Random thoughts to my son Mike and his wife, Kim

It's interesting that as I look at your blog, visit your house, spend time (not enough) with you and your kids I get a sense of a wonderful family that is doing things right. The video of your family at Goblin Valley is very cute. The Moab pictures. The other pictures of family.

It appears from my end that the two of you have made good choices in your lives. I see the commitment between you. To each other and your children. I delight when I see pictures of Michael and Bren walking hand-in-hand. Of the family all together. Of the two of you on the cruise. You seem to take good care of yourselves and each other. And the family as a whole.

I've thought a lot about the concept of "Families are Forever." I see that emblazoned in so many places and homes. In trying to wrap my mortal brain, with its severe limitations, around that particular concept I have found it difficult to comprehend. What does the word "Family" mean in that context? Families get so huge and convoluted with marriages, children, divorces, remarriages, etc. Just who is my family? And how does the "Forever" play into it? There are in-laws and their families. Cousins. People whom we've never even met! Are we all supposed to be together? Even the word "together" gets confusing.

In thinking about it, quite a lot actually, I have the impression that it is a lot simpler than we might expect. (I expect that is often the case when a mortal mind tries to comprehend the eternal aspects of life.) I think it has to do with DNA. Genes. Bloodline. Either literal or adopted. Having come to that idea I think I've chosen to move on to other concepts. Other mysteries. It just gets too confusing. And mortality just has too many limitations when it comes to understanding the eternities.

Suffice it to say that if through some miracle I am able to be in the eternities with the likes of the two of you and your "family", I would be delighted. You are lovely people. I admire the personality traits that I observe. Kim, you are one of the most blunt, lay-it-on-the-line people that I know. You always ask the hard questions. Yet you seem to be one who will be accepting and forgiving. You just want to know what's going on. That can be a little difficult to deal with on occasion, but overall it is refreshing.

Michael, you are my first born. I see in you a mature adult who has experienced some difficult times. In spite of the difficulties imposed on you, you have risen above them and have crafted a life of meaning and substance. Not an easy thing to do under the circumstances. Bravo. I loved you the moment I saw you and have ever since. In a lot of ways you have taught me a lot more than I have taught you. Thanks for that.

So, as I sit here on a Wednesday morning, planning out my day, I saw, again, the email from you, Kim, in my inbox. I seem to recall that you mentioned a while ago that I should get a blog and share thoughts about my life, etc. Or maybe I'm just imagining that. Not sure. But, to that end, I've shared some thoughts with the two of you. Somehow in so doing the day looks a little brighter. I have reached out to two people who are very important in my life and I've told them I care about them. That I love them.

And that's a good way to start the day.

Dad/Michael