Playing in the Pool

I've always thought this was kind of a funny picture. Everyone is attacking Dad while Jeff is floating like a dead man in the water and I'm staring at all the weirdos. haha. It also always reminds me of how much Dad loved us and enjoyed playing with us. One of my few memories is of him playing baseball with my brothers in the backyard. I thought my dad was so cool because he could play baseball with one arm and I thought it was great how much he liked to play with us. I also remember a treehouse that we had in the backyard too. Did Dad make that, or am I making that up?

Baptism

This is one of the pictures that I was given of Dad so I wanted to post it.  I remember a few things about my baptism.  I got baptized at the chapel that was for the Jurupa 4th ward.  The zipper on the jumpsuit was broken so I wasn't completely comfortable during the meeting.  I think that a few of us siblings sang a song.  Jeff Pratt gave a talk about his baptism day and that there were fireworks because it was the 4th of July.  There was a big party at our house afterwards with aunts and uncles and cousins.  I remember before getting baptized that Dad told me that it would be a little different because he had only one hand.  Usually you hold onto the left wrist of the person who is baptizing you.  This allows you to be lowered in more easily.  Dad said that because he didn't have a left arm I would have to just plug my nose and trust that he would catch me with his right arm to lower me in.  He reassured me that he had done it plenty of times and that it would be very easy.  I trusted him and everything went very smoothly.

Fast Offerings

I remember that Dad was really excited when I turned twelve because I would finally be a deacon.  He loved to take me to the priesthood meetings and was really excited when I could finally sit with him in priesthood opening exercises.  When I turned twelve I could also start collecting fast offerings.  I would pick up the blue envelopes for my route every fast Sunday and Dad would drive me around to all of the houses.  One time I got the route that included our neighborhood.  I was a little nervous because it turned out that some of our neighbors that I knew had at one time been active members of the church.  Even our next door neighbor was a member.  As we walked around the neighborhood I was surprised at how willing everybody was to talk to us and to make donations.  I remember one time I had a route that included a house by Jurupa Valley High School.  The family at the house was very inactive and didn't seem to happy to have us stop by.  I don't remember how it happened, but we ended up in their house.  We stayed there for about an hour as Dad talked to them about the gospel.  It felt very much like we were missionaries teaching a discussion.  All we were supposed to do was collect fast offerings, but Dad took the opportunity to help strengthen the family by teaching the gospel.  Going around to collect fast offerings with Dad was excellent preparation for my mission as it allowed me to get practice knocking on doors and talking to people who sometimes weren't very excited to see people from the church.  Dad was always encouraging and helped me to have a good time as I fulfilled my priesthood responsibility.  Some of the times that I have felt Dad the nearest is when my younger brothers or I are progressing in the priesthood and participating in priesthood meetings.  I know that these are important steps in our lives that Dad cares a lot about and wants to be a part of.