Day 110: The game of Chess

Dad taught me to play chess. He would let me choose any three pieces to take off of his side and we would play. As I learned to play a little better the number decreased to two and then to one and finally we each played with a full set of pieces. Dad told me that if I could beat him three times in a row that he would give me twenty dollars. This was all the motivation that I needed and soon had dad playing chess with me quite often in an attempt to win twenty dollars. It took a long time and many many games but I finally beat him three times in a row and got the twenty dollars. As a kid I thought that the real prize in this was the twenty dollars. Now that I'm older I realize the real value wasn't in the twenty dollars but rather in the time that I was able to spend with Dad and in learning a skill that would help me in life. No, playing a game isn't the skill, but playing chess requires a lot of thought and analytical skills that I use now.

Thanks for taking the time to play and teach and for knowing how to motivate me.

Day 109: Everything Bad Happens to Dad

As a missionary, I remember getting weekly letters from Dad. I'm pretty sure that Dad has about 12 plus years of weekly letters to missionaries. That is impressive.

My trainer, Sister Cassens, was a convert to the church and didn't get much mail from home, so I indulged her by reading these weekly letters aloud. It was always fun to hear the news and catch up on what was going on, but there was a special segment that we always looked forward to reading. The segment was titled: Everything Bad Happens to Dad.

My favorite story was the time that Dad went to help make the bed. In an attempt to be dramatic, he threw the feder Decke up in the air to fluff it up. What he didn't realize, was that it caught on the chandelier and so when he brought it down with his dramatic flair, he also brought down the chandelier.

This section included spilling things in the car like linseed oil, pickle juice, or gasoline. It included hammered fingers, car accidents, lost items, etc. By the way,I think I'm cursed for writing this post because it has erased the second half of my post for the 3rd time in a row. Sad. Everything bad happens to Maggie.

I am always impressed, however, by Dad's optimism. He has such a good attitude, and whether

Day 108: My Grandpa

I have been waiting to write this entry for so long and have had plenty of thinking time, but I could only ever think of how Grandpa has unconditionally loved us all, and his kind, warm spirit. The 13 amazing years I've known Grandpa, not once have I heard him raise his voice, or utter an unkind word. There is no such thing as saying no when it comes down to Grandpa, and I'm so grateful for that.

I have so many fantastic memories with him, going to matinee's, theme parks, and restaurants,etc. Although I love doing those things, it's the small things that count. The endless matches of Clue or Rummy, listening to the piano play away beautiful lullaby's, or when he shows me something new. In a way I'm glad I live in Colorado because that means I cherish every moment with my loved ones, with Grandpa. There is no blessing greater than being a part of this loving family. And if anything I wish there was saying that said, Granddaughter like Grandfather, and that it could be true.

Love, Evie

Day 107: The Miracle Courtship

I know most of the family knows about our courtship, but I thought it would be interesting to read about some of the steps in our courtship that we both know were more than coincidence. Think of Bob his first year of college (they are look a likes). Just like Bob, Dad started college at BYU the summer after he graduated when he was barely 17. He transferred to the Jr. College in Ventura, CA. where he worked on a pre-med degree. It didn’t take long to realize that his real love was English. Dad changed his major and went to Summer school again at BYU.

Neil had nowhere to go the short time between Summer School and Fall Semester and so he was one of the few residents at Stover Hall. Originally, Neil was assigned to the 2nd floor and was in a different ward. The Matron of the Dorms was encouraged by Dad’s friendliness and easy going personality. She asked him if there were any chance he would be willing to room with a fellow that had a hard time with roommates. Neil agreed and that was the beginning of our miracle courtship.

I naively came to BYU with no arrangements for housing. I planned to live with Grandma and Grandpa Adams and commute until I found something. I had made friends with a fun girl from our stake at Youth Conference and so knowing no one else at BYU, we started spending time at her apartment. I immediately asked the apartment managers if there were any openings. There were none at the time, but I put my name on the wait list and then the second miracle happened. Mary Ann and Elsa’s roommate couldn’t get the classes she wanted and went home to Idaho to work until the next semester. Because the manager knew me and of course liked me, I jumped to the top of the wait list and moved in and the very next week Neil and I were in the same ward.

Miracle #3 was that Neil and his roommate were assigned to be in our FHE group. In case you didn’t know, my ebullient spirit has mellowed a bit over the years, but when I introduced myself to Neil that Sunday, he thought I was a bit much over the top and thought I was coming on to him. He resolved in his heart to never give me the satisfaction of ever asking me out. When we had our first FHE my opinion of Dad was that he was really insecure and not very committed to the gospel since he was not planning on a mission until the Summer and here he was a junior in college!

There were lots of twists and turns in the plot over the next 6 months, but in the end, Neil and I met on a wintry Sunday morning and he told me of his desire to date. So much for his vow and of course, during those months I realized he was full of confidence and very committed to the gospel and was only held back by his tender age of 18.

Miracle #4 was that even with several humorous misunderstandings that led me to give Neil the ultimatum of either date me or don’t, but if you do date me, I expect a commitment. Always good for his word, Neil was, is and will be forever committed to me.

Day 106: Travellin' Man: Part 1

Dad has been all over the world on his media trips. He's been to every continent (other than Antarctica) and I'm sure he lost count long ago of the amount of countries he's visited. It's got to be over 40. His love for travel is contagious. I've often thought about quitting my job to go work for an airline… just for the travel benefits.

There's an old saying "While the cat's away, the mice will play." I have many memories of things that happened while mom and dad were out of town. Typically, Neil and Ruth Ann would get their parents or one of their married siblings to come over to the house and watch us while they were gone. Then the fun began. Here are a few memories that happened while the cats were away:


1. Several things from the mother never knew post happened while Mom and Dad were out of town. Uncle Bob was babysitting when I tried to throw our cat Boots out the window, and when John and I wore baby Bob's diapers.

2. Tom's birthdays. Though I'm not familiar with the statistics, I seem to recall that mom and dad missed the majority of Tom's birthdays, leaving him with an irreversible martyr complex.

3. The 3 car pileup. While Dan and Jen watched us during one trip, Dan crashed our 15 passenger van into a small pickup truck, which got sandwiched into the SUV in front of it. Luckily no one was hurt, but I flew about 6 feet forward and hit my hands on the windshield.

4. I was particularly bossy when mom and dad were out of town, taking it upon myself to rule in self-righteous splendor. Once, when the older kids were going to watch a PG-13 movie I told the younger boys they had to leave because the movie wasn't appropriate for them. Uncle Dan told me "If something is not appropriate for them, it's probably not appropriate for you." Well played Dan.

Our favorite part of our parents' trips was the day they came home. They would lay out their suitcases on the floor and pull out trinkets and goodies they had brought home for each of us. Sometimes it was something small like a keychain or seashells, but almost always involved some local treat. My all-time favorite prize they brought home was from their visit to Hong Kong. They brought home matching karate pajamas for me, Jim and John.

Thanks mom and dad, for thinking of us on your trips and making us feel especially loved when you got home. Thank you for sharing your love of travel. And thanks most of all for sometimes taking us with you.

Day 105: Like Father, Like Son (I hope)

A couple of weeks before Grandpa Arthur LeBaron passed away, he ordained me a deacon from the hospital bed in his living room. Unbeknownst to me, dad was recording that blessing and eventually transcribed it and gave me a copy. The blessing was highly patriarchal in nature and has guided me through many big decisions in my life. In that blessing, Grandpa Art spoke a lot about the patriarchal order and promised that—as I progressed in life—I would take part in that patriarchal order and witness more and more of the Lord's truths unfolded before me. When I blessed Kai as a baby, I felt prompted to center his blessing around the deep significance of being a son.

The scriptures are replete with symbolism pertaining to the father-son relationship (Adam, Abraham, Joseph of Egypt, Christ, Joseph Smith). Only within the past three or four years have I started to transition from viewing myself as a son to viewing myself as a father. 

Dad, I will be eternally grateful that you were chosen (and chose to be!) my father. I have always felt honored to be your son. I feel a heavy sense of obligation and gratitude to my own sons (and daughter) as I move forward in the patriarchal order and pray that I can be the half the father to them that you were to me.

I have always felt unconditionally loved. I have always felt admired. And I have always felt proud to be your son—even in your weakest moments—and mine.

Here's to eternity.

John Christian

Day 104: Elsha Guy

Remember this stuff? Funny that it's called "The Aristocrat of Cologne". Rob happens to have an old bottle of this from his Grandpa's stash and the smell of it brings back such memories of my Dad in his younger, early fatherhood days. I have always been happy to have a dad who smells nice. Other colognes that remind me of him are Obsession and Clinique Happy for men. What else has he worn over the years and what was your favorite?