D. Gardner

Why does the camping have to get more difficult every time. I have been involved with scouts as a volunteer leader for over 15 years. I seemed at first things went pretty smoothly I showed up taught the boys a few things and then we came home. Now it seems even with over a couple of months of pre planning everything seems to come down to the last minute and that last minute is starting to take up a couple days. This time the older boys decided they wanted to go kayaking. Which I was glad because it is something they planned and were excited about. But getting all those kayaks transported was a last minute ordeal and took up way too much time.

Another thing that is really taking all the fun out of volunteering is the attitude by all the boys they want the fun of the campouts but don’t want to do any of the work to make the campout happen. They all complain about having to clean up, prepare food, move stuff around. I realize I have gotten lazy and just started doing things, which in the end just makes me upset. But it’s my own fault. It’s nice to have adults that will help, but they when the do what the boys should be doing. It just makes things harder. I should give it all up, I am not really sure why at this point I don’t. Luckily there isn’t another campout until August or September.

It always go to fast. We always wait in anticipation and then it’s hear. I am more amazed each time how quickly we burn through 10 hours of church. It always ends too soon. Here are some of the highlights.
Elder Uchdorf spoke on patience. He told a story about how a professor at Stanford University did a study with 4 year olds. He would put a big marsh mellow in front of them and tell them to wait 15 minutes and the would get two. Only 30 percent would wait. It didn’t seem that significant to him. However, he kept track of the children from the study. Those that had waited had less behavioral problems, got better grades and made more money in their professions. Patients really is a virtue we need.
The Young Mens General President Brother Beck, spoke about the new Duty to God program they are going to be starting in June. President Eyring also spoke about it to. As far as I can tell the basica premise for the program is outlined like this. The boys pray, fast and discover what they are to do. The plan how they are going to accomplish what they need to do, and then they act with diligence to accomplish the plan. I am excited to get involved. I am sure it is an inspired program.

One of the general authorities spoke about using the Book of Mormon more diligently in our families. Another spoke about the importance of eating dinner together with our family.

I am looking forward to studying what what said and trying to put these things into my life so I can be better.

It’s festival time here in Austin. I think it started out as a music thing but it has added web and film as part of it’s showcase. The badges for South by, as it’s called by the locals, are pretty expensive. But over 29000 people showed up and paid. Then there are another 1100 or 1200 bands. I went down to the Austin Convention Center to see what was going on at the SxSWi (i for interactive, really just web) There has been quite a buzz about web stuff for the last couple of years because Twitter announced there. It seems there is a big push for startup software companies to show up to tout their wares. However, I think it’s like the music festival. Lots of band show up that most have never heard of and probably never will. Even though all these bands and software companies won’t have much effect on the main stream, it still makes for a great party with a pretty cool vibe. And for those of us lucky enough to get close it can’t be missed.

For about six weeks I have been working on some software that massages a ward list into a google map so our ward can determine and keep track of Fast Offering routes. I finally got the beta version finished and it is ready to go. I handed the map off to Justin Allen to make up the routes.

I am also going to try and help my brother Mike with his ward. He is the Deacons quorum advisor in his ward.

We will see where it goes from here.