Sunday, January 3, 2016

1/16 Dad's E-mail

Davis is running laps again. There has to be some way to capture energy from a whiny, complaining child… it’s definitely a renewable resource. Unlimited power.

I’ve been working long, long hours through Christmas again. I really wish I could take time off when all of the kids are out of school, but I also recognize the blessing it is to have work, and try to take it when it’s available. I went to work at 2amon New Year’s Eve, intending to end mid-day, but had some issues extend that and ended up working 14 hours that day. The good news is that starting at 2, I still got to spend the evening with everyone, and I wasn’t really that tired atmidnight, either. Sundays really are rejuvenating when you’re working extended hours.

Eric and I are the only ones left in Delorum at this point. We’ve split Pagoda Box off as it’s own venture, so we’ll see what happens :) Eric and I have learned some hard lessons about giving up too much control over the direction and focus of our business, so we are hopeful we’ll see it go differently this time. We may never see the money and time we’ve put into Pagoda Box come back, but we have enough work lined out to pay us through June by the end of February. We’re hoping to keep that trend going, double our salaries and expand this year. Your mom deserves so much more than that for sticking it out while we struggled our way through a tech start-up. In the end, there also seems to be a spiritual undercurrent in the split. We’ve both had promptings leading us in the same direction, although that direction is a little obscure. We’re taking the steps we can and trusting that more will come as we move forward. Interesting times. The wreck was a nice cherry on top.

It was great to talk with you over Christmas, and hopefully not too distracting. I had been out about 7 months before my first Christmas as a missionary, and it didn’t really phase me at all. I think it would have been harder earlier in my mission, so hopefully you’re strengthened, not distracted.

Tyrel and Evelyn are coming over to eat today. They weren’t at the New Years Day family party, so your mom checked with Grandma Nikki to see if there was some reason. Grandma hadn’t heard anything. After talking with Grandma, mom saw a post from Tyrel on Facebook which said, "I just want to thank you all for being wonderful examples of light. I've struggled, and still am, but I appreciate your kindness and faithfulness. I love you all.” Mom typed a quick message back, but he had deleted his Facebook account by the time she could type a response. So she called him.

It turns out he’s headed back into rehab tomorrow. As I’ve pondered that today, I have the feeling I need to take a bigger role in his life, and that Heavenly Father is working with him. There seem to be some spiritual things happening around this experience. I’ve certainly had a flurry of thoughts about him today, some of which feel inspired. We’ll see how it goes. It’s complicated by Evelyn and her stance on all things spiritual. I’ll keep you posted. He has a long way to go before he’s mastered the issues he’s facing, but the point of the gospel is that people can change. 

This week’s advice: The same as last week’s advice over the phone, but with a slight clarification. I heard echoed in your tone about other missionaries my own mission experience. I was shocked at the level of disobedience and immaturity in certain (most) missionaries. If you can learn from someone else’s experience, here is an insight: YOU have to learn to really love and lift those around you, even if you feel critical of motives, actions, spirituality, obedience, etc. The burden is on YOU to learn, live and love the second half of the 2 great commandments. If missionaries drive you crazy, how hard will it be for you to love ‘all men’?  1 John is especially pointed on the subject, and good to ponder. It will deepen your consecration if you can master both halves of Christ’s instructions. Think Brother Fivas, without the donuts. 

 Here’s another installment for Faith & Evidences:

Grandma Ormond’s Spending Habits
At the outset, I’ll state that I’m not sure that my interpretation of the following is accurate doctrine. 

As an author and contributor to outdoor magazines, my Grandpa Ormond made more money that most of his neighbors, and certainly more than my farmer parents. He saved and invested well, which allowed Grandma Ormond to live comfortably off interest for the 20 years after his death. 

When we were young married students raising a family in California on not much money, Grandma Ormond was conscious of our plight and periodically sent a few hundred dollars, usually at times when we desperately needed it. She helped us through the expenses of having children, Karie staying home as a mom, and my going to school full-time. When we moved back here, we were grateful for the chance to visit her frequently in the nursing home, as one small expression of our thanks. When she died about 8 years ago, I was privileged to be the one to release her from this life through a priesthood blessing, which was a very sweet, and unique experience. 

Fast forward to a couple of years ago as we were trying to fund Pagoda Box on yet another cycle of “only 2 more months before we’re finished building”. We had exhausted our savings and were coming to the edge of closing the doors on our business. We lived that year on about half of what we paid our newest, unmarried employees (joy’s of ownership) and had pretty much spent our last savings. At work, we had arranged a large client project, but it wasn’t slated to begin for another month, and to make payroll for our employees, Mom and I didn’t take a check yet again. We didn’t know what we were going to do. 

That’s when the letter from Grandma Ormond arrived in the mail with a check for exactly the amount we needed to make it through the month. It turns out, Grandma Nikki and Aunt Brenda found an unclaimed investment that was not settled upon Grandma’s death. They went through the proper channels to have it released to the estate, and distributed the check between all Grandma Ormond’s grandchildren with the somewhat cryptic note. To everyone else, it was a nice gift. To us, it was personalized from Grandma. She was still sending money just when we needed it. 

Doctrinally, I don’t know if deceased ancestors have power or influence on our behalf, or if Heavenly Father used the circumstance to bless us in a timely manner, but I certainly felt the influence of our eternal family. I suspect there is often a greater connection than we recognize. We should watch for those.

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