Sharing what's inside.

Several years back when our youngest son Ian was serving his mission, I learned how to burn a CD's for the first time. I bought a desktop computer and transfered all the CD's I owned to that computer. I then starting burning my own CD's with just the tracks that I liked, to enjoy while driving. I also decided to start making CD's for Ian while in Argentina. I came up with "Dad's religious favorites"; "Dad's Christmas favorites I & II"; "Dad's Scripture study favorites"; etc. (All of my kids still tease me about my creative CD titles.) You see I really missed Ian deeply and was anxious to share with him music that touched me and know that he could feel what I felt as he listened to them over and over. Good music indeed stirs the soul.

By the way, all of my six children at some time in their lives have been given other notable titles like "Dad's oldies"; Dad's real oldies"; Dad's country I & II"; Dad's country oldies", again to name a few.

To all my kids and all of my grand kids - I think this BLOG thing might be another fun way for us to share feelings together. I make periodic posts, but as my wife and second daughter have told me over and over, "The real fun lies in the comments which you return". I know that even though I really enjoy reading everyone's posts, I have not been very good about commenting back.

This morning however, I got up about 5 AM and the first thing I did was look to see if anyone had commented on my last post. So, guess what, Mimi and Kimmy are right!

Angels Smiling From Within!

Last Saturday, Mimi and I drove the red truck up to the Ft. Worth Zoo to help transport our Ash grand babies back home as Lesa & Doug were working. We pulled up to the zoo entrance to wait for Aunt Meg to bring them out. However, as it turned out Mike & Kim came out first with Abby & Issac. Issac was unhappy and tired so he was wrestling with his dad. Abby on the other hand ran to our truck and jumped up in the back seat to say hello to Mimi and Papa. She had the most radiant and excited smile on her face that I have ever seen. The day out together with her mom, dad, brother, Aunt Meg and cousins made her happy all over, inside and out! I wish that I had taken my camera, but didn't. Aren't families great?

Well, Papa was the tooth fairy's assistant again last night. In less that 10 minutes, Brock had misplaced the tooth in all of the excitement. I am to sign an official letter to the fairy attesting to the fact that there was indeed a tooth removed.

By the way, Brock said that it did not hurt at all. And his Dad told me this morning that he had to get 4 shots (2 in one leg and 2 in the other) at his doctors. Again, Brock maintains that it did not hurt at all and got several coupons from the doctor for being such a good patient.

Gosh, these little ones grow up so fast!

Well no one actually "Tagged" me, but thought I would go ahead and list some things about me for the grand kids. They may want to ask me about some of them one of these days.

7 Things About ME:

1) I had a wonderful childhood as I got to spend a lot of time with my grandmother "Nanny". I would have to say that two of my very favorite memories of Nanny were sitting together watching and enjoying the music and humor of Tennessee Ernie Ford ("Bless your little pea-pickin heart" & "Good Lord willin and the creek don't rise") and The Lawrence Welk Show.

2) I always had plenty to do and when I was 12 or 13 helped build a complete garage/storage building in our backyard. I helped pour the foundation, frame it (No pre-made trusses back then), roof it and put siding on it.

3) When I was 14, I spent the summer with My Uncle George in Aransas Pass, TX. I learned to head and process Gulf shrimp at his large plant. I also had to shovel oyster shells in the hot sun, from a big pile onto a pickup truck as a penalty for talking bad one day!! Wow, never did that again. I cleaned gobs of fish at his bait stand for extra money and then with all my earnings from that summer experience bought a used electric guitar and amplifier. Even put together a band that played for church dances and a bar on occasion. The owner of that particular bar in fact gave our band it's only name "The Cat's Meow" .

4) After graduating from high school, I went to visit my older brother Guy and his wife Janice in San Diego, CA. I got to hold my baby niece Shelly just home from the hospital and did some body-surfing in the Pacific ocean.

5) Mimi and I vacationed several years at a huge resort in West Virginia called "The Greenbrier". Our government in Washington D.C. has a complete underground emergency bunker at the Greenbrier which will house government officials if the need arises. I played golf on three of the most beautiful courses in West Virginia. Great skeet and tennis too

6) I lived in Stavanger, Norway and our house sat overlooking a huge fiord. While in Norway, I traveled to Tromso which is in the Arctic Circle!

7) I have stood on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and sailed in a regatta on the Olton Broads in England. I also hunted bear in Ontario, Canada and was above and below Niagara Falls. Probably the best trip I took was with Mema, Mimi and all of my little ones to visit Arizona. We pulled up onto the edge of the Grand Canyon (South Entrance) with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the Battle Hymn of The Republic on our stereo. It still sends chills up my spine!

Gratitude

I realize that I am someone in this world because my family defines me. I know the scriptures tell me that I am a Child of God and in an eternal sense that is everything. However, in this life "Papa" or "Sweetheart or "Dad", means a lot more that Martin Farmer.

For the last couple of weeks, I have been thinking about "Gratitude" and decided to have a FHE on the subject tonight for some of my children and grandchildren as well as one of my home teaching daughters. I am convinced that many of this world's problems could be solved if people were just grateful. And I don't think most parents teach this very important principle any more. When we are grateful, my granddaughter Paiten told me that we are happy and indeed the lesson we used made the same point about the 10 lepers that Christ healed. Only 1 who fell down to offer praise was blessed, while the 9 that did not return to thank the Savior missed the opportunity to grow as a result of their ingratitude.

I am very grateful for the Gospel in my life. I am grateful for this wonderful country in which I live and where I have been able to raise my family and enjoy "Freedom". I lived overseas for three years and believe me, there is nothing like America (even with all her problems). I am thankful for the many who have given their lives on my behalf in order to protect our way of life. Finally, I am grateful for my wife, children, sons and daughters in law, and the most wonderful grandchildren in the whole world. I LOVE YOU ALL!

Nostalgia

One of my favorite quotes says, "Nostalgia's sweet, but not so sweet for things remembered as for things forgot!". As I have gotten older and on occasion like to think of the "Good Ole Days" this quote is useful. However, I realized a long time ago that I wanted to use the "Things remembered" part of the equation as much as possible. Mimi and I have always tried to make memories and traditions a big part of the Farmer family.

As our family has grown and interests vary, it seems hard to all get together. We (Mimi & Papa) still however, hope to be part of each of our kid's family memories and traditions for a lot of years to come. And maybe you kids and grandkids can use the "Forgot" part of the quote when Papa gets disagreeable or goes slower than he should.

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