Happy Father's Day to my two favorite dads!

 
Today at Stake Conference Elder Lynn G. Robbins said that we don't say "I love you" enough.  He asked that everyone tell their dad "I love you" today.  I'd encourage you to do the same.

ps. Check out a beautiful photo essay on fathers here.

Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day.  My dad wrote a piece for their local paper.  I liked it so I thought I'd share with you all:

Defend the Constitution from within
By BRENT FISHER

My father, Col. James B. Fisher, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars and a career U.S. Army soldier, passed away in August 2008.

I have been reflecting on his service and the oath that all soldiers take upon themselves: "... I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same...."

On occasion, my father and I talked about Korea and Vietnam. He was more willing than some soldiers to talk about his wartime experience.

His service included many harrowing acts of heroism for which he was decorated six times. He didn't make a big deal about them because it was his job.

In Vietnam, he served as the commander of a medical evacuation helicopter detachment. The radio call sign for this type of unit was the word "Dustoff."

Dustoff units became legendary for their saving service, even flying into hostile territory in the midst of battle to save soldiers sometimes without helicopter gunships to protect them. That call sign, "Dustoff," took on additional meaning when the DUSTOFF Association was created and it became an acronym for "Dedicated Unhesitating Service To Our Fighting Forces."

During the Vietnam War, my father told me, "Vietnam is a different kind of war. The battle lines are blurred with the Viet Cong roaming freely in 'safe' areas. You never really feel safe in Vietnam. You never really know who are your friends and who are your enemies." This seems to be a common theme with foreign wars nowadays. In some respects, it describes what seems to be happening in our own country.

When I took my own oath of office as a U.S. Army officer, I found it interesting that the oath of a soldier is to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States." It is not the natural resources or land that is important. It is the principles established in the U.S. Constitution that make this unique country the greatest in the history of the world. The oath is not to the president or to an organization but to a Constitution that created a government "of the people, by the people and for the people."

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas once reminded us that because the judiciary is by design the "least dangerous" of the three branches of government, it is not "constrained or hobbled" like the legislative and executive branches.

I suppose if veterans from past eras returned to see the state of the country they served and the state of our federal and state constitutions, they might wonder what happened while they were defending the Constitution from our foreign enemies.

Certainly, it would appear to them that in the past 40 years, the judiciary has acted outside its boundaries.

Rather than being the "least dangerous" branch they, the defenders of the Constitution, may see that without being "constrained or hobbled," the judicial branch has in many respects become the most dangerous to the principles established in the U.S. Constitution by the Founders.

On Veterans Day, in memoriam of U.S. veterans of all eras, may we, the citizens of the United States of America, commit to dedicated unhesitating service to our fighting forces by defending the Constitution of the United States from within.Brent Fisher is a resident of Corona.

choo! choo!

Choo! Choo! Choo!

What's coming down the track?

Choo! Choo! Choo!

It's something big and black.

See it steaming as it chugs along.

Hear it ringing as it says, "Ding, Dong."

Choo! Choo! Choo!

There is goes again

Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo! Choo!

It's a big black train!

Who Whooooo, Who Whooooo

It's a big black train!

Recently my dad has taken up collecting trains. We had fun playing with some of them in July while we were visiting my parents home--watching them go around the track on the balcony or racing them down the long hallway. At the time he told me that he had collected some for his grandchildren. In the last week or so we received four very large boxes FULL of trains. Some of them we'll save for when the boys are older--as they are a little more delicate--but for now, we set up a small track around the Christmas tree. The boys love it! William is very good to not make the train go too fast and always makes sure that the cars stay connected.

James, however, gets a little crazy and wants to make it go full speed (which then causes the train to derail)... so we often have to place the train cars up on a shelf until it's time to play with them.

We look forward to many years of playing with these trains.

Thanks so much Dad!!!

guest blogger

My parents live in California and have been campaigning for Prop 8. Recently they wrote an editorial which was published in their local paper.

An Education in Tolerance

by Sharon Kaye Fisher

I am trying to figure out what tolerance means with regard to Proposition 8.

My good friend has a cousin who is lesbian. Her cousin is invited to all the family activities and continues to be an active part of the family. Another friend’s father is gay. This friend visited with his father growing up and his father often “hangs out” at his own family's house now. My husband hires and employs gay and lesbian individuals who also serve in some of the highest management positions in the company. These actions exemplify tolerance to me. All of these friends are supporters of Proposition 8.But all I read about in the newspaper and hear about on TV interviews from those opposed to Prop 8 is that its supporters are “intolerant”, “hateful”, and “discriminatory”.

Yet those same three words describe recent experiences from the opposition: (1) A friend’s car was spray painted because she had a “YES on Prop 8” bumper sticker; (2) “YES on Prop 8” signs were stolen from yards; (3) There was verbal abuse, name calling, and swearing to those making Prop 8 phone call surveys; (4) Because of the opposition in their work place, some of my friends are fearful of discussing Prop 8 or putting “Yes on 8” bumper stickers on their cars.

Why is the opposition intolerant of an open discussion? Why is the opposition intolerant of visible support by an overwhelming number of Californians in favor of Prop 8? Why would the opposition create an environment of intolerance, fear, and intimidation?

I can’t help but think that Mayor Gavin Newsom gave us the answer to all of these questions when he said, “It’s gonna happen, whether you like it or not,” regarding same-gender marriage. There doesn’t appear to be any tolerance by the opposition for the discussion of Prop 8. Even though 61% of Californians voted to support traditional marriage in 2000, there seems to be an intolerant attitude for an open democratic discussion as well as a democratic vote. Instead, there is much effort to suppress both. To me that doesn’t sound like the tolerance for debate necessary in a democracy.

Tolerance is a two way street. Four Justices were intolerant of California voters and threw out a law similar to that found constitutional by four other State Supreme Courts. Let’s stop the intolerance to those trying to inform voters of Prop 8. Let's not jump to unfair conclusions about how Prop 8 supporters treat those who chose a same-gender lifestyle. Prop 8 is not anti-gay. Prop 8 is protective of children and supportive of traditional marriage and family--which is the fundamental unit of every society. Let’s be tolerant to at least discussing the perspective of Prop 8 supporters.

(Editorial written by Brent and Sharon Kaye Fisher sent to Press-Enterprise Newspaper, Oct 12, 2008)

daddy dearest

Everyone in my family was born in different hospitals in California. Everyone that is except for me and my dad. We were both born in this hospital in Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.I always thought that was pretty cool. That is just one of the many things I have in common with my dad.

My Dad was blessed with four beautiful daughters... and didn't get a son until years afterward. However, that didn't stop him from doing things he enjoyed. He was always taking us on hikes,

hiking at Town Lake in Austin, TX

at the top of Mt. Timp

fishing, out in the boat,

canoeing at Prado Dam

and even shooting guns. I was probably 9 years old when I got my first pocket knife and 11 when I got an even bigger one. And we most certainly were expected to mow the lawn, take out the trash and other "boy jobs." My dad probably hasn't mowed the lawn in 15 years... at least.

He also liked to tease us. Here I am at 8 months old. You can see that the teasing starts early on. When I was probably 3 or 4 we went to the Hogle Zoo. Here's the story in my mom's words: Jeanine's favorite part of the zoo was the children's petting zoo. While we were in the petting zoo, a llama went over to Jeanine and started to nibble on her hair. Her hair was such a pretty yellow color he must have thought it was straw or hay to eat. Jeanine started to cry. Instead of stopping to help her though, Dad was busy trying to get his camera so he could take a picture of it. Obviously he was a little too slow and didn't get the picture.
And here we are at Martin's Cove pulling a handcart. Where is my dad going? He's running off to find a cow pie to toss at us. Nice.

But my dad also taught me by example the things that were important such as living the gospel and serving. My dad was also the one who baptized me,
gave me father's blessings, was there when I went through the temple for the first time, and when I got married. Thank you Dad. I love you.


And the other very important dad in my life is the father of my two boys. They can hardly wait for Rich to come home. Every time the phone rings William thinks that it's Rich and he'll ask me "Is Dad coming home? And he'll get clothes on? And he'll play 'king of the bed'?" When James hears the garage door open he'll squirm out of my arms so that he can run his fastest to get Dad.
And he too teaches our children everything from playing ball to the importance of prayer and scripture study. He's the best dad I could ask for for my boys.

Happy Father's Day!

And for a beautiful father's day post click here.