I don't know about you but I love this picture. You know the saying that 'a picture is worth a thousand words'. Well this one is worth all thousand.
These three guys are pretty stoked about their time spent together. I believe that is how I could describe my life.
I spoke with a man who I work with who is a devout Christian. He is very active and involved in his faith and he spends much of his time, during this time of year, serving and helping the less fortunate people in his community. He serves at the homeless shelter and hands out food to the hungry. He told me that he finds abundant joy in helping those who are 'down and out'.
A visual is a powerful reminder--so remember that life is meant to be filled with joy and this picture gives a positive remembrance of the joy we can feel in our own lives.
Today I had the opportunity to spend some time with both of our sons, Danny and Brady, at their school Pleasant Green Elementary for 'Dads and Donuts'. This occasion is where dads take their kids over to the school thirty minutes before the beginning of school and the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) serves donuts and hands out water bottles. The objective is to give some time where parents and children can enjoy a donut while they are reading.
We got there a little later than we had hoped and the gymnasium was packed with people. We got a donut and a water bottle and found some standing room and visited with each other. It was a great way to spend time with our sons and to be in their regular environment at a time when I would normally be at work.
I do love our children and the enjoyment that I experience when I am with them.
It's a rich blessing to be a parent and to enjoy the relationships that I have with our children. I love them so much! They are important to me.
For more than ten years it has been an obvious trend that when the Christmas season comes around that there is very little outward 'Christmas spirit' displayed in our cul-de-sac. Let me explain that we are very simple in our approach to the Christmas season so you won't see a yard completely full of lights and decorations but it is enjoyable to hang some Christmas lights along the rain gutter on the front of our house. You can't help but smile and be happy when you see the 'outward' expression of celebration in some body's yard.
For the first few years that we lived in our house there were more than just our house that put up some lights and it made it fun to drive into the circle and see the Christmas lights. I hope that more people will join in during this great time of year when the world celebrates the much anticipated coming of the Son of God that happened so many years ago. His coming completely changed the world. His coming to earth was necessary for our own eternal progression to even be possible.
Pull out a few lights and celebrate this exciting time of year. You will find greater enjoyment during this wonderful time!
Some months ago I arrived home from a week long business trip. I flew into the Salt Lake valley on a large commercial aircraft. The pattern that the aircraft flew to align itself with the airport took the airplane directly over our house. My heart became excited at the reality that I was returning home. As the plane approached the runway and we were about to land I looked over toward the east to see if I could spot the Salt Lake temple. I could see it and I knew that I was home.
There are different subjects that signify home to each of us. I really like to be home because it gives peace and comfort to my heart.
For the two and a half hour flight I visited with a man seated next to me who just needed someone to listen to him and insure him that life was going to be okay. He was a friendly person but there were many questions that he had that were still unanswered when it came to life. He was in his sixties and I wondered if he felt that they would ever be answered to his satisfaction. We talked about life and its purpose. We talked about love and our children and his grandchildren. We talked about our faith and I expressed to him that my faith was an anchor and a compass. I encouraged him to find peace and comfort through an increase of faith and a love for the simple things in life. I told him how excited I was to be home.
Even during a regular work day I think about Becky and our children all day long. They are my life and my greatest joys come from them.
Just like our home and the sight of the temple put in place some subjects that help you to always realize what is really important to you.
I stopped to grab a soda pop at one of the local gas stations in Magna. As I stood at the fountain area filling my cup with soda a woman approached the fountain area. I said good morning and she replied a good morning back to me. The couple of short minutes that I was in the store I watched several people carefully. I watched their mannerisms and the way that they walked and talked. I watched what they purchased. I found out a lot about a few people at a very early hour of the day without uttering a word to them.
What do people think of me when they are doing the same exercise I just did? Am I somebody that they find to be happy?
I thought about this as I drove to work. I understand that there are a lot of assumptions made when you do what I did in the store but there were some obvious things that I picked up on too. I want to be a person that when somebody sees me they immediately feel like I am friendly. I want to be seen as a good person who is trying to do my best. I want people to feel comfortable when they are around me. We are all children of the same Creator. We are all trying to get to the same place. It is my desire to be good in all that I do and to help others be the best that they can be.
Life is filled with joy and that joy comes from treating others with love and respect.
Today was a small piece of heaven as we attended the Salt Lake temple together. Our youngest son, Danny had a 'sleep-over' at grandma and grandpa's house and Becky and our three oldest went to the temple together.
Brady just turned twelve and so we had promised him that we would go to the temple and enjoy the blessings that come so readily from being there and serving those who have gone before us.
This afternoon, Brady was ordained a deacon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a great occasion to be able to enjoy as a family.
This is one of those 'payday' days in the life of parents. I am so thankful for the way Brady lives his life and the opportunity that now awaits him to serve and help out as part of his priesthood responsibility.
I love my family more than words can sufficiently express.
There was a picture that I saw of a friend who is currently in Afghanistan serving our country as a member of the United States military. The picture was of he and several other men sitting at a table inside a hanger eating Thanksgiving dinner. He wore a different kind of smile on his face and you knew that he would rather be sitting with his young wife and daughter. It made me extremely grateful for his service.
I remember the times when I was away from my family as a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was safe and I knew that my family was thinking about me. Those times were definitely memorable and my heart reflects on them once in awhile.
Loved ones mean so much to me. I am thankful for those who love me and I hope that I will always remain grateful for all that I have been given.
