Singing in Church: "As I have Loved You"

 When we were living in Ballard, Sheri and I were asked to speak in church.  We were going to sing "As I Have Loved You" between our talks as a family.  Jeremy was the baby; but we had worked very hard with Mark and Natalia to sing with us, and do the sign which is in the primary book.  We practiced and practiced, and the kids were so cute.  Jeremy was in the car seat so about six months, Mark would have been two and Natalia three.  It was going to be so good.  However by the time Sheri go done with her talk, Natalia and Mark were sleeping soundly on the floor.  Sheri and I could only stand, with babies between our feet, and sing it without them, hoping not to step on them.  It would have been so sweet.  As I have loved you (the kids hugging themselves) Love one another (their thumbs circling each other). I can see it in my mind.

Mark and Natalia

I Coached

Came across this card from my daughter, which she wrote for Father's Day I am sure. 

This is a card my daughter sent me. Interesting she is the only child I never coached in an organized sport. I coached baseball, soccer and even flag football. 
She writes: Dear Dad, Thank yo so much for being such a cool dad. You are a very special dad and I'm glad that you're mine. I appreciate all of the things that you do for me; you work more than one job and are constantly on the clock working. Thanks. I really enjoy watching you coach different sports teams for Mark, Jeremy, Charity, Miranda, and Caleb. You kind of take on the role of "Dad" for all of the kids on your teams. I think that is really cool. I love you so much, although it may not seem like I do. Love, Tali

The Wardles and the Neuberts Visit Steve Young

Some time ago, when the Neuberts were still living in the ward (maybe 15 years ago) we were invited to San Francisco 49ers training facility and to meet Steve Young.  Marie Neubert called Sheri wit the invite.  Bryce Neubert, Marie's brother-in-law is a singer and personality in Utah and the Mormon community.  At the time they were putting together an infomercial, informative video, with regards to a group home program out of Utah, and Steve Young was going to be a personality on the program.  They needed children, with whom Steve Young could interact.  We were asked to bring whatever sports equipment we could find.
I found a Denver Broncos football, a soccer ball, and I think another football, but smaller.  We were informed that Steve had sustained a groin injury in the game the previous day, and we weren't to bug him about getting his autograph or such stuff.  Steve rejected the Bronco football, but started kicking the soccer ball to the kids.  My boys, enjoyed this part.  They were big into soccer. 
He then took the other football and started tossing it to the kids.  He tossed a pass to Natalia, who was never my most coordinated child.  However she focused, and actually caught the ball.  She did not catch it in the most graceful manner, as she made an ice cream cone catch, only grabbing the football by its end, with a lot of the ball showing.  But she was very proud of herself. I was proud of her too.
Always since, we have been able to say, Natalia caught a Steve Young pass.  His part with the kids did not last long, and they had gotten all the film they needed.  Bryce then interviewed Steve Young on some bleachers apart from the rest of us, and it was pretty much done.

49er training facility from the ACE Train

I could not tell you the name of the group home, nor did I ever see the finished video.  I don't know if the finished product included Natalia's catch.  But that catch is imprinted in my brain, and I can play it back when I need a smile.