Monday, February 9, 2009

Hyrum Smith

Marne' has her big day is Thursday, mine is today. Happy Birthday Hyrum Smith! 208 today.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Happy Birthday Dad!

Blessed is the man
To whom his work is a pleasure,
By whom his friends are encouraged,
With whom all are comfortable,
In whom a clear conscience abides,
And through whom his children see God.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

God's Masterpiece

God made a world out of His dreams,
Of magic mountains, oceans and streams,
Prairies and plains and wooded land,
Then paused and thought:
“I need someone to stand
On top of the mountains, to smile with ease
Explore the plains, to build houses in trees,
Someone to serve and willing to say 'no!'
Sturdy, strong like a tree” and so . . .
He created Dad, full of spirit and fun,
To explore and conquer to bike and run,
With broken ribs, and a banged up chin,
With a courageous heart and a boyish grin.
When He had completed the task
He’d begun, He surely said,
“That’s a job well done.”
Love you Dad.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

What a Guy!

“As the shutters of human history begin to close as if before a gathering storm, and as events scurry across the human scene like so many leaves before a wild wind—those who stand before the warm glow of the gospel fire can be permitted a shiver of the soul. Yet in our circle of certitude, we know, even in the midst of all these things, that there will be no final frustration of God’s purposes. God has known “all things from the beginning; wherefore he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men.”
-Neal A. Maxwell O, Divine Redeemer

The shutters have now closed on one devoted disciple of the Lord. David Milner Skelton passed from one circle of family in to another Tuesday Afternoon.

Not many people are honored to be able to call someone using the intimate title “Daddy”. For 34 years David Skelton has responded to the call Daddy as little knees were scuffed, or running to him as he returned home, or as embraced in a Daddy hug we whispered in his ear: “Daddy, I love you!”. By the time he passed away he lived worthy enough to be called Grandpa by eleven precious grandchildren that he adored.

Our frail Daddy passed into the portals of Peace where Father in heaven has promised the righteous will have perfect rest from all mortal problems (Alma 40). As Edwin Markham memorialized we now quote in respectful remembrance of our Daddy:

And when he fell in whirlwind, he went down
As when a lordly cedar, green with boughs,
Goes down with a great shout upon the hills,
And leaves a lonesome place against the sky.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Three Year Old Entertainment

Desert anyone? Now that dinner was over and the ice cream thawed, it was time to enjoy a family time treat. Of course, only those who finish dinner may participate. After Laura had completed plate inspections she went to fill the bowls; but where in the world was Daniel? After calling him a few times he came running out of his bedroom “I here mom!” “Good” she answered, “but where’s your dinner?” “din a gone! I eat icekeem now?” Laura responded with the logical query, “where is your plate?” to which Daniel insistently shrugged his shoulders, threw up his hands and countered, “a- gone!” “Show me where” Laura wisely requested. To which Daniel lead her into the laundry junk yard, that the boys appropriately call their bed room, where she started her search. After several minutes of tossing pillows and crunching plastic tires with her bare feet, she look ed at Daniel again and said “where is your plate?” to which he emphatically answered, “I say A- GONE! Mommy!” With her tenacious personality in high gear Laura would not be fooled (and she never has been). Eventually, worried for her saftey, I entered the room to rescue her. There under the bunk bed I saw two bare mommy feet sticking out. “I found it!” came the triumphant cry, "can you help me?" I grabbed her feet and pulled her to saftey. There in the back reaches of the darkest corner in the house, under the bunk bed, back against the wall in the northeast corner of the room was the dinner plate full of mashed potatoes, cream corn and a full chickened drumstick. Who needs cable with a three year old running wild in the house?

NEWS: Adam tried out and made the “RAD”(Rees African Drums) team at school, this is the performing drum team at Rees Elementary; Hyrum has been elected to student council; David just lost his second tooth and Daniel found two new ways to plug the toilet.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Charity

Cleave unto Charity
A disciple devoid of charity is lacking the Celestial character that ignites all other spiritual qualities (Moroni 7). Pure love allows us to administer appropriately so we can minister intimately in our families (3 Nephi 17). Gaining God’s love is not a competition. We have His love already! It is our love to Him that must be proven through service devoid of public appreciation.