A Blessed Thanksgiving...

We realized on Tuesday that our family would not be joining my siblings for this year's Thanksgiving feast. 

We were bummed.

But it couldn't be helped. My wife was still under-the-weather, I had a cold, and the kids were showing signs of catching whatever it was I had. The last thing we wanted to do was subject my extended family with their little babies to our illnesses.

Of course, this left us with a dilemma. What were we going to do about Thanksgiving? My wife didn't feel like she could cook--and I couldn't help, so we turned to our kids. We asked them to help out. Not only did they help out, they did it all! The prep, the serving, and the cleanup...everything! The best part was they were so excited to do it.

It was amazing!

I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised. Our kids our very mature, willing to help, and--as a bonus for us--terrific cooks. The food was fantastic and we wanted for nothing this year. As my wife and I rested after dinner, we pondered on the day. I told her that today was, basically, her dream Thanksgiving come true. We didn't have to travel, we have all the leftovers to feed us in the coming days, and my wife didn't have to do a dang thing. It's a Thanksgiving Miracle!

But seriously, today was special for our family. My wife and I are getting older, with me in my fifties and my wife knocking on the door, if we live long enough the day will come when we will no longer be able to take care of ourselves. And on a warm late November day in 2017, our kids did that for us with smiles on their faces and wonderful food on the table. We are truly blessed.

Barns And Noble...You Can Just Tell

Why is it that ALL Barnes & Noble Bookstores smell the same? Tonight my oldest son and youngest son and I entered a Barnes & Noble Bookstore close to our house and it smelled just like all the other Barnes & Noble Bookstores I've ever entered.

I don't know why it is.

But I know, when I open that door, exactly where I am.

Today was my oldest son's birthday and while his siblings were at a social gathering, I took the other boys out for a night on the town. Our goal was to find dessert for the birthday boy. We can't go just anywhere due to food sensitivities my children have. One place we know a lot about the nutritional composition of their food is Barnes & Noble. We know this because the birthday boy works as a barista at the very Barnes & Noble Bookstore we visited tonight. As far as finding a delicious dessert--mission accomplished.

I wanted to go to the bookstore for a few reasons. I wanted to see if they had any copies of Dave Butler's Witchy Eye. They did and I picked up my copy. I also ran into someone who bought one of my books at Salt Lake Comic Con FanX two weeks ago. I'm going to blog about that later--it was surreal and very cool.

Yes, there's just something about a Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Good books, delicious snacks, and an opportunity to support amazing authors. It's one of the best places on earth and they all seem to smell the same.

Happy Birthday, Son!

Son, in some ways we would have preferred to have you with us on this birthday, this being one of the big birthdays we celebrate. Today's the day you're no longer a teenager. Today you're two decades old.

But you're away, on an assignment for which you volunteered. Last year you were gone, too. I remember being away from home when I turned twenty. Unfortunately I don't remember it enough so I looked in my journal. When I turned twenty I was in the mission office and the mission president, a man a greatly admired who left us far too soon, gave me a chocolate cake. I got birthday cards from members in Odense and from a friend back home. I also got a package from home. This was before the age of e-mails or text messages or Facebook, so if it didn't come in the mail or by phone, that was it.

For our son, we sent packages early so he'd get it before today. And we get to e-mail him each week--an amazing thing.

Son, I hope your birthday has been fantastic! Next year you'll be home and we can eat the cake together. You're missed, but it's for a greater purpose that you're away. Take care, Son. We've got an eternity to celebrate together for all the other birthdays. 

Happy Birthday, Son!

Growing up I loved November, and what's not to love? It's the month after one of the best kid's holidays ever--Halloween. Thanksgiving's in November which meant getting out of school and pigging out with family. It's when the air gets cool and the promise of snow teases children with the possibility of sledding and skiing.

And, it's when birthdays roll around.

I have several friends who have birthdays in November. My dad's birthday, my brother's birthday, several best friends have birthdays in November. And my birthday is in November. I remember when we were pregnant with our second child, we did the math and we knew the birth would be in November. I was stoked!

Our son arrived on November 23, four days from my birthday. Little did I know then that he and I would be so much alike.

From the beginning, it was pretty obvious that my son resembled me, and by resembled, I really mean the kid could be my twin! And age has only added to the resemblance. The picture of my son in the blue blazer--that's pretty much how I looked as a mid-teenager.

Couple of things about my son. He's wicked smart, like three steps ahead of you smart (he and I differ on this point...). Although like me, he can be a little shy in certain circumstances. He takes to computers like a fish takes to water and he has a good heart, he really does.

I can't imagine my life without my twin and the past decade and a half have been an adventure. I sure do love that kid. Happy birthday, son! It's great having you here!