Missing Dad on Christmas

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, today, I can't help but think about Dad actually being with Him and, perhaps, celebrating His birthday with Him in person.

Things won't be the same this Christmas Day, or in the future.  Dad loved getting presents and was extraordinarily good at guessing what his presents were before he unwrapped them.

I know we will all be missing Dad today.  But it is comforting to know that he is actually with our Savior.  Dad may not be with us in body but we can all celebrate the miraculous birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ, from both sides of the veil.

These pictures were taken last Christmas.  Dad's last Christmas with us.

I can't help but notice the way the light is shining on Dad.

I love these last pictures taken of Dad at Christmas time.  He is dressed up fine in his suit -- looking angelic and radiating heavenly light.  

I love and miss you, Dad.  Tell Jesus happy birthday for me.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Guitar Picks

A month ago I ordered a 100 pack of guitar picks to put on our Christmas lottery table this year.  Well, yesterday when we were putting everything out I noticed that the package looked awfully small for 100 picks.  So I had Lisa open the package and count them.  There were only 53!

So I contacted customer service to ask them if they could please send me the 47 picks that they omitted from my order.  Of course that was too easy of a request.  They want to make me jump through a bunch of hoops to remedy their mistake!

They couldn't just send me 47 more picks.  They told me they could send a replacement but it wouldn't be here in time for Christmas.  They would have to send a replacement package of 100.  And I would have to send these 53 back to them.

I know they also sell them in 25 packs.  I don't know why they couldn't have just sent me two of those.  Of course that would be too easy.  They want me to print out a return label.  Find packaging to return it.  Then take it to UPS.  And I don't even want to return it!  I just want them to fulfill the order that I purchased.

So after some back-and-forth, I finally just told her I would return them.  But UPS will have to come pick them up. Why should we have to waste our time and money driving the package to a UPS drop-off location?  For their mistake!  It's bad enough that I have to print a label, repackage it and wait for UPS to come get something I don't even want to return. Just because they didn't give me what I ordered.

To pay the UPS driver and waste all that time and fuel driving up here just to pick up 53 guitar picks costs more than they are worth.



Not only is it terrible business practice but it also creates angry customers.  Especially when there is a logical, cost-effective solution.

So sorry kids, these guitar picks will not be on the Christmas lottery table this year.  :-(

That's my two cents.

Transgender Comment

Yesterday I read an article in the Deseret News about a scientist who was fired for claiming that you can't change your sex.  I guess the author JK Rowling tweeted something about supporting her.  The transgender community got all up in arms.  So I spent a while composing a comment and tried to post it.  But I received a message that I used a word they didn't like and they wouldn't post it.  This ticked me off because I didn't say anything bad.  It was mostly a biology lesson.  Apparently the Deseret News doesn't like biology lessons.

Then I was mad at myself for not copying my comment because I lost it. This is very similar to what I said:

I hate to break it to the transgender community but every cell in your body (except red blood cells and platelets) contains a nucleus containing DNA which codes for your sex.  Every cell nucleus contains 23 pairs of chromosomes -- one pair of which are sex chromosomes.  XX (female) and XY (male).  You can do whatever you want to try to change your phenotype. But you cannot change the DNA in every cell in your body.  You cannot change your genotype.  This is just basic biology.  So, sorry transgenders, but you cannot change your sex.

That's pretty close to what I said.  But the Deseret news didn't like it. They wouldn't publish it.

I spoke nothing but the truth.  It's unbelievable that people are so deranged now that they want to argue with basic biological science.

A zebra can try to change his stripes, humans can take hormones and undergo mutilating surgery but the truth remains in the DNA in every cell of their bodies.

It's ridiculously silly that someone would get fired from their job for speaking the truth.  Especially an expert in the area of which they are speaking.

People who are wrong -- yet pretend they are right, and want to be right -- are the most angry deranged lunatics living in Lala land.

If you are male and want to pretend to be female, be my guest.  But no matter what you do, you'll never actually become female. Or vice versa.  It's impossible.  It's a scientific fact.  So quit arguing about it and face reality. And quit being so angry and ruining people's careers because you can't have what you want.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 15 and 16

1. Rex   -1   TB 56
2. Clint -2 tiebreaker 52
3. Mom  -2  TB  63
4. Kingston -3  TB 56
5. Tammy  -3  TB 43
6. Michael -4 tie breaker 69
7. Lisa -5  TB 63
8. Juliet -6  TB  64

Actual Tie Breaker :  52

Spiritual DNA

As you all know, I find DNA fascinating.  I've always liked learning about the human body and biology in general.  In fact I've used my DNA expertise to help two of my biological second cousins who were adopted to find their biological parent to whom I'm related.

Your DNA can tell you a lot about yourself.  It can reveal diseases you're prone to or genetic variants you carry that can be passed on to your progeny. It can also tell you what you look like, and even if you can carry a tune or if you prefer sweet or salty -- amongst a myriad of other traits.

Your DNA can also tell you how fast your body metabolizes certain drugs and alcohol.  It will tell you your muscle type -- whether you are more of a sprinter or endurance athlete. Your DNA will reveal your ancestry composition.  Where do your ancestors come from?  And of course it tells you how related you are to someone else.  How much DNA do you share with your relatives?

So the concept of spiritual DNA is interesting.  But it makes perfect sense, since we are the spiritual children of Heavenly Parents.

"You have the spiritual DNA of God. You have unique gifts that originated in your spiritual creation and that were developed during the vast span of your premortal life. You are the child of our merciful and everlasting Father in Heaven, the Lord of Hosts, the One who created the universe, spread the spinning stars across the vast expanse of space, and placed the planets in their appointed orbits. 

"You are in His hands.

"Very good hands.

"Loving hands.

"Caring hands.

"And nothing anyone ever says about you can change that. Their words are meaningless compared to what God has said about you.

"You are His precious child.

"He loves you.

"Even when you stumble, even when you turn away from Him, God loves you. If you are feeling lost, abandoned, or forgotten—fear not. The Good Shepherd will find you. He will lift you upon His shoulders. And He will carry you home."

-- Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Three Sisters", October 2017 General Conference 

I love this quote by Elder Uchtdorf, of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.  Not only did we inherit physical DNA from our mortal parents, but we inherited spiritual DNA from our heavenly parents.

Each of us is unique physically and spiritually.  But we are all children of Heavenly Parents who love us unconditionally and want what's best for us.  And whose spiritual DNA we carry.  Just like we take on the characteristics of our physical, mortal parents through inheriting their DNA.  We also take on the characteristics and traits of our Heavenly Parents through inheriting their spiritual DNA.

I find this comforting and reassuring.  I hope we all remember who we are and do our best to honor our parents whose DNA we carry -- both physical and spiritual.

That's my two cents.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Tammy, happy birthday to me.  :-)

Here are some random throwback pictures I found that we recently scanned.

Some I don't remember ever seeing before.

Feel free to send me a Happy Birthday e-mail or comment.  :-)

Labels Part Two

Yesterday I posted a quote from President Oaks about how we label ourselves.  I wanted to elaborate yesterday but I was too sick to do anything but copy and paste the quote.  I'm not feeling much better today but perhaps enough to do a quick post.

I really like President Oaks' quote reminding us that we should first and foremost think of ourselves as children of God.  That should be our number one label.  Because really, in the eternal scheme of things, those other labels don't matter.  But we will always be a son or daughter of God.

As President Oaks emphasized other labels are temporary or trivial.  People tend to live up to labels.  If someone is told they are fat, skinny, smart, stupid, a drug addict, promiscuous, virtuous, beautiful, ugly, etc. they start seeing themselves that way and living up to the label.

All of those labels I listed are changeable depending on choices through time.  People can easily gain or lose weight.  Beauty fades with time.  Virtue and promiscuity are defined by lifestyle choices.  Addictions to drugs, alcohol, pornography, sex, gambling, even smart phones are all changeable lifestyle choices.  Granted, most addictions need professional help and rehabilitation to overcome.  But, nonetheless, they can be overcome with effort and determination and a desire to change.

It's very dangerous to label people -- especially to place labels on ourselves -- because labels start to define who we are and how we see ourselves and how we think others view us.  And it becomes very difficult to break out of those labels.

In the eternal scheme of things, we all have the same label -- children of God.  That is who we are.  It is human nature to judge and label others to elevate ourselves.  Instead we should try to get past the natural man and work on our own salvation.  While helping others along the covenant path where we can.  Try not to see others as labels they place on themselves or that we or other people give them.

Because, in the end, we are all just children of God trying to navigate our way through mortality.

Let's all try to focus more on seeing ourselves and others as children of God and let that define who we are.  All other labels are temporary or trivial.  And only serve to divide us and hinder us on our moral journey.

That's my two cents.

Labels

"I wish to offer a principle to guide young men and women in today’s world. Be careful how you label yourselves. Don’t define yourselves by some temporary quality. Our single best quality by which to characterize ourselves is that we are sons or daughters of God. That fact overrides all other labels, including race, occupation, physical characteristics, honors, or even religious affiliation.

"We have our agency, and we can choose any label to define ourselves. But we need to know that when we choose to label ourselves by something that is temporary or trivial in eternal terms, we de-emphasize what is most important about us. This can affect how others treat us. It can lead us down the wrong path, and it can hinder our eternal progress. I pray that you will always think of yourselves as sons or daughters of God."

-- President Dallin H. Oaks

College Football Picks Week 14

1. Clint -12 tie breaker 64
2. Lisa -15 tie breaker 54
3. Rex -16 tie breaker 66
4. Mom -17 Tie Breaker 43
5. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 51
6. Michael -19 tiebreaker 59

Actual Tiebreaker 44

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for many things in my life.  The good Lord has blessed me abundantly.  But today I want to express my thanks for the two most important blessings in my life.  My family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

My family has always been extremely close and we are always there for each other.  I'm especially grateful for the goodly parents I was blessed with.  They taught me truth and molded me into the woman I am today.  I am extremely grateful for their efforts in raising me and teaching me.  And for always being there for me -- especially over the last 17 years as they dedicated their lives to caring for me.  For that I'm eternally grateful.  I really miss my dad more than I ever thought possible.  I know we will be together again soon but that knowledge doesn't help the separation now.

I'm also extremely grateful for my siblings.  And especially for my sisters in stepping up to care for me to help fill Dad's void. It's not easy on any of us, but that's what family does.  I'm so thankful for the wonderful family I have been blessed with.

I'm also extremely grateful for the truths I've been taught and know.  Without the gospel of Jesus Christ, I would be lost.  I honestly don't know how people survive mortality without it.  Mortality is hard enough with the knowledge of truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ to guide us.

I am so thankful for parents who taught me the gospel of Jesus Christ in my youth and throughout my life.  I'm thankful for the guidance and direction the gospel brings me.  I'm grateful for the covenants I've made and try to keep.

Today we focus on giving thanks.  But really, thanksgiving should be something that is ingrained in us and something that is second nature.  We should always give thanks for our many blessings.  And we should look for and recognize the abundance of blessings the Lord pours down upon us daily.

"...“thank you” frequently expressed will cheer your spirit, broaden your friendships, and lift your lives to a higher pathway as you journey toward perfection. There is a simplicity—even a sincerity—when “thank you” is spoken."  -- President Thomas S. Monson

If we do express thanks frequently we will be happier and our lives will be elevated to a higher pathway on our mortal journey.

It is my prayer that we may all follow the admonition of a beloved prophet of God and focus on giving thanks more and recognizing all that the Lord blesses us with every day.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 13

1. Lisa  -10   TB 52
2. Clint -11 tiebreaker 52
3. Tammy -11  TB  43
4. Mom  -12  TB  68
5. Michael -13 tie breaker 71
6. Rex  -13  TB 43
7. Juliet  -14  TB  56
8. Kingston  -18  TB  63

Actual Tie Breaker 77

An Example of Strength

I haven't been feeling well lately.  But I had a couple of thoughts I wanted to document today.

Today is exactly 5 years since I broke my femur.  November 22, 2014.  I have a strange knack for remembering certain dates. If you would have asked me back then if I'd still be around today, five years later, I would've said no.  Yet, I'm still here.

Dad and me
December 26, 1996

I've been thinking about Dad a lot lately.  Specifically about his posterity.  I just reread Dad's patriarchal blessing.  In it he was told that he has been blessed with a great posterity who will remember him and look to him as a source of strength.  This is comforting to me.

As one of his posterity, I do remember Dad and look to him as an example of strength to try to emulate. I know some of his posterity are struggling right now.  Not only with the pains and trials of mortality that we all struggle with but, specifically with their own righteousness.  And I know that pains Dad tremendously.  It pained him in the last few years of his life to see his posterity struggle with and lose their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ and even with their testimony of God.

More than anything Dad wants his family together in the eternities.  This much I know.  So I know it pains him still to look down and see his posterity struggling and being so far from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church.

If I could speak for Dad right now (In fact I have felt impressed to), I know he would say to his posterity and others in his family, "I need you to come back."  In fact, he pleaded with some of his posterity just before he died for them to come back to the truth and get back on the covenant path.  Dad understands the importance of staying on the covenant path for families to be together forever.

I hope that all of Dad's posterity will remember him and looked to him as an example of strength to emulate.  Especially those who are struggling the hardest.  Dad was not a spiritual powerhouse.  But Dad was and is an example of strength that we can emulate.  Dad had and still has a strong testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ and His Gospel and of His Restored Church.

There is nothing that would please Dad more than to see his posterity on the covenant path of righteousness.  Nothing would make him happier than to see his posterity get on, return to, or stay on the covenant path.  This much I know.

There is a sense of urgency.  We don't know how much time we have left on this earth or before the Savior comes again.  Don't delay.  Muster up the courage to take the necessary steps to get on, return to, or stay on the covenant path.

If Dad were here, that is the message he would give his posterity and loved ones.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Week 12

1. Clint -6 tiebreaker 52
2. Juliet -10 tiebreaker 43
3. Rex -11 tiebreaker 47
4. Michael -12 tie breaker 49
5. Tammy -13 tie breaker 55
6. Mom -13 Tie Breaker 68
7. Lisa -14 tie breaker 62
8. Kingston -17 tie breaker 76

Actual tiebreaker 52

Happy Veterans Day, Dad!

Today is the first Veterans Day that my dad is not with us.  :-(

My dad answered Uncle Sam's call to serve in the Vietnam War.  He served courageously and with honor.  He is a true American hero.

I am so proud of him for the life he lived and the example he was to all.

Thank you for your selfless service to our country, Dad!

Dad and me, 1971

Dad and his baby girl, Tammy

Tammy and Daddy, 1971

Christmas 1970, Gatesville, Texas

We didn't have money for a Christmas tree so we had a wrapping paper Christmas tree on the wall.  Then Dad brought a bush home and it became our Christmas tree.

My first Christmas.

Dad saying goodbye to Uncle Ron on his way to Vietnam.

Happy Veterans Day, Dad!

I love and miss you so much!  

College Football Picks Week 11

1. Rex  -14    TB  55
2. Michael -16 tiebreaker 57;  Tammy  -16   TB  57
3. Juliet  -18    TB  62
4. Kingston  -19  TB  68
5. Mom   -19   TB  73
6. Clint -21 tiebreaker 56
7. Lisa  -24  TB 48

Actual Tie Breaker:  37

This is the second time this year that Michael and I have picked the exact same tiebreaker and gotten the same score.  Great minds think alike.  :-)