president was doing the asking. It caught me by surprise and I didn't have a ready answer so I fumbled something out, and he seemed willing to let that suffice. But it got me thinking about just when, and how much I really think about important things.

And actually, it surprised me how much time I spent doing that sort of thing.

The next time someone asked me that question (again it was my stake president) I was serving as a bishop. I was a bit better prepared this time, but unfortunately it came at a time when I felt nearly overwhelmed by the duties of my calling, caring for my family, and work at school. My first reaction was: Man! when am I going to make time to do that? Fortunately, this time the stake president was my brother, so no offense was taken at my response.

But as before, when I pondered the reality of my ponderings, I realized that even with everything I was doing, I still spent time pondering, and thinking through events, situations, teachings, and scriptures. Just not perhaps as much as I should have, or would have liked to.

The third time I was asked that question, I was the stake president, and it was asked of me by a member of the Seventy. This time I was ready. Here's what I said. . .

My favorite time to ponder and think is when I run. Now, I don't particularly like running. I've never been very good at it, and the older I get, the slower I get. But running requires just enough physical effort for me to focus my thoughts. Walking and riding a bike are okay, and I do some thinking then, but it's much easier for my mind to wander when I'm doing those activities.

Most of the time when I run I write talks for Church meetings, link scriptures together in chains, consider what various experiences in my life have taught me - and of course I think about my family. Now, there are other times when I ponder and peruse in my head things that I have written of memorized. When I read the scriptures, and when I pray are certainly other times; but also when I wake up in the night, and sometimes when I'm just sitting doing nothing. It's just that those last two things don't happen very often.

So when do you ponder? When do you think? And what do you think? For me, inspiration - even revelation has often come. Answers to what I should say, and how I should act, almost always come during my pondering. I highly recommend it.

Welcoming Henry

I hope you all don't fall off your chairs, but this is actually Melody posting on the blog.

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Arizona the week after Henry was born to meet and welcome him. He is such a sweet, cuddly baby! And I had a lot of fun playing with Grant, Lucy and Molly too (Pam & Rob probably thought Grandma is starting with the 2nd childhood thing!)

Grant was my very own personal alarm clock and greeted me almost every morning with a "do you want to play, Grandma?" I usually talked him into having breakfast first.

I love these expressions! I think they had seen a few too many camera's that day.

Rob was "Wonder-Dad" the whole time I was there. He made the "Super A" list when he (and Grant helped) brought me (and everyone else in the family) a plate of delicious French-toast, bacon and eggs for a special Valentine breakfast in bed!

Valentines is a very fun holiday at the Fishers - they have a Valentine-fairy that decorates the kids bedrooms while they sleep!

I got to be the delivery service and bring this beautiful baby afghan that Great-Grandma Raona made for Henry.

I didn't get any pictures of her, but Kim picked me up from the airport and spent all of her precious free time with us while I was there. She is so much fun - the kids love to watch out the front window for her arrival. And like Grant says "she makes the BEST cakes!"

As I'm sure you all know, Pam is an amazing mom, it was a joy to visit and feel the wonderful spirit of love in her home. Thanks for letting me come!

Out with the Old - In with the New

After getting smacked in the rear-end by a hit-and-run driver a couple of weeks ago, we recognized it was time to step up our search for something to replace the old Jeep. I really loved that old thing. And in spite of the cracked windshield, loose seats, broken heater motor, leaky spare tire, terribly peeled paint, and odds & ends of other cosmetic blemishes - it served me well for at least 10 years, especially during those times when I was traveling all over the north state for my Church assignment. It was a car I was comfortable in, and felt like I could do anything with (including driving across 40' wide creeks up to the gunnels deep in flowing water and climbing up major 4 wheel drive trails in search of a better route for my 50 mile hike).

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But those days are gone, and this past week we bought the Jeep pictured above. In spite of spending more that I had planned on when I started my search a year ago, I feel like we got a good price for a vehicle with less than 39,000 miles and is just 3 years old.

That's not to say it was easy. Buying this kind of car is completely out of character for us. I know I spent a restless night thinking about it. I'm sure Mom did too. But I feet right about it, however difficult or out of my comfort zone it was to do.

My plan all along has been to get something we could rely on to get us anywhere our family is, in any kind of weather, at a moment's notice. And to have something that would last at least 20-25 years - well past my retirement date. I also need something that will pull my trailer and be able to haul a fair amount of gear inside and on top. This car fills all those needs. We didn't go into debt to purchase it either. that was another requirement.

In Other News

The weather here has been incredible for the past several days. Most of this past week was so warm the fruit trees are all budding out (very pretty, but not good news for the farmers). A couple of days ago I rode my bike down the levee to Boyd Pump boat ramp (a little over 5 miles away) wearing shorts and a thin exercise shirt. Just 2 weeks ago I was bundled up in my warm workout pants, heavy shirt, and lined jacket to make the trip. The picture below gives a view of the green all around on the west side of the levee at the boat ramp.

But we're not done with winter yet. This coming week will bring more cold (well, cold for NorCAl) with temps in the mid to low 50's. It would be good to get some more rain and snow in the mountains to supplement what little we've had so far, but I suppose the farmers will just be happy if it doesn't freeze. That would cause all the buds to drop and effectively destroy the entire fruit crop for this year. This is life in an agricultural region.

I always think of the joke about the farmer who won $2 million in the lottery. When they asked him what he was going to do with the money, he replied: "I guess I'll just keep farming until it's all gone."

Valentines Day

Mom came home from Arizona Tuesday where she had a great time playing with Pam & Kim & the grand kids. I picked her up at the airport ans we drove out to the temple. Afterwards we decided to go somewhere other than our usual stop at Panera Bread Co. for dinner (I mean after all, it was a special day).

Driving east up Folsom Blvd we came to an Original Mel's Diner (based on the one made famous by "American Graffiti." It was a great choice. The food came almost immediately after we ordered it. The french fries and milkshake were wonderful! Mom had a pastrami sandwich and I had a Big Bopper burger. We were both quite happy with our selections. It was a good day.

The Hit Man

Melody's in Arizona playing with grand kids (Molly wants to know "why did not the other grandpa come"), so I took grandma (my Mom) with me to the stake Valentines activity for adults. It was a dinner/mystery theater thing that was really quite well attended. Over 400 people were there to eat Mexican food and watch a short, one act play during which an engagement ring disappears. The we had to make our guesses as to who took it and where it was when the play ended. Pretty Fun.

But we got there late, because on the way we were rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver. We were stopped for a red light on Hwy 99 at Franklin when "BAM" somebody slammed into the back of my Jeep! You can see the damage below. What you can't see is that the front seats are all messed up with the backs of them tilted back at a 60 deg angle, the way Rich likes to have them. Only they won't straighten up.

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The force of the impact threw us forward into the car in front of us (who turned out to be a member of the Church and former student of mine). It looked like the three vehicles involved all signaled and pulled over on Franklin, but after we got off the highway the driver who hit me wasn't there. Rats.

But as I'm on the phone with the 911 operator, a woman pulls up behind us and says: "I got his license, I got his license!" It turns our she was behind the driver who hit me, saw the accident, and followed the vehicle to get the plate number. When it became apparent that the driver knew she was following him, she broke off and returned to us. It also turns out that her husband is a lieutenant in the YC police dept., and she wasn't about to let this guy get away with anything! What luck.

Anyway, grandma and I are all right, and we have had fun at the dinner. Looks like I may be looking for a new vehicle sooner than later. I'll let you know how things develop.

Here at Last

I hope I'm not stepping on anybody's toes with this, but I know Pam won't be updating her blog anytime soon, and I just couldn't wait. Below is grandchild number 10 (we're now even at 5 of each gender). A baby boy (to be named later), 6 lb 15 oz, 20" long born just before 7am AZ time.

Congratulations to Rob and Pam!