Plowman Family Dinner/July 2019

With Mom moving to West Bountiful in the past few weeks, most family dinners in North Salt Lake (unless Steve and Summer are hosting) will now become a thing of the past.

Anyway! We assembled like the Avengers for monthly family dinner Sunday at Dave's and Jessica's home in Woods Cross instead. Since we were last at their home, they now have a puppy named Millie! She's a Maltipoo, which is both fun to say/write and also means a mix between Maltese and poodle. Ergo, a lot of people were delighted to make her acquaintance for the first time.

Christian (July 11) is our lone family July birthday, which meant he got to blow out the candles on his own cake. I can't believe he's already six years old!

Following dinner, we went over to Mom's house, which we are getting ready to sell, to help clean out some more of the furniture and other items. While we were there, Kate discovered these wooden shoes, which Grandpa bough in the Netherlands years ago on one of his business trips. Those shoes were made for walkin', and she really enjoyed doing just that:

It was both a busy and fun night. But with our gang, you'd expect nothing else.

Finding Nepo

As a joke, or maybe because she was in one of those moods, JB selected one of my Christmas playlists the other day when we were headed somewhere in my car. I'm great with that, though. I love Christmas time and Christmas music, and I also believe in the concept of celebrating Christmas in July, as some are wont to do.

Incidentally, JB and I began dating at Christmas time. (We are now closer to next Christmas than we are time-wise from last Christmas ... so, Yay! for that.)

Anyhow, Christmas also came to mind recently because I've been reading through the New Testament, which we've been studying this year in Sunday School. In Luke 2:7, it reads:

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

I italicize those two words in this well-known verse because this is the part that struck me differently this time through the New Testament: the concept that there was no room for Joseph and Mary and their baby, specifically, whereas there might have been room for other people instead. As in, they weren't good looking enough, or knew the right people, or whatever it may have been.

Upon doing a little research, I found a fascinating talk from then-future Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, delivered in 1976, in which he said:

"One impression which has persisted with me recently is that this is a story---in profound paradox with our own times---that this is a story of intense poverty. I wonder if Luke did not have some special meaning when he wrote not 'there was no room in the inn' but specifically that there was no room for them in the inn.' (Luke 2:7; italics added.) We cannot be certain, but it is my guess that money could talk in those days as well as in our own. I think if Joseph and Mary had been people of influence or means, they would have found lodging even at that busy time of year.

"I have wondered if the Inspired Version also was suggesting they did not know the 'right people' in saying, 'There was none to give room for them in the inns.' (JST, Luke 2:7.)"

Here comes my segue, and hopefully somewhere my point: I despise nepotism, i.e. the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. I have encountered nepotism in every single place I have worked---and I can't think of a single exception. Having a friend in a high place, so to speak, has opened a window for me a couple of times; but never at the expense of someone else who deserved it. Nepotism has also burned me badly. Without going into details or dwelling too much on those instances, I have been passed up for promotions or jobs because others knew somebody and pulled those strings.

Odds are, so have you. You and I know that those wounds can cut deeply.

This is just to say that, considering all of the trials, difficulties, illnesses, and problems of ours that the Savior is able to comprehend, being treated poorly because of nepotism is among them, because He lived it. He understands, and He is able to take away that pain. I take great comfort in knowing that. It helps me to move forward.

Arbuckle Family Dinner/July 2019

Earlier tonight, we journeyed out to Grantsville for monthly family dinner with JB's side of the family. A lovely summer evening called for a barbecue, so that's what we did; hamburgers and hot dogs were on the menu, as were potato chips, jello salad, and homemade peach ice cream and strawberry pie for dessert.

Tatum was dressed up (I thought anyway) basically as a wiseman, ready for a Christmas pageant five months too early:

Here is the kid's table at dessert time:

... and thus went a lovely summer evening with lovely people.

Weekend at Bear Lake 2019, Part 1

Not to be outdone after our trip to Lehi Thursday, we went out of town again Friday morning and headed up to Bear Lake to spend the weekend at JB's grandpa's cabin in Laketown.

On the way, we stopped at Gossner's for some cheese curd and root beer milk (like you do), and we also paid Dad a brief visit in the Smithfield cemetery.

His headstone, apparently, was still there, and so were the flowers Mom left for him on Memorial Day weekend.

Once we reached Laketown and the cabin, we had a relaxing weekend along with JB's sister Danielle; her husband, Tyson; and their kids, Kiera and Tatum. We watched DVDs, read books, napped, enjoyed raspberry shakes at LaBeau's and Zipz, and just generally relaxed and had a good time together in cooler temperatures than we are used to at home in Bountiful.

On Friday the 5th, we had a second Independence Day/fireworks night, which included shooting Roman candles off toward the direction of the lake (or casting Harry Potter spells, if you will):

The second night, we made s'mores around the campfire:

Come Sunday, we cleaned up and packed up and were on our way back home to Bountiful. Leaving was an emotional moment for both JB and her sister. They had spent a number of days in their childhood and youth up at this family cabin. and with JB's dad and siblings agreeing to sell the cabin recently, it may very well have been our last chance to spend time up there.

Independence Day 2019

Our country had another birthday this past week. Our family celebrated the occasion, as we are wont to do, by getting together to enjoy a barbecue and fireworks.

Scott and Claudia invited us down to their home in Lehi, where we were also reunited with our cousins Jamie and Jared (who was visiting us from California) and portions of their families. It was the biggest extended family group we've had together in one place since Dad's funeral over two years ago. Claudia's cousins from California also joined us for the occasion.

The hamburgers and hot dogs were plentiful and delicious, as were the fruit and other side dishes, as well as the desserts.

This Fourth of July was unusual in that it was much cooler than others in recent memory. A storm blew in at one point, driving the BBQ indoors for a few hours.

Fortunately, the storm broke in time for us to light of some fireworks out on the street, what we like to call Cul-de-Sac of Fire. By this time, the temperature had dropped to the 60s, which is rather unseasonable for July. And I loved it.

The fireworks were also plentiful, as well as colorful.

The company was even better, and it was good to spend an afternoon and evening with our extended family members.