Paterfamilias

Well,

Late winter is always a gas around our house, because of all of the action around here with five people.  It seems amazing the lives we have carved out for ourselves in this world.  Here, we must give thanks to our Heavenly Father who has been good to us.  We are healthy and strong and have everything we could ever want.  It is these moments of reflection that I wish I could expand our blessings to others who struggle, weep, mourn, or go hungry.  I know we are not free from such things but we are in a position to help.

We were able to put together around $1,500 this past Christmas as an extended family which we then gave secretly to four families.  It was great to do this, but there is much more that needs to be done.  I hope we can keep giving to the best of our ability and look for more meaningful ways to do this.

Laney had her birthday and Nana and Papa came out to celebrate.  We also, had Pinewood derby last week and Joaquin built a car that cam in 9th place out of 20 other cars.  He sanded, painted and detailed the car.  Next year we will hit it a little harder and maybe spend some more time putting the thing together.  It was fun to see how excited he was about the race.  Awesome.

Laney opening presents from friends,

Laney with her quilt from Nana and Papa. (Papa I am sure you put a lot of time and energy into that thing).

Cake.

Happy kid at Pinewood Derby.

This is how our family home evenings usually look.  Effective...

Wow.  Patient cat.

Kodiak bear.  Ruby was her usual cautious self.  Kept Laney between her and the bear the entire time.

To My Valentine

Shauna has been my Valentine for close to 13 years.  I want to tell you dear Valentine that I love you for all that you have been and done over the past years we have been together.  You are beautiful in every conceivable way.  I am in love with you because you are happy, funny, graceful, gorgeous, giving, loving, smart, and good.  You are concerned about others first.  You take time to teach those around you and share yourself with those most in need.

You are a one in a million brimming with charm, light, and understanding.  You don't look down at others you only look to help others.  You are caring and gentle.  You work hard and endure much as a mother, but it does not phase you and you keep on looking upward and outward.  These are all reasons you are my valentine.  I am sure you have other admirers out there--kids, dogs, the down trodden, the poor in spirit, the hungry...but no one has ever said you cannot have just one valentine.

As I look back on our life together, I see with increasing clarity, that you are a choice companion and one that deserves praise and fame.  Happy Valentine's Day Shauna.

 

Happy Birthday Elena

Happy Birthday Elena!  I hope it was a great Birthday and you know how much your family loves you.  You are a beautiful sweet girl and we know you are a bright and happy kid to all of those around you.  

Vaccines

I think enough has been said about vaccinating your children.  I just have to say God gave us all a brain and intends for us to use it.  This is not intended as an insult--I really mean this.  Take some time and look at credible reports and research.  I think the conclusion will be apparent and you can move forward from there.

Healthy skepticism is well...healthy, but to let it lead you down paths were somehow you know better than your doctor what your kids needs, is pride and arrogance.  We all have these pet projects in our life were against all evidence and understanding we choose to labor forward under false and erroneous notions.  This is when it requires us to exercise our mental faculties and do the best we can, which does not include listening to debunked pundits and research.
 

This is akin to voting.  It is hard and time consuming to actually dig down and look at the individual candidates.  However, whose responsibility is it?  Instead of voting simply based on party we are required to do some, perhaps rigorous investigation, to draw a conclusion.  Remember the Bloodhound Gang or Ghost Writer.  Well, these are skills we should have learned along time ago--maybe we need to dust them off and give them a go.  You can be a stupid voter but there is a chance your choice may hurt me or someone else...and more so with the choice to forego vaccinations.  

A Prayer and A Butt

I don't know if other people's family prayers are like ours, but if they are then my condolences.  Last night as we were saying prayers, Joaquin began the family prayer by addressing Heavenly Father and immediately Rudy made a playful but loud scream.  Joaquin stopped his prayer and started to laugh.  Joaquin started again “Our dear Heavenly Father” and again Ruby made the same scream.  Soon all the kids were laughing and Joaquin and Ruby were developing a routine.  I tried to cover Ruby’s mouth while Joaquin sprinted through the prayer.  After it was over I was slightly annoyed because this is par for the course and more often than not how our family prayers go.  However, I noticed the spirit in the room because there was a good feeling and laughter so I did not get on the kids backs about that being an irreverent prayer. 

Such a feeling should trump parents swooping down and crushing the good feelings to “teach” a lesson on reverence.  There will be moments for teaching reverence, but you have to pick your moments. 

Finally, one story about Joaquin and his boyish sense of humor right now at the age of eight.  On Sunday we were heading to my parent’s house for dinner.  As is our custom we started playing twenty questions.  As each person took his or her turn Joaquin started guessing that everyone was a “butt”.  Laney was the “biggest big in the world” and each time Joaquin opened his mouth he would say, “You are a butt.”  Well, finally it was my turn and I said, “I am something round and fleshy.”  I then said go ahead Joaquin what am I.  The response of course was “you are a butt.”  Well at least it was funny. 

Junior Jazz

Finally took a couple of pictures of Joaquin's undefeated Junior Jazz team.  The team wins, but they are also pretty unselfish and everyone gets shots and playing time.  Good to see youth sports happen this way.

A great 2014 gives way to 2015

When I was kid it always seemed that when I was excited for something it took ages for the day of excitement to finally arrive.  I believe it was Einstein that used this phenomenon to describe the theory of relativity.  In any event, maybe the theory of relativity does not hold for adults.  Now that I am an adult life moves pretty fast. If I don't stop and look around once in a while, I miss it.  (Wow, Einstein and Ferris Bueller together--somehow I don't think Einstein would be too upset by this).  Anyway. maybe that should be my goal for 2015--to stop and look around at my life so I don't miss it. 

One thing I was wishing that I had missed was the 3:45 am wake-up call from our oldest.  This is the first year this has happened.  Usually we are in bed until 8 am, but this year we were sending him back to bed to wait.  I think we eventually opened Christmas at about 7 am.  We did wake up to a white Christmas with a couple inches of snow on the ground and another 3 or 4 inches to come.  It was a nice day just to stay in and enjoy the gifts.  

Shauna's aunt Lynette braved the snow and came over for breakfast and gave very generously to our kids.  She has been great to us and them and we were glad to spend sometime with her on Christmas.  

My life is pretty darn good and I have been blessed to have everything I could possible want.  I have had great parents, mentors, examples and teachers in my life that have borne to the place I am currently--in particular God and Jesus have been very patient with me and have always been there to listen and bless.  

Here's to a special and wonderful 2015 where things sink in and mean more.