Graham's Second Birthday Party

On Saturday, we celebrated my nephew Graham's second birthday. The theme was Toy Story, and the birthday boy was dressed up as Sheriff Woody for the occasion.

Among the gifts given was this fireman costume, which Graham really enjoyed trying out.

My Dinner with Jackson 2018

My incredible nephew Jackson turned ten years old last week. So, on Saturday, I took him out for our annual birthday dinner outing, because Fun Uncle and all that.

After a good meal at Pizza Pie Cafe, we went to the store, where he picked out a LEGO Minecraft set. He was pretty happy about that.

Easter

It's Easter Sunday (did ya notice?) and also the second day of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church! Normally, we meet up at Mom's house for breakfast together prior to the Sunday morning session of conference, but since Mom is home sick today, we instead met up at Mike's and Jana's house in Layton.

The kids took part in our annual Easter egg hunt and had a great time looking for goodies.

General conference was pretty amazing, but then again, it always is! The Saturday morning session yesterday was also a solemn assembly in which we sustained our new prophet. President Russell M. Nelson, as well as his counselors in the First Presidency, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring. In addition, we also sustained the first Asian-American and Latin American members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of this dispensation: Elders Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares, respectively.

Priesthood meeting last night featuring a change: the end of high priests groups in wards, which are being combined with elders quorums. The Church is also consolidating some of its priesthood meetings (which means fewer meetings; hooray!).

Following priesthood session, JB and I traveled to downtown Salt Lake City to visit an old friend of mine, Janett Cuba del Carpio, whose father, Carlos Cuba, was my mission president in Peru. Janett's husband, Elder Fernando del Carpio, is an Area Seventy in Tacna, Peru, and they were both in town to attend general conference.

There were two other special announcements today during the afternoon session: Home and visiting teaching programs are being discontinued and replaced with "ministering" objectives. I guess we'll find out more about those in the weeks that follow. Also, Pres. Nelson announced seven new temples to be built in: Layton, Utah (Davis County's second!); Richmond, Virginia; Salta, Argentina; Managua, Nicaragua; another in the Philippines; and the first temples in both India and Russia.

What an inspiring, uplifting weekend it was. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to sustain a new prophet and to feel the mantle upon his shoulders as he taught gospel truths. So many wonderful messages delivered so many incredible teachings.

No Fooling

One of the last movies I saw in the theater before leaving on my mission (in case you've not been keeping up with Paco Nation, I'm old, folks), was Forrest Gump, and I went to see it with Mom. *SPOILER ALERT* After Jenny's death and the very somber ending, Mom turned to me as the credits began to roll and said, "I wish I could introduce them (presumably Forrest and Forrest Jr.) to the missionaries right at that moment."

This is just the kind of person Mom was and is. That's how her mind works.

Fast forward to earlier this week when, on my day off work, and while recovering from a bout of the Martian Death Flu, I watched the last few episodes of "Parenthood," a TV drama I did not watch when it originally ran on TV but which I've been following over the past few months on Netflix. In the final episode, which may be one of the all-around greatest TV episodes and finales ever produced, so many things wrapped around my heart like an anaconda, and I was bawling like a baby during the final 15 or 20 minutes. *SPOILER ALERT* What hit home most was (1) the grandfather/patriarch of the family passing away and (2) Sarah's and Hank's wedding, which was beautifully done. Most if not all of the main characters' (and even some of the supporting characters') story lines also wrapped up rather well in the process.

JB and I are in the middle of our own wedding preparations as I write this. So, of course, my brain goes there only several hundred times each day right now. It's getting real at this point. I picked up my suit just a few days ago. This is actually happening, I have to keep reminding myself. So, my heart was there with Sarah and Hank as they tied the knot.

Beyond that, though: As the four adult children and widow grieved for their departed father, I went mentally and spiritually where Mom went with the ending of Forrest Gump. Basically, I wanted to hug them and tell them: I've been where you've been. I've lost my father, too. I know your heartache. But I also know the peace, "which passeth all understanding," that only the gospel brings. This life is not the end. You can see him again!

I'm incredibly grateful for the gospel plan by which families can be sealed not for this life only but for eternity, as well, if we are faithful and give our whole souls to the great gospel plan. Because of it and because of our Savior's sacrifice, this incredible blessing is ours for the asking. And unlike the plots of both Forrest Gump and "Parenthood," this concept isn't just a neat story. It's not just something that makes me smile when I am down or a good idea. Though today is also April Fool's Day, it is most certainly no joke. It's everything! And it's what keeps me going day by day.

It being Easter Sunday, I'm reminded that Dad passed away last year just a few, short hours before the dawn of Easter morning 2017. Though it's not chronologically been a year yet, it was still last Easter, and this Easter brings with it memories of that sorrowful night. It also brings with it a reminder of the truly great gift the Savior gave to us all.