This is what I’m learning from Covid:

• Good health is a real blessing and should never be taken for granted. I’m a pretty bad sick person. I’m not sure how to change that, but I’ll at least pray for it.
• My compassion for people who have had Covid or will one day have Covid has significantly increased. My experience has been really hard for me. Anyone going through this deserves a break.
• Be patient. I watch others get Covid and recover quicker than me and without some of the side affects. I’m focused on the Lord’s will and what I’m to learn from this. I have faith the Lord will heal me.
• Trust in the Lord and turn to him in all things.

Abby ran in the Mountain Regional race today at the Timpanogos Golf Course in Provo. She placed 4th on her team (44th overall) to help the team finish 7th. They find out tomorrow at 3pm if they get to go to Nations next week. They are optimistic that they will qualify. We took all the kids, but Molly (she could get school off, but came to congratulate Abby during her lunch break) to the race. It was fun to watch. Abby raced hard and appeared to do well. She said it was very hard and a good race. There was a lot of stress cause they want to qualify so badly for Nationals.

Gunner has been throwing up throughout the night. So I got the nudge from Paula at about 4:30a to help him. He was puking bile and mostly clear mucusy water. I got him to the toilet, changed his bedding & soiled clothes, gave him a blessing, and put him back to bed. I also filled and turned on the diffuser in an effort to help him breath easier. He seems to be doing better. Since I’m already up, I’ve decided to start my day and continue to monitor.

Abby races in the NCAA D1 Western Regionals for XC today in Provo. I pray her and the team do well so they can go to nationals on the 20th.

Our house is a little cramped, so I’ve been trying to solve that problem. Along the way, I opened up the wall between the dining and family rooms on the main floor.

I feel like the change has given us a little more space, but it’s only the beginning.

So, I met an older gentleman in Costco a few weeks ago name Barry. It turns out he’s a builder. I started talking with at the store cause I remembered playing basketball against him and his sons years ago in a Lehi city league. Barry came by the house last night to give an estimate to make my opening wider and taller, and opening another passage to the kitchen where the ovens now sit.

During our visit Barry maintained a confused look on his face. Eventually he shared his concern with me. He said he felt confusion about the project; in his heart he felt what I was asking him wasn’t solving the real problems my family has with the space. He invited me to start over with my plan and take the situation Father in Heaven for help. This isn’t what I expected when I invited Barry over, but I was open enough to listen.

Barry was right; there is a lot of confusion between Paula and me as to how to make the house more functional. I appreciate Barry being sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord in this situation and sharing his unorthodox recommendations with me. I feel like the Lord spoke through Barry to me. I’m going to start over and let the Lord lead.

After Barry left, Paula asked why he had come over. I told her about my desire to get an estimate. She was confused as she thought we weren’t doing those changes. I was confused because I thought Paula’s desire to change the flooring meant continue with the other changes to the main floor. I’m going to focus only on the floor for now and see where that leads us.

Molly graduated from Westlake High School this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all the fun celebratory events a senior looks forward to were cancelled; prom included. What a sad ending to all the years of hard work. Molly crushed all her classes high school classes and finished with a 4.0 GPA, top 5%, and top 23. She is truly amazing.

It was decided (I can’t remember whose idea it was) that we would celebrate Molly’s awesomeness by hosting a backyard prom. She invited 10 couples, arranged to use the Mitton’s backyard, and worked with the Pitchers to decorate. Paula was in charge of the food and desserts. I was assigned renting a dance floor, hanging lights, and providing a sound system with karaoke.

Prom was held Saturday evening, 23 May 2020. It was a huge success. We setup all afternoon and the couples arrived about 5p for pictures. Dinner, catered by Mo’ Bettahs, started at about 6:30p and was delicious. Karaoke broke out before the meal ended and dancing was enjoyed until cleanup at 10p.

I’ve been thinking about goals for a number of weeks. This morning, I wrote them down. It’s like they aren’t real until you do that; at least that’s my experience.

The impression I had in regards to Walker this morning is to not respond to anything he does. I need to start by learning to catch myself before jumping in ferociously into situations. I think this is the first step.

Walker and I bought groceries today at Costco. We got out to the car to load all the items in the van and the thought came to me to check the receipt for the items on the bottom of the cart. Those items were boxes of milk jugs. Sure enough, none of those items were on the receipt. We then loaded all the paid for items and marched back into the store to pay for the rest. We paid and as we were leaving the store the Holy Ghost witnessed to me with a warm feeling in my heart that what we’d done was right.

Recognizing the Spirit

We arrived at church today as the opening hymn of sacrament meeting was being sung. We slipped into our middle section bench saved early by Walker as we always do. The meeting was nice. I felt and recognized the warm comfort and peace of the Spirit as we sang the hymns and listens to the speakers. I felt the Spirit amplified midway through when a young girl sang a special musical number. It was lovely.

Future of the Young Men’s Program

During the second hour I met with the leaders of the YM, including the bishopric. The discussion was led by our new YM President, Dan Duckworth. It was great. He want to take a new approach to running the young men’s program; more adult leader hands off. It seems like a great idea. He’s definitely the right guy to help lead this kind of change.

The conversation was humbling and revealing for me as it led me to see the errors of my approach over the last year or so working with the Deacons. I’ve not mentored how or let the boys lead like I should. What portion I’ve done, I didn’t let happen long enough for it to be meaningful for the boys. I’ve expected too much in the wrong areas and not enough in others. I wish I knew then what I know now. That’s obviously how we learn in life. I’m sorry that the boys have to suffer as I learn.

Dan presented the YM program in this way:

On the Ecclesiastical side, we need to help the boys learn to exercise their priesthood keys and fulfill their duties now. One eh Development side, we need to provide them opportunities to grow so they become great missionaries, husbands, and fathers in the future. Mentoring on both sides is required along the way.

Ministering

Willy and I went to minister to the Kirby family this afternoon. They are a nice family. I’m excited to get to know them better. Today there seemed to be something in the air, but I couldn’t discern it. We’ll keep trying to get to know them and trust that will lead us to being able to help them more in the future.