My Sincere Thanks

I am off of work, today, and I wish to spend the time to express my deepest thanks during this blog post. 
It would take a complete lifetime to adequately express my gratitude. 
Today, is an important day for several reasons.  On this day, Jesus Christ was born.  The world has never been the same since His coming.  I can't help but feel thankful for His life, mission, and Atonement for me, and you, of course.  Also, this day marks the day when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized.  Brady (our oldest son) and I discussed this a little bit and when I told him of the significance of this day, he said to me, that is not coincidental that the church would be organized on the same day as the Savior's birth.  I agreed with him.  Today, also marks the day that the Savior began His Atonement, that has eternal importance for us all.
I take each day with an attitude of trying to do my very best.  I awakened, this morning, with these things on my mind and felt very grateful for all that they mean.
There is much to learn as we work, and sometimes struggle through this life.  I watched a video clip on lds.org, that the LDS  church has produced just for Easter--entitled, "He Is Risen."  It is worth watching.  Ultimately, it is only through Him, that the errors of our ways are forgiven.  When He went into the Garden of Gethsemane, He took upon Himself all that I would do wrong, (including everyone else that would live and error) and made it right, if I would repent.  I can't even fathom all that was required of Him, but He did it lovingly and willingly, because of His love for and obedience to His Father, for which I am most grateful! 
I understand how little I know about the Plan of my Heavenly Father.  I am trying to learn and understand all that is expected of me.  The most important part is the application in my own life.  That takes a lifetime of patience and a consistent pace.  Line upon line, precept upon precept. 
I don't want this to seem like a Sunday school lesson, rather a writing filled with gratitude for the things that are of most import. 
It's a wonderful life!

Lead With Love

I watch people closely. I believe that there is a lot to be learned by careful observation. I'm not looking for, nor do I expect perfection, I just want to see how people do certain things.
One of those careful observations is how people talk to their children. Their interactions with their children, both while the kids are behaving and not, are important.
Many years ago, I was told of an experience in the check-out line of a local grocery store. The man who shared the experience was the third person in the line. A large, husky man was standing second in line. The person who was being 'checked out' was having a rough time with a younger child. The person kept hollering at the unhappy child, thinking that it would help. The kid was sitting in the grocery cart. After a couple of attempts at hollering at the kid, the person lost their cool and went to slap the young child. Before contact could be made, the large man caught the individuals hand in mid-air. Looking directly at the person, the large man firmly stated, "Don't even think about it."
Our actions toward our children ought to be those of control. I do know how it feels to lose control of my temper. There are a couple of different instances that I clearly remember from when our kids were much younger. I don't think that anybody is exempt from 'losing their cool.' The older I get, the clearer it becomes to me that the responsibility is mine to lead with love. The 'iron fist' approach is not only wrong but ineffective.
Our children ought to have loving structure in their lives. It can be done without slapping or hitting.
The eternal truth still stands strong. The children that are entrusted to your care, are just that--they're on loan for a short season. They don't belong directly to you. They are children of a loving Father. He has placed their safety and well-being on your shoulders. Our intention ought to be, and is expected, to send them back to Him better than how we received them. That is a long discussion for another time and has moral agency intertwined throughout it.
I have control over the things that I do. I am trying to do the best that I can each and every day.

Competition

I have a friend and its name is competitive. I guess I see this as a friend, most of the time, and an enemy at other times.
Competition is my friend because I don't like to be the person who holds others back, in life. I enjoy being somebody who others can count on to do exactly what I said I was going to do. I like to accomplish things, whatever they may be, in a timely fashion. When a project begins to drag on, it becomes less enjoyable.
Now, I stated that there are times when competition can be my enemy. When I become over-zealous, I feel like I neglect to see some of the positive parts of the 'journey.' We hear the phrase, "stop to smell the roses." I believe that wholeheartedly. When competition plays a role in the different facets of life, it’s easy to trample over the top of the roses that are there to smell, and enjoy.
Like everything else in life, the ability to balance is a key factor. I believe that being competitive is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when it’s against your own abilities and skills. I also believe that balancing one's efforts, in accomplishing those things that must be completed, is vitally essential.
I am going to make a concerted effort to slow down and look to see the scenery around. The joy is in the journey. Of that truth I am certain.
The proper use of competition helps to drive and motivate. I want to be a positive contributor.

I Love To Learn

Do you ever just stop and take a moment to reflect, on life, and what this life really means? Most of the time, life becomes so full of the various activities that each member of our family is involved in that I don't take the time to stop and 'smell the roses.'
This past weekend, the opportunity I took to stop and watch General Conference was very meaningful. Much of what was said was just for me. I am thankful for leaders who are called to help make me a better person. I am personally thankful for the time that our leaders took to prepare meaningful messages that touched my heart and reminded me of the things that I can do to make life more productive.
I am reminded of an experience I had many years ago while teaching a class full of six year old children. This was a church class. One young boy raised his hand. He obviously had a question and the spring action from his chair indicated to me that what he had to say was very important. "Why are we alive?" I only had a brief moment to prepare and give him an answer. "Because our Heavenly Father loves us." It was the first thing that popped into my simple mind. The boy sat silently in his chair and thought about my answer. He wore a puzzled look on his face and I wondered what his next question was going to be. The class time passed on and the young boy continued to think about what I had said. After a few minutes of thinking about it, thew young boy, one again raised his hand. This time he remained seated in his chair and sat silently with his hand raised into the air. I motioned for him to speak. "He really does!" I waited for him to say more but that was all he wanted to say. "He surely does." I reiterated.
Each of us are unique and special in the sight of God. Our personalities are pieces of His. I am amazed at many things in life but especially the fact that Heavenly Father must have an extraordinarily wonderful sense of humor.
I am abundantly blessed, today. I am grateful for the gifts that I have been given. I am trying to enhance those gifts and become a better person, every day!

Be Of Good Cheer

There are so many things for which I am grateful.  Throughout the first months of this year, I have expressed my gratitude for many things.
I want Becky to know how much I admire her.  She is level-headed and very calm.  It's because of her that I find relief when a stressful time comes.  Thanks, honey, for always staying calm and put together when I get bothered by something.
We all have things that bother us, but hopefully we can turn to our spouse or a trusted friend to bring perspective to the situation.
I want to be more like Becky.  There is someone for everyone.  Look to that person to help lift and calm in a bothersome situation.  I thank heaven that I have her!
Life is great! 

Stop It!

I have been reminded and uplifted by a talk given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of The First Presidency, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I want some of what I learned to be a part of my post, today.
I work on a team, at my place of employment, just like many of you do, with people that are all very different.  At times it seems very difficult for me to tolerate either the way that do certain things, or the slow pace at which they work.  I find myself judging them because of the way they work.  I have been kindly reminded to accept people for how and who they are.
President Uchtdorf taught a two word sermon that is beneficial to me.  I believe that all people could benefit from such a sermon.  He taught us that if we are guilty are judging others wrongfully, or if we gossip, even if what we say might be true--Stop it!
My sincerest desire is to make a greater effort to do the things that I know to be right.  Be slow to judge others and be quick to identify and correct my own faults.  I know that my life will be greatly blessed by the implementation of the two word sermon.
I thank my Heavenly Father for His apostles and prophets who instruct me and help me to better my own life.  I am grateful for the knowledge I have of His great Plan of Happiness.  It is His Son that I am grateful to for providing the way, through His mission and His selfless atonement for me and all of humanity.
The reminder has been accepted and now I will apply it into my own life. 

Enlightenment

I had the opportunity to coach Danny's soccer team, as they had a game, this morning.  Their coach is out of town and so he asked if I would fill in for him.  There are normally ten players on his team but today there were only seven.  That meant that only one person would sit at a time so the real key during today's game was going to be the time management of the players to give them some sort of rest to be able to last the entire game.  That was very difficult to do.  By the last five minutes, the kids were running on pure guts.
There is a lesson to learn from this scenario.  Life really does take a 'team effort' in many instances.  There isn't anybody that can do everything all on their own and expect to survive.  Sometimes, life introduces things that are difficult to handle, and much like the kids in today's soccer game, we are expected to run off of pure guts.  It's okay though.
Today, the General Conference, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints began.  I am always rewarded by the things I am taught by the leaders of the church.  I was reminded of the importance of enduring things in life that may be difficult to understand when they are happening.  Most of the time, the difficulty comes from someone that I know who has problems that weigh them down but ask me to help them through those tough times.  We all know what that is like.  We help where we can until things become calmer in the lives of our friends or family who are struggling.
It was a great lesson for me to coach the young team of kids.  I am always amazed at the opportunities to learn and to be reminded of things in my life.  It makes me thankful for my life and all that I am blessed with.