My Thoughts

There are weeks in my life that are more memorable than others and this past week has been one of those. My grandpa passed away and our family has helped to make preparations for his funeral in many different ways. I can honestly say that this has been a time of personal reflection and an inventory of my own day-to-day actions.
Let me say it this way: I need to live today to it's fullest and don't worry about tomorrow--just yet.
I firmly believe that each one of us has the God-given ability to do good work each and every day. We were all given that ability and my challenge is that every one of us need to give our 'all' so that at the end of each day we will feel satisfied with our contribution to society and a clean conscience for ourselves.
I am thankful for reflection and the opportunity it gives me time to tweak where I need to and adjust for a better tomorrow. Every day brings about goodness and our lives are richly blessed.
Make today the best that it can be and tomorrow will patiently wait for you. I love life! It's a time to practice getting better at the things that I struggle with and it allows me experience to progress and move forward with hope.

Proud To Be An American

I love music, especially when the lyrics actually tell a meaningful message.  Lee Greenword did just that for me when he wrote the song "Proud to be an American".  Remember the lyrics.

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.  (Lee Greenwood)


I am so grateful on this Veteran's Day to express my love and appreciation for all who are currently serving our country and all who have done so in the past.  Our freedom comes with a great price and I thank all who have served. 

I'm Glad To Hear Your Voice

The tone of a person's voice becomes familar very quickly. The personalized working of that tone is comforting in various ways.
I watched a young child listen intently to their mother and their eyes peered up and down toward the mother's mouth and eyes. I wondered silently what the tone from the mother's mouth really meant to the child. Inside my mind I rehearsed the many times that I have heard my parents speak, my wife speak, and even the sounds of our children's voices. I imagine that I would easily recognize these voices even if I couldn't see them. Because they are important people in my life I know how important the tone of their voices is to me.
That comfort translates to the comfort we can feel even when these people are no longer around us. It is that comfort that helps us deal with their absence.
Every day I think about Becky and our kids. I wonder how their day is going and what they are learning. I think about the latest conversation I have had with them. I think about my intense love for each individual. I even anticipate when I will see them in the afternoon. I love my family!
All of us have people that are dear to our hearts and we long to talk to them or be in the same room. I find great comfort and satisfaction in the kind tone of the voices of the people I love the very most.

I Will See

Here in Utah we experienced a complete 'white-out' with the mass amounts of snow that fell on the weekend. It is winter time here in this state and I am extremely grateful.
I questioned my like while driving in it. The snow fell so densely but it beautified everything around. The trees were snow-capped and picturesque.
While driving our car the large over-sized flakes fell gently on the car windshield. The wipers moved quickly from one side of the windshield to the next clearing off the moist flakes. I drove cautiously but wondered about our safety the whole drive. At one point I wondered if I would be able to see. The snow fall fluctuated at first falling heavily and then lightening up a bit.
'Snow' falls in our lives and we wonder just as I did if we are really going to be capable of seeing all of the necessary things we need to. It is a challenge but we some how seem to find the end of the road and the success that we feel brightens our day and enriches our life. Such was the case with the snow fall. We eventually got to our destination with safety and were able to accomplish all that we needed to do.

Significance

I understand a little bit better today how fragile life is and the reality that the partition (the veil) between this life and the next is very thin.  The older I get the clearer that knowledge becomes.  These thoughts seem to occupy more of my thoughts than they did when I was younger.  It's not all about this life but it is about doing today for what will come tomorrow and the effects that has on the future.  Don't misunderstand this as me saying that today isn't important because it is but, in fact, it is much deeper than that.
When I was a young boy my thoughts were occupied with what I was going to do for fun and at what time of the day that was going to happen.  Rarely did I think about the consequences of decisions made today on tomorrow.
I don't worry about a lot in my life I feel like the focus of life gets more finely tuned with each passing day.
I look at Becky and our children with a different set of 'glasses' than I ever have before.  I want so bad for their lives to be the best that they can be.  I want to be a good person--someone who wants to make good choices that profoundly bless the lives of others.  My desire is to leave this world a better place than what I found it.  Be someone who makes a positive contribution to the best of my own abilities.
I watched a man who seemed to struggle in his life at every bend in the road of life.  As he and I spoke with each other the verbalization of his current decisions of life didn't make much sense to me.  I listened carefully as he spoke and wanted so badly to correct him in his decision-making process but I didn't want to hamper his learning experience in any way.  That's a very hard thing to do but it's part of the learning process that each of us has to go through.  We visited for quite some time and I offered a quiet prayer in my heart for this man.  He will have some additional struggles before his mortal journey ends but so will I.
I am grateful for the experiences of life that add value and allow a clearer perspective.
Life is what we make of it, laced within it some struggles that strengthen us and make us who we are--and ultimately who we are to become.  Keep smiling and keep working hard.

It Is You

 

Our family was talking about the many beauties of the earth and the opportunity we have to enjoy the various creations that surround us.  I fear that you will think that I'm some kind of wierdo but I hang in there and bear with me as I relate my feelings to you.
I watched an interesting looking bug crawl swiftly across the ground.  It's legs moved quickly and it made me tired just watching.  I watched it for several minutes as it covered a large area of ground heading toward it's destination.  I finally gave up on the bug and focused my attention elsewhere.  I have thought about that single creation and have tried to apply that small life with my own.
We are all created by a loving God.  He gave us life and the blessings that we see are a credit to Him.  I am grateful for the knowledge that He loves me.
There are many people who, for one reason or another, don't feel of that same love of which I speak.  Theirs is a life overwhelmed with discontent and despair.  I wish to share with everyone the import of seeing and recognizing all of the blessings that are given to us all.  There is great hope in this world because we are children of a God who loves us more than we can comprehend.  If life is currently weighing you down I strongly encourage you to inventory your life and find and recognize all of the blessings that you have receieved and then watch and number all of the other continuous blessings that will come.  You will see that they are there.
Like the little bug that often seems insignificant you are anything but that.  You are a child of God and your existence is extremely important in His eternal Plan.
Look in the mirror and recognize your significant role in the eternal scheme of things.  Show the beautiful smile that He has given you.  It will make all the difference!

One of My Favorite Days

Every year I love this day.  This year is no different.  Today we celebrate the birthday of my wife Becky.  It is because of this day many years ago that I find great joy and immense happiness.

I wanted to use today’s post to name several reasons why Becky blesses my life and then I hope that each of you will implement these things into your own marriages and relationships to bless and make better.

One:

Becky is the definition of unselfish.  She thinks of herself and what she wants or needs behind that of someone else.  Some might think this a personal fault.  Wrong!  Her life is blessed because she has ‘figured’ this principle out in her own life.  Our family is blessed for her kindness.  Some time ago, Becky went grocery shopping and bought the fixings for a delicious meal—one of our family’s favorites.  She got home and found out that there was a family who needed a meal brought into their home.  Becky fixed the meal she had planned for us and promptly took it to this family and opted to fix us something else.  I watched her make that decision and I felt grateful for her love and generosity for another.  We had other food and it was no problem for us. 

Two:

Becky loves to be at home.  She loves the comfort that she feels when she is at home with her family.  I am so grateful for this.  We live in a society where everyone is dashing about in all directions with chaos trailing closely behind at every turn.  The things at home are the victim of this chaos.  I am so thankful to Becky for making the things at home a top priority.

Three:

Becky loves God and His Son.  They are at the top of her list as the most important people in her life.  Because that is her priority, everyone else around her is richly blessed.  She follows their example and acts as they would want her to.  I have always loved that.

Four:

Becky is an outstanding wife!  She loves me and treats me with great respect as her husband and as a human being.  She is the easiest person to get along with and I feel honored to have her in my life.

Five:

All Becky wants to be is the best mom she can be.  She loves our children and she is concerned with their well-being.  She works tirelessly to help them reach their divine potential.  She teaches by word and example. 

Becky, I want to wish you the happiest birthday and I pray every day that I will be able to spend many years of happiness to come with you.  But no matter what, if we do our best we will have the blessing of living through the eternities with one another.  I love you! Have a great day!