Beautiful temple

I took time away from boards to go to the temple this morning, and I had forgotten how beautiful the Portland temple is. There's no windows at all, but in some places the granite is so fine that it becomes translucent with the light. Anyway it was a good session and a good experience. Highly recommend taking time to do it especially when you don't feel like you have time. It always manages to work out either way, and you get to go to the temple, so you do the math.
Long day, brain dead and rambling; have a good night family

Valiant effort

Well, despite a valiant effort on my part I got sick anyway! I have been home now for two days. I will however be going to work tomorrow! This staying home, doing nothing is for the birds! Good to hear from my brothers! You will do well on your testing Steve, and Dave sometimes just going day to day is better than what may lie ahead. I will be better soon, especially since Megan is having a party on Saturday. For her birthday. Know that we are wishing you could all be here, even though we know that is not possible at this moment in time. Love you all, have a great week.

Good Family

It sure is fun to know I can go to family for all kinds of geekiness, humor, and general unloading/venting. You're all great!

Good luck on your boards Steve. I'm confident you'll do well, even if you aren't. I must say I've been tremendously impressed with your motivation and manner in which you've cultivated your study habits. I think you and Christi could probably put together quite a list of tips on being good students.

We don't have too much news to share on our home front. Sometimes it seems that life just moves forward with seemingly unremarkable regularity. Often times, it doesn't seem remarkable until hindsight kicks in.

Jennah and I are going to Breckenridge in a couple of weeks for our Anniversary. This will be the first time we've ever been away from the kids for more than a day. We are both looking forward to it, especially since the hotel will be free and skiing half price. Otherwise, we'd be trying to build a little ski hill in the backyard and have to call that good.

Love you all

Dave

Boards

well at least I can say that studying for boards isn't boring. It would be if I wasn't under such a time crunch, but knowing that I have to take them with only 14 days to study left makes it so much more terrifying. Anywho. Things are good, except Katie caught the stomach flu. She always starts out the same way. Wakes up in the middle of the night-->empties her stomach on floor or furniture (wood floor this time)-->has a fever around 103.5 and then just hangs out there for a few days before it breaks and she gets better. Its so miserable to see her sad little face. And at the same time, I worry about what will happen if Jenn or I catch it too. Fun stuff. We had a whirlwind trip home to see Jenni's sister get married, so we were in and out really fast. But we had a good visit with mom and dad, so it was nice. Hope you are all doing well. Just thought I'd drop a line while I was up late, but now its bedtime. Gnight.

are you ready for more geekiness?

the Greek word "apo" is the obvious tie between the two words. "apo" means away, apart, separate, without.
apostle comes from the Greek "apostolos" "apo" + "stellin" which means one who is sent out or away. (by the way, the word apostle is related to the words like postal. gives a whole new meaning to the idea of "going postal" huh?). although it is interesting that "stole" means robe in Greek -- makes me wonder if there is an ideological tie in to the robes or mantle of the priesthood. anyway that is my greek-fest kicking in, sorry, back to the point.
apostasy comes from "apo" + "stasis" meaning standing away or withdrawing. so while there are ties between the two words, the meanings are actually opposites. and apostle is sent out by someone, (not by the way, strictly limited to Christians), and an apostate deliberately stands apart or removes themselves from a group or belief system, (again not necessarily limited to Christianity). Both words existed and were used long before Christianity was even a blip on the radar, to some degree, although until Christianity became widespread, Jews were pretty much the only religion and culture that worshiped one God exclusively, so apostles were far more common than apostates in the ancient world.
i love Greek geekiness!
hope this helps.
meanwhile, back on the ranch. . . life is crazy busy and completely chaotic right now. i am so incredibly ready for spring! we have become entrenched in a seemingly unending cycle of winter sickness, each of us getting something icky and sharing it with the whole family. fun!
i have to tell you that valentines day was lots of fun! kindergarten parties are amazing! i think that all teenagers should have to host one -- it would be a great deterrent for unplanned pregnancy. i think i walked out of the room with crossed eyes and a distinct limp. how can somebody so little be so hard on toes?
still, their happy little faces and pre-sugar coma bliss are worth it.
hope your day has plenty of bliss and maybe even a little sugar :)

Another word question (for real)

Sorry about the empty post, I hit "enter" on accident.

Anyway, I have another word question for Christi. Today, our lesson in Priesthood was from the Joseph Smith manual on apostacy. The similarity between the words apostle and apostacy struck me. Is there a common root there? If so, what does it mean? I thought about how thin the line can be between the two sometimes, especially when I reflect on the early church struggles.

As for what's going on with us right now, I don't have too much of note. We are plugging away. Everyone is well. I am grateful for my job, though I always try to keep my head up for other options. I'm planning on taking some CAD classess at the local Community College since its a skill I've always been interested in learning, I have the GI Bill, and I can't settle on anything else right now.

Tax time brings mixed feelings. I did my taxes last night and it was good news for us. At the same time, can anyone tell me how it makes fiscal sense to give a tax return for money that wasn't paid in taxes in the first place? It baffles me a bit. I'm happy to pay my fair share, in fact, I'd rather pay my fair share than see the deficit continue to expand beyond belief.

Anyway

Love you all

Dave

Another word question

It's SNOWING!

Well, it's Valentines Day, and it's snowing! It has been snowing since before I went to bed last night. I had to take Ford out this morning, to collect food for the place in Salt Lake, and the roads were worse than I think they have been yet this winter! Ok, so maybe not the worst, but they were very slick! It just keeps falling! I started to shovel the driveway before I took Ford down to the church and by the time I got back it was like I needed to start all over.
I am however grateful for the moisture, but I wish it had just stayed up in the mountains where it belongs!
Happy Valentines Day to you all! I love you and miss you. Mom & Dad, I am really wishing I could have come down. Maybe in a couple of weeks.
We are heading out to take the kids to lunch, since Ford has a friend coming over and Megan has....... A DATE! Oh no, I am so not ready for this. It's ok though she has gone a lot longer than I ever did!
Have a wonderful day

Two in one day!

Whoa, this is some kind of record for me. I will be making two posts in one day! One here on the family blog and one on parker's panic.
So can you believe how stinking fast this year is flying by? I was thinking today, that we are almost though another term of school, then there is only one left! I can't even believe how fast time seems to be going.
It seems like years since last August, and all of us being together! I think everyone should just come home! I need a hug!
I know that isn't possible, but it would sure be nice. :)
Things here are just about the same, busy. Work is going for the most part good. They finished construction on my school so we are again working out of our own kitchen. It has been nice in some ways and not so much in others. I am however glad to have a job, and one that on most days I like.
The kids are still fighting to get through school. I of course an cracking the whip like always! Just kidding, well.... sort of.
Jennah, maybe I should send them to stay with you. Maybe you could catch them up on the things they are lagging in. The one thing the homeschoolers have an advantage in, is knowing one on one, the way the kids learn. IF one thing works for this kid great, but it might not work for this kid. If Ford could just listen, and test, he would have A's I'm sure of it. I know he needs to learn how to do homework, (well, I sort of know) but the amount they send home is ridiculous. For Megan it is getting even worse. I know it's bad to say, but I will be glad when they are both out of school, and homework is not an issue anymore.
Other than school they are doing really good. Megan is still working her two jobs and Ford is still looking for one.
Chet is working like crazy, also being grateful that he has a job. Also wishing that there wasn't so much stress that went along with it.
All in all we are doing great! Hope to hear from you soon! Jan