Dear Posterity,
Six years ago today Amanda and I decided to get married. I had to work on Valentines Day that year so we celebrated our first Valentines Day together the day after Valentines Day. Since then, February 15th has become a special day for us and our relationship. We celebrate Valentines Day on the 15th every year as our tradition. It actually genius if you are a last minute shopper because all the Valentines Day items are 50% on the 15th :) Just saying...
One of my favorite movies is the Ten Commandments with Charles Heston. I grew up watching the movie and have never stopped loving it. There is a part of the movie where the Pharaoh assigns a task to Moses and Ramses responds to the Pharaoh by saying, "wise decisions...noble task." That's how I feel about my decision to marry Amanda. It was a wise decision and it is a noble task.
In many ways that phrase defines marriage. Marriage is always a wise decision and is a noble task. It becomes a noble task because marriage takes effort. No one has a perfect marriage and I won't pretend that ours is perfect but if there is one thing that our marriage is...is a wise decision.
For me, marriage is a noble task because it is ordained by God. It is one of the noblest commandments that we have received. It is one of the keys in our learning process here on earth and giving the opportunity to be married is a sacred/noble right that we take upon ourselves. There isn't a more noble task that we can undertake.
What is marriage...marriage is always a wise decision and a noble task...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The End of an Era
Dear Posterity,
This week the long time coach of the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan, resigned from his coaching position. He had been the head coach of the Utah Jazz for 23 years. I believe he was the longest professional tenured head coach in any of the major sports. I am not a Jazz fan but I thought it was worth mentioning. I was 4 years old when Coach Sloan became the head coach of the Utah Jazz. In an unstable work environment, he was a pillar that no one ever thought would leave.
It got me thinking about stability and strength and how you really have to love what you do to stick with it for so long. I get bored easily if I am not stretching myself or doing something different with my day. In a career setting I cannot imagine doing the same thing day after day after day for 23 years. That's why I like my job. Even though the principles of what I do everyday are the same, I am in a different environment with different situations everyday and I love it.
It takes a lot of passion and love to stick with something for 23 years. I guess that's why people struggle with marriage. If they are not willing to work at it and change themselves it can be the same thing day after day and people can get bored. Luckily, I have the lease boring wife in the world. I never know what I am going to get day to day or what I am going to come home to. It keep's life interesting.
Thank you Coach Sloan for teaching us that we can stick with something and excel at it for years if we only have a desire to do so...
This week the long time coach of the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan, resigned from his coaching position. He had been the head coach of the Utah Jazz for 23 years. I believe he was the longest professional tenured head coach in any of the major sports. I am not a Jazz fan but I thought it was worth mentioning. I was 4 years old when Coach Sloan became the head coach of the Utah Jazz. In an unstable work environment, he was a pillar that no one ever thought would leave.
It got me thinking about stability and strength and how you really have to love what you do to stick with it for so long. I get bored easily if I am not stretching myself or doing something different with my day. In a career setting I cannot imagine doing the same thing day after day after day for 23 years. That's why I like my job. Even though the principles of what I do everyday are the same, I am in a different environment with different situations everyday and I love it.
It takes a lot of passion and love to stick with something for 23 years. I guess that's why people struggle with marriage. If they are not willing to work at it and change themselves it can be the same thing day after day and people can get bored. Luckily, I have the lease boring wife in the world. I never know what I am going to get day to day or what I am going to come home to. It keep's life interesting.
Thank you Coach Sloan for teaching us that we can stick with something and excel at it for years if we only have a desire to do so...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Business
Dear Posterity,
This week I spent in Orange County, California on a business trip. At this time of my life I am a District Manager for Blockbuster Video. I have worked for the company for 6 years. It's been my first real "grown up" job. I started out as a customer service representative and quickly moved through the ranks to be a district manager. I love my job and it has been good to me. Let me tell a quick story of how I came to be employed by Blockbuster.
I had just returned home from my mission and decided to go back to Oklahoma for a sealing of someone that I had baptized. I was able to get a ride home from the Tuckett family, who lived in one of my area's and I had become quite close with. They were going to Utah to visit family and I was able to snag a ride with them. On our way to Utah, Sister Tuckett asked me what I was going to do now. I replied that I would probably start school and get a job. She asked where I wanted to work and I replied, "I don't know. Maybe somewhere like Blockbuster would be fun." Little did I know then that I was being inspired. I applied at Blockbuster and got the job and have been there for the past 6 years.
My patriarchal blessings says that I will be blessed with great employment throughout my life. To this point in my life I have been blessed and am confident that I will be blessed for the remainder of my life. By listening to a small prompting that said "maybe blockbuster would be fun", I have started a career, bought a home and care for my family. The Lord truly has a hand in all that we do, when we are willing to listen to Him.
How blessed we are...
This week I spent in Orange County, California on a business trip. At this time of my life I am a District Manager for Blockbuster Video. I have worked for the company for 6 years. It's been my first real "grown up" job. I started out as a customer service representative and quickly moved through the ranks to be a district manager. I love my job and it has been good to me. Let me tell a quick story of how I came to be employed by Blockbuster.
I had just returned home from my mission and decided to go back to Oklahoma for a sealing of someone that I had baptized. I was able to get a ride home from the Tuckett family, who lived in one of my area's and I had become quite close with. They were going to Utah to visit family and I was able to snag a ride with them. On our way to Utah, Sister Tuckett asked me what I was going to do now. I replied that I would probably start school and get a job. She asked where I wanted to work and I replied, "I don't know. Maybe somewhere like Blockbuster would be fun." Little did I know then that I was being inspired. I applied at Blockbuster and got the job and have been there for the past 6 years.
My patriarchal blessings says that I will be blessed with great employment throughout my life. To this point in my life I have been blessed and am confident that I will be blessed for the remainder of my life. By listening to a small prompting that said "maybe blockbuster would be fun", I have started a career, bought a home and care for my family. The Lord truly has a hand in all that we do, when we are willing to listen to Him.
How blessed we are...
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Choose ye this day...
Dear Posterity,
This week in Young Men's the lesson was on agency. The instructor gave a wonderful lesson about the importance of agency and the impact that agency has on our lives. Agency is a key principle of the gospel and one of the most valued blessings that our Heavenly Father has given us. The lesson reminded me of lessons that I learned as a youth.
Agency is one of those principles that is often misunderstood. We often hear it referred to as free agency but I believe agency comes with a cost. If you think back about what we know about pre-mortal life we know that 1/3 of the hosts of Heaven was cast off because they didn't want to follow our Heavenly Father's plan. The opportunity to have agency cost a third of the hosts of heaven, which to me is a great cost. I think that when people say free agency they are referring to our freedom to choose.
We do have the freedom to choose. Any choice that is placed before us is left for us to decide what to do. We can choose good or bad, right or wrong. We can choose wickedness or happiness, life or death. We have the light of Christ within us to help us choose correctly but ultimately the choice is ours. We are free to make the choice but not free to choose the outcome. Whatever we choose we must live with whatever consequence, good or bad, that comes with that choice.
I remember a time from my childhood that I refused to do the dishes. I hated doing the dishes because we were so poor that we did not have a dishwasher. I would spend hours doing them by hand and this particular day I refused to do them. I spent the entire day not doing my chore because I didn't want to. It was my choice and I choose NOT to do what I was asked to do. Later that evening my friend called and said that he was having a early birthday party. He was turning 16 and he was my best friend. I couldn't wait to go. I went and asked my mom and she simply said that I could not go because I had not done the dishes. It never dawned on me that I would be left out of something so fun because I didn't do the dishes. I missed the chance to celebrate his birthday and I could only blame myself.
The same is true in life. Our Heavenly Father asks us to do certain things and we have the freedom to choose whether or not we want to do them. With this power comes great responsibility. We may choose in this mortal life what we want to do but our choices will affect us in the next life. Will we miss out on a great time because we choose to ignore something that we were asked to do?
Samuel the Lamanite taught "And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are bfree; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a cknowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might aknow good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might bchoose life or death; and ye can do good and be crestored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you." Heleman 14:30-31
I pray that your choices in life will be that unto everlasting life and light and that you will be rewarded with such. Don't miss out on eternal happiness for a moment of weakness. I challenge you to do as Joshua challenged us to do..."Choose ye this day who you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord..."
This week in Young Men's the lesson was on agency. The instructor gave a wonderful lesson about the importance of agency and the impact that agency has on our lives. Agency is a key principle of the gospel and one of the most valued blessings that our Heavenly Father has given us. The lesson reminded me of lessons that I learned as a youth.
Agency is one of those principles that is often misunderstood. We often hear it referred to as free agency but I believe agency comes with a cost. If you think back about what we know about pre-mortal life we know that 1/3 of the hosts of Heaven was cast off because they didn't want to follow our Heavenly Father's plan. The opportunity to have agency cost a third of the hosts of heaven, which to me is a great cost. I think that when people say free agency they are referring to our freedom to choose.
We do have the freedom to choose. Any choice that is placed before us is left for us to decide what to do. We can choose good or bad, right or wrong. We can choose wickedness or happiness, life or death. We have the light of Christ within us to help us choose correctly but ultimately the choice is ours. We are free to make the choice but not free to choose the outcome. Whatever we choose we must live with whatever consequence, good or bad, that comes with that choice.
I remember a time from my childhood that I refused to do the dishes. I hated doing the dishes because we were so poor that we did not have a dishwasher. I would spend hours doing them by hand and this particular day I refused to do them. I spent the entire day not doing my chore because I didn't want to. It was my choice and I choose NOT to do what I was asked to do. Later that evening my friend called and said that he was having a early birthday party. He was turning 16 and he was my best friend. I couldn't wait to go. I went and asked my mom and she simply said that I could not go because I had not done the dishes. It never dawned on me that I would be left out of something so fun because I didn't do the dishes. I missed the chance to celebrate his birthday and I could only blame myself.
The same is true in life. Our Heavenly Father asks us to do certain things and we have the freedom to choose whether or not we want to do them. With this power comes great responsibility. We may choose in this mortal life what we want to do but our choices will affect us in the next life. Will we miss out on a great time because we choose to ignore something that we were asked to do?
Samuel the Lamanite taught "And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are bfree; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a cknowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might aknow good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might bchoose life or death; and ye can do good and be crestored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you." Heleman 14:30-31
I pray that your choices in life will be that unto everlasting life and light and that you will be rewarded with such. Don't miss out on eternal happiness for a moment of weakness. I challenge you to do as Joshua challenged us to do..."Choose ye this day who you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord..."
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sports Nut
Dear Posterity,
I love sports!!! Not just like, not really like but LOVE sports. I have loved sports for as long as I can remember. As a child I would spend hours playing various sports. I was a natural baseball player but basketball was my passion. I would play basketball everyday of the year including playing during the winter. I would shoot hoops in the snow with an ice covered basketball until my hands were purple and numb.
Basketball was my life and it was going to take my places. Unfortunately, I stopped growing at 5'6". Actually, I'm probably only 5'4" but I would never admit to that in person. It's amazing how 2 inches seem to make a difference. Even though I was short I never lost the love of the game. I still play regularly with friends and still think I am better than I probably am.
Watching sports has become a part of my routine. I watch sporting events weekly especially when my teams are playing. I love the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, the New England Patriots and UNC. A lot of people would call me a bandwagon fan but I grew up in the east and you either love Boston teams or New York teams. I love Boston and hate New York. It's who I am and who I'll always be. Sports rivalries bring out the best in competition and the worst in people.
I remember when playoff season my poor wife was introduced to this in an unbecoming way. The Patriots were playing in the 2nd round of the playoffs and Amanda wanted to go to eat and watch a movie. I decided to DVR the game and make my wife happy. She decided to go to a sandwich place and I agreed. I had never been so it wasn't until I read the menu that I realized that she took me to a New York place. I was pissed and she couldn't understand why. How dare she take me to eat at a New York eatery the night the Patriots were playing? Didn't she know that this could cost my team the victory? I don't even remember if I ate anything because of how upset I was.
Amanda didn't and still doesn't understand why I was upset. She doesn't understand the rivalry and the craziness that sports brings out in us. Perhaps it is a little crazy but that's how it is. Of course New England lost and it was all my fault. To this day I still blame her for them losing the game. If only she had chosen another place to eat but she didn't and saw another side of me that she didn't know existed.
The crazy sports fan side...
I love sports!!! Not just like, not really like but LOVE sports. I have loved sports for as long as I can remember. As a child I would spend hours playing various sports. I was a natural baseball player but basketball was my passion. I would play basketball everyday of the year including playing during the winter. I would shoot hoops in the snow with an ice covered basketball until my hands were purple and numb.
Basketball was my life and it was going to take my places. Unfortunately, I stopped growing at 5'6". Actually, I'm probably only 5'4" but I would never admit to that in person. It's amazing how 2 inches seem to make a difference. Even though I was short I never lost the love of the game. I still play regularly with friends and still think I am better than I probably am.
Watching sports has become a part of my routine. I watch sporting events weekly especially when my teams are playing. I love the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, the New England Patriots and UNC. A lot of people would call me a bandwagon fan but I grew up in the east and you either love Boston teams or New York teams. I love Boston and hate New York. It's who I am and who I'll always be. Sports rivalries bring out the best in competition and the worst in people.
I remember when playoff season my poor wife was introduced to this in an unbecoming way. The Patriots were playing in the 2nd round of the playoffs and Amanda wanted to go to eat and watch a movie. I decided to DVR the game and make my wife happy. She decided to go to a sandwich place and I agreed. I had never been so it wasn't until I read the menu that I realized that she took me to a New York place. I was pissed and she couldn't understand why. How dare she take me to eat at a New York eatery the night the Patriots were playing? Didn't she know that this could cost my team the victory? I don't even remember if I ate anything because of how upset I was.
Amanda didn't and still doesn't understand why I was upset. She doesn't understand the rivalry and the craziness that sports brings out in us. Perhaps it is a little crazy but that's how it is. Of course New England lost and it was all my fault. To this day I still blame her for them losing the game. If only she had chosen another place to eat but she didn't and saw another side of me that she didn't know existed.
The crazy sports fan side...
Saturday, January 29, 2011
What is truth?
Dear Posterity,
In John 8:32 Jesus says, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." This begs us to ask the question, what is truth and how will it make us free? Truth can be difficult to define. The general rule when defining a word is that you can't use that word in the sentence to describe it. Try defining the word truth without using the word true. It can be difficult but it is possible. Truth means different things to different people. What I believe as true doesn't mean that some one else believes it to be true. So when Jesus says you will know the truth and it will make you free, what does He mean?
I believe He answers this question for us in John 14:6 when he says, " I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Let's change the way we look at this for a moment. If Jesus is the truth then what He is really telling us is, you shall know me and I shall set you free.
As we come to know our Savior on a more personal level we come to know that He is the truth. That he is the only way that salvation is given and that through Him we can be saved/set free. What does He free us from? He free's us from the bonds of physical death. He died and was resurrected that all men might live again. This gift is free to all those who have inhabited the earth in a body of flesh and bones. But more importantly He suffered the sins of the world that we might overcome sin and through His atonement be cleansed of iniquity. Without this cleansing we would be lost forever, chained done by the guilt of our own mortality. We would be trapped in never ending torment. We would be prisoners.
How grateful I am for the knowledge that I have. For my relationship with the Truth. Jesus lives and if we allow Him to He will save us from all that brings us down. If we cast ourselves upon His feet and have faith in Him, can overcome all obstacles of life. We must come to know the Truth and we must allow the Truth to set us free.
Quite literally, Jesus is the truth and quite literally the Truth will set us free...
In John 8:32 Jesus says, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." This begs us to ask the question, what is truth and how will it make us free? Truth can be difficult to define. The general rule when defining a word is that you can't use that word in the sentence to describe it. Try defining the word truth without using the word true. It can be difficult but it is possible. Truth means different things to different people. What I believe as true doesn't mean that some one else believes it to be true. So when Jesus says you will know the truth and it will make you free, what does He mean?
I believe He answers this question for us in John 14:6 when he says, " I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." Let's change the way we look at this for a moment. If Jesus is the truth then what He is really telling us is, you shall know me and I shall set you free.
As we come to know our Savior on a more personal level we come to know that He is the truth. That he is the only way that salvation is given and that through Him we can be saved/set free. What does He free us from? He free's us from the bonds of physical death. He died and was resurrected that all men might live again. This gift is free to all those who have inhabited the earth in a body of flesh and bones. But more importantly He suffered the sins of the world that we might overcome sin and through His atonement be cleansed of iniquity. Without this cleansing we would be lost forever, chained done by the guilt of our own mortality. We would be trapped in never ending torment. We would be prisoners.
How grateful I am for the knowledge that I have. For my relationship with the Truth. Jesus lives and if we allow Him to He will save us from all that brings us down. If we cast ourselves upon His feet and have faith in Him, can overcome all obstacles of life. We must come to know the Truth and we must allow the Truth to set us free.
Quite literally, Jesus is the truth and quite literally the Truth will set us free...
Thursday, January 27, 2011
How much is that Doggie in the Window?
Dear Posterity,
I love dogs, always have, always will. Perhaps it stems back to my early childhood when my BB's dog would sit by me wherever I was and make sure I was protected. We have pictures of that dog laying next to me in my johnny jump up. He would sit there and watch over me. I probably never had a better baby sitter than that dog.
My love of dogs could stem from my mom's love of animals. She never met an animal she could say no to and never met an animal she didn't try to save. I picked up on her passion as a young age. Once we went to the supermarket to try to give our kittens away and some guy asked me if I would give his away too. I thought that would be fine so I said yes. Needless to say we went home with more kittens then we started with. As far as I remember we always had animals. In fact at one point we had goats, dogs, cats, fish, birds and hamsters all at the same time but that's another blog for another day. One of our most beloved dogs was named Trixi.
Perhaps my mother was bonded to Trixi because they were very similar. They were both born to breed. My mom had 9 children and Trixi had 2 litters of 9 puppies. This dog knew how to do one thing right and that was to have lot's of puppies in one shot. Out of her 2nd liter came my first dog. The first dog that was officially mine I named Big Boy. Big Boy was my puppy and I loved him dearly. I must have been 8 or 9 years old when Big Boy was born and we were inseparable. Mom wanted to sell all the other puppies so we advertised that we had puppies for sale. One couple came and looked at the 9 puppies and they wanted Big Boy. Mom told them he was mine and they would have to deal with me. I think they offered me $20 for him, which to me was a fortune. Hell, that was fortune to my family at that time but I turned it down because I loved that dog.
A few months later my mom decided that we were moving out of the state and I would not be able take Big Boy. I ended up giving him to the same couple who wanted to buy him. On a side note, I tried to get the money they offered but to no avail. It broke my heart to give that dog away but we were moving so I had to do it. We ended up not moving and I never forgave my mom for making me give up my dog.
Fifteen years later my mom sent my grandmother 3 puppies to try to get rid of. My wife who was not a dog person said that we could look at them. As soon as we went to the house this little black dog with a white underbelly came right to me. He looked just like my Big Boy that I had to give away as a boy. It was love at first sight for both he and I. He knew instantly that I was supposed to be his person and I knew instantly that he was supposed to be my dog. The big test came when I had to take him to Amanda. My non dog loving wife fell in love instantly and didn't put up a fight. After all you can't fight destiny. I quickly reverted back to my childhood and named him...Big Boy.
The only problem was we lived in an apartment that didn't allow pets so he had to stay with my grandmother while we looked for another place to live. It turns out that we bought our first home because of a dog. We were excited to bring him home and he's been with us for almost 4 years. We have also inherited another dog from my grandmother, Lady Beth. I wanted to get rid of her but my non dog loving wife couldn't do it. She is Lady Beth's person and Lady Beth is her dog.
Now we have 2 boys, 2 dogs and 2 fish. The boys love their dogs and the dogs love their boys. The play and wrestle and take care of each other. Tyler has inherited his grandmother's love of animals. Those sad animal abuse commercials will come on and he will get sad and say "sad doggie". Those commercials eat at Amanda and I also and makes us want to go and save all the dogs in the world. Some day we hope to buy a new house on some land and be able to save some of those dogs that need a loving home. Our dog's hold a special place in our hearts and in our home.
You can't describe it unless you own a dog but know that for us dog lovers when we hear the song "how much is that doggie in the window..." we know that the answer is PRICELESS...
I love dogs, always have, always will. Perhaps it stems back to my early childhood when my BB's dog would sit by me wherever I was and make sure I was protected. We have pictures of that dog laying next to me in my johnny jump up. He would sit there and watch over me. I probably never had a better baby sitter than that dog.
My love of dogs could stem from my mom's love of animals. She never met an animal she could say no to and never met an animal she didn't try to save. I picked up on her passion as a young age. Once we went to the supermarket to try to give our kittens away and some guy asked me if I would give his away too. I thought that would be fine so I said yes. Needless to say we went home with more kittens then we started with. As far as I remember we always had animals. In fact at one point we had goats, dogs, cats, fish, birds and hamsters all at the same time but that's another blog for another day. One of our most beloved dogs was named Trixi.
Perhaps my mother was bonded to Trixi because they were very similar. They were both born to breed. My mom had 9 children and Trixi had 2 litters of 9 puppies. This dog knew how to do one thing right and that was to have lot's of puppies in one shot. Out of her 2nd liter came my first dog. The first dog that was officially mine I named Big Boy. Big Boy was my puppy and I loved him dearly. I must have been 8 or 9 years old when Big Boy was born and we were inseparable. Mom wanted to sell all the other puppies so we advertised that we had puppies for sale. One couple came and looked at the 9 puppies and they wanted Big Boy. Mom told them he was mine and they would have to deal with me. I think they offered me $20 for him, which to me was a fortune. Hell, that was fortune to my family at that time but I turned it down because I loved that dog.
A few months later my mom decided that we were moving out of the state and I would not be able take Big Boy. I ended up giving him to the same couple who wanted to buy him. On a side note, I tried to get the money they offered but to no avail. It broke my heart to give that dog away but we were moving so I had to do it. We ended up not moving and I never forgave my mom for making me give up my dog.
Fifteen years later my mom sent my grandmother 3 puppies to try to get rid of. My wife who was not a dog person said that we could look at them. As soon as we went to the house this little black dog with a white underbelly came right to me. He looked just like my Big Boy that I had to give away as a boy. It was love at first sight for both he and I. He knew instantly that I was supposed to be his person and I knew instantly that he was supposed to be my dog. The big test came when I had to take him to Amanda. My non dog loving wife fell in love instantly and didn't put up a fight. After all you can't fight destiny. I quickly reverted back to my childhood and named him...Big Boy.
The only problem was we lived in an apartment that didn't allow pets so he had to stay with my grandmother while we looked for another place to live. It turns out that we bought our first home because of a dog. We were excited to bring him home and he's been with us for almost 4 years. We have also inherited another dog from my grandmother, Lady Beth. I wanted to get rid of her but my non dog loving wife couldn't do it. She is Lady Beth's person and Lady Beth is her dog.
Now we have 2 boys, 2 dogs and 2 fish. The boys love their dogs and the dogs love their boys. The play and wrestle and take care of each other. Tyler has inherited his grandmother's love of animals. Those sad animal abuse commercials will come on and he will get sad and say "sad doggie". Those commercials eat at Amanda and I also and makes us want to go and save all the dogs in the world. Some day we hope to buy a new house on some land and be able to save some of those dogs that need a loving home. Our dog's hold a special place in our hearts and in our home.
You can't describe it unless you own a dog but know that for us dog lovers when we hear the song "how much is that doggie in the window..." we know that the answer is PRICELESS...
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