The Atonement: A Bible Story for Children

Children teach of the Atonement use the LDS Bible videos.  In this presentation they teach of love, and following Jesus.

Tony Running the Pack Meeting Obstacle Course

Pack meeting.  Tony received his Fellowship and Duty to God belt loop.

 Obstacle Course As They Arrived

 Then a hearty game of kick ball

Tony Helped Build a Robot for Nova Stem Cup Scouts

Reading about what he learned at STEM Camp

Getting awards, Bother Eckland and Sister Bair

Showing off the robot

Tony gave us a secret message we had to figure out the code and interpret his favorite things.

The Birth of Jesus: A Bible Story for Children

The story of Jesus' birth as seen through the eyes of children and ending with an explanation as to why it was important for Jesus to be born.  Children can be so innocent, but also so profound.

Tony's Summer

Tony was been enjoying games this summer, especially Monopoly.  He plays with the Petersons over the fence, and with his mother and now Miranda that she is home.

Tony also stood for a couple portraits.

Camberly Rose and the Norman's Chicks

While the Normans were gone for a week, Tony watched the chickens and fed the dog, and they swam in their pool.  Here are some pictures of Camberly and the baby chicks.

Look Who Is Home

Miranda returned home from five months living in the Seattle area.  She was working as a nanny for her sister watching Baby Ayden.  Now Natalia is done teaching school and Miranda has returned home.  We had a big party Thursday to welcome her home.  All the four local grand babies were there so hopefully Miranda doesn't miss Baby Ayden too much.  Sheri picked her up at the Oakland Airport Thursday.

Jesus Heals a Man on the Sabbath: A Bible Story for Children

This movie starts as children explaining the story of Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath, and ends as a very good lesson taught by children of how to keep the Sabbath day holy.

Article Review: Our Father, Our Mentor

This is a very interesting talk by Elder Uchtdorf about the role our Heavenly Father plays in our lives, as well as the role of our Earthly father.  He points out the Father has given us tools to help us in our struggle in life

• He has given us the priceless gift of the Holy Ghost, which has the potential to be our personal, heavenly tutor as we study the word of God and attempt to bring our thoughts and actions into alignment with His word.
• He has given us 24/7 access to Him through prayers of faith and supplications of real intent.
• He has given us modern-day apostles and prophets, who reveal the word of God in our day and have the authority to bind or seal on earth and in heaven.
• He has restored His Church—an organization of believers who work together to help one another as they work out their salvation with fear, trembling, and unparalleled joy.1
• He has given us the holy scriptures—His written word to us.
• He has given myriad tools of modern technology to help us in our walk of discipleship. Many of these marvelous instruments can be found at LDS.org.

In similar fashion earthly fathers are also mentors.  Not only that be we also play the  role of mentor to each other.  We can support each other in our earthly endeavors.  
As I read this article, it reminds me that I need to be active in my role as father.  However it also tells me that in this role I have not been left alone.  There is guidance and assistance.  Prayer is one of those things he has given us.

My Attempts at Decorating My Home Office

I am trying to go with a Native American theme in my office at home.

Sheri cross stitched these many years ago

R.C. Gorman print

Shoshone miniature cradle boards

Pot given me by Rick Hendy, it is Ute Mountain Ruth Root

Acee Blue Eagle Geronimo plate

Found at Salvation Army

Frank Howell print

Happy Father's Day to Me

Sheri surprised me with a new chair for my office.  It is much more comfortable and my old chair.

Mormon Father's Day Clips: Mormon Message - Love Her Mother

This video is based on a talk by Sister Elaine Dalton.  It presents several young women talking about what is meaningful to them.  It includes several languages, including sign.  It concludes, the best think for raising daughters, is to love their mother.  Sheri is the woman I love.

This leads to a series in Mormon Channel entitled Fatherhood>  Other videos in the series include:
Earthly Father, Heavenly Father
Let US Be Men
Fathers and Sons
A Father In Deed
Good Things to Come
Fatherhood-an Eternal Calling,  L. Tom Perry
Parenting-Touching the Hearts of Youth
Mormon Message: Love Her Mother
Todays family: Fathers
A Father's Influence
Elder Hallstrom on the Influence of His Father
Elder Clayton: Counsel on Raising Children
Elder Clayton: Raising Children in today's World
Elder Banks: Principles Used in raising a Family
Elder Larry R. Lawrence: Courageous Parenting
Families Can Be Together Forever

Earthly Father, Heavenly Father

This is a presentation showing the life of a father, and what that means in the eternal scheme of things.  He gets up and goes to work, but the times he is with his children are precious.

Lds.Org All the Reasons We Love Dad

All the Reasons We Love Dad from the eyes of children.

My dad has been gone maybe ten years now.  Sometimes I still miss him.

Fathers: Conference talk by D. Todd Christofferson

Elder Cristofferson has many good ideas about fatherhood.  He talks about teaching our children the gospel, providing for them, loving their mother and being an example of righteousness.

Life in Manteca: MoBand Concert in Modesto

MoBand stands for the Modesto Band.  This is a very large group.  The Halls invited me over for the concert.  I went strait after getting home as the concert starts about 8 p.m.  It was a fun evening.  I grabbed some fudge and chips at the house for dinner (not very good for diabetics I know but I was in a hurry) and found my way to the concert.  It is at Graceada Park in the big bowl.  They do this every week during the summer.  I missed the first week.  However this week they presented Neil Diamond, "Sweet Caroline" and "Cracklin' Rose."  They had a section of Beatles music including "Yesterday" and "With a Little Help from your Friends" and even "Live and Let Die" by John Lennon.  Simon and Garfunkel included "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Sounds of Silence."  They concluded the night with a couple John Phillip Sousa.  They had a big band and it was lots of fun.  We sat on a blanket where we couldn't see, but if I go again I think I will spend more time on the benches as there were plenty of seats.  Camberly of course took a turn at the park, and enjoyed the chips I brought.

The bowl

The band

LDS 12 Steps: Step 12: Service - Erik’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Step 12 - Service: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.

Here we have the story of someone who over doses on drugs, and then jumps off a three story balcony.  He is rebuilding his life by serving as a facilitator.
My own nephew had problems with drugs.  After he was able to maintain his recovery, he too served as a facilitator, and in doing so was able to help many people who were having problems.  

LDS 12 Steps: Step 11: Personal Revelation - Lindsay’s Story about Heroin Addiction Recovery

Step 11 - Personal Revelation: Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and to have the power to carry it out.
In this story we see a woman who is choosing her drug over her children, and in fact gives them to her mother while she pursues her habit.  However, she does eventually enter recovery, and is able to teach her children primary songs, and to pray.  Prayer doesn't have to be formal, but just directed to God who wants to hear us.

Ace Train 60: They Really Have to Improve Their Stuff

The ACE Train has been having a hard time of late, with engines breaking down frequently.  When this happens it always adds and hour and a half to the commute.  It has happened four times in the past two weeks; twice coming home, and twice going to work.  I hate getting to work late.  It isn't always the train I ride that has a problem, but often you have to hook up with the train that broke.
Then there are other things beyond ACE control, such as a brush fire, or problems with the switches, and a train, vehicle accident this past week.  Check it out in the bulletin.  Lucky know one died.  I guess there was an angel in the form of a woman on a motorcycle, who was able to get the people out of the train.
I have noticed that ridership becomes lighter as ACE keeps having trouble.  It may have to do with school getting out, but I think many people have given up on the ACE Train the last couple of weeks.

LDS Bible Video: The Tongue is of Fire

In the Epistle of James, James explains that we must command our tongues, for from our tongue can come evil.

Children's Bible Videos: The Widow's Mite

Here is the story of the Widow's Mite told by children.  Sometimes children have a special way of teaching, as does Jesus.  In this case they are teaching about the sacrifice of the widow.

LDS 12 Steps: Step 10: Daily Accountability - Adrienne’s Story about Cocaine Addiction...

This is a story of a labor and delivery nurse, who is also a Cocaine addict.
You can't help if a bird lands on your head, but you don't have to let it make a nest there.
I can do scary things; I can do hard things.
Step 10 - Daily Accountability: Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it.

Hike Around the Arena: San Jose

I have a hard time calling it the Sap Center, because I knew it first as just the Arena.  Anyway, it is where the Sharks play.  I first checked out the new bus stop.  They have been putting bus stops up and down Santa Clara Street.  It had a pattern in the glass, and one on the side walk.

Pattern in the grass

Pattern on the side walk 

A flower garden by the arena.

 From here I walked to Whole Foods.  The parking lot there replaced the building where I first worked when I moved to San Jose.  It is on Stockton Street, but the program was called Virginia Street Project.  I checked out Whole Foods and finally settled on raspberries, a white peach, and a bottle of water.  I ate the peach right off, and man was it good, even though some juice dribbled on my hand.  The raspberries were equally as good.  I took some to work the next day and have really enjoyed them.

 Coming back I took a couple pictures of the arena from different angles.