Heads Or Tails?

The other night, our oldest boy Brady was tossing a coin in the air. As he flipped it he watched it closely as it spun end over end. He would then catch it in his hand and ask me to guess whether it was heads or tails.
The odds of many things in our lives are just like that, heads or tails.  The choice is ours to make and its either going to be a good choice or a less than good choice.  The reason I say it like that is the difference between many choices in our lives doesn't always come down to good or bad--black or white.  There are oftentimes choices that are better than a particular one but both are good, nonetheless.  Common sense is the key in all of this.  I believe that many times we are on the right track but we get caught up in being so 'letter of the law' that we miss good opportunities to make correct and sound choices.
Sometimes its not as cut and dry as heads and tails but Brady tossing the coin allowed me to look closer, and from a different perspective.

One For The Money

When our kids were younger and much smaller, Becky and I would each grab an arm and a leg and we would recite while swinging the kid up and down: "One for the money. Two for the show. Three to get ready and four to go." We would then hoist them high into the air and catch them before their feet could hit the ground. We would watch as they laughed and giggled with pleasure. My parents did that to me and I'm sure it happened with them too.
I watched this exact thing happen with two young parents and a young child. My brain was flooded with those fond memories of a day long since passed. I could see the big smiles on our kid's faces. They really got a kick out of that. We enjoyed watching them.
Each day presents an opportunity to make good memories that will last a lifetime.
"One for the money. Two for the show. Three to get ready and four to go." Such a small memory brings back many others just like it. I love my life and I love the opportunities that lie ahead.

On A Night Like Tonight

We gathered as a family to conduct our Monday night Family Home Evening. This night was different from most. We gathered in our bedroom so that Becky could remain seated with her knee elevated. The four kids were all situated on our bed and I sat on the floor next to the chair that Becky was seated in. We talked about standing up for who you are and for what you believe. Becky taught about the reference to President Thomas S. Monson's 'Mormon Message" on standing alone.
We went around the room and each shared personal experiences when we had to have courage to stand for truth and right even when it wasn't the most popular thing to do. It was mentioned that sometimes you do it good and sometimes you fall short. It was apparent that each one of us needs to be strong and then prepared to stand for the right.
We sang together and we prayed together. On this night, our family was buoyed up and taught by the Holy Ghost the truths that change us, for the good, forever.
My heart was stirred (and my emotions, too) by the wonderful examples that our children are to me. I love them all so much and I want them to know that what they do is exactly what is expected. This was a night to remember.

Feeling Good

I love good stories.  May I share one with you. 

"Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur rules at life, basically.

We've written about the fun he's had with fans in Oakland and Kansas City, but this is an even more personal and touching story.

Houston's Tammy Blanchard Robertson posted this note (along with the photo above) on the Royals' Facebook page on Wednesday, and, well, I'll let her tell the story.

Dear Jeff Francoeur,
Just last night my husband, daughter and 7 year old son attended the Royals vs Astros game here in Houston. My husband was born and raised in KC and our family lived there for 5 years before we were transferred to Houston.
Last year my son was diagnosed with Autism. Going to large stadiums that are really loud are out of my sons comfort zone, we told him we were going to see the KC Royals and he was instantly excited.
We made sure to get to the game early so that we could find our seats before the stadium filled up. We were lucky enough to get to the stadium while the Royals were having their batting practice.
My husband told our son that he should call you over and that you may autograph his cap for him. As my son yelled with hope in his voice, you came jogging over to us. My son was so excited when he saw you coming over that he fell while trying to climb over the seats to the front row. It is rare that we see our son get excited over anything to do with sports as Autistic children tend to be more interested in books, and computers rather than sports.
Our son stared up at you with tears in his eyes, you took the time to coddle him, ask his name and make him feel special.
We just wanted to say thank you for not only taking the time to come over to see our son, but for signing his hat, and posing for a picture with him. It is truly a day that our son will never forget. You are a true role model, this was a day our family will always remember."

There are people all about who are doing the best that they can.  While reading in the various newspapers around the country, I come across articles that lift my spirits and remind me that the future is bright!  There are a lot of great things going on.

It's A Blessed Day

Today is my dad's birthday.  I am thankful every day to have a dad who has always wanted to be a good husband and father.  Thank you for being involved in my life and taking the time to teach good solid principles.  I have always watched my dad very carefully.  It has been a real treat!
I am trying to learn from my dad and I am confident that if I will try to do the things the way he does I will be in good shape.
I am a boy richly blessed to have a mother and father who strive to live and love one another in harmony.
Thank you very much!  I love you.

Truth Download

I really love it when something hits me and makes me feel good.  From the time that I was a young boy, religion has played an important role in my life--a central role.  I was taught in a home the good things of life and I saw and felt the truth.  I was taught to gain a love for the scriptures.  I gained a natural love for the Book of Mormon.  It spoke plainly and I felt of the power of that book.  As a full-time missionary I learned of its truthfulness, for myself, and then I spent two years teaching and testifying to people the truth that I had found for myself.  I was reading in the Book of Mormon and a scripture 'popped out' at me.

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."  (Ether 12:4)

Guidance and a clear direction are very important to me.  As people, we all get that from different sources.  I am grateful to good parents who showed me the way.  I still had to choose but they helped me.  I give thanks to Becky for wanting to go the same way.  She is a great source of strength and unconditional love.
The 'lights' came on again for me just like they have many other times before for which I am most grateful.

Will Somebody Really Listen?

I have found it very interesting how many people there are who spend their lives with nobody to listen to them. I knew a young man when I was a teenager who never did feel validated by his parents because they were both so busy talking that they wouldn't listen to anything that was going in his life. His important accomplishments were only important to him. Last night, our oldest son Brady and I were shooting some hoop on the driveway. Brady loves basketball. It is also a time that I enjoy a great deal because it gives me some alone time with him to visit and talk about life. He had kind of a rough day and so the combination of that for him and a lack of patience on my end had a lousy outcome. We ended the night with tears because when something didn't go his way it saddened him. Once that had happened all he wanted was some love from me and I told him that there was nothing to cry about. I realized afterward that I had errored in judgement. I apologized and we ended the night on a better note. He needed me to listen and then show forth some extra love. Each of us has or will be approached by someone in real need. In that time of need, I hope that I will stop, listen, and then show an increased measure of love.