Changes...

First, we had a wonderful summer vacation. We drove the entire 2,500 miles to Pennsylvania in about 36 hours. (Those who follow the Wife on FB were amazed at how quickly we travelled.) While there, in PA, we visited Hershey Park, Dorney Park and spent lots of time with family. I rediscovered iMovie and made some short and sweet videos of our adventure. Then 14 days later we made the 36 hour drive home.  This time was much harder because we left much later in the day and 2 hours away from home and both drivers were exhausted and really just wanted to wait till morning. But the thought of our beds waiting for us, practically calling us pushed us onward the last stretch.

Once home we were greeted a very messy and filthy house courtesy of our wonderful dogs, Sadie and Rusty. While we were gone the both peed and pooped on the floor regularly. (Those who were left in charge of things had a really hard time keeping up with the messes and deserve so much more than we gave them for their efforts.) The smell and the gross floors woke me up and there was no way I was sleeping with what the dogs had left for us, so I promptly mopped it up. (Once wasn't enough, it took three times before it was clean.) I did however find my bed after the first pass and then resumed the clean up in the morning.

I sold the Blueberry. I finally got a company truck the pest control company. This meant I could sell the car, pay off the last of my debt and make plans to quit my second job at the convenience store. Way too exciting I know! So the date I have picked is the last weekend of August (Assuming I really don't need the money)

T had girls camp with the other young women at our church. They went north to cooler temperatures. T was NOT excited at all! She thinks I was being mean by forcing her to go. While so says she didn't have fun and that she never wants to go again, ever picture I have seen of her looks like she is at least pretending to enjoy herself.

L has now lost his Two Front Teeth. Maybe we should get him to sing the song and see what it sounds like. Funny thing, neither the Wife nor I even noticed he lost the second tooth until it was gone and lost somewhere.

And Then There Were 7

The day started out as any day usually does. The sun rose in the east (Just as it always does) The Wife, me and kiddos got up and got ready for the day. I dropped off the older 3 kids at schools and continued to work. What is my job? That's not important. Let's just say I have a license to kill. (Well, kill little creepy crawlies) 

The Wife, had a busy day planned. She had to watch a house full of screaming children. That's what she does, day in and day out. Screaming children. It's ruff, but someone has to take on that job. She had find time for an extra doctor appointment this week. The one just the other day didn't show any progress in her development and the doctor was heading out of town on Sunday. He wanted to try to speed things along so she would be sure to deliver before he had to leave.

My day was stacked full of appointments. More than the usual. I was a little more than half way done, about 2:00, when I get a call from The Wife. 

She tells me, "While the doctor was performing the procedure he nicked something and there was a rush of water but I should have a few hours before any serious labor pains will start."

"Did your water break?" I asked. 

"I don't think so, they gave me some pads to absorb the water and told me that I would be leaking for a little while and told me I could pick up the kids from school and take them home."

"Oh," I sighed some relief. Ok, so he made a small hole and the water is slowly leaking out? That idea sound ok with me and we ended our call. 

**2:30**

I get a text message, "It's starting to get intense" I called The Wife back. 

"How far apart are your contractions?"

A long pause, "Between 3 and 5 minutes." (She is still driving)

"I think you should go to the hospital now."

"I don't have my bag and the kids are still at the school."

"Where are you?"

"I'm almost to the school."

My mind was reeling trying to figure out what to do. "I think you should just get the kids and go straight to the hospital."

"I can't. I need my bag and I can't take the kids with me to the hospital."

"Ok, well you can drop the kids off at my parents house, it's just down the street from the hospital."

"But my bag, and the sitter. I can't leave the sitter there."

"Just call the sitter and tell her what's going on, I am sure she would be willing to stay. And I will get your bag latter and bring it to you."

"No, I think I can make it. The contractions are about 7 minutes apart now."

Seeing that I married super woman and there was no chance of changing her mind, I got off the phone and made arrangements to leave my day early. The drive home was about an hour. I figured if I could make it home at the same time she did or right after we could take that nice 40 minute drive to the hospital and be ok.

Once The Wife got home she realized just how bad things were. She got her bag and asked the sitter to stay until all the screaming children were gone. (It's her day job, remember?) Then she got back in the car and started to drive to the 40 minutes back to the hospital. 

About 20 minutes left in my trip home, I got a call from The Wife and we met on the road then I drove us right to the hospital. By the time we got there it was 5:00. Two hours since the water had been accidentally broken. The contractions so close together it's hard to say they were even separate contractions. I pulled up to the front doors and helped The Wife get to registration. (We had to skip a lot of the repetitive questions) the admitted her and raced to get everything ready for a baby. The anesthesiologist was there lickety-split and putting in an epidural while the nurse continued asking the never ending list of questions. 

The doctor made an appearance and was reminded that our last labor was only three hours and that this one was going to be really fast. He excused himself to make a phone call. 

**6:30**

The Wife was beginning to feel pressure, a sure sign that the baby was growing impatient and wanted to come out, NOW!

The doctor who left to make a phone call was, missing. He was still a mile away? 

The doctor walked and wanted to change his clothes but he was out of time. He emptied his pockets and put on his birthing outfit over his existing clothing. 

**6:41**

After just a few hard pushes the baby was crowning. 

**6:42**

Even before S was out she was already crying letting us all know she was there. 

And then there were 7 of us. 

If you are looking for a name or a picture you won't find them here. You will have to ask me nicely. And anyone who knows is forbidden from putting names in the comment section

It's Controversial but My Thinking is Sound…

The recent news of Arizona's legislature approval of Senate Bill 1062 has sparked controversy. Particularly with the gay and lesbian group. It's being reported that this "new" law would allow businesses to refuse service to gays and lesbians. That sounds really bad! It's got people protesting and talking about boycotting if the governor signs it.

George Takei (I loved his performances in Star Trek and Heros) wrote an Open Letter to the state of Arizona, telling us how much he loves coming here with his partner. He says that if this bill is signed into law they will have to find somewhere else to go. The Arizona Republic has spent at least two issues with the bill on the front page. FOX News both local and national has covered the story.

So with all this coverage of course my interest is peeked. So, naturally I did what any thinking person would do, I read the bill.  Immediately, I noticed this is a revision of a law already on the books (Free Exercise of Religion 41-1403). The only changes were primarily definitions of words and phrases. Instead of focussing solely on religious institutions the law would now have broader reach. It would be applicable to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Every business or organization would be able to lay claim to the same religious rights. So what's all the commotion?

Simple. While it's already "legal" to refuse service to anyone for whatever reason, nothing is preventing the offended people from suing you and forcing you to pay or do something that you don't want to do. Think about it this way. Do you really think you will get the best possible service from someone who doesn't want to be there? The revisions seem to give you a protection if your reason for not accepting a client or other service is for a deep religious belief.

Its funny that this is the cause of political chaos. The current law says nothing specific about gays and lesbians and neither do the revisions. I think someone is looking for freedom from religion. Perhaps a little worried someone won't have to pay for being a bigot. Wouldn't you rather know who is a bigot and who isn't?

I can illustrate it this way. A catering company has a religious belief that serving alcohol is a sin. So they choose not to offer it. They are a highly sought after company because they have the best food. One day a couple comes in and throws a fit that they won't serve their party hard drinks so they sue. The revisions, if I understand them correctly, would protect the caterers from being force to serve the beverages because of a deep religious belief.

Here are the principles I am using. Do to others what you want done to you. Don't force someone to do something they don't want to do. (I think we fought a war over something similar)

Personally, I think it's a folly to cloak this in religion. This should be the law regardless of personal religious belief. Anyone should be able to refuse service to anyone without worry of being sued. If some arrogant bigot wants to refuse service to blacks, Jews, gays or anyone else, that's what a picket line is for. That's why we have freedom of speech. The spiritually mislead and foolish bigots will get their reward when the strikes and bad reputation spreads.

Contact Jan Brewer and tell her what you think.

Family Updates & Rushing Waters

D is having her birthday party today! She invited just a few of her friends. About half of them have said they will come. Typically because of where we live (the middle of nowhere) people don't feel like driving to our house and we end up with half of those who RSVPed not show up. I hope that now that she has "close" friends things will be different.

T is going to be in the chorus line for her school play this month. It's called Dig It. No idea what it's about. She doesn't seem excited at all. Maybe she is just not a performer.

Constant Ring & Rushing of Water

That is what I have been hearing off and on for the past few years or so. Gradually getting worse and now affecting both ears. I can't hear anything clearly. So it's clearly tinnitus. But what's causing it? Is it Ménière's disease? That seems to fit only I don't have a balance problem. The slight diminishment in my hearing though isn't associated with tinnitus. The last possibility is it's none of the above.

I like to listen to music and talk through in ear earbuds. It's never very loud and I can hear what's going on around me just fine.

According to the small amount of research I did (WebMD app on my phone) things that make the symptoms of both tinnitus and Ménière's is caffeine, high sodium diet, earwax (using qtips may only pack the wax making it worse) and in ear earbuds. All things I am guilty of.

So let's start simple, easiest to change, get rid of the earbuds and see of there is improvement.

Almost a week later without the earbuds and using earphones (fits on the outside of the ear) no ringing at all! In fact, it's been hard to fall asleep it's been so quiet!

I wonder, is it because earbuds don't use the entire ear to hear (sound being put directly in the canal), is that where the problem is? One thing for sure, I will not go back to earbuds, ever.

Family update…

Here are somethings that are going on in my family.

This coming Wednesday we are going to tour the Gilbert temple. Of course any one who would like to be our plus one or fifteen are welcome to join us. We were told that even if you don't have a ticket or a reservation you will still be allowed to tour with us if you would like. So let us know. We are going Wednesday the 29th at 7:45pm.

T is going to be part of the cultural celebration. It's going to be an amazing experience for her. She however is now a teenager and doesn't see it that way. It's just one more thing she has to do. I have hope that she will one day look back at her life and see it for what it was a once in a lifetime moment that is uniquely hers. Something I never got to do and her sisters won't likely ever be apart of. Her best friend is very jealous because she isn't old enough to join in the celebration.

I am a little upset because girls camp is likely being schedule the same time we will be away on vacation. That would mean T won't be able to go.

At work, the conscience store, I made a HUGE accounting error that may end up costing me my job. But it's been a week of deliberations and no decision has been made yet. So I continue in limbo for a while. When something is decided I will write a tell all of the whole thing for your enjoyment or torture however you choose to view it.

50° Clear
20 S Main St, Florence, AZ, United States

Nathan

Introspection…

There are some who will read what I write here and say, "Is this a midlife crisis? Or, is he depressed?" The answer to both of those is no. The things I tend to write are about me, mostly. It's me examining my life and trying to make sense of it all. I ask myself questions and look for ways to improve my life.

The thing is, when I look at the big picture I know where I want to end up. I want immortality and eternal life. It's easy to get lost in the busyness of life, so I take time for introspection (seeing where I am spiritually and honestly asking myself where I can do better).

Does this mean that I always act the way I should? No, in fact many things I should to do don't get accomplished. I have learned not to expect perfection from myself in regards to keeping the commandments of God. I basically have had to give myself permission to screw things up. Believe it or not, that was a big step for me. While yes it is important that I strive for perfect obedience where God has commanded, it helps me to know that it's not possible for me at this time to give that. It was also not expected. It was expected that I would definitely disobey and willfully do or not do what I am supposed to do. That's what the atonement of Jesus Christ was for. Who am I to throw His willing gift back into His face. To say, "Thank you, but I got this. I can live perfectly."

It's like the fall of Adam and Eve. They being innocent like a child, didn't require a lie from Lucifer to eat the fruit. They didn't know right from wrong until after they had partaken of the fruit. I can see my life modeled on their experience. I was born innocent incapable of sin. It is not until I began to understand the difference between good and evil that sin was possible. That is when I "partook" of the fruit. Causing me to fall and then be in need of redemption.

So there it is, I was meant to fall so I could be picked up and redeemed through the atonement and receive eternal life (life in the presence of God) by being obedient to His commandments.

52° Clear
20 S Main St, Florence, AZ, United States

Nathan

Complacency…

The casual observer of my life sees me as they see anyone else. I am fairly unremarkable in that regard. They see my 8 or 9 day work week and are probably not impressed. Everyone who works usually works long hours and odd schedules. My schedule is probably harder for my family than it is for me. I have a compartment for each of my 3 lives. They don't usually collide (On the rare occasion they do, it spices things up a bit). Is it possible too be so busy that you become complacent with your life?

For a long time I believed the destination to reach was a state of complacency. That would be where I would find true happiness. To want for nothing and need nothing. While it's not a terrible place to be, once I become complacent, I noticed it's easier to start slipping back down those old paths I believed to be so far behind me it would be impossible to ever cross them again.

I think this idea is one of those that encompasses every aspect of life. If I am not progressing I'm regressing. Becoming complacent with life doesn't necessarily mean I stop doing what I have been doing. I simply became used to that level of activity, life or position. The challenge of it all has left. What do I do in that situation?

A lesson from evolution (wait what?). That's right evolution! Evolution is a story of individual progression. We adapt to changes in our environment but not until we are pushed and challenged, forced to accept the change or face destruction. So to answer my earlier question, what do I do when my current level isn't enough to keep me engaged and continually advancing? I can wait for circumstances to change for me. Or I can accept responsibility and force change on myself.

That is where I am. Swimming comfortable in the current. Going seemingly the same pace as I always have but making no progress in my development. It is as if the current has increased and I need to add extra strength to continue my journey up stream. I am not able to ease up in my strokes and remain where I am. It is push forward harder or be pushed backward to face those long forgotten paths again.

So how do I combat complacency?

Realize that I am not nor ever will be Mister Perfect. There is always room to improve. Any thoughts to the contrary are illusions of grandeur. Did the current speed up or did I slow down because I was complacent with where I was?

So lesson learned, "Never give up! Never surrender!"

At church we began studying the teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith. He used a phrase that I have heard my entire life but never really understood it's complete connotations, "What would Jesus do?" The lesson still didn't hit home for me until my mother wrote about it in her weekly email. I quote a snippet here:

> "My friend…shared with me how she asks herself "What would Jesus do?"…I suddenly remembered a decision I'd made the day before. I kept asking myself what was right to do in that situation, and I think I listened to the wrong voice in my response to the situation. I realized with sudden clarity that if I had asked myself what Jesus would do, I would have made the other choice. I knew instantly that Jesus would do the kind thing. When I ask "what is right," I open up the door to a lot of worldly philosophies as well as the Lord's way. For example, I might think that this is a moment when I should assert myself, stand up for the right by standing up for myself, when in reality it is a moment when I should just be looking to show love. In another instance, I might think that I should put limitations on others in an effort to control them when perhaps the Lord's way is to leave the choice with them. Often, the world's way involves a form of pride, but usually the Lord's way involves a form of humility."


Another lesson learned. WWJD is not just a catchy slogan. It needs to take a better place in my life.