ToddlingAroundTheWorld

#givethanks Day 5: I’m so grateful that I was blessed to be a missionary in Japan. Along with all of the fantastic missionaries I served with, I grew to love so many of the Samurai, Ninja and Yamato nadeshiko that I met. The language, the culture and the fantastic memories I made there will always hold a big part of my heart.  I got my first job at Microsoft because I knew Japanese. I still watch Sumo, Anime and other bangumi in Japanese to help with language retention. LeAnn and I love going out to eat Japanese food. It is an amazing country with some of the kindest people in the world, for which I am eternally grateful.  日本で宣教師になることができてとても感謝しています。 一緒に奉仕した素晴らしい宣教師たちと一緒に、私は出会った多くの侍、忍者、やまとなでしこを愛するようになりました。 私がそこで作った言語、文化、そして素晴らしい思い出は、いつも私の心の大きな部分を占めています。  私は日本語を知っていたので、マイクロソフトで最初の仕事に就きました。 私は今でも相撲やアニメなどの日本語の番組を見て、言語の保持に役立てています。  LeAnnと私は日本食を食べに行くのが大好きです。 世界で最も親切な人々がいる素晴らしい国であり、私は永遠に感謝しています。 #givethanks

#givethanks Day 4: These goobers.  They make me laugh. They make me proud. They made me understand what pure love is - when you love a child with every ounce of your being. When you feel such happiness at their successes, such pain for their sorrows, I can understand the infinite love our Father in Heaven has for each of us as I see them grow and progress through this life.  What joy it has given me to be the father of these three.  #givethanks

#givethanks day 3 This lady. I was going to save the best for last, but she is so fantastic, I couldn’t wait! She is Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind... Some of you might think I am quoting from the Scout Law, however, the traits she has, and the ways she makes the world a better place, would take volumes of adjectives to describe. Me, my family, and all those that know her are blessed to have her in our lives. She truly is an angel among us.  #givethanks

#givethanks day 2 I am so thankful that after 13,800 miles of #toddlingaroundtheworld , my legs still work. Though I expected to be as skinny as a Walking Stick by now, that hasn’t quite come true. I am definitely healthier, fitter and stronger than I was 4 1/2 years ago when I started this journey. Our bodies are amazing vessels, which enable us to experience such joy through using them in various ways. Experiencing the beauty of this world on my walk today was another testament to how much Heavenly Father cares for us. Being able to see some of his amazing animal creations alongside the stunning backdrop of the Puget Sound was the perfect cap on a lovely morning.  #givethanks

#givethanks day 1 I’m thankful for this lazy dog, who, right when I went over to take a picture of him participating in his favorite pastime, which is sleeping, popped right up and came over to me with his tail wagging. I’m also grateful that he continues to wake up everyday after 16 years, even when there have been a few times that we have had to poke him to make sure he is still breathing!  Let us each strive to show that perfect love toward others like our dogs do toward us.  #givethanks

#givethanks day 2 I am so thankful that after 13,800 miles of #toddlingaroundtheworld , my legs still work. Though I expected to be as skinny as a Walking Stick by now, that hasn’t quite come true. I am definitely healthier, fitter and stronger than I was 4 1/2 years ago when I started this journey. Our bodies are amazing vessels, which enable us to experience such joy through using them in various ways. Experiencing the beauty of this world on my walk today was another testament to how much Heavenly Father cares for us. Being able to see some of his amazing animal creations alongside the stunning backdrop of the Puget Sound was the perfect cap on a lovely morning.  #givethanks #toddlingaroundtheworld

Sometimes the Love of the Game hurts. From his first foot injury while playing soccer for the Pirates when he was 11, to this latest one while playing soccer in Las Vegas, Austin is now celebrating the 10 year anniversary of having   to wear a boot, by celebrating what we hope is the LAST foot injury where he has to wear a boot. Otherwise, he is healing well from the surgery and is about ready to ditch the crutches after a solid 3 1/2 months.