Today I’m grateful for sleeping in. I’m very much a night person, and rarely get to bed before midnight. Even then I’m not really tired, but I know if I’m up until one or two in the morning, I’ll pay for it the next day. Then I’m usually awake at eight. Here’s my clock this morning:
I really don’t like getting up early, although of course I can do it when needed. Six years of 5:30 alarms for early-morning seminary was rough. And four years of that was combined with working full-time (which meant many late nights), ultimate leagues, and raising kids. Most of the time I’d get around six hours of sleep each night.
I feel like our culture almost prides itself on not getting much sleep. People sort of brag about how little they’ve slept, or how hard they’ve been working, or why they’re so busy they can’t seem to find enough hours to get a proper night’s rest. And at the same time, there are countless research studies that show with little doubt that everyone absolutely needs 7-9 hours of sleep consistently, or they’re in for a world of health problems and even a shorter lifespan. Everyone knows sleep is important, but we still seem to prioritize other things.
Since finishing seminary, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in almost every day. Sure, there are some extra late nights, or those times when I toss and turn a bit before finally drifting off, but overall I’d say I’ve been pretty fortunate in getting seven or so hours of solid sleep. Hopefully I live a little longer as a result!
Today I’m grateful for Mahjongg. It was more than three years ago when I was first introduced to a few ladies in the Mahjongg Gang. It was about two years ago when they first invited me to join their game. And I’ve been playing with them more or less ever since, every Monday at lunch.
The Gang seems to shrink and grow from week to week. Sometimes there’s a visitor from out of town who moved away years ago, but was part of the group in years past. Sometimes there are only two or three of them, and other times there are a dozen (which takes up the entire upstairs room of Rosa’s Pizza). Regardless of numbers, they’re always gracious and pleasant, and we have a good time.
Today I explained to them that I was going to write a brief note about them in my November gratitude journal, and they agreed to be in a group photo. So here’s today’s Gang:
Yes, they’re all twenty years older than me and about a foot shorter, but I still feel like part of the Gang. Thanks, ladies, for welcoming me! And for not taking too many of my quarters…
“I need a photo of an angry cat”, I said to my friends Brandon and Kricket. Sure, I could find one on the internet (there are so many photos of cats on the internet) but I figured I should use a friends’ cat if possible. After all, this is for our Christmas card!
They sent me this.
Pretty good, right? Brandon remarked “Oska isn’t really an angry cat” but somehow they made him look downright mean. Perfect. The card is coming together…
Pepper bought a new sweater the other day, and wore it today with her new skirt. She added her fish earrings and necklace from Hawai’i.
But the crowning moment was when she realized she had a teal water bottle in the cupboard. She added that to the ensemble (she always has a water bottle with her) and completed the set.
Today I’m grateful for church. And I’m referring to the church organization, not the gospel itself. The church is the structure and the people who help me to learn about, and live, the gospel. In my twenty-odd years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’ve met some of the most amazing people and had some pretty amazing experiences.
One thing I love about the church is that it’s a volunteer organization. From top to bottom, everyone does their part and does it without pay or reward. It’s awesome to see how well-run our little ward is here in Bigfork: a few hundred people work together, often without formal training, and keep things humming along. Services happen every Sunday without fail. Classes are taught. Activities are organized. People in need are helped. Year after year, even as the leaders of organizations come and go, as people move in and out of the area, we continue to support one another. We embrace new members, and welcome back those who have left for a time.
In addition to the “lay ministry” we have, we offer opportunities for people to speak publicly, share their beliefs, and teach lessons. Since today is the first Sunday of the month, we had a “testimony meeting” where anyone could come up to the front of the chapel and share a brief experience or a story about their faith or how the gospel has impacted their life. It’s so cool to see random folks do that, and I’m always impressed by the courage it takes– not everyone enjoys speaking in front of a few hundred people!
Church is also a place where I can feel included in a community of like-minded people, all working hard to choose the right and live their best lives. We’re not perfect– not by a long shot– but we’re doing our best. And we’re supporting one another, especially through the hard times. My friend Glenn passed away a few days ago, and it’s been neat to see people flocking to help his widow as she enters this new stage of her life. In the past month I’ve visited people who are sick and can’t leave their homes; I’ve chopped and stacked firewood for a kind older couple who can’t do it themselves; I’ve announced the winners of our annual chili contest at the Halloween party; I’ve organized some upcoming lessons; I’ve given blessings to several people who have been struggling; I’ve helped to clean the building; I’ve worked on the planning for our upcoming Christmas activity; I’ve studied the scriptures and shared some insights with the class; I’ve led a discussion about charity and service; I’ve even had a long, thoughtful, respectful discussion with a preacher from another faith about some of our common beliefs. There’s much to be done, and we all do our share and somehow it all works. It’s magical.
Unfortunately I don’t have many pictures of church (because who walks around Sunday services snapping pictures?) but it just so happens that Pepper invited our friends Andy and Lisa to join us for a photo today. They’re moving down to Arizona for the winter, so we won’t see them for about six months.
And the best thing about the church is the people in it. That’s what makes a church, after all, and the community of friends I have there is incredible.
Today I’m grateful for memes. Oh, I know, memes have been around for years and they’re really just a way to waste time on the internet, and they have no real redeeming quality in the advancement of the human race. But come on, they’re funny!
We have an ongoing “family group chat” consisting of me, Pepper, and the kids (including Kaitlyn). It’s a great place for us to coordinate on trips and visits, or share news, or occasionally talk about some completely random topic. And for some reason it’s also become a great place to share memes. In fact, I don’t think I’d be too far off if I said fully half of our “conversations” in the group chat are just trading hilarious memes back and forth.
Sometimes, though, it gets ugly.
For example, I sent this the other day.
To which Kyra responded:
I couldn’t let that go, so I whipped up a visual response:
I thought that would be the end of it. You can’t beat a giant flying wrestler, right? Well, Alex fired a salvo:
Ouch, that hurt. And by “that hurt” I mean “that made me actually bust up laughing”. These kids are pretty clever. My response to Alex was this:
And then Kaitlyn took up the torch:
And on and on it goes. Although I know in my heart that I spend far too much time cranking out these little visual jokes, it’s sure a blast to trade barbs with the kids.
Today I’m grateful for my hot tub. I consider this one of the “finer things” in my life… something I absolutely don’t need, but sure enjoy having. I never would’ve considered spending the kind of money a good hot tub requires. But hey, our house came with one, so it would be silly not to take advantage of it, right?
Granted, it was kind of janky and needed some repairs, but once Kyra and I got it running, it’s been a champ. It’s pretty magical on cold days, it’s fun at night, and as long as we don’t let it freeze, it serves us well throughout the year. Now that the weather is turning cold, it’s especially nice to sneak in a nice soak on a chilly evening.
Over the years, I think I’ve become a bit spoiled. If this janky 22-year-old tub finally gives out, I might have to consider replacing it. The finer things have a funny way of becoming a little more “necessary” than you’d think…
About a month ago, Pepper and I took a tour of Bigfork’s new Harrell Forest Trail. We rode our bikes a few miles and enjoyed the crisp fall weather and the changing colors. Well, today we went back but this time we walked the trail. Our friends Bob and Nancy joined us.
To my surprise, the larch were still quite yellow. Given the thick blanket of needles on the ground, you’d think they would’ve dropped everything, but the fall colors still had a little life in them.
Walking was quite a bit easier than biking, and we covered the same six miles. It’s nice to get out on a trail, especially one that’s less than an hour away…
Today I’m grateful for seasons. That might seem like a weird thing, but hear me out. I’ve met people who haven’t really experienced seasons. People from places like southern California, where it’s warm and sunny year-round. Or Arizona, where it’s a little warmer. Places where they haven’t experienced snow, or leaves changing color, or spring blossoms. I’m sure they all know about those things, but it’s not the same as having them happen all around you.
Autumn is probably my favorite season, but it’s a close race. Summer is a great time to be out on the water, or hiking a trail, or just enjoying a sunset. But winter means skiing and snow hiking and even bitterly cold days where the best thing to do is just sit in a warm, cozy house. And spring is when the flowers show up, and the shorts come out of the closet after a long hiatus. They’re all great in different ways.
So now, as I consider the beauty of autumn all around this area, I’m reminded of a simple photo I took a couple of weeks ago.
Seasons mean changes, and those changes can be a catalyst for self-reflection. As summer has faded into autumn, and now autumn seems to be gliding into winter, I’ve been thinking about what changes I could (or should) make in my life. That’s a topic for another post, but for now suffice to say that I’m thankful for the beauty of the changing seasons.
A few years ago, I wrote a series of half a dozen #givethanks posts in which I listed the big things I’m grateful for in my life. It was a good exercise, and an opportunity to reflect on what’s most important to me.
Yesterday Kyra asked me to create a blog for her, specifically so she can write a series of daily musings on what she’s grateful for. It sounds like her plan is to do it each day through the month of November, and if it goes well she might continue blogging. There’s a ton of research that indicates people who are more grateful are happier, healthier, kinder, and live longer. It’s really not all that surprising, but what is surprising is how seldom people really express their gratitude– either aloud to others, or silently to themselves.
So, inspired by my amazing daughter, I decided I, too, will spend this month writing a post each day about something I’m grateful for. Back in 2020 I wrote those six posts in which I called out my wife, my kids, my parents, and my friends. While those people are still the absolute best thing in my life, I don’t want to repeat what I wrote then. Instead, this month I’m going to follow Kyra’s example and just jot down some other things that come to mind. Here we go.
Today I’m grateful for my job. Well, technically what used to be my job. For twenty years I was a web developer, self-taught not only in the technology, but in running a company.
I poured so much time, energy, and passion into Zing. It was a huge part of my life, but not in the dreary dark soul-sucking way that some people talk about their jobs. I truly enjoyed the work I did; it was like having the chance to solve a new puzzle every day. Although the challenges I faced weren’t always “fun”, there was always a warm satisfaction in solving them. The clients I worked for were almost universally good, friendly, kind people. My team was invariably sharp, thoughtful, and talented.
It was a long journey, at times frustrating and difficult, to retirement. Those twenty years were filled with long days, late nights, and weekend work. Family vacations often involved popping open my laptop after everyone was in bed, so I could rewrite some code or troubleshoot a server. Managing a team sometimes meant hard conversations and difficult decisions. Yet through the myriad of things that made my job hard, there was a constant undercurrent of excitement and fulfillment.
Even after I stepped away from the daily responsibility of work, I continued to be involved in small ways. I closed the page on the latest chapter of Zing a few weeks ago when I shut down our office in Colorado. The guys continue to do good work, and it makes me proud that I was able to create an environment where they can thrive and (hopefully) enjoy their work. For the four years since I retired, Nick has done a great job continuing and building upon the traditions that made Zing what it is.
If I’m being honest with myself, there are definitely days when I wish I was back in the thick of web development, sharing an office with a group of like-minded programmers, hammering out PHP code in my latest effort to give a client a tool that will help them expand or even transform their business. I didn’t expect that. When my retirement was official on May 30, 2019, I wondered whether I was doing the right thing. And, reflecting on that and the intervening four years today, I know it was the right thing. But I also know I was truly blessed to have a job that was so rewarding and fulfilling.
