Hard Work

Hello Again Grandchildren,

Hard work is something I truly believe in. I believe that if you want something bad enough, and it is something that is of good value to have, you need to spend the time and energy so that you can get it. This applies to most things in my life.

Here are general meanings of hard work, or a hard working person that I believe:

Hard work = a great deal of effort or endurance.

A hard worker is constantly, regularly, or habitually engaged in earnest and energetic work

Hard work often involves the willingness to put in the necessary time and effort to accomplish something despite obstacles or challenges that may arise along the way.

A hardworking person is typically seen as being reliable, responsible, and committed to achieving success.

A hard working person does not give up just because it is hard work, mainly because there is a good reason to do the hard work.

I always want to know why I am doing the work I am doing. If I understand the reason behind it, and I believe in that reason, I will work hard in getting it successfully accomplished. If you do have to work hard on something that you don't really want to do (like chores), then figure out how to want to do the chore well so you have a good motive to get it done.

Hard work is a developed skill. You don't have to have it in your character to begin with. You can acquire the skill of being a hard worker, by becoming a hard worker. You know, do the work.

The opposite of hard work is: laziness, idleness, inactiveness

One of the characteristics I often admire in a person is if they have the ability to work hard. This normally tells me that they have a good "work ethic". I want to have hard workers on my team at work, and in my family. I believe most of my friends are hard workers. I do not favor anyone that is not a hard worker. This means that if two people came to me and wanted the same thing from me, I would probably give it to the hard worker.

I have honestly thought much of my life that I did not have a lot of skills or gifted traits, except one; that I could work hard. This is probably why I would favor the hard worker over the lazy worker (or less than a hard worker if you want to be really nice about it.)

Examples of what a hard worker looks like:

The Patio

Prior to a wedding in the family, Grammy and I wanted to make a nice patio for a reception area, and then have a great place to spend time relaxing, having parties, and enjoying time outside.

Matt and Nick worked with me to create that patio area. We had never done anything like it before, but Grammy and I believed it would be a valuable addition to our house and Grammy really liked the idea.

We spent a lot of time clearing the land, laying the foundation, hauling dirt, stones, and a lot of paver stones. We also had some friends help us with some of the things we were not sure how to do. Bob King, Gary Erickson, and Kevin Heup were the ones that helped the most when we needed help. The rest of the time it was Nick, Matt, and I. Grammy helped too.

Here is what the patio looked like once it was done. While doing the new patio, we had Bob King help us make some new stairs down to the patio. We think it turned out great. Doesn't Grammy look great in this first picture?

Nick and Matt might look back on my definition of hard work to include "child slave labor". However, those two were of such great help to me. I have never regretted building this patio. I learned so much from creating it. I could not have done it by myself.

I just have to include a picture of Matt and Nick in here from "some period of time" in their life, just for fun.

Matthew and Nicholas Randall, January 2003 in my den. They were and are hard workers.

Playing the Piano

My Dad, Melvin Randall (your Great Grandpa Randall) learned to play the piano at a very young age. He played the piano for over 70 years. He also learned how to play the organ. My Dad said it wasn't very easy at first, but with a lot of practice, he got better at it as time went on. He said he wanted to learn how to play the organ so he could help out at Church.

What I remember most about my Dad and him playing the piano was that when I was in high school, and in my older years, my Dad would just sit down and play the piano without any music. He would create beautiful music that soothed my soul.

My sisters, Julie and Jane, would often join with me in singing some favorite old songs he liked to play. We really enjoyed singing those songs together.

As he got older, his fingers started getting arthritis and it was hard for him to play the piano. He kept going though. One of the ways he found he could prepare to play, even though he had arthritis, was to soak his hands in warm water prior to playing the piano.

My Dad's hard work created some memorable moments for us as his children to come together as a family and have fun. I loved that about my Dad.

I know many of you have thoughts of playing the flute, clarinet, violin, guitar, drums, piano, etc. Please continue to work hard to practice those instruments. It will bring happiness in your life, and in the life of so many others.

My Dad, Melvin Gilbert Randall, Probably around 2005 or so.

Melvin Randall, Bruce (Me) back of my head, Julie, and Susan is standing. 1959

Aunt Jane, Grandpa Melvin, and Me - Dec. 1978 (Just off my mission from Japan)

Last one of the family

LtoR: Julie, Susan, Melvin, Jane, Helen, Bruce - 1963

Doesn't my Dad look so happy playing the piano? It always soothed his soul too. It looks like I was a little hesitant with my voice in this last picture....

Raising a family

I believe raising our family was hard work. Grammy spent a lot more time at home than I did. I travelled for work for many years and was not home as much as I wanted to be. Grammy could easily write a book about the highs and lows a Mother and a Father go through in raising children, while trying to do the best you can.

Grammy and I felt it was important to have children, we wanted to create a happy family, like the ones we grew up in. We may not have always chosen the best path to teach and provide for our kids, but we always tried as hard as we could. We tried to learn as much as we could, as fast as we could to be good parents. In the end, we believe that each of our children: Lacey, Jenny, Jason, Matthew, and Nick, are not only great children, but wonderful adults and parents too. They figured out how to learn and gain great characteristics like honesty, compassion, patience, learning, and love.

One of the characteristics I admire most about each of them is that they are hard workers. They look for good valuable goals and work hard for them. They too believe in what they do and want to work hard to earn and find their way. This makes us, their parents, so happy.

Your parents have also chosen to have children and a family, that is you :). This choice brings hard work for them. They too have a desire to raise great children, (again, "you!") It is my hope that you will learn how to work hard, and always be a hard worker. You don't want to be lazy. It will be a sad day if someone you know is able to truly say you have the characteristic of being lazy. Please always "work hard" to be a "hard worker."

Here are a few pictures of our family family back in the day. All the pictures here are "classics" of our family.