Memorial Day 2016: Picking up Crosses and Picking up Trash

Our Memorial Day this year did not include any outings.  We were at Woodward Park at 8 a.m. to help with the clean up.  This yer as a stake we loaded the 8,000 crosses.  It was fun, and a different project other than just picking up trash, although we got to do that as well.  It was counting for Cub Scout service so the kids wore matching blue shirts.

Bittersweet day as well as we say goodbye to the Christiansen family whose company moved to Utah and so they are moving to Lehi today.  I started teaching primary and had Camille in my class.  She brought a last Sunday snack.  I also subbed considerable and taught both Jared (Tony's class) and Ali at times.  Sister Christiansen came and played piano one year for a Christmas sing-a-long.

Bye Bye Jared

As for the rest of the day, we did go to In N' Out for dinner.  We wanted Chubby's but it was closed with a moving sign on the door.  I din't think their new location has opened yet because we looked for it.  

Memorial Day Fireworks 2016

Memorial Day Not Forgotten 2016

Because of a conflict with our church schedule this year, we were not very active at the Not Forgotten Celebration.  Tony and I went over and talked with Sammy and Dixie Davis.  Sammy is the Vietnam War hero and Medal of Honor recipient.  Mike Dye and his wife were also at the booth.  He appeared to have been at the Family History Booth, which they were taking down when we got there.  I did get signed copies of their books.  We also went back over for the fireworks.  We sat by the Hokansons and the Porters.  They each have boys Tony's age so he had a good time.  They were playing "Tron" with the lighted tubes.  Fireworks lasted about fifteen minutes.  We had parked by the Binghams, so didn't have any problem getting home.

Memorial Day 2016: Dixie and Sammy Davis Fireside

Sammy and Dixie are on the right (this is not from last night.)

I am having difficulty writing this blog, because there is no way sometimes to express things that touch the heart.  I had the privilege to hear the story of Sammy Davis and his wife.  They were both widowed before finding each other.  Sammy is a Medal of Honor winner.  The story presented in Forrest Gump of rescuing your buddies was basically his story.  The President Johnson award ceremony was his story, and the scene presented was Tom Hanks face on his body.  The words from President Johnson in the movie Forrest Gump were the words the president said about Sammie Davis when he was presented the Medal of Honor.  He was in the artillery, not the infantry, and he was wounded more severely than Forrest Gump.  He also had to cross a river to get to his friends who were wounded.
They started the evening showing the You Tube video, "Sammy Davis, Medal of Honor, Vietnam."  There are a couple of other movies on You Tube: 

Buzzed Into American Hero Sgt. Sammy L. Davis at Heritage Hill
Sammy L. Davis

Dixie was the first speaker, and told of her history, losing her husband, and then making a connection with Sammy Davis.  They were friends previous to their spouses both dying from cancer.  She also tells the story of Sammy's conversion to the gospel, and it was very touching.  They are a cute couple and it was fun to observe their interaction.
Sammy then told the story of his earning the Medal of Honor in much more depth.  He basically says he didn't feel like a hero.  "I was just doing my job."  The story was very touching, but also very personal.  After saving his three buddies, Davis thought his work was done, but things happened to let him know he had more work to do.  Only after this did he have enough energy to get to the shore of the river and get out of the water.
He also told the story of learning to play the harmonica during the war, and always playing the song "Shenandoah" for his Sergeant.  He played this for us.  It was very moving.
I was emotionally touched by this veteran.  He is still out there making himself available for other veterans, lifting them up and being a listening voice.  He is also still effected by things that happened so many years ago.  He indicated he only sleeps a couple hours at a time, gets up and makes sure everything is OK before going back to bed.

Sheri's Out Side Work

Sheri added annual flowers, petunias and marigolds, to the front of the house and entry way.  She also planted a blue potato bush to the side of the house and an hibiscus bush in front.

Tony's Memorial Day and Flag Day Cub Scout Flag

For a requirement for Bears they gave Tony a flag to display for a month.  We decided to display it for the neighbors to see for Memorial Day weekend and for Flag Day.  After that he will decide where he wants to display it, whether in his room for himself or still for the neighbors.

San Jose Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial

This is right by where I got off the bus the other day on my way to catch the train.  It is by the visitor's center just east of the hockey arena.  It lists all the soldiers from San Jose who passed away in the Viet Nam War.

Tony's Happy Mother's Day

This is a bit slow, but this is the result of Tony's school Mother's Day Project.

This is Toy's hand on a tile.  Sheri really liked the "hands down"

decorated bag

the card

Tony myst really be into love birds because they are a common theme

Sheri Has Been Busy In Tony's Room

This projet has been completed mostly for over a month.  Sheri added the stool this week after she repainted it black to go with the decor.  I think she got the idea for the built-in desks and shelves from pinterest.  It has a pipe and wood theme.  The wall is painted black behind.

tony's solar system school project on the stool, he got 100 percent.

Life in Manteca: Memorial Day Weekend 2016

When: Saturday May 28, 6pm - 7pm

Where: Stake Center  6060 Northland Rd

Description: Sammy David is a Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient and recent convert to the church. This would be a great fireside to bring non-members to!

When: Sunday May 29, 10am - 5pm

Where: Woodward Park, Manteca

Manteca Memorial Day: Not Forgotten

Woodward Park

6:30 AM – Registration opens for the Wounded Warrior Christopher Braley 5K

7:30 AM – REACH Air Medical Services helicopter lands

8:00 AM – Christopher Braley Wounded Warriors 5K Run begins  sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, Freedom Smog, & NuLaid Foods

8:00-10:00 AM – Omelet Breakfast sponsored by NuLaid Foods

9:00 AM – Marine Cpl. Charles O. Palmer II Memorial Car Show

9:00 AM – Opening Ceremony at the Memorial VFW Post 1051

9:00-10:00 AM – Army National Guard Chinook & Lakota lands

10:00 AM – EMU, Inc. Helicopter sponsored by Dell’ Osso Farms

10:00-12:00 AM – Community Worship Service and music with Paul & Noreen Coca & family sponsored by Firefall Jewelers

10:00-4:00 PM – Kids Zone sponsored by South San Joaquin Irrigation District

10:00 AM – Concessions sponsored by Inner City Action & Refuge  Church Español open

10:00 AM – Veterans Haircuts sponsored by Toni & Guy Hair  Academy

10:30 AM – Gold Star Family Memorial Tent open

10:30 AM – CAF/Central Valley Squadron Goony Birds Fly Over

11:00 AM – Manteca & Ripon Police Department Demonstrations

12:30 PM – Flag Corridor (stand and hold a flag for our fallen heroes)

12:45 PM – Gold Star Family Processional: Honor Ride motor- cycles, Blue Angel Corvettes, Ripon Police Bag Pipe Band, USMC Honor Guard, Cal Crush  Clydesdale horse & carriage, Gold Star families

1:00 PM – Memorial Ceremony with special guest Medal of  Honor Recipient Sammy Davis on the Patriot Stage

1:00 PM – Parachute Jump sponsored by the Mark Forester Foundation

1:15 PM – NorCal Cross Winds Fly-Over

2:00 PM – Ranell Carpenter performing on the Veterans Stage

3:00 PM – World War II Bomber fly-over

3:00 PM – Fred White performing on the Veterans Stage

4:00 PM – The Advocates performing on the Veterans Stage – ** After show they will go to Patriot’s Stage

4:45 PM – The Advocates performing on the Patriot Stage

5:30 PM – James Greer performing on the Patriot Stage

6:30 PM – Essay Contest Scholarship Presentations on the Patriot Stage Sponsored by Teichert Construction, NuLaid Foods, & Manteca Morning Rotary

6:45 PM – Revived Band performing on the Patriot Stage

7:45 PM – Ford Fiesta Car Raffle with Phil Waterford of Mantea Ford

8:00 PM – Simone Benoit & Band performing on the Patriot Stage

9:15 PM – Flag Retirement Ceremony – East Union JROTC

9:30 PM – Fireworks sponsored by Manteca Christian Preschool

When: Monday May 30, 7am - 9am

Description: Cub Scouts help with the Memorial Day Clean Up at Woodward Park

Life in Manteca: Restaurant Reviews and Dental Work, and Missionaries for Dinner

My last couple weekends, we have been to a couple different local restaurants.  We tried Texas Roadhouse again.  However, this time we went to Modesto instead of Tracy.  We enjoyed it a bit more.  The dancing was actually fun, and it wasn't near as noisy.  That was good because the Tracy restaurant was just too loud.  I can say I really enjoyed my meal.  I had chili, sweet corn and roadkill steak.  I chose this stake because it came with onions and mushrooms at no extra cost.  The mushrooms were excellent.  The onions and corn not so much so.  The steak itself was a hamburger steak and very good.  Sheri had a regular steak, which she ordered medium well.  She would have liked it a bit more well done.  Tony had chicken nuggets and fries.  I enjoyed his fries and some nuggets the next week at work.
We also tried a new restaurant in Manteca, just Sheri and I; it is at least new to us, Rocky's Diner.  Sheri and I both commented that it was a bit expensive for what they offered, gourmet burgers.  They  were similar to Red Robin, but not as good and without endless fries.   I had a strawberry shake.  There selection of flavors was very poor.  Chubby's has them beat there, and Chubby's gives you the tin so it is like two shakes for the price of one.   The decor was on of a tin looking inside with picnic tables.  The tables were mostly empty.  Sheri and I decided we wouldn't want to try it again.  The nice thing was Sheri ordered her burger bunless and they brought her a regular fork.
I am just back form the endodontist, where I had a root canal.  The dentist said I had lots of work to do, but I usually don't do all the say.  This was important however because I was scared to eat anything cold.  It didn't hurt when the did it, and I hope is doesn't hurt as the pain shot wears off.
And oh yeah, we had the missionaries over for dinner a couple Saturdays ago as well.  Sheri served Steak, potatoes and gravy; an old traditional meal.

Bible Video: Calming the Tempest

I taught Primary a couple weeks ago.  I only had two boys, but was expecting a larger group.  We acted out this scene, a couple times, while I sang the song.  They would act out the lyrics to the song.  One time they were both apostles, and one time one of them acted out Jesus' part.  It was very effective.  this is such a powerful story on the power of the priesthood; as that is the power Jesus used to calm the storm.  We talked about other examples of priesthood power, father's blessings, blessing for the sick, performing ordinances etc.  It was a very good lesson.

1. 1. Master, the tempest is raging!
   The billows are tossing high!
   The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness.
   No shelter or help is nigh.
   Carest thou not that we perish?
   How canst thou lie asleep
   When each moment so madly is threat'ning
   A grave in the angry deep?
2. (Chorus)
   The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
   Peace, be still.
   Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
   Or demons or men or whatever it be,
   No waters can swallow the ship where lies
   The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
   They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
   Peace, be still; peace, be still.
   They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
   Peace, peace, be still.

Shower of Heavenly Blessings

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This presentation by President Uchtdorf made me stop and think.  The thought I had is what is my umbrella?  What am I doing to block the blessings of heaven.  Usually you would think an umbrella is a good thing, but in this case the rain represents the blessings.  I think of the stupid little things I do that open my umbrella.  It had me in tears as I had those thoughts.  I am glad Jesus can close the umbrella, so blessings can fall unencumbered.

The Armour of God

The words of Paul are incredible, and in these he talks about the whole gospel, of taking the gospel upon us:  having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness:  

  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  (Ephesians: 6)

What better lesson on how to prepare ourselves to withstand the fiery darts of Satan. 

May we all keep ourselves safe from those things which take us from Faith in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Walk to, and Views from the Seattle Great Wheel

Passed on the way to the pier

Hayley Dawn and Tony

Mount Rainier and Seattle Stadiums

ocean front

Camberly Rose

On the pier

The hike back up the hill, Sheri and I walked all those stairs, but had to stop and rest a few times.