We should be willing to server and grow quietly....

"We should be willing to server and grow quietly. If you feel that much of what you do this year or in the years to come does not make you very famous, take heart. Most of the best people who ever lived weren't very famous either. Serve and grow, faithfully and quietly. Be on guard regarding the praise of men."

Teachings of Howard W. Hunter

Wo is me....maybe not so much.

Have you ever woke up in the morning flooded with thoughts of "Wo is me." Things that irritate you come to your mind, stuff like,

"Why did I ever keep that dog, it is scratching up the wood floor, it is chewing up the chairs."
"When am I ever going to finish that shed."
"I seem to start a lot of things and never finish them."
"I'm never going to learn to play the violin, I don't have the time to practice."
"My house is not good enough, or big enough."
"This person has more than me."

The list goes on and on. I woke up with one of those mornings. It is amazing how these negative thoughts can drag you down into the dumps. I needed an attitude change, and it started with a simple thought of gratitude. I thought back in time when I was complaining about an inconvenience I had previously that I don't have now. In our old house there was a toilet that would always get clogged. I hated that thing! Don't have that problem in my current home. Then I thought, there are people in this world that don't have running toilets. Now I began to feel pretty shallow in even having these thoughts. Then the most precious thought that was and will always be a game changer. I have something that everybody else can have and cannot take away. I'm a son of God, I have a Heavenly Father who loves me. He sent His Only Begotten Son, who died and lives again for me. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you have, or where you live in this world. All can have this knowledge, and have this same privilege. They can enjoy this same happiness that this thought brought to me this morning. Jesus died for all of us here, not just for me. The Spirit touched me and my heart was filled with love. My thoughts now turned to hope, faith, and joy. I saw opportunities to improve and help others.

It is the last day of 2010. A new year is before us. I pray and hope all can look forward to what life can and will bring. May we look forward with hope, faith, and gratitude. With this attitude, then, take one step at a time, in making ourselves and those around us better.

"To dig a straight furrow, the plowman needs to keep his eyes on a fixed point ahead of him. That keeps him on a true course. If, however, he happens to look back to see where he has been, his chances of straying are increased. The results are crooked and irregular furrows....Fix your attention on your.... goal[s] and never look back on your earlier problems....If our energies are focused not behind us but ahead of us--on eternal life and the joy of salvation--we assuredly will obtain it." Teachings of Howard W. Hunter.

Determination to serve Him to the end

In Moroni 6:3 it reads:

"And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end."

Am I determined to serve Him to the end? Are you? How are we serving Him today?

I want to see thee again.....

The words of a song I wrote years ago flooded my mind this morning. The title of the song was called, I want to see thee again. I expressed this desire to my Father in Heaven this morning in my prayers. I wrote this song while serving a LDS mission in Portugal. I later had it recorded on a CD called "Gentle" by Becky Garrett.

(daughter)
Here I am, am I all alone
Is someone really listening
Father, art thou, really there?
Wilt thou answer this child's prayer?

(Heavenly Father)
My little one don't you shed a tear
I have been here every step of the way
I hear each sincere word that you pray
I want to see you again

(together)
Something within I feel
A love so real
Father art thou near
Daughter I am here

(Daughter)
I have not fear
And Father, I feel thee here
Help me find the way
I want to see thee again

(together)
(Heavenly Father)
My little one don't you shed a tear
I have been here every step of the way
I hear each sincere word that you pray
(Daughter)
I have not fear
And Father, I feel thee here
Help me find the way
(Heavenly Father)
I want to see you again
(Daughter)
I want to see thee again

The phrase "I want to see thee again" was very powerful to me this morning. It truly is a desire of my heart.

Seek this Jesus

Ether chapter 12:39,41

39And then shall ye know that I have ^aseen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me ^bface to face, and that he told me in ^cplain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things;
41And now, I would commend you to ^aseek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth ^brecord of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen.

Especially during this time of year, may we seek the Almighty with all our hearts, minds, and strength, that He may abide in us forever.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

My boss shared a Christmas tree story with me yesterday that went like this, I'm paraphrasing...

"We have 7 children and every year we go get a Christmas tree. Not always the best experience. This year my eight year old, was sad and teary eyed. I asked her what was wrong, and she said that every year I always let the older kids pick the Christmas tree, and that she never got to choose the Christmas tree. I told her that this year she could pick the Christmas tree. At the Christmas tree lot, we started our Christmas tree shopping. One of the kids would say this is the one! I'd look at my eight year old, and she shook her head, no. I then would say, no that is not the one. The kids then when go on to the next tree, this is the one! I again then would look at my sweet eight year old, and she would shake her head, no. This pattern kept happening for the who knows, maybe 20 or so trees. The other kids were finally catching on. We finally came to a tree that was very tall. I thought definitely no. I looked at my eight year old, and she smiled and shook her head yes. So I gave in and we bought this very tall tree. I have two big double wide doors, and we could barely fit it in the house. I have a very tall ceiling where we were able to put it. It was so tall that it would not stand up on its own, the first try it fell over to the ground on top of my son! We hoisted it back up, and one of my sons had the idea of tying it to the banner. We got out fishing string and tied it to the banner. If finally was standing, but it was not straight and looked awful. I thought to my self that this just won't do. My kids told me that it was good enough. Sometimes we worry about things that are not that important during Christmas. There are things that are just good enough, and things that are really important. During Christmas, what is important is not a straight beautiful Christmas tree, but a knowing that a boy was born, a Savior, that came into this life and died and suffered that we may all live."

My boss then bore his testimony of the Savior. I was deeply touched by his story and his testimony. Last night during our family night, we went out for burgers and fries. On the way home I was telling my wife and kids this story. When I got to the part of not worrying about little things and remembering the Savior, the Spirit touched me again, and I started to get choked up. My wife, said, "Are you crying?" I was, she thought it was funny, not that she didn't take me serious, but she knows I am an emotional person. "Daddy's crying, girls." She pokes fun of me sometimes because I'm emotional. My girls got a good laugh at it, but it was not in a bad way. I bore my testimony of the Savior, and the true meaning of Christmas.

I hope we all remember, especially this time of year, that there is a reason why we celebrate this Christmas. It is not the tree, decorations, presents, etc...., but, it is to remember that there was a baby that came to the earth, a Savior, that lived and died and now lives again, so that we may become like Him, and return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.

When you start your prayer

"If our first thought is ourselves and not of God, we are not praying as Jesus taught." Teachings of Howard W. Hunter.

Sometimes in a need I have, I start my prayers thinking about myself and the needs I have. How do you start your prayers?

Today is part of eternity

"Too often we think about eternity as something that is a long way off. Eternity is today and for a long time. Eternity was this morning, eternity is this afternoon. Eternity will be tonight and tomorrow and the days that follow and the years that make their course. We are on that road today, and shouldn't those moments be filled with sweetness in planning, in loving, and all the things that make life beautiful?"

I read this today in "The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter." I really liked this thought. Eternity starts now, not tomorrow. What are you doing now, to make your eternity beautiful? What is your attitude like? How are you loving your neighbor? How are you serving your God?

Seeing the Savior

There are many instances in the scriptures where prophets have seen God, or our Savior Jesus Christ; Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Nephi, Alma, Joseph Smith. In Matthew 5:8 it says:

8Blessed are the ^apure in ^bheart: for they shall ^csee God.

In D&C 35:21 we read:

21For they will hear my ^avoice, and shall ^bsee me, and shall not be ^casleep, and shall ^dabide the day of my ^ecoming; for they shall be ^fpurified, even as I am pure.

Have you ever wondered when and how you will see the face of the Lord? I saw it yesterday, when looking at my wife. She did as the Savior would do in serving another. I believe there are these instances that happen all the time around us. I know I need to be more aware of when it happens. I believe we are here to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and as we do and love and serve as He would do, we put on the face of the Lord.

Ever feel like this?

I read a scripture this morning that I feel fits me lately. It is in Hebrew 9:14:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

It seems like the sins of omission seem to grab me all too often. Life gets busy, and before you know it you realize that your prayers may have been rushed, and you haven't spent as much time studying the word of God. It is evident in the way you feel. You do not feel the Spirit as strong in your life. Then once again, the Savior, Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement come to the rescue. I am so grateful for a Savior who gave his life, bled for me, so that I may become one with God. It will take a lifetime for me to get there, but, as I heard in a testimony last month, "I'm an imperfect person with a perfect opportunity."

I love my girls.

So no, this is not a black eye. Brynlie will be 2 in a few days and loves getting into her mom's make-up.



Linsey, apparently likes to sleep in plastic boxes. She is crate trained. :)

I am a child of God

One of the most valuable pieces of knowledge we have is the knowledge that we are literally sons and daughters of God, our Heavenly Father. Here is Alissa and her cousin singing "I am a child of God".

"burp!" "MeMe"

Let me translate. "MeMe" means excuse me after I burp. Brynlie has learned and mastered the "burp." Makes a dad proud. :)

Sticking your hand in your back pocket, the thing to do.

I was watching Alissa's T-ball game. It appears that sticking your hand in your back pocket is the "in" thing to do. :)







Alissa hitting the ball. I really like baseball. It is great as a parent to see the confidence boost when your kid hits the ball and gets on base.

really? 10 secs

I was staying in a hotel in San Francisco and I noticed a tray of goodies on the table. They were on a scale. If you took a goody, it would bill you within 10 seconds. I decided it was not worth trying to see if it really worked. It would have been fun though trying to trick the system. What if I put a heavy book on the scale, then ate the candy I wanted, then go and buy the candy down at Walgreens for cheaper, replace it, then take the heavy book off the scale? Would I have out smarted the system? I didn't try it, but should have.

North Carolina, cool place

A couple of months ago, I had a business trip to Raleigh, North Carolina. All I can say, is trees, trees, and more trees. It was so green there. Not like dry Utah. I also had a chance have some great carolina ribs. I was introduced to a cool band called the "Carolina Chocolate Drops." They were very good. Since I've started taking violin lessons, I have a love for fiddle music.


"The Carolina Chocolate Drops"


"Clouds outside the plane"

Mother's Day

Breakfast in Bed is tradition in our family. It is cool to see the girls get old enough to make breakfast for mom. Hey, maybe I can pull off staying in bed and getting breakfast with Stacie.

A Father that I want to be like.....

I saw this today, and was deeply touched. If we all could be like this Father, imagine how the world would change. Inspiring!!

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testing blog on android.

Moroni 7:45-47

45 And ^acharity suffereth long, and is ^bkind, and ^cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily ^dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

I served a lds mission to Portugal. On my mission I had a goal of achieving this charity stated in this scripture. It has become a lifetime goal. Here is a great story on charity.

How do you value your time with Him?

In Ether 12:39, the prophet Ether tells of his experience talking with Jesus face to face:

39 And then shall ye know that I have aseen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me bface to face, and that he told me in cplain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things;

I had a thought yesterday. When I'm speaking to my Father in Heaven in prayer, each second do I value and understand the power and impact of what is happening? I hope, and have faith that one day I'll experience what the prophet Ether experienced with seeing and speaking with the Savior in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language. I also realize that for me to reach that point I need to work on having great faith when praying to my Father in Heaven.