Happy Father's Day!

Let me start by saying Happy Father's Day to my beloved dad. With all the activities of the day, I didn't have a chance to call and give my wishes to him personally, but fortunately I got a gift off to him a month ago (pre-surgery). But let me take the opportunity to brag about my father. In Sacrament Meeting today, the subject focused on the priesthood. Each of the speakers addressed different areas, but each one made me think of my own father. My father is a remarkable man, one who truly honors the priesthood he has been given. I remember numerous times when I needed blessings, sometimes late at night, and he would make sure to be in a white shirt and tie (even at 3 a.m.) as he gave them. He has served so many as a branch president, bishop, missionary, and now, as a patriarch. He has such a strong desire to do what is right and help those around him. I think that between he and my mom, they are the greatest example I could find of what our Heavenly Father and Mother are like. Thanks for all you do, Dad. I love you!

We spent the day first, sleeping in and missing the opportunity to give John breakfast in bed. (We later chuckled that he had a bowl of Cap'n Crunch in bed, but he had to get it himself.) I made it through all three hours of church for the first time since before the surgery and was able to play the piano in Primary--without pain! (And Ellie pulled another tooth out in class. She now only has on the top the four front and then just 2 in the back on each side. All the rest are gone.) After walking home in the 90+ degree heat, I made John a celebratory dinner of raspberry vinaigrette salmon, rice, french bread and grilled pineapple. It's the first real meal I've cooked in over a month, and the first time we've eaten as a family at the dinner table in almost that long. The kids gave him their gifts of two Willow Tree figures (1 with a daughter, 1 with a son) and a musical Hallmark card. After we ate (and rested), it was down to his parents' house where we joined in with his siblings and their families to give our best wishes (and encouragement) for a continuing recovery. (He was in the hospital this week and had 2 liters of fluid removed from his lungs.) He's feeling better with the fluid removed, obviously, and shared his feelings towards his own father and his children. We snacked on a multitude of goodies and then came home to escape the crowd and the heat.

Yesterday we went out to Chuck-A-Rama for John's "out to eat" celebration. As we walked in, I was focused on Griffin dancing and saying, "I have to go to the bathroom now!" while I tried to distract him until we at least got seated. We walked by one party who was waiting for more people and made it to the cashier. As I was taking care of the charges, John was looking at me like, "Look over there." I wasn't catching it, so he finally said, "That's L. Tom Perry over there." I looked and didn't see him, and he said, "Over there." Ian was freaking out a little and I finally saw him, in what I termed "street clothes." Believe me, it makes a HUGE difference in how he looks! So Ian and Maggie quickly started texting everyone they know, and I got to ask Ian how he noticed him. He said, "I just felt his presence before I even saw him." THAT's a humbling statement. Of course, I was still so focused on everything going on around me (Griffin, the cashier, etc.) to notice an apostle of God, and Ian just felt his presence even without looking. He's a great kid.

Maggie is having a rough recovery from her injury and we're just hoping and praying she'll make a marked improvement in the next few days. I'll contact her doctor in the morning to see if we can do something to help with the nausea and see if that gets her back on her feet. These next couple of days see lots and lots of work to be done in and around the house to prep the house for the vacation. My lists are long and may be impossible, but I'll do my darndest to get as much done as I can.