Three days ago I woke up at 2:30 AM with a profound and suffocating sadness having had a dream about David. I was reliving the morning twenty years ago when I got up at 2:30 AM to cook breakfast omelettes for all the scouts in our troop and their leaders. I think of David every day of my life but I don't often dream about him. After I woke, I was unable to overcome the sadness and lay in bed until morning thinking about that day.
 After he and the other boys had left that morning, I went up to his bedroom and just sat on his bed. I received a small prompting that maybe this wasn't such a good idea and that I may never see David again, but I brushed it off thinking that this was the first  Scout campout in five years that I wouldn't be going with him. If I could change one thing in my life, it would be to act on that prompting and bring the boys back home.
 I didn't of course, and three days later a policeman would knock on our door and tell Janene that he had died and was never coming home again. Our Dave died alone, without us, twenty years ago today.
He is such a happy young man and the contrast of him being gone left me feeling sorrow and despair all morning after I awoke. I was still much affected at work. I have adapted a computer program at work to display key scriptures and quotes from church and other religious leaders every time I open the program. These messages are displayed literally dozens of times each day.

One of those messages explained how deeply our Father in Heaven loves us, and I was overwhelmed by the love that our Father in Heaven must have for me, and for all of us. He knew what was ahead for His Only Begotten, yet He sent him to this world to atone for our sins, to suffer and die at the hands of wicked and hateful men, and ultimately be crucified by them. He sent His Son anyway because of the love He has for us. He knew there was no other way for us to be able to be with Him again.

I am so grateful for a loving Father who allowed His Only Begotten Son to go through this for me. I am just as grateful for His Son, Jesus Christ. He loves me - and you, just as much as the Father. He trusted in His Father's plan and was courageous and valiant in working out this plan and our salvation. This great gift allows us to be reunited with those we love who have gone on from this life. I am so grateful to understand this plan of salvation and to know that I will be able to be with this wonderful boy again. Every time I think of him I feel a twinge of sadness. Sometimes it is worse than at other times, but I always remember with great joy that we will be reunited again because of the great sacrifice of our loving Savior.

I ran across this picture the other day. I thought, "Wouldn't it be fun to go for a hike with the grandkids?" We worked in the yard yesterday in our shirtsleeves; it almost seemed like winter was over, spring had sprung, and you could hear the birds singing. When Brooke and her family came over this afternoon, we looked out to see a blizzard coming in with them. So much for that nice thought!

Have you ever wanted to see how my lovely bride makes one of her signature items of pottery?


It all starts out with a measured amount of mud. She uses the same amount every time and centers it on the wheel. I have heard this is the hardest part to get right.

 Next, she has to flatten it out so the base is the right width. She doesn't use a measuring tool, she just eye-balls it.

 Then she has to open up the middle and leave a flat spot at the bottom that is not too thick, and not too thin, but is just right.

 She pulls up a cylinder that has uniform thickness and somehow knows just how high to go. Maybe she runs out of mud somewhere along the way.

 Now, she is starting to close in the top.

 There it is! All closed off and rounded over. There was some hocus-pocus going on because I looked at my viewfinder and Voila! It was closed off and I didn't see how she did it.

 The magic continues as she rounds it over to the perfect shape

 This is where I would put two grooves in it and call it an ashtray.
 She puts a whole lot of grooves in it.

 And calls it a Beehive Honey Pot!. The top part will become the lid and will fit down inside the base. She does some other magic with glazes and a hole for the honey dipper. I will show you the completed project when it is out of the oven. Our honeybees will be so proud of her!

Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?

I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains

I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways

I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests

I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans

I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard

                                                               Bob Dylan

I wonder if Dylan was singin' about this blue-eyed son. Our little herd of deer has an albino buck in it. I have never seen it, but Milt has seen it several times and has a picture of it. We are pretty sure that this yearling is one of his offspring. Janene has seen this guy a bunch of times and finally got a picture of him. This picture was taken on a cloudy day. Janene says that on a clear day with the sunlight in his eyes, they are a brilliant blue. It is a little unnerving when he stares you down.

Will wonders never cease?

This has been an amazing week for babies in our family. Doug brought his grandson, Camden over for a visit with "great grandpa Robin". He was only there to see " Grandma Janene". She is not as old as me.

He came over with his mom, Tiffany and Grandpa Doug. This little guy came much too early and had to spend some extra time in the hospital, but he is a chunky guy now.

 We got to pass him back and forth for a while. All the time, he was the perfect little boy. He laughed at us old people, smiled at our stupid jokes and didn't get into any trouble the whole time he was here. He really did prefer his own mother, however.

 On Sunday, it was off to the races with our little red-heads. They had a great time racing the electric car back and forth (and down the stairs). Little Rachel Robin is getting close to turning two and coming out of her shyness now. It is so much fun to watch her grow up. It wasn't that long ago that she was the little baby in the family.
I had to get another picture of our newest, baby Jessie in the mix. I must take after my father. We both love to hold the little babies. Happy times over here right now. Life is sure great!

I got home from work to find the house deserted, no dinner in the oven, and no sign of my bride. Then came the text - "Congratulations, Grandpa! You have a new little girl!" I jumped in the car and headed for the hospital.

 The little tyke was not so little, pegging the scales at 8 lbs. 3oz.. Getting to see her born was a joy that Janene was able to have one more time. For Grandpa, it was a thrill to be there before she was even an hour old. Heather's friend, Crystal was there to enjoy and photograph the big event.
 After nursing, Jesse was ready for her first little nap when Grandma took her. There is nothing like the experience of being able to hold a little girl in your arms when just a few minutes before, she was just a lump in your daughter's belly.
 The perfect Dad and perfect Mom with a perfect little baby girl. (I hope it doesn't sound like I am bragging) Every time I witness this miracle, I am humbled to think that God actually trusts us with His children. I cried as I left the hospital knowing that we have seen one more sign of His love for us.