Happy Birthday, Grampa!

Today was Grampa's actual birthday, but we did all our celebrating last night. It was still a nice day, however; just more low-key. Steven went to work and Richard and I did things around here. Richard's been having a problem with one part of his mouth. He had Dr. Wiest check it three weeks ago because it was "stinking" back there when he flossed. Dr. Wiest said he needed to floss better and use mouth wash, which Richard's been doing. He said it's still been kind of stinky. Then today he felt something wierd sticking out by his teeth. I looked at it and couldn't figure out what it was. It looked like a piece of tooth in his gum. So we called and made an appointment to see Dr. Wiest tomorrow to see what's going on. Then, this evening as Richard was flossing his teeth, that piece of tooth or whatever it was came out! Hmmmmmm. I wonder what's up. Hopefully, we can get to the bottom of it tomorrow.

Also today we had a little Animal Control excitement. I guess it's exciting when you can call Animal Control and they come and see the problem for themselves. The Sueldo's dogs were barking this afternoon, so Richard came up to see what was going on. All three of their dogs were out on the street barking at the kids coming home from school. Richard's been wanting to call Animal Control to report that the Sueldos have three dogs instead of the allowable two dogs. So I told him now would be the time to call. So the Animal Control officer came and all three dogs were out on the street. When he got out of the truck, they all barked at him and nipped at his heels as he walked up to the house. Hopefully, the Sueldos will get the hint and do something about having too many dogs and letting them run loose and poop in everyone's yards. Richard has called two times before about the dogs running loose, so today was the third time. In the city ordinances it says if an owner of any dog is "convicted "of violations of the Animal Control chapter (of the ordinances) on three or more different occasions during any twelve month period, the City may deny the right of the owner to have a dog in the City for one year. I don't know what "convicted" means in that context. It just seems to me that the Sueldos need to get the hint and be more responsible dog owners. It's kind of annoying.

Tonight for FHE Richard gave the lesson from Pres. Hinkley's article in the December issue of the Ensign titled, "These, Our Little Ones." Pres. Hinckley quoted E.T. Sullivan who wrote: "When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies." Then Pres. Hinckley added: "...those babies...will become forces for good or ill, depending in large measure on how they are reared. The Lord, without equivocation, has declared, 'I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth' (D&C 93:40)." He then goes on to encourage parents to bring up their children in light and truth and to be good examples. It's a good article for all parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Thanks to Richard for bringing it to our attention. With all the festivities going on in December I hadn't taken time to read it.