March Update

Seeing Sunny's recent post motivated me to update my blog. If she has time to do it, then I should be able to take a few minutes to update mine. The last 30 days or so has been quite busy. We had a visit from Sunny & Steve and the three little ones, We took a trip to Utah where we attended the Draper Temple open house with Rosemary. We also had a wonderful time in Park City where we stayed in one of the luxury condos that Harmon's company built. We played in the spa and the heated swimming pool with the Toblers and I even went skiing for the first time in about 25 years.

My brother, John, joined us for the day. I managed to get down the hill several times without any broken bones, and finally figured out how to get up after falling. I was impressed with Lacey's ability to ski and enjoyed watching her fearlessly charge down the mountain. While we were on the mountain, Nana stayed home with the little ones and played in the spa.

On the way to Utah, we stopped to visit with Mao and Cathy and see Hunter and their new daughter, Isabella. She is a beauty and Hunter really loves his baby sister.

We also had a visit from Harmon and Dan who came to California to participate in the sealing of his sisters two adopted children. (I'm not sure what that flag is all about, but they carried it with them wherever they went). We went to their meeting on Sunday to witness the blessing in their ward. We have had additional visits from Jade, who was here for a little break, and from Alex Patterson and his friend and Hillary Jones and a couple of her friends who were here for spring break.

When we got back in town, we got to celebrate Kayla's fourth birthday. She is such a cute, spunky birthday girl!

In the mean time, Nancy and I continue to keep fairly busy with all that we have to do. In addition to my work, I serve in the temple on Tuesday evenings, teach the High Priest group on Sundays, teach a temple prep course on Sundays, serve as the 11 year old scoutmaster on Wednesdays and teach a class every Wednesday night to the single marines down at Camp Pendelton. Nancy's responsibility as Relief Society President keeps her busy constantly, and occasionally provides me another opportunity to assist.

My Three Sons

During the Christmas Holiday, we had Sam and his family in town and he put together a flag football game with his family and friends in the Long Beach area and invited J.R. and Adam to play. I rarely get a chance to see the three of them together and we had a great time. My little boys have grown into outstanding young men and fathers.

NFR

Early in December we made our annual trip to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo with our good friends, Gary and Sue Hadley. We always have a great time attending the rodeo and then shopping at the Cowboy Christmas at the convention center. We also joined up with my brother Roy and his wife Candice and Mao, Cathy and Hunter for lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Mao proved to be a great negotiator during our shopping. He saved Gary about $200.00 on a leather coat for Sue.

These ain't "Pond Poodles"

I just read where the PETA people are trying to rename fish. Instead of calling them fish, they are now referring to them as "sea kittens". The idea being that if people start thinking as them as warm and fuzzy kittens, they will be less likely to want to "drive a hook through their heads". You can't make this stuff up! The next thing will be calling cows "pasture puppies" and ducks and geese will be "pond poodles".

My buddy John Anderson and I went to Mexico last week and spent a couple of days relaxing and hunting geese, ducks and doves. We would hunt ducks and geese in the morning, take a break for lunch and a quick nap, then go out for an afternoon dove shoot. It would have been a vegan's nightmare. Our meals consisted of steaks, ducks, doves and shrimp, with an occasional vegetable added for a little color.

The attached photos show me with some ducks and geese taken the first morning and my dog, Abby, all decked out in her new Cabela's camouflage neoprene vest, alongside a few ducks I took the second morning. Abby is the one with the mustache.

Adam in Mexico

We were finally able to put a trip together where Adam could accompany me to Mexico. We went down early Friday morning and hunted Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon. Mid day Saturday we watched the BYU/San Diego football game. In my book, that's a pretty good day. We got a few pheasants, quail and a bunch of doves. Although Adam is not a "died in the wool" hunter, I think he can be talked into going again. The photo shows Adam with a some quail and a pheasant he killed on Saturday, and Kenny, the son of our guide, Rigo.

South Dakota, 2008

This wouldn't be my blog unless I have a few pictures of my latest hunting trip. My best friend, Gary Hadley, and I drove to South Dakota for our annual pheasant hunt. We drive for two days, hunt for three days, and then drive another two days to get back. Too much driving, too little hunting. If you are a hunter, and appreciate wildlife, it is a very interesting drive. We saw literally thousands of antelope, hundreds of deer, flocks of turkeys, and even a bald eagle.

My pictures include images of the first morning hunt, and some of my little house in South Dakota.

Gordon, we'll miss you

I lost a brother today, and my world has been diminished. Ever since he joined our family, Gordon Smart has had my love and admiration. He was one of the finest men who has walked this earth. He was a devoted son, a loyal brother, a compassionate father, a devoted husband, a favorite uncle, a good friend and a valiant leader. He was generous and without guile. He was my fishing buddy and my friend. My life has been enriched because of my association with him.

I will miss his corny jokes and his funny stories. I will miss the opportunities to sit and talk with him about his latest fishing trip or the accomplishments of his children. I will miss his phone call on my birthday and the birthday songs he would sing to me. I will miss his wisdom, his sincerity and his humility. I will miss his laugh.

As I struggle with our loss, I can't fathom how his family will deal with their lives without Gordon. I can't find satisfactory answers to my questions of "why now, and why Gordon?", but I have to trust in God's wisdom and hope that my questions will be reconciled. The only comfort I presently have is that Gordon lived his life in such an exemplary way that he will be weighed in the balance and not be found wanting.

I heard a song by Jeff Bates that seems appropriate for how I feel. I've modified a couple of the lines, so my apologies to the songwriter.

If there ever was a morning when the fish might bite, it would be right now.
Any other time we'd have had our lines cast out.
Sippin' on a soda, castin' for those trout,
Why couldn't today be like that?

I wish this was a riverbank instead of a graveyard,
Wish we were sittin' and fishin' and this wouldn't be so hard.
It was my favorite thing that we used to do, but now we can't.
I wish you were here, I wish this was a riverbank.

I remember the day that we were casting out of float tubes.
I got a big bite that almost yanked the pole out of my hand.
Well you jumped up and grabbed a net and we both almost fell in.
Yeah we got wet, but we got him.

I know you wouldn't want me sittin' around being sad.
We both know better than that.
So I'm leaving now and gonna head on out and try to catch a few
and while I'm there I'll cast a few lines for you.

I wish this was a riverbank instead of a graveyard,
wish we were sittin' and fishin' and this wouldn't be so damn hard.
It was my favorite thing that we used to do, but now we can't.
I wish you were here,
I wish you were here,
I wish this was a riverbank.

God bless Gordon Smart, and God bless his family.