First things first I'll address the pictures. The one one the left is me standing in the donut part of Donut Falls (story below). The one on the rights is of Amie and I in front an undisclosed waterfall (feel free to post if you know where that waterfall is...)
Well, it’s Sunday again… The past few weeks have been really great and I need to write it down. My birthday was a few weeks ago and then I had my children with me for over a week, not to mention that things between my wife and I have been very endearing… I am a very blessed man.
A few weeks before my birthday I was talking with Amie in jest about how it seems that as you grow older birthdays take on less and less importance with those around you. As a child your birthday is a huge deal and as you grow older, not so much. She had asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday and I couldn’t think of anything that didn’t cost a mint… She took it upon herself to make my birthday a memorable one, and she did. After a little discussion we decided that a get together with some close friends would be just fine so she planned a hike and a picnic the day before my b-day and a family dinner the day of. We called the three families that seem to be the closest to us, Ryan and Jennifer Park, Grant and Michele Eggertsen and Chad and Erica Williams to hike to Donut Falls with us. Everyone brought their families (minus my girls) for the 45 minute hike up to the falls and then we drove down the canyon to a picnic area for tin foil dinner and a red velvet birthday cake care of Michele Eggertsen…(umm, almost sinful how delicious the cake was). The whole thing lasted for most of the day and it really felt good spending time with people that I care about. It was a bittersweet not having my girls there but I didn’t dwell on that; instead I took it in how lucky of a person I am having such great friends and a wife to die for.
This past week I had my kids with me. I went to Boise to pick them up on Thursday and because of a scheduling conflict was able to keep them until Friday, making it 7 days, 8 nights that they were with me. It was so great to have them near me; it had been the longest stretch of time that I was without them since Marla moved to Boise. We tried to do something as a family every day… we went swimming, sprinkler trampoline games, Dairy Queen, bike riding in the driveway… little things everyday where all of us were together and involved as a family. I feel that it helped our blended family to well, blend. I think though that the highlight of the week was when we all went to Lagoon. Every time we drive by Lagoon to and from Idaho Jane always shows her enthusiasm that she wants to go there. I had promised them the last time they were here that we would go this time and we did 2 days before they had to return to Idaho. As usual Jane was gitty for the roller coaster rides, any ride that she was tall enough to ride she wanted to ride, and we did. We picked the perfect day to go because it was supposed to have rained and it was a weekday so we never waited for more than 5 minutes for a ride. Chad and Erica brought their boys as well so we had backup for the times when we adults wanted to enjoy an adult ride or two (the Wicked ride was awesome... If I would have had to wait I probably wouldn't be so enthused). Catherine did reasonable well, she was reluctant at first but with some encouragement completely loved it. She doesn’t exude near as much fearlessness and her older sister but she had a great time. Dorian even got out of his comfort zone and tried a few rides that he normally wouldn’t have. It was a great day. Funny thing, the kids slept late the next day even after we put them to bed early… They were spent. Regardless we made some great memories together being involved in “wholesome recreational activities.” Now that they are back in Idaho I feel helpless again to some of the things that I disagree with about their lives there but I continue to pray for them and thier family there. It’s always a hard transition for them I am sure and for me as we live our lives apart for a few weeks.
So life goes on… Amie and I are going to Sand Hollow this coming weekend to spend some time with her family. Business always continues to be a pleasant challenge and I feel excited for what the next few months will bring us. I have been focusing in my mind during my meditating about the details of the life that I want and what I need to be ready for as I achieve it. I feel a renewed dedication towards my spiritual goals and feel the windows of heaven continuing to be open to my family. There is real strength when you mentally focus on what you want and you live in that place in your mind as you meditate. The details become clearer as you focus on it and then it (what you want) finds itself in your real life. I have noticed that as I have focused on the good things, different things that are important I become ready for them and then my life changes for the better. I have been focusing on a better relationship with my wife, being closer to my stepson and daughters, having a healthier body, business goals… all seem to make themselves manifest as I have focused my energy toward being more grateful for what I already have and allowing my actions to be such that the Lord blesses me with my desires. I believe that this is part of becoming like our Savior, in that of the role of creator. I am using what He has given me to create a better world for myself and my family throught the desires of my heart and the intentions of my mind.
Along those lines today we went to Amie’s brother’s ward for sacrament meeting. He and his wife had a baby recently and Amie’s father blessed him today. I wondered what was running through Chuck’s mind as he was called upon to bless his sons’ child. It must be a difficult thing to have to act as a proxy in that capacity when the worthiness of your loved one is not where it should be. Amie and I have talked about how we aren’t going to have kids until I am able to give them a proper name and blessing; I remember specifically the shame of having someone else bless my children. I was able to bless Jane but Catherine I was not. That will be the only ordinance that will be performed to my children that do not give them. I am getting closer to the place where I feel ready to make the commitments needed to be a member again and give my family what they deserve, a worthy priesthood holder as the leader. My life has been free of the things that would deny we the blessings of the gospel but I have been so reluctant to plunge seeing that my fall wasn’t something that I could have foreseen. Regardless the time is close and I am excited for it.
This concludes this broadcast. From the shadows of the everlasting hills, peace be with you this day…
A few weeks before my birthday I was talking with Amie in jest about how it seems that as you grow older birthdays take on less and less importance with those around you. As a child your birthday is a huge deal and as you grow older, not so much. She had asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday and I couldn’t think of anything that didn’t cost a mint… She took it upon herself to make my birthday a memorable one, and she did. After a little discussion we decided that a get together with some close friends would be just fine so she planned a hike and a picnic the day before my b-day and a family dinner the day of. We called the three families that seem to be the closest to us, Ryan and Jennifer Park, Grant and Michele Eggertsen and Chad and Erica Williams to hike to Donut Falls with us. Everyone brought their families (minus my girls) for the 45 minute hike up to the falls and then we drove down the canyon to a picnic area for tin foil dinner and a red velvet birthday cake care of Michele Eggertsen…(umm, almost sinful how delicious the cake was). The whole thing lasted for most of the day and it really felt good spending time with people that I care about. It was a bittersweet not having my girls there but I didn’t dwell on that; instead I took it in how lucky of a person I am having such great friends and a wife to die for.
This past week I had my kids with me. I went to Boise to pick them up on Thursday and because of a scheduling conflict was able to keep them until Friday, making it 7 days, 8 nights that they were with me. It was so great to have them near me; it had been the longest stretch of time that I was without them since Marla moved to Boise. We tried to do something as a family every day… we went swimming, sprinkler trampoline games, Dairy Queen, bike riding in the driveway… little things everyday where all of us were together and involved as a family. I feel that it helped our blended family to well, blend. I think though that the highlight of the week was when we all went to Lagoon. Every time we drive by Lagoon to and from Idaho Jane always shows her enthusiasm that she wants to go there. I had promised them the last time they were here that we would go this time and we did 2 days before they had to return to Idaho. As usual Jane was gitty for the roller coaster rides, any ride that she was tall enough to ride she wanted to ride, and we did. We picked the perfect day to go because it was supposed to have rained and it was a weekday so we never waited for more than 5 minutes for a ride. Chad and Erica brought their boys as well so we had backup for the times when we adults wanted to enjoy an adult ride or two (the Wicked ride was awesome... If I would have had to wait I probably wouldn't be so enthused). Catherine did reasonable well, she was reluctant at first but with some encouragement completely loved it. She doesn’t exude near as much fearlessness and her older sister but she had a great time. Dorian even got out of his comfort zone and tried a few rides that he normally wouldn’t have. It was a great day. Funny thing, the kids slept late the next day even after we put them to bed early… They were spent. Regardless we made some great memories together being involved in “wholesome recreational activities.” Now that they are back in Idaho I feel helpless again to some of the things that I disagree with about their lives there but I continue to pray for them and thier family there. It’s always a hard transition for them I am sure and for me as we live our lives apart for a few weeks.
So life goes on… Amie and I are going to Sand Hollow this coming weekend to spend some time with her family. Business always continues to be a pleasant challenge and I feel excited for what the next few months will bring us. I have been focusing in my mind during my meditating about the details of the life that I want and what I need to be ready for as I achieve it. I feel a renewed dedication towards my spiritual goals and feel the windows of heaven continuing to be open to my family. There is real strength when you mentally focus on what you want and you live in that place in your mind as you meditate. The details become clearer as you focus on it and then it (what you want) finds itself in your real life. I have noticed that as I have focused on the good things, different things that are important I become ready for them and then my life changes for the better. I have been focusing on a better relationship with my wife, being closer to my stepson and daughters, having a healthier body, business goals… all seem to make themselves manifest as I have focused my energy toward being more grateful for what I already have and allowing my actions to be such that the Lord blesses me with my desires. I believe that this is part of becoming like our Savior, in that of the role of creator. I am using what He has given me to create a better world for myself and my family throught the desires of my heart and the intentions of my mind.
Along those lines today we went to Amie’s brother’s ward for sacrament meeting. He and his wife had a baby recently and Amie’s father blessed him today. I wondered what was running through Chuck’s mind as he was called upon to bless his sons’ child. It must be a difficult thing to have to act as a proxy in that capacity when the worthiness of your loved one is not where it should be. Amie and I have talked about how we aren’t going to have kids until I am able to give them a proper name and blessing; I remember specifically the shame of having someone else bless my children. I was able to bless Jane but Catherine I was not. That will be the only ordinance that will be performed to my children that do not give them. I am getting closer to the place where I feel ready to make the commitments needed to be a member again and give my family what they deserve, a worthy priesthood holder as the leader. My life has been free of the things that would deny we the blessings of the gospel but I have been so reluctant to plunge seeing that my fall wasn’t something that I could have foreseen. Regardless the time is close and I am excited for it.
This concludes this broadcast. From the shadows of the everlasting hills, peace be with you this day…
No comments:
Post a Comment