A Special Experience With Jeff Hafen

Jeff Hafen and I had a long talk today.  He bought me an ice-cream bar then we went to the custodian office and talked.  I was very frank in telling him about myself, my philosophies, and my sometime feelings of inferiority.  He reached out and touched me with his love and concern.

He told me of his father-in-law's father who had recently committed suicide.  Nobody in the immediate family was able to go into the room where the suicide took place to clean up.  Jeff was asked and responded.  He told me of the awful feelings of nausea that overcame him; how he was forced out of the room several times.  there was a lot of blood in the room and on the walls.  He told me of how, during this ordeal, the Spirit came to him reminding him of his baptismal covenants to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort.  It was very touching.

He also told me of his feelings for me and how he saw in me some of Nephi's attributes.

I'm not sure that I have ever had an experience like that.  We knelt and prayed and I felt the Spirit very strongly.

I feel very weak and humble right now.

I got an A on my Stats test today which was sure a blessing.  I've been thinking about Anne a bit today.


JC

The DTR With Val

Val and I had a nice talk.  We decided that there would be no commitment of any kind when she goes on her mission.  We had a nice walk coming home along the walkway just above the tennis courts.  There Val, John A. and I went to Naughler for a date night snack.  Beautiful weather!

Giggling Missionaries

Choice teaching moment tonight in Ambassadorship.  I've lately been trying to memorize the names of the missionaries in my English zone.  Tonight several missionaries switched name tags in order to try and confuse me and it worked.  I asked Elder Wells (who was really Elder Jarr) to read a scripture.  He proceeded to read until he got the giggles.  Then his whole district joined in.  That didn't bother me at first (I thought it rather funny) but they kept it up for a good five minutes.  I couldn't quiet them down so I started getting pretty upset.  Finally I just put my head down and lit it grow quiet.  It did get real quiet.  I'm sure that they were expecting me to yell at them or at least lecture them.  While it was quiet I was thinking what I should do.  I think that I was able to put the whole thing in perspective and I just thought of the great love that I have for the missionaries and the great sacrifices they make to be in the mission field.  The rest of the lesson went well and the testimony meeting turned out great.  It's such a blessing to work with the Lord's servants.

Anne's Letter, "Splash", Dating Preferences & Sir Winston Churchill

I received my long awaited letter from Anne today.  I wasn't disappointed.  She writes well and was able to explain a lot.  I don't know if I have ever felt so intimidated by a woman before.  To make matters worse she is three years younger than I am and she just keeps getting smarter!

I have dated Valerie for a couple of months now but she just doesn't do anything for me like Anne does.  It's interesting to see where life takes us.

John and I saw the movie "Splash"  tonight.  Madison, played by Daryl Hannah reminded me of both Anne and Sister Dalton.

Lots of women that have caught my attention lately are blonde.  That seems to indicate a change in my preferences.  I used to be a solid brunette fan.

I bought and started a biography of Sir Winston Churchill today.  I'm excited about it.  It promises to be good reading.


JC

Jeff Hafen

Jeff Hafen is great.  He is organized, fun, inspirational and open to suggestions.


JC

"Life is nothing short of fantastic!"

Had a nice bare-footed walk with Valerie.  Mission prep went well and I believe that life is nothing short of fantastic!


JC

Stan's: A Restaurant Review

It is easy to take for granted the incredible beauty and joy of spring.  The sun just shined all day.  The flowers are out and at their brightest and the grass is warm and soft.  What a blessing it is to live in such a magnificent part of the world.  The changing seasons simply assure that one will not take nature as a constant.

Valerie and I went and ate at Stan's for lunch.  Stan's is one of those rare burger joints in this world, like the Charcol Burger in Glenwood Springs, that simply makes great food.  The atmosphere is that of a run down, small-town, greasy spoon.  The girls are all very young, of all shapes and sizes and not so much as a memorized "May I help you."  The grill is there but to my knowledge no one has ever seen anything actually being cooked on it.  Instead a hamburger patty disappears smoke and good smells rise and soon a burger materialized.  As good as the hamburgers are they simply can't compete with Stan's french fries.  They are long, greasy, hot skiing intact and yummy, especially with generous helpings of salt and special sauce (catsup and mayonnaise).

I've never seen Stan's advertised but I doubt it will ever come to that.  Stan's best advertising is the food.  It doesn't want a lot of one-timers it wants come-back people and that's what it gets.

Amen.


JC

Tensions In The Office

Tensions in the office have been running quite high.  Curt moved his desk which he is sharing with Jim without consulting Jim first.  That hurt Jim's feelings and so there are tensions there.  Paul and Steve have not enjoyed the most congenial relationships and the rest of us unwittingly get caught up in the middle.

I've been waiting for a letter from Anne Hiatt but it hasn't come very quickly!

Lots of stats to do.


JC

JC's 24th Birthday

This is my birthday and I couldn't think of a better time to start writing in my journal.  My last entry was well over a month ago and that is much too long to let something like that go. 

Jim Lucero and I went for a walk tonight.  We talked a lot about marriage as we surveyed the 3rd South river.  (Yes, flooding problems again this year.)

 

I just got back from my first weekend in Grand Junction since Christmas.  It was a great weekend and I enjoyed every minute.  More later.

JC