Christmas Eve 2012

It has been such a great night!  I really enjoy Christmas Eve and the family festivities that go on.  We spent the evening with Becky's parents and her brother's family.  We shared a nice meal together and then enjoyed opening gifts from each other.  We sang together and we felt of the love we have as a family.

 

 

There is great joy that comes from the valuable times we spend strengthening our family bonds.  I am a richly blessed man and I give thanks for all that I have.  It just doesn't get any better than this.



May your Christmas be filled with joy and may this time of hope and happiness bless your life.

The Temple Is Peace

We attended a performance where Laurel and Natalie were both participants.  It's their annual performance at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, in Salt Lake City, Utah.  It was a nice evening with very nice music.  We listened and were reminded of this season of the year.  Following the performance, we were reminded of the temple and what it represents to us as a family.  We took a couple of pictures to remind us continually that the temples of God can always be with us.

 

 



I am very grateful for the meaning of the temple in my life.  If we will keep the promises we made with God in the temple, our family is promised that we will live together, forever, after this life.  The joy that we felt just the other night at the performance, and every other day, will be ours for eternity. 

What a blessing that is!

Memories In The Making

The time we spend with our families is valuable and at times seems extremely hard to come by with the hectic schedules and the various activities of life.  I am the most happy when we can be together and not really do anything at all.
I recall a specific time I had as a boy.  It seemed like a normal day around our house.  My older brother and I were riding our bikes and trying hard to learn to 'pop-a-wheely'.  We would ride up one side of the street and begin to pull up hard on the handle bars of our bikes to lift the front wheel off the ground.  To pop-a-wheely requires some coordination but then to 'ride-a-wheely' is in a complete other realm of imaginary possibilities.  We tried over and over and got to where we could pop a darned good wheely but never being able to master the riding a wheely part.
That time spent with my brother was very simple but enjoyable nonetheless.  It is the quality of time not necessarily quantity.  I have many memories just like that one.  We have tried to keep things simple but it doesn't always work out the way we planned it to be.
The time we spend together will ultimately make some of life's greatest memories.  Keep making them!

Orientation For School

It's official, I am attending orientation at the University of Utah.  I am really excited to be going to school and to help better life and learning.  
I am one of about three hundred 'transfer students who will begin school for the spring semester.
There have been some really good things spoken about.  I have been sitting between a man and a woman--the woman majoring in Biomedical Engineering and the man in journalism.  Our conversations have been motivating and I appreciate the comfort that I feel when talking with other people.
I have a 'hill' to climb but this is well worth the effort that is required and I know we can do it. I want our children to know how important this is and I hope that they will possess a sincere desire to go to college and to create more opportunities for themselves and their families.
Learning is a beautiful thing!  To stimulate our minds is part of the Plan.  I am thankful for this opportunity to go and I appreciate the support of my lovely wife, Becky.  Thanks for your support and your confidence in me--it is apparent that many don't have what you and I enjoy.  I love you very much!
Have I ever expressed how much I love my life?  Well, I do!

Dads And Donuts

Today I had the opportunity to spend some time with both of our sons, Danny and Brady, at their school Pleasant Green Elementary for 'Dads and Donuts'.  This occasion is where dads take their kids over to the school thirty minutes before the beginning of school and the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) serves donuts and hands out water bottles.  The objective is to give some time where parents and children can enjoy a donut while they are reading.  
We got there a little later than we had hoped and the gymnasium was packed with people.  We got a donut and a water bottle and found some standing room and visited with each other.  It was a great way to spend time with our sons and to be in their regular environment at a time when I would normally be at work.
I do love our children and the enjoyment that I experience when I am with them.
It's a rich blessing to be a parent and to enjoy the relationships that I have with our children.  I love them so much!  They are important to me.

Remembering The Ones You Love

There was a picture that I saw of a friend who is currently in Afghanistan serving our country as a member of the United States military.  The picture was of he and several other men sitting at a table inside a hanger eating Thanksgiving dinner.  He wore a different kind of smile on his face and you knew that he would rather be sitting with his young wife and daughter.  It made me extremely grateful for his service.  
I remember the times when I was away from my family as a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was safe and I knew that my family was thinking about me.  Those times were definitely memorable and my heart reflects on them once in awhile.
Loved ones mean so much to me.  I am thankful for those who love me and I hope that I will always remain grateful for all that I have been given.  

I Love Life

This is a day that I will remember for a very long time.  My grandpa passed away earlier this morning after a long life well lived.  I have learned some valuable lessons from this man I call grandpa.
It is always a difficult thing when death arrives but more than that a very spiritual time of reflection for me.  Let me share a little personal insight with you today with the hope that you can understand my feelings.
Death is just another step in eternal progression.  It happens exactly how it was designed.  In this Plan we all agreed with it and gladly followed our Father and His Son.  This part of the Plan becomes clearer to me with every passing day.  I am grateful that my grandpa can more forward in this very important part of his eternal destiny.  A great reunion awaited him for which I am most grateful.
One of the greatest lessons (and a nice reminder) is that I try to live my life to the best of my ability.  This does not mean that a fanatical approach should ensue, rather a consistent and positive approach to how and why I do the things I do.
I love my Heavenly Father and His Son, my Savior.  I am thankful for all that they do for me.  I give thanks to them for the knowledge that I receive.  I am thankful for the people around me who are examples of goodness.  My grandpa was an example to me of hard work and dedication in all that he did.
I have watched my grandma do exactly what she committed to do the day that her and grandpa wed.  She has stood by his side through the hard and the easy of life.  She has weathered the storms of life with him side by side.  She has taken care of him right until the end and I applaud her for her sweet efforts.  I love my grandpa and grandma!
I am thankful to have been born of goodly parents who love each other.  I thank my mom for her kindness with both of her parents this past week--actually for an entire lifetime.  She has been the rock that they have always been able to count on.  It is through her wonderful acts of love that I have learned some of life's greatest lessons.  I love you mom and I know that heaven continues to shine on our family every single day.

We Are A Happy Family

Last night I attended a meeting where a young woman was set apart as a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, called to serve in the Marshall Islands. It was a wonderful gathering. There were at least fifty people in attendance and the spirit that was in the room was overpowering. This is the youngest child of the family and this young woman has a sister and a brother currently serving their own missions.
Can I tell you the thing that struck me the most about this family? They are not perfect but they are trying to do their best. Some of their children have made good choices and some have not. The parents love them and you could feel it.
In the October issue of the Ensign magazine, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf teaches that one of the keys to a happy family is the forgiving of imperfections of family members. I really liked that teaching. We all know that even in the closest families the difference in personalities sometimes causes conflict but the happy families forgive and find ways to move forward. That can be difficult in varying circumstances but I know that what President Uchtdorf taught is true.
Be humble and find ways to mend differences. This life is very short and before you know it your time is finished. I don't want undone issues when I leave this existence and I don't think that many other people do either.
Let's choose today to be happy and do all that it takes to fix the things that are amiss. Life is grand!
I will remember the feeling I had last night for a very long time. Their example was a treasure to my heart.

One For The Ages

We attended a soccer game last night.  Our youngest son Danny loves the game and is fortunate to play on a team with a good coach and players who are willing to hustle.
I was amazed at the hustling play of each team member and I was reminded of what happens when people accomplish something as a team.
I have been taught and then reminded of my role as a team player in our family.  It takes the gifts of each person to carry out and succeed. 
I am grateful for Becky and the important role she plays as a wife and mother.  She does so much and her role blesses each member of our family. 
I hope that I am the kind of husband and father who plays as a team member and wants to succeed so that our family will be happy.

Words From The Heart

Tonight, we shared moments together that we will remember into the eternities.  We decided to 'go for a ride' in the van and enjoy one another's company.  We enjoy being together as a family and listening to the thoughts and feelings that come from the heart.  Natalie wanted to share a few words from the scriptures that were particularly touching to her.  Each of our four children subsequently shared their feelings and words of scripture that they had studied in church, that meant something to them. 
Becky and I sat in the front seats and glanced over to each other on several occasions, touched by the rehearsal of words and feelings of the heart.  I felt a sense of peace and a glimpse of eternity, if we will do what is right.  I am so thankful for the divine organization of family.  I give thanks for all that I learn and the pure desire I have to do what is good and right.
Tonight was a 'parent payday.'  I am a better person for this experience.  I love my family!

I Miss You

Two nights ago, our boys spent the night at Becky's parents house for a 'sleep-over'.  Their cousins are in town from St. Louis and so grandpa and grandma had an opportunity to enjoy their grand kids.  Our girls have 'teenage' things that they do and so Becky and I spent the evening alone.  I love spending time with Becky and we really get a kick out of each other.  As I climbed into bed, I felt a slight loneliness for our boys but knew and understood that they were safe and happy. 
I am so grateful for the privilege I have to be a husband and father.  It brings me joy that cannot be measured.  It is easy to feel ungrateful and lose track of the things that are important.  Make a special effort to see all that is good and then be grateful.
Life is how you perceive it to be.  Even during the tumultuous storms that come, there is much for which we can be grateful. 
My family means everything to me.  I love to be with them and enjoy what they have to offer me.

Love At Home

It is such a joy to spend time at home, surrounded by Becky and our children.  It doesn't even matter what we are doing--I just like to be home.
I spoke to a man who told me a little about his 'home life'.  Through his words I could see and feel a lot of pain.  He spoke negatively about the various things that happen there.  I just listened and silently thanked heaven for the blessings that are so abundant in my life.
I watch and try to be as good of a person as Becky is.  She brings me great joy.  
I want my life to be as good as it can be.  I also realize that a lot of what life is depends on me.
I love you, Beck!  Natalie, Laurel, Brady, and Danny--I love you very much!  You five, make it all worthwhile. 

Love At Home

Our girls arrived home from Girl's camp and it was so nice to be at home as an entire family. When we sat around the table for dinner, my heart was overjoyed as I looked at each member of our family and wondered how the time has flown by and everyone has gotten so big. What a rich blessing it is to be a family. Neither Becky and I like that life is cruising by so quickly. It is neat to watch the various things unfold in the lives of each person in our family. It seems important to say that we all need to enjoy things in 'the moment'. You blink and everyone is grown and the memories are what you have to remember. The positive side is that there are always more memories to make. I am thankful to be a husband and a father. Those two titles bring me the greatest joy.

One For The Money

When our kids were younger and much smaller, Becky and I would each grab an arm and a leg and we would recite while swinging the kid up and down: "One for the money. Two for the show. Three to get ready and four to go." We would then hoist them high into the air and catch them before their feet could hit the ground. We would watch as they laughed and giggled with pleasure. My parents did that to me and I'm sure it happened with them too.
I watched this exact thing happen with two young parents and a young child. My brain was flooded with those fond memories of a day long since passed. I could see the big smiles on our kid's faces. They really got a kick out of that. We enjoyed watching them.
Each day presents an opportunity to make good memories that will last a lifetime.
"One for the money. Two for the show. Three to get ready and four to go." Such a small memory brings back many others just like it. I love my life and I love the opportunities that lie ahead.

On A Night Like Tonight

We gathered as a family to conduct our Monday night Family Home Evening. This night was different from most. We gathered in our bedroom so that Becky could remain seated with her knee elevated. The four kids were all situated on our bed and I sat on the floor next to the chair that Becky was seated in. We talked about standing up for who you are and for what you believe. Becky taught about the reference to President Thomas S. Monson's 'Mormon Message" on standing alone.
We went around the room and each shared personal experiences when we had to have courage to stand for truth and right even when it wasn't the most popular thing to do. It was mentioned that sometimes you do it good and sometimes you fall short. It was apparent that each one of us needs to be strong and then prepared to stand for the right.
We sang together and we prayed together. On this night, our family was buoyed up and taught by the Holy Ghost the truths that change us, for the good, forever.
My heart was stirred (and my emotions, too) by the wonderful examples that our children are to me. I love them all so much and I want them to know that what they do is exactly what is expected. This was a night to remember.

We Play And Have Fun

Tonight, we went to Orem since my mom and dad were in town.  It was a great time to be together and to enjoy one another's company.
The older you get, the more different family members are but I found tonight to be a great time and we all seemed to have a lot of fun.
This entire year I have focused on many different things as I post a daily blog.  Family has come up a lot and there is good reason for that.  Our families should be an important part of our lives.  Sometimes that is difficult to do but I would like to suggest that we all make a conscientious decision to strengthen the relationships we have with our family members.  Even if it's something small and insignificant.  The thought counts.  A brief phone calls expresses that you cared enough to make an effort.  Our families are important.
It was a nice time and we laughed as we spent time together.  What a night.

They Deserve

There are articles in our nation's newspapers and the news stations cover stories that involve the mistreating of children.  The thought came to my mind as I was sitting in church that our children deserve to be treated in a respectful and kind way.  I understand that they need to be talked to sternly in appropriate times to get their attention.  I am talking about the abusive behavior that some people display because they want their children to do it 'their way'. 
I have mentioned, in the past, that I was raised in a loving home where structure was apparent and expected.  My mom and dad cared deeply about one another.  I knew what the expectations were and I tried my best to adhere to those. My siblings would see it in another light, I'm sure.)  I was never verbally or physically abused in any way. 
I read about a boy who was asked to pen on paper his experience at home.  He talked about the many things about his upbringing; those were touching.  The key part of his writing was the unity of his mom and dad.  Because they were together, it brought unity to the entire family.
Our children deserve the best we can give them.  They thrive on love.  Don't let a day go by where you tell them that you love them.  More importantly is that you show them that you love them.  I know that we all can do it.  It will bring about the unity that a lot of families strive to have.

Our "A" Team

Becky and I went for a short ride in the van, last night. We have enjoyed going for "rides" since our days of dating. It allows us the chance to visit about the things that are going on in life. We have spent a fair amount of time trying to solve the world's problems.  It is therapeutic for both of us to talk things through and to be in one another's company.
As we visited, last night, I felt so grateful for our family. I thought about Becky and all that she means to me in my life. She has been that joy, to me, for a long time now. The words that she speaks to me are soothing--her touch brings me great comfort. I love her more than words can adequately express. Our children bring us immense joy and there is a fulfillment that we get because of their goodness. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a father. Parenthood is enriching. There isn't a day that passes that I don't thank heaven for the rich blessing of rearing children and teaching them the ways of truth and right. I am trying to be a stalwart example of somebody that in good and that they can look up to for solid guidance and unwavering direction. It is sure that they will get that by looking at their mother. She defines goodness.
It is in our home that I receive safety from the winds and storms of life. It is where stability resides. It is a place where I can be myself, all of the time. I can't thank my family enough for the love that I feel for each one of them. They are trying so hard to be good people. I recognize that they are not perfect, but neither am I, so they are in good company. All Becky and I have ever desired is that our kids work hard to make this world a better place to live in. We hope that they will treat others will love and respect. That isn't the easiest task. It takes patience and practice.
The family is an eternal unit, ordained of God. The organization of it is vitally important. Many families don't enjoy the feelings of which I previously spoke. I is the desire of my heart that more emphasis will be placed on the strengthening of the family unit in homes across the world. All other distractions should be set aside if they intrude on the family. I try to properly balance the business of life so that the time I spend with our family is meaningful and worthwhile.
The energy and time we invest in our family should be the best efforts that we have. There will be no greater opportunities to build and strengthen relationships than the time you spend with your family.

Zion's Park Is Beautiful

Yesterday, we took a hike that was absolutely breathtaking. It was fun to have our children with us. One of the really fun parts for me was the ages of our children. They all were able to do the hike under their own power. I watched with amazement at how big everyone has gotten. I can't believe how the time has flown by. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful woman, like Becky, who stands by my side as we thoroughly enjoy this life, together. We also are grateful to be here with Becky's parents and here brother's family. I am overwhelmed at the beauty of this part of the world, Zion's National Park. We drove through Toquerville, Utah. That is where my dad was born and spent the first years of his life. I am richly blessed and I recognize that each day. There are dreams that I have in my life. One of those is the opportunity to spend time with my family. It never gets old. I love to watch their own distinct personalities and gifts that they have. I marvel at their independence and the desire they have to explore. Several years ago, during a conversation with my mom, I expressed the fact that we didn't have a shy kid. She shared with me that her and my dad had long shared the opinion that it was easier to 'reign in' a child's personality rather than have to pry them out of a corner because they were too shy. I feel a great deal of gratitude that our children are confident and eager to explore life and all that it has to offer. Today, we are excited to spend the day, further exploring the majesty of this beautiful place.

Freedom Is Great

I am thankful that we have the freedom to come and go as we please.  We live in an incredible time when we can jump in the car and see the beauties of this world. 
Utah is a beautiful state, with many of its own things to see. 
Today, we are going to enjoy the day, as a family, seeing the a beauty of our immediate surroundings.
I am thankful to live in a place where we can enjoy all of these great things.
I feel of God's love for me and I thank Him today that I get to spend time doing enjoyable things with my family.
The words of a song remind me of His love.
"I know my Father lives, and loves me too.  The spirit whispers this to me.  And tells me it is true.  He tells me it is true."
Let today be a day where memories are made that you will remember for a long time.