Caleb Sent Pictures Home: Leaving Fairfield

The missionary train just rolled into town.  Choo Choo!  Elder Tyler Belliston and I

Caleb announced in his email Monday that he is leaving Fairfield.  However a couple weeks ago he sent hom Fairfield Zone pictures.  The captions are his.

Ammon Shaner and I.  We did a ton of missionary woth with this guy here in FF.  He came to a ton of lessons.  Supper good kid.  He is now in the MTC getting ready to head to Greece

Selfie: I realized that I don't take enough pictures so I thought I would start taking more...of myself...awkwardly!  Aha!

Justin Cross is an investigator of ours.  Super great kid!

This picture describes my life.  (Note the quilt his mother made for him.)

My Boy Elder MacDonald.  I'm not sure what he is doing or why I took this picture...but he looks great while he is doing it!  (Elder MacDonald has been with Elder Wardle in several locations)

The Fairfield crew the day (Sunday) before transfers.  Elder Swenson (tan suit) was called to be a zone leader and Elder Belliston was called home to  find himself an eternal companion.  Elder Law and I stayed around and got some new comps!  I love Fairfield.  -)

Christmas Day 2014

Our morning was filled with skyping two missionaries.  It seems the time went much too long.

Baby Bronston

Baby Skylar

Our CHristmas morning was filled with opening presents.  Charity and Anthony and Camberly were here as well as Baby Skyllar, Bronston and Kayla and Jeremy.  It was a lot of people for taking turns opening presents.

Ace Rail 56: Earthquakes Arena

These are my most recent pictures of the stadium going up close to Santa Clara Station; but accessible by car from Coleman Avenue.  The inaugural match is scheduled for March 22, a month away.  It is going to be called Avaya Stadium, as they provided some corporate sponsorship.  It is to hold 18,000.

I am adding a picture of the totem pole on the other side of the freeway which is on Stockton Avenue. Through the years this has been one of the things our family has always wanted to see.

Music Review: Michael McLean: Hold on the Light Will Come

Hold On, the Light will Come: And Other Lessons my Songs Have Taught Me.  (2003)

I have been enjoying a Michael McLean C.D. we gave ourselves for Christmas.  It is actually a book )read by Michael McLean) with songs.  McLean is someone with the talent I wish I had.  He talks about the ups and downs of his career.  However, from my perspective it has mostly been up.

Some of his songs really hit home, and a conversation of those I really like.

“From God’s Arms, to My Arms, to Yours:”  This is an adoption song from the perspective of the birth mother.  Tony, our adoptive son has really liked this song, as have Sheri and I.  It seems for my part, I cry more each time I listen to it.  I remember when I first help Baby Tony.  He was tiny.  They didn’t let him out of the hospital until he reached five pounds.  He started at four pounds seven ounces.  Sheri had visited him at the hospital, but I did not meet him until Sheri brought him home.  I was so proud (yes proud is the right word) of our little baby.  I felt he would be my boy forever, even though I knew that wasn’t true at the time.  However now it is true; and this song brings up those treasured memories for me.

“The Man of Many Names:”  This song I had heard before from “The garden” C.D.  I still enjoy it, and I am getting to where I can almost sing along.  This song is a testimony of Jesus’ love for us, and the price he pays for us.  This song comes with a story of Simon Peter and Jesus walking on water.  I really enjoy the insight.  Jesus will always save us if we cry out to him, and we should not doubt this.

“The Innkeeper Song” from Forgotten Carols:  This is a new song to me.  Now I am crazed with the idea of learning to sing it well enough to sing next Christmas, if I can find someone to let me sing.  What would the Innkeeper perspective be, and what would he sing now if he could.  This song gives a very good answer.  “Even a thousand years would not fully erase my shame.”  “Let Him in.”

“Which Part is Mine:” This song has quickly become one of my favorites.  It starts as a song about roles, and learning our own part; but it ends as a song about prayer, and that is why I enjoy it.  It helps me commit to being better at praying, which is something I really need.  This song has helped me improve my prayers.  “After I've done my best, I know you'll do the rest, Because You hear me.

McLean does very well with hardship, with love, with life in general.

Mormon Book Review: Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites

Tennis Shoes among the Nephites by Chris Heimerdinger

This is an interesting book.  I am still not sure if I like it; but after it got going there was enough action to keep me interested.  However the concept of falling through a hole and a whirlpool and somehow ending up in Nephite territory many years earlier is very puzzling.  I’m not sure if I buy it; but sometimes letting go of reason can lead to an enjoyable time.  That is what I finally had to do.  

Our three friends from Cody, Wyoming, Jim, Garth, and Jim's sister Jenny, find themselves in the days of the evil Lamanite King Amalakiah.  The boys also meet Moroni, Helaman and Teancum.  These are all familiar Book of Mormon names.  They witness a great war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, and Teancum’s killing of the Lamanite King.  This leads to some very nice action scenes, which keeps the guys interested.  For the woman there is a romance of sorts between Jim and Teancum’s niece.  I see her as a beautiful young woman with long black hair.  If I were that age I would have fallen in love too.

Missionary Portraits from Tony and Caleb

Caleb's portrait of Tony

Tony's portrait of Elder Wardle

Tony's picture of Sister Wardle and companion.  Investigator is saying Yeay with his hands up