Cold

I have felt cold all day today. I don't know why. I came home, fell asleep as I was sitting on the couch, went up and had a light dinner, then went downstairs and put on my warm jammies and a heavy sweatshirt and wrapped myself in a blanky. I am finally warm. It feels so good to be warm. I want to get over my cough. It is really bugging me. I am tired of it and the hot/cold it creates in me. My cough is annoying and non-productive. My house is warm. My wife makes our home warm. I don't like the cold or being cold.

Prayer

I love prayer. I love the, sometimes, immediate results of prayer. Today was the multi-denominational ecumenical sing along with various faiths to kick off the Christmas season. I have been struggling with a cold with a dry, hacking (non-productive) cough. It has been ugly. My voice has been toast for most of the day. I went, said a prayer, my wife and youngest daughter also said prayers, and I was able to sing without any problems, cracks or negative issues. It was amazing. I felt so humbled that God would listen to me and answer a prayer of mine. Now I know He does, in His time and way, but this was kind of an immediate, almost selfish, request and He answered my prayers. He is truly great and he is my Father. Kids have scattered to the 4 corners of the earth again (and 1 never came to have to return) and everyone is safe and getting ready for finals. I am certainly happy that I don't have finals anymore. Prayer, I am sure, will play an even more vital role than it currently does over the next 2-3 weeks as finals approach and are taken. I love talking with my Father. I also love listening when He answers. Prayer, as the hymn goes, is the soul's sincere desire. I know it is mine. I love prayer.

Trust

Trust is when someone can call you at anytime of the day or night for a blessing. I have a friend that trusted me enough to call at 10:30 for a blessing. I took my son who was home from school and together we went and did that. It was wonderful. I guess that trust issue comes to us in the form of the Priesthood that Father entrusts us to represent Him. What a wonderful feeling that trust is. I love the fact that my kids trust me with the thoughts of their hearts. My youngest daugther trusted me enough to take prom dress shopping with her. She trusted my judgement and that I would actually pay for them as well... There is an unspoken trust between my wife and me that is more precious to me than gold or anything of monetary value. That trust is shared in a glance, a touch, a word. It means the world to me. There is nothing more precious in the world than trust.

relax

I relaxed today after work. A lot. Work was relaxed as well. One of the guys training us had a bad back, didn't come. I think I might have found a car for work, just hope it gets approved. I got my windshield replaced. I relaxed while they were doing it. My wife has a cold now, not relaxing for her. It is very late, I have been relaxing (sleeping) and now I just want to relax.

Thankful

Things for which I am thankful today and everyday: My wife, my kids, cell phones that allow me to talk with kids far away (I miss you so much, peanut, wish you were here with us, the families would have filled the house), food, copious amounts of food, being at the same job for the 2nd Thanksgiving day in a row, house, cars, testimony, challenges, my job, my sales guys, my owners, peace in the house for the meal, kids with passion, kids with concern for siblings, TV (nothing like football on turkey day since I don't watch on Sunday), smells, help from my wife, sharp knives, great stuffing (this was a "keep track of the recipie" year), moist white meat, rolls, butter, lots of butter (have you noticed how everythings tastes better with butter, no, really, it does, not margarine but real, honest to goodness butter, nothing better), visits from cousins, hugs from kids and grandkids, kisses from same, the fact that my boys will still kiss us even when they are big and do it in front of friends, prayer, our thankful recitation before the meal, this day when we are supposed to stop and pause and contemplate exactly what we have, where we live and the abundance that surrounds us, scriptures, whisperings, the temple, a current recommend for the temple, actually using the recommend, my calling, that fact that mom is still with us, that puppy seems to be doing better, not limping as much even without medicine for a few days, music, piano playing kids, guitar playing kids, singing kids, squeezing my head off from the grandkids for a hug, socks without holes (except for the hole where you put your feet into them, so I guess socks with only 1 hole), clean clothes, flowers, windows with screens, garbage cans, people that pick up our garbage, that our bedroom is done and I am not sleeping alone anymore, my Savior, my Heavenly Parents, promptings, obedience, and, lastly I am thankful for being thankful.

Unexpected

I had to make an unexpected trip south again today to help out a customer. I wasn't planning on going down to Spanish Fork, but to have a quiet day in the office and get out a bit early. Unexpectedly, an order was not complete nor correct and they were doing a gym floor over the Thanksgiving break and I was elected to take the stuff down to them. I got there, delivered the goods and still got home a little early about 4:30. Again, unexpected for the family as they were either expecting me earlier or later, depending on the person with whom you speak. We, all the kids at home, their mother and I, saw a terriffic movie tonight, "Blindside". It was the first time that I can ever recall anyone still sitting after the movie was done while the credit were rolling. Granted there were accompanying pictures but I have NEVER seen the entire theatre stay in their seats. It was a fabulous movie and quite an unexpected surprise. We have pies baked, only 3 up to now, I have to do the cherry pie tomorrow and perhaps a banana cream (not sure about that one yet) and a lot of baking to get done. I want tomorrow smooth, I just hope that nothing happens that is totally unexpected.

Almost

We are almost complete. We are still missing 2 and that is sad. I wish we were all together but it gets tougher as the family gets bigger. I will miss my oldest daughter on Thursday. I am sad and happy at the same time that 5 of the 6 will be together. It's good to hear everyone again. I have missed a noisy house. There is laughter, teasing and just white noise. It is good. The house has been WAY too quiet lately. I miss the sounds and smells and feeling of a full house. I wish my 4 grandkids out east lived closer. I need a hug and a noogie... It's good to be almost together but it's not good to not be complete. I don't want to almost make the celestial kingdom with almost all of my family. I want us all there and I want to be there as well. I am completely happy, almost.

Oops

I just realized I didn't write anything last night. Oops. I don't know what happened. I was talking with my wife late, we went in and chatted in the TV cum bedroom and I just went to bed. There are no excuses other than the fact that, as always, I am an idiot.... Church was really good yesterday. We had stake conference and it was powerful, at least for me. Work went well today, there was a training and I had another oops moment today when I set up the training I hadn't set it up (I thought I had) at our offices but at the office of the customer. We didn't have everything we needed but we did it nonetheless and then we set up another session, hands on, for next Monday at the actual facility. Everyone knows where it is supposed to be. Oops. Life is good. I am happy and too fat. That is going to change. Has to. I feel blimpish and not good about myself right now. I must show some self-control if I am going to require it of my sales team and especially of my kids. I have to set the example and I have not been a good one in that aspect. The times they are a changin. Sorry for that family. Another Oops on my part. I am just grateful that we can repent and make things right, throught the atonement. when we do an Oops...

Passion

I witnessed passion today at the swim meet. It was fascinating watching the kids cheer for each other, their teams and themselves. The final race of the day was a 4x100 relay. There were 2 very evenly matched teams but it was interesting to see how the underdog won. There was unity and cheering and a will to win. There was passion, unbridled, unrestrained and jubiliant. I appreciate that type of passion. My youngest did well today. She started off the block again. This was her first 100 race that she has done that. Her progress has been amazing. Way to go, sweetheart! I miss, at times, the passion (though mis-guided at times it is) of youth. No thoughts for consequences, just pure, unadulterated passion. I wish there was a way to combine passion with thoughtfulness. I don't know if they are mutually exclusive of each other or not. That is a thought for another day. All I know is that besides my still-ringing ears, what I witnessed today was passion.

Long week

It's been a long week. I have had a lot of meetings as I noted yesterday, I had 3 presentations, home teaching, the temple and tonight and tomorrow I get to officiate at my youngest daughter's swim meet. I hold ultimate power over the swimmers. I can disqualify them if they mess up on strokes or don't touch right or whatever. It always breaks my heart to do that. I try to wait until they are gone so they don't see me do that. I want them to try their best for their whole swim. If they see that they are disqualified, the seem to lose intensity. It's sad. I only had to DQ 3 swimmers today. I felt bad. Tomorrow night we have stake conference adult session and we also have to go get a dress for the dance on the 12th for my baby. My baby is going to a dance with a boy. I am not happy. Boys are bad. Boys only want 1 thing... Anyway while it is not late, I am very tired and it has been a long week...

Meetings

I have been in meetings all day today. It's hard to believe how tiring they can be. I can't believe how tired I get in and of meetings. They are necessary but I wish we could accomplish things without meetings but stuff has to be coordinated and discussed and planned and assigned and carried out and followed up and reported. It's tiring just writing. As I sit here bloggin, I still have one more meeting today. It is a singing meeting but a meeting nonetheless. We are getting ready for a mulit-denominational, ecumenical singtastic on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Rotary has a double quartet and I am part of that. We are also singing at our Rotary Christmas event. I like signing, I think I have menioned that before but at the end of a day of meetings, it almost makes me not want to go to another meeting eventhough it is a singing meeting. I guess meetings are a necessary evil but evil they are. Meetings.

Review

I had my annual review today. As I put things together for it, I was amazed at what I have been blessed to accomplish this past year. It is amazing. I had a long list that wasn't even 1/2 of what I had done. It took up an entire page. I have never really set about cataloging my successes before in an annual review but I wanted ammunition for the things that I wanted to occur. They had told me going in not to expect a raise. I wasn't really anticipating one but there were other things that I wanted. We had a great meeting. Lasted about an hour and a half, almost 2 hours. Very positive. I had been given a huge laundry list of expectations when I first started and I was able to accomplish all but 2 of them. 1 of them I can't yet which is to get us on the state bid list (the bid isn't open yet and won't until January or February) and to work with the inside staff on customer service. Other than that, it was all done. I felt good. They, my bosses, felt good about it as well. They were generous with their praise. They even offered me a raise of 2%. Not bad when I wasn't anticipating one. They were closing up the meeting when I mentioned that I wanted to discuss a couple of other things. They were somewhat taken aback but I presented the things that I wanted: A change in title to VP (no decision), a seat on the board (a flat out rejection) and for work to cover my family insurance premium (again, a no decision, taking it under advisement), so I only got 1 no and 2 not sures. Not bad. I like where I work, I like the people with which I work, their hearts are in the right place and they do what is right. People of integrity. So, all in all, a very good day. I'll know in a couple of days what the resolution to the rest is. I also found out that we are getting new carpet for our bedroom! Way excited there. The carpet was extracted and upon review, needs to be replaced. Reviews are great. They allow us to contemplate and promote our needs and success. It's a good thing to review where we are, where we have been and where we want to go. For example, tonight my youngest daugther had her "Evening of Excellence" Way cool. We got to review her (and all of my kids' for that matter) royal status as a daughter (child) of God. We got to review with her the success she had in getting her Young Womanhood Recognition (or something like that) and we were able to review that all of our daughters know that they are children of God, of royal lineage. What a blessing in their lives. Anyway, when I need to examine things more closely, it's always good to conduct a review.

Waiting

I tried to go to the temple tonight. I felt somewhat guilty because my wife was sick but we have stake conference on Sunday and this was our night as a stake to go to the temple. I wasn't going to do a session, just initiatory work because it is a little faster and I wouldn't have to spend so much time away from home. Anyway, I get there, parking is full but I luck out on a good spot, go in to do initiatory and there is a 45 minute wait just to get started! I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I decided to leave and come home and take care of my wife. 45 minutes seemed like such a long time and then I started getting feelings and perspective about time. 45 minutes here is absolutely nothing compared with the centuries and possibly millenia that people have been waiting for their chance at making sacred covenants. I felt chagrined and that miniscule amount of time seemed insignificant when placed in an eternal perspective. I can assuage, however, my conscience with leaving in that our High Council rep walked out with me to care for his sick wife as well. We both felt justified (read rationalized) in not waiting and caring for spouses while leaving others still waiting...

Carpet

We are down to the carpet in our renovation project. My friend and i (well, MOSTLY my friend, since he knows what he is doing and all...) hung the casings and baseboards (well hung by the way), caulked and filled holes and we put back together the massive puzzle that was our wooden shutters in the bedroom. They fit, they open and they stay closed and the are squared up to the window. Fantabuloso! All we have left is trying to get the carpet cleaned and if it can't be cleaned, order new stuff and we are done!!!! I am excited. Carpet is a wonderful invention; it's fuzzy, it's warm on cold mornings, you can lay on it and it is soft. I like soft things (well, except my gelatinous mid-section, it's soft, too soft, if you know what I mean...) so I like carpet. I am looking forward to being back in my bedroom after about 2.5 months. The only thing keeping us out is the carpet.

Better

A friend of mine is getting better. He has been in the hospital since last Friday. I have seen him 3 times this past week, Wednesday, Friday and today. Today, he looks a lot better and his wife seems a lot more relieved. They were worried about a possible blood clot in his lung. Turns out to be an old injury, possibly playing football with his children and my 2nd assistant in the HP Group. It was good to see their friendship deepen. My 2nd assistant was asked to give a blessing and he was concerned about that. It had been a while for him and when he heard that our friend might be getting worse, he mentioned that maybe someone who knew what they were doing should give him another blessing. Today, our friend is much better and could be transitioning out to a care facility. Progress has been made and he is better. We sang in church today. My youngest daugther was better enough to be able to sing. She has been fighting ickyness and she was better enough to sing. My wife needs to get better. She has gunk in her throat. Makes me sad. My puppy isn't getting any better. Sad. I think I am getting a bit better in my calling. I like and cherish my association with the people in the HP Group. I do, however, want to get better. That is my goal: to everyday be better.

Paint

It's amazing what a coat of paint will do to a hallway, a ceiling and a bedroom. We are finally done painting. I am pooped (again that phrase, I spoke to it earlier, for my insight, please refer to a previous blog) but satisfied. I painted the walls in the bedroom as my friend cut in the corners. We went fast. I also did all the baseboard and casing. It almost looks like I knew what I was doing. Amazing, I know. I just finished the window surround and not so good. A tougher paint and I didn't excel but I know the wooden blinds will cover it up so there is some redemption there. As my friend and I were talking, we discussed another common friend from our days up at Rick's College (yes, it will ALWAYS be Rick's College to me) and the Star Palace Disco where we would spend our week-ends. Fun, fun, fun. My youngest saw me skinny and with hair and she couldn't believe it was I. Funny, funny, funny (I almost wish I could have a coat of paint, if you know what I mean...) but I am much happier now at this stage of my life, eventhough physical work days are harder on my than they once were. My knees are feeling the effects of too many years of basketball but I am still able to school my youngest son there so beware boy! Also, on another note to my oldest daughter. I would imagine you sing all day with your kids and I would also imagine you would be in your ward choir, you have a lovely voice, but my musings were regarding taking singing in HIGH SCHOOL and being a part of the choir there and not a general malaise on the lack of singing per se in the family. I do know you but my thoughts were regarding an organized, scholastic singing. Anyway, I am done painting for a day or so. We might have some final touch-up after casings and baseboards are hung but, over all, I am satisfied with my day of painting...

Priming

You have to Prime things before they work properly. In the old days, you would leave a glass of water to prime the pump so you could get water from down in the well, it took a lot of faith for a thirsty person to prime to pump rather than to satiate their thirst. But priming must occur for others to be able to enjoy it. You should also prime your walls before painting. I had the pleasure of doing that tonight with my youngest daughter. Together we primed some baseboards that we are going to install after painting the walls, which are already primed. I guess we are primed or prepared as people as well. We go through experiences, good and bad, to prime us for service and to learn how to be sensitive to the spirit. As I have contemplated a bit on this, I realize how truly important priming is to the success of just about everything. If we are being challenged, we are being primed for future responsibilities. Priming is about preparation, preparation is about constance, constance is about endurance and endurance is what helps us attain eternal life. See it all starts with priming.

singing

I enjoy singing. I always have and I probably always will. I was in Madrigals in High School, I think I made it by default just because I was a first tenor but as we sang, I started to fall in love even more with music and sining. I am now singing in our ward choir, I have been asked to join another choir and we have a double quarter (or so) in my rotary club where I sing. I just got back from singing. I enjoy that and I enjoy the camaraderie. It brings disparate people together with a common cause, (well, Rotary already does that, but I think those of us singing are even more disaprate that our club, not that it's a bad thing, it isn't but we have some unique people and personalities) and we have fun doing it together. I really love Christmas and the songs that accompany this generally happy season. I love singing about my Best Friend and praising Him in my own feeble way. I have been sad to see that none of my 6 kids have taken a serious liking yet to singing. My youngest took voice over the summer and improved so much and she, I think, is going to take choir next semester, but she will be the only one with whom I can share something that is to intimate and important to me. I am sad, truly sad, that I can't share this passion I have with more of my children. Oh well, they have made their choices and are doing well. I wish I could play the guitar but, alas, I am stuck with just the piano and radio... I am amazed at how talented my kids are who write songs (I am NOT built that way) and music to to with them. I tried once but didn't really pursue it. I have written poetry, enjoy it, but it doesn't leave me as fulfilled as singing. Singing free my soul, lifts my soul, calms my soul, brings joy to my soul, puts a smile on my face. Of all the things I enjoy in this world, I think singing is one of my very top favorites. Singing touches me. I love singing.

Doing

I was out doing tonight. I was doing my responsibility and my duty. I was out visiting members of my group and I found out one of my "brothers" was in the hospital. I was torn because I had a friend doing for me in my time of need. He was priming our basement, ready for painting! Exciting, I know but I had to be doing and visit my "brother" in the hospital. I am glad we went. I took my 2nd assistant with me. Great man, knew the family. We were able to give him a blessing and it has been a while since my 2nd assistant has done something like that. I felt that he should. I anointed and he sealed and pronounced a sweet blessing. As I was out doing, my friend did for me. The gospel is like that. I love the "do unto others" parable. I was doing and I was did. I think I should be out more and doing. It's a good feeling to be doing.

Sanding

I have spent most of my evening helping my friend sand our basement, getting ready to paint and finally finish up some of our basement stuff!!!!!! I am so excited but can I just say one thing?, I hate sanding. It is dirty, odious work that has no redeeming features save that if you don't do it correctly, your paint job will look like crap. I guess I could compare sanding to the state of Nebraska. The greatest thing about both of these items is what you get done with them. Nothing even remotely redeeming or appealing about them. I am looking forward to getting the walls painted, carpets cleaned and moved back into our bedroom. My dear wife has been so patient with this ordeal (I think that being married to me has prepared her in incalculable ways for this experience) yet even her Job-like patience is wearing thin. Sorry, sweetie. There is dust everywhere. It penetrates every orifice of furniture or other places (kind of like sand on a beach, if you know what I mean...) and it will be several months before everything is finally cleaned out or off. You think you have it cleaned, you work your guts out but you still find weird things weeks and months later. Again, the sand analogy. Anyway, some light sanding tomorrow and, hopefully, painting. But nothing happens until after the sanding...

Waiting

I have been waiting for things for a while. For example, I made arrangements with my son at college to talk to him to about some things. I am still waiting. I can't imagine how a person must feel who has been asked out on a date, the date doesn't come and you are still there waiting. What a horrible, horrible feeling that must be. Yet, here I still wait for the call... I have been waiting for our new sales guy to start; he started today! It will be good to have that area covered again. I think I have helped him pick up a couple of new accounts. I am waiting for him to be successful. I am waiting to lose weight but I like eating food, I have cut down a little, but I am still waiting for the weight to magically disappear. I am still waiting and waiting and waiting. I am waiting for our basement to finally get finished. I think it might get mostly done this week. I am waiting for that to happen. I have commitments but I am still waiting. I am waiting for Thanksgiving when we can have most, not all, but most of our family together. I wish the ATL crew could come. That would truly be epic. It's getting tougher to get together as we grow. I am still waiting for that. I am waiting for the 2nd Coming. I am preparing (I hope enough, and I hope that I am repenting enough and quickly enough) and waiting for that glorious day. I am waiting to feel the hugs of my grandkids again. I miss those. I am waiting for a lot of things but mostly right now I am waiting for the arranged phone call. I am waiting...

Puppy

Puppy has been a part of our lives for about 8 years now. She has been a great puppy, a great friend and a wonderful protector of the kids. I remember when my youngest son would snowboard down our side yard (about 250 feet long on quite a slope) and puppy (she isn't really a puppy but that's what I call her, she runs about 100 lbs right now) would run around and then pull him up the hill so he could do it all over again. In fact puppy would do that will all of his friends. It was fun to watch them. Puppy is a mixed breed of malamute and wolf. Beautiful and smart. She has been limping for about a week and while we were in St. George, we took her to the vet to get checked out. We found out that she has hip displacia, arthritis and both illness are degenerative. We found this out Friday. We were all sad. She is currently on some pain meds and anti-inflammatory pills and she seems to be doing all right. My wife and I took her for a walk this evening. She started off running around but toward the end of the walk, she started limping a big again. It's sad. She interacts so well with us. We have several levels on our yard and we would put her up on the top level during the day and then bring her down at night. During the school year, she would be quiet up on top until she KNEW when the kids got home and she would demand some attention. She didn't see them come home, she doesn't have a view to the front door, but she just KNEW. She is smart. She likes to lay on her back and be a baby and get a belly rub. It is funny to watch her get all "baby". We are putting her on a diet and we will continue to give her pain and anti-inflammatory meds but... Puppy is amazing. My wife, who doesn't like dogs due to an extremely negative experience when she was young with a rabid dog) loves puppy and even will take her on walks. She, puppy, has a sweet heart and can communicate when she wants. I know she is getting older and I know that big dogs age differently than smaller dogs. I love my puppy...

In-n-Out Baby!

In-n-Out. That brings to mind all sorts of wonderful, delectable eating goodness. We were able to go there on our way home from my daughter's swim meet today. She did awesome. Every time she has competed, her time has improved! I am so proud of her. Just like the hamburger joint, she was in-n-out of the water in, for her, record time. It was a wonderful trip. One that we will experience for the next 2 years. She has done a great job. She also allowed us to go to one of our favorite places: In-n-Out!

St. George

We are in St. George. My family (what's left of it at home, excluding the g-unit) are in St. George for a swim meet. We stopped off in Richfield and my swimmer daugther cut another 5 seconds off of her 50 yard time and 11 off of her 100 yard time! Way to go, princess! It has been a long day, a long drive. We are in a different hotel than the kids (about 105 of them, all in high school so you know how that is) and it is calm here. It is late. We got some bad news about our dog, Ginger, who is getting old. She has been limping so we left her boarded and getting a check up while we are gone. There is something wrong with her lumbar. Don't know but the vet wants to take x-rays (150 bucks, ugh) to see what is going on and the extent of her problem. Don't know what it is yet but I think we will get the x-rays and make an informed decision. She is big, she is a wolf/malamute, and she is getting older. We have had her about 8-9 years. She is a good puppy. I don't know what is going to happen. Could be nothing and it could be really bad. We will know a bit tomorrow. Anyway, here we are in St. George...

Leaves

Leaves, I spent most of the afternoon sucking them up and mulching them in my blower/mulcher. It's a cool machine. I love my yard except at this time of the year. We have a bunch of trees down our north property line. We have a total of 13 trees in our yard. It looks absolutely great in the spring and summer and if we put lights in some of the trees, awesome at Christmas but this is the time of year that I wish we didn't have trees. I had to empty my mulcher bag 8 times today and I am not even close to having the yard cleaned up. I have filled the garbage can (after putting a HUGE bag of leaves in the can to get emptied last night) and we might have enough room to put our regular garbage there once the leaves settle. I guess I am getting old because it doesn't seem so long ago that yard clean up was no big deal. My sweet wife has been helping. Bless her heart. I don't know if I could do what I do without her help. The leaves are fun to pile up and then to jump into as well. I see the flit across the yard, driven by the wind. I wish the wind would take them to the street... When we first moved into our home and for the next 5-6 years, we could blow them across into the empty fields that bordered our house. Now there are homes and no place to put them. We have to pick them up. When you get a house, if you are thinking about planting trees, do it. They are beautiful and they have leaves.

LAte

It's late and morning comes too early. I am going with my youngest daughter to the temple at 5:15. See you tomorrow!

Simiple

I like simple, probably because I am, simple-minded, that is. Simple is good and uncomplicated. Life is simple if we just live it and do what we are supposed to do. It gets complicated when we choose to complicate it but hedging the truth, trying to remember what we have done or said. I think my job is simple. We provide needful things to people. We just have to listen and follow up and we are guaranteed of success. We had a wood floor demo today. It was simple. We had the right equipment, the right chemicals, the right processes and the right people. It made the job go easy because we kept it simple. I really like the people with whom I work. They are good, honest people with good hearts. They like the simple things in life. The people we serve, are, by and large, wonderful, salt of the earth people that are truthful and straightforward. I like that in people. There are no political games. There is integrity and honesty. I appreciate that. They, the people with whom we work, have an essential function to do that is considered low class and demeaning by most. It is a wonderfully complex job that makes places safe and clean for everyone. Just imagine if no one did the cleaning, there was no toilet paper, there was no soap with which to wash your hands, where would we be? Back 150 years ago with a life expectancy of 50 years. Because of the advances and sophistication of cleaning, we live longer, more productive lives. I love my job because it is simple. The people aren't "simple", they are complex yet uncomplicated. You know where you stand with them. I think that we should be more simple. Take things at face value, not look for the political or ulterior motive but trust people until they are no longer deserving of our trust. How much better would life be? Simple.

Hope

Hope was a message from a fireside that I saw tonight with my youngest daughter and wife while my 2 of my 4 college attending students saw it either live or via satellite in Chicago. It was powerful and left me contemplative. I love pondering the power of hope. I just love pondering sometimes. Hope is what motivates us to stretch after we have exercised faith. Hope is a by-product of faith. Hope is a result of faith and we are rewarded with hope as we obey. There is something better. There is peace to be found personally and familially. Will there be peace in the world? Not until after the second coming of our Savior but there is always hope. Hope is not a wish. Hope is much more profound and substantive. It is tangible yet ephemeral if we are not obedient and exercising faith. Hope is what we have because of the atonement. Hope is knowledge, partial yet fulfilling. Hope is not complete knowledge but a knowing of things and distilled upon our souls through feelings, impressions and whisperings. Hope is what I strive to attain daily. Without faith there can be no hope. Without hope we are lost and fallen and carnal; the natural man. Faith is the fount out of which, if we are faithful, flows hope.