Spencerism

The other day we were reading about the afflictions of the sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon.  Spencer asked what afflictions were and we started into a discussion that ended with us agreeing that afflictions are hard things that happen to us.  Spencer expressed understanding then said the following.

"Dad, I have affliction time with Kristian."

Of note, the two prayer episodes in the previous post were brought on by Spencer's "afflictions".

Lessons Through Sports

You'll have to forgive me for the story I'm going to spin here, but Melissa's at a meeting and I have some time to write while the kids watch "Spirit" (not a fan of that movie).

Yesterday was a bad day for me.  You're probably thinking that I'm going to go off on flags that weren't thrown in the south endzone or how the luck of the Irish showed up on 6 plays through the entire game and resulted in 28 points or how the Utes won every statistical category in the game except for the mistake categories and the final score.  You'd be wrong if you were thinking that.  Sure that stuff boils my blood, but had I stayed home and watched the game on the TV I'm sure I would have been yelling at the TV pointing out all that stuff to no one in particular and when the game was over I would have moved on just like last week.  I wasn't at home.  I was sitting in the stands surrounded by ND blue and gold.  I didn't spend too much time yelling because I didn't want to embarrass myself.  Unfortunately the gentleman sitting (standing) next to Melissa did not share my restraint.

Never in my life have I been so offended at a sporting event.  The vulgarity, obscenity and bigotry portrayed past (but because of) us towards the visiting Utah fans was amazing and I was steamed.  There wasn't another bad fan sitting anywhere near us and actually everyone else was quite pleasant so I'm certainly not disappointed in the general atmosphere at the game, but this particular fan ruined my day.

When we got home I was a mess.  Last week I was frustrated with the Utes and the result of the game.  Yesterday was different I was down, depressed and angry.  I let that man get to me without knowing it.  When we got home I noticed my camera wasn't in my pocket.  After checking the car and calling some friends to see if they happened to pick up our camera I was convinced that it fell out of my pocket at the game and this fan had to have picked it up and put it in his pocket because "that's the kind of guy he is".

Some time ago Spencer was having a really hard time calming down before Family Home Evening so I asked him to say the prayer.  He refused and we spent the next 10 minutes talking about how the most important time to pray is when you don't want to.  In the end he said the prayer and told me he felt better afterward.  Fast forward to Friday night.  Spencer was very frustrated at having to stop his movie and go to bed.  As we knelt for family prayer I asked him if he would "like" to say the prayer.  He looked at me after 20 or so seconds and said "I don't want to, but I know I should because I don't want to".  He chose to say the prayer Friday night.

As I prepared to go to church this morning my thoughts were taken back to the talk given by President Uchtdorf during the Priesthood session of General Conference this fall in which he said the following:

"Perhaps there is no better laboratory to observe the sin of pride than the world of sports. I have always loved participating in and attending sporting events. But I confess there are times when the lack of civility in sports is embarrassing. How is it that normally kind and compassionate human beings can be so intolerant and filled with hatred toward an opposing team and its fans?

I have watched sports fans vilify and demonize their rivals. They look for any flaw and magnify it. They justify their hatred with broad generalizations and apply them to everyone associated with the other team. When ill fortune afflicts their rival, they rejoice."

I listened to this talk on the way to church this morning and initially I felt vindicated by the words.  That man sitting next to us was the person President Uchtdorf was talking about, and yet, this talk was given during Priesthood session not in the general session.  This wasn't a talk for the world, this was a talk to the  Priesthood holders of the church.  This talk was given to me.  Then I remembered Spencer's words "I don't want to but I know I should because I don't want to".

I listened to the words as though they were directed to me and I found new meaning.  I realized that I'm the man he was talking about as well.  Did I not hate that fan for his words and actions?  Did I not falsely accuse him of stealing my property (I found the camera this morning on the front lawn, it had fallen out of my pocket on the way into the house last night)?  Was not I the one that was so prideful to take offense at his comments.  He didn't ruin my day I poisoned it myself.

Yesterday was a rough day for me because of me, but today was a good day for me in spite of me, and I have sports to thank for that (and a very humble son who amazes his father each and every day).

The Blacksheep

I've successfully indoctrinated the older two but Nader is Irish through and through, and he's rooting against the Utes today.





I'm secretly hoping that Nader's love of all things Irish will keep me from getting scowled at when we go run errands today before the game.

10 hours later, game over, dad mourning and what do I get from my second son? "Dad who was right and who was wrong?". Taunted by a 3 year old.  Does it get better than this?

Some Technical Difficulties

So if you have surfed back through some posts you might have noticed that any picture I have posted from before November are now gone.  Ya, I had to change my email address (as you probably already know if you read this blog) and apparently deleting my old email broke all of the links to the pictures posted under that email login.  Ya, I was pretty upset over this (It happened on my quilting blog and the MBS as well.)  I have spent quite a bit of time this weekend putting all of the pictures back on my quilting blog and redoing my MBS tutorials and am now here.  (Ya, I suppose that might be messed up to do my quilting blog before my family blog but come on, we all know about my quilting addiction ).  So my plan is to slowly try and locate all of my old pictures and relink them again.  It is gonna take time, but it is what it is.

So we're moving forward!!

Costumes and the Camera

So what do the two have in common?  Apparently they can't be in the same room at the same time.  We did not take a single picture of the kids in their Halloween costumes.  I know, we are horrible parents.  And seriously, it is not for a lack of them being in their costumes.  We had a Halloween playgroup, a Ward Trick or Trunk, and Trick or Treating.  We just always forgot the camera.


I did remember to take some pictures during our annual pumpkin carving.  Do I get points for that??

Spencer and Jessi weren't to sure about sticking their hands in the "guts" but they eventually tired.

Kristian on the other hand just started to cry at the thought of sticking his hands in the "guts".

Don't they just look adorable.  Spencer went for a slightly scarier approach but the rest of them still like smiles :)

So to sum up Halloween  -  the kids had a blast, we have way to much candy in the house, and I am so excited for Thanksgiving :)

Oh - And just for kicks - this is what my big toes look like right now.  I had my ingrown toenails cut out yesterday.  (Thanks again Clint)