It’s really easy to forget what Christmas is all about, so the title is an extra reminder. We had a great Christmas, and while I got some really nice gifts, my dad had one of those moments again. He said, “we need to be thankful for friends and family, that’s what’s really important, not all the material stuff.” Don’t know if I can really expand on that too much, but I just want to take a moment to mention some of the ‘important’ things I’m thankful for before I post some pictures of all the presents and such. I’m thankful for my wife, and my parents, and my sister, and my cousins (all of them, even Afton…). I’m thankful for the little girl that’s on the way, and I’m thankful for my friends, at work, at church, and anywhere else. And I’m thankful for Scooter, Roo, and Oliver.

Now that I’ve gone all serious on you, there’s some completely unserious pictures and one of Amanda at seventeen weeks along (she’s in week twenty now) in the gallery.

Last month we went on vacation. We did lots of driving, as we went to Boise, Idaho, and then came back through Yellowstone National Park on our way back home. My sister-in-law got married (congrats).

We spent lots of time with family, including going paddle-boating at a rather neat park in Boise.

We saw all sorts of things in YNP. Words can’t even describe all the awesomeness.

Then we stopped at the Montana Grizzly Encounter. When we first pulled in, we were a bit afraid that it was going to be a dud, but we were amazingly wrong. The gal working there was really mindful of the visitors, and made sure we weren’t disappointed. The bears even answered to their names (Brutus and Sheena), and came ambling down when she threw them fruit (yes, bears are omnivores). Brutus was rescued from a bear breeder who was going to kill him because no one wanted to buy him. Sheena and her sister were kept in a very small cage, with no room to move for 15 years, so they don’t get along very well, and only one comes out into the main area at a time. We saw the cage, I can’t even imagine keeping any animal in there, let alone a large animal like a bear (2 of them even).

All in all, it was a great trip. Enjoy the pictures!

Last night, my dad said something inspiring. He was helping me pick rocks out of our flower garden, and as he went to leave, I thanked him again. And he said, “You’re welcome. I just want to try and be helpful like my dad (my grandpa).” As most people in our church know, my grandpa never passes up an opportunity to help. He’s had a quadruple bypass surgery, and has every right to take it easy, and relax. He’s just not wired that way. God has given him a servant’s heart, and to sit idly by and watch others do the work just doesn’t do it for him. Our pastor is moving in a few days, and I mentioned to his brother that I would probably come and help load up. He said, “Don’t feel like you have to. If you don’t, your grandpa will.”

My dad is always helping me around the house, and it seems he enjoys helping me more than going home and doing his own yardwork sometimes. Even when it’s just picking rocks out of the garden. I want to be like my dad (and my grandpa): helpful.