I Prayed

Today, we spent a day as a family.  It was a nice day.  We saw some scenery of the beautiful state of Utah.
As we began our day, our youngest, Danny, complained of his teeth aching.  Shortly thereafter, he complained that his eyes hurt.  Becky told him that he needed to just close his eyes and give them a rest. 
We went about our day and enjoyed it together.
Tonight, as we were traveling home, Danny said, "Mom, do you know why my teeth and eyes don't hurt anymore?"  Becky asked him why.  He adamantly responded with.  "I prayed."
Becky and I wonder all the time how two people can be as blessed as we are.  Heaven smiles on our lives with mass amounts of generosity.
I love life!  Heavenly Father loves us immensely!  We love Him, too.  It's been a wonderful day.

A Little Bit Of Knowledge

Today, is a day that I am grateful for the knowledge that I have.  Both of our vehicles needed brake pads changed and the oil and filter job done as well.  I have done both of these things many times.  I'm not a mechanic, by any means, but I figure that I help put together a commercial airliner so I should easily be able to do some of the simple things with a car.  The kids helped me jack the cars up and remove the lug nuts from each of the wheels.  It was nice to have them close by (and helping, of course.) 
I enjoy knowledge and the satisfying feeling it gives to me.  Even though, I know very little, I feel grateful for the healthy mind I have been blessed with.
Our youngest son, Danny, asked me while we were working, if I really did know what I was doing.  I had to work hard not to start laughing right out loud.  I told him that I did, in fact, know what I was doing.  His next question followed.  "Where did you learn to do this, dad?"  I told him that I learned how to do these things from Uncle Spencer. (That is my brother-in-law)  "I'll bet you're glad he taught you, huh dad?"  I am very grateful that he taught me such knowledge.
These small pieces of knowledge stimulate my mind.  It's never too late to learn.  I love it!

Thanks!

Is there really a better feeling in the world than being thanked by someone?

A few years ago, a young woman from a neighboring town won a scholarship to a prestigious college. Although the inner-city high school she attended was plagued with problems, she overcame them and excelled.

When she graduated, she commended the often-maligned school for its challenging courses and her teachers for their special interest and encouragement.

"I can't say enough good things about the school and the teachers who gave me so much of themselves," she said. "I shall be eternally grateful to them."

Saying thanks not only brightens someone else's world, it brightens yours. If you're feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.

'Thank you' needs to flow more freely from our mouths.  There are many people who do great things for us, every day of our life.  They are deserving of our utmost gratitude!

Music Soothes The Soul

The sound of good music is hard to beat.  I heard a song that brought back great memories when I was a kid. 

"I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way
I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe." (The Lettermen)

My dad had many albums by the Lettermen.  They were a familiar sound in our home.
Each of us have memories that are directly connected with songs.  I love to think of an especially meaningful experience that has a song associated with it. 

I love music!  Good music brings my heart a great deal of comfort.

Celebrate Their Successes

I love to watch our children.  It is really fun to see all that they do.  Their potential amazes me.  Everything that they know and all of the things that they can do just blows my mind.
I don't ever want to come across as one of those obnoxious parents who has to talk about how great they think their kids are compared to all of the other kids around.  I do, however, want to be a parent who will see the good that our kids do and rightfully recognize them for their goodness.
I am incredibly grateful for kids who are giving life their best shot.  I understand that they are as imperfect as are other kids but I love what they are trying to accomplish.
Their sense of humor is refreshing and openly welcomed, in our home.
Becky and I were laughing at the genetics that run deeply when looking at mine and Danny's legs.  Becky asked Danny to turn around so that we could see the back of his calves.  Becky said that he had my legs.  She said to him that he was going to grow up to be like me.  She asked him if that's what he wanted.  He told her that that would be okay except that dad's hands are all broken up like this.  He lifted his hands into the air to show Becky what his hands would then look like.  Translation:  I'm not flexible at all.  The older I get, the worse it becomes.  When I straighten my fingers and position my hand like I am about to give somebody a 'high five', my fingers are somewhat bent, and no matter how hard I try, my fingers do not straighten out.  We about fell over laughing at his honest response to all that we were talking about.
Our other three children are equally as wonderful.  I love their personalities and their goals.  Every day is a celebration of something else that good that has happened.  I'm all about success! As should we all be.  HOORAH!

Love and Like, Both Are Important

Since I was a young boy, I dreamed of one day experiencing the romance that my parents enjoy.
The important part of their relationship is that they like and love each other.  You may wonder what the difference really is.
I see the difference this way.  There are couples that I know that love each other with all of their hearts.  There is no doubt.  I don't believe that every couple really like each other.  The proof is that many men and women enjoy their own interests and appear to be self-absorbed with the things that they personally enjoy.  The people who like each other enjoy being together, as much time as possible.
I have been blessed to marry a woman who likes to be with me.  I, in turn, enjoy spending time with her.  I can't imagine life any differently.  I'm not saying that the way others do it is wrong, but it makes me grateful that I enjoy what I do.  There is security and comfort that comes with that.
I have a firm belief that happiness will prevail, between a man and a woman, when they like as much as they love.
Thanks, Becky for a wonderful life!  You make every day as good as it can possibly be.

We're All In It Together

Life is a wonderful thing.  There are times when we may wonder what the reason is for a certain obstacle.  The reality is that challenges are woven into all of our lives.  They are what molds us into what and who we are ultimately to become.  It is fun to watch life's challenges and the wonderful effects, for good, that they have on an individual.
The common thread of life is that we are all in it together.
We are never forgotten!

"As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and very insignificant. I wondered if I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.
Years later I can look back on that young boy with tenderness and compassion. And I do know now—I was never forgotten.
And I know something else: . . . as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart—neither are you!
You are not forgotten.
Wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.
Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

We are all very important!  It doesn't matter how successful we are in the eyes of the world.  It doesn't matter how popular we are amongst the people around us. 
When I was a teenager, there was a girl who was a year older than me.  She was new in the neighborhood and many of us kids thought she was a little odd. (That was my immature way of thinking)  I was involved in a practical joke that involved this new girl many months after she moved into the neighborhood.  The joke that we found hilarious, backfired on us.  What was intended to be funny turned into a horrible offense.  I still remember the hurt in her eyes. 
I don't live my life with huge regrets, but I would love the opportunity to right that wrong that I participated in.
I am trying to be accepting of everyone.  It is very clear to me that we're all in it together.