It has been an interesting year for me, one full of ups and downs. As always, I find that there is a lot to learn from my experiences and I thought that today I would write some of them down. Perhaps there is something that you can learn vicariously through me, as a few of these experiences involve lessons I learned vicariously through others.
I had a student reach out to me earlier in the year. They were having some issues with the end of a long-time relationship and were at a crossroads of sorts. As we communicated back and forth over the next several weeks, I would offer suggestions and counsel, while they would provide me updates. I have often felt that many of my students become like my own kids in some regards, and that bond with this particular person strengthened a lot in that regard. I learned that sometimes we have people put in our lives now so that we can help them much later. We must make sure to step up whenever the need arises.
I had a year of loss as well. I attended the funerals of two former students, the young son of one of my seminary students, and a trusted and valued colleague. Each one passed at too young of an age by our standards, and each funeral brought about different emotions. I did not have the opportunity to attend the funerals of two members of my ward. One became terribly sick at the start of the year, and the other was a sweet and lovely lady who had her health in sharp decline ever since her loving husband passed away earlier. I have always been fascinated by the process surrounding a death, and how it can be so different from one situation and person to the next. I know that there is something after this life, and that those who leave us await us on the other side. I took different lessons from each one, but I think the most important lesson I learned from all of them is to live my life with happiness and fullness. I learned that at the end of one's life, whether it has been a life of 2 years or of 92 years, we can learn so much about people we thought we knew well. Their lives can teach us about who we are and how to be a better person.
I said goodbye to my being a volunteer at the Calgary Zoo. Their demands for time and the demands of other responsibilities could no longer be met without throwing myself out of balance. I was finding myself in a bad place, and when things came to a head, it wasn't good. I acted in a way that I am not proud of, but I still was able to learn. Sometimes, even with good things, we must learn to let go. It is necessary to do that before things become detrimental to one's sanity. To honest, I should have turned in the badge after the last Zoo Lights, but I thought I could still do it. I am grateful for the role volunteering their played when I first moved to Calgary, but it was time to put it behind me and move on to better things.
I was called into the Elder Quorum's presidency this spring. I must admit that with the recent changes in the church that it became a much busier calling for me. I am learning a lot about the people in my ward. I am learning how to have a different opinion than others, and that different perspectives continue to be a light instead of a hindrance. In this calling I have come to know and appreciate some people in my ward in a new light. I have been called upon to administer in ways that I never have before, and I am making and building friendships with people I never thought I would. It is challenging, but refreshing at the same time.
I had a wonderful experience with mentoring a brilliant student teacher, who before the school year was out had secured herself a probationary contract at the Calgary Arts charter school. In being her mentor I rediscovered my passion for the teaching. I came alive within my profession again, and the relationship I had towards my students grew. I was asked to co-emcee the grad banquet, and it was an honor and a blessing. A lot of the kids that graduated this year are among the best I ever had the opportunity to teach. I also was given the opportunity recently to be in the school's musical this year. I played Monsieur D'Arc, the villainous soul in charge of the insane asylum. It was so much fun! The kids I performed with were brilliant, and I grew as a performer. It was a challenge, but a wonderful challenge. I am grateful to those I worked with and that gave me an opportunity to have fun on the stage.
So many memories, so much to reflect on. I know I do a Top 10 list at the end of or beginning of the year, and I may still do that, but I have one last adventure before the year is through. Heather and I are taking the girls to Orlando for a Walt Disney World Christmas! The girls are currently playing in the airport Fun Zone as we wait for our flight. I am looking forward to the wonder of Disney through the eyes of my children. Barbara has a little bit of a sore throat and cold, but she is being a real trooper. So, until next time, I will see you as we set off "To Infinity, and beyond!"
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Forgive Me...
On my home from visiting a friend I was listening to the radio. They were talking about the concept of forgiveness and how men who have sexually assaulted and harassed women were asking the women that they had wronged to forgive them. They had a college professor talk about how asking the women to forgive the men was unethical. They spoke about how the concept of forgiveness from a religious point of view was archaic and counter-productive. Ultimately, they spoke about how these men do not deserve forgiveness and that they should be ashamed for asking such a thing from women. That got me thinking.
The main thought that kept running through my head was that of being troubled by this message. You see, I have been raised in and have always lived a religious life. My church teaches that we should always forgive those who have offended us in any manner. I have been taught that to forgive others is not only a commandment, but it is something that will be beneficial for me. Whenever I hear something that goes contrary to how I have been raised and my core beliefs (spiritual or otherwise), I take notice and evaluate. I do not necessarily evaluate my own beliefs, but rather where this other perspective comes from. In this case, I felt a bit of a conundrum developing.
You see, I truly get where this learned woman is coming from. She too is of a religious nature, and I did not get a chance to listen to the entire interview, but from what I heard she made some very good points. I did, however, feel that there was something missing in her argument. While what she said made sense to me, and to a point I agreed, I couldn't help but feel that something was not quite on point. It has been tumbling through my head all day, and I think I may have figured out what was not making sense to me.
I feel that she, and others, have misunderstood the concept of forgiveness.
I found a definition of forgiveness that I thinks fits here. It is said that forgiveness is a deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness/definition). There are some key things there that are essential to my understanding of forgiveness, and this is what I think the person being interviewed misunderstood. Yes, for us that are religious, there is a belief that God will forgive whom He will, but we must be willing to forgive all. From what I was getting from the interview, the two women who were talking seemed to equate that these powerful men who had done terrible things to women were asking for forgiveness as a means to excuse their past actions, pardoning their sins so to speak. That, my friends, is not the purpose or the goal of forgiveness.
To forgive someone has little if anything to do with the offender. It does not and never should mean that the guilty party should be spared the consequences of their misdeeds. It certainly does not mean that the offending person should be trusted by they who do the forgiving. No, these men that ask for forgiveness for their transgressions should still be punished for their actions. They have done wrong, and must face the proverbial music. That does not mean that I am not in favor of leniency in times where they who have done wrong are truly repentant, and that when one has reformed themselves that they should be allowed to regain what they have lost. Instead, if these men are asking forgiveness so that they may spare themselves the painful consequences of their actions then they are not truly remorseful for their actions. The women they harassed may or may not forgive them, but they should still lose their jobs, their marriages, and their freedoms depending on the severity of their crimes. They should in no way place the blame on their victims. No, the offender does not need to be deserving of forgiveness in order for those harmed to forgive them.
I believe that when God commands us to do something it is because He knows it is in our best interest. God does not give us commandments because of some holy power trip. If He tells us that we should forgive others, then it is because it will be a blessing to us. He does not want us to suffer needlessly, and yet when I see someone who will not forgive someone else, it is usually to their detriment. They hang onto their resentment like an anchor in the ocean, and it only drags them down into darkness. Conversely, forgiving those who have wronged us allows us to find healing more easily and readily. It does not condone the offense, nor does it diminish the severity of the harm we have experienced. It does allow us to move forward from the event without locking us into the pains of the past. We should forgive those who have wronged us not because God wants us to but because it is good for us!
Now I know that many feel that the pains and agony that they have suffered at the hands of others are too much to simply overcome. I never said that forgiveness would ever be easy or simple, only that it is necessary for our overall healing and happiness. We should not have to unconditionally accept that we can trust the offender in order to offer forgiveness. In my own life when it came to forgiveness, I have found that it can be difficult, and to put myself in a situation where I am to put everything back to the way it was is just not feasible. I have had to work at forgiving others. For some, I am still working on it. I have found that to hang on to bitterness and resentment only makes me unhappy. It affects my relationships with those who mean the most to me. Why would I allow a past wrong to have a negative impact on those whom I love most?
Yes, forgiveness can help lift the offender's soul, but that is not really what it is all about. If anything, it is a cherry on top. Regardless of all of that, these ladies (at least for the portion of the interview I heard) were missing the mark as to why God commands us to forgive others. They implied that since God will decide who is to be forgiven that forgiveness is an option for us. Again, it is not. At least, not if we want to truly be free of the negative influence of those who hurt us. Instead, we must see forgiveness as a soothing balm that will help put together our broken spirit. It is the light in the darkness that brings us to safety and peace.
I hope that this is not interpreted as a justification that the men they were discussing should be universally pardoned for their crimes. Instead, it should be seen as a way for these women who were undeserving of the pain they experienced to find some peace and light in their lives. They did not deserve what was done to them, but they do deserve to be able to move on from it. They should see that they are doing this for themselves, that it adds strength and hope to their lives. That it will allow them to rise above their tormentors and truly conquer them. It will not be easy, but it is worth taking that difficult road. There will be many who will help us along that path, and when we reach the end of it we can help those who are struggling to reach the destination that we have found.
If you think this is not possible for you, and that I know nothing of what you are experiencing, then perhaps you are right. I may not know what you are going through. All I can ask of you is that you forgive me my naivety, but please give it a chance.
The main thought that kept running through my head was that of being troubled by this message. You see, I have been raised in and have always lived a religious life. My church teaches that we should always forgive those who have offended us in any manner. I have been taught that to forgive others is not only a commandment, but it is something that will be beneficial for me. Whenever I hear something that goes contrary to how I have been raised and my core beliefs (spiritual or otherwise), I take notice and evaluate. I do not necessarily evaluate my own beliefs, but rather where this other perspective comes from. In this case, I felt a bit of a conundrum developing.
You see, I truly get where this learned woman is coming from. She too is of a religious nature, and I did not get a chance to listen to the entire interview, but from what I heard she made some very good points. I did, however, feel that there was something missing in her argument. While what she said made sense to me, and to a point I agreed, I couldn't help but feel that something was not quite on point. It has been tumbling through my head all day, and I think I may have figured out what was not making sense to me.
I feel that she, and others, have misunderstood the concept of forgiveness.
I found a definition of forgiveness that I thinks fits here. It is said that forgiveness is a deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness/definition). There are some key things there that are essential to my understanding of forgiveness, and this is what I think the person being interviewed misunderstood. Yes, for us that are religious, there is a belief that God will forgive whom He will, but we must be willing to forgive all. From what I was getting from the interview, the two women who were talking seemed to equate that these powerful men who had done terrible things to women were asking for forgiveness as a means to excuse their past actions, pardoning their sins so to speak. That, my friends, is not the purpose or the goal of forgiveness.
To forgive someone has little if anything to do with the offender. It does not and never should mean that the guilty party should be spared the consequences of their misdeeds. It certainly does not mean that the offending person should be trusted by they who do the forgiving. No, these men that ask for forgiveness for their transgressions should still be punished for their actions. They have done wrong, and must face the proverbial music. That does not mean that I am not in favor of leniency in times where they who have done wrong are truly repentant, and that when one has reformed themselves that they should be allowed to regain what they have lost. Instead, if these men are asking forgiveness so that they may spare themselves the painful consequences of their actions then they are not truly remorseful for their actions. The women they harassed may or may not forgive them, but they should still lose their jobs, their marriages, and their freedoms depending on the severity of their crimes. They should in no way place the blame on their victims. No, the offender does not need to be deserving of forgiveness in order for those harmed to forgive them.
I believe that when God commands us to do something it is because He knows it is in our best interest. God does not give us commandments because of some holy power trip. If He tells us that we should forgive others, then it is because it will be a blessing to us. He does not want us to suffer needlessly, and yet when I see someone who will not forgive someone else, it is usually to their detriment. They hang onto their resentment like an anchor in the ocean, and it only drags them down into darkness. Conversely, forgiving those who have wronged us allows us to find healing more easily and readily. It does not condone the offense, nor does it diminish the severity of the harm we have experienced. It does allow us to move forward from the event without locking us into the pains of the past. We should forgive those who have wronged us not because God wants us to but because it is good for us!
Now I know that many feel that the pains and agony that they have suffered at the hands of others are too much to simply overcome. I never said that forgiveness would ever be easy or simple, only that it is necessary for our overall healing and happiness. We should not have to unconditionally accept that we can trust the offender in order to offer forgiveness. In my own life when it came to forgiveness, I have found that it can be difficult, and to put myself in a situation where I am to put everything back to the way it was is just not feasible. I have had to work at forgiving others. For some, I am still working on it. I have found that to hang on to bitterness and resentment only makes me unhappy. It affects my relationships with those who mean the most to me. Why would I allow a past wrong to have a negative impact on those whom I love most?
Yes, forgiveness can help lift the offender's soul, but that is not really what it is all about. If anything, it is a cherry on top. Regardless of all of that, these ladies (at least for the portion of the interview I heard) were missing the mark as to why God commands us to forgive others. They implied that since God will decide who is to be forgiven that forgiveness is an option for us. Again, it is not. At least, not if we want to truly be free of the negative influence of those who hurt us. Instead, we must see forgiveness as a soothing balm that will help put together our broken spirit. It is the light in the darkness that brings us to safety and peace.
I hope that this is not interpreted as a justification that the men they were discussing should be universally pardoned for their crimes. Instead, it should be seen as a way for these women who were undeserving of the pain they experienced to find some peace and light in their lives. They did not deserve what was done to them, but they do deserve to be able to move on from it. They should see that they are doing this for themselves, that it adds strength and hope to their lives. That it will allow them to rise above their tormentors and truly conquer them. It will not be easy, but it is worth taking that difficult road. There will be many who will help us along that path, and when we reach the end of it we can help those who are struggling to reach the destination that we have found.
If you think this is not possible for you, and that I know nothing of what you are experiencing, then perhaps you are right. I may not know what you are going through. All I can ask of you is that you forgive me my naivety, but please give it a chance.
Friday, September 7, 2018
Catching Up
It's been a long time since I wrote in this blog, and to be honest it's because nothing really jumped out at me. It's been an interesting few months. Had a lot of fun over the summer, but also made some realizations about myself. The girls loved going to the zoo and Calaway Park. We had a great time with lots of friends at the Sundal's cabin over the August long weekend. Heather's parents came back from their mission in Toronto, and my Dad and step-brother-in-law bought a cabin of their own.
School started on a down note with the sudden and unexpected passing of one of our teachers, Bruce Parkin. His memorial was earlier this week. It has been a very interesting experience, and one that has caused me to reflect a lot. More than ever I miss many of the students who graduated. Thankfully, several of them have popped by for a visit, and their visits have helped me get through this difficult time.
Yesterday I was reminded of a great truth. There are friends that come in and out of your life, but there are those who are always going to be there no matter how often you see them. Yesterday I had the pleasure of having one such friend in my home. Matt Harker and I have been friends since I was in Grade 8. We have gone to Trek conventions and been there for each other during tough times. He was and still is one of my dearest friends. He was one of four who sang my mother's favorite hymn at her funeral.
It's been a couple years since we got together. He lives in Edmonton, I in Calgary. He just happened to be in town for work, and I invited him over for dinner. We had a great visit, catching up on old friends and family. Even though it had been a while, we picked up right where we left off. We laughed, swapped stories, and promised to get together again soon. His wife and kids are friends as well, as are the members of my family. We look forward to finding more adventures that we could go on.
So, that's catching up with Matt, and catching up with me. I've had quite a few things tumbling through my head, and I hope to find the time to write some of them down. Until next time.
School started on a down note with the sudden and unexpected passing of one of our teachers, Bruce Parkin. His memorial was earlier this week. It has been a very interesting experience, and one that has caused me to reflect a lot. More than ever I miss many of the students who graduated. Thankfully, several of them have popped by for a visit, and their visits have helped me get through this difficult time.
Yesterday I was reminded of a great truth. There are friends that come in and out of your life, but there are those who are always going to be there no matter how often you see them. Yesterday I had the pleasure of having one such friend in my home. Matt Harker and I have been friends since I was in Grade 8. We have gone to Trek conventions and been there for each other during tough times. He was and still is one of my dearest friends. He was one of four who sang my mother's favorite hymn at her funeral.
It's been a couple years since we got together. He lives in Edmonton, I in Calgary. He just happened to be in town for work, and I invited him over for dinner. We had a great visit, catching up on old friends and family. Even though it had been a while, we picked up right where we left off. We laughed, swapped stories, and promised to get together again soon. His wife and kids are friends as well, as are the members of my family. We look forward to finding more adventures that we could go on.
So, that's catching up with Matt, and catching up with me. I've had quite a few things tumbling through my head, and I hope to find the time to write some of them down. Until next time.
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
4:40
A month ago I popped into the classroom of my friend Pamela Hunnisett. They were discussing a poetry assignment where the students had to write a poem that included five descriptions of things you see, four of things you hear, three of things you touch, two of things you smell, and one of something you taste. Pamela gave the assignment to me. Now, to be honest, I do not like poetry very much. I am not a fan of writing it or reading it. However, when Hunni gives me homework, I do not want to disappoint. Within an hour, I created something that I am quite pleased with. I thought I would add a visual element to it. Suffice it to say, I dedicate this to the precious soul who made me a father.
4:40
4:40
A strong voice wakens me and tells me it is time.
I quickly push against the softness under me
The sharp smell of sterility engulfs me
A cry of pain pierces into my heart
A cry of new life welcomes me
A red new soul in my arms
She is warm and squirms
She looks around her
I look at my watch
4:40, it reads.
I walk to the window
The sky is red like she is
A rosy odor of the blanket
A chorus of beeps and chimes
As she watches the sky, I watch her
A start to life, both for her and for me
I kiss her on her head, sweetness to my lips
Her skin feels damp. She gazes up at me her father
My world fills beyond my dreams. My new life at 4:40.
Monday, April 16, 2018
We Believe...the 13th Article of Faith (Part 1)
I have had a lot of things on my mind lately. I have started writing post after post, but stopped part way through as I decided that I just wasn't hitting what I wanted to address. Then, just a few days ago, I had a thought crystallize that has grown into this post. I hope it makes sense and brings some enlightenment.
In my church we have thirteen lines of scripture that we in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints commonly refer to as the Articles of Faith. As a child I had them all memorized, but as I have become older they have taken on a new meaning to me. While I no longer have them memorized word for word, I instead have attempted to incorporate them into my essence. What they mean is far more significant to whether or not I still know them exactly as written. Memorizing them has helped me understand them better, but now I work at using them as a check list for my own spiritual progress.
The thirteenth and final Article of Faith states "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things". This is considered to be one of the "heaviest" articles of faith as there is a lot in it, and it is often regarded as the pinnacle of the mastering these articles of faith. I thought that I would use this article as a source of inspiration for this and some of my future posts. As I share my thoughts on this, I must clarify something here. Knowing that some who read this will not be members of my faith and may not be familiar with this Article of Faith, I feel that I need to acknowledge that my thoughts on this are my own and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While what I am commenting on is considered to be scripture by members of my church, my thoughts and writing should not necessarily be considered official church doctrine (although I will try to connect it to official church doctrine and policies where I can, as well as provide links to articles that back up some of my ideas).
We Believe in Being...Honest
The first thing mentioned that we believe in is what has been on my mind the most. What does this mean, that I believe in being honest? I guess my preoccupation with this is that I see a lot in the world that seems to push honesty aside in favour of getting ahead, winning, or putting others down. For me, dishonesty includes more than just lying, but also cheating, stealing, manipulating, and deceitfulness. It includes a disregard for the truth to achieve a particular agenda. It includes willfully remaining in ignorance instead of seeking to know what the truth is. I see this all around me. I see it in schools, in politics, in media, and in communities. The more I see it, the more I see the moral decay of society. It is difficult for me to stand by silently and not call out examples of dishonesty when I see it.
In schools, I see students remain silent when asked about the actions of classmates that are against the school rules or are even breaking laws. This is difficult because in some instances I get why they remain silent. They fear retribution from their peers and classmates. I can understand their reluctance, but is that truly honesty? So often we decide to keep the truth hidden, thinking that what others don't know can't hurt us. In these instances, being honest requires courage. Others remain silent out of a warped sense of loyalty. This idea that you will lie to protect your friends and family is a difficult fallacy to combat. It makes me question how trustworthy that loyalty is. In my experience, this is not true loyalty. It is given out of fear. It is easily turned on. It hurts the people involved. True loyalty to friends should come second to a loyalty to truth.
In particular, I see a lot of areas in the realm of politics that we can be more honest. I am not referring to the politicians themselves, although I know that there are more than a few that can do a much better job at being honest. I am talking about us, the voters. So often I see posts on social media that are full of half-truths and outright lies. I get that people have very strong political ideologies. I get that politics is as much a battleground as anything else. What I do not understand is how normally good people pass along inaccurate statements and outright lies in the name of supporting the political candidate that most closely matches one's own ideas. It does not matter which side of the political spectrum that you are on, it happens all the time. What I find very disappointing is that when called on it, the person who is spreading the lies feels that because they do not think highly of the candidate in question that their use of lies is justified. Let me be clear on this, regardless as to how bad you think the person may be, if you willfully choose to spread lies about that person, then you are, at best, on the same level that you put your opponent on, if not lower. If you believe in being honest, then you do not have the luxury of choosing when honesty best suits you. A lie is a lie. You either believe in being honest or you don't. It's that simple.
This also means that when we read something on social media, we have to be thorough in our understanding of its accuracy. I used to post and share a quote that was attributed to a former leader in my church. It was rightly pointed out to me that there was no evidence that showed that this was actually said by that person. I then did my research and found that the person who started sharing that quote allegedly heard it from the man in question in a private conversation, and that he never stated it publicly. So I cannot verify that this leader actually said it. It was a little frustrating because having the quote attributed to a person of influence and esteem is always helpful in making your point. Still, it's a good quote, so I still use it. I just no longer attribute it to the person in question, and instead claim that I do not know who originated the quote. I have also seen various ideas and stories shared around, and when I do a little digging, I find that there is little more than hearsay (at best) to it. We need to be asking ourselves more often what the purpose is of that story. I find that the majority of these things are shared to tear down a group or an idea, and it is usually shared out of ignorance towards the truth of the matter. I have lost track the number of times that a person has shared something derogatory on inflammatory towards Muslims, and when I do my research I find that there is little to no validity behind it. People use wild statements to incite fear and distrust in pushing their own agenda, and others are gullible in passing the lies along without asking themselves if what they are sharing is truthful or not. In a real world of fake news there is an ever increasing need to fact check what we share. Speculation and opinions are not facts or truth.
Stealing is an insidious form of dishonesty. I am not just talking about stealing cell phones, money, or I-pods. It includes stealing credit and ideas. I have heard that lifting ideas from other parties is all a part of politics these days, and this is why I think that politicians are seen as among the most dishonest professions. It is also why people have a hard time trusting them. I have seen solid friendships disintegrate when one steals the ideas of another and claims it to be their own. In the past there have been many justifications for stealing. People lie on their taxes to save a few dollars and say that the government is only going to waste those dollars anyways. People download movies and music without paying the appropriate value for the hard work of those who made the art. We justify it by imagining that all singers and actors live a bloated, excessive lifestyle and have money to throw away, when we know that simply is not true. Of course, for people that do steal, they get mighty upset when someone else steals from them, and if they are truly honest with themselves they will admit that stealing hurts people. Two wrongs have never made a right.
Now, I understand that I am not perfect in being honest. That is not the point of believing in something. If we truly do believe in something, however, it is important that we work hard at it. It is vital that we examine and re-examine our dedication to that concept. Honesty is a big concept, but it really isn't all that complicated. Are we honest with our friends, our colleagues, our families, ourselves? When we find ourselves falling short, we must look at why and how, and then resolve to do better. Honesty is so much more than "the best policy". It is an essential part of the foundation of our character. If we are dishonest, how can we be seen as being committed or trustworthy? If we are constantly stretching the truth, how can people be expected to trust what we promise to do? When we are dishonest, we lose respect and esteem. We become a joke in the eyes of many. The fable of the boy who cried wolf teaches us a timeless lesson on being honest. There is no honor in lying, cheating, or stealing.
When I look at the 13th Article of Faith, I see so many parts of it that are tied to honesty. I will work to incorporate honesty into those in my future postings, but for now, I will end with a quote from another church leader, James E Faust. He stated: "Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving". If we do not love the truth and live the truth, then we are not being honest. If we believe in being honest, then we must embrace the truth, no matter how inconvenient that truth is. It might mean that we have to admit when we are wrong. It might mean that we have to acknowledge a lack of understanding. It often means that we are unable to please everyone, and it is likely that we will find ourselves on the outside of circles we once were familiar with. It doesn't mean that we are unkind. It doesn't have to come at the expense of compassion. Honesty, by itself, is meant to build.
In my church we have thirteen lines of scripture that we in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints commonly refer to as the Articles of Faith. As a child I had them all memorized, but as I have become older they have taken on a new meaning to me. While I no longer have them memorized word for word, I instead have attempted to incorporate them into my essence. What they mean is far more significant to whether or not I still know them exactly as written. Memorizing them has helped me understand them better, but now I work at using them as a check list for my own spiritual progress.
The thirteenth and final Article of Faith states "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things". This is considered to be one of the "heaviest" articles of faith as there is a lot in it, and it is often regarded as the pinnacle of the mastering these articles of faith. I thought that I would use this article as a source of inspiration for this and some of my future posts. As I share my thoughts on this, I must clarify something here. Knowing that some who read this will not be members of my faith and may not be familiar with this Article of Faith, I feel that I need to acknowledge that my thoughts on this are my own and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. While what I am commenting on is considered to be scripture by members of my church, my thoughts and writing should not necessarily be considered official church doctrine (although I will try to connect it to official church doctrine and policies where I can, as well as provide links to articles that back up some of my ideas).
We Believe in Being...Honest
The first thing mentioned that we believe in is what has been on my mind the most. What does this mean, that I believe in being honest? I guess my preoccupation with this is that I see a lot in the world that seems to push honesty aside in favour of getting ahead, winning, or putting others down. For me, dishonesty includes more than just lying, but also cheating, stealing, manipulating, and deceitfulness. It includes a disregard for the truth to achieve a particular agenda. It includes willfully remaining in ignorance instead of seeking to know what the truth is. I see this all around me. I see it in schools, in politics, in media, and in communities. The more I see it, the more I see the moral decay of society. It is difficult for me to stand by silently and not call out examples of dishonesty when I see it.
In schools, I see students remain silent when asked about the actions of classmates that are against the school rules or are even breaking laws. This is difficult because in some instances I get why they remain silent. They fear retribution from their peers and classmates. I can understand their reluctance, but is that truly honesty? So often we decide to keep the truth hidden, thinking that what others don't know can't hurt us. In these instances, being honest requires courage. Others remain silent out of a warped sense of loyalty. This idea that you will lie to protect your friends and family is a difficult fallacy to combat. It makes me question how trustworthy that loyalty is. In my experience, this is not true loyalty. It is given out of fear. It is easily turned on. It hurts the people involved. True loyalty to friends should come second to a loyalty to truth.
In particular, I see a lot of areas in the realm of politics that we can be more honest. I am not referring to the politicians themselves, although I know that there are more than a few that can do a much better job at being honest. I am talking about us, the voters. So often I see posts on social media that are full of half-truths and outright lies. I get that people have very strong political ideologies. I get that politics is as much a battleground as anything else. What I do not understand is how normally good people pass along inaccurate statements and outright lies in the name of supporting the political candidate that most closely matches one's own ideas. It does not matter which side of the political spectrum that you are on, it happens all the time. What I find very disappointing is that when called on it, the person who is spreading the lies feels that because they do not think highly of the candidate in question that their use of lies is justified. Let me be clear on this, regardless as to how bad you think the person may be, if you willfully choose to spread lies about that person, then you are, at best, on the same level that you put your opponent on, if not lower. If you believe in being honest, then you do not have the luxury of choosing when honesty best suits you. A lie is a lie. You either believe in being honest or you don't. It's that simple.
This also means that when we read something on social media, we have to be thorough in our understanding of its accuracy. I used to post and share a quote that was attributed to a former leader in my church. It was rightly pointed out to me that there was no evidence that showed that this was actually said by that person. I then did my research and found that the person who started sharing that quote allegedly heard it from the man in question in a private conversation, and that he never stated it publicly. So I cannot verify that this leader actually said it. It was a little frustrating because having the quote attributed to a person of influence and esteem is always helpful in making your point. Still, it's a good quote, so I still use it. I just no longer attribute it to the person in question, and instead claim that I do not know who originated the quote. I have also seen various ideas and stories shared around, and when I do a little digging, I find that there is little more than hearsay (at best) to it. We need to be asking ourselves more often what the purpose is of that story. I find that the majority of these things are shared to tear down a group or an idea, and it is usually shared out of ignorance towards the truth of the matter. I have lost track the number of times that a person has shared something derogatory on inflammatory towards Muslims, and when I do my research I find that there is little to no validity behind it. People use wild statements to incite fear and distrust in pushing their own agenda, and others are gullible in passing the lies along without asking themselves if what they are sharing is truthful or not. In a real world of fake news there is an ever increasing need to fact check what we share. Speculation and opinions are not facts or truth.
Stealing is an insidious form of dishonesty. I am not just talking about stealing cell phones, money, or I-pods. It includes stealing credit and ideas. I have heard that lifting ideas from other parties is all a part of politics these days, and this is why I think that politicians are seen as among the most dishonest professions. It is also why people have a hard time trusting them. I have seen solid friendships disintegrate when one steals the ideas of another and claims it to be their own. In the past there have been many justifications for stealing. People lie on their taxes to save a few dollars and say that the government is only going to waste those dollars anyways. People download movies and music without paying the appropriate value for the hard work of those who made the art. We justify it by imagining that all singers and actors live a bloated, excessive lifestyle and have money to throw away, when we know that simply is not true. Of course, for people that do steal, they get mighty upset when someone else steals from them, and if they are truly honest with themselves they will admit that stealing hurts people. Two wrongs have never made a right.
Now, I understand that I am not perfect in being honest. That is not the point of believing in something. If we truly do believe in something, however, it is important that we work hard at it. It is vital that we examine and re-examine our dedication to that concept. Honesty is a big concept, but it really isn't all that complicated. Are we honest with our friends, our colleagues, our families, ourselves? When we find ourselves falling short, we must look at why and how, and then resolve to do better. Honesty is so much more than "the best policy". It is an essential part of the foundation of our character. If we are dishonest, how can we be seen as being committed or trustworthy? If we are constantly stretching the truth, how can people be expected to trust what we promise to do? When we are dishonest, we lose respect and esteem. We become a joke in the eyes of many. The fable of the boy who cried wolf teaches us a timeless lesson on being honest. There is no honor in lying, cheating, or stealing.
When I look at the 13th Article of Faith, I see so many parts of it that are tied to honesty. I will work to incorporate honesty into those in my future postings, but for now, I will end with a quote from another church leader, James E Faust. He stated: "Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving". If we do not love the truth and live the truth, then we are not being honest. If we believe in being honest, then we must embrace the truth, no matter how inconvenient that truth is. It might mean that we have to admit when we are wrong. It might mean that we have to acknowledge a lack of understanding. It often means that we are unable to please everyone, and it is likely that we will find ourselves on the outside of circles we once were familiar with. It doesn't mean that we are unkind. It doesn't have to come at the expense of compassion. Honesty, by itself, is meant to build.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
March Ramblings
I don't have anything in particular for my blog today, just letting some random thoughts be written down. Maybe I should write some things that make me happy.
1. I love how my girls make me laugh. They are silly little kids. Every dinner Hope goes to the bathroom, and often she just sits on the toilet and sings her lungs out. Her songs are completely nonsensical, which can be endearing and frustrating at the same time. Barbara is constantly making up adventures and stories. Also endearing and frustrating when we are trying to get something done.
2. My student teacher is a breath of fresh air in my classroom. She accepts every challenge I give her and she has a real instinct for teaching. It's nice to have someone that not only looks for challenges but is a wealth of ideas.
3. Super hero television is fun these days. The Flash continues to be my favourite, while Legends of Tomorrow is becoming quite fun. Arrow is getting a bit repetitive, but Supergirl continues to be enjoyable.
4. Planning is underway for our Christmas trip to Walt Disney World. We have booked a room at a resort and found direct flights to and from. Now we just have to buy the airline tickets and try to cash in some more Air Miles for the park passes.
5. My Star Trek blog is going well. I am getting lots of writing done, and each post gets between 400-600 views. It's weird that I get more views when I post on Friday or Saturday.
6. My church calling is very fulfilling. I learn a lot, and I find that I am feeling closer to the members of my ward. I actually look forward to Sundays because of this.
So, that is where I am right now. Feeling happy. I'm also happy because I am not focusing on the negative aspects of the world. That helps too.
Monday, February 26, 2018
This Time
A lot on my mind lately concerning my profession. I won't lie, I am feeling the weight of things. A few weeks ago I received the sad news that one of my former students at FFCA passed away. This is the second student from FFCA in two months that has unexpectedly passed away, the second funeral for a former student in two months. This last one hit particularly hard for me as she was the very first student at FFCA that I met. I spoke to her mother at the funeral. We hugged and wept together, both of us being overcome with pain and grief. This makes four students I knew that have died suddenly during my 15 years of teaching (there may be others, as we lose touch, but these are the ones I know of). It pains me to say good-bye to these young souls who have been taken at such a young age. Sometimes these deaths are accidental, sometimes self-inflicted, and sometimes it's just how life kicks at us.
Add to that yet another school shooting in the US where 17 students and teachers were gunned down in a place that is supposed to be safe. This happened February 14th. Happy Valentine's Day. The worst thing about this is that when this happened, I honestly just slumped in my desk, asked myself why this happened, and then went about my day. It didn't hurt me anymore. I have become numb to the whole ordeal. Someone takes a gun, kills a whole bunch of people, and we mourn. Politicians and citizens act in outrage. Victims are buried, their families are comforted, and arguments heat up. And then it all goes away. The families of the victims find themselves alone, rebuilding after their devastation, the politicians go find another crowd to shake hands with, more guns are sold, and nothing really changes. Political jockeying continues and nothing really changes. Late night talk show hosts make more sense than government leaders, we get a few chuckles to satiate our outrage, and nothing really changes. And that is what I was thinking would happen here. More of the same, and nothing really changes.
It frustrates me that people appear to love guns more than lives. After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary I remember people saying that their rights to own whatever kind of weapon trumps the dead. It sickened me then, and sickens me now. Common sense has been replaced with paranoia. Some fear that a ban an assault rifles will lead to all guns being taken from every citizen of the free world. Ludicrous. That is not what is being proposed. I have yet to have one valid argument for needing assault rifles. They are not for hunting, they are not for protection, they are not for any useful purpose. People just like to shoot them. That's it. Coupled with some insane theory that the government wants to subject them, and people are rabid over their right to own military-style weaponry that has only been designed to kill as many people as possible. And this attitude is ingrained in the heart of America. It has burrowed its way into the psyche and seems to have no hope of getting out. It's not like there is a lack of evidence that shows that when a mass shooting happens, and some important gun laws are enforced, that the shootings decrease. Just look at the UK and Australia as examples of this. Nobody there has had their freedoms curtailed, and fewer people are being killed at concerts, schools, and workplaces. But evidence, logic, and reason do not seem to mean much.
I get having a rifle to hunt. I get having a handgun to protect your home. I even get that there needs to be more on background checks, mental health, and reaching out to those who have been ostracized. I get the reluctance of millions of law-abiding gun owners, who use their weapons responsibly, and who do not want to be punished for the actions of a few madmen. I get that the solution to this does not lie solely in the realm of tougher gun laws, yet if we refuse to incorporate this piece of the puzzle into the solution, then it will forever be incomplete. There will be more mass shootings, more senseless deaths, and the cycle will continue in an endless loops until we destroy ourselves.
And yet I think back to the students that I have lost. No, none of them died from gun violence. They were car accidents, drug use, and suicide. I mourn for them and I have seen how those who love them are torn apart inside with grief and anguish. I can only assume that the families of the victims of this recent shooting feel much the same. I know that more can be done, and yet people just don't want to do it. It really doesn't seem like things are going to change much...again.
And yet, this time there is something new. This time, the students of Florida are standing up to the political leaders and to the NRA and to those who seem intent on sending "thoughts and prayers" to the victims and avoid discussing the problem. This time, the students are demanding a change. This time, the students are claiming that they have been failed enough. Their teachers and parents are standing with them. The nations are taking notice The students are making their voices heard and they are not going to stop until everyone has heard them. When someone tries to pass them off as "crisis actors", they students are shouting them down. When the trolls of the internet try to bully them into silence, the students are trolling them right back. It is very refreshing to see.
I'm not saying that what this movement is demanding is necessarily the right thing here, although I agree with a lot of what they are saying. I'm also not saying that this will lead to any meaningful change, although I would love it if it did. What I am saying is that the students are making their voices heard, and that is a good thing. This students are tired of being failed by us older folks, and they want better. Instead of sitting back and wait for the next school shooting, they are going to try to do something about it.
I love it.
I have said before that thoughts and prayers do indeed have merit, value, and even power, but I also have said that if all you do is offer thoughts and prayers, then you are not doing enough to help remedy the situation. I am overjoyed with how these youth are demanding something change, and this is how it happens. Whether or not anything changes right now is irrelevant to me. All I can say is that despite the heaviness of the last few weeks, I am encouraged to see the leaders of tomorrow stepping up to the plate.
This time, maybe we will have some real results.
Add to that yet another school shooting in the US where 17 students and teachers were gunned down in a place that is supposed to be safe. This happened February 14th. Happy Valentine's Day. The worst thing about this is that when this happened, I honestly just slumped in my desk, asked myself why this happened, and then went about my day. It didn't hurt me anymore. I have become numb to the whole ordeal. Someone takes a gun, kills a whole bunch of people, and we mourn. Politicians and citizens act in outrage. Victims are buried, their families are comforted, and arguments heat up. And then it all goes away. The families of the victims find themselves alone, rebuilding after their devastation, the politicians go find another crowd to shake hands with, more guns are sold, and nothing really changes. Political jockeying continues and nothing really changes. Late night talk show hosts make more sense than government leaders, we get a few chuckles to satiate our outrage, and nothing really changes. And that is what I was thinking would happen here. More of the same, and nothing really changes.
It frustrates me that people appear to love guns more than lives. After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary I remember people saying that their rights to own whatever kind of weapon trumps the dead. It sickened me then, and sickens me now. Common sense has been replaced with paranoia. Some fear that a ban an assault rifles will lead to all guns being taken from every citizen of the free world. Ludicrous. That is not what is being proposed. I have yet to have one valid argument for needing assault rifles. They are not for hunting, they are not for protection, they are not for any useful purpose. People just like to shoot them. That's it. Coupled with some insane theory that the government wants to subject them, and people are rabid over their right to own military-style weaponry that has only been designed to kill as many people as possible. And this attitude is ingrained in the heart of America. It has burrowed its way into the psyche and seems to have no hope of getting out. It's not like there is a lack of evidence that shows that when a mass shooting happens, and some important gun laws are enforced, that the shootings decrease. Just look at the UK and Australia as examples of this. Nobody there has had their freedoms curtailed, and fewer people are being killed at concerts, schools, and workplaces. But evidence, logic, and reason do not seem to mean much.
I get having a rifle to hunt. I get having a handgun to protect your home. I even get that there needs to be more on background checks, mental health, and reaching out to those who have been ostracized. I get the reluctance of millions of law-abiding gun owners, who use their weapons responsibly, and who do not want to be punished for the actions of a few madmen. I get that the solution to this does not lie solely in the realm of tougher gun laws, yet if we refuse to incorporate this piece of the puzzle into the solution, then it will forever be incomplete. There will be more mass shootings, more senseless deaths, and the cycle will continue in an endless loops until we destroy ourselves.
And yet I think back to the students that I have lost. No, none of them died from gun violence. They were car accidents, drug use, and suicide. I mourn for them and I have seen how those who love them are torn apart inside with grief and anguish. I can only assume that the families of the victims of this recent shooting feel much the same. I know that more can be done, and yet people just don't want to do it. It really doesn't seem like things are going to change much...again.
And yet, this time there is something new. This time, the students of Florida are standing up to the political leaders and to the NRA and to those who seem intent on sending "thoughts and prayers" to the victims and avoid discussing the problem. This time, the students are demanding a change. This time, the students are claiming that they have been failed enough. Their teachers and parents are standing with them. The nations are taking notice The students are making their voices heard and they are not going to stop until everyone has heard them. When someone tries to pass them off as "crisis actors", they students are shouting them down. When the trolls of the internet try to bully them into silence, the students are trolling them right back. It is very refreshing to see.
I'm not saying that what this movement is demanding is necessarily the right thing here, although I agree with a lot of what they are saying. I'm also not saying that this will lead to any meaningful change, although I would love it if it did. What I am saying is that the students are making their voices heard, and that is a good thing. This students are tired of being failed by us older folks, and they want better. Instead of sitting back and wait for the next school shooting, they are going to try to do something about it.
I love it.
I have said before that thoughts and prayers do indeed have merit, value, and even power, but I also have said that if all you do is offer thoughts and prayers, then you are not doing enough to help remedy the situation. I am overjoyed with how these youth are demanding something change, and this is how it happens. Whether or not anything changes right now is irrelevant to me. All I can say is that despite the heaviness of the last few weeks, I am encouraged to see the leaders of tomorrow stepping up to the plate.
This time, maybe we will have some real results.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Thank You, Thomas S Monson
On January 2, 2018, President Thomas Spencer Monson, sixteenth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, passed away quietly, surrounded by his family. For almost a full decade he served as the president of the church, which was the pinnacle of a life dedicated to service in the church. He was called as an apostle at the age of 36, and had previously served as a bishop. He also had a special connection to Canada as he served as the mission president for the Toronto, Ontario Canada mission. He dedicated the Calgary Temple in 2012 and has always had a special place in his heart for our country. For all of my life I remember him as someone I looked forward to hearing from during General Conference. He would always have stories from his life to support the lessons he would teach us. I often thought of him as a wise and kind grandfather, imparting his wisdom and knowledge to us. Most of all, I will remember him for his love for Jesus Christ. His testimony and witness of Christ is one of his lasting legacies.
In the days following his passing, I read and watched a lot of tributes to President Monson. Mostly, they were positive and praiseworthy. Even Donald Trump was able to say something nice about him. A few media outlets chose to focus on the negative, highlighting things that really had little to do with President Monson, making it seem like his term as president was plagued with controversy. They could not have been further from the truth. Yes, there were those who left the church because he would not change established doctrine and policy that would go against the Lord's will. There are those in every generation. It just serves as a further tribute to Monson's love and obedience to the Lord. True, there were some incidents that happened that caused people to wonder if the church was going to be taken down by scandal. When you get to the bottom of the scandal, however, you see that there was really nothing scandalous about anything, other than the lengths some would go to discredit the church. Throughout it all, President Monson never turned to mud-slinging, insults, or denigration. While he was firm in his resolve to do the Lord's will, he always did so with humility and love.
He was the President of the church during a very difficult portion of my life, and many of his teachings were a strength and a boon to me. I was always impressed with his ability to help me see the beauty in life and to keep a good sense of humor about things. Instead of going through a lengthy list of accomplishments and stats about the man, let me share with you some of his words of teaching and counsel over the years that mean a lot to me.
There is something wise in the admonition to choose friends with caution. This doesn't mean that we are suspicious of everyone, but that we are to be truly careful in choosing our friends. This includes opening your heart to the possibilities of befriending the seemingly friendless. I also appreciate the counsel to plan our future with purpose. It is easy to go through life without goals, but real growth happens when we have a purpose in life. As for framing my life with faith, well, it's hard for me to put into words how that has impacted my life, but I know that my life would be considerably more difficult and sad if I did not have faith.
So often I hear people say that they want to make a difference in the world. It does not matter what vocation you choose, but if you are seeking to be a good example to those around you, you will make the world a better place.
As a Sunday school teacher in my ward, this one is very relevant to me. Every week I prepare for my class with this in mind. My goal is not to give information, but to hopefully get my students to think about their lives in a way that will cause them to make the necessary changes in their life and thereby find more happiness.
Of course, with the thinking comes action, otherwise we are just sitting there thinking, and thinking. Just thinking never accomplished anything important unless action follows the thoughts.
So many examples to go with this. We can offer a helping hand to the less fortunate, or we can more easily walk on by them without making eye contact. We can stand by the person being bullied, or we can mind our own business and say nothing. We can make the hard choice of standing alone for our morals, or we can compromise our standards and integrity for the sake of "fitting in".
This ties in with the last one. It is so easy to get caught up in seeking to stay relevant, current, and popular. The result is that we often fall for anything instead of standing for truth and right.
How do we find, grow, and nurture our testimony? Here is a formula that President Monson gave us that will help.
The trials we face in life are not going to be easy, but they will help define us. We can be all upset that life isn't perfect, or we can be learning from those challenges. I am thankful that the wisdom that I learned during my challenges helped me become a better person.
President Monson was all about service. He loved a ;life of it. He always challenged us to reach out to those in the most need. He counseled us in word and action to serve the sick, the elderly, the lonely, the oppressed, and the poor.
Love and kindness. He never was short on those two attributes. His attitude to face everything with a positive spin is both infectious and inspiring.
I had to use this advice in my life a lot. I especially found that this works with myself as well as others. The true healing that is found in forgiving ourselves and others is astounding.
Not much I can add to this, except to say "Thank you, President Monson."
In the days following his passing, I read and watched a lot of tributes to President Monson. Mostly, they were positive and praiseworthy. Even Donald Trump was able to say something nice about him. A few media outlets chose to focus on the negative, highlighting things that really had little to do with President Monson, making it seem like his term as president was plagued with controversy. They could not have been further from the truth. Yes, there were those who left the church because he would not change established doctrine and policy that would go against the Lord's will. There are those in every generation. It just serves as a further tribute to Monson's love and obedience to the Lord. True, there were some incidents that happened that caused people to wonder if the church was going to be taken down by scandal. When you get to the bottom of the scandal, however, you see that there was really nothing scandalous about anything, other than the lengths some would go to discredit the church. Throughout it all, President Monson never turned to mud-slinging, insults, or denigration. While he was firm in his resolve to do the Lord's will, he always did so with humility and love.
He was the President of the church during a very difficult portion of my life, and many of his teachings were a strength and a boon to me. I was always impressed with his ability to help me see the beauty in life and to keep a good sense of humor about things. Instead of going through a lengthy list of accomplishments and stats about the man, let me share with you some of his words of teaching and counsel over the years that mean a lot to me.
So often I hear people say that they want to make a difference in the world. It does not matter what vocation you choose, but if you are seeking to be a good example to those around you, you will make the world a better place.
As a Sunday school teacher in my ward, this one is very relevant to me. Every week I prepare for my class with this in mind. My goal is not to give information, but to hopefully get my students to think about their lives in a way that will cause them to make the necessary changes in their life and thereby find more happiness.
Of course, with the thinking comes action, otherwise we are just sitting there thinking, and thinking. Just thinking never accomplished anything important unless action follows the thoughts.
So many examples to go with this. We can offer a helping hand to the less fortunate, or we can more easily walk on by them without making eye contact. We can stand by the person being bullied, or we can mind our own business and say nothing. We can make the hard choice of standing alone for our morals, or we can compromise our standards and integrity for the sake of "fitting in".
This ties in with the last one. It is so easy to get caught up in seeking to stay relevant, current, and popular. The result is that we often fall for anything instead of standing for truth and right.
How do we find, grow, and nurture our testimony? Here is a formula that President Monson gave us that will help.
The trials we face in life are not going to be easy, but they will help define us. We can be all upset that life isn't perfect, or we can be learning from those challenges. I am thankful that the wisdom that I learned during my challenges helped me become a better person.
President Monson was all about service. He loved a ;life of it. He always challenged us to reach out to those in the most need. He counseled us in word and action to serve the sick, the elderly, the lonely, the oppressed, and the poor.
I had to use this advice in my life a lot. I especially found that this works with myself as well as others. The true healing that is found in forgiving ourselves and others is astounding.
Not much I can add to this, except to say "Thank you, President Monson."
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Happy 2018
So 2017 is in the bag, and 2018 has started. It has been quite the year for us in the Andrews household. Heather started the school year with a new teaching assignment. She teaches kindergarten in the morning and music in the afternoon. It keeps her very busy but she is enjoying it. She gets to work with all the students in her school and has had some great experiences. My favorite was when she coordinated a Ghostbusters flash mob with the entire school without the rest of the staff knowing about it. It has really exercised her creativity. She also was called as the Primary President in our ward, and is using her talents to help all the children of the ward.
Barbara started kindergarten this fall. We spent a lot of time researching which school to send her before deciding on FFCA. I'm excited about the prospects of having her in my high school eventually. Barbara was super excited to be in school. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Lin, and is friends with all of her classmates. She also gets a kick out of her principal, Mr. Lowther. She talks about him so much that Hope is starting to talk about wanting him as a principal. Barbara started reading before school started, and has also begun piano lessons. She is learning lots and we are seeing remarkable improvement in things such as her penmanship and coloring.
Hope is still working on potty training. She has the day time figured out, but is still needing the pull-ups for nighttime. She has developed quite the dominant attitude and is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. She loves to laugh and giggle and wants to do everything her big sister does. She has also started to plink away at the piano on her own. Sometimes it amazes me how well she is able to figure out music on her own. Once in a while we mistake her experimentation with Barbara practicing. She finished off her time in nursery this year and is looking forward to being a Sunbeam in Primary next year.
My brother Kevin, who has been living with us for close to two years, started a new job at Canadian Tire. It has been a really good having him here. Dayton continues his studies at Mount Royal and even had an internship at World Health, where I go to for my workouts. Dustin and Andrew moved to Edmonton, and Dustin was able to find a design job at a home builders. It is exactly what he wants to do and he is enjoying the new location.
As for myself, it has been interesting for me this year. I finished the 2016-17 school year on a bit of a down note. Without going into too much detail, I was getting frustrated at work, to the point where I began to doubt myself a lot. I started the new school year with a goal to reclaim the passion that I had lost. I took a deep and honest inventory of where I was at and started to refocus my energies. It worked out for the better, mostly. Still not where I want to be, but I am in a much better place then before. A large part of this was due to a colleague who moved into the room across from me. She has helped me as a sounding board and pointed out some perspectives for me. I also took on a student teacher that I will have throughout much of the entire school year. Not only is she the best student teacher I have ever seen, our personalities have so much in common that she quickly became a good friend. It has been one of the most rewarding professional relationships I have had and has been a big part in my feeling revitalized as a teacher.
In church I received a new calling. Back in the spring I was called as the Gospel Doctrine teacher in my ward. I felt I had some pretty big shoes to fill (our previous teacher had been a general authority before this calling), but it has been a great and inspirational blessing for me. I have found a lot of joy in serving the ward in this capacity. Temple attendance continues to be a big focus in my life, and I was able to add the Toronto temple on my list of temples that I have done work in this summer. Yup, the big adventure this year was loading up the family on Canada Day and driving to Toronto to visit the in-laws on their mission for a week. We saw the Toronto Zoo, Ripley's Aquarium, and Niagara Falls. It was quite the event for us.
So, as I look forward to 2018, I feel ready to see what the year will bring. I hope there will be more laughs, more fun, and less Trump. Well, the first two are likely I guess. Here's the Top 10 list in review.
10. Movie Event of the Year - Hard to pick just one, but I will say that for many of my franchises I follow it has been great. Enjoyed Kong: Skull Island, which might be a promising franchise in itself. Thor: Ragnorok, Spiderman: Homecoming, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 were all great additions to the MCU. DC had two great films with Justice League and Wonder Woman. And, of course, there was Episode VIII in the Star Wars saga, which I was absolutely thrilled by. Can't pick just one, so I will say the "event" was the franchise fun as a whole.
9. Music Event of the Year - Hands down it was Garth Brooks. As I blogged about earlier, we had the chance to see him perform in Calgary. Even though our seats were behind the stage and way up at the top, they felt like the best seats in the house. It was great to see the Legend that is Garth Brooks live.
8. So Proud Moment of the Year - This goes to my Dad, who seems to show no signs of slowing down in his seventies. He has really gotten involved in his community this year, including a run for town council, establishing a Highway of Heroes tribute, and managing not one but two concerts for Alix. He was able to bring in the Arrogant Worms in March (which we went to) and George Canyon in November (which we were not able to attend, sadly).
7. Milestone of the Year - I think for this one it's Barbara's first day of school. Heather was able to take her to the first day of classes, while I took her to her first school bus ride the next day. I took a photo of her running on to the bus with a "Bye Dad" sort of moment.
6. Reconnect of the Year - Went to Waterton National Park in May. It's been close to a decade since I last went, and it brought back a lot of great memories from my childhood. Quite enjoyed the time spent there just walking the town site. It was very unfortunate that the park was hit with the wildfires, but glad that the town was mostly left intact.
5. Adventure of the Year - The Toronto trip, no question. We had portable DVD players and headphones for the girls and then hit the road. It was a lot of fun, seeing things we had never seen before, and enjoyed almost every aspect of it. On the way back we stayed an extra night in the Chicago area and went to the Brookfield Zoo, which was excellent.
4. Professional Experience of the Year - That would have to be mentoring Hayley Jonason this last semester. As I already mentioned, she is the best I have seen. She could have her own classroom right now without much worry.
3. First-Time of the Year - Took the girls to Calaway Park for the first time this summer. We had a lot of fun. Hope loved being on rides that only she could be on. Barbara shouted out on so many times that it was the best day and place ever. It was so much fun we bought season passes for next year.
2. Spiritual Event of the Year - Doing sealings at the temple this year was just as special as before. We had two great sessions of it, and it was neat receiving some insight from the other side about how things were going.
1. Family Event of the Year - This was tough to choose for me, but I think I have to go with baptizing my nephew Austin a few weeks ago. It was a great and special experience for me, and it was an honor to perform this ordinance for him and his family.
I hope you all have a wonderful 2018, full of joy, happiness, and blessings.
Barbara started kindergarten this fall. We spent a lot of time researching which school to send her before deciding on FFCA. I'm excited about the prospects of having her in my high school eventually. Barbara was super excited to be in school. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Lin, and is friends with all of her classmates. She also gets a kick out of her principal, Mr. Lowther. She talks about him so much that Hope is starting to talk about wanting him as a principal. Barbara started reading before school started, and has also begun piano lessons. She is learning lots and we are seeing remarkable improvement in things such as her penmanship and coloring.
Hope is still working on potty training. She has the day time figured out, but is still needing the pull-ups for nighttime. She has developed quite the dominant attitude and is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. She loves to laugh and giggle and wants to do everything her big sister does. She has also started to plink away at the piano on her own. Sometimes it amazes me how well she is able to figure out music on her own. Once in a while we mistake her experimentation with Barbara practicing. She finished off her time in nursery this year and is looking forward to being a Sunbeam in Primary next year.
My brother Kevin, who has been living with us for close to two years, started a new job at Canadian Tire. It has been a really good having him here. Dayton continues his studies at Mount Royal and even had an internship at World Health, where I go to for my workouts. Dustin and Andrew moved to Edmonton, and Dustin was able to find a design job at a home builders. It is exactly what he wants to do and he is enjoying the new location.
As for myself, it has been interesting for me this year. I finished the 2016-17 school year on a bit of a down note. Without going into too much detail, I was getting frustrated at work, to the point where I began to doubt myself a lot. I started the new school year with a goal to reclaim the passion that I had lost. I took a deep and honest inventory of where I was at and started to refocus my energies. It worked out for the better, mostly. Still not where I want to be, but I am in a much better place then before. A large part of this was due to a colleague who moved into the room across from me. She has helped me as a sounding board and pointed out some perspectives for me. I also took on a student teacher that I will have throughout much of the entire school year. Not only is she the best student teacher I have ever seen, our personalities have so much in common that she quickly became a good friend. It has been one of the most rewarding professional relationships I have had and has been a big part in my feeling revitalized as a teacher.
In church I received a new calling. Back in the spring I was called as the Gospel Doctrine teacher in my ward. I felt I had some pretty big shoes to fill (our previous teacher had been a general authority before this calling), but it has been a great and inspirational blessing for me. I have found a lot of joy in serving the ward in this capacity. Temple attendance continues to be a big focus in my life, and I was able to add the Toronto temple on my list of temples that I have done work in this summer. Yup, the big adventure this year was loading up the family on Canada Day and driving to Toronto to visit the in-laws on their mission for a week. We saw the Toronto Zoo, Ripley's Aquarium, and Niagara Falls. It was quite the event for us.
So, as I look forward to 2018, I feel ready to see what the year will bring. I hope there will be more laughs, more fun, and less Trump. Well, the first two are likely I guess. Here's the Top 10 list in review.
10. Movie Event of the Year - Hard to pick just one, but I will say that for many of my franchises I follow it has been great. Enjoyed Kong: Skull Island, which might be a promising franchise in itself. Thor: Ragnorok, Spiderman: Homecoming, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 were all great additions to the MCU. DC had two great films with Justice League and Wonder Woman. And, of course, there was Episode VIII in the Star Wars saga, which I was absolutely thrilled by. Can't pick just one, so I will say the "event" was the franchise fun as a whole.
9. Music Event of the Year - Hands down it was Garth Brooks. As I blogged about earlier, we had the chance to see him perform in Calgary. Even though our seats were behind the stage and way up at the top, they felt like the best seats in the house. It was great to see the Legend that is Garth Brooks live.
8. So Proud Moment of the Year - This goes to my Dad, who seems to show no signs of slowing down in his seventies. He has really gotten involved in his community this year, including a run for town council, establishing a Highway of Heroes tribute, and managing not one but two concerts for Alix. He was able to bring in the Arrogant Worms in March (which we went to) and George Canyon in November (which we were not able to attend, sadly).
7. Milestone of the Year - I think for this one it's Barbara's first day of school. Heather was able to take her to the first day of classes, while I took her to her first school bus ride the next day. I took a photo of her running on to the bus with a "Bye Dad" sort of moment.
6. Reconnect of the Year - Went to Waterton National Park in May. It's been close to a decade since I last went, and it brought back a lot of great memories from my childhood. Quite enjoyed the time spent there just walking the town site. It was very unfortunate that the park was hit with the wildfires, but glad that the town was mostly left intact.
5. Adventure of the Year - The Toronto trip, no question. We had portable DVD players and headphones for the girls and then hit the road. It was a lot of fun, seeing things we had never seen before, and enjoyed almost every aspect of it. On the way back we stayed an extra night in the Chicago area and went to the Brookfield Zoo, which was excellent.
4. Professional Experience of the Year - That would have to be mentoring Hayley Jonason this last semester. As I already mentioned, she is the best I have seen. She could have her own classroom right now without much worry.
3. First-Time of the Year - Took the girls to Calaway Park for the first time this summer. We had a lot of fun. Hope loved being on rides that only she could be on. Barbara shouted out on so many times that it was the best day and place ever. It was so much fun we bought season passes for next year.
2. Spiritual Event of the Year - Doing sealings at the temple this year was just as special as before. We had two great sessions of it, and it was neat receiving some insight from the other side about how things were going.
1. Family Event of the Year - This was tough to choose for me, but I think I have to go with baptizing my nephew Austin a few weeks ago. It was a great and special experience for me, and it was an honor to perform this ordinance for him and his family.
I hope you all have a wonderful 2018, full of joy, happiness, and blessings.
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