This isn’t supposed to happen –

This is the second weekend in a row that Lynette’s car has had trouble. This time, we were both on campus and when we wanted to leave, the car wouldn’t start. With the help of my brother I determined that there was a problem with the starter. So we pushed started the car so we could get it off campus. Lynette was not physically or psychologically able to ‘pop’ the clutch. I guess her dad trained her well when she was learning to drive. After several tries with me pushing, and her ‘easing slowly off of the clutch’ I finally decided to have her push. That was just the thing. Somebody else came to her aid and we got the car going. I’m not sure what that guy thought about me having my wife push the car...but...at least we got it moving.

Even though it was late we decided to drop the truck off at the mechanics shop with plans to bring the keys in the next morning. The next morning, Lynette found out that the truck had been broken into while it was in the mechanics parking lot. But, the strange thing was that somebody stole the doors, along with the radio, dashboard cover and A/C vent covers.

Why the doors? There are probably shady auto-body shops that will buy those instead of new ones. Maybe if I go to the auto-body shop that shares the parking lot with my mechanic I can get doors that curiously have the same dents and scratches my doors had. Hmm, I wonder.

We are now dealing with the insurance company trying to figure out the best way to resolve all this. Hopefully we can take care of it soon, but I’ve heard quite a few horror stories about insurance claims.

Until then, I guess we have a jeep.

To me, this experience demonstrated that neither Lynette nor I are overly concerned about material things. Of course we like material things, but they are not what define us. Yes, we are annoyed, frustrated and even a little angry, but it doesn’t consume us like I have seen others react in similar situations. Dealing with the insurance company will be a pain, and I would rather have avoided that, but the loss of our doors does not affect our happiness and our focus on things that really matter.

What really matters you ask? What could possibly be more important than doors? Well, there are a lot of things. Maybe I’ll write about them on another post. Until then, why don’t comment on what you think is more important than doors? I’d love to get your opinion.

Scott

Duty –

"This was a good county in the past. It is a good county today. It will be a good country tomorrow unless we fail it."

Daniel Carter Beard (first BSA National Commissioner)

Certain responsibilities come with the rights granted to us because we are citizens of the United States of America. Most of us are fulfilling some of these responsibilities to society just by doing what we do. No doubt this country needs teachers, law enforcement, engineers, scientists, writers, bus drivers, farmers and merchants. Coaches, pilots, soldiers and computer programmers are all essential to our nation’s growth and prosperity. This county depends on people stepping up to serve in the military, protect the environment, mentor youth, care for the sick and help the needy (see current Boy Scout Handbook p. 334).

While these things are all vitally important we can’t forget about voting. Learning about the issues and voting is how our nation will continually become a better place to live. Additionally, there is something a little more special about voting. Voting reinforces our commitment to this country and subtly enhances our patriotism and love for the USA.

I know all the political advertisements and accusations we see on TV and receive on our answering machines are overwhelming and even inappropriate at times. I think Lynette and I have been receiving about 3+ messages per day about political candidates, the propositions, and locally proposed bonds. The negative ads are quite disheartening but, we can’t become apathetic when it comes voting. This is what our nation asks of us—it is what our nation and communities need.

So study the issues, think them over in your mind to make the best decision. Then vote on Tuesday, November 7th--It will be the best thing you do all week.

Scott

Swiss Cheese –

My family has a tradition where we meet at my sister’s house on the Monday before Halloween to carve pumpkins. It is always a fun time. This year was no exception.

I used a drill this year to create the masterpiece you see above.

Here are some more pictures of yesterdays Halloween ‘party’.

Scott

If I had a dollar for every time I saw this face…

Bobbing for Apples

We tied donuts to strings to see how long it would take the kids to eat them without hands…Here it looks like we caught Damian cheating.

Carving my pumpkin with a drill.

I think I'm starting a new trend...

Service -

This weekend I took my scout troop to a service project in Phoenix where a group of volunteers were painting an elementary school. My boys did well—they were excited and willing to help. I had to talk the person in charge into letting them volunteer because 12 and 13 year olds are apparently ‘too young’ to paint. I assured them that the troop was responsible and they would do a good job.

I think the kids really enjoyed it. We started prepping the buildings by masking the doors, windows and floors. Then we scrapped off the old paint and started repainting. I think they learned that service is fun, and probably will want to do something like this again (getting a free T-shirt didn't hurt).

On Sunday Lynette’s car broke down and I had to come help her. I was in a meeting, so I went to help her in my church clothes. Yesterday was the first day that I wore a new pair of pants, and got grease on one of the legs. Ooops. Anyway, the wires and connectors that attach to the battery where completely corroded. I just jiggled one of the wires and it completely broke off, on the other post, the bolt snapped (because of the corrosion) when I was loosening it. I had to replace the battery post clamps.

When I was done, I told Lynette that I like it when her car breaks down if it only costs $5.00 to fix, and I can do all the work myself. It makes me feel like I can provide for our family. That was a good feeling.

Lynette said that one day this past week when she was walking out to the car to go to work, in her mind she was hoping that the car wouldn’t start and the battery was dead because she didn’t want to go to work. In a sense you could say she was praying for it, by saying it over and over in her mind. Her desire came true, but not when she was expecting it.

Moral of the story: Most of the time prayers are answered, just not in the way or timing we expect—and…

Be careful what you pray for

Scott

One Great Day –

Lynette and I went for a day trip up near Payson to take some pictures for her photography class. Afterwards she told my mom that Saturday was “the best day of our marriage”. We had a great time because we were doing things we both love and doing them together.

Part of Lynette’s assignment is to take landscape pictures. We talked about a few places we could go and decided to explore a couple of areas near Payson. We found some neat spots, and I think Lynette got some good pictures. She will be developing them this week.

As she was taking pictures for her class, I was taking pictures of her taking pictures. Some more of those pictures are below.

I hope Lynette and I can do something like this more often. Picture taking is something that Lynette loves, and I think this will be a skill that she develops throughout her life. This works out great for me because I like being in the outdoors and seeing nature, but don’t like leaving Lynette for the weekend. Now, if there is film in the camera, I think Lynette and I will be more likely to get out into the outdoors to see what nature has to offer.

But to me, the trip was more fun because Lynette and I spent the entire day together. Our schedules are so busy that we don’t have a lot of time to see each other. It was fun talking with Lynette and getting to know her all over again. The best part was on the drive home we discussed another part of her photography assignment—to take self portraits. These pictures have to represent Lynette’s life figuratively, or literally. We focused most on the figurative imagery.

As an example, we thought we could take some pictures of the gears inside of a clock to represent the fact that she is always busy, and never stops. Or, the same image could represent how she is very precise and exact as an artist. If one gear is misaligned or missing the whole clock does not work. Like a clock, her 3-D artwork generally represents a well thought out design and skilled fabrication to achieve the final result.

We thought of several ideas, but couldn’t think of enough to fill a whole roll. Do you have any ideas? What image do you think could represent an aspect of Lynette’s personality?

Anyway. I hope some of you comment on that, but we found that it is difficult to come up with anything. Here are some more pictures of our trip.

Scott