For Bill

Well here we go again, wow this yr. went by fast! Maybe not fast enough for some but too fast for others. I'm the latter.

I wish to be clever and funny so in order to do that I should write  mine out and then give to Chuck to spice it up a bit and also  have Mike McBride put in the funny clever stuff! No offense to either of you, I hope?

As I think of where we were at, one year ago to where we are now l can say, we have been and are a very very blessed as a family!

When we first got our names in August I knew that was going to have to work hard and give it a great deal of thought!. Well if thought counts for anything then I'm in for that prize.

I think part of this idea of service is  not only to do some type service for that person but maybe to spend some time thinking and getting into the persons karma. I have really spent these months really thinking of my person. You see I feel I really don't know my person ins and out, even thought I have spent a considerable amount of time with this person.

   What is this persons passions? what does this this person really like to do if there is free time in the life of this person? What our the hobbies that he or she might have?

  Well I can't answer any of these very well and that is why I have been spending a lot of time just thinking of this person.

Now I am sure either of my two shadow writers could have shorten that intro and spiced it up a bit, but sorry you all just have put up with me and Remember I am very OLD.

  So off we go, in behalf of Bill Johnson, I will now report my service and truly my time I have given to thinking of this many many times these past months. Bill  Johnson,  l want you to know that I Love and respect you very much. The hand you have been dealt has not been one that is easy! Yes you chose to join this family by choosing one of my special children! Little did you know that you would end up with, putting it mildly, a very challenging posterity. I have really taken the time to even try to put myself in your shoes. They are pretty big shoes to try and fill.

You met your future bride at the YSA ward, so my first service I had dedicated to you was
that I would do all that I could to fulfill my service mission to the YSA institute and ward as best as I could. This entailed every Wed and Thurs going to the institute and preparing a light meal for anywhere between 35-40 YSAs.

Kriss and I did this together but there were times when I had the opportunity to take it by myself. And that's when I thought more about how you, Bill, would be able to do what I did. And just take over and put the meal on by myself.

One of the biggies was helping out with the Christmas Party Dinner and we were given the assignment of bringing two vegetable dishes and a fruit jello. Kriss was spending a lot of time going to the physical therapist so I decided that I would fix the food by myself.

It was decided that we would do the famous "Amy Corn Casserole" x2 and a fruit Jello.  The pressure is on because Amy received great reviews with this casserole.  Like 10's (with 10 being high not low).  So I looked up the ingredients for the casserole and off to the store to purchase the items. 

Have you ever stopped to think how many different kinds of muffin mixes there are in the store today?  There are MANY!  I was informed that I must make this casserole using the exact ingredients.  So the Jiffy muffin mix was a little tough to find.  I thought at this time, I think I better go back to Africa because I am more used to going to the store there.  There would only be one choice of muffin mix.  But probably not Jiffy. 

 I am putting on the finishing touches on the Jello dish and this is the second helping after my wife, Sister Gates, looked at my first attempt and made a comment like "are you trying to save some whipped cream for yourself?  Looks like you are being a bit skimpy with that stuff."  Good thing I brought the mixer with me to the church.  So back to the mixer I went to thicken up the topping and hide all the Jello. 

When the party was over, the bishop was asking who made different dishes.  He asked who made the corn dish.  I said I did.  He said Yea Sure!  You mean your wife made it.  I said No, I made it!  I don't think he believed me but he raved about it.  I had no less then 7 people ask me for the recipe.  So I count that as a 10.  Not because of me but because of the good recipe that was provided by Amy.  Thanks Amy. 

Last Saturday when Utah was playing Duke, I got a call that no decorations had been put up at the Johnsons yet.  So I decided this was a good time to do a direct service for my recipient Bill.  He has been so busy doing all the jobs he had to complete before Christmas.  So I sacrificed the basketball game and headed over to the Johnsons.  And to my surprise, when I arrived there, Char was getting ready to have a dress party.  And her house was completely full with dresses and they were not presents.  So I asked Char where the Christmas decorations were so we went out to the garage and started looking.  She had no idea where they were.  Up pops that name again, BILL! 

I found a fake Christmas tree in a box, in the garage of which Char knew nothing about.  She didn't even know she had one.  So I said should I put it up?  She said "Sure! Why not?"  And now looking back, and her having that party going on, I think she was just a little bit overwhelmed and probably didn't really want it set up but was just being Char...sure yea! 

So I came in and found a clear spot which was in the kitchen and put that sucker up.  Then I asked Char where should I put it (another stupid question in that situation)?  Oh, just put it on the landing of the stairs.  That was really the only open spot there was because of all the racks of dresses.  During this time, she had people showing up early going thru the dresses.  As I left, thinking man I did a great service project there, I started to think I bet Char was very glad that I left.  Not because of my generosity but because she really needed to be serious about the dress party. 

Leland asked Grammy and I if we would come up to her school and speak to her class that was studying Africa and tell them all we knew of Africa.  Now I thought this was one thing I could do, that Bill is so great to serve at his kids school.  This was something Bill could not talk about but I sure could.  So we said sure, we would love to come.  We were thinking they meant for about 10-15 minutes. 

In a later conversation, they asked if the whole 5th grade who were all studying Africa could all come in and watch.  They gave us the whole Social Studies class period to talk.  Well, all of you know that Grammy can't be giving a talk or a speech with out a slide show.  So she started to put together a slide show that ended up great.  When we first were talking about it, Grammy said we would take our African outfits with us and we would do it in our outfits.  So when we packed up to go, I brought my outfit.  But Grammy thought that I was not going to wear mine so it ended up that I was the only one with my outfit.  And it was a great hit!  Sorry Grandma.  Thank you Leland for inviting us up and giving us this opportunity to serve. 

This past Monday, I found out that Lani really needed a babysitter so she could go help someone who really needed help in her ward. I jumped at the opportunity, thinking "Well Bill does that all the time! With his 3 plus more sometimes. I can do that! I LOVE MY GRANDKIDS. What's the big deal? What could go wrong?"

8 am. It was time. Here they come. I got this. Remember, this is the day that it decided to turn COLD! Flip of the switch it was COLD in North Carolina this day. In walk 4 kids and 0 jackets. Hunter is still in his pajamas and doesn't have any shoes.
"Where are is his shoes?"
"Ooooh, I didn't bring them."
"Where's his coat?"
"Ummmmmm, I didn't bring one. Just wrap him up in a blanket".
Now I had planned on going to the playground as I explained to Lani. She didn't believe me.
"Just have them play in the play room or turn on a movie for them. Thanks so much Dad." she says. I was very specific that I DO NOT DO STINKIES! But I don't think she believed me again. I don't think she believed me again because all she left was diaper changing stuff. No coats. No shoes. JUST "put on a movie for them" and how she went.
"Ok kids, what do you want to do?"
AJ: "Put on a movie. Put on a movie"
Houston: "Can you play catch. Please?"
Hadley Bear: "Let's play in the play room"
Back and forth back and forth all shouting which thing they wanted to do.
Dad: "Ok, let's go guys." Turn on the light
AJ: "Just plug it in Papa! I'll show you!" Still no lights.
Yes folks... No power. They did not understand this.
What could go wrong.

So, Off to the park. Grab the blanket (aka Hunter's jacket)!
20 minutes later....
I look at AJ. He gives me the sign that I should be asking "AJ, Do you need to go to the bathroom?"
"Nope! I'm ok!"
Ok... again 5 minutes later, the sign came again... holding that certain thing "AJ you sure you don't gotta go to the bathroom?"
"Nope! I'm ok!"
By this time you are probably thinking I'm pretty stupid and I should just be taking him. I actually had that thought, but I didn't want to leave the others that were having so much fun. Short time later, not even five minutes, "Papa, I need some clean shorts" while pointing to his shorts.
"Why AJ, did you go Toto in your pants?"
"Nope! I'm just wet"
"Aj, your mother did not send any change of pants!"
He doesn't understand. "AJ you'll just have to tough it out"
This is my big time to be a grandpa to be a grandpa to teach him to tough it out.

But there are no pants. So he goes off crying. We stayed for a while then said, "kids, it is time to go". Both Hadley and Houston almost in unison "NO! NO! We want to stay. Five more minutes papa!"
AJ is still off to the side crying over his wet pants. Hunter is almost falling asleep in the swing. I say, "Ok, time to go!" Lunch time.

What do you want for lunch? We have no bread. We have no Mac And Cheese. How about cereal!? :)
All three in unison say "Yeah!" Which kind do you want as I pull all four different kinds of cereal.
Hadley: I'll have some of all of them.
Me: In the same bowl?
Hadley: No, one at a time.
The other two: Yeah, that's what we want too.
I was surprised even AJ wanted all 4.

Hey! Great news! Power is back on!
Houston: NO! Let's go pass the ball!
So we go out in the front driveway and start passing the ball.

About this time Grammy comes home. And boy were they all excited... made me feel real good. Hunter went right over and wanted to jump up and drive the car. Didn't even let grammy get out.

Now at this time, it had felt like it had been 5 hours. Come to find out it had only been 2 1/2.

Lani pulls up. The kids all run to the car. Mom opens the door and what's the first thing AJ shouts? "Mommy, I'm all dry!" :)

 

 

Hunter is a little upset that he doesn't get to eat with his siblings. This is new to me with Hunter. So we have to correct the problem. 

 

Hunter eating with his siblings AT THE ISLAND. Happy now! Didn't want the baby chair! 



The crowning moment... only 2 of the 4 want the ice cream! NOTHING WENT WRONG!!!

Like Star Wars,
To be continued...
Here is a sneak peak...