Predictions for Breaking Dawn

I just want to go on record to say that at the end of "Breaking Dawn": Edward dies and goes to heaven.

We love Pirates!

So, Disney Movie Rewards has been good to us. We have already redeemed a Ratatouille poster, which we love; and just this last week (or two) we received our second reward. It's this:

Oh, yeah! That's the remote! Cool, huh?

We love it! And it's inspired some Pirate excitement around our house. :)

Happy Fourth

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July, we did. We hung out Grilled hotdogs and went to watch fireworks. See the pic below of Brayden, McKayla, and Zach watching the big ones. Coincidentally, last year while watching these fireworks names were being drawn for the Harry Potter Death-Draft.

Luvyas

Pictures from the past

Hey guys, I was scanning a bunch of old pictures in today and found this gem..


Later...

Our Dad!

Well, this was the post I was gonna do for Father's Day, but I wanted to give Dad's post and McKayla's victory enough airtime. If you haven't read those yet, you should, cause they're great.
My intent on this post is to put down some of my favorite memories with Dad that have influenced me for good with hopes that I could inspire my three older siblings to follow suit (Yes, Ron, you too! :) ).

I'll start with quick references and then go into more detail. Dad taught me about home teaching. We went home teaching. Even though Dad didn't even live in Othello most of the week he always made sure we got out and visited those families. This is a lesson I'm still working on, but the memory is there. Even deeper of a memory were those visits in the car. The ones that stood out to me most were about testimony. Dad helped me understand my testimony.
At 14 on a Saturday evening Dad told me it was time to go to Priesthood. I had no intention of spending my Saturday evening in a Church watching Conference. But Dad assured me that we needed to go. I went. I didn't want to, but I did. Grudgingly, but I was there. I sat with my head down, until one of the Apostles spoke. I have no idea what Elder Haight talked about that night, but he made me laugh and I thought, "This is alright." I've paid attention to conference ever since then. Elder Haight became my favorite Apostle. And in the months prior to his death I had the chance to meet him. He held my hand and just asked me about me; where I was from, etc. It's a treasured memory...Thanks Dad.

This story might seem like the obvious choice, but it's had such a profound impact on me. It's basketball. In the Church gym whenever I'd be practicing Dad would always comment on my dribbling. "You're palming the ball," he'd say. Funny enough, I don't think I ever changed my dribbling, me and everybody else out there just does a lot of "palming" or what we now call (if it's done to an extreme) a "carry." Contrast that with Dad on the sidelines or in the stands during my basketball games. I'd look to Dad and he was right there to give me the best coaching I'd ever had. He'd put his fingers on each dimple and mouth the word, "Smile." What's really important about sports? It's having fun and being happy. What's really important about life? It's having fun and being happy. To do that we need to smile. Two scriptures for that (you didn't know how deep of an impact it was, did you Dad?): The first is found in Jacob's amazing sermon on the Atonement found in 2 Nephi 9. Look at verse 39. It reads
"O, my beloved brethren, remember . . . to be spiritually minded is life eternal."
It is that important for us to s.m.i.l.e. Dad, during a priesthood opening exercise shared 2 Nephi 2:25
"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."
Dad explained this scripture in a way I'd never seen it. We are here to be happy. It's a commandment for us to be happy. And that's how we'll get eternal life.
That wasn't the second scripture, however, that was only a side note to the first. Here's the second. Joseph in Liberty Jail writes a letter to the Saints with instructions on what we ought to do with our lives. D&C 123:13,17
"Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light the hidden things of darkness...Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."
Do all we can, but do it with a smile. Dad taught me to smile.

Love, Eric

McKayla wins Clue in three turns

Hey guys, having a lovely family game of Clue with Grandma and Granddad, and McKayla nailed the answer in three turns shocking everybody, especially Zach.

Happy Father's Day

A time to remember our fathers, and I remember mine. Here I am fifty-eight years old, some forty years since I lived with my father, and I can remember fondly the many talks and advice I had with him after those first eighteen. I can remember that after our accident in 2006, some three months after his passing, one of my first comments to your mother was, "I wish my Dad was still here." No not to help with decisions that needed to be made, but that phone call that I would have enjoyed of comfort.

I also am thinking of the many times that your mother and I have commented how wonderful fathers our sons are. I feel that she has the genesis for that result, I'm sure I was no example to warrant such actions.

Finally, I can't help but think how our God, the all powerful, all knowing creator, prefers the title "Father." I thank him for the four sons he has given in my care to help Him guide them. And I thank Him for giving me the chance to be called, "Father."

Guess who?

So a few weeks back we took this picture. 6 GIRLS!! Can you believe it? That is way too much estrogen on one couch. 2 Carters, 2 Harrisses, and 2 Killians.

The "Be" Aptitudes

It was suggested that Family Home Evenings could be centered on President Hinckley's "Six Bes." Such a suggestion I think admirable. I would like to suggest a few things concerning the first of these "Be"s. But before so doing I thought that the "Beautiful" attitudes, the beattitudes, that the Savior gave us could be quite a map to President Hinckley's "Be"s. Thus I'm calling them the "Be-aptitudes."

Be Grateful to the Lord for hia "marvelous Church," President Hinckley says. "Thank Him for your friends and loved ones, for parents and brothers and sisters, for family." We're told how the Lord wants us to regognize his hand in all things, not because he wants recognition, but he wants us to realize how great his blessings are to each and everyone of us. The old Protestant hymn, "Count Your Many Blessings," has merit upon maybe making us feel better when the world is against us. But I think it is to help us to remember how merciful the Lord has been to us. The spirit of humility can help us fulfill our covenants to their fullest.

"Work on it," President Hinckley says. "You will find it will yield wonderful results."

Tyler

You invited Grandma to go crabing. When is the best time of the year to do that?

Congratulations Uncle Eric

Congrats Bud, we are all very happy, excited, and yes a little prideful for you. COngratulations and good luck on the new Job.

Brayden Grandma is sorry

Brayden, I did say a prayer for you that morning. And I am happy you are doing well.

Zachary, Your dad's wheel fell off his first time he went to the Pinewood derby also.
Chip off the block and block. I hope you had good time.

Tyler, Wow good job. hope you had a good time.

McKayla, thank for being a good supporter.

Hey Guys

First off Brayden is doing well after his surgery. He got his tonsils and adnoids removed as well as a new set of tubes. So long story short, they gave him every kids surgery they need. But he is doing good, though still pretty relaxed.

Here is a video from Zach's Martin Luther King Program. He did a good job and it was a lot of fun. Incidentlly this happened on the Air Force Base, which was a little weird when they started singing during a different song: "We ain't going to study no war no more."

They also had Pinewood derby last week. They had fun, though I definitely need some training as to making those cars. Example was that Zach's wheel fell off his first time down the track. Tyler got 1st runner up, just missing districts.

Love ya guys.

Visit From GrandMa

We had a wonderful Visit from Grandma, GrandDad, Uncle Ron, as well as Molly & Emily.





The Highlight of the Weekend was Zachary's Baptism. It was a wonderful time. Zachary was so excited, and GrandDad gave a wonderful talk. His talk talked about our name Carter, and how when we are baptized we take upon another name of Jesus Christ. And we should remember that. It was very special, and Zach said he felt: "Good."






Other events:

We all went bowling, and Grandma beat us all with a 168, when I was lagging far behind with 145. The kids had fun, and If grandma would start using a digital camera, we would have pictures of it.


Ron came up with some Bday gifts including these cute parasells (Spelling?), coincidentally they all matched the color dress the girls had on for Sunday the Next Day.

We all tried our hand at Karaoke:

Even Ron:

It was a happy Bday all around:

Later

Valentines

Happy Valentines Day. Grandma loves you all!!! Cookies will be on the way.

George Washington, Part II

trieityherald .eorn
Play review: 'George Washington' takes patience, but it"sworth
the wait
The Richland Players' production of George Washington Slept Here gets off to a slow start but turns into a nearly new play at
the half. It's like the coach threw in new plays to jumpstart the second half. Of course, in theater talk, it's directors and
intermissions. And directors don't change the play at intermission, the authors do.
Moss Hart and George Kaufman wrote George in the 1940s. The script adapted well to director Tim Harris' timely updating. It
doesn't feel like a 1940s play, so he did a good job. The timely inserts are funny.
George Washington Slept Here is a comical look at following your dream versus acting responsibly. It's about going outside
the box, crossing your fingers only to find out you've jumped into the fire. City dwellers Annabelle and Newton Fuller, played by
Joyce Bean and Jack Carter, find themselves with a rundown house in the country with a questionable historical value. The
costs to improve the home are never-ending as is the wear on the Fuller family.
But the first act is short on laughs and long on the tedium of the home repairs. The second and third acts improve with the
addition of new characters. Not that the talents of Joyce Bean and Jack Carter can't carry a play themselves, there simply isn't
much to the material until the second and third acts. The liveliness factor moves into high gear and the laughs are closer
together.
June Gillespie is hilarious as a local community theater actor -- is that life imitating art or vice versa? Dick Gordon as Uncle
Stanley -- there are sb many solid actors in this production.
The Players should be happy with the full theater and the audience should be happy with the recently renovated entrance,
lobby and restrooms. George is a well-liked and popular play, not particularly controversial. The set transforms nicely along
with the story. If you can hold out for the later acts, it's worth your time.

President Hinckley" passing

I found it rather sad in one way for President Hinckley's passing, and in another way grateful for his relief. (From the separation of Marjorie, not work; I'm sure he is still at it.)  I thought of many experiences I enjoyed.  But one especially struck my fancy from the opening hymn we sang this morning at Jared and Becky's Ward, Benjamin's blessing.  I remember referring to this situation in one of the very few letters I wrote Eric on his mission.  But during the dedication of the Columbia River Temple, Our President was laying the cornerstone and afterwards stepped back into the temple,  A Young Adult Choir was singing some hymn and when President Hinckley passed by to reenter the temple they started to sing, "We Ever Pray For Thee," our opening hymn this morning.  President Hinckley stopped.  An act that touched me.  Our Prophet was letting us honor him through those young peoples harmonizing, and rather than continue and pass it off, he let us honor him.  I once mentioned this to our High Priest Group Leader who was part of the planning committee for the dedication.  He said that that number was not on the original schedule, but the singing of that song was added just before the ceremony.  I also mentioned the situation during a Sunday School class, and one of the participants said, and I quote, "Maybe the Dude liked the song."  I'm sure he does, but so much more does it mean to me that he was letting all who participated to honor "Our Prophet Dear."

George Washington Slept Here

Well here it is the end of another play. We opened January 11, somewhat postponed from the originally scheduled September 19. The Richland Players Theater was closed for remodeling, which persisted beyond expectations, and we were postponed. Our schedule began opposite the College's opening of Hamlet, and Academy of Children's Theater Production of Peter Pan. Our first night was about three-fourths of the auditorium full, unusual for the opening night. But Saturday, the next Friday, and the next Saturday were all sold out. Sunday matinee was also a sell-out as well as the closing weekend. But weather conditions decreased actual attendance on the matinee and the final Saturday performance. The biggest surprise to me was the ability I had to memorize all the dialogue I had. I shared the lead with a female playing, naturally, my wife. My character was an excited character that wanted to leave the city life of NY to live in a house in Pennsylvania that rumored to be a place that George Washington had slept, while the female lead was less excited. (One line from the play: "Angry? I Could spit all the way to Arlington.") A film in 1940 starred Jack Benny, which I was watching once with Jared. He asked me which part I played, some I should think would assume the Jack Benny part. Unfortunately the roles are reversed from the play and my answer to Jared had to be, "Hers." My female lead had a lot of dialogue to memorize, too. And both of us aren't young, either. I reflected how memorizing all the lines from God's Favorite was easier when I was 13 years younger, and I also had an assistant to help me go over lines when we were less busy, and the four hour trip to Othello each weekend. Anyway, it happened, unfortunately without 100% perfection. The dialogue itself was so often almost repetitive, but not an exact repeat just a close one. But I will admit, the completed task was fun.

A picture in the paper was printed for Friday's opening night. I was in the foreground with the female lead to my left, being angry, and three other cast members looking on. Sunday's bishopric meeting brought some discussions from our Bishop of the picture. I was recently called as an Assistant Executive Secretary, thus part of the bishopric. Our Bishop says that my purpose as an Assistant Exec is to make him look good. He is bald, but not quite as bald as I, so I think that is what he meant. But what made this Bishopric Meeting so memorable was the Bishop commenting on the picture to his family that "Bro. Carter is letting his hair down."

The review of the play wasn't technically printed in the paper. But was obtainable on the internet. (I had intentions of posting the review on the blog, alongside the picture, but am having troubles getting the picture. I will do it later if I can.)
The reviewer's biggest comments were the slowness of the first act, but aferwards the rest was worth the wait. The only comment about performances were of two supporting players who she thought shined, and that we leads could carry the play by ourselves.

One particular part in the play involved my abilities to act as if I were getting involved with a group of drinking adults. I was joined in this group by another LDS actor. Molly and Emily joined their parents to see it, and I wondered what they remembered of the play. The first scene ended with a lot of soot from an old fireplace all over my face and sitting on a chair with a broken leg that naturally crashed. I thought that is what they would remember, but, no, Emily remembers my "acting drunk while talking to the (female lead)."

Well, another memory to add to the many, which sometimes seem to be fading. I will probably be in another one, I'm just not sure when.

Super bowl

Grandma is going for the Patriots!!!!!Who is with me? Do we want a bet?????

Trip to East Coast

Molly and Emily we wanted to show you the following stuff:

• The zoo, it is really cool, they have hippos, Pandas and they are funny. (Kayla said one scratches their butt in the bathtube).
• Abraham Lincoln's Memorial, it is really cool and I like Abraham Lincoln. I think you will like it to.
• Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln got shot, and the doctor's office across the street where he died. It is really neat.
• The Air & Space Museum: Planes, space stuff, Ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, R2-D2 & C3PO, as well as a piece of the Nauvoo Temple.

These are things I thought you guys would like. We are all excited for you to come here.