Have a Wonderful 2010

There are some days when I really believe the world is going to ---- in a handbasket. Then I have to remember that we are not alone in this learning ground we call mortality. There is someone much greater than us who is VERY interested in the events which transpire on this dirt-ball we call home.

He is not interested in failure and has not abdicated His right to guide, cajole, inspire, and entice us back to goodness. We only have to look up to Him and find peace in a seriously dysfunctional world.

The dingbats who are trying to make our lives miserable are, in reality, just a pimple on the face of all that is good in this life. Oh, sure, they can make our day a little less enjoyable but if we take care of them properly (cleaning, popping, ignoring), they will pass into the night of "puberty" and be forgotten. Our adulthood is not controlled by the rantings of demons, bent on finding notoriety in their lives.

I have determined that I will not let others determine my joy in life.

The New Year is always a time to consider where we are and where we are going. My hope is that we are going toward the Savior and His Kingdom. May your lives be full of peace and joy as you discover the truths He has to offer.

Dumb Things

I have been trying to upgrade my blog with a few gadgets and find there are some things that SHOULD work but don't. For instance, the little place to the left that says "Past Posts" should be giving you a quick view of my last 10 blog entries but all I see is a great white space.

Why is that?

If I knew, the great white space would be full of words and numbers. This is the second gadget I have installed to make this work and neither has worked.

Isn't that DUMB??!!!

Maybe one of my smart sons could write a little program/applet to let me do what I am trying to do (hint, hint). Or maybe I will find that I can become smart enough to understand the problem and fix it myself.

(Not very likely)

It just occurred to me that my grandchildren get pretty upset with me when I call things dumb. In fact, my wife isn't too thrilled when I use that phrase/word. Maybe it's because when I say something is dumb it is generally some inanimate object that really has no ability to change from being dumb to smart.

Isn't that dumb??!!!

I suppose some might consider that I am the dumb one and if I smartened (hey, that didn't give me a spelling error) up other things wouldn't be so dumb.

Now, that's really a dumb thing to think!

Well, before I close this one off, here is something to consider. If we keep getting bad results from the things we do, why don't we change the things we do?

Not such a dumb idea.

AHAAA, I did make it!!!

Busy, busy, busy!!

But not so much that I can't find a few minutes to share some Christmas Fun.

Here are a few videos and pictures of our family party.

Pretty typical for how we do things during the Holidays.

Be happy during this time and know that we love you all.

Mike, Teresa, and Joel

(the almost missionary).

Pre-Christmas Message

For many years, Teresa and I shared a Christmas letter with all our friends and family. It was a bit of a pain but we loved our friends and wanted to keep them abreast of our changing clan. Some of you may have noticed that the letters stopped a few years ago (with one of two exceptions). It's not because we care less about our connections but we have become careless in our maintenance of those things. In other words, I got lazy and quit writing.

Now we have a family blog and it opens the door to lots of sharing with those who care to know (and some who don't). In fact, the whole purpose of these posts is to eliminate the need for sending out those delightful (???) missives from the past. So if you are missing your Christmas greeting from the Mike and Teresa Whitmer family, please read the previous posts contained on this blog.

I may get in trouble for this but there are some changes coming in the numerical value of our family. Having spent many years growing from two to seven, we are now up to 21 (Mom and Dad, 5 children, 4 spouses, 10 grandkids) members. In the next few months (not nine from now because that would be too many for the beautiful girls to endure) we will increase our size by two. Kevin and Jenny are expecting sometime….??Mayish I think???......(don't you hate it when your on-board computer loses little bits of data?) and Little Matthew (Josh and Heather) will be receiving a sibling shortly after that. We are all thrilled and look forward to the new additions.

For the past couple of weeks I have been conducting tithing settlement in our ward. Sometimes I hear that bishops don't like this time because it is so busy and takes so much time. For me, this is one of my favorite times of year. During these weeks I am able to visit with all the faithful members who are reporting on their worthiness. No one complains and it gives me a few minutes to chat with them and see how their lives are going. Oftentimes I spend too much time with each family and fall behind in my schedule (that's why I limit the numbers I have in each night). It really is a pleasant experience for me and I hope for them.

If I am able to remember, I will try to make one more post before Christmas time but knowing me I may not get back here. If that is the case, please have a Merry Christmas and remember Who we celebrate. This is the time of year to renew our commitment to the doctrines and principles given to us by the Savior of all the world. He is our Example and our Hope for a better life. May His love be with all of you this special season.

Mucho Excitement!!!

Just a quick post to give some exciting news. But instead of telling you, I will show you with the video. Enjoy.

Wellll, maybe I won't. Seems the blogger won't upload my video.

Looks like I will just have to announce that Joel is going to the California Ventura Mission on February 3, 2010. More later and possibly the video.

OK, here it is....finally*&%^%$#@#$