Family Home Evening

Last night brought back a lot of good memories of my childhood. Before bed time we sang "Soy un hijo de Dios" I gave the opening prayer. Jake gave a short lesson out of the Ensign. This included steps that we could take as a family to be more frugal and to help him find a job. Then we knelt as a family and went to bed. It sounds simple but those good feelings that I had growing up during FHE flooded back. There were times I fought having to be at FHE and fought with my sisters and brother at FHE. Looking back not every Monday night went perfect, but overall I remember feeling the spirit as my family would share their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you Mom and Dad for having FHE because it has had a lasting affect on me.

Ruts Re-explored.

My next-door-neighbor growing up had a huge garden and a complex system of water channels to water it all. He would always get mad at my little brother, his sons, and I for running through his garden and disrupting the flow of water by breaking down the walls that directed the water's flow. At the very back of the garden we had a hole that we would play in and would create our own "aqua ducts" using water siphoned from the garden.

What does this have to do with anything?

I will explain.

My last post mentioned that Maria and I are tired of the rut that we have gotten ourselves into. While this is true, we are exhausted, we too must realize that we created this rut. That may sound like a negative thing but it isn't. In the garden and our hole the ruts served a purpose to save time, improve efficiency, and complete a goal. The rut Maria and I are in is tough but it leads to a better place.

Some people's ruts take them no where. They find themselves stuck in life with no where to go or worse going backwards. School seems like a huge rut right now but I have to remember my goals and where I want to go in life and realize that this rut is necessary to accomplishing these things.

So it is not a bad thing that we find ourselves in a rut - it is necessary for the effective flow of life.

Stuck

I think the monotony of life is starting to catch up with Maria and me both.

We are both just so tired of where we are right now in life.

Maria is the bread winner, having to leave her son at home as she does her 9 to 5 in a 4ft by 4ft cubical. She wants nothing more than to stay home and take care of Davis, the house, and me.

I start four new classes every six weeks but there are times that I forget what classes I am even in because they have all become one long class. I am tired of being a kept man. I want to go out and work.

We both want out of this rut.

Dear Journal-

This last week was one to remember.

I went to Indiana for my little sister's wedding (sister from another mother) and had the opportunity to spend some time with a good friend of mine that I hope to NOT see again for a long while.

This friend, although a good friend, has been nothing but trouble for me and my family and has caused a ton of unhappiness in my youth and adult years. I spent the entire week with this friend and have come to the realization avoiding this friend as much as possible will do me a lot of good.

This, I am sure, comes as a shock to many of you who knew how much I was looking forward to this week and how much I love this friend - but sacrifices must be made for future happiness.

With that said I pledge, to my health and happiness this time (rather than money), another year of no sugar.

I will miss you but it is for the best.

Good bye old friend.

-Jake

Cast Iron Skillets

Over the weekend we went camping. While the situation and conditions were not ideal with rain, lack of tents, hail, wind, and fire restrictions we still had a good time for the most part. Davis had a blast but his mom got worn out and had a hard time staying warm and they went home a bit early.

I have always been a big fan of the outdoors and camping. I remember when me and a friend would have one of our parents drive us out east of SJ and drop us off for a night or two by our selves. We were doing this as early as 12 if I recall. In the past I have always had access and use of my dads arsenal of camp gear, and still do, but I am feeling the need and desire to begin getting my own gear.

We have not had the best of luck with camp gear recently. Our tent took a hard one after a big storm following this camping experience. We now find ourselves tent-less. Our sleeping bag and cowboy pack went MIA during Karen's hunting trip. The dutch oven is about all that we have left.

Rodney, my best friend, is up and moving to Indiana and I am trying to convince him that his camp gear belongs here in AZ and that I would be the perfect person to inherit it all. He seems to think otherwise. Two items in particular of his I would like to have, his cast iron skillets.

Everything seems to taste better cooked in cast iron and that was the case this weekend. For breakfast we cooked eggs (to go along with our pancakes, bacon, and hashbrowns) in one of the skillets and they were amazing and even more impressive was the sausage gravy we made for our biscuits in the other skillet.

Lastly, just a friendly reminder to all - my birthday is August 3rd I am sure you all can think of some great gift ideas now.