Selling of Grandma's house

JoAnn and I were given Grandma and Grandpa Evan's house in Spanish Fork as an inheritance ten or so years ago and I have been renting it out since then.  On Tuesday, we closed on the sale of the house to a construction company that will likely build a couple more homes on the property.  

I have been working toward this for most of 2012.  I hired a surveyor who laid out a three lot subdivision, a small lot north of the house where Grandma Evans had her garden, and a larger lot on the east side of the property.  I worked with the real estate agent, Dallin Nelson,  who helped Nathan and Gloria purchase their house, to plan the subdivision.  I went through hearings with Spanish Fork city to get approvals and had lots of contacts with city officials to get the details right and meet city requirements.  I got the electricity installed to the lots.  I had dialog with several contractors who might potentially have installed lateral sewer, water, and pressurized irrigation lines to the two new lots.  

Once the new subdivision was approved and recorded with Utah County, a few weeks ago, Dallin began to market the places for sale, and a builder, Icon homes, came along and wanted to buy the properties as a package, as is.  So we sold it at a price that seemed fair to both of us.  My efforts to create a subdivision gave us a fairly good gain over just selling the house alone, but still will leave Icon with the ability to profit from their construction.  Selling it now means we won’t have to come up with money to finish installing the laterals (possible about $30,000) and I will never have to manage a rental property again in my lifetime.  I had lots of discussion with my tax CPA about whether to invest in another property to avoid paying capital gains taxes on the sale, but decided, based on his input, that the potential amount of these taxes would not outweigh other risks or advantages of putting the money in another rental property.

When the money for the sale actually appeared yesterday in our bank account, I was surprised at the great feeling of relief that came over me.

Van Noy 12, BYU Offense 11, SDSU 6

BYU's Kyle Van Noy--have you seen a greater game by a defensive football player ever? A blocked punt, causing a game-changing fumble and recovery for a touchdown, a pick-six, numerous tackles, hurries of the q-back, constant disruptions to the SDSU offense.  Wow, another game for the ages, for viewing on re-run Friday on KBYU.  The whole game was a Van Noy highlight reel!

Advisers of Young Men who are leaders

I had a great conversation with Quin about the problem that occurs repeatedly in the AP/YM programs, that the adults who are called to work with young men cannot seem to get out of the way and let the boys practice leadership.  Whether this is due to ignorance (never been trained otherwise), laziness (it takes more effort to prepare a boy to lead than to do it yourself), or not being able to stand to see things done in a less than perfect way (most adults know better than a boy how to plan, organize, instruct, etc.), the result is that opportunities for the boy to prepare for future leadership responsibilities is stifled.  We have heard a statement that reflects the desires of the general authorities and the goals of AP/YM program for the adults who have AP/YM callings: “You are not called as leaders of young men, you are called as advisers of young men who have been called as leaders of young men.”

Quin suggested that I look at a couple of videos on lds.org that teach that principle: One shows a young man conducting a Teachers quorum presidency meeting and then a quorum meeting.  I especially liked the presidency meeting, where the quorum president takes the presidency  through all their business and then at the very end turns to the Adviser (who until this time we have not seen and who has not said a word) and asks, Bro. ____, do you have anything to add?” as the video fades out.

It is interesting to me that the 15 year old quorum president, a big blonde curly-haired kid, confident but humble, is none other than Tyler Haws, of current BYU basketball excellence.  I was excited that his presence may make the message of the videos more persuasive to adults and youth alike.  I have been hoping to be able to use these videos to present this message in a training meeting in January.

Interestingly, as Wendy and I were on the BYU campus yesterday to buy something at the BYU bookstore, waiting to cross the street from the parking lot to the Student building, a fairly tall young man, with blonde curly hair, walked up to the stop.  I said to him, “You’re Tyler Haws,” and he said he was.  I explained that I was in a Stake YM Presidency and we were previewing the videos he made as a Teachers President about 7 years ago.  I thanked him for the power in those videos to help us promote good leadership training and experience for young men in the Church.  He thanked me in a humble way.  He said that when they filmed these meetings there was no preparation or rehearsals–he was asked to just conduct the meeting the way that he normally did.

Another eagle in the family

I am proud of Justin who had his eagle board of review this past Thursday and is now an eagle scout.  I was amused at the preparations his ward made to help him do well at the board.  I saw a 2-page paper that someone had prepared that contained a list of possible questions that an eagle board might ask.  Justin and Scott had gone through the list, and Justin had answers ready.

How would you answer this question: "If Scouting wanted to add another point to the Scout law, what would be your recommendation?"  After I hear from several of your as to your response, I will tell you what Justin's recommendation was.  I thought it was quite astute.

Mormon moment in sports

Talk about “Mormon Moments.”  There is a young Latter-day saints athlete who is absolutely the top prospect in their sport  in each of the sports of baseball, football, and basketball:

Baseball: Bryce Harper,
20 years old, from Los Vegas, NV
6'3", 215 lbs.
Outfielder for the Washington Nationals of the American League, 2012 American League All-star (youngest player ever selected), 2012 AL rookie of the year, 22 home runs, batted .270.

While many young Mormons take two years in their early 20s to perform a mission trip for the church, the author of a Harper biography writes that Harper chose baseball as his mission.
“I feel I can be a walking Book of Mormon and help people on the baseball field and off it,” Harper told Miech.  In college, Harper inscribed his bat and the tape around his wrists with Scripture verses, including 2 Samuel 22:33-34, which encompasses a song from the Jewish hero David after an epic battle with King Saul. “God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect,” the song says. “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me on high places.”
The verse is fitting for a rocket-armed rookie who is one of the fastest runners on his team.
(Dan Gilgoff - CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor)

Football: Manti Te’o, senior linebacker for Notre Dame
21 years old, from Laie, Hawaii,  6'2", 255 lbs.
Was the most highly recruited athlete for any sport, in the history of the state of Hawaii.  Awarded the HS Butkus award as best Prep linebacker in the US.
In college, 2009 Freshman All-American, 2010 Second Team All-American (as a sophmore), 2011 Second Team All-American and 2011 Second Team Academic All-American (as a junior).
Projected top NFL draft pick, but turned down NFL offers to complete his senior college year. Emotional leader for team and top tackler with interceptions and fumble recoveries
Heisman trophy candidate

Te'o is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2009, when Te'o was being recruited by 29 college football teams, it was his belief in prayer that led him to ultimately chose Notre Dame.  Recently, his Mormon faith has helped him overcome the tragedy of losing both his grandmother and girlfriend within a matter of hours.  On Sept. 12, Te'o received two phone calls. The first came from his parents telling him his grandmother had died of an extended illness. The second, just six hours later, came from his brother. Te'o's girlfriend had died after a battle with leukemia.  In this video from ESPN, Te'o talks about the recent losses and how tragedy hasn't kept him from playing, and succeeding, in his football games.  After Notre Dame's win the following weekend, Te'o said, "They were with me. I couldn't have done it without them. ... I miss them, but I know I'll see them again.
(Katie Harmer, Deseret News)

Basketball: Jabari Parker, Senior at Simeon High School, Chicago, IL
6' 8" 225 lbs
As a junior, he was named  Gaterade HS basketball player of the year.  Led his tam to state HS championship.  Top ranked prospect by various rating services.
Father, Sonny Parker, played in the NBA.  Mother of Tongan ancestry and reurned LDS missionary.
Active Priest in his ward.  Attends early morning seminary, carries a Book of Mormon in his backpack.
Earlier this year Jabari Parker told Sports Illustrated that he "talked a lot about" missionary service when his elder brother, Christian, came home from his full-time mission.
"I want to go (on a mission)," Jabari said. "But I have doubts. The NBA is the biggest dream of basketball players, and I'm no different."

Third cousin of grandchildren is chess champ

According to a Deseret News article on 23 Nov 2012, at age 14 a young relative has become an international chess celebrity.  He is Kayden Troff of West Jordan, UT.  He just won won the World Youth Chess Championship Held in Slovenia, making him the highest ranking 14-year-old chess player in the world.

Undoubtedly he is a grandson of Patricia Johnson who married Arno Troff.  Pat was a cousin of Grandma JoAnn.  Her mother was LaVern Gourley Johnson and her grandmother was Bessie Gourley

You can find the article at http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865567404/Utah-chess-prodigy-wins-world-title-shares-his-Mormon-beliefs.html, which also contains interesting blogspot, facebook, and twitter links for Kayden.

I'm proud of Jeremy

     Jeremy asked if I would write a letter of recommendation for his Eagle application.  Its a pretty save bet that I would recommend him highly.  Here is my letter:

     "I believe that Jeremy is sincerely trying to implement the Scout Oath and Law in his life.  He is a conscientious young man who tries very hard to be obedient to leaders, family, etc, and to do what is right.  He takes responsibility for himself.  He is motivated to accomplish good things in school, in scouting, and in other aspects of his life.  He is uniformly kind and protective of his younger siblings and others.  He is respectful to adults and to sacred and patriotic things.  His attitude toward life and people is positive and he brings a quiet happy influence with him to everything that he does.  I believe he will be a credit to Scouting and to everything with which he becomes associated."

About noon Saturday I got a call telling me that Britain’s dad had briefly come to town and they had decided to bless the baby.  So I got dressed and participated in the blessing of Arthur William Soderquist, age 2 weeks, born 27 Oct 2012, by his dad.  I got this picture of the blessee and blesser.

Big storm

As I started to wake up Saturday at about 8 am but then to roll over and try to sleep some more, I suddenly remembered that it was supposed to have snowed during the night.  I had the thought that it might be timely to break out the snow blower that I got for Christmas a year ago and never used.  I opened the curtain, and what to my wondering eye should appear but 12 inches of fresh white stuff.

I got dressed in warm clothes, put on the snow boots that I also got last year for ice fishing but never used, and went to the garage to dig out the snowblower which was in the back of the storage side of the garage.  With some difficulty I got it past the car and pointed ready to attach the snow.  I checked and found it still had gasoline from when I tested it last year.  I strung an extension cord and plugged it in the snow blower socket (it has an electric start option).  I managed to find the starting instructions plate on the machine.  Going down the list, I set the throttle on high-choke as required, then depressed the choke button for step two.  Step three called for me to insert the key in the key slot.

I wondered, where did I leave the key, after I had tested it almost a year ago?  Wendy might remember, I thought.  But she is in Newport Beach with her girl-friends and would certainly still be asleep (it would be only about 7:15 am there).  So I started my search of the house, the key box, the cabinet file where the guarantee should be (it wasn’t), various kitchen and office drawers.  No sign of the key.  After 30 minutes I find it.  It was on my bedroom dresser, under receipts that had been accumulating for a year.  Someday I need to get organized.

Anyway, I was then able to start  the machine.  I did our driveway and sidewalks and also did the sidewalks around the corner to the east to Howard Peterson’s property and then to the west and up 820 east for 5 houses clear to the vacant lot past Young’s.  That part was easy and the machine handle the deep snow without a problem.

(Pictured: the snow blower in position this morning to go to work again, the foot of snow on Wendy’s flower pot on the patio and on the truck (this morning), and the top of a pine tree in Howard’s back yard with the top branches still weighed down with snow and a cute little top-knot sticking up.)

Capitol Reef Album--Scenic Drive

Capitol Reef Album--Deer near camp grounds

Tasty bush

Capitol Reef Album--Canyons

Capitol Wash

Capitol Wash varnish

Grand Wash

Grand Wash narrows

Capitol Reef Album--Sunset on the reef

Capitol Reef Album--Hickman Natural Bridge hike

Capitol Reef Album--Us

Capitol Reef Album--Huge old Cottonwoods

By Fremont River

6 feet in diameter

Capitol Reef Album--Interesting plants

Little bush with holly-like leaves

Brigham Bush--pioneers used it to make tea

Small Pinyon Pine with 2 cones

Capitol Reef Album--Fall colors at Kosharem

Capitol Reef camping

Wendy and I and Michael and Brian went to Capitol Reef NP for the first three days of this week.  We camped in the camp ground in the midst of the old fruit orchard Monday and Tuesday nights.  Some of the things we did:
*Hiked to Hickman Natural Bridge
*Petroglyphs on cliffs along the river
*Drove down the Scenic Drive (10 miles along the west face of the Reef)
*Drove to the end of Capitol Wash, then hiked a mile or so into the wash to see some more petroglyphs and also what they call the Pioneer Registry
*Hiked half of Grand Wash and then drove around to the other end to pick up Brian and Michael who hiked all the way through. 
*Hiked to Sunset Point to see the sunset on the west side of the reef.
*Enjoyed:
    The clear Utah-blue sky
    The red cliffs
    The yellow leaves (especially whole mountain-sides of Aspen–best near Koosharem)
    Some massive old cottonwood trees
    100s of deer
    The isolation and stillness
    Pretty little river in the Park–the Fremont
    Ancient fruit trees
    Good conversations with Michael and Brian.
    Lunch at Café Diablo (SW cuisine-#1 rated restaurant in Torrey, out of 12)
    Hamburgers at Slacker’s Burger Joint (#2 rated restaurant out of 12)
    Finding out I could still camp and hike (well, while taking lots of rest stops)