CALLED TO SERVE.

February 2000, I was called to be the financial clerk for the Springfield Ward in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Not having any experience with finances, I wondered how I would be able to do the things necessary for me to fulfill the call. My first semi-annual audit, I had two and a half pages of write ups to fix. I felt overwhelmed at times and prayed for guidance and support. With the help of another member of the Ward, we dug in to the books to straighen out the finances. We were at the church, three maybe four nights a week going over checks that had been written and financial statements that had been filed that had not been reconciled. This, of course was all before the computer came into play, so I spent many nights on the phone with church headquarters, trying to iron out situations that were just not right.

Well, after three months of this, I finally started to see light at the end of the tunnel. Things started running smoother, and the check book was remaining balanced. My second audit, I had two write ups that I was able to fix on the spot (OTS). Things remained calm for about 18 months when we received the first computer for our Ward. My partners brain melted, and I knew that if I was going to maintain my perfect record that I would have to hunker down and do the training classes provided with the computer. It was pretty computer friendly, but my older partner was still fearful of the box that now sat in the clerks office.

Fast forward to June 2012. I was released as the financial clerk, and I had a sense of pride, that I was turning it over to another, after 12 years, with no write ups of any kind. I was truly blessed and saw numerous miracles happen in my life, because of this calling.

A week later I was interviewed and called as the Second Counselor to the Elders Quorum President. I have been in this calling before and knew what was expected of me. The Stake Presidency sustained me and I prayed and asked the Lord to not make this calling as long as the last one. I got a phone call on Friday from the Stake Presidency again, asking if they could see me before Sacrament meeting today. 15 July 2012. When I went into the office, I was told that I was released because the Elders Quorum President was released, and with him goes his counselors. It was almost like I heard the Lord say: "WAS THAT SHORT ENOUGH?" So I went from the guy who served the longest calling in the Ward, to the guy who served the shortest calling in the Ward in a matter of three weeks. GOD IS GREAT!

NO THANKS! WE HAD DOUGHNUTS

This story takes place at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1992 or 93. It had been a long and dreary winter and the kids were tired of being pent up like animals. I told them that I would take them sled riding if they did all their chores quickly. Around 3:30 in the afternoon we left for the hill for an afternoon of fun, and I see now why you have kids when you are young, because you would not be able to keep up with them if you are as old as I am now! I lost count, how many times I climbed this particular hill this day, but it was a lot...

After the sun went down, it began to get colder, so I told the kids it was time to go home and you know how kids are when they are having fun. "WE AREN'T READY TO GO HOME YET DADDY" I finally told them that if the got in the van, I would take them sliding some other place. They piled into the van and were excited to go to another hill, but we were not going to another hill. I started driving home when Tom asked; "WHERE ARE WE GOING DAD?" I said we were going to the shopping center. He said; "BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO ANOTHER HILL?" I told him, as I turned into the shopping center, that I did not say we were going to another hill, but slide at a different location. By then Tom was getting upset, and started copping an attitude. I asked him why he was so upset, and he said; "YOU LIED TO ME!"

Just then I told him to hang on and he looked at me with his doubting Thomas look, when I punched the accelerator and cut the wheel hard to the left, the kids eyes grew wide and they started hooting and hollering that this was fun. Then I would cut it hard to the right and more screams came from the back seat. I think Tim and Greg had the best time strapped in their car seats screaming YIPPIE!!!!!!!

After about 20 minutes of this I told the kids we needed to go home but to not mention anything about doing doughnuts in the shopping center parking lot. We all went in the back door and were taking off hats, boots, gloves and coats. Kathi asked if we wanted her to order Pizza? With out skipping a beat Tim said "NO THANKS MOM! WE HAD DOUGHNUTS" Kathi looked at me and said where did you have doughnuts? Tim said "DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT!" and thats when the fight started....