Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Big Step
We've been talking about getting something to go camping in for the past month or so. Mostly so we could go up in the mountains and have someplace to sleep at night and be ready for beautiful photos as the sun went down or in the morning. We looked at a couple small motor homes and frankly they didn't get us very excited. Then we went and looked at this super light 5th wheel. It has to be super light to work with my Dodge Dakota. So today I got the cart before the horse and went and bought a used 5th wheel hitch and then called the guy who was selling this 5th wheel and told him I'd bring a deposit. Actually Jeanne took the deposit out to him while I was at work. Melissa said we could park it at her house so here you go. Photos of our new mini 5th wheel. We'll see where it goes from here. These are most of the photos that the seller posted on KSL.com classifieds. I did not take them.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Welcome Visitors
As all of the grandchildren have done, Davis had to get acquainted with Annabelle. They hit it off in a hurry.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Attention-THIS IS A NEW POST
In my efforts to save those old posts I may have made a big mistake. I may have caused you to ignore the posts because they were coming too fast and furious. If so I apologize. I'm pretty sure I've done my final "repost" from The World's Best Blog. But, I want you to know, as I wrote in one of the first "reposts" - these are my important communications to you. These are addressed to anyone who cares to read but primarily my children and grandchildren. I wish I had information like this from my father and mother. Yes they taught me a lot, but sometimes it would really be nice to be able to go back and see what they thought about certain things. Well, you have that in the form of these posts.
Love,
Dad, Grandpa
Love,
Dad, Grandpa
Sunday, September 20, 2009
New Shocker - Be Sitting When You Read This!
Originally posted on "The World's Best Blog" on Nov. 3, 2008.
I read on one of the local news channels feed this morning about something that really shocked and surprised me (I don't know what kind of emoticon to use to express sarcasm or tongue in cheek, so I hope you recognize it when you see it.) Are you ready. Here's the shocking headline "Study links sex on TV to teen pregnancy". Some clever behavioral scientist has done a study that shows that sex on tv has lead to increased teen pregnancies. I say clever, because they were probably clever enough to get some big financial grant from the college or the government to figure this out. Now let me see?!?!?! As I grow up do I copy what I see around me? Do I do what I think is normal or acceptable? Sometimes it is shown as risque or even wrong, but then it is shown as even more exciting and enticing. Well, folks - big surprise - teens and even adults want some risk and excitement in their lives. I remember a military school I went to where we were "forbidden" to have any kind of treats of ice cream, candy, junk food, etc, except when it was given to us by the staff as a reward. Well we didn't get very many rewards, but I don't remember a time in my life when I ate so much ice cream, candy, junk food etc. Why? because it was forbidden. One of the best known techniques of salesmanship is called "The take away". Show the customer something they like but then to close the sale take it away, whether it's taking away a special price, or there's "only one of these red ones and someone else was looking at it this morning" or whatever it is. I could go on for pages with examples of the take away... If you want your teenager to really fall in love with somebody and spend lots of time with them, just "forbid" them to see that person. I have a certain granddaughter who, when she was little, would not hug or kiss me when she was leaving, until I started telling her that I didn't want her to. Then I got all the hugs and kisses I could stand. It didn't work with all of them but it sure worked with her.
Now for the real shocker. And for this one you probably really should be sitting down. At the bottom of the story it talks about critics of the study. Critics? There are people out there who don't believe that there is a link between sex on TV and teen pregnancy?!?!?!????? Now that is a shocker!!!!!
I read on one of the local news channels feed this morning about something that really shocked and surprised me (I don't know what kind of emoticon to use to express sarcasm or tongue in cheek, so I hope you recognize it when you see it.) Are you ready. Here's the shocking headline "Study links sex on TV to teen pregnancy". Some clever behavioral scientist has done a study that shows that sex on tv has lead to increased teen pregnancies. I say clever, because they were probably clever enough to get some big financial grant from the college or the government to figure this out. Now let me see?!?!?! As I grow up do I copy what I see around me? Do I do what I think is normal or acceptable? Sometimes it is shown as risque or even wrong, but then it is shown as even more exciting and enticing. Well, folks - big surprise - teens and even adults want some risk and excitement in their lives. I remember a military school I went to where we were "forbidden" to have any kind of treats of ice cream, candy, junk food, etc, except when it was given to us by the staff as a reward. Well we didn't get very many rewards, but I don't remember a time in my life when I ate so much ice cream, candy, junk food etc. Why? because it was forbidden. One of the best known techniques of salesmanship is called "The take away". Show the customer something they like but then to close the sale take it away, whether it's taking away a special price, or there's "only one of these red ones and someone else was looking at it this morning" or whatever it is. I could go on for pages with examples of the take away... If you want your teenager to really fall in love with somebody and spend lots of time with them, just "forbid" them to see that person. I have a certain granddaughter who, when she was little, would not hug or kiss me when she was leaving, until I started telling her that I didn't want her to. Then I got all the hugs and kisses I could stand. It didn't work with all of them but it sure worked with her.
Now for the real shocker. And for this one you probably really should be sitting down. At the bottom of the story it talks about critics of the study. Critics? There are people out there who don't believe that there is a link between sex on TV and teen pregnancy?!?!?!????? Now that is a shocker!!!!!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Wag More, Bark Less
Originally posted Sep. 13, 2008
Today I attended the funeral of a dear cousin (Elna Law Otteson). She was someone who I was always happy to see. She had such a sweet and warm smile. She made you feel like she was happy to see you also, or maybe even happier to see you than you were to see her. On the way home after the funeral I saw a bumper sticker that has officially become my favorite bumper sticker of all time -until a better one comes along. The bumper sticker was only four words, but those four words say a lot. They described Elna very well and also described something I have been thinking a lot about lately. The four words were “Wag more, Bark Less”. If everybody would live by those four words what a happy world we would live in. It would be the ultimate win win. So as you go about your daily duties complete with trials and troubles, as you interact with coworkers, clients, patients, neighbors, business associates, store clerks and checkers, and above all, enemies and family members, remember these four words and try to “Wag More and Bark Less”. I promise you that your life will be happier and more fulfilling and at your funeral they will talk about you the way they talked about Elna today.
Today I attended the funeral of a dear cousin (Elna Law Otteson). She was someone who I was always happy to see. She had such a sweet and warm smile. She made you feel like she was happy to see you also, or maybe even happier to see you than you were to see her. On the way home after the funeral I saw a bumper sticker that has officially become my favorite bumper sticker of all time -until a better one comes along. The bumper sticker was only four words, but those four words say a lot. They described Elna very well and also described something I have been thinking a lot about lately. The four words were “Wag more, Bark Less”. If everybody would live by those four words what a happy world we would live in. It would be the ultimate win win. So as you go about your daily duties complete with trials and troubles, as you interact with coworkers, clients, patients, neighbors, business associates, store clerks and checkers, and above all, enemies and family members, remember these four words and try to “Wag More and Bark Less”. I promise you that your life will be happier and more fulfilling and at your funeral they will talk about you the way they talked about Elna today.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Back to the Future
Originally posted May 1, 2008
A little over 20 years ago, more like 23 (It seems like 40), I wanted a video camera so badly my teeth ached. Of course it could have been poor dental hygiene. But either way, I was like a little kid wanting his first bicycle. I could just picture all the wonderful things I could do with one of those cool things that not only gave you color video that you could just watch on your TV and not have to have developed and drag out a screen and projector to watch in a darkened room. And, it also had audio. I mean it was cool. I get goosebumps now just thinking how awesome it was. Somewhere I scraped together about $1300. And I drove back and forth from R.C. Willey to Stokes Brothers to get the best price and make them match or beat the other guy. The compact VHS had just been introduced, so the camera was much smaller than the full size VHS, and who cared that the little cassette only took 20 minutes of video. Most video events such as birthday parties or games or whatever were actually only about 10 to 15 minutes of actual video time anyway. And the cost of a cassette at around $10 or $12 was still a huge amount cheaper per minute than buying film (no sound) and having it developed. Super 8mm film was only 3 minutes per roll and an hour of film with cost of film and developing was probably over $100. And you had to wait until it got developed before you could watch it. With a camcorder you could watch it instataneously, with no developing costs. So back to the price matching game. Willey's and Stokes Brothers both had exactly the same camera, except Willeys had it in black with the Zenith name on it and Stokes Brothers had it in red with the real manufacturers name on it - JVC. I got Stokes Brothers to give me the red JVC for the same price as Willey's black Zenith. I was cool!!!!! If you ever watch the original Back to the Future movie, Doc' Brown is using the exact same model camera that I bought. I got some wonderful video over the years with that camera. It allowed us to capture many memories that we still treasure today. The phrase "I don't have to Kathryn" has become a part of our families favorite quotes which would not exist if it weren't for that camera. We have video of family reunions and loved ones long passed as a result of that camera. Was it worth the $1300 I paid? Absolutely, every penny of it. Oh, by the way, as I was running back and forth to compare camera's and negotiate price I burned up probably at least a dollar's worth of gas at about 35 cents per gallon. Since then I have spent many thousands of dollars on video equipment. I don't remember what ever happened to that little camera, I probably sold it for a few hundred?
Today I opened the paper and here is a Compact VHS with a lens at least 5 times better than the one I had, a color flip out view monitor and a hundred other features they hadn't thought of on my first VHS-C. I'll let the ad speak for itself.
A little over 20 years ago, more like 23 (It seems like 40), I wanted a video camera so badly my teeth ached. Of course it could have been poor dental hygiene. But either way, I was like a little kid wanting his first bicycle. I could just picture all the wonderful things I could do with one of those cool things that not only gave you color video that you could just watch on your TV and not have to have developed and drag out a screen and projector to watch in a darkened room. And, it also had audio. I mean it was cool. I get goosebumps now just thinking how awesome it was. Somewhere I scraped together about $1300. And I drove back and forth from R.C. Willey to Stokes Brothers to get the best price and make them match or beat the other guy. The compact VHS had just been introduced, so the camera was much smaller than the full size VHS, and who cared that the little cassette only took 20 minutes of video. Most video events such as birthday parties or games or whatever were actually only about 10 to 15 minutes of actual video time anyway. And the cost of a cassette at around $10 or $12 was still a huge amount cheaper per minute than buying film (no sound) and having it developed. Super 8mm film was only 3 minutes per roll and an hour of film with cost of film and developing was probably over $100. And you had to wait until it got developed before you could watch it. With a camcorder you could watch it instataneously, with no developing costs. So back to the price matching game. Willey's and Stokes Brothers both had exactly the same camera, except Willeys had it in black with the Zenith name on it and Stokes Brothers had it in red with the real manufacturers name on it - JVC. I got Stokes Brothers to give me the red JVC for the same price as Willey's black Zenith. I was cool!!!!! If you ever watch the original Back to the Future movie, Doc' Brown is using the exact same model camera that I bought. I got some wonderful video over the years with that camera. It allowed us to capture many memories that we still treasure today. The phrase "I don't have to Kathryn" has become a part of our families favorite quotes which would not exist if it weren't for that camera. We have video of family reunions and loved ones long passed as a result of that camera. Was it worth the $1300 I paid? Absolutely, every penny of it. Oh, by the way, as I was running back and forth to compare camera's and negotiate price I burned up probably at least a dollar's worth of gas at about 35 cents per gallon. Since then I have spent many thousands of dollars on video equipment. I don't remember what ever happened to that little camera, I probably sold it for a few hundred?
Today I opened the paper and here is a Compact VHS with a lens at least 5 times better than the one I had, a color flip out view monitor and a hundred other features they hadn't thought of on my first VHS-C. I'll let the ad speak for itself.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Happiness
Originally written Feb. 20, 2008
If you want to be happy for the rest of your life always under promise and and over deliver. In every part of your life, your work, your church, your family, and so on.
If you want to be happy for the rest of your life always under promise and and over deliver. In every part of your life, your work, your church, your family, and so on.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Visualization
Originally written on Feb. 19, 2008
I'm sure you have heard of visualization. For some people it may be difficult to visualize something in your head over and over again. I've found that it works. I need to do more of it, because when I have done it it has worked for me. I have mentioned before that I like to golf. I'd like to be much better at it so I thought I would try visualizing more. Sometimes I do it when I go to bed at night and I think that helps, but it seems that where it helps the most is actually on the golf course. I step up to the ball, make a practice swing and visualize where it goes. I try to actually see the ball flying and then bouncing on the fairway or the green in what would be real time. Last summer I was out golfing with my son and grandson (He's about 8 yrs old). On the first hole as I stepped up to hit my second shot I took a practice shot and was deeply into the visualization when my grandson turned to his dad (who knew what I was doing) and asked him if I knew I hadn't hit the ball. We both laughed, but it told me that I was doing a pretty good job of visualizing it. By the way, last year was probably the best I've ever had, I think I took about 5 strokes off my handicap. This summer I'm going to even do a better job of visualizing. I really need to apply it to other areas of my life too.
I'm sure you have heard of visualization. For some people it may be difficult to visualize something in your head over and over again. I've found that it works. I need to do more of it, because when I have done it it has worked for me. I have mentioned before that I like to golf. I'd like to be much better at it so I thought I would try visualizing more. Sometimes I do it when I go to bed at night and I think that helps, but it seems that where it helps the most is actually on the golf course. I step up to the ball, make a practice swing and visualize where it goes. I try to actually see the ball flying and then bouncing on the fairway or the green in what would be real time. Last summer I was out golfing with my son and grandson (He's about 8 yrs old). On the first hole as I stepped up to hit my second shot I took a practice shot and was deeply into the visualization when my grandson turned to his dad (who knew what I was doing) and asked him if I knew I hadn't hit the ball. We both laughed, but it told me that I was doing a pretty good job of visualizing it. By the way, last year was probably the best I've ever had, I think I took about 5 strokes off my handicap. This summer I'm going to even do a better job of visualizing. I really need to apply it to other areas of my life too.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Repost of HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!
Originally posted on Feb. 18, 2008
On February 18, 19__, Jim and Gert had a beautiful baby girl. With the capable guidance and tender care of her parents and her older sisters this beautiful baby grew up to be a beautiful woman and after much cajoling, begging and pleading over 30 years ago she agreed to be my wife. There is no question that she is also my best friend. For all these years she has taken care of me, has kept a wonderful home that I am always very happy to come home to. She has tolerated separations as I was on military or other work duties where we have been apart for as much as six months, while she stayed home and took care of the children without ever a word of complaint. She has given birth to our children and then cared for them and taught them, and yet she has never made me feel like I was taking a back seat to them. She has been and still is an excellent counselor, often helping me decide what is right and important, sometimes when I didn’t really want to know. As we have built or remodeled houses she has been an excellent source for both decorating ideas and helping me to know different ways to do things that worked better than the way I was trying to do it. She has been a wonderful support to me, sometimes even when I wanted to do things that may have seemed risky or scary to her. At the same time she has stood steadfast when she felt something was too risky or just didn’t make sense. In matters of the Spirit she has been an example to me. I have a long way to go to catch up with her.
I am so glad she accepted my invitation (begging and pleading) to be part of my life and let me be part of hers.
I love you sweetheart!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
On February 18, 19__, Jim and Gert had a beautiful baby girl. With the capable guidance and tender care of her parents and her older sisters this beautiful baby grew up to be a beautiful woman and after much cajoling, begging and pleading over 30 years ago she agreed to be my wife. There is no question that she is also my best friend. For all these years she has taken care of me, has kept a wonderful home that I am always very happy to come home to. She has tolerated separations as I was on military or other work duties where we have been apart for as much as six months, while she stayed home and took care of the children without ever a word of complaint. She has given birth to our children and then cared for them and taught them, and yet she has never made me feel like I was taking a back seat to them. She has been and still is an excellent counselor, often helping me decide what is right and important, sometimes when I didn’t really want to know. As we have built or remodeled houses she has been an excellent source for both decorating ideas and helping me to know different ways to do things that worked better than the way I was trying to do it. She has been a wonderful support to me, sometimes even when I wanted to do things that may have seemed risky or scary to her. At the same time she has stood steadfast when she felt something was too risky or just didn’t make sense. In matters of the Spirit she has been an example to me. I have a long way to go to catch up with her.
I am so glad she accepted my invitation (begging and pleading) to be part of my life and let me be part of hers.
I love you sweetheart!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Monday, September 14, 2009
For Better or For Worse
Originally posted Feb 15, 2008
I was catching just a little news on the TV when they were interviewing the "man on the street" in the cold north states that have suffered a severe and protracted winter. When asked why he wasn't complaining one man said that as bad as the weather and winter had been, complaining would only make him feel worse and more susceptible to depression and illness. He was correct. Complaining over something you have no control will never ever make it better and it will only make you weaker and worse off than you were. If there is something you can do to improve the situation, no matter how slightly, do that, if not, then focus on good things. I'm sure you've heard the proverbial prayer that goes something like this: "Dear God, give me the courage to face the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
It's your choice.
I was catching just a little news on the TV when they were interviewing the "man on the street" in the cold north states that have suffered a severe and protracted winter. When asked why he wasn't complaining one man said that as bad as the weather and winter had been, complaining would only make him feel worse and more susceptible to depression and illness. He was correct. Complaining over something you have no control will never ever make it better and it will only make you weaker and worse off than you were. If there is something you can do to improve the situation, no matter how slightly, do that, if not, then focus on good things. I'm sure you've heard the proverbial prayer that goes something like this: "Dear God, give me the courage to face the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
It's your choice.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Start by Being a Friend
Originally Published Feb. 22, 2008
Today I went to lunch with a good friend. When I first moved here, seven years ago, and went to church for the first time he came over and introduced himself, welcomed me and sat down next to me. I really welcomed his friendship. I admire him, and am grateful for him. I've always wished I could be more outgoing and friendly to strangers like that, it's a habit I really need to improve. Anyway, since then we have golfed together many times and developed a good friendship. He has had some back problems the last couple of years and he hasn't been able to golf nearly as often as he would like. He had back surgery just a couple months ago, and the doctor tells him not to even think about golf until probably August at the soonest. Since his surgery he's been stuck in the house for the most part, other than going to the doctor a few times, and riding along with his brother-in-law on a couple errands a week or so ago. Earlier this week I got the idea to call him today, since I was going to be home from work, and invite him to go out for lunch. I almost didn't do it, but I did and he was thrilled to get out. I'm sure glad I did it. I enjoyed it as much or more than he did. Good people like Jay are hard to find and when you do, go out of your way to be their friend. You'll be glad you did. I know I am.
Today I went to lunch with a good friend. When I first moved here, seven years ago, and went to church for the first time he came over and introduced himself, welcomed me and sat down next to me. I really welcomed his friendship. I admire him, and am grateful for him. I've always wished I could be more outgoing and friendly to strangers like that, it's a habit I really need to improve. Anyway, since then we have golfed together many times and developed a good friendship. He has had some back problems the last couple of years and he hasn't been able to golf nearly as often as he would like. He had back surgery just a couple months ago, and the doctor tells him not to even think about golf until probably August at the soonest. Since his surgery he's been stuck in the house for the most part, other than going to the doctor a few times, and riding along with his brother-in-law on a couple errands a week or so ago. Earlier this week I got the idea to call him today, since I was going to be home from work, and invite him to go out for lunch. I almost didn't do it, but I did and he was thrilled to get out. I'm sure glad I did it. I enjoyed it as much or more than he did. Good people like Jay are hard to find and when you do, go out of your way to be their friend. You'll be glad you did. I know I am.
Try a Quick Change Up
Next time you feel tired in the middle of the day or listless or you are just kind of dragging and you need to get some energy it's a real easy fix. Just think in your head "I feel energetic, I'm like a child with energy just flowing through me. I have energy starting from my toes and going up through my head. I feel the energy, I exude energy, I am energetic." Try it and see if it doesn't work. I'm not suggesting that as an alternative to getting enough sleep at night or a proper diet, but those times when you just need a little extra energy, just try it.
Are You Sure?
Hopefully you did like I suggested in yesterday's post. If you are perfectly happy with you as you are right now, then great, no need to waste time with that exercise, but if not maybe you should take another look. After you've done it, give yourself a day or two and look at it again. The truth is you probably didn't go as far as you should. There are probably some things that you think you'd like to put down, but don't think are possible. You're probably wrong, but, if you really don't think something is possible, and you don't convince yourself that it is possible, then you're right. It is a self fulfilling thought.
Once you've made your list, then waited a couple days, read it over very carefully, then tear it up, throw it away and start all over again. During the time since you made your initial list your brain has been incubating the thoughts and your new list will be much better.
Once you've made your list, then waited a couple days, read it over very carefully, then tear it up, throw it away and start all over again. During the time since you made your initial list your brain has been incubating the thoughts and your new list will be much better.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Repost of "The Ideal You"
Originally posted on Feb. 12, 2008.
How can you decide what to plant in your garden, what to sow, if you don't know what you want to reap. Take some time to decide what is the ideal you. In The Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, old Scrooge got to hear what people really thought about him and it literally scared the Hell out of him. What would you like people to say about you, both while you are around and after you are gone? What kind of person do you want to be. What legacy do you want to leave behind? What effect do you want to have on your immediate circle of influence, your extended circle of influence, your neighborhood, your community, your country, your world, your generation? How long do you want to live, what kind of health do you want to have? Get a pencil (with an eraser) and some large sheets of paper and start writing. Don't be afraid to change anything. Go beyond, way beyond what you currently think is possible and be brave. Have faith in yourself and in your God. Title the page "The Ideal Me" and start writing.
Note: It was 24 years ago today that my father passed away. I still miss him. I love you Dad!
How can you decide what to plant in your garden, what to sow, if you don't know what you want to reap. Take some time to decide what is the ideal you. In The Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, old Scrooge got to hear what people really thought about him and it literally scared the Hell out of him. What would you like people to say about you, both while you are around and after you are gone? What kind of person do you want to be. What legacy do you want to leave behind? What effect do you want to have on your immediate circle of influence, your extended circle of influence, your neighborhood, your community, your country, your world, your generation? How long do you want to live, what kind of health do you want to have? Get a pencil (with an eraser) and some large sheets of paper and start writing. Don't be afraid to change anything. Go beyond, way beyond what you currently think is possible and be brave. Have faith in yourself and in your God. Title the page "The Ideal Me" and start writing.
Note: It was 24 years ago today that my father passed away. I still miss him. I love you Dad!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Repost of "Making Choices on the Fly"
Originally Posted on Feb 11, 2008
Jeanne loves to listen to books on tape. Unlike videos, books are not rated so you never know what you are going to get on the rating scale. She gets them from the library so it doesn't cost her anything. About 25% end up having some scenes and/or language that she is not comfortable with. She's discovered that if the books start using inappropriate language or they start glamorizing or sexualizing descriptions or thoughts about characters bodies then they usually go to what she feels are inappropriate scenes that she does not want to put in her mind. When she reaches a point that she thinks it is going somewhere she does not want to go, she simply turns it off and returns it to the library. These can be fast growing weeds. Once you let a few weeds in your fertile garden it is easy to get used to them and then a few more weeds become acceptable and if you don’t stop the weeds early you start to think that they are flowers. Almost all of us have already let way too many weeds into our garden. It takes a concerted effort to start getting those weeds out. It’s a process, but it can be done if you choose to do it.
Jeanne loves to listen to books on tape. Unlike videos, books are not rated so you never know what you are going to get on the rating scale. She gets them from the library so it doesn't cost her anything. About 25% end up having some scenes and/or language that she is not comfortable with. She's discovered that if the books start using inappropriate language or they start glamorizing or sexualizing descriptions or thoughts about characters bodies then they usually go to what she feels are inappropriate scenes that she does not want to put in her mind. When she reaches a point that she thinks it is going somewhere she does not want to go, she simply turns it off and returns it to the library. These can be fast growing weeds. Once you let a few weeds in your fertile garden it is easy to get used to them and then a few more weeds become acceptable and if you don’t stop the weeds early you start to think that they are flowers. Almost all of us have already let way too many weeds into our garden. It takes a concerted effort to start getting those weeds out. It’s a process, but it can be done if you choose to do it.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Repost of "Your Personal Big Bang"
Originally posted on Feb. 10, 2008
One day, some years ago, your current universe was created when you were born into this world. As you went from the warm, moist, quiet comfort of your mother’s womb to the cold, dry, noisy world, where you were tossed around as they cut your cord, then weighed, measured, foot printed you, and finally layed you, chilled and naked onto a hard table or other surface. I’m sure that seemed like a very “big bang” to you. Within hours your universe started to be built. Your universe may have included two loving parents who held you close and provided you with warmth, security, brightly colored toys, intelligent conversation and so on. Or, you may have been born to a single parent who immediately rejects you and you become a ward of the state. You may have grown up in deplorable circumstances, of little or no food, filthy environment, no play or toys, mental and physical abuse. Either way, your universe is shaped by others for the first few years of your life. At some point, however, you become the architect of your universe. Or, to continue with the metaphor from the previous post, you take over the garden. No matter what your background, the only thing you can do from here is determine where it is you want to go and how you get there from where you are.
Now, to carry this thought one step further, what kind of universe are you creating for your children?
One day, some years ago, your current universe was created when you were born into this world. As you went from the warm, moist, quiet comfort of your mother’s womb to the cold, dry, noisy world, where you were tossed around as they cut your cord, then weighed, measured, foot printed you, and finally layed you, chilled and naked onto a hard table or other surface. I’m sure that seemed like a very “big bang” to you. Within hours your universe started to be built. Your universe may have included two loving parents who held you close and provided you with warmth, security, brightly colored toys, intelligent conversation and so on. Or, you may have been born to a single parent who immediately rejects you and you become a ward of the state. You may have grown up in deplorable circumstances, of little or no food, filthy environment, no play or toys, mental and physical abuse. Either way, your universe is shaped by others for the first few years of your life. At some point, however, you become the architect of your universe. Or, to continue with the metaphor from the previous post, you take over the garden. No matter what your background, the only thing you can do from here is determine where it is you want to go and how you get there from where you are.
Now, to carry this thought one step further, what kind of universe are you creating for your children?
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Repost of "Planting and Harvesting"
Originally posted on The World's Best Blog on Feb. 9, 2008
I suppose, even hope, that there may be some who come across this blog outside of my family. I suppose that not everyone who reads this will believe that the Bible is the word of God. Maybe they don’t believe in God. To them and all of you I say that in this case that does not matter, believe in the Bible or not it contains certain universal and natural truths and one of them is found in the book of Galatians, chapter 6 verse 7“…for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Much like yesterday’s biblical proverb this short statement of only 10 words has a deep meaning which has been studied, quoted, analyzed, advised and used by millions for centuries. How deep can this go? The quick obvious thought when you look at the statement on it’s surface is that if you plant happy thoughts you get happy thoughts and vice versa. I would suggest that you look much deeper than just what you plant. What happens to a garden if you don’t plant anything? We all know that fertile ground unplanted fills very quickly with the worst weeds. The human mind is the most fertile ground available. If you don’t plant what you want to grow, weeds will find there way. In the garden seeds for the weeds come in by the wind, through water, dropped off from animals, off our own shoes, and so on. Weeds come to our mind through television, movies, music, magazines, books, peoples’ conversations, jokes, and so on. Just for an exercise put a blank index card or small notebook and pencil in your pocket and for one or two normal days put a tick mark on the card every time the seed of a weed is dropped on your fertile ground. What is a weed? Any comment, word, thought, sound, whatever, that if allowed to grow would make you less good instead of more good, or to put it another way - would take you further away from your ideal you instead of closer to your ideal you. The bottom line, you are “gardening” the most fertile ground in your life every waking moment of every day. What are you planting? What are you not planting? What are you allowing to grow that you wouldn’t let grow if you were aware of it? What can you do about it? Tomorrow I’ll talk about the origination and shaping of your universe.
I suppose, even hope, that there may be some who come across this blog outside of my family. I suppose that not everyone who reads this will believe that the Bible is the word of God. Maybe they don’t believe in God. To them and all of you I say that in this case that does not matter, believe in the Bible or not it contains certain universal and natural truths and one of them is found in the book of Galatians, chapter 6 verse 7“…for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Much like yesterday’s biblical proverb this short statement of only 10 words has a deep meaning which has been studied, quoted, analyzed, advised and used by millions for centuries. How deep can this go? The quick obvious thought when you look at the statement on it’s surface is that if you plant happy thoughts you get happy thoughts and vice versa. I would suggest that you look much deeper than just what you plant. What happens to a garden if you don’t plant anything? We all know that fertile ground unplanted fills very quickly with the worst weeds. The human mind is the most fertile ground available. If you don’t plant what you want to grow, weeds will find there way. In the garden seeds for the weeds come in by the wind, through water, dropped off from animals, off our own shoes, and so on. Weeds come to our mind through television, movies, music, magazines, books, peoples’ conversations, jokes, and so on. Just for an exercise put a blank index card or small notebook and pencil in your pocket and for one or two normal days put a tick mark on the card every time the seed of a weed is dropped on your fertile ground. What is a weed? Any comment, word, thought, sound, whatever, that if allowed to grow would make you less good instead of more good, or to put it another way - would take you further away from your ideal you instead of closer to your ideal you. The bottom line, you are “gardening” the most fertile ground in your life every waking moment of every day. What are you planting? What are you not planting? What are you allowing to grow that you wouldn’t let grow if you were aware of it? What can you do about it? Tomorrow I’ll talk about the origination and shaping of your universe.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Repost of "Even Unto Death"
Originally posted Feb. 8, 2008
Yesterday I said that I would give you proof that our thoughts create our universe. First of all, if you've given it much thought you probably recognize that it is true, but if you're not convinced or if you haven't grasped the power of your mind, think about this: Think hard, or maybe you won't have to think hard, but I'll bet there's been a time in your life when you didn't feel very good, but because something very important was happening; finals at school, a family wedding, something very important at work, you didn't have time to be sick. Then as soon as it was over you were sick. Your body had the power to forestall that illness until the important event was over and you could afford to take the time to be sick. Another example; I'll bet you've seen or read about an elderly person who hung on to life because of an ailing spouse, or a handicapped child or even a very special family event was coming up and when that serious need to remain alive was no longer there the person gave up the spirit and passed on. We've all seen examples where two elderly spouses died within days and even hours of each other. Coincidence? I don't believe it for a minute. The one person literally willed themselves to live until they could allow themselves to die. Or in some cases maybe once their cherished loved one was gone they willed themselves to go with them. These examples tell you of the power of your mind over your body. Tomorrow I'll talk about gardening.
Yesterday I said that I would give you proof that our thoughts create our universe. First of all, if you've given it much thought you probably recognize that it is true, but if you're not convinced or if you haven't grasped the power of your mind, think about this: Think hard, or maybe you won't have to think hard, but I'll bet there's been a time in your life when you didn't feel very good, but because something very important was happening; finals at school, a family wedding, something very important at work, you didn't have time to be sick. Then as soon as it was over you were sick. Your body had the power to forestall that illness until the important event was over and you could afford to take the time to be sick. Another example; I'll bet you've seen or read about an elderly person who hung on to life because of an ailing spouse, or a handicapped child or even a very special family event was coming up and when that serious need to remain alive was no longer there the person gave up the spirit and passed on. We've all seen examples where two elderly spouses died within days and even hours of each other. Coincidence? I don't believe it for a minute. The one person literally willed themselves to live until they could allow themselves to die. Or in some cases maybe once their cherished loved one was gone they willed themselves to go with them. These examples tell you of the power of your mind over your body. Tomorrow I'll talk about gardening.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Repost of "As A Man Thinketh" from The World's Best Blog
Originally Posted Feb. 7, 2008. This is different from the previous one with a very similar titile.
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he" Proverbs 23:Verse 7. This may be one of the most quoted scriptures from the Old Testament. Usually the word "he" is substituted with the words "a man", obviously applying to women just the same. In the very early 20th century a man by the name of James Allen wrote a book titled As A Man Thinketh based on this scripture. The original scripture and Mr. Allen's book have both been quoted and referred to more times and places and by more people, both famous and not-so-famous, than can be counted. People who have discovered the truth of this statement have the choice of making things better. Henry Ford is credited with saying "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right". It is as simple as changing the way we think, and yet it is so difficult because we have to change the way we think. Want proof? Stay tuned.
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he" Proverbs 23:Verse 7. This may be one of the most quoted scriptures from the Old Testament. Usually the word "he" is substituted with the words "a man", obviously applying to women just the same. In the very early 20th century a man by the name of James Allen wrote a book titled As A Man Thinketh based on this scripture. The original scripture and Mr. Allen's book have both been quoted and referred to more times and places and by more people, both famous and not-so-famous, than can be counted. People who have discovered the truth of this statement have the choice of making things better. Henry Ford is credited with saying "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right". It is as simple as changing the way we think, and yet it is so difficult because we have to change the way we think. Want proof? Stay tuned.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Repost of "You Can Learn a Lot From a Dog" From The World's Best Blog
This one was originally published on Feb. 5, 2008.
My new goal is to try to put a thought on this blog every day for at least 100 days. Most of them will probably be pretty short. I hope we both learn from this.
Today I was over at my son's house helping move a sofa to his living room. As I had a cushion from the sofa in front of me I saw that it made his little Boston Terrier very nervous, so I thought I would have some fun and chase him around a little. I tried to chase him back towards their kitchen which would put him in a dead end corner. He was very clever and never let me get him back that direction.
Apparently, he could think ahead enough to know that if he went back that way he would be cornered. And we think dogs aren't all that bright?!?
How often do we let ourselves get cornered because we don't think ahead as well as a dog.
We might get cornered into more debt than we can handle, or in a job we hate, or a bad relationship, or it might be something much less serious, like we commit ourselves to doing so much unimportant stuff that we can't get out of the corner to do the important stuff. Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a wonderful talk in the October 2007 LDS General Conference called Good, Better, Best. The only time doing "good" is not good is if it keeps us from doing better or even best. I commend his great words to you and suggest that we all try to do a little more like Zippy the Boston Terrier and not let ourselves get into a corner where we can be captured.
My new goal is to try to put a thought on this blog every day for at least 100 days. Most of them will probably be pretty short. I hope we both learn from this.
Today I was over at my son's house helping move a sofa to his living room. As I had a cushion from the sofa in front of me I saw that it made his little Boston Terrier very nervous, so I thought I would have some fun and chase him around a little. I tried to chase him back towards their kitchen which would put him in a dead end corner. He was very clever and never let me get him back that direction.
Apparently, he could think ahead enough to know that if he went back that way he would be cornered. And we think dogs aren't all that bright?!?
How often do we let ourselves get cornered because we don't think ahead as well as a dog.
We might get cornered into more debt than we can handle, or in a job we hate, or a bad relationship, or it might be something much less serious, like we commit ourselves to doing so much unimportant stuff that we can't get out of the corner to do the important stuff. Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a wonderful talk in the October 2007 LDS General Conference called Good, Better, Best. The only time doing "good" is not good is if it keeps us from doing better or even best. I commend his great words to you and suggest that we all try to do a little more like Zippy the Boston Terrier and not let ourselves get into a corner where we can be captured.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Repost of "You Don't Know What You Don't Know" from The World's Best Blog
Originally written Dec. 16, 2007.
What exactly does that mean to you? It could mean several things, but what it means to me is that until someone shows you or tells you something, or in this case until you experience or see something you don't know that it even exists. Companies spend billions of $$ to convince you that there are problems that need solved that you don't know about, but they can solve them for you, and sometimes they may be right. Sometimes we go along in life thinking that we have or know all that is available to know about a specific thing. An example would be if you drive to work every day a certain way and you "know" that it is the most efficient way to get there or you are just satisfied with that route, then one day a friend at work tells you about another way and you try it and it saves you seven miles and 12 minutes each way. You didn't know what you didn't know. What would make you really mad is if that friend had told you about that four years ago, but you were too stubborn and too sure of your own route and wouldn't even try it. Then one day your car broke down and you got a ride from your friend and he took you that way and then you discovered he was right. Based on 220 work days a year, in four years you had driven an extra 12,320 miles and wasted an extra 440 hours (over 18 days) of your time driving to and from work.
Unfortunately, my current job makes me work a lot of Sundays. When I work Sundays I usually miss church. I try to get to church when I can, but I have felt that I was okay, and I have kept my testimony. Today, I had to work, but I did get to go to part of my meeting before I had to leave. I enjoyed the meeting so much and had such a good spiritual experience that I was reminded that life goes on even when I don't get to church every week, but I'm being cheated out of those testimony building spiritual experiences. I was reminded that I don't go to church for the Lord, I go to church for me.
I could live on peanut butter and jelly and greasy burgers and fries from styrofoam plates for a long time, and sometimes even really enjoy them, but what if I was living on them and didn't even know that all I had to do was turn around and I could have been eating gourmet food from porcelain china and I simply had to choose to do that. Sometimes we live on the greasy burgers because we don't know what we don't know, and we don't know that the gourmet is available to us, or we don't even know that it exists, or we don't think that we deserve it. In one way or another, I believe, almost every person is denying themselves the gourmet meal in some areas their life, and with most of us many areas. Take some time to analyze. Where are you eating pork and beans instead of filet mignon and why. How can you change it and when will you begin?
Oh, one final thought on this: What if your friend knew about the gourmet meal all these years and never told you?
What exactly does that mean to you? It could mean several things, but what it means to me is that until someone shows you or tells you something, or in this case until you experience or see something you don't know that it even exists. Companies spend billions of $$ to convince you that there are problems that need solved that you don't know about, but they can solve them for you, and sometimes they may be right. Sometimes we go along in life thinking that we have or know all that is available to know about a specific thing. An example would be if you drive to work every day a certain way and you "know" that it is the most efficient way to get there or you are just satisfied with that route, then one day a friend at work tells you about another way and you try it and it saves you seven miles and 12 minutes each way. You didn't know what you didn't know. What would make you really mad is if that friend had told you about that four years ago, but you were too stubborn and too sure of your own route and wouldn't even try it. Then one day your car broke down and you got a ride from your friend and he took you that way and then you discovered he was right. Based on 220 work days a year, in four years you had driven an extra 12,320 miles and wasted an extra 440 hours (over 18 days) of your time driving to and from work.
Unfortunately, my current job makes me work a lot of Sundays. When I work Sundays I usually miss church. I try to get to church when I can, but I have felt that I was okay, and I have kept my testimony. Today, I had to work, but I did get to go to part of my meeting before I had to leave. I enjoyed the meeting so much and had such a good spiritual experience that I was reminded that life goes on even when I don't get to church every week, but I'm being cheated out of those testimony building spiritual experiences. I was reminded that I don't go to church for the Lord, I go to church for me.
I could live on peanut butter and jelly and greasy burgers and fries from styrofoam plates for a long time, and sometimes even really enjoy them, but what if I was living on them and didn't even know that all I had to do was turn around and I could have been eating gourmet food from porcelain china and I simply had to choose to do that. Sometimes we live on the greasy burgers because we don't know what we don't know, and we don't know that the gourmet is available to us, or we don't even know that it exists, or we don't think that we deserve it. In one way or another, I believe, almost every person is denying themselves the gourmet meal in some areas their life, and with most of us many areas. Take some time to analyze. Where are you eating pork and beans instead of filet mignon and why. How can you change it and when will you begin?
Oh, one final thought on this: What if your friend knew about the gourmet meal all these years and never told you?
Friday, September 4, 2009
Repost of "A Tribute to a Cousin I never met and a true Christian – Virgil"
I almost just deleted this one, but then I read it. It reminded me of some important things and I thought maybe you would enjoy it also. Originally posted Nov. 4, 2007. I received an email from his family telling me that it was read at his funeral.
Virgil died November 3, 2007, from what appeared to me to be a very quick disease. According to what I have been able to read on his MyFamily.com web site, he went in to the hospital on November 1st because of a Hiatal hernia and elevated blood pressure. By 10:00 p.m. on November 3d he had passed on. He was 75 years old.
A few years back I was kind of testing the waters on some genealogical information and found that much of my family was already recorded on at least one of the most popular web sites for such. When I looked to see who had submitted it I came across this unknown person: Virgil C. Law. I contacted Virgil and was very pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome that I received. After doing a little checking we discovered that his Great Great Grandfather and my Great Grandfather were the same person. I don’t know exactly how that works out for # cousins, maybe something like 5th or 6th, but cousins none the less. Virgil spent his life as a Pastor primarily associated with theWesleyan Church
A few years back I was kind of testing the waters on some genealogical information and found that much of my family was already recorded on at least one of the most popular web sites for such. When I looked to see who had submitted it I came across this unknown person: Virgil C. Law. I contacted Virgil and was very pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome that I received. After doing a little checking we discovered that his Great Great Grandfather and my Great Grandfather were the same person. I don’t know exactly how that works out for # cousins, maybe something like 5th or 6th, but cousins none the less. Virgil spent his life as a Pastor primarily associated with the
Why am I writing this tribute to a man I never personally met? Because I think there are some life lessons we can learn from what I knew about Virgil.
I liked Virgil. Why? Because I think Virgil liked me. And why do I think he liked me? Because he acted like he liked me. You may be looking at this and shaking your head and saying, what is this guy talking about? Virgil had some traits similar to my father, (They would have been one step closer on the cousin line. Maybe it’s a family trait). Both my father and Virgil seemed to be genuinely curious about people, and genuinely interested in them. Most (I’d guess 99.99999999%) people are mostly interested in themselves, even very good people like my dad and Virgil. It stands to reason that if you show an interest in people, and you find their good points, they are going to think that you are a really nice person and we all like a “really nice person”.
When I first contacted Virgil, he made it clear that he was glad I contacted him. He invited me to his family web site and opened up his family and his life to me. He joined in our family web site, and contributed. We exchanged many emails. In some of those emails I told him some of my thoughts and beliefs and shared some personal things with him. He never made me feel that I needed to apologize or be embarrassed. He always made me feel like what I thought or felt or did was important. On my birthday and my wife’s and my anniversary Virgil took a few minutes to send an email to remind us that we were important to him. When I posted items in our or his family web site he took the time to read them and make supporting comments. The more I visited his family web site the more it was clear that everyone was important to him. He loved to post photos and stories of every little detail of his family members’ lives. What they were doing and where they were and it was always done with love and without apology. He genuinely cared about people. Virgil had a true Christ like love for everyone around him. His interest was out more than in. In many ways he appeared to epitomize the principle of Charity. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
As we mourn the passing of this great man, a Christian man, who not only believed in Jesus Christ, but tried to emulate Him, perhaps we can take some time to reflect on how we can, like him, be a true Christian. Perhaps we can see how reaching out with true charity and love can bless others’ lives and bring happiness to them and ourselves.
I never got to meet Virgil face to face and yet I will miss him. I look forward to the day when I can meet him.
May God bless him and his family and the many many people who, like me, feel a void in their lives because he is gone, for now.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Repost of "As a Man (Woman) Thinketh" from The World's Best Blog
I only promised that that was the last repost for yesterday. So here is another for today. I received several comments on this one so it must have struck a chord. It was originally posted on Oct. 16, 2007.
The other day I was just clicking on "Next Blog" to see what I might find. I came across one of the saddest things I have seen recently. I came across a blog which a woman used to talk about her diabetes. It is unfortunate for her that she has this terrible ailment, but I believe that by focusing so much time and energy on it she is doing more to propagate it in her own life and possibly in some others. I read a book recently in which the author and others who corroborated believed that all diseases are brought on by the mind and thought process. I don't believe that that is entirely true, but I do believe that the mind does have a lot to do with how the body treats the disease, and I believe that by choosing what you spend your time thinking about can make the disease better or worse in your life. I believe you can choose to dwell on disease or you can choose to dwell on health, strength and well being, and that which you dwell on will get stronger and more prevalent. Every time I have a little twinge, or pain I try to give thanks for how healthy and strong and well I am, and more often than not the pain diminishes and I feel stronger, healthier and happier.
The other day I was just clicking on "Next Blog" to see what I might find. I came across one of the saddest things I have seen recently. I came across a blog which a woman used to talk about her diabetes. It is unfortunate for her that she has this terrible ailment, but I believe that by focusing so much time and energy on it she is doing more to propagate it in her own life and possibly in some others. I read a book recently in which the author and others who corroborated believed that all diseases are brought on by the mind and thought process. I don't believe that that is entirely true, but I do believe that the mind does have a lot to do with how the body treats the disease, and I believe that by choosing what you spend your time thinking about can make the disease better or worse in your life. I believe you can choose to dwell on disease or you can choose to dwell on health, strength and well being, and that which you dwell on will get stronger and more prevalent. Every time I have a little twinge, or pain I try to give thanks for how healthy and strong and well I am, and more often than not the pain diminishes and I feel stronger, healthier and happier.
Repost of a repost of "My Family"
(Something really weird happened. I posted this and it even went out in the email to those who get this by email, but it did not stick to the blog?????? Don't ask me what happened, cuz I don't know!?!?!?. Anyway here it is again and hopefully it will stick this time.)
This is the very first post I put on my other Blog: The World's Best Blog. As you probably know I am changing the format of that to make it primarily a Photography Blog, so I wanted to clean off most of the stuff that is not related to photography. Most of it is not worth taking a second look at but I wrote this with my heart and wanted it preserved. So I have copied it to here where it really belongs. This was originally published on September 26, 2007, when I first began that blog. I have left it exactly as it was written.
----------------Original Starts Here-------------------
I will not say a lot about my wife. She is far too dear to me to put her on public display. Let me just say that she is the most important and best mortal influence in my life. She has given me wings to fly and at the same time has been an invaluable guide and helper.
You could say that most children come in to most families kind of by chance. That was more true back when my children were born than it is today. Today there is so much more "family planning". I lead with that introduction to tell you about my oldest son, because he did not come to me by chance he came by choice, because when I chose to marry his mother he came as part of the package. I not only knew that going in but I happily accepted it. When I fell in love with his mother I quickly came to love him also. That has been over 30 years ago and I have never not loved him as if he were my natural son. I'm certain that there were times when he really doubted that, but the mistakes I made were not made because of lack of love, but mistakes of lack of know how. His name is Wade and I'd like to tell you just a little about him. Wade is one of the most honest people you will every have the pleasure to know. You may not agree with him but you will never doubt that you know where he stands and what he believes. He gives his employer more than an honest day's work every day. You can count on him no matter what as his word is his bond. If he tells you he'll do something or be somewhere or whatever he might tell you, you can count on it. It will be done, it will be done right and it will be done when he says it will be done, and probably a little better and a little sooner. Wade tries very hard to come across as a tough old curmudgeon, but if you give him a chance you'll see he's a teddy bear in disguise. He will do everything he can for whoever needs it, especially if he calls you his friend or a member of his family. Wade is a wonderful father. He loves his children as deeply and completely as any man can. There is nothing more important to him than his precious children. They always come first.
Let me tell you a little about my son Eric. Eric spent his first nine months of life sharing his mother's womb with a twin brother. Sadly his twin died of a serious birth defect only a few hours after birth. If I were to try to come up with just one word to describe Eric it might be "resilient". And I would like to put the adjective "incredibly" in front of it. Like everyone, all of my children have had their struggles and challenges. Eric's have been very different from the others'. I won't go into detail but he and those who know him know what they are. When I look at Eric I see a person who would have had every excuse to have been a real problem child and gone the wrong way, but he has not. He has always fought the uphill battle and come out a winner. He said to me, not long ago, after a particular struggle in his life when I was very worried about him, "You know me, dad, I always land on my feet." I firmly believe that he does and the lesson to be learned by many here is that he does, in no small part, because he believes that he always does and always will. Eric is a devoted husband and father who loves his family with all his heart and wants the very best for them. He not only wants it, he is one of the hardest working people I know, so that he can get it.
I have three sons, three men I could not be prouder of if they were the presidents of the nation. Each is so unique and different from the other. My son Dustin has been said to be marching to the beat of a different drummer and I am so proud of him for not only marching to that beat but doing it with passion and conviction. Certainly one of the things I admire most about Dustin, and there are many things, is his passion. Dustin is like a bull dog with his jaw locked on the ring of those "bulls" that are important to him. As I muse in future posts one of the points I want to spend some words on is the importance of passion in our lives. Dustin is a giving person, almost to a fault, if that is possible. Money may be very tight, there may be no time left over, his strength may be spent, but if there is a need he will find a way to do whatever he can to fill that need. Dustin genuinely cares about people, all people, and that is one of his great passions. Like his brothers and sisters, his first passion is his family. He loves and cherishes his family and cares for them with all the tender feelings a great father can offer.
I have two amazingly wonderful daughters. One of the best things about these two are that they are best friends and always have been. Maybe part of that is because we moved around a lot in the military, and the one thing they could always count on was each other. I am so happy that they love each other so much.
Kathryn was our first daughter. What a joy she is and has been. She started life so shy that we were really nervous, but when she came out of that she was 180 degrees out of that. Kathryn is a natural leader. Whenever there is a group Kathryn is usually the instigator for new ideas and especially activities. Because of that we've always called her our "Party girl". And yet she has the innate sense to know when someone else needs to lead and she not only lets them but encourages them. Sometimes in today's world the title "Party girl" may carry negative connotations. Not so in Kathryn's case. When she gets a group together it's always for good. People come away from those events better than when they went in. Kathryn's children must have been some of the most choice spirits in Heaven to have earned the right to have her as their mother. There could not be a more choice, loving, thoughtful mother than Kathryn.
Melissa is our little caboose. And, we could not have picked a better one. Besides being a very best friend to Kathryn, she has always brought special joy to her mother. Melissa has always been so good about going and doing things with her mother when the other children had grown a little beyond that and Jeanne needed her. The best word I can think of for Melissa is just plain Sweet. She cares so much about all living things. If you have a chance to know or be around her you just know you are loved. Jeanne and I were both raised in those Victorian atmospheres where love was understood, not expressed. Sadly we were much the same way with our own children. Melissa has done more to try to break us out of that mold than anyone else could have. She is so thoughtful and considerate. She simply makes all those around her happy, happy that they are with her. Melissa has not been blessed with children of her own yet, but she treats each of her little nieces and nephews with such love that they all feel like she is their other mother.
Each of our children have selected a sweet spouse. I'm not going to spend any time on them, because I will let their own husbands or wives sing their praises in another venue. I will simply say that they are also the parents of my precious and choice grandchildren and that speaks volumes.
This is the very first post I put on my other Blog: The World's Best Blog. As you probably know I am changing the format of that to make it primarily a Photography Blog, so I wanted to clean off most of the stuff that is not related to photography. Most of it is not worth taking a second look at but I wrote this with my heart and wanted it preserved. So I have copied it to here where it really belongs. This was originally published on September 26, 2007, when I first began that blog. I have left it exactly as it was written.
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I will not say a lot about my wife. She is far too dear to me to put her on public display. Let me just say that she is the most important and best mortal influence in my life. She has given me wings to fly and at the same time has been an invaluable guide and helper.
You could say that most children come in to most families kind of by chance. That was more true back when my children were born than it is today. Today there is so much more "family planning". I lead with that introduction to tell you about my oldest son, because he did not come to me by chance he came by choice, because when I chose to marry his mother he came as part of the package. I not only knew that going in but I happily accepted it. When I fell in love with his mother I quickly came to love him also. That has been over 30 years ago and I have never not loved him as if he were my natural son. I'm certain that there were times when he really doubted that, but the mistakes I made were not made because of lack of love, but mistakes of lack of know how. His name is Wade and I'd like to tell you just a little about him. Wade is one of the most honest people you will every have the pleasure to know. You may not agree with him but you will never doubt that you know where he stands and what he believes. He gives his employer more than an honest day's work every day. You can count on him no matter what as his word is his bond. If he tells you he'll do something or be somewhere or whatever he might tell you, you can count on it. It will be done, it will be done right and it will be done when he says it will be done, and probably a little better and a little sooner. Wade tries very hard to come across as a tough old curmudgeon, but if you give him a chance you'll see he's a teddy bear in disguise. He will do everything he can for whoever needs it, especially if he calls you his friend or a member of his family. Wade is a wonderful father. He loves his children as deeply and completely as any man can. There is nothing more important to him than his precious children. They always come first.
Let me tell you a little about my son Eric. Eric spent his first nine months of life sharing his mother's womb with a twin brother. Sadly his twin died of a serious birth defect only a few hours after birth. If I were to try to come up with just one word to describe Eric it might be "resilient". And I would like to put the adjective "incredibly" in front of it. Like everyone, all of my children have had their struggles and challenges. Eric's have been very different from the others'. I won't go into detail but he and those who know him know what they are. When I look at Eric I see a person who would have had every excuse to have been a real problem child and gone the wrong way, but he has not. He has always fought the uphill battle and come out a winner. He said to me, not long ago, after a particular struggle in his life when I was very worried about him, "You know me, dad, I always land on my feet." I firmly believe that he does and the lesson to be learned by many here is that he does, in no small part, because he believes that he always does and always will. Eric is a devoted husband and father who loves his family with all his heart and wants the very best for them. He not only wants it, he is one of the hardest working people I know, so that he can get it.
I have three sons, three men I could not be prouder of if they were the presidents of the nation. Each is so unique and different from the other. My son Dustin has been said to be marching to the beat of a different drummer and I am so proud of him for not only marching to that beat but doing it with passion and conviction. Certainly one of the things I admire most about Dustin, and there are many things, is his passion. Dustin is like a bull dog with his jaw locked on the ring of those "bulls" that are important to him. As I muse in future posts one of the points I want to spend some words on is the importance of passion in our lives. Dustin is a giving person, almost to a fault, if that is possible. Money may be very tight, there may be no time left over, his strength may be spent, but if there is a need he will find a way to do whatever he can to fill that need. Dustin genuinely cares about people, all people, and that is one of his great passions. Like his brothers and sisters, his first passion is his family. He loves and cherishes his family and cares for them with all the tender feelings a great father can offer.
I have two amazingly wonderful daughters. One of the best things about these two are that they are best friends and always have been. Maybe part of that is because we moved around a lot in the military, and the one thing they could always count on was each other. I am so happy that they love each other so much.
Kathryn was our first daughter. What a joy she is and has been. She started life so shy that we were really nervous, but when she came out of that she was 180 degrees out of that. Kathryn is a natural leader. Whenever there is a group Kathryn is usually the instigator for new ideas and especially activities. Because of that we've always called her our "Party girl". And yet she has the innate sense to know when someone else needs to lead and she not only lets them but encourages them. Sometimes in today's world the title "Party girl" may carry negative connotations. Not so in Kathryn's case. When she gets a group together it's always for good. People come away from those events better than when they went in. Kathryn's children must have been some of the most choice spirits in Heaven to have earned the right to have her as their mother. There could not be a more choice, loving, thoughtful mother than Kathryn.
Melissa is our little caboose. And, we could not have picked a better one. Besides being a very best friend to Kathryn, she has always brought special joy to her mother. Melissa has always been so good about going and doing things with her mother when the other children had grown a little beyond that and Jeanne needed her. The best word I can think of for Melissa is just plain Sweet. She cares so much about all living things. If you have a chance to know or be around her you just know you are loved. Jeanne and I were both raised in those Victorian atmospheres where love was understood, not expressed. Sadly we were much the same way with our own children. Melissa has done more to try to break us out of that mold than anyone else could have. She is so thoughtful and considerate. She simply makes all those around her happy, happy that they are with her. Melissa has not been blessed with children of her own yet, but she treats each of her little nieces and nephews with such love that they all feel like she is their other mother.
Each of our children have selected a sweet spouse. I'm not going to spend any time on them, because I will let their own husbands or wives sing their praises in another venue. I will simply say that they are also the parents of my precious and choice grandchildren and that speaks volumes.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Repost of "Be A Sport" from The World's Best Blog
Boy I was smart back in 2007 ;-). Seriously though, I do feel strongly about these posts and do not want to lose them. They were my thoughts at the time and I still believe there is value to them. This is my last copy from The World's Best Blog - tonight. I wrote all of these, for you, my family. Please take a few minutes to read them. They are a letter, a word of advice, an idea, from me to you. I wrote this one on Oct. 10, 2007.
When I was young a famous ad showed the big muscular guy on the beach kicking sand in the face of the “90 pound weakling” and then walking away with the weakling’s shapely girl friend. Of course the ad was for muscle building equipment and supplies. Well I was that guy – the 90 pound weakling. I felt totally inadequate in anything to do with physical competition and so I avoided almost all sports and especially team sports, where I was always the last to be chosen when it came time to pick teams. Of course I always did a poor job and gave the other guys plenty of opportunity to laugh at my weakness and lack of abilities. I think I have an explanation for all that now – See the post called “90% mental and 90% mental” below. Because of my weakness I never encouraged my children in team sports like I should have. Without even realizing it I probably expected them to fail like I had and so I unknowingly sabotaged their efforts. Our oldest son, Wade , has done a great job of encouraging his children in team sports. I recognize now that having at least some success in teams sports can be an important part of growing up. Wade and Lori have discovered a real passion for soccer, particularly in one of their daughters. They have sacrificed a great deal of time and money to make sure she has every opportunity for success. At the same time they have encouraged their other children without brow beating them. Helping your children succeed in sports requires loving them and encouraging them. If I had it to do over again, here are some things I would try real hard to do, especially in their early years:
- I would buy, or borrow, or beg, or whatever it took, to get more sports equipment around the house.
- I would spend less time in front of the TV and more time outside using that sports equipment.
- Whenever I saw my children do anything even remotely well, or slightly better than they had done it last time I would praise them, sometimes lavishly, but always praise.
- If I saw something they were struggling with I would NEVER point it out to them, but I would find a way to help them learn it and practice it and praise improvement.
- I would find a coach who LOVED the kids more than the game or the sport. A coach who’s joy came from watching them learn and improve and to whom winning the game was not as important as each child being better and happier. (If I couldn't find such a coach, I'd have to recruit or be one and then recruit help from someone who knew the sport.)
- I would encourage my child in the sport they loved, not the ones I thought they should be good at.
- I would openly praise every child on the team, all the while making sure that my child knew he/she was the most important player to me and NEVER comparing him/her to any other player.
- After the game when I had my child away from the rest of the team I might point out great plays from both teams, always pointing out more good things he/she had done.
- I would never say anything negative about their coach where there is any chance my child would hear it, and only then if it was to find a solution to any problem.
- I would recognize that a different way is not necessarily a wrong way.
- The only time I would say negative would be in the case of poor sportsmanship. My child would know that poor sportsmanship in any form, by anyone, was unacceptable.
Any sport can be a team sport if people are working together, under a coach, for a common goal. Besides Basketball, Soccer, Football and baseball, there’s volleyball, water sports, tennis, golf, etc.
When I first started putting my thoughts together on this topic, Jeanne asked me what I was writing about. When I told her it was about encouraging involvement in sports in our children she wisely reminded me that today many people get overly rapped up in it, hence the common description of the Soccer Mom and the mini van. It is so important that we remember “moderation in all things”. Never allow yourself to lose sight of the purpose of your involvement, as enumerated in the paragraph above. When winning at sports becomes the end all and only purpose it can easily lead to an obsession. Suddenly instead of athleticism, exercise habits and proper respect for our bodies, we have the use of dangerous substances to enhance performance. Instead of sportsmanship, goal setting and work ethic, we have cheating and dishonesty, and instead of positive experiences we have a downward negative spiral.
Repost of 90% Mental and 90% Mental from The World's Best Blog
Another that I don't want to lose. I wrote this originally on October 4, 2007.
I like to golf. As often as I can I get together with family or friends and golf. With one particular friend we often joke that “Golf is 90% mental and 90% mental”. Many sports adages apply similarly to life. This is one of them. Life is pretty much what we think it is or is supposed to be. People are pretty much as happy as they make up their minds to be. Most adults get what they think they deserve. When I was a very young soldier I didn’t think very much of myself. I didn’t think I was very smart and I certainly didn’t feel comfortable with winners. One day in basic training I got pulled aside and told that I had done very well on all the Army entrance tests. They told me I qualified to go toOfficer Candidate School Vietnam and Italy I finally ended up in Officer Candidate School
I like to golf. As often as I can I get together with family or friends and golf. With one particular friend we often joke that “Golf is 90% mental and 90% mental”. Many sports adages apply similarly to life. This is one of them. Life is pretty much what we think it is or is supposed to be. People are pretty much as happy as they make up their minds to be. Most adults get what they think they deserve. When I was a very young soldier I didn’t think very much of myself. I didn’t think I was very smart and I certainly didn’t feel comfortable with winners. One day in basic training I got pulled aside and told that I had done very well on all the Army entrance tests. They told me I qualified to go to
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Keep It Simple
I may have mentioned before that I've been trying to learn Photoshop CS4 with a book that I have and recently I've been looking at the many ways to extract part of a photo. Today I approached the photo you see below with one of the most complicated but best ways to extract the flower portion so I could put it back on the black and white version and keep the original color. After a couple hours and a few tries I still was not happy, so I finally decided "to heck with it, I will just use the old Magnetic Lasso tool", not nearly as sophisticated, but guess what. . . It worked! This photo was taken with the others I posted earlier. Today happens to be Avery's 9 month birthday, but that had nothing to do with me posting this.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Mesquite Adventure
Right after breakfast these guys are about to go out into a cloudless sky at a temperature of about 98 degrees, but it is still very early, so it will get warmer quickly. So why are they smiling? Well, because they get to go golfing with me. Okay, at least they get to go golfing.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Sean
I was going through some of the photos I took on our trip to Oregon last month and I saw this one I took of Sean sitting on a little log chair by the South Falls (I think). Sean was a real sport and escorted Dustin and I clear down there and back without complaining. There must have been 500 stairs, but it was worth it. OBTW, I think he carried my tripod the entire way.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Speaking of Visitors
August is going to be a very busy month. It usually is. This Saturday is the Law Family reunion for my parents' descendants. Then on Sunday, after church we head South to Mesquite Nevada where we will spend a few days with Eric's family and Melissa's family. We will be back on Thursday and then on about Saturday Dustin and his family will be up and we'll get to spend some time with them. What a great month this is going to be! By the end of the month I will have forgotten all about the Water Heater incident. Here's a photo I took of Dustin, Tamra, Sean & Anna while we were up there just a few weeks ago when they took us to see these beautiful falls. Sean and Anna rode with us, and was so glad to spend some time with them.
Our Young Visitor
Melissa got brave one day last week and decided to go with friends to Park City. Oh, what to do with Avery? She would be bored and tired, maybe mom and dad will watch her?? You bet we would and we did. Just in case Melissa was worried about her putting up a big fuss and crying her eyes out while she was gone here are some photos.
OBTW: Let this be a warning to you. If you bring grandkids over for us to babysit you better bring some cute clothes (Like Melissa did) because they are likely to be photographed. And yes we are accepting models.
OBTW: Let this be a warning to you. If you bring grandkids over for us to babysit you better bring some cute clothes (Like Melissa did) because they are likely to be photographed. And yes we are accepting models.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Test Post
What you are reading here is a post to the Empty Nesters' Blog. In the Google blogger program, I found where I can have each post sent to your email. I tested it out on the previous post but only had it go to Dustin and Tamra (and a copy to myself) since they are the ones who got me thinking about it in the first place. On this one I've added a photo and I'm sending out to all of my children. If you get this by email you will note at the bottom that there is a link that you can click on and it will take you to this same post on my blog. The only problem is it just takes you to this post. If you want to see what other posts have happened recently, or the entire blog, all you have to do is click on the blog header after you are in it.
If you get this and you do not want them to come by way of email just email me or leave a comment on the post and let me know. If, on the other hand, you are reading the blog and see this, and you did not get the email and would like me to add you to the list, then email me, or leave a comment, and let me know that you would like to be added. By the way, if you ask me to delete you from the email list tell me that you are reading them anyway or that you get them by RSS feed or something so that I don't cry myself to sleep thinking that you don't care what we post on our blog. Thanx! :-)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Life is So Busy
While I was up in Oregon, Tamra and Dustin both confessed that they forget to look at our Blog. Can you imagine that??? Well, that is unless we send them an email reminder telling them we have posted something. I thought that maybe there was a way to get the blogging program to do that automatically, and sure enough it looks like there is. So, this is a test to see if it sends out an email to the addresses I put in for it to send emails when I post. Let me know if you get this.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Finally
I told you in the last post to watch for more information and photos on our Oregon trip. So as promised here it is. The real excuse to go to Oregon was for Anna's baptism. She was so excited and so were we. It was a very nice event and I think half her ward showed up. The next day, Sunday, Anna gave a talk in Primary about her baptism. She wrote it herself and did an excellent job. We were so proud of her. She is growing up to be a fine young lady with a good strong spirit. Speaking of strong spirit, she enjoyed getting her photo taken for the event and wanted to pose just right. She set up the one with her daddy and the one out on the grass in front of the church. I just snapped the shutter. There were several others with her best friend and they had lots of fun. Dustin and Tamra have those in their computer for posterity. Jeanne and I are so glad we got to be there for this happy event.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Oregon
Well after a spring and early summer that made us wonder if we had woken up in Oregon even when we were in Utah. So, when the weather dried up and got sunny we decided to go to Oregon. Well really we had really decided some time before because we had been invited to Anna's baptism. So the time came and off we went, or maybe since we are in Oregon now, I should say off we came. We decided to make it a little bit of a leasurely trip, and since I had a new camera I wanted to test out quite a bit.
The first day just outside of Vale, Oregon I saw a house that I just had to get some photos of.
Quite a few miles later I was driving along when I looked out to the left and saw some cowboys bringing in their horses on their four wheelers. I thought that was kind of ironic and so I went back and as I did the farrier (horse shoer) pulled up. I went up to the fence and asked them if they minded if I took some shots of them working with their horses and they said they didn't mind. So I snapped a few.
The first day just outside of Vale, Oregon I saw a house that I just had to get some photos of.
Quite a few miles later I was driving along when I looked out to the left and saw some cowboys bringing in their horses on their four wheelers. I thought that was kind of ironic and so I went back and as I did the farrier (horse shoer) pulled up. I went up to the fence and asked them if they minded if I took some shots of them working with their horses and they said they didn't mind. So I snapped a few. That night we stayed in the town of Burns. Since we got their fairly early I asked the lady at the front desk where there were some pretty places near by to take some photos. She told me about a place only a few miles away and said that I might even see some wild horses. As we were driving up the road she told me about we saw a large group of horses right by the side of the road. It never occured to me that they might be the wild ones she had mentioned. I took quite a few photos and it was really a little later that I figured out that they might be the wild horses. It was a realy interesting herd to watch, for the short time I got to see them. 
We spent the night on a miserable hard matress and woke the next moring to continue on to Albany. But on the way I wanted to see more of the beauty of Oregon.
On down the road after the city of Bend we got into some of the really beautiful part of Oregon. I pulled off onto a side road and crossed a little bridge and found a little spot where I could get some beautiful photos. As I got closer I noticed several tiny little frogs. I had to be very careful not to step on any of them. There are a bunch of them in this photo, I counted 17 of them.
After getting past all the tiny frogs I did get some photos of a beautiful area.
We finally made it to Dustin and Tamra's house.
It makes a papa proud. Well at least we also get to see Tamra and our sweet little grandchildren.
Watch for further developments - and PHOTOS!!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mothers' Day 2009
I want to make it very public how much I appreciate Jeanne as the Mother to our children. She has been a GREAT example and teacher to them. They and I love her for all that she is and all that she has and continues to do for all of us. Thank you Jeanne for being a wonderful wife and Mother.
Mothers' Day, for me, is about family. We were truly blessed yesterday as all of the family that were close enough to visit did, and the others called. It was a wonderful day of family. I didn't take nearly as many photos as I should have, but there were a couple firsts that needed to be recorded. One, of course was Avery's first Mothers Day, next, obviously would be Melissa's first Mothers' Day as a mother. So we took some photos to commemorate those occasions. I doubt that Avery would remember it without the benefit of some photos.
"Oh the things a baby has to put up with for Mother's Day."
Mothers' Day, for me, is about family. We were truly blessed yesterday as all of the family that were close enough to visit did, and the others called. It was a wonderful day of family. I didn't take nearly as many photos as I should have, but there were a couple firsts that needed to be recorded. One, of course was Avery's first Mothers Day, next, obviously would be Melissa's first Mothers' Day as a mother. So we took some photos to commemorate those occasions. I doubt that Avery would remember it without the benefit of some photos.
"Oh the things a baby has to put up with for Mother's Day."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Do You Know What's Better . . . . ?
Do you know what's better than spending time with grandchildren? Not much that I can think of. We had a wonderful time in Louisville. It was so good to be with Kathryn, Trevor, Melissa and five of our grandchildren. I have to say that after we had been there about a week I started to feel sorry for Trevor, I thought how much fun it would have been to have to have my parents-in-law come and live with us for 10 days and disrupt our lives like we did theirs, but he was a real trooper and never complained . . . outloud . . . to us. I really appreciate thier patience and hospitality. We are hoping that when Trevor gets through with residency he will find a job fairly close so we can visit more often, and make our visits shorter (much shorter). We've been back a few days and settled back in. Also, one more big THANK YOU goes out to Melissa's Husband Jeff for taking such good care of Annabelle for us while we were gone. Having her there was really comforting to us and she seems to have weathered the seperation much better than she has some of our other trips in the last couple years.
Here are a few photos from our time with family the last few days before we left.
Here are a few photos from our time with family the last few days before we left.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Patton Day
I told them that I didn't want to go to the George S Patton Museum at Ft. Knox, but they made me. ( Just kidding I really wanted to go.) So yesterday we went to the Patton Museum. I told my grandchildren about being in the war and Patton's life. We got to go in some model made stuff from inside a tank! ( this had some help from Hallie grandpa's grandchild. I rote most of this for him.) Hallie saw me posting on the blog so she wrote all the stuff in blue above. We had a great time and they enjoyed all the tanks. They also enjoyed stopping at A&W afterward for a burger and Root Beer and I really enjoyed spending the time with them. They wanted to hear all about my time in the Army, and then for fun we worked together and made up some funny stories.
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