It appears to me that February 10 must be a special day somewhere in the cosmos.  It was the day that A. L. Williams was founded in 1977. It also is a year since I last posted so it is probably time in the universe for me to post once again.  It has now been over two years since being called as branch president of the Spanish branch.  Still can't speak worth a darn.  Still don't understand much of anything. Despite all of that weakness, I'm still here, the branch is growing somewhat, mostly from people re-activating, and the Stake seems pleased with the love and unity that exists.

The last posts my view of the outside world was quite different.  We lived in a small rental, waiting upon the Lord to guide us to where he wanted us.  Our prayer was, from the beginning, to put us where we are needed.  The six months stay that we had imagined when we moved back from Utah had turned into a year, then two, three and four.  Finally, the right place turned up!  Now as I look out upon the outside world I see a yard that I am very excited about.  Our house was built in 1953 and the builder lived in it from then until he died.  So essentially, we are the 2nd owners.  It requires very little in the way of fixing.  We pulled up the carpet and beautiful oak hardwood floors appeared.  We seem to be doing fine getting along with just one bathroom.  The shop is too small but hopefully, I will make do.  Just last week I picked up 6 chickens for our coop.  They aren't laying (only one has appeared) because it is excessively cold and snowy.  I believe the very strange weather is do to "geoengineering". We look forward to the spring when they should start laying once again.

On January first, I was called by the branch full time elders telling me they needed to perform 4 hours of service.  It was a pretty nice day so I invited them to help me in the yard.  We cut down the Marrion Berries as they had been neglected for a long time.  In the process of pulling out one of the vines, my finger snapped and broke.  It has now been a month and 10 days and it still hurts.

Boca Raton, FL #4

Ramona & I made our fourth trip to Boca Raton Resort and Beach Club, all expenses paid thanks to Primerica.  I estimate it cost them around $10,000 for everything, per couple.  In other words, it was really very nice.  Sometimes I think we are doing pretty well but a trip to Boca puts things like that into perspective.  We stayed at the "Yacht Club" portion of the resort.  Outside our balcony was a 200' yacht (more like a small ocean liner) and it was four floors.  There was, what appeared to be, a small door on the second floor.  As soon as a person emerged from the door, I could see that it was a full sized door.  The person was dressed in the yacht's uniform with white gloves carrying a silver platter of goodies for the rich owners.  The moorage here is $7.00 a foot a day.  So that comes out to $1,400 a day just to park.  That's a mere $511,000.00 a year in parking fees.  Perspective anyone on how well you are doing?

The founder, Art Williams, spoke and he didn't miss a beat.  It reminded me so much of the old days that were so fine.  He is one of a kind.  Art Williams At Boca.  What a great trip.     

One Year

A year has come and gone since being set apart as Branch President of the Spanish Branch.  Not much has changed.  I was listening to myself speak and I still am pretty terrible at speaking and I had a guy in for an interview and I could understand about 1 out of every (estimate) 20 words.  The reason it was only an estimate is the noise proceeding out of his mouth was a blur and I am just estimating how many words were in the blur between recognizable words.  One thing that has changed is my love for the members.  My heart aches for their challenges and there are so many of them. 

Branch President of the Spanish Branch

February 5th I was set apart as President of the Spanish Eugene 9th Branch.  I am amazed at the confidence the Lord must have in me.  I don't remember much of the language. I don't know anybody in the branch. I have never been in any leadership position other than Ward Mission Leader before.  It is all a bit overwhelming.  I was told not to worry, just love them.  I said that I can do that.  I guess I will just stumble forward and stay confused.  So far it is really stressful but I am exercising faith that with time that will wear off.

We had a wonderful Branch Temple trip and a record number of people came.  A non-member joined us and he felt the spirit so strong that this coming Sunday he will be baptized.

The Coat: A Story of Charity

December Drive in to Silver Lake

We have never been into the cabin in December . . . ever!  Here it is, December 5th, and we are driving all the way in.  We arrived just as the last light of day was fading.  The inside of the  cabin was a bit cold but soon a fire was burning in the fireplace and a little dinner was prepared over the kerosine stove.  Getting into bed was very similar to jumping into the lake on it's coldest day.  Soon we were snug and sleeping like a baby. 

The following day was spend bringing in firewood for the February trip and exploring and just soaking in the sunny blue sky and the pure white snow and the lake that had turned into a beautiful reflective skating rink with no snow on it at all.  At any rate, it was a WOW trip and very relaxing.  One of the best ever.  We are so fortunate to have it all to ourselves now.

Death, Tests and Funerals

Stevie Nix (I only call him that in my thoughts because his real name is Steve) was old and plagued with osteoporosis and arthritis and diabetes and a number of other ailments, judging from the number of pills he had to take each day.  I could see that he was suffering last Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011.  He lived way out Parson's Creek Road near Marcola, Oregon. 

I had already paid my Home Teaching visit to him earlier in the month but I felt the spirit direct me to visit him again.  To the usual question he responded with a small smile, I'm okay.  We talked for a while about not much other than the fact that I had arranged to have the High Priest Quorum come on Saturday to pick up the pine tree branches that lay all over his yard from the huge wind storm the week before.  I shook his hand and said good bye, chatted with his wife at the door for a moment and was gone. 

Two days later he was killed in an auto accident.  You never know which good-bye is the last good-bye.  You never know which hug will be the last hug. You never know which kiss will be the last kiss.  There was no warning . . . just he was here one day and gone the next.  It was a lesson to me to make each goodbye, each hug and each kiss count for something.

His wife asked  Ramona to sing and me to speak at the funeral.  Another story line for "The Beauty and the Beast".  We gladly agreed.  She scheduled the funeral for April 1st at 11:00am.  This was not the best of news because I had previously scheduled to take my Series 65 Securities Exam for 8:00am on that very same day.  Series 65 exam makes you an Investment Advisor representative.  It is a three hour exam and very difficult.  I have been studying since last October and my window to take the test runs out on April 1.

I figured I could just take the test really fast and make it to the funeral.  I have been studying very hard for weeks, staying at the office until 11:00pm or midnight studying.  I jotted down some notes of things I wanted to say at the funeral on my office computer.  I was going to finish the test and then go to the office and organize my thoughts and head off to the funeral.

When I arrived at the testing center at 8:00am the winds of fortune shifted and I was informed that they were having difficulty getting the computers started so I would be delayed getting started.  Finally they called my name, had me remove everything from my pockets, remove my watch and coat and pen and got signed in.  Time was already running out before I even sat down to begin.  I started the test and stumbled on some of the questions as they got harder and harder.  I marked the troublesome questions for review later. I figured I would just answer them as best as I could and go on to easier questions so I could get as many right as possible.  It was really hot in the little room with all the other test takers and their computers humming away, generating heat.  Maybe my hands were sweating because I was nervous but I think it was a combination of that and the heat.  By the time I got to the end, I had just 10 minutes to get to the funeral so I said, the heck with it and clicked on exit without reviewing any of the questions.  The little hour glass on the computer screen just sat there for what seems like an hour when finally "PASSED" popped up.  I didn't even look at the score; I just grabbed my stuff and picked up my pass sheet from the front desk and dashed out the door.  No time to lose.  My friend and brother's funeral was starting and I wasn't there.  Making record time, watching for cops and flying like the wind I screeched into a parking place and ran into the church, down the hall grabbing a program from the funeral guys and into the chapel.  His daughter was speaking so I calmly walked up to the front and sat down on the stand. 

Now a cold sweat came upon me as I realized I had no notes.  It was comforting when I realized that they didn't want more than about 10 minutes.  Since it takes about that long just to clear my throat, I figured I would be okay.  My time came. . . I arose and opened my mouth, cleared my throat and sat down.  Ramona said it was perfect, so now you know I can perfectly clear my throat. 

As the pall bearers carried Steve out of the chapel a very small little boy in tears, reaching out, cried out Papa, Papa!  Tears were shed.  They will miss their Papa. I will miss Stevie . . . and have a little widow to look after . . . for him.  Good-bye, my old friend.