23rd Anniversary

Today is our 23rd Anniversary. I drove up from Wyoming this morning and met page at the Billings Temple. It was very crowded today. Every seat was filled. After the temple we used my gift card from my birthday and ate at the Texas Roadhouse. We then drove back to Livingston. Lacey is in Wyoming working this weekend and Sean is in Utah with his school band, so we have the house to ourselves, except for the two dogs. Nice and quiet! I got Page the "Work and the Glory III" DVD and we watched that today too. I also wrote Page a poem:

April 28th is the day we became as one

raining on the day before... but our day = sun!

I didn't wear my tux insde, in the car it sat

So when it came to our pictures... well, who's fault was that?

The challenges of school to get my degree;

the comming of children to grow our family;

the early years were hard, but sweet

I'm glad we stuck together and one didn't retreat

The kids are almost grown, we still fight the storm

We still wonder if this is really the "norm"

But somehow we keep moving and looking ahead

and I love you more now than the day that we wed.

So Happy anniversary and know that my love

is eternally yours, you are a gift from above.

If we never give up or throw in the towel

maybe we can grow old together in Powell.

ok- so it's corny. But I love you , Page!!!

Hardin x 2

Sean was in Bozeman this afternoon for a rematch with Hardin. They put up another player to challenge Sean because, as Page found out, Hardin wanted their best player on the doubles team to see if they could beat our #1 doubles players, they already were resigned to the fact that none of their players can beat Sean. So Sean played a new Hardin player and beat him both sets.

Then the team played the Bozeman JV team. Bozeman is a 2A school and won State last year. Sean was up against the #1 Junior Varsity player and beat him pretty soundly. The guy only won one game against Sean.

Sean also had time to get his tux for the prom. Prom is in two weeks.

Sean is off to Salt Lake City for a senior band trip tomorrow. He should have a lot of fun.

YSA Conference

Lacey, Kim, President Heap and Moriah

Lacey just got back from a weekend Young Single Adults Conference in Billings. She had a great time. There were young adults there from 18 stakes from Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota. They got to hear from Sheri Dew also they had a couple dances and a service project planting flowers on the temple grounds. She came back really excited. We are glad she had such a good time. She said a lot of boys asked her to dance... woo woo!

Helena Invitational

Sean was in Helena on Friday for the Helena Invitational Tennis Tournament. It was a tournament for 2A schools in the State. However, Park was invited even though they are only a 1A school. Sean played the #1 player from Billings West. Sean was down 5 games to 1, then he started his rally. He got back in the match and took the lead at 7 games to 6. Only needed to win one more to win the match. That last game went on forever. They both fought like lions and it kept going to 'add in', 'duece', 'add out', 'duece', etc. about 12 times. But the other guy got in a lucky shot and won that game. That game really zapped Sean's strength. It was a heartbreaker to lose. Then the other kid won the next two games to win the match. We felt really bad for Sean, but I have to say, he fought hard and I think that was some of the best tennis I have ever seen Sean play. He could have given up when he was down 4 games and he didn't. Yes, he had a chance to win, but it didn't happen. However, he earned the respect of his 2A opponent. The coach from Billings West came up to Sean and congratulated him on a good match. Later, the other players father also came up to tell him how well he played. I don't think they thought a kid from a 1A school would even give their player a game, but Sean did. I was very proud of Sean, watching him play. He has really improved his play. Luckily, he only has to play 1A players to get to State, and so far he is undefeated against 1A players this year.

District Music Festival

Sean attending a music festival in Bozeman on Thursday night. The symphonic band got excellent reviews from the judges. In fact, one judge said they sounded like a 2A school, not a 1A school. Sean had a small solo on his baritone too. Sean is on the back row on the left.

Sean wins against Stevensville

On Tuesday, Sean and his team headed over to Dillon and played Stevensville. This time he was playing another 1A school and he beat their #1 player. So he has beat every 1A player he has been up against this year. Way to go Sean. His team won the overall match so they are now 2-1, which ties for the number of wins they had last year. Last year the team went 2-17. The coach is so happy that Sean came back to play with the team this year.

Billings Senior Match

Sean played the #1 player at Billings Senior HS. Billings Senior is a 2A school and Sean plays at a 1A school, which is smaller. Sean lost the match. Sean's team lost the overall matches. Sean wasn't feeling good all day either. Page said he looked "green" the whole day and didn't eat. Better luck next time.

Ephraimite

Here is a picture of Sean taken after we got home this evening from Bozeman. We went to visit the Stake Patriarch and Sean received his Patriarchal Blessing. Page and I were able to go and hear the blessing. It was a very spiritual experience. I look forward to watching Sean mature and grow.

Sean has a Prom Date

Sean is heading up the hill tonight to ask Chelsie, a girl in our Ward, to the Prom tonight. The Prom is in May. This is Sean's Senior year and he is ready to celebrate.... what is that in his hands?
Sean got a huge chocolate chip cookie and wrote a question on it for Chelsie. He wanted to do something unique and special. I wonder if she will be impressed and say, "yes" ?

Chelsie said, "YES!" Now Sean has to go rent a tux, buy the tickets and a corsage, plus think of somewhere to eat dinner before the dance. This is so exciting! Chelsie is such a cutie-bug!

Paradise

This afternoon I took a little drive through Paradise Valley just south of Livingston. It's a wonderful drive. You go through this valley to get to Yellowstone National Park. I didn't go to the Park today, this Valley was my destination. I just wanted to come out in the 70 degree weather and enjoy the view.
The low mountains and valleys are starting to green up. I love Spring when everything bare and brown from Winter turns green again.
I'm looking back north towards Livingston. You can see the Crazy Mountains still are snow capped too. Livingston sits between three mountain ranges: the Absarokas, Crazies and Bridgers. Plus the Yellowstone River runs right through it, yep, sounds like Paradise to me.
I am on the west side of the valley looking south towards Emigrant Peak.
The Yellowstone River runs through Yankee Jim's Canyon about 10 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. You can ride some pretty good rapids in late Spring.
Wait until the spring run-off from Yellowstone Park raises the water level of the river. These rapids become even more violent. Many people have lost their lives trying to ride through Yankee Jim's.
I love how this pine tree stood out against the rocky shore of the Yellowstone River.
The water is so green.

Kill All White People

Click on the title and watch a video from a segment on C SPAN. (yes! I said C-SPAN) A black guy said the way to solve all our problems is to exterminate white people. Sounds like the Missourians against the Mormons all over again. I wonder why this didn't make national news?

Time to move on?

This is kinda long, I got this in an email from a friend and wanted to post it to my blog:

LOOKING FOR A CHURCH

In a local newspaper in Provo, Utah, there had been an ongoing seriesof articles written by individuals who wanted to persuade LDS ChurchMembers to leave the church. In response to the highly critical and spirited remark a member wrote this rebuttal:

Dear Editor:

I have been thinking about quitting the Mormon Church. Yes, if I can, I am going to get even with that church. As soon as I can find another church that teaches about the Gathering of the House of Israel; the return of the Ten Tribes and their mission; the return of the Jews to Palestine; the building of temples and their purposes; and the mission of Elias, the Prophet, as predicted by Malachi. Is there another church that teaches the method for the salvation of the people that died at the time of Noah and the flood; the origin of the American Indian; the complete explanation of why Jesus of Nazareth needed a mortal mother; the explanation of the three degrees of glory (three heavens) as mentioned by Paul, and explain the scripture that says: "why are they baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all"? How about one that teaches about the need for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that teaches that Joseph Smith was chosen before he ever came to earth to be the prophet to usher in that restoration? What about another church with the belief in eternal marriage and the family, and the knowledge of where to be sealed so the family can be together for eternity? Where is another church that sells the best fire insurance policy on earth for the last days, for only a 10th of my income, and that teaches abstinence from all harmful drugs and foods. Yes, sir, as soon as I can find another church that teaches all that, or even half as much, I will say goodbye to this Mormon Church. The church that I am looking for must also be able to motivate 50,000 youth, and adults, for the first, second or third time; to leave their homes for two years, at their own expense, and be sent to faraway missions to teach and preach without salary. It must be able to call 5 or 6 thousand members to go pick apples on a frosty day; and it must get the attention of more than 150,000 men and boys for two hours to listen to a prophet, not to mention women and girls taking the time to listen to their leaders. Could you help me find a church that teaches and shows why salvation is assured for children who die before eight years of age? Mr. Editor, could you help me find a church that teaches all that and more; and hundreds of other doctrines and principles, which I have no room to mention here, and which brings solace and comfort to the soul, peace, hope, and salvation to mankind, and above all, that answers the key questions that all the great philosophers have asked -- questions and answers that explain the meaning of life, the purpose of death, suffering and pain, the absolute need for a redeemer and the marvelous plan of happiness conceived and executed by Jesus Christ the Savior? Yes, as soon as I find another church that teaches that and also that has the organization and the priesthood power to make that teaching effective, I am going to quit the Mormon Church. Don't you think, Mr. Editor, that the Divine Church should also have prophets that don't get old and sick, and die; and certainly that don't make a goof here and there? A Divine Church should be so divine that only perfect people should belong to it, and only perfect people should run it. As a matter of fact, the Church should be so perfect that it should not even be here on earth! So, I repeat, if any one of the kind readers of this imperfect letter knows about another church that teaches and does as much for mankind as the Mormon Church, please let me know. And please do it soon, because my turn to go to the cannery is coming up soon. Also, they want to send my fifth and last son on a mission, and I'll have to pay for it all. And I also know that they expect me to go to the farm to prune trees before long. Boy, these Mormons don't leave you alone for a minute. And what do I get for all they ask me to do? Well, someone said, for one, you can look forward to a funeral service at no charge!? Do you think you can help me find another church?

Tom B. Clark

Neighbor gone

Yesterdays paper in my town had a picture on the bottom right about my neighbor. She is under investigation of burning down her own house. She was living in it with her family when we came into town to rent the house next door. When we actually moved in a month later, it was blown up. It was an eyesore. This week they bulldozed it down to nothing. If you look real close you can see my white picket fence in the center of the picture right behind the truck. Also note on top of the page is a picture of one of my docs. The paper wanted to do an article on all my OB docs because they delivered a lot of babies this year.

You Love Me, You Really Love Me

Obviously there are people that really appreciate my political views and feel I would be a great President (sorry Kyler). They even have a website: www.draftgilmore.org Well, if Mitt is the wrong Mormon for the job, maybe the country will accept this Mormon boy! p.s. just ignore that they keep calling me Jim Gilmore, ex-governor of Virginia, I don't know how they are getting confused.

The Rabid Republicans will get you!

Elizabeth Edwards has more to worry about, besides her cancer. She is afraid of her neighbor because he is a Republican and has a gun! Oh no! How could they allow a Republican in the neighborhood? I hope my neighbors are peace loving democrats and not some rabid republican. I'm afraid to ask! I never realized how much the Edwards were afraid of Republicans. John, the Dem. candidate for US President has refused for the second time to participate in a debate because Fox News is moderating. I talked about the last one in a past blog post, but he did it again, even though the co-sponsor was the black caucus of the House of Representatives. Can't find a more liberal group than that. And now we find out this weekend that his wife, Elizabeth, lives in fear because her neighbor is a Republican with a gun. You couldn't make up kooky stuff like this!

Egg Hunt

Look what the Easter Bunny left us this morning! Sean also helped the Easter Bunny along last night and dyed a dozen eggs which we used for the Easter Egg Hunt:

They can't seem to find the egg hidden up in the green wreath above them. Can you see the green egg in the center bottom of the wreath?

Sean found 7 eggs

Lacey found 5 eggs

After all these years, Lacey and Sean are still fighting over the eggs.

Happy Easter

Tennis Pics

Here are a couple of pics from Sean's match in Hardin last week. There was also an article of him in the local paper the day of and the day after the match. The day after the match he had a picture of him that took up 1/4 of the sports page. The article had some complementary things said about him too. Looks like it's time to make a scrapbook.

Work helps me Celebrate

I had a few surprises at work yesterday. We are closed today for Good Friday, so they wanted to help me celebrate my birthday a day early. Here are some of our employees from our business office. They walked all the way from across the street to sing happy birthday to me.
They got 15 people into my office to sing and to give me a special present....
The sign on the pirate says, "what happens at the party, stays at the party! So I can't talk about it.... all I can say it has to do with Johnny Depp and somebody from this group of ladies that has a thing for him.... You can see he is attached to a candy bar... Big Hunk... do they mean me or Johnny?
I got a cool birthday balloon (and a birthday rubby ducky- not pictured) from the Admin. Team
My Administration Team, Brian, Karen, Sina and Dr. Tracy gave me a gift card to Texas Road House.
My assistant, Sina, left a surprise on my car.

I also got some nice cards from the business office ladies, the admin team, my boss (with a pass to go see a movie at the local cinema) and a card from all the staff in the Clinic. Isn't it nice to be remembered.... Thanks everyone!

April 6th

I want to wish my twin brother, Patrick, a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! The dude is 45 tomorrow. Wow, that is old!!! Some very interesting things have happened on April 6th. I thought I would share a few of them with you:

April 6th- Jesus' actual birthday. It is very humbling to share his birthday.

April 6th- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is organized

The Reorganized LDS church was organized 30 years later on the same date... very interesting.

But there are a lot more memorable events that happened on April 6th:

the earliest solar eclipse ever recorded by the Ancient Greeks happened on this day in 648 BC

the Scots reaffirm thier independence by signing the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320- even today Scots all over the world celebrate "Tartan Day" every April 6th !!!

In 1814 on this day, Napoleon abdicates. He is then exiled to Elba.

In 1841 John Tyler is inaugurated as the 10th President of the USA

In 1862 The Battle of Shiloh begins during the Civil War

In 1893 on this day, the Salt Lake Temple is dedicated

In 1896 the opening of the first modern Olympic Games occurs in Athens

1909- Robert Peary reaches the North Pole

1917- President Wilson declares war on Germany during WWI

In 1926- the first commercial flight takes off

I share my birthday with: Merle Haggard, Billy Dee Williams, Marilu Henner, Candace Cameron, and Patrick Gilmore

King Richard I of England was killed on this day during a battle in 1199.

Tammy Wynette died on this day in 1998.

David Bloom, reporter, died in Iraq on this day in 2003.

Prince Rainier III, of Monaco, died this day in 2005.

Yep, April 6th is pretty special.... this year it is on Good Friday, so I get the day off from work. YIPEEE!!! Now that is a pretty cool birthday present. So I get to spend 3 days with my honey in Montana.....

Hope Y'all have a great April 6th !!!!

Global War on Terror

global war on terror, global war on terror, global war on terror, global war on terror, global war on terror. Better get that phrase out of your system. Democrats are now banning that phrase from their reports and budgets. Nothing political mind you (Democrats are too pure to make anything political....) they just want to avoid catch phrases in their reports/budgets, etc. Oh how nice of them. Because we were getting so tired of catch phrases. As long as it's not political... it should be ok. I'm glad the Dems are very sensitive to our needs and I'm glad they clarified that this move is not political in any way, shape or form.