Various Family Shots For The Last Few Weeks!

I'm not sure what we have posted lately but here are a few pics from this summer and up to and including this last weekend. We seem to spend lots of time with little Smelly Ellory! What fun it is to be a gramps.

Do We Ever Not Worry For Them?

This last week has been one where I was reminded that perhaps, I should spend more time at home with those that I love the most. It also got me to thinking of each of our children and how they are doing, surviving, coping, struggling, dealing with life, and how they each are doing emotionally. In fact, the week has been filled with emotions for me that have ranged from panic for some of my children to a state of peace in my mind for the others.

I've wondered how each deals with their very own life challenges. I think the most interesting part is how each of them responds so differently to their own situations and circumstances. For one, there is peace in putting one foot in front of the other. For another, there is loneliness and an unsettling feeling of being family-less for the present. For another it's dealing with a world of less than honest people causing huge personal necessity of going without. For another it's working through huge emotional stress and committments mainly imposed by that very same person on that persons own self. For another it's the perfection and absolute accuracy and attention to detail that consumes that persons time and energy perhaps for a population that may or may not even care if that person is doing his or her best. Interestingly enough, each of you could say to yourself that I'm defining you in each of those observations. Maybe I am.

Well, as a parent, I wish I could take all of your pain and struggles away and carry them for you. I've got broad shoulders that the Lord blessed me with and I'm no stanger to the cruelty of life and it's stress and I would do that for you. Unfortunately, we all know that it doesn't work that way. Each of us must rise to the occasion and just do it ourselves. The only thing we as parents can do is at times, provide a bridge to get you there. But you alone must walk the path and come out on top. Good thing we have a Savior huh?

My hope is that each of these loved ones always and I mean always never forget who you are, where you came from and where you are going. I love all of you so very much and I pray for you daily. I pray harder now than I ever have in the past! So does your mom. This is good. I'm certain my folks prayed for me too. At least I hope they did!

Keep making good choices family. For those of you who are struggling with sin. Move away from it. It never makes you feel good in the long run. Short runs, maybe but the cost of that short gratification carries with it an enormous price to pay for the rest of your life. You can either pay it yourself or let the Savior pay it for you. By the way, he already has. He's just waiting for you to give him permission to pay for it. Don't be fooled into thinking that you're too far gone! It's a LIE! The worth of souls is Great. Don't forget that.

I love you all!

Papa Ralph

Labor day Fun with Tony and Julie's Fam 9-5-6-2009

Tony and Jewels asked if we would come up and play with them and their family on the Labor day weekend. We agreed and we were assigned breakfast for about 22 people on Saturday morning. We brought up the fixings for Annette's delicious french toast ( made with cinnamon bread, YUM), dads greasy bacon and sausages, hash browns plain and hash browns O'Perez ( actually O'brien style with onions and green peppers). The peppers were from our garden which was pretty cool. Orange juice or milk for drink. Alllanyone needed was a shot of ketchup or their own hot sauce, a healthy appetite, and they were off to the races.

We got on the boat and had a blast transporting folks to the dock. The water cops were there and they would only allow the recommended number of folks on the boat that it had capacity for. This required us to shuttle folks. Neil took Annette and me and several kids to the first available dock and we got off with the fishing poles and all the gear to fish and swim and have fun. this allowed all the older kids , surf, and have boating fun while we played with the little ones.

Later that night we came back for dinner and played games until about 10:30 and then Annette and I came home because of our responsibilities in the YSA branch. We felt the need to be there and fulfill our responsibilities, especially because we are newer and we want to set a good exapmle for those whom we are entrusted to lead. Besides, we really enjoy it too. We also came back because my allergis were killing me. I'm severely allergic to earthworms. I used them because that's the only thing the fish were biting from the dock. They wouldn't chase a single lure. By the end of the night I my face was swollen like a balloon, and I needed a dose of allergy medicine which I hate to take because it knocks me out for over 24 hours. I struggled all day in church to stay awake.

We went back the next night and played more games and had fun with the kids and got some beautiful night sky.

E.D's first Dove hunt 9-1-09

So Today was E.D.'s first day for going hunting. This lively little 3 year old never stopped all day long. And he thought that he actually shot some doves.
Today we went with Mike Shirts, Jerry Coon, Dean Arnoldsen, Tony and E.D. out west of Idaho Falls along the Lava's and only got 5 doves total. We had a good time enjoying the nice weather and eachothers friendship and also for me, watching my son and grandson interact and bond just like my dad and I used to do. That was the best part.

The final score was, hunters 5 doves. Doves clearly won after nearly a hundred rounds at them. What a great day!!!!