Is this a sign of old age?

I can't believe that I'm posting about this experience... but it is quite funny. A few weeks ago, I was home with my kids. It was late. I needed to drop off a box of shirts to a friend of mine to take to work the next day. Stacie was gone at Ashley's softball game and I was home with the rest of the kids. I decided to quickly run the box over to my friend's house. I took the suburban and headed over to his house. I drove into my friend's driveway, and quickly hopped out of the suburban, leaving it running, and ran up to the door. I knocked on the door. I glanced at the suburban, and it was moving towards the garage!!!! I apparently left the car in drive. I quickly ran to try and jump in the suburban before it hit the garage door. I ran around the front of the suburban. I quickly realized I was not going to make it. While in front of the suburban, I began pushing it back. Yes... this is true.. I was pushing on the front of my chevy suburban while it was in drive. Well, you can guess what happened.... The suburban pinned my into my friends garage. So here, I am pinned between the garage door and the suburban. Luckily, I had my cell phone on me. I called my friend, "Dan, quick come out front!!!" Dan was wondering why the stress in my voice. He came outside to find me pinned by my suburban. He jumped in the suburban and put it in reverse. My body indent remains in his garage door. I came away with a bruised knee. When Stacie returned home I told her, "Stacie, I got in an accident." I told here what happen.... she said, "You cost me so much money." As I get older, I just might cost her a ton of money.

One year older....

So, it is my birthday. I guess I should post something. Time is flying by so fast. My kids are growing up, I'm getting older, greyer, more absent-minded, and my body hurts more after I try and do things my mind says I can do.

I really have to say that I'm completely happy. My life has been so richly blessed. Thank you to all my family and close friends. I consider many of you close friends.

I read a phrase about marriage this morning stating that it is more important to be the right person rather than marrying the right person. Although, I believe in this statement, I really did marry the right person, and that was Stacie McFarland. She has made this life complete and whole, and the joy she brings each day can not be measured. Those who know her, know what I'm talking about.

Integrity is the golden key to the door of success.

"One of the greatest accomplishments of our lives is to promote an honest, earnest integrity within ourselves. This means that we become spiritually sound, intellectually sincere, morally honest, and always personally responsible to God. Integrity is that golden key which will unlock the door to almost any success." Teachings of Howard W. Hunter

Can you imagine what the world we be like if everyone was honest? It starts with ourselves.

SMTD

Last night before family prayers, my daughter had fallen to sleep. I was trying to wake her up to come say prayers. It was one of those moments, where it did not matter what tactics I used, she was not coming. So, we ended up doing them without her. This morning she came into my office and I asked her what happened last night. She started commenting on me missing our PPI (personal priesthood interview) last Sunday. She said there should be a book that tells you what to do when kids act the way she did last night. Then she said that I needed to spend a whole day with her alone. She said instead of calling it PPI, they should call it SMTD. I asked her what that stood for. She said, "Spend More Time with Dad." This meant a lot to me, and I thought it was important to write down and share. Always be ready to catch golden nuggets that your kids drop here and there. This was one I was given this morning.

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?