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Over on Eatenbyanogre.com, I figured out how to do rotating pics on the different pages so I went through and founds some of my favorite pictures to rotate through. You could see a different picture each time you go through there. I guess I am lucky to be kept busy by the small and simple things.

Happy Grandparent's Day

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Services

(Double-Click on Image for full size)

We returned from Salt Lake early this morning from the funeral services of Grandpa Slagle. Everything was so nice, and the "Sisters/Aunts" (Sue, Sherrie, Shauna, Stef and Shirley) did such a fine job in making sure everything was just right and all the details ironed out.

There were two things that happened this past couple of days that really touched me. The first was seeing the Grandma at his side at the viewing. It is such a symbolic act for what has been their entire marraige together, always at each others sides, always taking care of each other. Such an incredible example for so many to follow.

The second specific instance was during the funeral service there was a musical number where all of the grandchildren and great grandchildren came up and sang "Families are Together Forever". I didn't sing, as well as a few others, but even still there were so many that did. I don't have the count, but there are so many granchilren and great grandchildren it was overwhelming to see the extend of his effect on the world with his posterity. I think there was only one grandchild that couldn't make it because she is on the other side of the world. I don't know the actual counts (it would be interesting to know, name and list), but it was an awesome sight to see everyone there singing, as well as see everyone again. It's a shame that it takes things like this to get everyone together, but all the same what an awesome tribute to such a great man.

Somewhere between Parawon and Fillmore, speeding along to Salt Lake, I put together this slideshow.

Thanks to everyone that sent me pictures to include.

If you listen close, at the end of the slideshow it is actually Grandpa Slagle singing with his bear, that the Mom posted a while back (her one and only post I think). I had thought of including the video, but somehow the audio just seemed to fit a bit better.

You can watch or download a bigger version with this link, the blog format just doesn't allow the native size.

Luman P. Slagle

There is a lot to say when someone passes, there is the hope that you were able to say everything you wanted to see before they left this world. I am glad that we were able to get back and visit Grandpa Bud in June, glad I was able to talk with him a couple of weeks ago, hope he knew how much we all loved him.

Things like this bring on a flood of emotion, and memories. But it is so comforting to know, that this is all part of the plan, what this all represents, where is he now and what he has accomplished in his life, such a fine father, grandfather, and example to us all. It is summed up so well be Bruce R. McConkie when he said:

But come what may, anything that befalls us here in mortality is but for a small moment, and if we are true and faithful God will eventually exalt us on high. All our losses and sufferings will be made up to us in the resurrection.

We shall be raised from mortality to immortality, from corruption to incorruption. We shall come forth from the grave in physical perfection. Not a hair of the head shall be lost, and God shall wipe away all tears.

If we have lived the gospel we shall come forth with celestial bodies which are prepared to stand the glory of a celestial kingdom. We shall continue to live in the family unit, and as Joseph Smith said, “That same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy.” (D&C 130:2.)

We rejoice in life. We rejoice in death. We have no desires except to do the will of Him whose we are and to dwell with Him in His kingdom at the appointed time.

O that it might be with each of us as it was with that valiant apostle of old who said, as the hour of his death approached:

“I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:6–8.)

I am scouring the hard drives and back-up drives looking for the video made for his birthday 5 or 6 years ago. I have only found the trailer, showing just a small portion of the video, but I will update with the full video once found, but this represents him well, as the patriarch he was and is, with the multitude of inheritance that he and Grandma started.

Leave a comment of your most memorable memory of Grandpa Bud!

Pictures from GG's Birthday Party

Just what is a Fan Faire

Terry and I are off to the 2008 SOE Fan Faire in Las Vegas. I actually have to work the event, my day job is not always fund and games, well it usually games... but thanks to some accommodating grandparents who volunteered to watch the kids, Terry is tagging along.

The full schedule of events will keep us busy...

Friday night at 6pm is the Community Address where one and all can get a insiders view of current and upcoming plans. It is streamed over the Internet and can be watched here. Check it out, maybe you will see a sneak peak of that secret game Free Realms, or DC Universe Online, or The Agency.

Aside from that there is a very good chance that we are going to go see this.

Happy 80th Birthday GG!

If there was ever a red-letter day on a yearly calendar it is August 12th. This is the birthday of Colleen Young Slagle, otherwise known as Grandma Slagle, GG or even "Coke" to some, which has even more meaning if you know that Grandpa Slagle is known to many as "Bud", hence you have "Bud and Coke" and all your family parties.

There have been some challenges lately in GG's world, but upon talking to her and Grandpa Bud last night, they both couldn't be happier that he is home for her birthday.

While we can't be there to celebrate this momentous occasion, (I did commit to be there for her 90th birthday) all our best wishes and love goes out to her for this occasion.

2008 Olympics

Excited that the Olympics has started. After all it's one of the original reality shows, and I love reality shows.

For those of you that watched the opening ceremonies last night...the dance festival that you didn't get to see was JUST like that, just with less drums.

BBQ and Smokology

Over on my main site (linked to the right) or go here, I am going to start putting down my adventures in BBQ down on the blog, as it is fast moving from a hobby to an obsession. In the meantime take a look at this educational video.

All things must come to an end

(click on the image above for a bigger view)

Thursday, Friday and Saturday consisted of a total of 35 hours of dance festival rehearsal, coordination and the final performances. As with almost everything of righteous intent, it all works out in the end.

Three thousand youth, in 12 stakes, plus numerous parents and volunteers pulled of something really special and spectacular.

Now it's back to our regularly scheduled lives, can almost take a breath...stay tuned.

More photos of the event can be found here, and download as you wish.

Here is an attempt at slideshow of the photos as well.

My how they grow...

It takes me a little while to post things, but at least I made it in the same month. We try each year to take a picture of the kids in the same pose, in the same area each 4th of July when we visit Grandpa and Grandma Thielo for the 4th of July festivities.

I think I have more of the pictures archived on a CD here or there that I wasn't able to find, but this still gives a view of how the kids are growing up. With that growing up it gets harder and harder to take their pictures as well.

Family Fun Movie Night

We are counseled to form righteous traditions. With so many things pulling every which way today; dance festival, football equipment handouts, school, church and what not, it was time for Family Fun Movie Night.

This was the movie.

It is getting harder and harder in the household to decide and agree on a movie. Besides the pre-screening that is usually needed to assure that the movie complies with required parental standards, in a house with teens, pre-teens, boys, girls and a lot of strong personalities there is rarely a unanimous vote.

But we have found a secret that assures Family Fun Movie Night is attended by all, with minimal (notice I didn't say "no fuss") fuss.

It's S'Mores...who doesn't love S'mores and throw in a pseudo-campfire and it is a sure fire win (pun intended).

Brooke goes for the dainty one-handed painted fingernail approach.

Chase attacks them with his best impersonation of "Cookie Monster"!

TD is the scientist in the family and insists that one day he will perfect the 'TD S'more'. He used a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in place of the Hershey's Chocolate on this one, it has potential.

Ali is still looking for that perfect marshmallow...less soot, more toasty goodness...

A righteous family tradition in a hectic world. The movie wasn't bad either...does anyone know how to get marshmallow stains off a DVD though?

A Generous Cut

Today my precious Deanna did something that I have allowed only once before in her life. This action, something that I did not want her to do, she did for a great cause a cause with which I could not argue.

So what did Deanna do today? She let her hair be cut. Her beautiful long blond hair that she has grown for years today was cut. But as I stated she did it for a good cause, she donated her hair to Locks of love.

It was quite a site and an emotional moment as her hair was chopped off. No Deanna isn't crying as it is being chopped, but I haven't seen her face go that red since she last talked about her boyfriend who shall remain nameless.

But in the end, things worked out well. Someone will be made very happy by Deanna's donation, and her new hairdo looks pretty darn good as well. And perhaps in another year or so she can go through this process again.

California Inland Empire Dance Festival

Ali and TD are particpating in this dance festival this year. Practices have been going on since March and it has pretty much replaced mutual night and scouts during this time. The youth have been divided up with dances for each group (deacon, beehive, etc.) with the mia-maids and teachers dancing together and the laurels and priests dancing together.

For the first couple of months practices were done in each ward building with the wards that met there all participating. Then a few weeks ago it was all respective groups from the stake (all beehives at this place, all deacons at this place, etc.) getting together.

Two weeks ago it was the entire youth in the Menifee Stake getting together, and then today it was a zone practice with the Menifee, Hemit, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Riverside and Yucaipa Stakes all together. All leading toward a final dress rehearsal on the 24th of July and performances on the 25th/26th.

Easy-Ups were assembled, lots of water was on ice, and a home base for each ward was assembled.

Then away they went. I tell you So You Think You Can Dance is nothing compared to this event. Even the choreographers and judges (my favorite is the one I like to call "The Man in the Yellow Hat") are much more on top of things, and on top of the youth, then are on that show. They run them ragged. I can tell you from personal experience as well as be vouched for by the other chaperones today, that trying to control a few wanna-be dancers on TV is nothing compared to trying to control a couple of hundred deacons.

It was hot, it was hectic, but I think they had a good time even if they don't admit it.

You can see from the below picture,(you will need to double-click on the picture to actually see what is going on), that there are a lot of youth participating. Just imagine how fun it is going to be with the other half of the stakes participating show up for practice and the event. I wonder if they will really all fit on the field.



I couldn't find the entire ward in the mob, but was able to pick out a few.

Thanks to some wonderful youth today with good attitudes most of the time, and thanks to the fellow chaperones Julie, Heidi and Gomer!

Hospitals, Bureaucracy and God Complex

Our Grandpa/Great Grandpa Bud (you can see some previous posts in the archives) has gone through a lot this past 6 months with various surgeries, and being in and out of the hospital. It was very touching to see him when were there last month and think about what a patriarch he is for such a huge posterity.

It is frustrating being in California and hearing about the horrible care he is receiving a la St. Marks hospital. It's hard enough on families when a loved one is sick, but when incompetence, bureaucracy and doctors that think they know it all only make the problem worse it really is inexcusable. It isn't just incompetence, but outright lack of morals, character, and selfishness. How some of these particular nurses, adminstrators, and doctors could be in such a personal, life affecting profession with such lack of concern for anyone but themselves is beyond me.

The details I get are sketchy and masked by individuals that are too nice to say what they really feel, but too tired from all of going back and forth and too frustrated from the incompetence shown by so called experts to hold their tongue.

While I know there are many care givers out there, that provide excellent care to those that they come in contact with, and I thank them for their hard work and dedication. But for those others that are incompetent, non-caring fools, they give an entire hospital a bad name. Maybe that is justified as they are allowed to still work there.

One thing is for sure, St. Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah is one place you want to avoid at all costs if you need any sort of care.

My thoughts and prayers go out to my grandfather, and also to my grandmother who is constantly by his side. As well as to my Mom and Dad, Aunts, Uncles, Brothers, Sisters and Cousins that are constantly running back and forth from their own responsibilities to make sure he is taken care of at all times.

And I guess I should keep those nurses, doctors and adminstrators in my thoughts and prayers as well. The thoughts won't be so nice...but the prayers will be sincere requests that they get a clue!

July 10, 1996

July 10, 1996 was a momentous day in our lives. That was the day our beautiful baby girl was born and we started the parenting journey. It has been an exciting 12 years. I'm excited to see what happens next. I love you, Deanna. Happy Birthday!

Brookelyn's Special Day

It was Brooke's special day on Saturday, where she was baptised along with her two friends Shane and Dylan. I don't think she was even half as nervous as this picture makes her out to be. It's funny what a picture will capture though.

We are very proud of Brookelyn, and her strong but sweet spirit. She keeps us all true and honest with her "say how it is" personality, and she brightens any room that she enters with her smile.

It's weird to think that the last of our kids has had this defining moment in their lives, and are all moving on to other moments (jr. high, high school, priesthoood, driving, oh my let's stop there.)

Our friend, and mother of Shane, Crystal Robbins put together a video to show at the baptism of the 3 of them. With her permission I have ripped the DVD and posted here for the family to view.

Brookelyn's Baptism

Baptisms for your children are one of those defining moments in your life. It's one of those milestones that you look forward to and reflect upon. It's a little weird to have your youngest child about to go through this.

We waited a bit so she could be baptised with her friends, having it fall on a holiday weekend makes it a bit hard, and I am sorry more friends and family couldn't be here. But I will be sure and post all the happenings tomorrow after the event.

News Report that hit this morning...

I don't usually like getting into politics, but this has taken on a life of it's own.

SoCal Wilcox Summer Vacation...

We are back home from a wonderful vacation in Utah. It was great to see all the family and friends, for the kids to renew their friendships with their cousins and in some cases make new ones. There are still lots of pictures to sort through, but I took some time this morning to put together a slideshow.



We fit a lot into the week, and you will see shots here from; Bees Game, Free Lunch at Taylorsville Park, Heber Creeper, Alpine Slide, Timpanogos Cave, G-Grandpa Wilcox's 80th Birthday and The Hale Centre Theatre.

We know it had to be a fun time when Chase, who you know only talks when there is something real important to say, claimed that "this vacation was almost as good as the Mexico vacation"!

Hopefully we can get back more often, hopefully the many there can visit the few here in California. The invitation is always open to stop by anytime...I don't mind volunteering Ali's room!