Light

Light is refreshing and it brings hope into life. I have always enjoyed being in 'the light' rather than in the dark. The brightness fills my soul with happiness and joy. When I was a young kid I recall a time when I was with a group of kids around my same age. I recall that we were in a dark place (The basement to a home that was under construction. It was still in the framing stage.) and I had a dreary feeling about being there. I distinctly remember how I felt and I even mentioned that I felt a little uncomfortable. One of the kids told me to quit being a 'sissy' and don't worry about that stupid feeling I was having. When we finally abandoned the home and headed toward our own homes I felt grateful to be out in the light and to feel better about where I was.
On a number of occasions, I have felt the darkness that is experienced when I was not in a place where I shold have been. I have spent most of my life in the light that is joyful. When we're in the light our lives are blessed immensely. The direction we can gain is more than we can comprehend. Life is everything we hope it will be when we grasp onto the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This life is our opportunity of love given from the hands of a loving God. Stay in the light and everything else will take care of itself.

A Great Day For A Few Reasons

                                       









                                            

Hooray! It snowed. Some of you are thinking to yourself, "Why is he excited?"
I have to say that it is a known fact that during this time of the year, it is supposed to snow in Utah and I'm grateful for it.


Okay, on to the thought of the day. Our family attended church today but we went to a different building to watch the program that the 'Madrigals' (the high school choir that Natalie is a part) put on in sacrament meeting. It was very well done and I was grateful to be there to listen to the vocal talents of these young people.

I love music and the universal language that it is. The spirit of Christmas is felt from the songs that are shared. I looked around the chapel on a few different occasions and observed the looks on the people's faces as they listened and enjoyed the songs that were performed.

This is a wonderful time of the year! It is a time of reflection and gratitude. It allows each of us to take a personal inventory of who we are and what we are trying to accomplish.

I banter back and forth with a co-worker. He is a 'glass half empty' type of personality and I try to be a 'glass half full'. Anyway I have stated many times to him that the future is bright. He gives me a look of doubt every time I say it but I firmly believe that the future looks bright in many ways. I feel extremely blessed and I know that we will continue to blessed for our good efforts. Optimism is a powerful tool. It's that outlook that brings hope for the things that are yet to come. Optimism is contagious. The fresh snow blanketed the Salt Lake valley today. Optimism can be just like the snow. There is brightness, hope, and a feeling of 'I can do it!' This is the season of hope. It is because of the reason for the season that we gain our greatest hope of all.

Life is great!

 

Hard Work And Determination

A good night's rest is a wonderful thing!  Yesterday we worked hard to get some necessary things done in our yard before the snow falls.

During a conversation this week I spoke with a man who expressed his opinion about work with regards to his children.  Our viewpoints differ on the importance that our children learn what hard work is and that they participate in it often.  I listened as he spoke of the fact that they would have to work their whole lives and that they shouldn't be burdened with it while in their youth.  After he said that he began to share with me his frustration with the way his children currently live their lives.  I couldn't help but think about the absence of learning to work in their lives when they were young.  As grown people they were  now lazy and unwilling to do any more than was actually required--the bare minimum.

I am personally grateful for hard work and the satisfaction I receive by accomplishing the various tasks that are a part of every day life.

"In all labour there is profit..." (Proverbs 14:23)

I love the parable that the Savior teaches in the New Testament.  This account teaches us the pure value of hard work.

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20:1-16)

 

Going back to the discussion I had with this man, we will be better suited and prepared to take on the many influences of the world and accomplish all that is required in our lives if we will learn how to work and then teach our children the importance of it also.  It has always been a desire for Becky and I to know that our children know how to work hard and are confident to do anything that is required to live a good and productive life.

 

It's a great life!  I'm thankful for every single day.  I hope that this finds everybody well.

December 7, 1941

In the United States, we remember that it was 71 years ago that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  Many lives were lost that day so we remember those who perished and those who lived and were deemed heroes.




Pearl Harbor survivor Stu Hedley, 91, left, salutes, as Doyle McKee is thanked for his service by Rebecca Shaffner during the annual Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony aboard the USS Midway Museum's flight deck in San Diego.

I am so grateful for all of the veterans, both men and women, who served and continue to serve our country so faithfully so that we are able to enjoy the many freedoms that we have.

Around The World

Anyone that knows me very well understands that I love the game of basketball.  These days my love is primarily for basketball on the driveway at our home with our kids. 
Our oldest son Brady really enjoys the game and we love to 'shoot around' together.  Yesterday we purchased a brand new basketball and Brady asked if I wanted to play a game of 'around the world'.  For those who are unfamiliar with this specific game I will briefly explain that it is a game where players must make a shot in the basket from designated spots on the basketball court determined by the players.  The first player to successfully make all of the shots is the winner.  I struggled in the beginning and Brady was doing very well.  It got to be my turn again and I began shooting and making all of the shots that we had pre-determined needed to be made. 
This game reminded me a little bit like life itself.  There are times when we seem to struggle to make things work out the way we hope they will.  However, there are also those times when everything we do seems to go 'just right'.
I was in the grocery store last evening and I noticed a group of young people.  I watched them for a little while because I was in the same places they were to get the few items I needed to purchase.  A woman in a handicap cart dropped an item from the basket on her cart.  Without hesitation one of the young people reached down and picked up the dropped item.  That wasn't the part that impressed me the most it was the smile that accompanied the simple act of service.  I think the woman was a little shocked by the act of kindness from the young man but she smiled in return.  I think that there are many days when the woman in the cart feels like life will never give her a break but the simple and kind act of somebody else helped her immensely.
A life lesson was taught to me while playing a game on the driveway with our son.  No matter what we face in life we need to be strong and continue to face the challenges that will come.  Sometimes there will be people who lend their help to us and other times we will be able to do it on our own.  Just keep plugging along and life will be rich!  

I Heard The Bells

Music has long played an enriching part of my life.  From the time I was a young boy I remember that we sang and enjoyed great music together.  At this Christmas season I enjoy hearing and singing the Christmas praises.  One such hymn is entitled "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."  It has been a favorite of mine for a long time.  I want to share a verse from this song.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

 

Somewhere down the hallways of history there is the desire to have 'peace on earth and good will to men'.  In many ways we do enjoy such a blessing.  I hope that the goal is to foster a feeling of 'peace on earth' inside the walls of our own homes.  The world creates chaos in our lives and in the lives of our children.  If we will strive harder than ever before to create a haven of peace and safety then there has been before then an increase of confidence and self-worth will prevail.

The bells of Christmas are sounding all around.  Those same bells will penetrate into our hearts an unwavering feeling of peace.  Merry Christmas to you and may the spirit of the Savior radiate in your hearts all the day through. 

Being A Gracious Receiver

I was reminded of the importance of being gracious in my life.  That one principle is extremely vital in order to more fully understand the very essence of who each of us are and what we are ultimately destined to become. 
The story is told of a young girl who was overjoyed by the reality that the precious hand-made gift she had made for her aunt would surely thrill her on the receipt of it.  She anticipated the giving of such a gift and hoped that her excitement would be proof enough of the intense effort she had given.  The long awaited time came for her to give.  She handed the gift and set it into her aunt’s hands.  Her aunt scowled at the simple gift, grabbed it with her one finger and thumb as if it was something disgusting.  She wrinkled her brow and a strange expression enveloped her face.  She dropped it to the ground and walked away to talk to somebody else who was in the room.  The girl was devastated by the lack of interest shown on behalf of her auntie.  Many years passed by and the remembrance of such ingratitude remained freshly engrained in the mind of the grown up girl.
At this time of year may each of us have the desire to be more grateful for the simplicities of our life.  It matters not the size of the gift or the cost of the item but rather the thought and effort put into the giving of it.  Christmas will be more meaningful and our lives will be completely enriched.