Worth Watching

Just 4 1/2 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

Expanding Your Business

The story is told of a small boat owner whose business consists of taking wealthy tourists out on day-long fishing expeditions in his boat. He loves the ocean, the sky, the relaxed activity of fishing, and meeting new and interesting people each day. Near the end of one such happy day his happy client, an accomplished businessman, tells him that he should get another boat, double his income, and eventually grow his business into several boats.

"Why would I want to do that?" he asks. The businessman replies: "So you can make a lot more money!" "Why would I want to make a lot more money--especially since with all those boats I'd have to hire and train and supervise other tour guides, run a payroll and manage a thousand other details?" the boat owner inquires. "Well, that's how you grow your business," the executive says.

 

"Why would I want to grow my business?" the man persists. A little exasperated, the business leader explains: "Then you can invest, earn a lot of money, and have the freedom to do what you want!" The client's words hang in the air as he finally absorbs the obvious truth. The small entrepreneur smiles and says, "That is what I already do every day."

How many of us have all the elements of a truly ideal life available to us right in our homes--but fail to notice because we are consistently in search of ... something ... else? What if you couldn't have anything more/different than you do right now? Would you be happy? Could you be? Or more to the point, how would you alter your approach so that what you have right now would make you the happiest person alive? Is there any chance that everything you need to live your dream life is right there in your home and family right now?

This post was written, in its entirety, by Oliver DeMille, but the original title is "The Parable of the Fisherman". 

Hang in there!

Olivia's Convincing Argument for Sleepovers

 

Alex's Christmas List

Alex-isms

Alex is such a funny kid.  Here are a few of the things he has said recently:

"I would rather stay home and throw up than go to school."
(The poor child hates school.)

Alex: "For Christmas I want a hug from Santa; that way I could see him."
Olivia: "No one sees Santa."
Alex: "I guess I'll be the first one."

"The girl that sits next to me at school doesn't like the smell of the chapstick you gave me.  Here.  You can have it back."

Do you still need to get your shoes on?

I was speculating with my kids the other day about when Jesus Christ will come to earth again.  Olivia said she thinks he's coming in 30 years (based on a scripture story that reminded her of the world right now that was 30 years before Christ's first coming) so she thought she would be 40 years old.  I asked if she would be ready then.  She and Ashlie both seemed to think they would be.  I asked if they would be ready if He came in just 5 years, when they were 15 and 17.  Their eyes got wide and they looked uncertain.  Just then Alex piped in, "I'm ready right now.  Well, except I need to get my shoes on!"

It reminds me of a Primary song (click on 'Primary Song' to hear it):

"I wonder, when He comes again, will herald angels sing?
Will earth be white with drifted snow, or will the world know spring?
I wonder if one star will shine, far brighter than the rest?
Will daylight stay the whole night through?  Will songbirds leave their nest?
I'm sure He'll call his little ones to gather round His knee,
because He said in days gone by, 'suffer them to come to me'.

"I wonder, when He comes again, will I be ready then?
To look upon His loving face, and join with Him in prayer?
Each day I'll try to do His will and let my light so shine,
that others seeing me may seek for greater light divine.
Then when that blessed day is here, He'll love me and He'll say,
'You've served me well, my little child, come unto my arms to stay!'."

Canadian Thanksgiving

My in-laws are from Canada (Sarnia, Ontario), so we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with them on the Sunday closest to Columbus Day in October (also the Sunday closest to my birthday).  They go to Tucson, Arizona every year for American Thanksgiving, which makes it so we don't have to alternate going to Rob's side of the family one year and mine the next.  It works out well for all of us.


My mother-in-law always makes a full turkey dinner as well as cabbage rolls, a dish passed down from generation to generation.  She also makes them on Christmas day. 

Left to right: Scott, Christine (Rob's sister), Megan (their daughter), Joanne, me, Rob, Harv.


The kids: Alex, Ashlie, Avery, Olivia & Nick (not a lot of cousins on this side of the family!)
Rob's dad built this playset (with Nick's help!) for the kids to play on when they're visiting Grandma & Grandpa Jackson.  He did a marvelous job and the kids LOVE it.  There is a sandbox and he even put handles to help Avery climb the ladder!  

A Trip to Logan

For Olivia's first home schooling field trip, I decided to take her on a day trip to Logan, where I went to college (Utah State).  We had a great day together and came home closer than we were when we left, which was the primary purpose of the trip.

We went to First Dam, ate a picnic of Subway sandwiches, then fed the ducks there and played with the soccer ball.

Olivia slept the whole way home, clutching the souvenir we bought at a consignment shop on our way out of town.  We also stopped at an awesome antique shop that was SO much fun (except for trying to keep Avery from touching things!).

Little Avery was all tuckered out by the end of the day and slept the whole way home too.

 One of the things we went to see: fall leaves changing colors in Sardine canyon:

 Our first stop was the Logan temple.  I love this temple because it looks like a castle.  It's a pity I've never been inside this one!

We couldn't leave Logan without eating some famous Aggie ice cream!  I almost forgot to take a picture of that stop, so it was taken right before we got in the car. I also stopped at all 4 of the apartments I lived in in Logan and took a picture of each one, but I'll spare you the boredom of going through those - for now, at least. 

We had a lot of fun together and it was good for her to feel like she got something special that the other kids didn't get.  Olivia tends to feel like she doesn't get enough attention and sometimes acts out to make sure she gets some.  Much of the reason I'm home schooling her this year is so that she will have enough time with me and so that we can strengthen our relationship.   

Misc. October Pictures

Miss Viva and Baby Avery:

Avery getting a haircut from Grandma Miller (thanks, Mom!)

Avery loves his big sister to help him get ready for bed.

Just cute

In the leaves...

 

 

Olivia and Ashlie helped my dad make green tomato jam.