Faster yet the same

I felt like I was walking a lot quicker today. I had a bounce in my step, the wind in my face going and at my back coming, birds were chirping, the sun was coming up and turning the sky a beautiful orange, pink, red, yellow type color (you had to see it to believe it, without a doubt (as if there ever was one) there is a God and He puts just absolutely beautiful things here for us to enjoy IF we take the time to enjoy them), good music (doobie brothers and I ran out of music before the end of my walk (I guess they made shorter ablums back in the day)) (wow, 2 double parentheticals in my
run-on sentence!! (yay for me!)) (make that 3) and a pleasant stride. I run out of music, don't look at my iPhone. and just keep walking and I get home and it is exactly the same time as other days. Weird how time stretches or contracts based on your mental image of things that day. It's sort of like going somewhere on vacation, it seems to take forever, and then coming home is seems so much faster/shorter than when you were going. Anyway, things are going well at work, at home. My youngest boy finally had his anesthesia wear off and he told me his mouth was sore. Poor little lamb. My youngest had a little to major disappointment yesterday. I wish I could take away all the hurt but I understand that is how we grow as well. Had a quiet evening at home. We were going to go to the temple but a couple of things came up and we are going tonight. I love the temple. I love the feeling that accompanies me to and from there and that resides with me throughout the week. I guess we could spend all our time there but we have to earn a living and provide and be doing good among men. We could run a lot faster yet be in the same place in the end. I, at times, prefer to take my time and enjoy that which is around me. If I go faster, I miss things. So in some cases, not all, faster is not the same.

Much Better

Today's walk went much better. I was faster and I went farther than I ever have. I made it to my old offices. Kind of a mixed blessing there. Good to be able to walk that far and sad to remember all that happened there. It was good and it was extremely taxing and trying, the business I mean. I learned a lot and I don't want to repeat the same mistakes. What is the purpose of going through mistakes if we don't learn from them. Work went well yesterday. I was out in Tooele with my guy. Met with a person from the hospital out there, had lunch and talked. Not sure what we can do there. We also met with several people from the school district and it went very well. I think we are going to be able to do some damage out there. Went home teaching. I love doing that. It's nice to visit the members and feel of their spirit and love for the Lord. What a great blessing it is to serve and to be worthy to serve. I feel so blessed and not worthy of all that has been given to me. I listened to 22 chapters in the Book of Mormon yesterday; 2nd Nephi where Nephi quotes from Isaiah. Love that part. There is one part there that always touches me where it is repeated several times, "for all this His anger is not turned away, but His Hand is stretched out still". How many chances does our Father give us? He is always there for us. When we make mistakes, He has provided a Savior for us, our Elder Brother, and we can make our way back. Granted, it's not much fun and it is a hard road and it would be better to not make mistakes but we all do and the atonement is what allows us to return and to make this life, more than it ever could be, much better!

Slow

I felt slow and lethargic this morning. It had been 4 days since my last walk. I got up to go yesterday and it was SNOWING!!!!! It's the end of May and we are still getting snow. You gotta love global warming or climate change is the new euphemism. It's all crap. Read some studies that said the world has actually cooled since the mid 90's but that is not the agenda of the environmental radicals so nothing is said about that. I do believe we have to be wise and careful stewards over our world but we do live in an age of progress and advances. I would hate to go back to outhouses and horses. Can you imagine the pollution that horses would give off? Anyway, I know you all think I am already a bit slow but I felt even slower this morning. My back was tight and tweaked and it took quite a while for it to loosen up during the walk this morning. I mowed the lawn yesterday after a snowstorm in the morning. Incredible. My youngest daughter had a piano recital yesterday. She was awesome! She works so hard for what she gets. She has had to work harder to progress and get good grades than all of her other siblings. She appreciates things she does and accomplishes. I love and appreciate all my kids. I am so blessed to be a part of their lives. I especially appreciate my wife who puts up with so much. You all know she does and so do you sweetie! Her calling and election is made sure because of me. At least I am good for something... School is winding down finally for my baby. The older kids have been done for a while so it will be nice when she can relax as well. My youngest son gets his wisdom teeth extracted today. That sounds like so much fun... He is planning on watching movies and playing WII all day today. I don't think he will be doing much of anything but sleeping and nodding off. Life continues to be good. I learned some new things about wood floors yesterday. It will help. I am grateful for all I have and what surrounds me. This morning was so beautiful, with the birds singing and the creek bubbling even if I am/was a bit slow...

Clumsy

I felt really clumsy this morning. I like it better in Spanish: Torpe. Sounds more like what I feel and felt on my walk. I walked the same amount of distance; Maverik and I are becoming almost too familiar with each other... I just couldn't get into a rhythm. Rhythm is an interesting word, isn't it? It is hard to type but it looks cool, like it doesn't have any vowels or something. Just noticed that, sorry for the tangent. Anyway, there was no rhythm or anything and it felt like my walk took forever but it really didn't. Curious how the mind works and perceives, isn't it? Like how some "minutes" take forever and some "minutes" fly by. It's all perception and what we are doing at the time. I know getting to a vacation spot always takes a lot longer, it seems, to get there than coming back. Anyway, work went really well yesterday. Had a great meeting with someone who distributes for Maverik and we got a lot of information that will help us put a bid together. That wasn't clumsy. The guy talked for about 3 hours about things. It was really good. Had a Rotary function, GSE from Argentina. Nice. Had to leave early to get to a reception and saw our oldest single daughter there. Got a hug, nice! Life is going well. My youngest son got 3 shots yesterday. Wasn't happy but it's all in preparation for his mission. Gets his wisdom teeth out on Tuesday. That will be interesting. I guess the more we do something the smoother it gets. Like the gospel. The more we are obedient, the easier it gets for us. If we stray, it's hard to come back but it is possible. That is why our Older Brother came, to help us. It is so hard to take that first step back. It can just feel really clumsy.

Consequences

Didn't go walking this morning due to consequences from yesterday. Back up, I love Mexican food and I love salsa. I went to an restaurant with a "salsa bar" with all sorts of exotic salsas and it was WONDERFUL! Of course, I personally LOVE salsa and the heat and flavor but my BODY doesn't care so much for it and rebelled this morning after things ran their course. I just ain't as young as I used to be. I can handle, generally, fresh japalenos and serranos and even stronger peppers without adverse consequences. What my body declares adamantly off limits is anything spicy that has been pickled in vinegar. No bueno! Very no bueno! Anyway I was paying the price this morning for my foray into exotic salsas. Doing a bit better now. Had a great day yesterday up in Heber. Things are going well and are looking good for the company for whom I work. Our base is expanding. Went to go do visits last night. Had a great and spiritual experience with a brother who is in the hospital. Very touching. Also was able to give my baby a blessing last night prior to her try-outs for a choir today. My youngest son had his mission physical! Exciting. It's interesting how we can rationalize life with our choices, like I did yesterday. It won't be too bad, was my thought. Well, it was. Not horrible but disruptive to my routine. I can't imagine what my reaction would be when before my Savior at my judgement and I try to justify some of my choices with the idea that it wasn't going to be too bad. Anything that takes me away from here I want to ultimately be, which is with my family in God's presence, is a poor choice. Love choices, love making choices (as long as I make good ones) but where I ultimately fail to rationalize and can't, is with the consequences.

Later

I slept in this morning until 5:33! I was so mad. I got to bed about 11:30 so I can see a direct correlation in the time I go to bed and the time I get up. Interesting. It doesn't work that way necessarily on the week end, I go to bed later and can sleep until like 6:45 which is kind of nice but I really had to hustle this morning. Good walk and the perspective is a lot different when there is light around and not just shadows and the hint of dawn. I went to my youngest daughter's concert last night. She did awesome. All in all it was a nice evening and the music was really nice except for one song that was absolutely murdered. It was a popular song when I was growing up or just after my mission, I can't remember. My mind, as you know, ain't what it used to be. Of course I didn't have that much to start... Anyway it was a nice evening. It rained yesterday. In fact, it was 30 degrees cooler in the afternoon than it was the day previous. If you don't like the weather here, just wait 5 minutes... Anyway, it is later than normal for me right now. I have to hurry and shower, take my baby to school and then I have a breakfast meeting and then off to Provo. Should be a full day. I should also finish the Book of Mormon again this week. It is weird, I have like a hunger or thirst for it right now. It has helped so much. It is such a comfort to me. I understand, in a small, feeble way, what they said of old that they lost their appetite and all desire for sleep when the Book of Mormon came to them. I enjoy it so much. Life is good. The church is true. We have a prophet guiding us today. What a comfort that is to know now and not to have to find it out later...

Consistent

I have found the secret to life and success: be consistent. That is it. Well, as long as you are consistent in good things and being obedient to the commandments. Consistency is the key to everything. If I only walked once a week or so, I would not expect to progress but if I do it consistently, I am improving and it feels good. The mornings are beautiful. The birds chirp and sing, there is a creek by which I pass and the water sounds so inviting, the sky lightens and dark things become grey and then are lit by the rising sun. Beautiful. I got another power point done at work for a future sales meeting. Work is progressing well. We are a bit low for the month but I think we will have a better 2nd half of the month than we had the 1st part of the month. It was 83 degrees yesterday, almost felt like late spring but it will only be mid 60's today, we have a rain storm coming in. My son who is preparing for a mission had a dental exam yesterday and he has laterally impacted wisdom teeth and will have them removed next Tuesday. Fun for him! Things are progressing for him. It is exciting. Life is going well, there are challenges, as always, but that just allows me to rely more on my Father and depend on my Savior. See, as we progress in life, there will be challenges and we will be judged on how we handle them and endure to the end. It's all a matter of being consistent!

Maverik

I made it to Maverik today. Longest walk yet. Felt good and I have a decent sweat going right now. I have to take my youngest to school in a few minutes for choir rehearsal. She has a performance tomorrow and she has to be to school my 6:30am. I will stay dressed the way I am and sweating until I get back from taking her there. She is good and she is already up and has had breakfast. She is amazing. Of course all of her older siblings were like this their first year of high school. I just hope she stays that way until the end but one never knows... Church was good yesterday. Felt the spirit and renewed my covenants. It was wonderful. Had dinner, carne asada and other delectables yesterday. Yummy. Went to Provo over the week end with my youngest for a multi-cultural program at BYU. I hope it helps her appreciate her other half. I worry about my kids not knowing enough about their Ecuadorian side because they are here, they have lived here, were born and raised here. I hope they can appreciate all that their mother has, her rich heritage, history and culture that she has to offer. I need to make a more conscientious effort to promote that as well. It's not enough to speak Spanish, you need to immerse yourself in the culture as well. I hope that they can. Well, it's time to take my daughter to school. I get to drive by the Maverik on the way there!

Shows

I have a couple of trade shows this week, i.e., today and tomorrow. I have one in Salt Lake and another one early tomorrow, like 7am start, up in Logan. Should be a good couple of days. I also went yesterday and got started on a pop-up booth display for the company for whom I work. We have had just a vinyl banner and this will help us have a better presence with our competitors. Make us look more like we can compete with them, which we can, but sometimes, as you know, appearance is everything and we have to put forth the appearance of the others. I measured my morning walk and I found out that I am walking around 3 miles everyday in about 45-48 minutes, depending on how I am feeling. It feels really good. Today was the first day in a while that it wasn't cloudy outside and it was a beautiful walk, albeit a bit chilly. Clouds keep the temperature in. Did visits yesterday. Great time. I love doing that. Makes me feel involved. Found out a brother in our group had a toe amputated yesterday. He has a problem with his feet, got that toe infected, got better, got infected again and had options, the most draconian of which was the permanent solution. I think I might have tried the others but I don't know. I will visit him today. Life is going well. Work is going well. I finally got caught up at the office and on email, reading, answering and filing. Took about 3 hours to do that. I hope I never get behind in church. I always want to be at the front, doing what is right. And when you do what is right, are living the commandments, seeking to serve and help, it shows.

Sweet

I had a great walk this morning. It was sweet. I had a good rhythm and I listened to one of my favorite bands of all time: ZZ Top. Fun walk and I was half-singing with the songs. Good walk, good morning, pretty with the sun coming up and out between the clouds and looking at the dark and white clouds. Pretty morning. Work went well yesterday. Look like one of my guys up on Ogden is going to pick up another high school. Sweet. That should help him quite a bit with his numbers being a bit down over last year and, selfishly, it will help my son with money as he prepares for his mission. Sweet! The weather is a lot cooler when I walk in the morning as opposed to riding the bike inside where it was warmer and I would sweat much more readily inside but I am starting to sweat more outside as well so that must mean a couple of things: I am walking a bit faster and it is getting a LOT warmer outside. We get to go on visits tonight and I always look forward to that, it is sweet to visit the members of our group and feel of their spirit. I enjoy my calling. I have had the opportunity to help a couple of people in our church group that are without work with their resumes and how to go about the job search through networking. It was been a blessing and sweet for me. The gospel in and of itself is one of service and helping. That is what our Saviour did for us: Helped and served us through His example and the atonement. I want to have a better relationship with my Lord. It is right now, and it will be even more so later on as I am obedient, sweet.

Why?

Why do things have to happen? Why does my grandson fall off the monkeybars and break a wrist? Why does my family love me? Why does God love me? Why is the world so beautiful? Why was I born now, into the gospel? Why was I born of such goodly parents? Why are there set-backs in life? Why do we have challenges? Why, when things are apparently going well, are there roadbumps? Why is there such goodness in the world? Why do we not listen and obey when we know it is best for us? Why, when I look into my wife's eyes, do I feel such a depth of love and patience? Why do I like ice cream so much? Why does it take forever for weight to come off? Why does it seem that I can smell food, any food, not just the good food, and put on weight? Why am I so blessed? Why did my dad die when I was a baby? Why did my sister die so young? Why can't I bo more, be better and get things done? Why do I like going to Disneyland, the happiest place on earth, so much? Why do I like SeaWorld so much? Why do I love to scuba dive? Why don't we have gills and can breathe underwater? Why is my yard getting steeper each year when I mow it? Why do you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? Why do kids have to grow up? Why don't they like the "cool" clothes we try and get for them now when they loved the clothes we got them when they were younger? Why do I like walking so much in the morning now? Why can I feel like I really talk to God sometimes when I pray and other times I can't get things past the ceiling? Why does God love me so much? Why?, because the answer to all these questions is because it is the wonderful plan for which we fought and worked and wanted, that's why!

Post Office, Baby!

I made it to the Post Office this morning! In the rain! Felt good. Wasn't sure if I was sweating or it was the rain, sitting here, it is definitely sweat. Not that you needed to read that but it feels good. I had a great walk. Listened to one of my wife's favorite groups: Abba. I know but it is kind of bouncy and cheery in a non-heterosexual way... If you know what I mean. Quit laughing! I know you are. Mother's Day was interesting. I botched things up, as always, and it wasn't the way it should have been. Had all the single kids there for church. It was great. Nice to be together as almost a whole family. I can it if we had our whole family together; we would take up 2 full rows with all the kids, wives and grandkids. It's cool to see how the generations keep growing. I have a son that drives truck. Tough life. I admire him for doing that to provide for his family but he is missing so much. I hope he can figure out how to get home and watch his little girls grow up. I remember I had a job where I was traveling every week. I did that a couple of times, once for ServiceMaster (no longer in business, at least the part I was doing) and then a company after the company shut down. At least SM covered my expenses and the other one didn't. Tough life. I wouldn't want to do that again. Traveling gets old, fast. I missed my kids and more than anything, I missed my sweet wife, her smile, her hugs and her goodness. Well, I had better get going. I think we need to stretch ourselves in the church, in our lives, spiritually. We need to constantly be reaching for new heights and seeking new guidance and inspiration, sort of like reaching the Post Office, baby!

Arghh!

Arghh!!!!! I have a routine in the morning. You all know what it is. I thought I had finished my routine this morning when I started my walk and I got about 1/4 mile into things and I needed to extend my routine. I was so peeved! There is some good news, however. I was able to come up the hill on the north side of the church and not be winded at the end upon arriving at the house. Neato. Anyway I have sales meeting this morning and I must scoot. I just hope when I am called before the judgement seat, I have done all that I can do and know that I should do so I am not again, like this morning, left saying ARRGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

22

I got married 22 years ago. It seems like 22 days but as I look back, I can't believe how much has happened in those 22 years. I am happier and more in love with each day. I smile when I think of my sweetie. She fills me with such joy and contentment. Hard to believe she has put up with me this long. I don't know how she has done it. Her place in the heavens is secure. Life is going well. Work is going well. There are a couple of things that concern me but they will work out for our good. We went and delivered plants to the single sisters last night. I think we did some good. It was fun to visit them. Some were home, some we just left on their doorstep. It was good. I love being involved in my calling. It feels good to do that. I kind of feel like the people did in the Book of Mormon when things were going well. All they would write is like, "and the thirty and third year passed away in peace and there were no contentions in the land" and that is how I feel. Sure there are challenges and frustrations but they are so insignificant in the eternal scheme of things that there truly is peace in my life. I am not sure if I provide that same peace to those I love, I know I can be "challenging" at times but all in all, life is wonderful and today I love the number 22!

Reached

I reached the goal I had set out for myself yesterday: I had walked to the former Albertson's and back in 40 minutes. Doesn't sound like much but it's about 2.6 miles so my pace isn't too bad. Today I made it to Founder's Park. Feels good. I can't run because of my knees but I can walk briskly and that is what I am doing. It is also just as good for you to walk quickly and less deliterious on your joints, in case you were wondering. I am trying to justify not jogging but I feel good in what I am doing and I still work up quite a sweat and the last part of my walk, coming up our hill is enough to get my heart pounding pretty good. I have realized one thing: I am not smooth. I see people running and walking and they make it look so effortless and smooth and I am just kind of herky jerky and I think that works me out a little more. I don't know but that's my story and I am sticking to it. My son up at college is sick or was sick yesterday. Asked me about blessings and how many people to give one. It was a great discussion. He is a good kid. All of my kids are good. Although they aren't really kids anymore. I can't believe how fast time has gone and how fast it is going right now. I look around and it's May already. Where does the time go? I feel like Jacob again that my life is passing me by as if in a dream. It just doesn't seem possible that things are moving so quickly. I just feel so blessed to be a part of my children's and my wife's life. They make me so much better and the build on the foundation that my mom, and in part, my dad have give me. I am truly blessed. I just ho[pe and pray that I can be the example that my family and neighbors need so that together we can attain the goal for which we are reaching.

Conference

We had a regional/stake conference this week-end. It was wonderful to sit at the feet of apostles and other leaders and listen to their counsel for us. Our Stake Leaders also gave us sage and poignant advice on Saturday. What a wonderful time it is to be alive and to have the gospel restored on the earth in its fulness and to be partakers of this wonderful gift and promise. I feel to exclaim as did Jacob: How great the goodness of our God! He is wonderful. He is forgiving. He sent His Son so He could forgive us if we ask and truly repent. He has given us all. He has shared His Power with us through the Priesthood. He has provided us this beautiful world and all that in it is. He has provided us His Spirit, His Testator, the Holy Ghost to prompt and guide us. We have access to the Holy Ghost as a "constant companion" as we are true and faithful. He has provided us commandments and guides to help us return to Him. He wants us to come home. He has provided eternal families and ordinances so that we can be a forever family. He allows us to choose peace and eternal life or captivity and death. He provides us hope and salvation. We choose whom to we serve. There is nothing more important to me than the gospel and my relationship with my God. Because if I am good with him, I am good with my dear, sweet wife and my children. There is no other God but our God. He is mighty to save, He is mighty to love, He is my joy and my light, He is my God! I appreciate how reflective I am after conference.