Well, I survived my surgery. It was scary, mainly because I don’t like being under an anesthetic. However, I survived the knife and here I am home. I sat and watched TV and movies all day. I think that is the most boring thing you can do. However, I am not really supposed to be moving my leg much, and I am supposed to keep in elevated. That means I really shouldn’t even be in front of the computer writing this. It was a boring day.
Tomorrow I go in to have my knee scoped. I am nervous and not really anxious to do this thing. Tried to talk them out of it but no one is listening to me. I hope this helps the knee.
And the winner is:
Bishop: Wayne Pullan
1st Counselor: Mike Summerhays
2nd Counselor: Reed Finch
Executive Secretary: Brian Davis
You read my selections last week. Of course, that was the kiss of death for those people that I selected. I never choose who the Lord chooses, but the Lord chooses the right people. That brings me to a bigger subject though that I have often thought about. It is about the perception of who is in the Winner’s Circle.
Life is a very interesting experience. When I was young, I thought that I would achieve so many things. When it came to science, I was going to be an astronaut and perhaps be the first man to set foot on Mars. When it came to business, I would be the head of a huge corporation. If I had chosen to go into politics, I would be the President of the United States. Of course, I always knew that someday I might hold a high position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I wasn�t so sure that I would ever marry and have a family, but I was willing to leave that in the Lord’s hands. I was sure that in whatever I did, I would be entering �The Winner�s Circle�. I think that is what many of us imagine success to be.
Why did I think that would happen. I believe that our Heavenly Father endowed men with a desire to achieve and be great. I had great goals when I was young and I was sure I would achieve them all. If we didn�t have that kind of drive, we might all end up like drones. We want to do the best that we can. Well, as John Lennon penned in the song, �Beautiful Boy�, �Life is what happens to you
While you’re busy making other plans�
Life is a tempering experience. You learn over time that all the things that you had imagined for yourself do not necessarily come true. My mission was a great test for me. It was perhaps the first time that I didn�t do as well as I thought I would. I struggled to learn the language, and eventually, I was able to serve well. I came through that experience though with a new appreciation of what my limits might be.
I didn�t achieve everything in school that I had thought I would. I ended up going to business school instead of being a doctor. I never did learn how to fly, at least in a jet and in a spaceship. My eye sight was not good enough to get myself into the Air Force Academy and allow me to fly. I never did go into politics as I really didn�t have that inclination. As life progresses, your choices become more an more limited because of the previous choices you have made. You don�t become all that you thought you might become.
I have over time discovered what I believe is the most important thing to this experience we call life. It is not important in what you have done, but in how you have done it. Have you done your best? Have you been honest? Have you been loving, considerate and kind to your family and your fellow men? I believe that is the true measure of a man.
I don�t know how I will be judged in life. However, I do know I have the most wonderful spouse a man could have and I have wonderful children, both those I raised as well as those that my children have brought into the circle of our household. A man could ask for no more than the knowledge that he is loved and respected by his children, and the knowledge that he loves and respects them. I have been richly blessed. I am grateful for those blessings that I do have.
With Julie and Michael being gone, the house is not as noisy as it normally is. Well, almost. Our new family member Shadowfax (our Cockatiel) dearly loves Michael and Julie. However, since they are gone, he has settled for Bonnie and I. Everytime we walk past the cage, he shreks to be let out. Today I finally relented, and as I write this entry to the blog, Shadowfax, who is as fast as light and equally as brilliant, is sitting on my shoulder. Only if Michael and Julie could see me now.
The mountains were beautiful tonight. We had a snow storm come through the Wasatch Front and it put a coat of new snow on the mountains. It is great for helping to break the drought, but it was even prettier.
Bonnie and I went to dinner at the Market Street Grill. We had a wonderful seat that allowed us to look at the snow covered mountains. Also pretty was sunset, when the sun peaked through the clouds and shown on the windows of the homes on the side of the mountain. I love the mountains, and I love good company. This was a good evening.
I went over to the Nebo Economic Summit today in Spanish Fork. I think overall it was pretty good. The thing that I got out of the meeting though was a comment by President Howard W. Hunter. He said, �Don�t take counsel from your Fears�. We sometimes allow what we fear, whether it be ill health and eventually death, or failure at something we are doing, or failure in a relationship to drive our attitude and how we approach these challenges in life. I need to remember that I must not counsel with my fears, but instead, I must counsel with the Lord and be positive.
I had another subject I was going to discuss today. The subject was “The Winner’s Circle”. I had written all kinds of good stuff and it was on my IPAQ. At 4:00pm this afternoon I had a major crash on my IPAQ and lost everything, including my marvelous exposition. I hate technology!!
I echo Brian’s sentiments about TB. We miss him.
They announced today in church that the Bishopric will be changed next week. I had already guessed that but now we get to speculate on who it will be. I do know that I am not the one, so my choice is:
Bishop: Chris Brown
1st Counselor: Scott Bigler
2nd Counselor: Brian Riding.
Next Sunday we get to see who it really is.
As so often happens, I hear a song that I haven’t heard for a while, when I am driving in the car, and it makes me think of things that are important to me.
Tonight I was coming back from a wedding reception and I listened to “Peace in the Neighborhood”, lyrics and so forth by Paul McCartney. Listening to that song made me think of my wonderful wife and family, and of how important peace and harmony are to me.
Best Thing I Ever Saw
Was A Man Who Loved His Wife
In A Place Where Things Were Good
I Felt Peace In The Neighbourhood
That Feeling In The Air
Something Was Definitely There
It Was A Time When Things Were Good
I Felt Peace In The Neighbourhood
I Was There, I Really Was.
At The Centre Of A Love Vibration.
People Sharing With Their Friends.
Helping Each Other Out
Peace In The Neighbourhood
Helping Each Other Out
Then I Woke Up From My Dream
To See Things As They Really Are
People Struggling To Survive
How Can Peace Hope To Stay Alive?
Well I Was There…I Felt So Good
At The Centre Of A Love Vibration.
People Caring For Their World
Helping Each Other Out.
Peace In The Neighbourhood
Helping Each Other Out.
Peace In The Neighbourhood
Helping Each Other Out.
Best Thing I Ever Saw
I Saw A Man Who Loved His Wife.
Peace In The Neighbour Hood
Helping Each Other Out.
Peace In The Neighbourhood.
I pray for peace in the neighborhood.