Worship and baby news

Laura should be home tomorrow to give the details, but "the boy" is safely here. The baby will come in a few days, when they make sure his lungs are clear. Sue and I will be leaving for Scottsdale tomorrow if Sue is sure that Laura will be OK without her.

Now for worship, thanks to those who took time to respond to my request. This is what I understood from your messages:
1. Worship is "pondering godly things." - Teresa
2. "It involves service." "Understanding their (The Father and Son) motivations and characters precedes becoming like them." - Jessica
3. There is a religious worship and a temporal worship. "Elder McConkie's talk lists dozens of things that are worshipping including: being married, doing service, studying the gospel, paying tithing, using our talents, etc. In fact he says, It is ten thousand times ten thousand things." "Clearly, sacrifice is an integral part of worship." "Like all commandments, if we are worshipping as we should we will be rewarded." - Sarah
4. "It is an active word." "Feelings of deepest respect, love and awe put into action." "The dictionary says it is a religious word to describe respect." - Sue
5. "To say that worship is service or it is going to church and learning about God simply turns a perfectly good word (worship) into a mere synonym with no meaning. I think worship is praising God and reverencing him (kind of a passive, frame-of-mind activity) which leads to other good things like serving, learning about God, etc." - Landon

There seems to be two camps.
1. Worship is a mental thing. (Teresa & Landon)
2. Worship includes service. (Jessica, Sarah, Elder McConkie and Sue)

I am sure that we all agree that people who worship would serve, if they truly worshipped. It is interesting that the scriptures say that we are supposed to, "worship (and love) God with all our heart, might, mind and strength," but there doesn't seem to be a real definitive definition of the word. We go to the temple and to church to "worship" and serve but do we know what it really means?
It seems to me that service is one of the fruits of true worship (Sorry, Elder McConkie) and worshipping is done while bowing down or on our knees, as Landon said. I don't think it is synonymous with praising either. We could spend our lives saying, "God is Great" or "Smile, Jesus loves you, " and I don't think that is necessarily worship.
This is my conclusion, I think that worship means "reverential gratitude for God." It is a mental act of recognizing all the wonderful things that God has done for us and how much we feel loved by him. This is what I ponder during the sacrament and while in the temple. It is uplifting to me to confess my appreciation for my Heavenly Father and my Savior. When I do so, I feel like I am worshipping.

What do you think?

Skinner Update

Laura went to Memorial Hospital with contractions 5 minutes apart on Friday. She is still there and the doctor is trying to induce her, but no luck so far. It looks like she will be there until the baby arrives. I will post more when we know.
And, yes Brian is with her.

Canceling comments

How do I cancel a comment when have posted 2?

Krista's PREformance

These are pictures that I took on my cell phone, so this is as good as it gets. This picture was taken at the end of the concert. The kids surrounded the audience and were singing a African song with drums and other percussion instruments. It was great. The choir members were supposed to be swaying with the beat, like any good African would do. Krista, who you can't see in this picture, was across the room. Based on the swaying, she has no African in her. The gals in front of me and some of the guys in the front of the room were rockin' out. When I commented to your mom, she said that you kids get your "lack of soulfulness" from me.
Does the Driller Cafe bring back any memories?

This is Krista performing. She is the one between the music stand and the piano. She did a good job and, as you know, she loves to sing. The choir sang almost all non-English songs. I enjoyed the Italian and African but I really didn't care for the Japanese, which was the majority.

Thanks for your cell phone answers. It makes it easier for me. I really enjoyed your different insights. Can I make one more request on my "What is worship" question?

Krista's Request

Krista asked that I post this blog for your responses. Hopefully, this will prompt more response than my 10/6/06 request.
First though, Katy and Tyler Nichols are the proud parents of Lucy Ann. She weighed 6lbs 10 oz. and was 181/2 inches long. Everyone is doing well. Russ is a proud grandpa. I can email you a picture if you want. She is a beautiful baby.

Second, I told T&K that I would buy them a cell phone if they got nothing lower than a "B" on their report cards. (We are trying everything to motivate them.) We have talked about getting them cell phones for safety and our convenience when we need to track them down. I told Krista, who was motivated, that the rest of you would not think that it was fair that she get a cell phone when no one else was given rewards for grades. I told her, and all of you, that your grades were your reward and would give you greater opportunities.

So, do you think my bribe was fair?

All about me

This is a picture of me and a couple of my buddies in SanFran. I want to tell you some of my news.
1. I went to my cardiologist at UCLA, Dr. Kobashigawa. He said that I am doing better than before. My ejection fraction is 25-30 and normal is 50-60 but my body is compensating somehow. He gave his approval to go to Europe and do what I want to do. He will see me every 3 months to find out how I am doing. He also said that if he got a heart offered for me, he might just "pass" at this time. I am sure that my heart will not improve but it is nice to be back to a more normal life.
2. Your mom and I are going to S. Lake Tahoe for a business meeting Sunday to Tuesday. We just came back from a 2 day trip to Irvine. What a life. I am going to ask for a raise.
3. We signed our new Trust documents yesterday with Mel Thompson, so my affairs are in order. It follows the details I emailed to you.
4. As I think you know, 5 weeks ago I was released as YM President and sustained as Priest Quorum advisor and the ward bean-counter (Financial Clerk). Brody Buck, Natalie Hawkins' husband, replaced me. He is a great guy and will do a fantastic job. Anyway, I finished my on-line training for the clerk job last week. Yesterday, Pres. Thompson released me because with the new ward bounderies, they have called someone else to be the clerk. I have never been fired so quickly in my life. I enjoyed the clerk job but I understand what is needed and I am very happy being the Priest Quorum advisor. Anyway, I thought it was funny having a calling for 5 weeks.
5. I enjoyed General Conference, as usual. The message that impressed me the most was Elder Holland's strong witness of the involvement of the First Presidency in all the issues facing the church. I have a special place in my heart for Elder Holland. He is the only apostle that has ever given me an abrazo and thanked our family for our missionary work.
6. Finally, I have been pondering the topic of "worship." We went to the temple on Monday and this was still on my mind. I still don't think that I really understand what worshipping God means. Do we worship when we pray, go to church, serve in the Nursery, attend the Stake luau, pay tithing, count tithing.... What do you think?
Love, DAD

FIND THE ELEPHANT

I thought it would be fun to play a game called "Find the elephant." I have pictures taken at The Great Kern County Fair, the Allred house (newly painted green) and the recently decorated Skinner house ( see the Skinner blog for more). See if you can find the elephant. I was going to post one picture but Krista said that it would be rude. I don't know what she meant but I am posting 3 to make it more interesting.

Washington Seattle Mission

Well, the moment finally arrived. Evan, Mary and Bryce came up from Provo at about 5:30 and Evan was so ready to open that big white envelope. But, the family was not gathered in Bakersfield so we waited. To help the time pass we had dinner together. I made my very first meat loaf with Mom's recipe. Finally we had everyone on the phones and Evan tore into his Mission Call. He opened it, read it, then smiled big and announced in a very pleased voice . . . . Washington Seattle Mission. He will be speaking English and entering the MTC on November 15!!! So soon, I know.


A big congratulations to Evan. We know he will be a great missionary and love serving in Seattle.

IT'S HERE!

Evan's Mission Call just arrived at our house. It showed up at Mom and Dad's house on Saturday and Dad overnighted it here so that Evan could open it. I'm dying to see inside, but the church is of course smart enough to make the paper of the envelope VERY thick. I tried holding it to the light and peaking in the sides, but no luck! We'll have to wait for Evan I guess. He will be here about 5:30 or 6:00 pm our time. So be by your phones. 

Remember Labor Day?

So now back to me! There has NOT been a fair with livestock here in NYC but everyday is like a circus in the subways and I often feel like we are cattle, herded in and out of subway cars and up and down stairs in large silent masses with the occasional "moo." Only the "moo" is from some psycho who smells like a walking piece of poo. I will include pictures of subway adventures as soon as I work up the nerve to take them.

In the meantime I wanted you all to see more of my Labor Day trip to Maine.

While sitting in our hole of a hotel room on Sunday a mouse ran across my foot and then went in a bag and scatched around, so we decided to head for the Ben and Jerry's Factory in Vermont.

Hurricane Ernesto was giving Maine a pounding anyways.

So we headed through New Hamshire and on to lovely Vermont. We decided to stop off on the way to Ben & Jerry's at Joseph Smith's birthplace in Sharon. That place is absolutely charming. We listened to a Senior Elder rattle on about Joseph Smith for like an hour and a half.

It was interesting to go to Sharon only a month after going to Palmyra and note how very involved the Lord was in the lives of all of Joseph's family members to make it possible for him to be in Palmyra and physically able to hike up the hill Cumorah and carry around heavy plates.
This is the monument dedicated to him on his 100th birthday. It is a polished shaft 38 and a half feet high. One foot for every year of his life and a polished shaft because Joseph Smith once said “I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; … knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty.”

After Sharon we went on to Ben and Jerry's. We were really hyped up about it and had driven like 6 hours. It was cool but not as cool as a six hour trip should have been. We got free samples and saw how they make ice cream. My favorite part was the view. Vermont is just beautiful. I am not sure I would love it as much in the winter but our weekend there was magnificent. This is me up by the ice cream graveyard where they have tombstones to all the icecream flavors that just didn't work out.

The Great Kern County Fair

These are the pictures that I took with my new cell phone at the GREAT KERN COUNTY FAIR.
The first is Krista and Sue at the Boy Scout Potato booth. During the first week of the fair, Sue and I worked 2 times each and Krista worked 3 times. She tells us that they can't get along without her now.














This is a picture of Sue eating her favorite fair food - the apple dumpling. See her post for the recipe. I spent most of my time on one of the white benches listening to music or at the hypnotist. I also looked at the people staring at pregnant cows. The people are a lot more interesting than the cows. I can see pregnant at the Skinner's house. (Baby Charlie or Rico).
There is a great assortment of people at the fair. I have a hard time deciding which has the best branding, the cows or the people. The cows do have pierced ear tags, but they are smart enough not to go for tongue piercing.
My favorite fair experience - I walked over to the livestock area and got a good whiff of the hay/manure/cows and it took me back almost 40 years when I lived with my Uncle Scott and helped my cousins milk 40 cows each morning and night, hauled hay and rocks, irrigated with canvas dams on the canals and when I learned that I needed to get a college degree. They were wonderful summer vacations and great memories, but I will take my office job any day.

Apple Dumplings

Well, I had my Apple Dumpling yesterday and have come up with the recipe. It is a sure way to make a healthy food decadent. Not quite as bad as the hugely popular deep fried twinkies covered with powdered sugar.

Apple Dumplings:

Granny Smith apple, cored
6" square pie crust (about)
brown sugar
butter
cinnamon cream cheese frosting

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

1/4 cup butter, softened
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and cinnamon.

Pack brown sugar tightly into cored apple. Sprinkle pie crust with cinnamon, wrap around apple. Bake about 25 minutes until golden brown. While baking, melt butter and mix with brown sugar to make a thick syrup. Make cream cheese frosting. When apple is baked, generously ladle brown sugar syrup over it, then put large dollop (1/2 cup?) of frosting on top.

Enjoy!

Hope you are having a great day!

Happy Holidays!

We are set for our family reunion at Pismo Beach. The place is cottage-inn.com for a preview. We are reserved for 12/26/06. We have 2 King rooms on the ocean and 5 double-queen rooms, not on the ocean. So it looks like we will spend our gatering time in the rooms of the Buchanans and the LA Allreds. Speak now or forever hold your peace, if you have any questions.

interesting

I always find it intriguing that dad has had so many changes of heart and life improvements in the last couple of years. While it is of course good, I wonder if the new dad is as effective as the old dad. The thing that I love to brag about the most when describing our family is the fact that my parents will have all 9 children together standing in the Celestial Room within a couple of years, and even better with 9 worthy spouses. I cannot think of a greater accomplishment than that, or one that so very many members of this church would do anything for, and yet feelings of insufficiency arise. I have looked for years for another family that has a similar record, there are plenty that have a lot of kids, and plenty that have a lot through the temple, but 11/11 is impressive enough for me. So it makes me wonder what outcome would be reached if Alicia were to ahve been born within the last couple years of Dad's spiritual growth.
In summary, dad, thanks for everything.

THE FAIR

YAY!!! We love the fair! I was waiting to see what Laura would post, great job! Yesterday was so crowded, probably because it was in the 80's rather than 100 like it usually is. There was even a thing in the paper about it always getting hot again for the fair. Krista and I loved seeing it with the Skinners. At the goat pen a little girl said, when looking at a pygmy goat, "Look at the baby cow." That is why fairs are important. Laura and I loved the baby pygmy goats, their owner said they are better pets than dogs. The potato booth has been remodeled, it looks nice inside, but they painted it pea green outside. Krista and I loved working there. 5 more times to go.

We will not be getting Evan's mission call this week. They are sent in online and there were some glitches. His papers finally went in last weekend (17th). I figure he will get his call while he is in Utah for conference and the following week. So there is still time to vote in the poll. Brady's papers went in about the same time as Evan's, unless there is a glitch with his, too.

Our ward is being realigned this week. We will get some of Oaks ward. My primary girls said they like the small ward because they get to do a lot. That is telling the truth. We have about 10 kids in primary. It will be interesting.

On a serious note....

I have been talking to Jessica about a friend of hers that is dealing with some very difficult health problems that probably will be fatal. Jessica’s roommate is getting married in the near future. These two women are having very different life experiences. We know that the Lord will make it fair, in the eternal scheme of things, but that doesn’t diminish my sympathy for the one who has to suffer.
As I was pondering this idea, I thought about my own life and how happy I am. I wonder why I am so fortunate to have had parents who loved me and cared for me, food, clothes, shelter, freedom, the ability to enjoy my senses, a loving wife and wonderful children and grandchildren, great in-laws, the ability to think and work, a relatively healthy life and “a peace that passeth all understanding” that only the gospel gives.
I just read a book that Scott’s dad gave them for a wedding present called Things that Matter Most, by Lowell Bennion. He discussed the things that he valued and our lists were very similar. I would guess that would be the case for most LDS people.
As I was contemplating my blessings and my challenges, I came to a startling conclusion. If someone offered to give me a strong, healthy heart in exchange for what I have experienced in the last six years, I would say, “ABSOLUTELY NOT!”
About six years ago, I received “a change of heart” as described in the Book of Mormon. I had been a faithful Latter-day Saint, served a mission, married in the temple and served as a Bishop. I had taught, counseled and lead as a believer. My problem was that my heart was hardened to seeing my weakness. I always had to blame someone else for my anger and my other shortcomings. I was excellent at justifying my behavior and making others out to be the cause of problems. I deeply regret how I treated (and thought of) others, especially Sue and my children.
The good news is that I have a new heart. I am not perfect and I still do dumb things but now I recognize them and, given time, will deal with my bad behavior. I now understand how I can “love my enemy” and what I need to do to become more like the Savior.
I am grateful for all of you and the patience you have with me.

Evan's Mission Call

Evan is anxiously awaiting his mission call. His papers were sent in last week and now he waits at the mail box for the big white envelope that will tell him where he will be spending the next two years and what language he will be speaking. And, of course, when this will all begin. So, we are taking guesses as to where you think he might be going (Jessica thought this might be easier than emails). Submit your guess in the comments section. You can guess which mission he'll be going to and what language he'll be speaking. Good luck!

P.S. Watch out for any email scams trying to get you to give $100 to this guessing game. This is completely illegitimate. Please beware. 

9-11

This is the other blog that I wrote and lost.

As I was reflecting on 9-11, I remembered that Jessica was in the MTC and didn't know what was going on. So, today, in NYC was her first experience with the raw emotion that that day produced. How interesting to see it for the first time 5 years later.

I also remembered that Landon, at age 19, was home alone with Bryce, Evan, Tawna and Krista, who was only 9 years old. I am so grateful for how he handled things and for his maturity and his ability to make good decisions in the face of what was a very uncertain and scary day. Thank you, Landon

And I remembered Steve, who left Teresa and Steven at 4 months to go to Georgia and serve our country. Thank you.

I remember wandering around a deserted Washington D.C. all day. The mall was closed. Restaurants were closed. Cell phones didn't work. Flights out were canceled and cars were unavailable. The line to give blood was so long that they closed the line. We were grateful that our family was in the west.

I am grateful to live in this country, and for a president who is not afraid to mention God numerous times in his 17 minute talk last night. I am grateful for those who fight for freedom around the world. I am grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives and in the life of our county. I am grateful for each of you and your contribution to the great American lifestyle.

Bryce's trip

After having to ask for all my info ( I do have 3 accounts somehow), and not choosing a format, I am here. Jessica just called and walked me out of the problems that I created today. Thank you, Jessica.
I wrote this on Sept 6, 2006.

It seems the Allred's were destined to have car trouble before getting to school this year.

Bryce drove down from San Francisco on Thursday night, planning to arrive in Bakersfield around 5:00am. He was stopping on the way to visit some friends in the middle of the night. As always, I worry about middle of the night driving, especially when someone is by themselves, but Bryce arrived home safely at about 4:00 am.

Friday, coincidentally just before 5:00pm, he started to go to Christy Ray's and turned the car around in the driveway. As he got to the street, the front end dropped and the tire tilted in. The car was laying on it's front end across the sidewalk. He came in and said, "I think the axle broke on my car". The car had traveled the length of our driveway.

I had just talkied to Rick (our friendly mechanic) about Tawna's brakes so called him back and asked if we should just have it towed to a salvage yard. He came to look at it on the way to a soccer practice and said what was the problem. It would be about $400.00.

Bryce had a friend from Venice, Italy with him who was traveling in his own car; so he put his stuff in the other car and they left Saturday morning. They did have a sidetrip to the LA temple and Newport beach on the way, but arrived safely early Monday morning in Provo, yay!

As Bryce was traveling Thursday night, I woke up about 3:00am very worried and thinking he was in trouble. So I prayed for his safe arrival. I think that it is a miracle, with all the driving that Bryce was doing last weekend, that the car broke in our driveway and was easily ( I guess we should ask Rick) fixed. I am so grateful to the Lord for Landon, Sarah and Bryce's safe arrival at their schools. I know the Lord looks out for each of us, and that He answers Mother's prayers.

9.11 in NYC

So I have received several phone calls from people wondering about my 9.11 since I live in NYC and all. So, my 9.11 went a little like this:

I was supposed to be in the office at 7:15 to do some morning work but I was held up and late because the NYPD blocked off the street in front of my office to cars and pedestrians so that the President's dumb motorcade could drive by. When I got to my office there was an email from the Office Manager that said that we would observe a moment of silence in the office and "I recognize that on this tragic anniversary emotions and anxiety may be stirred up. Please be reminded the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a resource to you for these type of situations."

It was not talked about, only when I asked someone in accounting the date as I was signing a document I got a shocked and disgusted look and then quickly remembered.

I was talking to a friend of mine who is a native New Yorker and recently moved to BYU about 9.11. The interesting thing is that people here don't talk about it. It is too horrific and too close for them to feel comfortable talking. If you ask them directly they will just say a few things and in a very hushed voice. For New Yorkers, 9.11 is a day truly reverenced. My friend said that she talked more about it in the week since she has been in Utah than in all the five years since it happened that she was in NY. As though, for people in other parts of the world it was this crazy awful thing they saw on TV but for New Yorkers it was like they spent a few days in Hell and they don't want to talk about it.

As I was walking to the Subway after work I was thinking what that walk would have been like five years earlier. I know that all the subways were down and I could have seen the towers from my office. I would have seen people all covered in white dust walking along side me. It would have been truly awful.

As it was, I went home instead of to FHE which was going to be a 9.11 memorial up at a park by the church. My commute home is 45 minutes, that would have been an extra 45 minutes and I had to get a few things done. Saturday marked my one year in NY anniversary, so I gave in to the idea that I might be here a while and bought a bed. I slept on an $8 air mattress for 9 months before buying a real mattress. My real mattress has been sitting on the floor since then. Yesterday my roommate and her fiance helped me set it up.

Then I tried to make chocolate truffles by tempering chocolate last night at about 11 for my roomate Emily's bridal shower on Wed. It was a disaster as all the websites I read TODAY warned me that it would be.

So that is how I spent my 9.11. I did go to Ground Zero last year on 9.11 and I went on Saturday when Teresa's friend Jessica Jackson from Germany was here with her husband and his aunt. I was the tour guide.