P*A*T*R*I*O*T*I*C

Because today is Memorial Day, I felt that it would be appropriate to share my feelings about what today means to me.
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about and then feel extrememly grateful for the blessing it is to live in a land of freedom.  What a rich blessing!
I think about all of the men and women who sacrifice so much so that I can have the freedoms of every day life.
I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all who have served and who are currently serving in the military for their willingness to be courageous and 'fight' so that me and my family can be free.  It's because of all of these people that I am able to come and go as I please without fear of consequence.
I appreciate my grandfathers for their valiant service both in Europe and the South Pacific.  I am thankful for my dad's efforts as an honorable member of the United States Air Force.  I am thankful for family members and close friends who have answered their 'call of duty' to go in places of danger and fight off the enemies of this world.  It is with deep respect that I thank these people.  We remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, with their own lives. 
As you go throughout your day, please remember that it is because of so many people that our lives are what they are. 

Several years ago, a friend received his orders of 'deployment'.  He was extremely nervous about the assignment, knowing that his batallion was going into a 'hot spot' where lives had already been lost.  I felt impressed to go by and visit this young man before he left.  While I visited with him, I got another impression that I should offer him a priesthood blessing.  He gladly accepted.  As I gave him the blessing, the words came into my mind that I should tell him that as long as he would do his part and stay out of unecessary places of danger, and also stay away from alcohol and other substances that would inhibit making good and wise decisions, that he would come home and his life would be spared.  There was no promise that he would not experience injury, rather, that he would come home alive.  When the blessing concluded, I reiterated that part of the blessing.  He agreed that he would do his part, and I promised that God would definitely do His.  The months passed by and the day arrived when this young soldier came home.  He had lived up to his end of the deal and God had done His part, too. 

In God We Trust.  This is a choice land and I am grateful to be a part of it.  I thank God for His love for me.  Let today be a reminder of what we have.

I'm A Grateful Son

The way I feel today, is a daily occurrence, but I feel an urge to share with you some of my personal feelings. I was born to and raised by a wonderful and loving mother and father. They have loved me, unconditionally, my entire life. That doesn't mean that I haven't given them reason to be disappointed at some of my decisions, but all in all, I have tried to make them pleased at the way I lead my life and the decisions that I try to make. I love them so much! I married into a family who loved and accepted me from day one. They trusted me with their daughter and have loved me like their very own. Tonight, Becky's parents were here for dinner and I was reminded, again, at how blessed I am to have two sets of parents who love and adore me. What a terrific blessing that is! It is a choice blessing to be loved and accepted. My desire is to say and do those things that would make Becky, our children, and both sets of parents proud of me. I feel like the luckiest guy alive!

Happiness Even In Our Loss

It wouldn't be life if we didn't ever experience loss, in it's various forms. Yesterday, our family experienced a loss, that to most people seems very insignificant. One of our chickens died, unexpectedly. I know that most of you are thinking that it's just a chicken and that it isn't that big of a deal. Except, we love these animals as our pets and we have raised them from the time that they were a couple of days old. It was sad but it's just a real part of life. Each one of us will go through loss in some degree. Whether it's a family member, a pet, or a close friend, the knowledge is the same--it will be okay. We started with six chicks, just over two years ago. We are down to just two. They will continue to bring us joy and for that I am grateful. In our loss, opens a window of untold happiness. It has always been that way and it will continue to be so. Life is filled with many different feelings and emotions. I am grateful for how it all plays out. We learn how to deal with our various emotions and we learn to focus on the great times of our lives. This life is full of 'gems'.

'Firsts'

I was thinking about the 'firsts' in my life.  That was fun to think about but the one that really stuck out in my mind was the first date I went on with Becky.
You guessed it!  She asked me out on our first date.  I must say that I was such a 'chicken' that even throughout our dating, I wondered when we got more serious if she might have to propose to me.  I didn't let that happen.
Okay, back to the first date.  We went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and watched the LDS church' production entitled "Legacy".  It was a great show but all I could think about is how fortunate I was to be sitting next to this beautiful girl, who was still in high school.  We went to get something to eat after the movie and then went back to her parent's house.  We 'double dated' with a guy and girl who were friends of Becky's and ended up marrying and are good friends of ours even today.
That is a quick run-down of the date but the important part to me was that before that one night, Becky and I were strangers to one another.  We had visited at church for a few minutes but no more than that.  Now all of these years later, we have shared some of life's 'firsts' that are done within the bonds of marriage.  We have four children who fill our lives with extreme joy.  I can't imagine loving anybody any more than I love Becky.  My Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would be the only two that I would love any more because of obvious reasons.  She completes me with everything that I would ever need or want.  I am so thankful for that 'first' in March of 1994.  I love you, sweetheart!  No man has ever lived that is more blessed than I.  Thanks for being who you are and helping me to be who I am.  We make an incredible team, and it's fun!!
Think about your 'firsts' and the positive impact they have had on your life.  They are some of the times and things that make us who we are.

I Love Our Home And Family

Everybody has the place in their life that brings them safety and comfort.  That place for me is home.
I have spoken many times about the importance of home in my life.  There is always acceptance at home.  You can be and act exactly how you are (and even off-the-wall silly) and you know that the love that your family has for you is unchanging.  That's how it is for me anyway, for which I am eternally grateful!
As our family knelt down to pray, tonight, I looked around at Becky, Natalie, Laurel, Brady and Danny and thought about the blessing it is to have each other.  As I offered the prayer, I couldn't help but think of the many gifts and talents that each individual has in our family.  They use those to bless not only our lives but the lives of their friends and other people with whom they come in contact.  I love that so much!
In 1995, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints made a declaration to the world.  A portion of that declaration seems appropriate to share. 

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."

I believe that the success we experience in our lives will have a lot to do with the happenings inside our homes and the things that we learned and then implemented in our own lives.
I had the words to a country song enter into my mind that reminds me of times spent at home visiting with Becky and enjoying the laughter of our children.  "And there ain't no place that I'd rather be, next to you sitting next to me."
Home is a piece of heaven and each one of us is entitled to that blessing.

The Difference, One Day Makes

I am always amazed at the blessings in my life. I have always been blessed to be happy and to feel like those around me contribute to that happiness that I enjoy. I can honestly say that yesterday was not one of my brightest days. I can't pinpoint why but I just didn't feel good and my head was extremely tired. Once I arrived at home, from work, everything seemed to be instantly better. When my night was done and I went to bed, I prayed that I would enjoy a good night's rest and awaken, today, feeling completely better. That's exactly what happened. I feel refreshed. Once again, I give sincere thanks for a Father who watches over me and knows and understands precisely how I feel. He blesses me over and over again for which I am grateful.

Do You Ever Wonder?

Maybe it's just me but does anybody else wonder what your life will be like, tomorrow, in six months, or even ten years from now? I don't dwell on it but there are times when I ask myself these questions. It intrigues me. I believe that those types of questions begin from the time that we are young. There are things that we feel are important to achieve. Over time, some of the things that we thought were so important, don't seem to be as important as we originally thought. That's okay. Becky and I consider ourselves to be some of the world's greatest 'dreamers'. We like to dream about everything. It gives us exciting things to talk about and we are thoroughly entertained. I love it! To dream keeps the mind going and it also gives some motivation to reach for things in our lives that seem unattainable. Dream big, even if those dreams don't ever materialize. It's healthy for your mind. I love my life! It is a joy to be alive in this day and time.