Family of mine,
There have been so many activities lately - including visit from Clayton and Amy and their children, that I haven't written much for a while and you have been spared my drivel. Alas, you get some more tonight...
First of all, there are new photos of recent family activies posted on my flickr web site. They are in these categories: Grandchilden, Neighborhood Barbecue, and miscellaneous Family Gathering Sept-Oct 2007 photos. You can get to them here:
It appears that summer is over. With the coming of the Fall Equinox the weather turned here, leaves are turning and there are beautiful sights in the hills and gardens all around. Rain came in torrents today for a little while.
We are currently in the midst of an attempt to purchase a small house together with Bryce in Multnomah Village. I guess most of you know about this already. We have opened escrow and are hopeful of obtaining financing but it is not a done deal, there are significant obstacles and we have lots yet to do to work our way through this. Stand by.
I think my favorite Conference talk was Elder Hollands explanation of where we stand with the claim that we are not Christian. It was forceful, funny, and intellectually rigorous. I was glad to hear it. I have often thought how adolescent the claim is that Mormons are not Christian - borne, I suppose, partly out of jealously for our successful, growing church. I think for another Christian to accuse me of not being Christian, is much like a Democrat saying to a Republican that the Republican is not a true American. Why is this important to evangelicals who draw small circles around themselves, defining all those outside the circle as not in favor with God? What are they afraid of?
I also like Elder Eyring's talk this morning and the choir hymn with new words to the tune of "O home Beloved" introduced and closed by a solo tenor. What refreshing music they are doing! The phrasing and tone unification by the choir just stuns me.
Last week I went down to the church to check out the Portland Mormon Choir. They were rehearsing in the chapel of the Stake Center and at the other end of the building, the Stake play - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - was being rehearsed in the cultural hall. Unfortunately they were not able to close the folding partitions between the two because they were broken. It was an interesting thing. Anyway, I enjoyed the music so much that I stayed and auditioned and got my music and they want me to help as a section leader for the basses. There are about 120 singers in this choir and there is a very wonderful, devoted and unified feeling there. I'm looking forward to the next reheasal next Tuesday evening - after my birthday party here at home.
Yes, I'm going to be 61. Hard to believe.
We are preparing for our trip to Hong Kong to visit with Mark and Elaine Johnsen for the rest of October. We leave this Friday morning and return on October 30. We are packing and organizing already because on Thursday I have heavy meetings at the office until the end of the day, and I have been asked to come to the WLCC rehearsal to receive an appreciation award. Kaaren and I will go to that and have little time to pack the night before we leave, so we're starting early. And I noticed that our middle sized grey luggage is missing - did we let one of you take it home with you?
The sumac is now in deep red and yellow colors. A dove landed on a branch to eat the black berries this morning. It was beautiful. The beans are over. The sunflowers are done. We (Kaaren?) will pull up the tomatoes and hopefully plant a winter garden before we go.
Logan just turned 6 and he had a friends birthday party here at our house. They filled the living room and then moved like a horde of locusts to the family room and the garden and yard, running and playing. Lots of parents were here to help. There was a treasure hunt and cupcakes to make with way too much sugar stuff. They are nice children and Logan is well thought of by them and the parents, I hear.
You may have heard that Kaaren and I have been called as Ward Missionaries. Don't laugh. We are going to give this a good go, and I think we can be helpful, especially with those on the fringes of faith who may need a sympathetic ear and helpful experience.
Speaking of Mormon support groups, we will miss our annual trek to Seattle for the Sunstone NW symposium. It is the highlight of the year for us, but Hong Kong takes precedence. Note, however, that Skye is on the program three times - music and thoughts at different times, and so I imagine downloading an MP3 of her sessions ( and others, I'm sure) would be a good thing to do to participate in this great thing we love to do each year. I think the website is Sunstoneonline.com and recordings of the sessions will be on there sometime shortly after next weekend.
My work is going well. I am able to be helpful to lots of people and we are managing to pay the salaries and the bills at the office. I am grateful for the Lord's blessings in that regard. Properties problems have been rampant this fall, and expensive. We are working through those.
Elder Eyrings admonition to keep a journal of spiritual experiences, revelations to your family, and things you are grateful for and want your children and grandchildren to be able to read about was really timely advice. I know it is so hard to do this. I have fallen out of practice from earlier, less frenetic, years. But lets all give it a try. That is the philosphy I used when I wrote in my journals (seven written volumes and letters to family thereafter) and I hope you can read them someday. Janet has just finished typing the John Edward Pixton (my grandfather) missionary journal. It still needs proofing and editing but by Christmas time, I hope to have it ready for "publication." Janet jumped out of her seat many times to say "Listen to this!" and I know you will enjoy it.
love,
Dad
