Day 120: Why Do You Love Us?

Well, Dad, I really didn't think we'd make it to 120 posts by your birthday, but, here we are.

Much has been written about your love for all of us...and our love for you.

For the past three years, I've been editing the only full-feature documentary of our family in existence...the Church History Tour of Summer 1994. Painstaking hours have been spent digging through old footage, converting outdated tape formats, and supplementing memories of the ultimate LeBaron vacation with stirring musical selections from the likes of Afterglow, BYU Men's Chorus, and MoTab.

To my dismay (sort of), about half way through my editing, I realized that the real value of the video wasn't going to be in capturing the myriad paintings, sculptures, and other pioneer relics that had eaten up hours of tape and battery on our video camera over a two-week period. No one would care about the candle-wicking demonstrations, step-by-step wagon wheel reparations, or extensive silverware collections. Truth be told, we would all rather see our family! Our interactions. Our jokes. Our harassment. Our memories.

The "Best of" video will ultimately be released (maybe for your 61st B-day, Dad?), but, I thought it prudent to at least add a few teaser screenshots. It's sad, but, when I look at the video, I think to myself, how could Dad love us so much? I mean, look at us!!!

As I was reflecting on that question, the scripture 1 John 4:19 came to my mind: "We love him, because he first loved us." We love you, Dad. Thank you for first loving us first. For always loving us first. Before possessions, privilege, power, or person. We will always love you.

Love,

You children, your wife, your grandchildren, and the many, many more to come.

Day 119: Our Cute Dad

Here's to Dad

1. For never being afraid to wear a belt and suspenders simultaneously (and attach his hat to his suspenders)
2. For taking a car full of kids skiing
3. For holding things far away from his face when he reads (farsight is always 20/20)
4. For always singing us songs goodnight
5. For always pointing out birds and squirrels
6. For being Canadian
7. For shooting a pistol in the back yard when Maggie swore she saw a rat run under the playhouse
8. For letting the Winters use the Xerox machine
9. For using words like "ubiquitous" as descriptors when playing Catch Phrase
10. For giving the best bear hugs
11. For always being willing to rub your feet
12. For loving lime chicken
13. For Cheers, Wings, and the Fugitive
14. For never saying no to an assignment at church
15. For having the courage to start his own business
16. For building a cabin with Grandpa at the age of 16
17. For calling his sisters every week
18. For always telling Mother that he loves her
19. For being willing to forgive children who snip v-shaped cuts into brand new couches and cut up kangaroo skins from his mission (sorry)
20. For never making his children wonder if he loves them
21. For showing a genuine interest in the lives of those around him
22. For being a friend to the friendless
23. For always forgetting to stir the Crystal Light at family dinners
24. For having an insatiable appetite for antiques
25. For having more restaurant gift certificates than a Wal-Mart check-out stand
26. For always sticking up for Mom
27. For loving music
28. For letting the truck die at the bottom of the hill, jump starting it and letting the battery recharge, forgetting about it and letting it run out of gas so the battery can die again
29. For teaching himself how to do genealogy
30. For reminding me to go to college every time we did manual labor on the back hill so I would never have to move heavy rocks back and forth again
31. For always saying "I'm sorey."
32. For forgiving others and always giving people the benefit of the doubt
33. For pretending to leave the room but really going to bed, the time Mom invited some friends over just after she and Dad were married
34. For always being worthy and willing to give us blessings
35. For skipping a grade
36. For riding Calgary's public transit by himself when he was five-years-old
37. For doing business with Vinta Joke
38. For sunflower seeds, pistachios, clementines, beef jerky, black socks, and blue robes
39. For loading so many rocks into a black garbage can that the arm on the garbage truck falls off when it tries to lift the can
40. For having poems from his youth memorized
41. For having a collection of keys
42. For proposing to Mom while he was on his mission
43. For always singing in ward choirs
44. For choosing to work from home
45. For taking kids with him on trips
46. For coming to watch his kids in plays, musicals, assemblies, road shows, concerts, games, and the like
47. For fasting for his kids when they don't know about it
48. For praying for his children
49. For not stopping at 7
50. For loving burnt cheese, meat ends, and crispy edges
51. For being so good at bartering and trades that he could qualify for Mountain Man status
52. For always using WordPerfect
53. For being spontaneous
54. For teaching us how to read the scriptures
55. For having a jolly demeanor
56. For having a calendar to write down every thing he does each day
57. For always singing tenor at church
58. For making us feel special
59. For sacrificing for his children
60. For being my Dad

Day 118: The man behind the camera

The other day I was going through a bunch of pictures trying to find some with dad and me. I went through close to 1,000 pictures and came up with very few. I had pictures of vacations, reunions, little league games, orchestra concerts, vocal concerts, school musicals, sporting events, assemblies, talent shows, hanging out with friends, eagle projects, church activities and many more things. There was only one thing missing from these pictures. Dad. I know he was there because I have a lot of pictures of mom and myself and a lot with the other siblings but not many with dad since he was always the one taking the picture. I am so grateful that one; dad is so supportive of all our activities and always has been there to cheer us on and two; that he has been so good at photo-documenting the events for all of us. I only wish that I had more pictures of just the two of us. I think this one sums you up pretty well though. I love you dad and I am happy that you're our "papa meal" as Porter says it.

here is a little gem I found from some sort of outing at Snydermill. 

 

Or this

or this?

Day 117: Kelly's Limerick

Kelly Maudsley, one of dad's favorite mission companions and friends over the years thoughtfully sent this limerick:

A beautiful girl named RuthAnn
Fell in love with a wonderful man
His name was Neil
They sealed the deal
Then proceeded to make a whole clan
_ _ der t_e c_ _ v _ rs

He was born on the last day of May
All his family and friends said Hooray!
He’s a bit older now
Survived eight kids somehow
And, he dashingly handsome in grey!

Happy Birthday Neil!

Surprisingly, I could only find one picture of Kelly over the years, from one of the many mission reunions dad held at our home. He's the handsome devil on the far left.

Day 116: Travellin Man Part 2

Dad is a spontaneous traveler. Due to the nature of media trips and his advertising with Morris Travel, he had a standing deal with them to notify him if there were any flights with lots of available seats. If dad could fill them, they would sell the tickets at a deep discount.

This led to a few really exciting surprise trips. One that stands out is our trip to Puerta Vallarta when I was in jr. high. I got home from school in the afternoon, and walked into my dad's office. "How would you like to go to Mexico tomorrow?" he asked. At first I was excited, and then my heart sank. I was in a school performance and would miss the important rehearsals. "Just call the faculty advisor" he said. "I'm sure she'll understand."

Well she didn't understand. I got an earful about responsibility this and commitment that. I can't really remember because I was thinking more about what I would need to pack for Mexico!

Even though one day's notice sounds spontaneous, I've actually been given even shorter notice than that. When I was in fourth grade, I got home from school one day and as was my routine, ambled into the office to see what Gary, Duane, Pat and my Dad were up to. Gary was gone for the day, but Dad looked up from his desk. Our conversation went something like this:

Dad: How would you like to run an errand with me?

Me: Sure. What is it?

Dad: One of my clients knows an airplane pilot, and he think he could take us up to fly in a circle around Salt Lake, to see the city from the air. Would you like that?

Me: [incredulous]. Uhh, yeah!

Dad: When we get there, I'll need to just go talk to my client. I didn't tell him you were coming, so I just need to go make sure it's alright.

When we got to the airport, dad sat me down on one of the chairs with a TV built in. He started up an episode of Cheers, and headed off to his "meeting." About 30 mins later, he showed up and said "He says that should be fine. There are lots of people going, but you'll still get a seat by the window to see the city."

As far as I remember, this was my first time on an airplane. I was so excited and super distracted by all the things that I didn't hear a word the pilot said. When we took off, we flew straight out north over the lake, then turned 180 to head south, straight down the middle of the valley. Dad showed me our house, the parks nearby, the mountains, then soon we passed Utah Lake and the BYU campus. I started getting worried. "Dad, you should tell him he's going a little too far. We need to be back for dinner."

"OK." Dad said. "I'll let him know."

A few moments later when the captain came back over the speaker he said something like "We'll be arriving in Los Angeles in just over an hour…"

Man, I lost it. "What?! Dad, he said we're flying to Los Angeles. I think we got on the wrong plane! How do we get off this thing?!!? I can't go to Los Angeles. Mom will be so worried! We didn't pack any bags!"

Dad just chuckled and explained that mom knew about this plan and had already packed my clothes. We were going on a special trip, just the two of us. We went to Disneyland (where I got lost… shocking), an Angels game, and I loved every minute of it. Best surprise ever.

Another favorite trip with dad was a quick trip to Hawaii before my mission. Dad and I visited the big island, swam with sea turtles, flew in a helicopter over the volcano, and cruised around the island in a sport red convertible. Dad, that was a great tradition that I hope I can carry on with my own children. I guess I'd better start saving my money.

Day 115: The Great Elder LeBaron

Evelyn Marshall sent over a couple of excerpts from President Marshall's (dad's mission president) journal:

RJM Australian Journal December 4, 1972

Mon., Dec. 4 --- I stayed up late working over a ‘roo skin for Elder LeBaron. He has now been with us, sans the five weeks spent in Whyalla with Matthew, since our arrival 16 months ago. He is just great, and mere words cannot express the affection we feel for such outstanding elders.

RJM Australian Journal March 16, 1972

FAITH PROMOTING STORY: I have been distressed at locating and calling another assistant to go with Elder Nordfors for the next months. I thought of Elder _______ as an interim choice. He goes home in May. He’s not as strong as others; but I couldn’t decide on them; I’d have a more sure feeling by May. However Elder Maxfield tells me that earlier on his mission he wasted much time. Can’t a man repent? Yes, but we looked to others: Wilkey, Lambert, Carlile. Back and forth we toyed with these names. I threw in others, LeBaron, Geo. Jackson, Penfold, Grover, et al., but we ended up with the above three, shifting about their names as preference dictated, but holding to these three each time we cast a written ballot. Then I started saying to myself, yes, but Elder Nordfors, strong as he is, is weak in English and writing . . . and so are the three finalists. Where is the man with the erudition to help carry off the many written programs we’ll be using on our new Xerox press? I started looking at the files, going over the letters written me by the finalists. They were weak. And then I thought of Michael Larsen, the new financial secretary. He’s going for a PhD in physics. I opened his file and picked out three letters. Two were handwritten and showed ability and skill. But the third, typewritten, was a perfect delight! It showed a wide range of things: excellent structure, vocabulary, depth, spirituality coupled with a pleasant humor. Eureka! I’ve found my man. Then I came to the last page and looked at the signature: NBL. In filing someone had misplaced in Elder Larson file a letter belonging next door, to Neil B. LeBaron. But I had my man. We will call him back from Whyalla, and I thank the Lord for his great persistence with me.

Day 114: Mr. Incredible

Neil is an amazing Husband, Father, Friend, Advocate, and Humanitarian. I’ve had the privilege of working with Neil for three plus years. Most of us see him as the Trade Guru and he is, but he does so much more to bless the lives of those around him. The opportunity to get the inside scoop on Neil is an eye opener. I can’t tell you how many times we have been talking about a current event or some client or relative and we get all choked up and feel like we need to go out for steaks afterward to remember our manhood.

Some highlights that I enjoy about Neil are his humanitarian efforts. First and foremost is his dedication to the welfare of his family, what an example of putting people first above all else. Second he has dedicated a good portion of his life to American Indian Services because he believes that AIS can make a real difference in the lives of our Lamanite brothers and sisters. He donates a lot of time, love and trade and monetary assistance to AIS, another example of putting people above all else. Third would be his calling as a stake humanitarian missionary, where he goes above and beyond to fulfill that calling. He has helped the Church fund dozens of humanitarian projects the past three years. I could go into more detail on these projects but just know they are wonderful reflection of who he is. I love him for these things.

Neil your example of love and concern for others inspires me to be a better humanitarian. Thank you for your example, faith and encouragement. I love you.