Shoveling in a Winter Wonderland

December 23 - We woke up this morning to a LOT more snow! I got up at 6:00 and looked out the window. The snow was more than a foot deep and still snowing. I started shoveling, and had a path cleared for one car a little before 9:00. That is a 12" ruler in the photo on top of my car. Today is the day we drive to Mesa for the Brooksby family party tonight, and it looks like it is going to be a rather slow trip with all the snow on the roads.


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Remember always the real reason for the blessed season.

Our Best Christmas Ever

If I were asked to name my favorite Christmas ever, I would immediately answer Christmas, 1994. Christmas fell on a Sunday that year. I was the Bishop of our ward, and we had decided only to have Sacrament meeting that year, combined with the other ward in our building. The meeting was special: one of the speakers was Greg Prososki, who was not a member of the church and who had never expressed any interest in joining the church (He was later baptized).

After church that morning, our family opened the presents we had at home, then bundled ourselves into our van for a drive to Mesa to spend Christmas with the rest of our extended family. On the way down, we sang Christmas carols and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah. Having a musical family is such a blessing.

As we were approaching the Valley of the Sun, we remembered that Sister Kaggie, a sweet, elderly lady in our ward, lay recovering from a stroke at Barrow’s Neurological Institute in Phoenix. We thought of how hard it must be lying in a hospital bed on Christmas, hundreds of miles from family and friends. Jan suggested that we make a detour and do some Christmas caroling to her in the hospital; after all, no one in Mesa knew what time we would be arriving. Instantly, the entire family agreed.

We drove into Phoenix and after driving around for awhile, arrived at Barrow’s. An inquiry at the front desk gave us her room number. We rode the elevator to her floor in excited anticipation, planning on the songs we would sing for her. As we arrived at her room, we started singing. I will never forget the lovely smile and excitement in her eyes as she recognized us.

My family sang for her for perhaps twenty minutes. People from all over the floor came as they heard the music. Finally, we stopped singing and wished her and everyone there a Merry Christmas as we left. We walked back to our van quietly, and really didn’t talk all that much as we made the drive back to Mesa.

I don’t remember anything else about that Christmas: what I got, what anyone else got, or anything else we did. Without a doubt, it was the best Christmas I remember, because we shared the love and joy of the season with a dear friend in need. It was only two more years until she had passed on. But the memory of singing to her that Christmas day lingers on in our family.

The Adventures Continue...

What a week we had last week! On Tuesday we flew to Salt Lake City where Emily and the kids picked us up. We spent the afternoon having lunch at Big H burgers (Yum!) then went to the Discovery Zone children's museum for a few hours before riding the tram to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. That was a full day. Wednesday we just played with Jackson, Natalie and Staci. We had a great time.


Thursday was sad, saying good-bye to the kids. Natalie just broke our hearts - she was so sad about us leaving after only two days. She wanted her Grandma to stay "for five years." She kept saying, "I just can't take it anymore!" through her tears. We rented a car and drove to Rexburg to help John and Anna pack and move. John's graduation was Friday night, but there was an enormous winter storm moving into the area Friday night. We told John that we hated to miss his graduation, but if we didn't get out of Rexburg Friday, we might not get out for a week. At the last minute, he agreed and passed up his own college graduation to go with us.

We left Rexburg at 3:00 Friday afternoon, me driving the moving truck, Jan driving the rental car, and John and Anna and the boys in their car. We drove like the wind (John gets his driving habits from Jan, if you know what I mean), and finally called it a day in Nephi, Utah at about 9:00 pm.


Saturday morning there was no snow in Nephi - a relief - but it was blizzarding in Salt Lake City, so we hurried and left. We had dark clouds hanging over us almost all day, but the only thing we really had to contend with was extremely high winds all the way to Phoenix. I mean, there were many times that I thought we were going to be blown clear off the road or into oncoming traffic. It was a white-knuckled 12 hours of driving. Finally we arrived in Mesa, and I was completely exhausted.

Sunday, Jan and I drove home to Pinetop-Lakeside. There was a little bit of snow on the ground, but the driving was pretty easy. Today (Monday) it is snowing, and the forecast for tonight and tomorrow is MAJOR snow. So we got home just in time.

As I came to the office this morning, I found my office decorated with congratulatory ribbons, decorations, and confetti. In our travels last week, I had to miss the Town Christmas party, where I was named "Department Head of the Year" by our Town Manager. It was a nice surprise to come home to. I got a plaque and a $50 gift card to Safeway.

It has been a pretty rewarding/enjoyable/stressful/happy week. Love to all.

Thanksgiving Thoughts and More

Well, as usual, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Pine at the cabin with family members. Cynthia, Chris and Hannah drove up to spend Thanksgiving afternoon with us, and Melissa, Brad and the family came up Friday for a few hours. We loved spending time with loved ones, thinking about the many ways our family has been blessed and continues to be blessed. We are so thankful for our parents, our siblings, our extended family, and all of our posterity. If we were to be any more blessed, we would not have room to receive it all.

I was talking with Phil Thursday, and he was telling about the life lessons he has learned watching dogs interact with their young. He says that from the moment a baby is born, be it a dog or a human, it is either being trained by the parents or the parents are being trained by the baby. He gave some tasty scraps once to their dog who had given birth just a week before. The puppies tried to get to the mother's food. As they approached, she growled and then snipped at the puppies, biting them enough to feel it, but not enough to hurt. The puppies backed away. When they tried later, all she had to do was growl and they backed off. They learned very early to obey their mother.

My grandpa Hamblin taught me about letting a horse have its own head. He told me that a horse has to learn who is in charge. If the rider is not in charge, the rider will have no control over where the horse and rider go. Sometimes you have to speak the language the horse understands to get him to obey, because nothing is more useless than a disobedient horse.

This got me thinking about parenthood. The scriptures tell us that we are to teach our children to obey their parents, to correct them when they need correcting, to teach them to be subject to their parents (Prov 13:24, 23:13). This is a commandment. I have often wondered why children have to learn to obey. Why not just let a child determine what happens in the home? The little one doesn't want to go to bed, so he doesn't have to until he feels like it. He doesn't want to eat what Mom has fixed, so she fixes something he likes. He wants a story, then another, then another, when the parents need to get other things done. There is one basic thing wrong with raising a child this way.

That thing is the godly quality of obedience. How will a child raised that way ever learn to submit his will to God, when he has never had to submit his will to anyone before? This is the way to raise a bunch of "natural men;" enemies to God. Children who always get their way as children not only grow up spoiled, but it will be much harder for them to grasp the concept of obeying God's commandments later, because they have grown up thinking that their way is the right way. Does that make sense?

Deuteronomy 8:2 says, "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no." In other words, the people were being tested, and it took 40 years for the Israelites, as a group, to show the Lord that they would be obedient. There must have been a lot of people used to having their own way in that group.

Mosiah 3:17 says that unless we become as little children, submissive, humble, meek, patient, and willing to submit to all things even as a child submits to his father, we cannot be sanctified. It sounds to me like parents must set the rules and enforce the rules, or else how can a child learn to submit to his father, and later to his Heavenly Father?

Too many times, I see young families who just let their children do whatever they want, with no reprimands or consequences, in the name of gentleness. Again, I am not suggesting that parents need to be mean or harsh, but they need to teach their children that the parents make the rules and the children obey. I believe that this is truly in the best interest of the children. Parents must be gentle but firm. It is time to go. It is time for bed. This is what we are eating tonight. No, you may not do that. This is not meanness; it is kindness. It is helping them turn into the kind of people Heavenly Father wants and needs.

Just as we sometimes have to say, "Lord, I don't know why I have to go through this trial, but I know you do, and I trust you," our children need to learn that theirs is not the will that governs the universe.

So much for the ramblings of an ancient parent. Think about it.

How did this happen?

We had a very interesting experience last Friday night at Will and Melanie's wedding. The DJ called for all married couples to come forward to the dance floor for a dance off. Naturally, we joined the rest of the couples, and started dancing with the rest of them. The DJ then asked for any couples who had been married less than 5 hours to move to the side, so Melanie and Will moved off. Then he called for those married less than 5 years to move to the side, which they did. He called for those married less than 10 years, and they left; less than 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, 30 years, and more and more people moved to the side. At this point, there were only two couples left on the dance floor - Jan and me, and MY PARENTS! Whoa! Was that ever a strange sensation! When he called for 50 years or less, we left Mom and Dad alone on the dance floor, which had been the purpose of the game all along. The DJ read the story of how they met, and how they had just celebrated their 59th anniversary. It was really a sweet moment in a very enjoyable evening. But being the second oldest people at the party was strange!

It reminded me of when I was teaching Psychology at Glendale Community College. We were talking about how some events have so much emotion tied up in them that you never forget where you were and what you were doing. For instance, I remember where I was when I heard about the revelation that gave all worthy men in the church the Priesthood. Anyway, I asked the class, "How many of you remember where you were when you heard that President Kennedy had been assassinated?" No one raised his hand, so I asked again. No response. Finally, a young girl in the back of the class said, "Mr. Brooksby, we weren't born yet." That day I realized which side of the hill I was standing on. That was more than 20 years ago, and I am still standing on that hill, on the downhill side.

The End of America?

Lately I have lain awake at night many times, wondering if America would survive this election cycle. I have spent altogether too much time worrying about the America my children and grandchildren would have to live in. I have expressed these concerns openly. As I have seen Americans embrace socialist principles over the last couple of decades, I have been saddened, because socialism is the antithesis of the gospel of Christ. While Socialists preach of compassion and taking care of the poor, they embrace the element of force and compulsion to use other people's money to achieve their lofty goals. Imagine this: Jan and I gave more money to charity last year than Barack Obama and Joe Biden combined! Just think of the difference between 1) skipping meals voluntarily and giving the money to feed the poor and 2) having so much taken from you by force to feed the poor that you can hardly feed yourself. The first scenario is the result of love and leads to greater self control and spiritual growth, while the second has nothing to do with love and does not foster personal growth.

A half-century ago, in a classic exchange between two men on opposite ends of the moral and political spectrum, Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev bragged to Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson (an Apostle at the time), "Your grandchildren will live under communism!" To which Elder Benson enthusiastically replied: "If I have it my way, your grandchildren will live free!" Khrushchev fired back, "Oh you Americans! You're so gullible! We'll spoon feed you socialism until you're Communists and don't even know it. We'll never have to fire a shot!" Ironically, history has to some degree vindicated both men.

There is no question we are living in the Last Days. All the signs of the times are becoming obvious. We are in for some turbulent days ahead. So many times when we read the scriptures about our days, we are frightened by the words of terror and destruction and we miss the little words hidden within that should console us. The Lord does not want His people fearful – He wants us faithful. Look at the following from 2 Nephi chapter 1:

7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.
10 But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord… behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.
11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten.

And what about these words from Moses chapter 7:

60 And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah;
61 And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve;
62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.

That sounds to me like the only real safety in the days ahead lies in personal righteousness and obedience to the Lord’s commandments.

Fear and faith cannot exist in the same person at the same time, so we must choose whether we want to be filled with fear or faith. I was impressed with the words of Hugh Nibley when I read the account of his experiences in the D-Day invasion of France. He was among the first ashore in that invasion, but he was not afraid. He viewed his entire war experience with this belief: it does not matter what becomes of me; it only matters what I become. As we watch the unfolding of events that we have known for years would unfold, we must not be afraid. They are signs to us that the Great Event that we profess to look forward to is just around the corner. Let us have faith in God, come what may. I am going to cease worrying about America, even if I can’t stop caring.

Let's all hold on to each other until this roller coaster ride comes to an end.

Disney Adventures

We had a great time in California last week. Kent was at a software conference at the Disneyland Hotel, hobnobbing with Mickey and Goofy. Jan got to play in the park with Melissa and Brad and the kids. We discovered that Susannah and Owen are roller coaster nuts! They LOVE roller coasters. Lydia prefers rides that are a little less exciting like the Story Book Land boat ride (I think she has a great future as an accountant). When Grandpa Kent finally was able to join the family at the park Wednesday night, Susannah and Owen dragged him onto a roller coaster, encouraging him to be brave. Lydia was frightened by the elevators at the hotel (she's definitely Grandpa's girl).

Our first night together, we thought we would try taking the family to Goofy's Kitchen, a restaurant right next to the hotel. There were lots of familys in there, so we figured it would be good. When I told them we had four adults and three children, they told me there would be no charge for the two-year-old. Then they told me that the cost of the buffet for four adults and two children would be $193! We decided instead to go back to our room and order a Pizza Hut delivery. Two large pizzas, delivered, cost us $34, saving us $160. Eating this way, we saved enough money over the next two days to pay for the trip!

It really was fun. There is nothing can compare to a four-year-old coming off a ride exclaiming, "That was the BEST RIDE EVER!" A great time was had by all. Can you believe it - dinner was going to be $193!

What do you know for certain?

Last week we were in Mesa, and we were reading a magazine of Grandma Hiatt's. I won't name the magazine, but it is named after a certain celebrity whose picture graces the cover of every issue (talk about self-absorbed!). Anyway, there was an article in which this celebrity mentioned being interviewed a few years ago when the interviewer asked her "What do you know for certain?" She said the question completely stumped her - she couldn't think of anything she knew for certain. It is probably not her fault; after all, she is a leader in a world that says that everything is relative and that certainty is a sign of closed mindedness. In this issue of her magazine, she asked several "important" people - other celebrities - to write a blurb on what they knew for certain. Most of the responses were pretty fluffy, like "I know I am a great athlete." Dull!

Here are some things I know for certain. I know that God lives. I know that He answers sincere prayers, for He has certainly answered mine. I know that He loves His children and gives them the experiences and the challenges they need for their growth and development. These experiences and challenges are not always what His children think they need, but they are what they need nonetheless.

I know that Jesus is the Christ, my Savior and Redeemer. No one I know has greater need for saving and redeeming than I do, and I am grateful for that saving grace. I know that the Savior restored the fulness of His gospel to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith, the great prophet of the restoration. I know that He continues to lead His church through living apostles and prophets. I had a powerful, sweet witness of President Hinckley's apostolic calling while on my mission, and I know that that same spirit of prophecy rests today on President Monson and the Twelve.

I know that repentance is the greatest gift we can receive from God. And I know that the key to real repentance is repenting not only of the sin, but repenting of the motivation for the sin. We must give up our unrighteous motivations to really ever come clean.

I know that the real key to happiness is obedience to the commandments of God. I know that He gave us the commandments not to keep us from having fun, but to clear the way to stay free from entanglements that prevent joy. I have had to learn this lesson way too many times, but I think I have finally learned it.

I know that I married a woman of incredible patience and faith, and that my life would be empty without her. She has been my closest friend in my life, and continues to be. Our marriage grows stronger and sweeter because of her. She has given me a family who I love more than I love life itself. I know now that little children are pure and sweet and should be loved more and scolded less. Sorry, kids, for taking so long to learn that one!

I know these things for certain. I feel sorry for people who cannot say they know anything for certain, no matter how rich or famous they are. I would not trade what I know for certain for wealth or fame, because the things I know give me strength and peace and comfort in this life, whatever it throws at me.

Since everyone seems to be tagging these days, I tag everyone who reads this blog to write what they know for certain.

Photo Tag?

OK, we will participate. Here is the fourth picture in our fourth photo pholder. It is Grandma holding Joshua in Rexburg in May 2007 - he was just a couple of weeks old.

We are not tagging anyone!

Back by Popular Request

Have you ever noticed how, as people get older, they start sounding like Andy Rooney?

I have been thinking a lot about civilization and manners lately. Couldn’t say why, except that I have seen a great decline in basic civility – those rules which preserve civilization – in my lifetime. Here are some things I remember about the world when I was younger:

1. People used to dress in their best clothes to go shopping, even grocery shopping. No one would think of going to a store dressed in worn out jeans and a crumpled T-shirt, much less in a shirt that has profanities printed on it.

2. People used to dress in their best clothes to travel on airplanes or trains. No need to elaborate there, is there?

3. One never used to see or hear profanity in public, unless he or she were visiting a construction site or shipyard. And certain things were just not allowed on TV - not just bleeped out. People who could not control their tongues were simply not on the air.

The whole “in your face” attitude that began in earnest in the 60’s has nearly destroyed manners in our society. You see, manners are not just a matter of knowing what fork to use. Real manners or etiquette begins with knowing where you are in the world, and seeking to ease the experience for your fellow travelers. If we ask ourselves, “How does what I am doing affect the other people in this room? What can I do to help the other guy have a pleasant day?” we will find ourselves on the road to true civility.

A person with good manners listens to others who are talking with the aim of understanding the other person, not just waiting for a break to speak.

A person with good manners does not keep others waiting, because he knows that other people’s time is just as valuable as his own. If he is going to be late, he calls ahead to apologize and let people know.

A person with good manners – a civil person – dresses neatly because he thinks others do not want to see a slob. He eats carefully, slowly, taking small bites rather than wolfing down his food. He says “Please” and “Thank You” because he likes to hear those words himself, and because he has a genuine sense of gratitude for what others do.

A person with good manners smiles at people he meets because he knows that a smile creates an immediate feeling of being at ease with a stranger. I heard someone say once that whenever he meets someone new, he always says, “I am glad to meet you. I have heard so many nice things about you.” That is really civilized.

This is why we are told to always pass the salt and the pepper together. It is just an effort to ease the journey for our fellow human beings. Since a person who wants salt often wants pepper, too, keeping and passing them together prevents a person from having to ask two people for what he needs. Does that make sense?

I am not saying that we should be compulsively focused on what we are doing all the time; only that we should try to be on our best behavior and walk gently through this life, helping to ease the way for everyone else we meet. You will recall what the Savior said about losing our life in the service of others. If we will earnestly try to help and serve others, we will find others trying to help us in our journey, too.

RANDOM THINGS ABOUT MOM

I don't usually fill these out because I have a hard time thinking of anything random about me that you all don't already know. Oh well, Andrea tagged me and so I'll give it a try. By the way, I typed this all myself with no help from Kent!

1. My favorite movie all the time I was growing up was "Pollyanna." I loved that she went around her town trying to make everyone feel glad-even the major grouches. Then everyone in town loved her in return. I wanted to be just like her but that ended up being mostly in my dreams.

2. I love music but I can't listen to music and concentrate on anything else. Like right now Dad is playing the piano in the living room and I'm trying to type this silly thing and can't think at all. Music totally distracts me. I must have undiagnosed ADD.

3. I've always wanted to learn to scuba dive. Even when I was a kid I would swim around under water and see how long I could hold my breath pretending to be a mermaid. Boy! I wish I could swim under water now. When I've tried lately, my bouyant body will not let me stay under for more than ten seconds at a time.

4. I love getting cards that people write in. I have two boxes under my bed stuffed full of cards. So when I tell you that what you write in the cards you send to me is the best present, I really mean it.

5. My favorite cereal is Nabisco Shredded Wheat (lg biscuit) with green grapes. I also like Wheaties with fresh peaches, Cornflakes with bananas and Cheerios with strawberries. I just have to have those cereals with those fruits or I'm not happy.

6. I'm super analytical. I'm really good at games where I can take my time and think about each move to make such as: Mastermind and Scrabble. I'm not so good at games where you have to think and move really fast like: Nertz or Boggle. I think I drive people crazy when they play games with me, but I have improved in sportsmanship since getting older.

7. My favorite kind of movies are the really quirky, funny ones like "Waking Ned Divine","A Pyromaniacs Love Story" and "So I Married an Ax Murderer". I even like "Napoleon Dynamite". I hate, hate, hate scary movies. My big brother and I use to watch scary movies on Saturday afternoons after which he would chase me around the house pretending to be a monster. Then that same night I would have awful nightmares.

The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

Well, General Conference just ended, Jan is in the kitchen singing "How Great Thou Art" and making an apple pie, and life is good. I have thought many times over the last two days of Conference as I listened to all the mentions of hard times and adversity, how richly blessed my life has been. Times are a little hard right now, and may get a lot harder before they get easier, but life is good.

I was thinking of the hard times my parents have lived through. They were young during the Great Depression and didn't realize they were poor because everyone they knew was poor, too. Then there was the horror of WWII. The US fought for several years before the war started turning in our favor. Millions were killed in that war. My father returned from the war and married, and I was born only 5 1/2 years after the end of the war, and just after the outbreak of the Korean war.

I remember as a little child, watching the news and wondering if we were going to be attacked with atomic weapons. We used to do A-Bomb drills in grade school; just like a fire drill but you didn't get to go outside. I remember thinking the world could end any day.

After my mission we married and almost immediately the Arab oil embargo started. We used to go get in line at the gas station at 5:30 in the morning to have a chance to get gasoline for our cars. Those were hard times in my young life.

When I got out of grad school, Pres. Carter was President, mortgage interest rates were between 12% and 16%, inflation was running at about 20%, and unemployment was at an all time high in my lifetime. Those were hard times, trying to make a living as a young marriage counselor and make a house payment on a new home (it cost $70,000 with a 12.5% mortgage).

Life has easy times; life has hard times. We can never rely on the world's solutions to the world's problems to be very effective. We know what the constant truth is, and if we hold fast to that, come what may, we can make it through. The important thing in this life is not what becomes of us, it is what we become. How greatful we are to know what we know and to know that this will all work out for the best in the end. We have read the book, and the ending is a happy one.

Tagged! (revised)

I got tagged by Andrea (thanks a LOT!)so now I have to write 7 random things about myself. Here goes (man, I hate these things):

1. I am a co-holder of the AZ state record for TP'ing houses. One night in my Senior year at Westwood High, my friends and I TP'd 45 houses in ONE NIGHT! We selected houses at random all over Mesa, and left little signs that said, "Congratulations. You have been TP'd by the Four-Eyed Gang" (that was the name of our nerd group).

2. I have always secretly wished that I had been a band teacher. Just the thought of all those beginning clarinet and saxophone players!

3. If I could only listen to one kind of music for the rest of my life, I would choose - no, I couldn't choose one. I would rather listen to no music than only one kind. Well, maybe sacred choral music. Or perhaps smooth jazz. Or Chicago. Or if I could listen to Jan sing, that would definitely do!

4. I still think "Take the Money and Run" is one of the funniest movies ever made. I'll bet I have seen it 20 times, and it still makes me laugh. My favorite TV show as a kid was Adventures in Paradise. Now my favorite show is Jeopardy.

5. I used to feel like a real failure as a missionary, but my brother told me to get over it, and pronounced me happy. So now I no longer feel like a failure.

6. I really have missed my grandparents as an adult, especially my grandfathers. I felt so close to Grandpa Hamblin, and I felt cheated when he died while I was on my mission. I don't know if he ever knew how much he meant to me.

7. Heaven to me would be being locked in a room with all my grandkids for a week!

I tag whoever had the guts to read all the way through this rambling. Man, I hate these things! I also hate those emails that ask your favorite color, what you are wearing, the last time you cried, etc, etc, ad nauseum. There - I got it off my chest, and I feel so much better.

Alhamdellah!

A story from "The White Bedouin" by George S. Potter:

Once upon a time there was a king and his faithful chief servant. The servant was a good Muslim. He was known to be cheerful and always thanked God for every event, whether good or bad. "Alhamdellah: thank God; It's a good thing," he would say.

One day the king decided to take trip and have his chief servant accompany him. Just before they were to leave on the journey, the king accidentally cut off part of his little finger. "Alhamdellah," the servant said. "It is a good thing." The chief servant's apparent insensitivity outraged the king, so he had his loyal servant put in prison.

While on his journey, the king had to pass through a dark jungle. Deep in the jungle, primitive savages attacked the royal party. The king's guards were killed, and the king was taken hostage. They savages gathered firewood to burn the king alive. Just as they were about to sacrifice the king to their pagan god, the savages noticed that a part of his finger was missing. Sacrificing such an imperfect offering would only offend their god, so they let the king go free.

When the king returned from his journey, he immediately freed his chief servant from prison. "Forgive me. Forgive me," the king said to his chief servant. "You were right. If I had not cut off part of my finger, I would have been burned at the stake. Will you ever forgive me?"

"Alhamdellah," the chief servant said once again. "Thank God you threw me into prison. It was a good thing."

The king shook his head, "How could it have been a good thing that I put you in prison?"

The servant replied, "If you had not put me in jail, I would have been with you in the jungle, and the savages would have sacrificed me in your place."


This story really strikes a chord in me. We never know in advance when "tragedy" strikes, how it may turn out to be a blessing. We need to have enough faith in our father in Heaven to accept His will for us - whatever it entails. We need to be more like the servant and thank God for everything that happens in our lives, because we cannot tell, from our mortal vantage point, what the bigger picture is.

Our Trip

What a time we had in Canada! On Friday, Aug 29, we flew into Vancouver. We stayed downtown at the Sheraton Wall Centre, which was centrally located. Our first evening there, we ate Sablefish at the Blue Water Cafe. The fish was unbelievably tender and delicious, if a bit pricey. After dinner we walked along the sea for a couple of miles then went back to our hotel.

The next morning, we took a taxi to Stanley Park in north Vancouver. It is a beautiful park full of trees, lakes, hiking paths, and flowers. In December 2006, a cyclone hit the park, knocking down 10,000 trees, but you could hardly tell, there were so many left standing. We got to briefly watch a cricket match, then hiked into the centre (Canadian spelling) of the park. After that, we rode a bus to Granville Island - the artsy crafty center of Vancouver. The picture above is the view from the northern edge of Stanley Park.

Sunday we caught a bus at 7:30 in the morning that drove us several miles to the ferry. The bus drove right onto the ferry for the 90 minute trip to Swartz Bay, north of Victoria, then when we arrived, it carried us right into downtown Victoria. We checked into our B&B and caught a bus to church on Quadra Street. After church we walked around Victoria for awhile, then went back to our room for a good night's sleep. The Spinnaker B&B was right next to Victoria harbor, which doubles as the runway for the local pontoon airplanes. It was neat seeing all the ships and planes coming and going in the harbor.

Monday we caught a ride on a whale watching boat, and headed out to sea. After about 4 hours of whale watching, the ship dropped us off at Butchart Gardens. What a beautiful place that is! Jan remarked that if the Celestial Kingdom doesn't look like that, she will be disappointed. I agree.

Tuesday we took it easy, just wandering around looking at the incredible beauty of Victoria. The place looks and feels like Europe, with enormous baskets of flowers hanging everywhere. It was a gentle walk along the sea from where we were staying into downtown, so we did a lot of walking. It took away the guilt of eating some of the food we got to eat there.

Wednesday morning we caught the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles, Washington, where our friends the Wilcoxes met us. They drove us to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Forest (see picture), then to their home in Shelton. We spent the next couple of days in the back seat of their car, craning our necks looking at the dense forestation and craggy mountain peaks of the Olympic penninsula. We drove out to Mt. Ranier on Thursday, and we weren't prepared for the beauty of that mountain. Just breathtaking!

Saturday morning we drove into Seattle to visit the famous Pike's Place Market, where you can see the fish mongers throwing fish to each other across the crowded room. There were thousands of flowers for sale, and fresh fruits and vegetables of every color and description.

All too soon, though, we had to leave for the airport. We were wondering why, when we have so often said that "no matter where you go, you will run into someone you know," we had not seen anyone we knew except our friends we had planned on seeing. But sitting in the Alaska Air terminal, Jan suddenly said, "That looks like Jeanine Blau!" - a friend from our childhood ward that neither of us had seen in more than 3 decades. And sure enough - it was she! So we are proven correct yet again!

All in all, it was a wonderful trip, packed with the most beautiful scenery imaginable. We are glad to be home, though. Our bed felt really good Sunday night.

Goodbye, eh?

Well, the magic day has arrived, and we are off to Canada on Friday. We have wished and planned for this day for a long time. Friday we fly to Vancouver, where we are staying at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel, just south of Stanley Park. We will be there all day Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday morning we will take the ferry from Tsawassen to Victoria. We'll go to church in Victoria, then spend the day sightseeing. We are staying at the Spinnaker Victorian Guesthouse Sunday night through Wednesday morning. Monday we are taking a whale watching boat trip that drops us off at Butchart Gardens for an afternoon of sightseeing. Tuesday we will just wander around seeing whatever our feets takes us to. Wednesday morning we take the ferry to Port Angeles where our friends, the Wilcoxes, will pick us up. We will spend the next few days with them, ferrying in to Seattle to see the sights there, and then leave Saturday evening to fly back to Phoenix.

This is our first vacation alone together since our honeymoon 35 years ago, so we don't feel the least bit bad about making it a blowout occasion. We love you all, and we will post details and pictures upon our return, eh?

Family Reunion 2008

We held the 2nd Annual Brooksby Children & Descendents Exceptional Family Gathering ("ABCDEFG") at the Hiatt Cabin in Pine July 31-Aug 1. It was wonderful to have EVERYONE there, including both sets of great-grandparents. What a blessing to have a family like ours that loves one another and supports one another. We had planned to have a Hawaiian theme with structured activities, but once the grandkids got playing, all sense of structure was GONE, GONE, GONE! No theme next year; we'll wait until everyone is just a tad older before we try a theme.

It has been a hectic month, to say the least. We had Cynthia and Chris and Hannah from July 3 - July 7. On the 9th, Kent flew to Salt Lake to join Emily and the kids on a two-day drive down to Mesa. On the 11th, Emily, Melissa, Andrea, all the kiddos and Kent drove to Pinetop for a weekend (or week) together. The next weekend was the Hiatt reunion, with John and Anna and the boys coming to Pinetop for a week, then the ABCDEFG, followed by a drive back down to the Valley for Chris' graduation on August 2 (Congrats, Dr. Chris!). When Mom and I drove home early the morning of the 3rd, we spent the entire afternoon sleeping a deep and needed sleep. But what a joyous month, having so much time with so many family members.

The biggest news from Pinetop-Lakeside is that Jan and I are going to Vancouver/Seattle for 9 days at the end of the month! We are flying into Vancouver on Aug 29, riding the ferry to Victoria on the 31st. We go whale watching and tour Bouchart Gardens on Sep 1, and take the ferry to Port Angeles, WA on Sep 3. Our dear friends, the Wilcoxes, will meet us there. We'll spend 4 days seeing the sights of Washington State, and fly back to Phoenix on the evening of September 6. We are really looking forward to this trip, because it is the first real vacation we have taken alone together in a long, LONG TIME! It will cost a ton, but what are credit cards for?

Fishing with Jackson

Jackson and I went fishing at Edler's Lake across from our home on July 15. After sitting there for quite a while with no action, I took my line out of the water and attached a gold CastMaster lure. Using a technique that only Grandpas know that I cannot tell you unless you are a Grandpa, Jackson caught his first fish! It was a real beauty - a rainbow trout nearly 18" long. It was his first fish, and boy! was he excited. We took it home and cleaned it (Jackson held the fish's heart in his hands like a real fisherman) and cooked it for dinner. It wouldn't even fit in my frying pan after I cut the head off. That was a big fish! Congrats to Jackson. Now the bad news - when your first ever fish is a lunker like that, it's a long, slow, descent into regular fishing. I have only recently recovered from our Lee's Ferry fishing trip, which nearly spoiled Arizona fishing for me.

My Jib Jab Premier

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Papa for President!

Counsel for my Grandchildren

I was looking for some pictures for my Primary class, studying Alma 37:35-37, and I came upon a couple of pictures of little kids reading the scriptures.

Both of the blogsites I looked at talked about how their little children are learning to read by reading the scriptures. It reminded me of how early Andrea learned to read, largely because we read the scriptures and she wanted to help. I hope and pray that my grandkids are learning to read the scriptures daily. I was not raised in a home that read the scriptures every day [the Church did not emphasize it back then], and it has been a struggle for me every day of my life. As I have seen the world collapsing around us, and because I know it will continue to collapse into more and more wickedness, I cannot overemphasize the importance of daily scripture reading and daily family prayer. If you think your children will be adequately armed to face the adversary without those two things, you are mistaken. They must be prepared better than you were, so you must do better than I did as a parent to prepare them. Do not fail in this sacred responsibility. The stakes are too high.

Please excuse me for preaching what I have not adequately practiced. I love every single person in my posterity, and I shudder to think of any of them wandering into forbidden paths and getting lost. No matter what it takes, teach them to read and ponder the scriptures and to pray meaningfully. Oh, and one other thing: I would rather have pictures of my own grandkids reading the scriptures than pictures of total strangers (hint, hint).

Letters from my Great-Great Grandfather

Today I felt like posting two letters from my great-great grandfather, Warren Marshall Johnson, that mean almost as much to me as the scriptures. Whenever I feel like I have had a bad day or things aren't going as I had planned, I read these letters to give me perspective. I don't know why I feel impressed to share them, but for whoever may be blessed by them, here they are.

Lee’s Ferry, Arizona July 29, 1891

President Wilford Woodruff

Dear Brother,

It has occurred to me that you ought to know how affairs are going at this place, which is my excuse for intruding on your time, which I know is fully occupied with other affairs.

Last spring I divided my family, according to your counsel, a portion of them moving to Kanab for the purpose of schooling my children. In May 1891 a family residing in Tuba City came here from Richfield, Utah, where they had spent the winter visiting friends. At Panguitch they buried a child, and without disinfecting the wagon or themselves, not even stopping to wash the dead child’s clothes, they came to our house, and remained overnight, mingling with my little children, and the consequence was in 4 days my oldest boy of my first wife was taken violently ill with fever and a sore throat.

We knew nothing of the nature of the disease, but had faith in God, as we were here on a very hard mission, and had tried as hard as we knew how to obey the word of wisdom, and attend to the other duties of our religion such as paying tithing, family prayers, etc., etc., that our children would be spared. But alas, in 4 ½ days he choked to death in my arms. Two more were taken down with the disease and we fasted and prayed as much as we thought it wisdom as we had many duties to perform here. We fasted some 21 hours and I once fasted 40 hours, but all to no avail for both my little girls died also. About a week after their death my fifteen-year-old daughter Melinda was stricken down and we did all we could for her but she followed the others, and three of my dear girls and one boy has been taken from us, and the end is not yet. My oldest girl 19 years old is now prostrate with the disease, and we are fasting and praying in her behalf today. We have become better acquainted with the nature of the disease, than at first, and we are strongly in the hopes that she will recover, as two already have that came down with it. I would ask for your faith and prayers in our behalf, however. What have I done that the Lord has left us, and what can we do to gain His favor again?

Yours in the gospel

Warren M. Johnson

(Letter from Warren M. Johnson to Wilford Woodruff in Warren M. Johnson letter folder, LDS Church Historian’s Library. Jonathan died May 19; Laura Alice, June 11; Millie, June 15; and Melinda July 5, 1891, all of diphtheria.)

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Lee’s Ferry, Arizona August 16, 1891

Warren Foote, Dear Brother:

Your kind and welcome letter was received a very long time ago. I was surprised at receiving it, for I had no idea that any of my friends would take the trouble to write me during my affliction. Rest assured that I shall ever feel grateful to you for the words of comfort your letter conveyed to me. It seemed almost as though God had forsaken us, and that he had turned a deaf ear to our fasting and prayers and anointing and administering the ordinances of the gospel to the sick, for it was all of no avail, and four of my dear children are now lying in their graves. It is a fearful blow for us, for you know that ever since I heard the gospel, I have tried as much as the average of our brethren to live up to the principles thereof. I have tried to pay my tithing, obey the Word of Wisdom, attend to family devotions, and teach my children correct principles, and God promised if we would do so the destroyer should pass over us. There are unseen influences around us here, that are trying to cause me to lose faith in God, and to make me feel that there is no use for me to continue to pray, for He will not hear my prayers – that there is no use for me longer to obey the Word of Wisdom, or anoint with oil and lay on hands to rebuke disease, for the promise that when we do so they will recover does not apply to us. When I look around and see others that do not pay their tithing in full, use tea and coffee, tobacco, strong drink, etc., do not attend meetings only once in a while, do not have family prayers, etc., and they are blessed with their families in health, and plenty of this world’s goods to allow them to live at ease, it is hard indeed for me to see the hand of God in the death of my children, and especially, after obeying the call of the Priesthood in coming out here, and for sixteen years having one of the hardest missions that was ever the lot of a member of this Church to perform. You can imagine how I feel, as you know how I have tried to live, and the implicit faith I had in the gospel, and the promises of God to those who tried to be faithful. However, I feel this way only at times, for there are other spirits or influences around us that say to me, that God is the Father of the spirits of my children, and that He loves them as well as I do, and that He knows infinitely better than I do what is best for them and us. God said that He would have a tried people in the last days, and those who desire to do right will have to pass through greater trials than those who are not trying to reach the highest glory. Bro. Foote, I feel well, when I look at it in the above light and especially when I think of the influences we felt when my children were breathing their last, we could not feel bad, there was such a heavenly influence in the room. And also the looks of the children after death – almost a smile on their lips. I never saw anyone look as beautiful as they did after death. Joseph Stewart was here when Minda died, and several times he remarked, “She is as pretty as a doll.” I know they are happy now and I hope I shall not give way to the spirits of evil, but that I may live so that bye and bye I can go and dwell with them. I can assure you, however, that it is the hardest trial of my life, but I set out for salvation, and am determined through the help of my Heavenly Father to hold fast to the iron rod, no matter what trials may come upon me. I have not yet slackened in the performance of my duties, and hope and trust that I shall have the faith and prayers of my brethren that I may live so as to receive the blessings you, having authority, have placed upon my head. I often think how much better off I am today than when I lived on the Muddy, with no one but myself to look after, and I feel to thank God for all this. May God bless you Brother Foote in all your labors.

Yours in the gospel.

Warren M. Johnson
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When I think of the comparison between my hard days and his hard days, I am ashamed to think that I EVER complain. I will probably never face adversity like he did, so if I fail to hold to the rod, I will have no excuse at all.

Father's Day 2008

I got a cool shirt for Father's Day with pictures of all of my grandkids on it, holding signs that say "We Love Our Grandpa." I love it. I wore it to Safeway Saturday night, and several people told me how cool they thought it was, and how nice it looked on me. I thought I should take a picture of me wearing the shirt, so everyone can see what it looks like. So here I am in my Father's Day shirt. Thanks, Everyone! And thanks especially for being such a wonderful family who are all trying to follow the Savior. That is all I really wanted or needed for Father's Day.
Finally, here is the secret of being a great Dad - - - - - Have Great Kids! It's that simple.

All I Want for my Birthday...

I was speaking Sunday night with my dad, and he asked me to follow my brother Craig's idea of posting a birthday "wish list" on the computer so people would know what I want for my birthday. Not really wanting anything, I thought to myself how funny it would be to simply say I wanted World Peace (or was it Whirled Peas?). I was imagining that when Dad said, "And don't put anything stupid on your blog like "World Peace" either!" I guess after 57 years, a father knows his son.

Most of what I would really like for my birthday is way too expensive. I would like a tuba. I would like a big case of .45 caliber bullets so I would have a good excuse to buy a .45 caliber pistol. I would like a set of bagpipes. You know me - always the practical guy.

On a realistic note, I would like a nice dress watch. Nothing too beefy because I have these danged thin, feminine wrists. But something nicer than a Timex that would look dressy would be nice. I would like some of the sunglasses that completely cover my glasses and wrap around the sides so I don't get glare from above. I would like CDs of great music like Andy McKee or Rachmaninoff. I always enjoy good music. I would like a good "grandpa" book like "The Dangerous Book for Boys" or "Nick of Time." I would like a new set of scriptures (not a quad). I would love someone to say, "I will come up to the White Mountains and go fishing with you." Yes, after all these years, I have come to realize that my parents are right - it's TIME that you want, not THINGS.

I are a Good Essayist!

One of the joys of my job is that every year I get asked by the VFW to judge essays in the "Patriots Pen" contest they hold nationwide. This contest is for kids from 5th grade to 7th grade. They are given a theme like, "What Service to my Country Means to Me" and away they go. Every year I sit down and read hundreds of these - no exaggeration here. Here are some of my past favorite sentences.

1. "The schools and teachers are the ones that means to me because I wouldn't be smart right now."

2. "Love means to in the service of our country means to me is loving our country your pride and the people in war." (???)

3. "The country of America is bright, glamorous, free, and glittery."

And my all-time favorite to date:

4. "In World War II, my grandfather was a tail gator on an air plan."

Reading these, I can hardly wait till next Spring.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I have been reviewing my Humor Journal this week, and I wanted to share some of the gems I have recorded that originated from the mouths of my grandchildren. I would LOVE IT if their parents would send me more of these golden quotes for my collection.

1. Emily sent me this one in December 2004. "We are still trying to get Jackson completely potty trained. He is only willing to sit on the toilet if he wants to - and if he doesn't want to you better believe we bribe him. A couple of days ago we told him that if he would go #2 in the potty we would take him to Chucky Cheese that night. We don't buy pizza; just get some tokens and play a few games. Jackson loves Chucky Cheese (as he puts it, "Chucky Cheese is a good guy, huh, Mommy?"), so he was sitting on the potty just crying and crying because he couldn't go #2 and he was "never going to see Chucky Cheese again!" Later he said that he would go #2 in the potty when he was older, "like when I'm a missionary, OK, Mom?"

2. Jackson bumped his head on the couch and was crying. Emily asked him if he was going to have a goose egg on his head. He replied, "No, I'm just going to have a little chicken egg."

3. One day I was talking with Jackson about one of his two favorite subjects at the time - sharks (the other one was dinosaurs). We were talking about how some sharks eat people. He looked at me and said, "Papa, I don't think a shark would eat you." When I asked him why he thought that, he replied, "Your skin is too old!"

4. Christmas time, 2007 we were talking on the phone with Melissa when she suddenly burst into laughter. It turns out Susannah had been bugging Owen, so Melissa had asked her to stop pestering her brother. Susannah scowled (boy, can she scowl), put her hands on her hips, and said, "This family just isn't working out for me!"

I have a few more that I haven't included. But I would love to add to my collection. So, parents, please… send them in!

What Happens in San Francisco...

Years ago, in March 1985, I attended a Humor and Creativity in Therapy conference in San Francisco in that section known as "Japan Town." While I was there, I wandered around the little Japanese shops and found one where they carve the little soapstone stamps, known as Hanko, that Japanese artists use to sign their paintings in red. I really wanted one (they were reasonably priced), so I asked the man in charge if he would make one for me that said, "A man who heals with laughter." The rest of the conversation went something like this:

Him: "No."
Me: "Why not?"
Him: "Because it might not mean anything in Japanese."
(long silence)
Me: "You mean you can't write that phrase in Japanese?"
Him: "We could, but it might mean something bad."
Me: "But I don't even read Japanese!"
Him: "Then why do you want the stamp?"
(longer silence)

I eventually gave up, reconciled to my plight of never owning a Hanko stamp. Craig told me later that there are certain mental paths the Japanese cannot walk along. I think I found one.

As a result of that conference, I began writing a humor journal, recording the funniest things that happen to me each day. It has been a hit and miss proposition, but out of that effort came my 120+ page joke book that everyone loves.

The Last Gasp of Winter

We got 4" of heavy, wet snow last night, and it is supposed to keep snowing until Sunday. We lost power for over three hours last night, we lost power several times overnight, and the power was off when I left for work this morning. We lost several big branches off the poplar tree in the front yard. The leaves were already out, and the wet snow was just too much. We listened to cracking and crashing all night as branches fell onto the yard and into the street. What a mess! Our high today is supposed to be in the low 40's.

Danged Global Warming (again)!

Three nights ago, we slept with our windows open all night, with only a sheet over us for comfort. Our high Tuesday was 89°! Yesterday, the wind blew so hard, I thought we were all moving to Holbrook. As I write this, it is snowing hard. They are saying we could get 6"-12" tonight, and up to two feet at Sunrise. Of course, tonight is graduation for BRHS. This global warming is so unpredictable.

I am smack dab in the middle of budget season. Usually, budget preparation is like nailing Jell-O to a tree. This year, it is like nailing Jello-O to a moving tree. I calculated the total gallons of fuel we used last year, and figured $4 per gallon for my budget. Now it looks like that will be way too conservative. Crazy thing is, for every dollar the price of gas increases, my budget has to change by $28,000! I saw a cartoon yesterday of an accountant working on a difficult problem exclaiming, "Hey, I know! I'll just add another zero!" If only it were that easy.

This Sunday, Jan and I celebrate 35 years of wedded bliss together. I can honestly say that 35 years ago, I had no idea what love really was, or how deep and profound it can be. We are both the worse for wear, but more committed than ever to each other's happiness. We are planning on going the distance together. Marriage is no cakewalk - there is a lot of compromise along the way; lots of sacrifice - but it is the only way to go. I love her with all my soul. Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

Howdy, Howdy

I guess it has been too long since I posted anything, and I am feeling serious blogguilt. I have been working on transcribing a talk I heard on BYU-TV for which no transcript was available. It is a long and tedious task, but I hope it will be worth it in the end.

On Monday, May 5 I got to go to X Diamond Ranch near South Fork (near Eagar) to play host to a bunch of Germans who were here learning about the West. The Arizona Office of Tourism asked me to come because I speak a little German, and they thought that would be useful. So I put on my best cowboy duds and went to the ranch. I had a great time talking to them (most of them spoke better English than I spoke German, but who cared?). They asked what I did for a living, and together we figured out that my title in German is Finanzminister. Boy, were they excited that someone of my lofty station in life would deign to visit with them. I guess a Finanzminister is a high and lofty station in Germany. There was a copy of a book on Lee's Ferry there at the ranch, so I showed them a picture of my great-great grandfather, Warren Marshall Johnson, and that really impressed them. I was obviously eine echte Cowboy, born and raised in the Old West. It was a lot of fun.

We have been so happy to have Grandpa and Grandma Brooksby here with us for the last couple of days. The weather has been beautiful and cool without being cold, and we have just had a blast. We introduced them to "Apples to Apples" and we watched "Amazing Grace" together last night. By the way, if anyone has not seen that film yet, you should.

More later. I promise to be more diligent in writing. Till then, Adios, pardners!

Random Things about me

Well, two of my daughters have thrown down the gauntlet of posting random things, so I feel compelled to respond. I was hoping Jan would write something, but she said after reading Emily's and Melissa's postings, all of her random traits had already been covered. I don't know if I can come up with 7 things, but I will do my level best.

1. I love really bad music. I don't know why, but it probably stems from my parents exposing me to Spike Jones when I was a little boy. I love the best music, too, but I do get a kick out of well-executed, awful music. My friend Bruce Johnson and I had a thing going for a couple of years, trying to find the world's worst music, but after sending tapes of Whitey Carson, Florence Foster Jenkins, Mrs. Miller and Jonathan and Darlene Edwards to him, he declared me the winner! What an honor!

2. I enjoy being laughed at, but only if I am encouraging the laughter. I thought for years that I could make it as a stand-up comic, but I know now that I wouldn't really have made a good comic. Still, I know a LOT of jokes, and enjoy telling them - even when people pretend they don't want to hear another one.

3. I love books, and I have too many books. I used to dream of having a room in my house that would be my library. A room with all four walls covered in books, with a single, comfy high wing-back chair in the middle of the room. So I began early on to purchase books for my library. Unfortunately, I never got my library - just a house full of boxes full of books. I was often encouraged to give them away, but I couldn't part with them, because I thought of them as friends. But now I am beginning to realize that I need to share my friends, so I am donating books to the local library. I know that they will just turn around and sell them, but that doesn't matter to me anymore. I have to get rid of some books.

4. I am the only living Adolf Hitler impersonator that I know of. I have been told that I look a lot like Hitler (and Elvis! - talk about random!)

5. A doctor told his patient, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is - they're naming a disease after you!" Similarly, I have a disease named after me - my family calls it "Kent Brooksby Disease." The symptom is an inability to fall asleep, no matter how tired you are. I get one or two of these nights almost every week.

Well, that is the end of my random list - and it isn't the least bit funny!! Proof again that I would not have made it as a comic. I would love some feedback from my kids on random traits of mine. I am afraid that I sound really DULL!!! (Voice in the back of my head: "Of course you are dull. You are an accountant. What do you expect?")

General Conference April 2008

I can't remember a General Conference when I felt uplifted any more than the most recent one. I had been hoping and praying that Pres. Monson would give a talk that would really confirm for me the divinity of his calling. Nothing against Pres. Monson, really, but I have heard his stories so many times I just wanted something different. I didn't hear it Saturday night at Priesthood session, but Sunday morning and afternoon the Spirit bore witness to me during his talks that he is truly a prophet of God.

I have felt for year that there is a qualitative difference between a Seventy talk and an Apostle talk, and a qualitative difference between an Apostle talk and a First Presidency talk. All the talks this conference were excellent, but the talks by those Apostles who spoke on doctrines (Oaks, Holland, Ballard, Bednar, Packer, etc) were exceptional. And then there were the talks by the First Presidency! I have always enjoyed Pres. Uchtdorf's talks, but this time he really bowled me over. I would defy anyone to listen to his Sunday morning talk and not be moved. I plan to download the Apostle and Presidency talks in video format to a CD soon and pass them out to nonmember friends (as well as keeping one for myself).

What a glorious time we live in, when we can sit in the comfort of our living rooms and participate in a meeting 600 miles away because some light beams are bounced off a satellite thousands of miles above us in geosynchronous orbit. When we can log on to the Internet a couple of days later and watch each talk online, and download the text of the talk to read or download it to our MP3 player. Think of the advantages of being able to lift our spirits every day as we go through the trials of life! I never cease to be amazed. We are really blessed.

Good News

I didn't tell anyone in the family except my Dad and Mom, but two weeks ago I had a prostate biopsy. Last time we were in Mesa, I had my Dad give me a blessing, prior to the biopsy. My PSA levels were high enough that Dr. Copeland thought there was a 50-50 chance that I had prostate cancer. So I went in for the biopsy. I won't tell you what that entails, but I will say that it isn't the slightest bit pleasant. He took a LOT of samples.

Anyway, today I got my results. No cancer. Just "chronic and acute inflammation." That means I have to take "a boat-load of antibiotics and Motrin" (Dr. Copeland's words - at least I think he said boat-load) for the next month, then get another PSA test. The previous doctor just accepted the fact that "high PSA levels is where you live," and let it go at that. This doctor wants to get rid of the inflammation.

I will admit to being more than a little relieved when I left the doctor's office this afternoon. A little good news goes a long way, and I may even sleep better tonight. I wasn't quite ready for what prostate cancer involves.

Out of the Best Books

A few nights ago, at Brint and Brea's reception, I ran into a dear friend of Craig's who said to me, "You haven't written anything for awhile in your blog." She was the first one to say anything to me about it, but I realize now it has been nearly a month. So for better or worse, here are some of my thoughts.

Some years ago, I attended a conference of the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists in Salt Lake City. Our guest speaker was Vaughn J. Featherstone of the Seventy. He made the remark that the first 100 pages of "les Miserables" had had as profound an impact on his life as anything he had ever read. Shortly thereafter, I began writing a list in the back of my journals of the books I had read while writing in that journal. Next to the title and author, I write a very brief book report of 10 or fewer words. Today, I want to summarize those lists into a "best of the best" list. I read a lot, and I feel like Daniel Webster who said, "I can no more remember the books I have read than the meals I have eaten, but they have made me what I am." Marion G. Romney said, "The older I get, the less time I want to spend reading anything I do not want to remember." I must say that my taste in books has changed over the years, and many of the books I marked as "best" in my first journal wouldn't make the cut today. So with that preface, here is a list of the Best Books I Have Read (Besides the Scriptures) Since 1978 (in order of reading, not in order of importance):

1. Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
2. Nibley on the Timely and the Timeless - essays of Hugh Nibley
3. The Road Less Traveled - Scott Peck
4. Walden's Pond - Henry David Thoreau
5. Infinite Atonement - Tad Callister
6. The Peacegiver - James Ferrell
7. Bonds That Make Us Free - Terry Warner
8. Leadership & Self Deception (and) The Anatomy of Peace - the Arbinger Institute
9. les Miserables - Victor Hugo
10. The Holy Secret - James Ferrell

That is my Top Ten (OK, it's really 11) out of the total list of 133 books that I remembered to write down in my journal. There are many other that were worthwhile, but these 10 I find myself drawing on repeatedly. There are many books in my list, mostly fiction, that I cannot even recall reading today. Several of them were followed in the listing by the words "absolutely my LAST novel." Not that all novels are a waste of time - "les Miserables" comes to mind as my favorite - but I think most are. Other "book reports" in my journal say "a great cure for insomnia" or "how Western civilization will fall to Islam," but several of the above say, "This Book changed my life!" or "Every missionary should read this book ASAP."

I am so glad that some of my love of reading seems to have seeped in my genetic code in varying degrees to my children. As Mark Twain said, "The man who doesn't read is no better off than the man who can't read."

Just this last week, Jan and I read "The Holy Secret" by the author of "The Peacegiver," James Ferrell. The purpose of the book was to help us learn to really love the scriptures, to love the Sabbath, and to love the Temple. If we don't love what is holy in this life, then we will not like holiness in the next. Our attitudes toward what is holy now tells us which direction we are heading. What is dull to us today will be dull to us tomorrow. If our souls don't yearn to understand the Lord's words here and now, will will not suddenly begin to yearn for them then. It was one of those books that really makes you reach deep inside for an understanding of the principles he is teaching in his familiar, conversational style. This is another book we will be returning to again and again.

Fathers

OK, I know it is not even close to Father's Day, but the other day as I was waiting for "Monk" to start, I caught the last few moments of a "Jag" rerun of a Christmas show, and thanks to the miracle of DVR, I was able to write down word for word what the actor was saying. I thought it was good enough to pass along. Remember, these are not my own words, but I agree wholeheartedly with them.

"When God revealed himself to us, he did so through a family, which is why I speak to you of Joseph, the forgotten man of the Christmas story. We know much about Mary and of course the Christ child, but the Bible makes few references into the life of Joseph. Therefore he remains a mystery, just as many of our own fathers do. But we do know that Joseph was a gentle father and a courageous man. He saved his family from Herod by taking them on a dangerous journey to Egypt; taught his children his own trade, as fathers do even today. Joseph died before Jesus grew up to be a man and began his ministry, yet Joseph still believed. Blessed are those who believe that he will bind up the broken hearted and free the captives.

"At his best, a father is the solid foundation of a house, taken for granted. At other times he may need shoring up himself. He may be tired; he may be impatient; he may be mired in his own problems; but always the father looks beyond the here and now. He keeps one eye trained on the next generation - so of necessity he is a man filled with hope. Hope that a knowing God watches over the universe. Hope that justice will prevail. Hope that we will be reunited with our loved ones.

"As the Apostle Paul said, 'Abide by these three; faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.' So when we give thanks to the Father for our blessings, let us not forget Joseph or our own fathers. May they not be forgotten."

Whatever their faults, what a blessing it is to have a father in the home who IS home, mentally, spiritually, as well as physically. We feel so blessed to have the fathers we have - your grandparents - and the son and sons-in-law that are the fathers of our grandkids. Thank you for what you are silently doing to bless the lives of others and to provide a foundation for our crumbling society. May God bless you.

Opportunities Lost

“There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.”
– William Shakespeare, “Julius Caesar”

This quote from William Shakespeare is an accurate assessment of life. A shorter version of this sentiment is “Strike while the iron is hot.” When you get the inspiration to do something, do it. In this installment of “The Babbling Brooksby,” I will try to show you why this is true.

About 25 years ago, I was asked to speak at a singles fireside in North Phoenix. They gave me several weeks’ notice, but when the day arrived I still had no idea what I would be talking about. I had prayed and prayed for guidance, but had received nothing. So I drove the many miles from Mesa to the church on Greenway Rd, without any clear idea what I would be saying to roughly 100 singles from all over the state. All of a sudden, while driving, I received an insight that came to me in complete form – I would talk about the principles of gardening (about which I knew nothing!) and relate them to personal and spiritual growth. Like I said, the insight came complete in an instant. I arrived, gave my talk, and prepared to leave. But many of the people there told me, “That was so insightful, you should write a book.” I started toying with the idea. Today I am still toying with the idea, but while I have written a forward and bits and pieces of all 10 chapters, the original insights are no longer available to me. I had a gift given to me that could have touched a lot of people, but I didn’t move with the tide when it was available.

Just about the time we moved to Pinetop-Lakeside, I had an idea for a hymn I wanted to write. It was about the atonement of Christ, and was called, “How is it Done?” inspired by Enos 7. I wrote several verses, and even had an idea of the basic tune and mode in my head. I didn’t take the time to sit down at the piano and put notes to paper, and today, I hardly remember the words. It could have been a beautiful hymn, or at least a pretty song, but it will not happen because I delayed.

Earlier this year, I had a couple of strong impressions of what to write in my “Babbling Brooksby” article, but I kept putting off writing, and the insights are gone.

C.S. Lewis said, “The more often a man feels without acting, the less often he will ever be able to act, and, in the long run, the less he will ever be able to feel.” The Lord gave me some really good pieces of inspiration, but I didn’t do the required work and now I don’t feel those inspirations anymore.

I could go on and on about opportunities squandered, but that would be a real downer for you to read. Suffice it to say that I want my children and their spouses and children to be wiser than I have been. When you feel the inspiration that is the time to act. Don’t delay or you may be writing an “Opportunities Lost” column of your own someday.

"Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days...What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“What you do is of little significance; but it is very important that you do it.”
– Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi

Love to all.

Good to use when considering an impulse purchase

My Life

This is how I often feel

My Daddy-Daughter Date with Melissa

Yesterday, Feb 22, Melissa and I drove to Flagstaff to go to a Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert. You will remember them from Paul Simon's "Graceland" CD. It was snowing pretty hard when we left Lakeside at 3:45, and we wondered if it would be a safe trip. But by the time we got outside of Show Low, the snow had stopped, and we had clear roads all the way to Flagstaff. But it was snowing in Flagstaff, and as we ate dinner (coconut shrimp at Red Lobster - Yum!) we watched the snow continue to fall. We drove to the concert at Prochnow auditorium and listened to two hours of the most amazing harmonies! What really amazed me was that the lead of the group, the guy who always stands out in front, Mr. Shamalala, started this group 47 years ago. He's in the red shirt in the picture, and doesn't look a day over 50, but he is probably closer to 70. He writes all the songs, and four of his sons are in the group. Anyway, the music was fantastic, and it was amazing to see all nine of these men kicking higher than their heads as they sing.

We walked the two blocks back to the car in deeper snow than we came in. When we got back on the freeway, we found the roads really slick and all the traffic moving much too fast, but we stuck with it, and only came close to hitting one semi. By the time we were 10 miles east of Flagstaff, the roads were clear again, and the driving conditions were fine until we got between Taylor and Show Low, when the blinding snow and slick roads made it almost impossible to get home. We pulled in the driveway at 1:00 am, glad to be home. What a great night we had. Thanks to Melissa and Brad for a memorable Christmas gift (it was also Melissa's birthday present from Brad).

Words and Phrases I am, like, so tired of hearing!

Sorry for this posting, but the curmudgeon in me just won't be quieted. The following are words and phrases I am extremely tired of hearing.

1. We need to think out of the box. If people really want to get out of the box, they should learn a new metaphor.

2. We need to rethink our entire paradigm. Thank Stephen Covey for this one. Most people who use this phrase couldn't even give a cohesive definition of the word paradigm.

3. People who don't know the difference between "Your" and "You're" I mean, how hard is it to remember? Likewise, those who can't tell which "There" to use. Don't good grammar matter no more?

4. Sherbert… this one has bothered me for a long time, but now this adulterated spelling of "sherbet" is even in the dictionary! Thanks, Cynthia, for reminding me.

5. Any time I hear an ad that says, "Savings up to 50-, 60-, even 70% and more!" Emily reminded us of this one.

6. Confusing "less" and "fewer." Hearing things like, "50% less calories than the other brand" makes me homocidal! Here is the rule of thumb: Less is used to speak of things you measure; fewer refers to things you count. Clear enough? Let's have less confusion, and we'll make fewer mistakes.

7. Valley Girl speak. This includes the interminable use of "like" and phrases meant to substitute for the word 'said' such as , "I'm all," "We're like," and "He goes." Included in this category are people who end their declarative sentences by raising their intonation at the end so that everything sounds like a question. What Ev!

8. Overuse of the word 'so' as in, "I am SO not hungry right now!" "You are SO not going to the movies!" etc. This relates to the overuse of 'very,' which most editors will tell you is an unnecessary word. Mark Twain once said that every time you feel like writing 'very' you should substitute the word 'damn.' He said that if you go back later and remove all the 'damns' your writing will be just as good and clearer to read.

9. Irregardless. Oooooh! This one has bugged me since 1st grade, when I first discovered that I was a nerd in the making. I mean, really - caring about the proper use of language in 1st grade? There ain't no such word as irregardless.

10. I could care less. What you mean is, you couldn't care less. Saying you could care less means that you do, indeed, care, which is the opposite of what you are trying to communicate.

I would love to get feedback on this one from, like, you know, the people who read this blog (if they exist). I will include their comments as they come in.

What God May Ask You

God won't ask what you're highest salary was, but He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won't ask how much overtime you worked, but He'll ask if your overtime work was for yourself or for your family.

God won't ask how many promotions you received, but He'll ask how you promoted others.

God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won't ask about your social status; but He'll ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won't ask how many material possessions you acquired, but He'll ask if they dictated your life.

God won't ask what you did to help yourself, but He'll ask what you did to help others.

God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights, but He'll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but He'll how many times they didn't.

God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.