Happy Father's Day!

This has been a wonderful Fathers Day here with my family! The kids and Sheri were very nice to me - they showered me with gifts, and made me feel incredibly special.

At church today a Sister gave a talk on Father's Day, and gave a very moving tribute to her Father.

I could relate, and started to reflect on the wonderful Fathers that have been a part of my life. My Dad, my wife's Dad Cal, and my brother Ryan, just to name a few... These are men that I look up to and have learned so much from throughout my life.

My Father for his example of selfless service, purposeful parenting, and above all - his love, commitment, and fidelity to his family (especially my Mom). I learned how to love and cherish my wife by watching my Dad take care of my Mom. I learned how to parent my kids from his example.

My Father-In-Law Cal for his sound council and advice throughout my college years, and the beginning of my career. Anytime I solicited advice from Cal, I knew I would get an honest and experienced opinion. I love the Father he is to my bride, and the grandfather he is to my children.

We hope you all have a wonderful and happy Father's Day!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)

Habitat for Humanity - Rain Bird Service Project

Last week I was asked if I wanted to participate in a Habitat Humanity service project. Rain Bird was going to install the irrigation systems on seven homes that Habitat is almost finished building.

Thursday afternoon, Rain Bird gave us training on how to install the systems, then Friday we left work at 4:00 p.m. and finished seven homes by 7:30 p.m. There were about 20 of us from Rain Bird, plus a few Habitat workers.

I was really impressed with Habitat for Humanity - they are an incredible organization. For those that haven't heard of them, they provide homes for people that normaly would not be able to buy their own home.

The "candidates" for the homes have to:
1. qualify
2. spend 200hrs per adult in the family in "sweat equity" helping build the home,
3. take money/life management classes before they can move into the home.

The program gives people a little boost in their lives, and helps them become responsible citizens of the community.

I was also impressed with Rain Bird. It's fun to work for a company that is a great corporate citizen. During the instalations, I also made some good friends, and met a lot of people I hadn't met before. So, for a new employee it was a great opportnity to meet and greet my co-workers.

Below are a few picures that were sent to me. I didn't take my camera, so I only have a few, but at least you'll get an idea of what we were doing and what the homes looked like.

This is the only picture with me in it. See the guy on his knees, closest to the house, behind the guy with the JackHammer (yes, we did need a Jackhammer to break up the "dirt" to be able to plant the trees and shrubs)? The guy with his back, backside, and shoes showing? That's me!

"Well that didn't go so bad..."

Backstory
Our trampoline sits next to the neighbors wall on our side yard. For the past two years we have had a "safety" net around the trampoline. Last week I had to take down the "safety" net because it had WAY too many holes in it - it was not longer "safe", and had become an eyesore. So now, the trampoline looks like the kind us adults played on when we were kids - remember those days - before seat belts, car seats, "child proofing" and safety nets were considered important? Besides being "unsafe", our newly configured tramp now gives our kids access to the neighbors wall, AND his "lemon" tree.

Story
When I got back form work on Friday, Sheri informed me that Tyler had picked the neighbors lemons off his tree while playing on the tramp. We talked it over with Tyler, and decided that we needed to walk over to the neighbors and apologize. Tyler started crying, and said that he was scared because he thought the neighbor would call the cops on him and he would have to go to jail. The neighbor (Dave) is a great friend of ours, and we told Tyler that he wouldn't call the cops, but that it was important that we tell him what Tyler had done, and to tell him "I'm sorry".

Tyler and I walked over to Mr. Dave's house, rang the doorbell and waited. Mr Dave's son answered the door, and we asked if Mr. Dave was home and could we talk to him.

Mr. Dave came to the door and said "hey guys - whats up"?
I said - "Tyler has something he needs to tell you".
Through tear filled eyes, Tyler said - "I'm sorry".
"What are you sorry for"? replied Mr. Dave.
Tyler just stood there crying, and not willing to fess up.
So I said "come on Ty - you need to tell him"
"I'm too scared" Tyler said.
Then I could see that Mr. Dave was about to cave in - he could tell Tyler was really upset.
One more time I asked Tyler to tell him, and he found the courage to say "I picked your lemons".
The look on Mr. Dave's face was priceless - he looked at me for an explanation, and I said "it appears that Tyler reached over your wall and picked the lemons off your tree".
Mr. Dave said - "I have lemons"?
Dave's really green oranges where what Tyler had picked.
Mr. Dave looked at Tyler and said "Tyler - its ok - anytime you want to pick my oranges, all you have to do is come over, ring the doorbell, and ask.
Then he shook Tyler's hand, and I thanked him and Tyler and I walked away from Mr. Dave's house hand in hand. About half way down the driveway - Tyler wipes away one of his tears, and looks up at me and says "Well, that didn't go so bad..."

Priceless!