Sunday, September 07, 2025

Hard times

There will be eclipses in all our lives

These eclipses come and they block the light
I learned on my mission that we can rarely move th eclipse out of the way.
But we can reflect the light into the life of another person 
Other reflect light into us
Ultimately we have to move ourselves out of the eclipse
People we teach have to do the same thing

We all need to “move” ourselves
We all need to reflect light!  

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Life after death?

The Parable

In a mother’s womb were two babies.The first baby asked the other:  “Do you believe in life after delivery?”

The second baby replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery.  Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”

“Nonsense,” said the first. “There is no life after delivery.  What would that life be?”

“I don’t know, but there will be more light than here.  Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths.” 

The doubting baby laughed. “This is absurd!  Walking is impossible.  And eat with our mouths?  Ridiculous.  The umbilical cord supplies nutrition.  Life after delivery is to be excluded.  The umbilical cord is too short.”

The second baby held his ground. “I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here.”

The first baby replied, “No one has ever come back from there.  Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere.”

“Well, I don’t know,” said the twin, “but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us.”

“Mother?” The first baby guffawed. “You believe in mother?  Where is she now?” 

The second baby calmly and patiently tried to explain. “She is all around us.  It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world.”

“Ha. I don’t see her, so it’s only logical that she doesn’t exist.”  

To which the other replied, “Sometimes when you’re in silence you can hear her, you can perceive her.  I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality when it comes….”


Sunday, August 17, 2025

Light

I think of things I can see
So to me the sun = light
The Old Testament says “let there be light”
He then separates the light from the darkness
Then later creates the sun the moon the stars
There is a power in light
It’s not just the power of the sun we see
When we talk about light There is a power in light beyond the light we see from the sun. 

Why do bad things happen to good people?

What are bad things?
Hard times
Loss of job
Death
Pain suffering
Broken marriages
Sickness 

Light can bend…

This happens through refraction, like when light passes through water or glass and changes direction due to a change in speed. Lenses in glasses or cameras work this way. Also, gravity can bend light—think of how massive objects like black holes warp spacetime, bending light’s path


We are full of light


Our lives can be bend through Christ

When we turn to him

He can bend our experiences 


Dads journals

He went back and edited them in different colors

His experiences changed through time

All of our history / experiences change. Sometimes for the better… sometimes for the worse

It’s said that we humans are better at telling the future than telling the past.

So much changes and morfs our experiences that it’s hard to remember what really happened. 

Satan what your experience to break you!

Through Christ all our experiences can bless us.  I promise when you when you turn to Christ he can bend things

Our greatest pains! Sorrows etc

Years later you will look back and say… no that wasn’t the worst time of my life. Maybe just maybe that was a gift! A blessing through Christ. A time of learning! I time of love and growth. 

Temple

The temple is a place of revelation… not of explanation 

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Marriage

When you get married you are consecrating yourself to another person.

You will find that when you give of yourself you will get 100 gold back. 

Thursday, September 05, 2024

Noah Gen 7: 16

16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN
God sealed the door… God kept the water and the evil out. We need God! We need him to do the same in our lives 

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Jesus Christ

Why does the savior have so many names?

Sunday, March 03, 2024

Our stories and the influence Christ can have on them

Our stories can changeLife does that to usLife twists and turns our past and effects how we react today
Painful moments can be misery in the moment
These moments can turn us bitter
But they can also make us better
Christ changes stories
He can heal us completely!
And it doesn’t happen suddenly after we die 
It can happen now… in our lives!
The healer heals our lives… now!
Lean to him!

It’s hard telling the same story at different times in life. 
After dad died I found his journals… as I read through them I found they we’re all edited. Different pens, lines through some parts… new words and sentences written around them. It surprised me. A lot of dads journals were thoughts and those thoughts evolved and grew with time. Over the years I have down the same glance back at my old journals etc and making changes and updates. In some instances the stories have grown and the feelings of the stories have changed. 

20 yrs after my dad died I took one his best friend out to breakfast.i cried as I asked him to tell me about my dad… I explained I remembered him… but time had confused me. I as he this way or that and had I gotten him wrong. He told me what he remembered of my dad. The things he loved. Some personality traits, etc. I was grateful for the conversation but walked away still confused. Time had played tricks on both of us. Some of the things he said resonated and some were way off… and not how I remember or wanted to remember my dad. 

Over the next years this friend of my dad reached out to other close friends and asked for stories of my dad and made me a book to better remember him. I was so grateful for this. It offered many behind the scenes stories of my dads life that help repaint him in my mind.

But the question is still there. When we tell stories of the past… they are often wrong or missing so many parts. 

Pain is an interesting thing… in the immediate moment pain hurts… often so badly we can’t bare it. When my dad died I remember crying so much I didn’t want to talk to anyone. 

However as I look back at this painful moment in time… and it was torture in the moment! Time has changed my view on it. So many things happened that changed to course of me and every sibling I have. 

Christ can change our stories! He can rewrite things. The pain feels different… and almost worth it. By leaning to christ my fathers death has turned my life in a way only God can do… he’s made me better and become a blessing in my life 

Sometimes I struggle writing in my journal or telling stories that have happened to me.


Sunday, January 28, 2024

Prodigal Son

In the story the son swept with hunger feels that pigs are fed better than him. 
I know what it’s like to feed the pigs! 

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Baptism

Baptism by immersion… why important?

We teach it’s a symbol of a new birth. Being born again… maybe it’s more. Maybe it’s a reminder that the gospel works best when we submerse ourselves in it 

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Maui 2022

12-28-2022 today i swam with soohie and CeCe in the pool. it was night and we all had googles. the pool lights were on and we kept swimming down under the water. the girls kept giving me heart and i love you signs with their hands. it touched me! i love these girls so much

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Justice

Is justice as we know it christ like? Is putting someone in jail for the rest of their life the Christlike thing to do? Is that justice?

Do we deserve what we get? 

My top 10 Favorite Talks

God Did Not Put Us Here to Fail 
Jon M Huntsman SR
November 10, 2009 

Enjoy The Ride
Gordon B Hinckley
November 28, 2017 BYUI

His Grace Is Sufficient
Brad Wilcox
July 12, 2011

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox/his-grace-is-sufficient/


The Miracle of a Mission
Elder Holland 
MTC Talk – October 28, 2000 

The Fourth Missionary
Lawrence E. Corbridge 
June 22, 2002 

The Answer is the Doctrine Doctrine, Principle & Application 
Elder David A. Bednar 
November 9, 2010 – Missionary Training Center



Preparation for the Second Coming




Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Journal 9-27-2022

I found myself mad at a few people… people I’ve been made at for a long time! I kept praying to forgive them and be over it… everytime I started a prayer I got distracted and we t back to all the reasons I was so mad at them. I told them off until I was yelling in the car. It’s was when I started yelling I remembered I was praying to be over this. I started the prayer again and again I went back to anger. 

It happened 3-4 more times today… but, it’s been going on for 1+ yr but I went back to my prayer and begged… and something happened. I physically almost threw up as I thought of the different people. When I was done I felt like isiah where he takes about a coal purifying his lips.
And then I felt fine with it! I pray that I can be down! And never angry at those people again.

I returned my car rental and jumped on a shuttle to the airport. There was a tiny little Adrian lady… skin and bones. I was drawn to her! The second I saw her I felt I had to help her! I instantly thought of a $100 bill I had in my wallet. Nah I thought… maybe $20 bucks

I tried to strike up conversation. But didn’t get much out of her. She was from a smal Africa country I had never heard of. She speaks 3 languages and excellent English. 

I looked in my wallet and tried to find a $20… but only had the $100 and knew I needed to give it. 

I handed it to her and said have a great day. She grabbed the money and said thanks. Then she looked at it and sprinkled and looked right up to me and said God bless you sir! And god bless you with more! She high fived me and then something happened. I felt her blessing come over me! I knew her blessing was true and I would get more directly from her blessing! It touched me more than any other giving I’ve ever done! Most people rarely say thanks! This was tender! 

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Neighbor

He trying to justify himself asked who is my neighbor?
Broshop Schefer: Kathy mcLoughlin taking care of her and how hard it was. She had lots of cats! Then she died and he realized how much he loved her and how much it changed him.

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Blessings

I believe that if we’re obedient we will truly be blessed.

In fact the promise is in the scriptures

Some will complain that god is not a vending machine. He’s not a transactional God

I believe we can make and keep covenants with God and he will always fulfill his part!

Blessings from God are awesome
There is some awe in them

Sometimes life is awful
Full of awe

God is taking us somewhere 

Saturday, September 10, 2022

Can we change each others lives?

Can we change each others lives? 

I believe we can… 

Direction

Dad used to say our Heavenly Father doesn’t care how high you are… all he cares about is what direction you’re facing. 

Sunday, September 04, 2022

wisdom

noun
the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.
"listen to his words of wisdom"
Similar to intelligence

We all have Wisdom in an area. usually we got that wisdom by going through an experience (usually a hard experience)

During the pandemic I learned importance of being around others. I also saw the opposite of wisdom. I saw opinions everywhere. I was also told by so many “wise” people park hat me and my family should do. It hurt! 

Patriarchs usually have great wisdom.
I don’t like advice from many anymore.

Thursday, September 01, 2022

Fatherhood

Being a father has been the treat of my life! 

It’s taught me more about love than I could imagine! It’s also given me a motivation I’ve never felt before. 

I have a unique perspective on children. 3 of mine are adopted and 2 are natural birth. Although love for them grew differently I find that the love is the same. 

Better than any trip, travel, adventure, discovery, song, dance, or desert. Although, Fatherhood includes all those items it have been the best!

Goals
- always take my kids calls. Not just phone calls… but anytime they call my name I want to stop what I’m doing, go running, and help them with whatever I can.
- always teach them. I’m their dad! Although I want to be their best friends I really want to help them succeed! I want to always stay a teacher and helper! That’s more important

Sunday, May 08, 2016

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day!

INTRO

Paige 13
Sailor 10
Cash 7
Sophie almost 2 
wife pregnant with #5

Saying that out loud is scary!!!!

I’m so grateful to be a parent. It truly is the biggest joy of my life… I tell you this only because I didn’t get that chance until later in life… long after I thought it wasn't possible. Long after I was considered a menace to society... and long after my hot teenage body was gone… and hair. 

I got married when I was 34 to my first crush!!! And when I married my wife I also married into 3 beautiful kids… things which maybe don’t fit the "mormon mold”

So my talk today is for moms that don’t feel like they always fit the perfect mold of motherhood… 
Maybe you’ve been unable to have children
Or maybe you have children and that’s your problem
Maybe you’re not the mother you thought you would be
Or maybe everything is so perfect that you don’t fit the mold either
in all honesty there is a no mold for mothers other than we all have a mother! 
and in most cases our moms mean the world to us. 
Being married I’m seeing first hand this amazing and beautiful difference between men and women. Boys and girls. We come here with completely different gifts, talents and perspectives. And these differences are beautiful and need to be protected! 

In our house Cash and I are surrounded by 4 beautiful girls and I'm learning all about hair, trees, flowers, dolls, puppies, and one of my baby's favorite words… “Pretties” which describes beautiful pretty things like getting her pony tails done, or painting her nails, putting on lipstick, pretty dresses, and coloring everything… My wife, my daughters Paige, Sailor, and Sophie make everywhere they go more beautiful and fun. Cash and I struggle to comb our hair. And all of these girls have a special sensitivity... especially to the spirit.

I first saw the spiritual strength of women on my mission in Paraguay. I served as the branch president in a small rural area. There were not active or worthy males to take the position… and yet there were 50-60 amazing women raising their families in the gospel either by themselves or with an less active or non-member husband. Since then I’ve seen many women step up and do the same and yet I’ve rarely seen men with less active wives be able to make it very long. Women have a spiritual strength that we men have to work hard for. They have a selflessness that many of us men lack. 

I remember my dad bringing this up a few times to me as well... By saying how amazing it is that men and women are so different because he wanted to kill me the day before but mom saved my life.

Sisters! There are many gifts, qualities, blessings that make you all so beautiful, unique and an amazing additions to our lives and world. 

Brothers and sisters I’ve had a similar experience many times walking in and out of homes with clients. The home is perfect! everything they want… and yet right before we leave they say something like “This house is so weird” and I have to stop them and point out something I can see so clearly because I was there for so long. I have to show them that this is a single guys home… and its missing a certain touch. then the lights click on and they realize the house is perfect…  

Now I'm not talking decorating when I say this. I talking something deeper. You women make every part of our world a more beautiful place.
Bill Withers sang: Ain't no sunshine when she's gone… Only darkness every day
Brothers and sisters: Without my wife and daughters I don't even open the blinds… so in my life… he’s spot on!
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Bros and sisters: I have no desire to live in a world without women! Your love will help us all get through this life

quick stories
1. My own mother is one of the most amazing woman I know!! She's gone through some hard things. My father died when I was 21… leaving my mom to raise 6 kids all in their most vulnerable years of life. My mother is a saint!!! A modern day pioneer! After my father died my mom rented 2 Uhauls (this biggest ones you could get) strapped the family station wagon to the back and drove from CA to UT to start a new life. My mom is a woman of integrity and love. My mother like so many of you has always been incredible member of the relief society. I watched my mother for years take care of others and serve through this society. I remember waking one morning after my mom and several ladies spent half the night tieing quilts while talking about everyone in need… I made a poor joke then about how it should be called the gossip society. When my father died the relief society was right there and quickly went into action! Members 100s of miles away were notified within minutes and started reaching out to help my mom and family. I will love the relief society and the amazing service you women in it do for as long as I live. These same women have called, served, and checked in on my mom regularly for over 14 years now. I love them with all my heart!!! and know the organization of the relief society truly is heaven sent!
1. I met my wife at age 15 in the cafeteria at Ricks college. I say met… but no words were spoken... she was and is the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. 20 years later… she finally gave me a chance! She is the most steady women I’ve ever met… She too has gone through very hard things! and come out on top! She’s a woman of purity, righteousness, and love. She stands tall for what is right always! Our women are full of beauty, gifts, qualities and blessings that I love and adore about them all!!!!
2. my last thought is about my grandmother… about 10-12 years ago… I graduated from college and tried to make it big!!! Instead I fell on my face a few times. I found a period of life where I went by my grandmas house when I was down… and she would quickly sit me down and feed me and I would tell her all about my life. She’s always had a special love for me and all her grandkids. But, this was a different stage of life for me… and I started telling her my struggles and problems. I quickly found that she loved me entirely… and didn’t care at all that I had made some mistakes. now only 12 yrs later… I find myself with the sweet grandma… now helpless and bed ridden… and in need of being spoon fed. she can barely talk. and can’t walk… But, she’s still beautiful to me and I still feel her overwhelming love for me. I will forever be grateful to her and the heritage she’s leaving behind. a heritage of love, family, service. 

Sisters I love you all! I hope you all have an amazing mothers day. I hope we men  can all be more worthy of your love, devotion, beauty, and strength and say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen!


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Having a testimony can bless your life!

Science tells us that our bodies are constantly changing.
Not just growing up and getting older
The cells in our bodies are constantly dying and breaking down & regrowing.
An obvious example... Our skin flakes off and new skin takes it's place.
Our hair falls out and sometimes I'm told it grow back.
What's taking place on the outside of our bodies is also happening inside.
Cells are constantly growing and replacing old cells, organs, and tissues.
Some scientist say that every cell in our body is completely different every 7 years.
Meaning that every cell in my body is completely different than the ones I had seven years ago.
So we're always changing!

Why's this important?
Central to my testimony is this idea that we can change!
That we can become better.
Now I not talking on a physical sense I'm talking in a spiritual sense.
This idea that I can be BETTER tomorrow than I ever will be today!!!
That I can change.
Unlike my physical body that is susceptible to disease and age
My spirit can be more in tune, stronger, more powerful, fresher, and more beautiful TOMORROW than today.
My weak things can be made strong
That I can rebuild myself better...
Better said... that through the atonement. GOD can rebuild me better.
And I can be changed

My topic is "How having a testimony can bless your life"
In all honestly I was taken back
Can a testimony Bless my life???
There was a time when having a testimony meant
I had a list of things I couldn't and shouldn't do
It meant preparing and going on a mission when everyone else had no worries.
Having a testimony doesn't mean we will be excluded from hard stages in life.
It just means that a testimony can help us get through the hard times
We're all in a stage of life.
Maybe you're trying to find your testimony and who you really are.
Maybe you just got kicked out of a singles ward
And you've found yourself at a married ward try to figure out what you have in common with others.
Maybe you are married and that's hard
Or maybe you're married and you haven't been able to have kids... I can't imagine how tough that must be
Or maybe you have kids... and that's tough
Or you're trying to get on your feet for the first, second, or third time.
This whole economy has thrown a wrench in your plans.
Maybe it's your health or sickness
or coping with the loss of a loved one.
There are many tough stages in life and they're not easy

I want to share my testimony
It's simple, it has 2 parts
1) God loves us, he guides and leads through inspired leaders
2) The gift of the Holy Ghost is real. We can all feel it! and it's truly a gift!!

I've done some stupid things in life.
But one thing I've always done well was read the BofM
Ever since I can remember I've read at least a verse nearly every day.
When I was about 16 This idea came to my mind that it really didn't matter what I did.
That somewhere there was a book that said if I failed or succeeding life
and God already knew what was going tot happen to me so it didn't matter what I did.
I was in my room alone and I was reading
I read a scripture
and felt I should read it again.
I reread it 5-6 times not really knowing what it was saying.
But I knew it was talking to me
2 Nephi 10:23
23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are
free to act for yourselves--to choose the way of everlasting
death or the way of eternal life.
This scripture told me that I had the choice!
That I could choose!
And more importantly.
Craig... cheer up your heart!!
God loves you
He and knows you!
and my choices DO matter

I've got 3 short stories to help illustrate my testimony

1)
I went on my mission to help people!
To help them change their lives!
Not just get baptized, hit a wall, and leave the church.
I was hoping for generations to be changed and blessed.
These people feel the spirit and work sooo hard to change their lives and be baptized.
They get baptized... and then what???
That what is the Temple.
You always hear about people that sell everything they've got, go to the temple, and they're blessed.
Well, most people in Paraguay could have sold everything they had and still not have had enough to get to a Temple.
It broke my heart!
I wanted to help them soo bad.
I didn't know what to do
I'll never forget President Hinckley talking about looking at a blueprints of Temple and having a clear impression how they could be modified
Made smaller, easier to build, and maintain
and therefore make more all around the world
I will never forget the feeling of being in a little old stake center in Paraguay when a temple there was announced!!
Everyone was hugging each other, laughing, and crying.
I remember feeling this overwhelming peace.
It was so strong I could feel it around me
I knew that God knew these people!
He knew how poor they were
He knew their struggles
He knew their prayers
And he knew that the opportunity would not be there unless it was brought to them
he had an answer.
It taught me a huge lesson.
I'm grateful for the spirit I felt
But more importantly
I'm grateful for an inspired leader that was prompted and listened
and touched the lives of millions.

2)
Arlindo Alvarez was an incredible newly returned missionary
he was the missionary we all hoped to be
He wanted to come over and work with us every day!
He had the fire of an amazing missionary!!
He had the spirit and would help us teach anyone we could find.
I quickly became aware of 2 things.
1) He was the type of missionary we all wanted to be and we all hope each other are! he had the spirit with him
2) He came home to nothing
Unlike most of us who come home to proud parents, friends and family. Lots of support, jobs, and school
He had nothing waiting for him
In fact, his father was mad he had left and NOT gotten a deadend job working in the fields.
His jr high level education wasn't going to get him a job.
I love this guy!
He was a huge blessing to our area!
I quickly saw this road block he was at
Unfortunately, I got transferred and I saw him about a year later.
When I did I could see life had beaten the missionary out of him.
He hadn't been able to find decent work
He met the wrong crowds
and was struggling to get on his feet.
I remember my heart being broken
The poor kid didn't have a chance!
I'll never forget a priesthood session a year later where our inspired leader President Hinckley talked about the Perpetual Educational fund
and how it could bless the lives of people like Arlindo
My testimony was strengthened
I felt the spirit tell me that God knew Arlindo
He loved him and wanted to bless him!
God know us!
He knows the struggles we're going through
And if we listen to the spirit there will be an answer
Maybe the answer doesn't exist yet but the answer will come

3)
A personal note

I grew up with the best family!
I had parents that loved and supported me in everything I did
My mother is a saint and with 6 kids never missing anything
My dad taught church institute and I think that's part of the reason why growing up he was the happiest person I've ever met
He never walked in the door without putting his hands high above his head and saying
Yay, look who's hear!
I said I said Yay look who's here?
and he'd keep saying it till we noticed him and said hi dad.
Sometimes he'd come home late and we'd all be in bed... trying so hard to sleep
and we'd hear him come in and do his yay.
for some reason being in bed motivated us a little more and we'd yell yay daddy's here.
We'd hear mom say something like don't wake them up I just put them down.
but dad would have to open our doors and peak in.
He'd play a game like take our picture
he'd say 1, 2, 3 smile
and flick the light on and off like a flash take our picture
and tell us how we looked.
nothing was better than his tucking us in
he'd rip your blanket off throw it in the air and say
hi'a hi'a hi'a
A day doesn't go by without my mom fixing food for others.

I was in a fast and testimony meeting in Rexburg Idaho
My Tender sweet little potato farmer bishop Swendamen was at the stand.
He said he felt strongly to share some special stories of his parents
He told us how much he loved them
and then invited us all to go home and tell our parents how much we love them
I felt the spirit so strong!
I was touched by his message
So when I got home I called my parents and told them I loved them like I did every week
how much I loved them
but then I told them how grateful I was for all they had done for me
It was different, tender and more sweet than I every had done before
especially with my dad
That was the last time I got to speak with my dad.
He passed a away a couple days later
I'm so grateful for an inspired leader that listened
I'm so grateful for the spirit I felt
It told me that God knew me
He knew I had a tough road ahead
He knew I needed to talk with my Dad one last time

I shared these special stories with you as part of my testimony.
Knowing that some might just look at them as nothing more than stories
Nothing more that coincidences in life.
I look at them more as blessing
and as some of the tender mercies from God.
If I had not been in tune, If I had not listened, If I had not tried...
they may not be anything more than stories.
And so it is with blessings

Brothers and Sisters
The Gospel can change us
It can make us better!
He truly can turn a
MESS into a MESSAGE, a TEST into a TESTimony, a TRIal into a TRIumph, and a VICTim into a VICTory.
I'm grateful for inspired leaders
I'm grateful for the spirit in my life that can guide me
We truly can prosper in the land!
We can and are blessed!

I pray that we can be all get our lives in order
I pray that we can get better in tune with the spirit
That we can go to the Temple often
That we can live this year in a way in which we can al be blessed and prosper in the land.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

God did not put us her to fail

My favorite talk right now:
Jon M. Huntsman
"God did not put us here to fail"

It's about finding your personal dream and going after it with all you've got.

Shortly after my dad died I started looking for men to look up too. Not to replace my dad but to help fill a missing void. I put together a list of some of the most successful men I know. In doing so I learned a hard lesson! Not all successful men are Good men!! My father who made an average living was one of the best, wisest, and most caring men I've ever met.

It reminded me how shallow I can be. I was measuring success strictly on finances... When my missing dad was one of the most average financially men I know... and yet he lived one of the most successful lives I've seen. He did more with his means than most!!

There's a song right now by Miranda Lambert that has the line "I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am" I think it's a perfect description of me lately. I have dreams and passions that I've let slide recently for no good reason. I've had goals and boundaries that I've put aside or forgotten about.

This talk reminded me of those dreams. Most importantly it helped give me the desire to go back out there and work hard for my dreams! Ironically, it's by one of the richest men I've ever heard of... so maybe, I'm wrong again about wealthy successful people.

Hopefully, you'll love it!

Sunday, November 08, 2009

9 years ago today 11-8-2009

It was nine years ago today that my father died! One of the greatest men to ever have lived. I ran into a girl that grew up in the walnut creek stake today at church. We talked about how we had never known each other growing up. Then she stopped and said that she had heard my father speak once at a youth conference or something. She talked about how amazing he was. I loved hearing it! and really didn't want her to stop... for the simple reason that I want so badly to remember.

I also think it was interesting that it happened today of all days. Just a simple quick little reminder of my great day 9 years to the day... and maybe another tender mercy that there's more to this life than we often give credit and remember.

He really was great!

I've thought a lot about relationships lately and "what makes a great relationship"... with anyone? I'm not sure there's anything new or earthshaking in the qualities necessary to make things great. They are qualities that maybe we should all have. Simple things like being kind and a good listener. Actually caring about the person you're listening too and remembering the conversations we have. Helping them achieve their goals and the things they really want to do. Being there when we need them. Maybe willing to help occasionally... simple things right? Things all good people should just do... but for some reason not always common qualities. And even more rare to find people that keep these qualities with everyone. Not just the good looking interesting people with lots of money.

My dad was one of those people! One of those people that was honestly caring about everyone he met. really wanting to do whatever he could to bless others, even people he didn't know well. He'd give them a car or anything else he had if there was a chance it could better someone... even if there with 5 drivers in his own family and only 2 cars.

I'm not saying this to brag! Honestly I guess the whole purpose of me writing this is just to relive and maybe better understand. Understand who he really was and how he touched so many peoples lives. Maybe just to better remember and get acquainted with a great man... my dad.

So today, nine years later and in his memory, I vow to be a better listener to everyone. Spending a little more time to really get to know everyone that crosses my path. Thinking how I can help others, and then be there ready when they might need me.

I love dad! still

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Confidence

Confidence can come and go!
Do I control it? Inspire it, Exude it, or hide it?

Can I grow it, or harbor it?
Do others give it?

Confidence can make all the difference!
It can create!
It can make one attractive, build strength, cause success, and inspire genius!
There is power in Confidence!
It overcomes, its determined, and it enjoys!