Sad to be leaving

Sunny 3 BR, 2 full/2 half-baths, 1 car garage end-unit townhouse. All the luxuries: Hardwood floors on main level, 9” ceilings w/ custom crown moldings & open floor plan. 42” maple cabinets, gas range, side-by-side refrigerator . MBR cathedral ceiling w/walk-in closet; master bath features soaking tub & separate shower. Oversized rec-room w/gas fireplace. Wireless security system. Custom deck w/fenced yard backs to common area. Gas heat, gas hot water, central air, W/D included. Near Rt. 7, shopping centers, restaurants, Dulles Mall, and schools. Community amenities: outdoor pool, playground, snow removal and trash removal. $1800/month, includes HOA.

Extremely timely advice

Since making the correct decisions is essential to attain your goals in life, consider how they should be made. There are two patterns for making decisions: the first I will call decisions based upon circumstance; the second, decisions based upon eternal truth. Let us examine each pattern.

The guiding principle in the pattern of decisions based upon circumstance is to make choices according to the outcome desired rather than upon what is right or wrong. There is no use of an underlying set of standards to consistently guide those decisions. Each choice is made upon what appears to give the most desired result now. One who follows this path is left to his own strength and capacity and the support of others who can be influenced to act in his favor. Satan encourages choices to be made in this manner. It gives him the greatest opportunity to tempt an individual to make decisions that will be harmful even though they appear most appealing when made.

In time, one who makes decisions based upon circumstance is virtually assured to commit serious transgressions. There is no iron rod of truth to keep that person in the right way. He will continually be faced with many subtle temptations to make deviations from the commandments. Those choices are justified by arguing that they are not that bad, that they are more socially acceptable and provide a broader base of friends. A clever individual without foundation principles can at times acquire, temporarily, impressive accomplishments. Yet that attainment is like a sand castle. When the test of character comes, it crumbles, often taking others with it.

The second pattern, making decisions based upon eternal truth, is the pattern of the Lord. It will always lead you to make decisions guided by His plan of happiness. Such decisions are centered in doing what is right, not in first deciding the result desired. Choosing to do what the Lord has defined as right will, in the long run, always lead to the best outcomes. However, that pattern may require you to set aside something you very much desire now for a greater future good.

Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign, Nov 1998

Head, shoulders, knees, and toes...and elbows.

Matthew has turned into this gangly pre-teenish person these past couple of weeks, morphing into this charming half-child who is all knees and elbows and feet. Watching him grow is one of my greatest pleasures.

Remind me of this moment when he is really a teenager, okay?

Captian Knuckle and SmallyPants

Me and the boys. Jeff took this about 6 weeks ago. I feel lucky to be surrounded by these great guys!

Open Letters and other such treatises

I am thinking about writing an open letter to my siblings, full of wit, candor, humor, a treatise of sorts. I am so weary of their kvetching about various subjects and maybe, just maybe, if I am able to craft it with such precision and aplomb, I can just refer them to the relevant paragraph, I won't have to listen to their kvetching as much. Or they will simply quit talking to me.

Like Melynie. Still haven't figured out that one. I suspect it has something to do with the fact she found out her DUI/ambulance bills had showed up on my driving record/credit report and so I knew about it. Or maybe because I pulled her from the back seat of a friend's car when she was so full of drugs and alcohol that she nearly died in my parents room before the paramedics got there. Maybe she wanted to die and has been pissed at me for the past 14 years over it.