...winter comes again.

This morning I was in a meeting with several of the local leaders of out church. As we discussed a family in need of assistance, their house in dire need of repair and they do not have the resources to do it themselves, our Bishop made the statement that we, and they, need to get things done now, because "winter comes again."

He meant it literally when he said it. But the statement struck me figuratively as well. Perhaps that is because I am in a figurative winter right now.

I guess the lesson here is that winter always comes, so prepare in the summer, figuratively. Perhaps you should also say that summer also comes again. Which can be hard to remember in a winter.

Figuratively, of course.

On a not completely unrelated note, I was released from my calling of Elders Quorum President today. While I feel some relief, as it has been a big responsibility and sometimes burden, I am saddened by the loss of opportunities to serve my brothers. Before my experience as the EQP, I cared little for people outside my own family. I never sought to help others. I hope that if I
learned anything, it's to love people and to actively serve those who need it.

I know that Tauni fears that with my release, we will lose what divine help we had been receiving. I do not feel that this is the case. If anything, I think there will be less opposition to his blessing.

I know, I know. I'm not normally one to get so religious in my blogging. But, it is a part of who I am.

Also, we finally got rid of our Chrystler Town & Deathtrap. We traded it in for this wicked Nissan Altima.

If you really want to show me that you love me...

I can't say it any better than Elder Lynn G. Robbins. Watch it, please.

I recently did make a 'to be' list. I call it 'My Standard'.

Yesterday, this talk was given in General Conference. I think it was in direct response to my own poor parenting. And this talk spoke to me more than any other given this conference.

The day before yesterday, Katy made me a little snowflake out of paper, and colored it carefully. When she gave it to me, I was already frustrated and angry at being the only person to have done any work on the house that day. I had done laundry, dishes, cleaning, cooked, laundry, and dishes. So, instead of accepting her loving gift as I should have, I said "If you really wanted to show me that you love me, you'd help me."

While my statement may have been true, it wasn't said in a loving or teaching way. And what did Katy learn from it? Well, she walked away sad, and didn't help any more after I had said it than she did before. So, I'd say she learned that her angry daddy doesn't appreciate her.

Since listening to Elder Robbins's talk, I think I have done better. When the girls fought yesterday, I sat them down and talked to them about principles of the gospel, specifically about loving God and your neighbor. I reviewed that lesson with them on the way to school with them this morning. And, hopefully, one day I will get it to stick.