Wow, something is burning!

If the view was not causing unbelievable damage, the beauty of the fires that are ravaging the mountains would be absolutely stunning in its beauty.... Our sky today was like a blanket on a bed.... It glowed with an orange tint and I heard many say when they were outside that it felt like they had orange sun glassess on.....There are 8 fires covering the LA County.... It was a tough day at school because the students had to stay inside.... It is now blowing east of us and maybe tomorrow things will begin to become normal again.... I am going to officiate high school volleyball again and tonight I picked up my schedule for the next month.... Joshua and I are doing it together.... One of our officials brother in law died fighting the fires here in Southern California.... It is a strange time and I can't help but wonder if it is a foreshadow to devestation that is yet to come....

35 Years of Joy

I was 18 years old and dating a wonderful girl who was cute and fun to be around with. I had no thoughts of going on a mission and was thinking about the possibility of getting married as soon as she graduated from high school. I was fasting in preparation for a Patriarhtical Blessing. I have never really fast like this before. I went to the Patriarch very sincere in wanting to know the mind and will of the Lord. I was active in the church but I could not say that I understood the immensity of the Gospel in my life. While I was receiving the blessing I felt an overwhelming Spirit. It was an experience that I was not use too. When the Patriarch mention and talked about my future wife the Spirit became acute and peaked in impact at that time. The Patriarh told me after the blessing that he saw who I was going to marry in his mind and that if he saw her right now he would recognize her. He told me that this was a rare experience and he wanted to share this with me. I knew for sure that the girl he saw was not the girl I was dating at that time. Fast forwarding in time, I had a tough time finding a job and was miserable with life and it was in this situation that I recalled my Grandpa Rigby talking about a boy he knew who could hardly read and went on a mission and the difference that took place when he got home from his mission as he became very successful and happy with life. As I reflect what he said I decided to go on a mission and was instantly happy and my life never seem so clear and full of joy. I rode that ride right throughout my mission. While I was on my mission I went to a "Know Your Religion" lecture and the lecturer was John Lund. He gave one of the best talks I have ever heard and I went up to thank him. I was talking to someone and had my back to him. Suddenly, I heard a voice say,"Elder, I need to talk to you." I turned and saw that he was talking to me. He told me that he did not know why he was saying this but he wanted to counsel me to take time on my preparation day to write 3 things that I want from my wife. He told me that this is a good time to do this because I would be thinking about spiritual things. On my next preparation day I wrote these three things that I wanted from my wife. One, she had to have a strong testimony of the Gospel. Two, she had to be a person who would act and dress in a modest way. Third, she had to love children and want children. I was now in Pocatello, Idaho. That was the Celestial Kingdom on our mission. My mission president, President Wright went home and we had a new one came in. The new president was President Frost and he came in on July of 1973. In between the time that the Presidents changed over the Assistants to the President transferred me out of Pocatello and sent me to Lander, Wyoming. I was already a Zone Leader for over a year, but these Assistants put a personal friend in the Celestial area in our mission and sacrifice me. This is not sour grapes but the truth because those Assistants drove me to my area in Lander, Wyoming and they told me what they did. I was bitter but what was I going to do, cause a disturbance, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do. A little note, they were released as Asst. to the President 2 weeks later when President Frost changed the mission to having two assistants rather than 4. Well, they dropped me off in Lander and said there goodbyes and I was in the apartment wondering what to do. I knew that I could not serve properly with a bitter attitude so I got down on my knees and promised the Lord that I would work harder than I have ever worked before and asked the Lord to bless me in this area. I did work hard and I saw a lot of great things take place in Lander. I was baptizing and teaching a lot of lessons. While I was there President Frost sent me a companion that he stated was in his last area if he didn't change, because he had problems of a serious nature dealing with sex and a determined desire not to do the work. He told me that if he doesn't change with me he would have to send him home. I will not mention what his name is, but it was a struggle to work with him at first. The work though was still going well and the missionary seem to catch fire and started to work hard with me. After about a month of working with this Elder we went to a Sacrament meeting. It was the first Sunday in September and it was a Fast and Testimony meeting. While I was sitting there a girl walked in and my Spirit soared, it literally becamed electrafied. I knew with a clarity that this was the woman I was going to marry. I have never seen her before, but I knew I was going to marry her. As my Spirit was screaming with a pure joy, I sat there dumbfounded. She was dressed modestly and was taking care of her two nieces and she was so cute with them. I could tell she loved children. Are you getting the picture, remember my goals for what I wanted from my wife. Then, the testimonies started and I looked at her and the thought hit me that I wish she would get up and bear her testimony. She instantly got up and bore an absolutely beautiful testimony. There she was, my future wife and I have about 6 months left on my mission. She did not know me and I did not know her, but I knew, I knew for sure. The next night after I got home from the work we did, I was worried that maybe I was going crazy and it did not make sense that I would have this experience on my mission and especially with the companion that I had. I certainly couldn't tell him about the experience. So, while I was laying there pondering the possibility that I had seen my future wife, well, I decided to get a second confirmation because it bothered me that this happen on my mission and I wanted to know if what I experienced was true. I knelt down and prayed and asked Heavenly Father if the experience I had came from Him or was it my imagination. I felt myself pleading for confirmation and then through my prayers I found myself chastising myself severely for asking something like this on my mission. Then the Spirit told me to ask once more, I paused and wonder if that was real. Well, I asked once more and then my Spirit soared with emotion and I had a tremendous feeling of peace and electricity combined together in witness that could not be misunderstood. I now know that the experience was real and true. I instantly asked the Lord if I could be transferred and I was, two weeks later I was gone. I told my greenie, Elder Williams about the experience, yea you got it, he was transferred to Lander and well, he had a big mouth and told the girl name Venna about my experience. Now, you made be wondering if I ever talked to Venna about my experience in Lander and the answer is no, I didn't but I did introduce myself and we talked about general things like missionary work. Well, because of Elder Williams she now knows that there is a crazy missionary in Billings, Montana. I never wrote her nor did I ever talked to her after I was transferred. I promised again that I would work as hard as I could and then I would excercise faith that someway He would help me figure out how the rest of the story would take place. I loved it in Billings and the work was great. The day before I went home I had a interview with the Mission President. I told him about Venna and my experience in Lander. He told me that it was a true experience because he felt the confirmation through the Spirit as I told him the story. He then told me to call her up that night before I go home and tell her what happen and ask for permission to come up and see her. I told him that I could not do that because I was still on my mission. He said, "Elder, you have always been faithful and obedient your whole mission. I am asking you to be obedient now and do this for me." I told him that I would be obedient. I called Venna and she gave me permission to come and see her after I got home from my mission. When I got home I talked to my mom and dad and my mom told me to drive up there. So, after spending less than a week home I was off to Lander, Wyoming to meet this girl that I was told by the Spirit would be the one that I will marry. We were married some 4 months later on August 30th, 1974. Now, 8 children and 2o grandchildren later, I recognize that I am the happiest person on this earth and I am married to the most wonderful person that there could be. The Patriarch saw it, John Lund felt it, the Spirit confirmed it and I was thankfully obedient. On this 35th anniversary, I want Venna to know that I love her with all my heart.

Talked to Curt Bench/ 71

I received a phone call from Curt and I wasn't here because I was golfing. I knew something bad happen and I thought for sure that Gordon Bench, Curt's dad has passed away. Instead it was his older brother Allen Bench. Allen Bench, when I was a youth was a real McCoy "Hippee." He fell away from the church but Curt told me how they became very close and he ended up being a paramedic which really blew me away. I am thankful that I do not have to drive up to Utah this week to go to Gordon Bench's funeral but I am thankful that Curt told me about Allen. It is strange how Curt and I hardly ever see each other, nor talk to one another but we remain very close friends. We were introduce to each other when we were 2 years old... We did some crazy things together (maybe, just maybe I might share them someday) and we grew up in the old and famous, Canoga Park 2nd Ward... I went out golfing with Joshua again today and I shot a 71.... That is the best I have ever golfed..... Jared went to the hospital this morning because of pains in his chest and numbness in his arm, but he checked out okay and just had a little bit of a high blood pressure.... We are helping Brian and Rachael in their new home again in just a little bit.... It is a family affair.....

Sevice- Family Style

Venna, Joshua, Rachelle, McKenna, Braydon, Jacob, Jared and Bo went to Brian and Rachael's house to clean, paint and fix up.... We are going to go there tomorrow also to do more work.... It is fun to work together to be able to help each other out.... Taylor did the baby sitting at our house... So we all were trying to do something to help out Brian and Rachael... I am to tired to even try to figure out what else happen today..... Good Night.....

I am tired!

I had a great day at school.... I have an awsome class and I feel so blessed to have a year to (so far) relax and truly teach... Josh and I went out golfing again today, we tied at 84-84, so we played a playoff hole and I beat him by one stroke with a par.... We had fun but most of all it was relaxing... I had Back to School tonight... Hardly any showed up, but I am glad I don't have to worry about it anymore...

Brians first meeting

We had our first presidency meeting with Brian there.... He did a great job and will be a nice addition.... Our Ward is growing, we have added 4 more Melchezdek priesthood holders in our ward..... Janice Stowers my principal and Terri Grey the Superintendent came into my class today while I was teaching Math and my students were very engaged and I can tell that they were quite please.... It feels great to not be in WAA anymore..... My students have been such a delite to me.... Taylor told me that she hurt her back picking up Jesse.... She hardly ever complains so it has me a little worried.... Then again she probably wants to go with us to the chiropracter to get her back massaged.... Can't blame her..... Venna really looks tired, I always worry about how hard she pushes herself....

David did beat Goliath

Seven years, seven hard fought years, sweating with a mixure of blood, dirt, floor burns and devastating loses that would cause me to ask why for weeks. I was nineteen years old and playing for Canoga Park 2nd Ward with the likes of Dave Haws and Joe Andrews and others. We have suffered defeats in All Church tournament in softball and basketball. We led one year in softball, and we were going into the 5th inning with a 3 run lead and Chula Vista started bunting and we started thumping our heads with errors and suddenly we were behind after that inning and never got the lead back. We came in 3rd place in basketball. We have won all kinds of Sportsmanship Awards, but never the big one.

Now, we are in Oakland and this will be the last time that Dave Haws and the rest of the team will play together because Dave Haws and myself are going on a church mission in 3 weeks. We are in the final four of the Area tournament and this is as far as we can go because the LDS church ceased to have basketball tournaments in Salt Lake. We were playing the Long Beach region 2nd place team and Fresno was playing Long Beach 1st place team . Get the picture, we are playing the 2nd team and Fresno is playing the 1st team. We played first and we squeeked out a 52-48 win. Fresno on the other hand won 104-56. I did not type the score wrong. We were playing a team that I was told always scored in the 100's and they were big with a fast point guard. We watched the game and they were a great team. Their center was 6'7" and our biggest guys was 6'1". The point guard was really fast and could shoot as well as I have ever seen. That night we were pretty low because we were seeing ourselves coming up one game short again. The next morning I asked the coaches, players and family members to come to the Stake Center next to the Oakland Temple 2 hours early (that is where we played our game). Everyone showed up and we had a testimony meeting because I knew we were all going to split up after that night. Everyone poured out their hearts about friendships, love for the Lord, faith the church was true and no one mention the game that we were about to embark on. Tears were flowing. Three non members got baptised in the next two weeks because of it. The Spirit flowed through us all. After we had our testimony meeting which was closed with a prayer. I stated to all my teamates that I would give everything I have on defense to stop the point guard and I promise them if we kept thei score below 60 points we would win. Everyone promised that they would not rest and would give everthing in this game to stop the big man and the point guard. My Dad was the coach and he devised a plan to stop them defensevely. Again we pledged to do everything we could to beat this team. Logically we knew that we did not stand a chance, but something inside me said, "Watch and behold". The game was a hard fought bitter battled. They were mad because no one has ever stayed with them before. I remember countless times taking the lane away from the point guard and his grumbling. We were ahead by 2 points with three minutes to go. While I was in huddle I had a cramp in my leg and Mr. Wendell was rubbing it furiously to get it out. While I was laying there the Holy Ghost came to me and said you will win this game. I do not state this lightly and I am not sure why the feeling came to me in such a strong fashion. I declared to the whole team that we were going to win the game and I knew it. They chastised me for thinking that way with time remaining in the game. By the time the timeout was over my leg was okay and we went into the game for the final thrust. I remember the point guard from the other team and two other guys trying to take the ball away from me as I was dribbling all over the court running time off the clock. The point guard was using foul language, but I just had a confident smile on my face. I hit some freethrows to nail down the game and the jubilation after the game was my greatest sports moment. I leaped over and on everyone on my team. The point guard on the other team came at me with anger and was going to fight me but my Bishop picked me up and swooped me to the other end of the court and was constantly saying,"We did it Jeff, we did it!" The players on the team was Dave Haws, David Colen (Non member), Bob Hardenberg (got baptized), Tim Baucom (Got baptized with all of his family), Joe Andrews, John Bowker, Layton Makinui, Drake Wendell (was baptized a year earlier). The coach was Pinky Briggs, Assistant George Wendell and James Bowker (he also got baptized and went to the temple). Wayne Briggs was a special consultant and helped my Dad with the defense. I always wanted to put this experiece down and I am thankful that I did. We did it, we really did it!!!

Good News!

Rachael and Brian are in their house..... A lot of people had their faith tested, but they now have their house.... We knew months ago that we were to do whatever we had to do to help Brian and Rachael and we are being blessed big time for believing in that prompting.... Brian and Rachael have grown up and are very mature on what they are doing now..... It is a total win/win situation and everyone wins with this test.... I am telling you that Venna and I felt an absolute prompting even though what we were asked to do was contrary to our own logic.... Thus, the Lord stated, "My Thoughts are not your thoughts neither are my ways your ways saith the Lord.".... I had a great day at school, I had over 20 students who could not do a five minute time tables test, heck, they didn't even come close.... I put the ones that pass the test on a program called Accelerated Math that allows students to work as fast as they want in their quest to learn.... I told the students that failed the time tables test that they will be doing that for the whole trimester if they don't learn them and then if they finally do it I will give them a D-..... I had them make flash cards and they had to watch the other ones having fun working on their work sheets and then have it graded by the computer and they were all going like crazy, well 12 of my failures passed the time tables test... They learned them over the weekend and now I have a manageable number of 10 or less students to zero in on.... They are fired up to learn and it is really neat to see their eyes bright eye and bushy tail.... I am loving teaching again.... Darin, Scott and Corines child is going to Pre-school tomorrow and they are really excited so good luck to Darin.... He has a Buzz Lightyear backpack to take to school..... I can't believe the direction our country is going and Obama and his cronies scare me to death.... My hope though is compared to an Iron Rod, I have the word of God and I know that we are doing our best to live His Gospel so I know that all will be well at the end, but I say to all my love ones, "Fasten your seatbelts and don't hold your hands in the air on this roller coaster ride because this one we will have to cling to the blessed Iron Rod"..... Bo, Venna, and I went and had our half an hour massage on our backs and oh my, she was able to loosen up some tense muscles in me.... I feel good, "doo di doo di doo di doo"....

I Got Him!

There is a new foe in the horizon who is trying to steal my thunder... He beat me in the family golf tournament in St. George, but he lives in Lake LA so I can attack him as often as the time allows me... The foe is Joshua... Oh, he is kind hearted, but he will stab you in the heart in the heat of competion on who can chase the little white ball with the fewest ammount of strokes... I got him and was able to slay the foe.... Oh it was a struggle but at the end I ripped his heart right out of his chest and ate it for lunch... I beat him with a score of 81,,,, I actually enjoy playing with him very much and since he is the defending champion it just makes the games a little more intense for this old man.... I love my 6th grade class and I am having so much fun with them... I can tell that they are having fun too and I can see some rapid progress already.... Teaching is an amazing art and I can't believe I get paid to do it.... I actually get a lunch break which I never got in the last 7 years when I taught a self contain class of 8th graders that got expelled from school.... Though I only had 15 students at the most yet I had know idea how much they were stretching me.... Oh, I love many of those students and I saw miracles take place but it is neat to teach students who look at you with admiration and the desire for them to please me.... After lunch I threw dictionaries on their desk and roared with a statement that we are going to do dictionary work.... They all moaned and then I proceeded to tell them that we are going to have team competion chasing their spelling words... They had a delightful time and I could see that they are thankful to be in my class... Am I boasting, golly, I don't really want to come of like that because I am truly humble and thankful for my wonderful experiences... Brian and Rachael's house has been funded so they should get their keys shortly... Brian had his first day at college and he has discovered the Institute building and is going to take two classes from the Institute.... Today was a very good day and I am thankful that the Lord is so kind to me.... I love my Heavenly Father very much.... I am thankful for Venna and the valiant person she is and how she has time and energy to support me so much.... I am a blessed man....

8-23-09

I went to bed at 10:30 last night and instantly went to sleep. I notice through the night that I was running a fever and then I would have chills. My dreams were vivid and very disturbing. Sunday morning I was suppose to speak in Sacrament meeting and teach in Priesthood meeting. When I woke up I was dizzy and felt out of touch with reality. I called Jason Jay my Counselor in the Elder's Qurom Presdency and told him that he was going to be me today. From what I gathered he did a great job. I stayed home and didn't wake up until 2:30. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a hard time sleeping and no matter what time I go to bed I have a hard time sleeping past 7:00. I had a form of the flu, but at this time I feel quite well. I am tired and that's all. Imagine that, tired. Brian Thomas was called to be an executive secretary in our presidency and he was set apart by Jared. Brian seems to be really excited about his calling. I know that we are going to keep him busy. All the Briggs's from the Lake Los Angeles area came over for tostada salad and delicious peach pie made by Kari. Those who came were Rachael , Joshua, Jacob, Jared and all of the grandkids. We had a delightful evening. I write a sports blog and I really enjoy doing that. I know that very few people will read it but it has always been a dream for me to be columnist in the sports page so people can read my opinions and I pretend that a lot of people will read it. It's kind of like when I used to play basketball by myself as a kid and yet in my mind I was playing with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor of the Lakers. It seemed real then and it feels real to write for everyone today. With this particular blog the only ones I really care to read it is my family. I do want to state though that I know that Jesus lives and is the Son of God. I know it and I know that I belong to his kingdom. I want to endure to the end. Last thought, I have always felt a home sickness for my Father in Heaven and the feeling is real, because I know that my spirit dwelled with him before I was born in the flesh. I have felt these feelings since the time that I spent my first night in the mission home in Salt Lake before I went on my mission to Montana/Wyoming.

Miracles Never Cease

My wife and I took on a situation that we are amazed that we took on. We are determined to make sure that our family lives under there own roofs. So they can develop their own family. Brian and Rachael back last December was in need for a place to stay for Rachael and the kids while Brian finish his work in Las Vegas. I testify that the Spirit spoke to Venna and I in a way that was unmistakable that we should bring Rachael's family in our home. 9 months later with help from the whole family and in particular with Jared and Julie, Brian and Rachaels family is on the verge of becoming an Eternal Family in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Brian is an avid reader of the Gospel and is on the verge of receiving the Melchezdek Priesthood, To the blessing of Venna and I we are going to see our 6 older children all sealed in the Temple. This brings joy to us that cannot be described. There is not a simile or metaphor, nor a hyperbole that could explain the joy we are experencing. Brian and Rachael are going to full time college..... We are going to see graduates from college take place this year. Julie and Kari are going to graduate. Joshua, Brian, Rachael, and Scott are all going to school also and it is possible that in 3 years we can have all college graduates from our older first 6 and their spouses. Bo and Taylor are committed to going to college also. I know that it sounds like I am bragging, please do not take it that way, we are just sincerely happy and grateful to the Lord and his ability to forgive and help people to reach their full potential in life.