Remote Flirting Can Be Exhilerating

Hmmm, yeah. Kind of an odd post for me, I know. But I must say that it's highly enjoyable to flirt, even if distance separates you and your loved one.

I spent a bit of time tonight flirting with my wife through txt msg, Google Talk, e-mail and phone. The various forms of communicating makes flirting interesting and exciting. We started this back in college with AIM and we've had fun with it over the years.

If you haven't tried it, may I suggest you give it a try...with your spouse. A little spice in your marital life can be just what you need at times. Give 'er a try. Have a fun! Just don't comment with any details ;)

Need a Vacation

I'm starting to feel pretty drained, emotionally, physically and even a bit on the mental side. I need a vacation. Maybe just a couple of days. I don't even need to go anywhere. Just need to get away from work and actually "play." It's been too long and I'm starting to feel the effects.

Anyone have a good suggestion?

Burden Lifted: Thanks Elders

As if the Lord spoke directly through our local missionaries...ok, not "as if" but "truly"...

My burden was lifted earlier as I had been feeling a bit down and probably depressed. Our missionaries came for dinner and at the end of our visit, one of the Elders shared with me the following scripture which I've read several times.

"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. " Alma 24:14

Even as I listened to the Elder quote this verse, I could feel God's love envelop me and the silly burdens which I lamented not even 2 hours prior seemed to just lift. How simple it was for me to open my heart, soul and eyes to the goodness of God. It was always there to be had, I just needed to accept it.

If you're in need of this same joy, let me know. I'd love to share it with you.

Pride, Pessimism and Ding Dong Dinner Time

I really am starting to walk a thin line of pessimism and pride and unfortunately both are taking their toll on me. While supporting my beautiful wife while she is gone, I've taken a little guilty pride in quantifying just what duties I'm able to fulfill despite being on my own. From previous posts it is probably becoming apparent just how good I've felt about myself. Such a sin.

Reluctantly, this sinful pride has taken it's toll and has given way to pessimism and yearning for relief. Yep, it's just been one week and my soul is longing for not only companionship but a relief from a trivial burden of running the home, etc. I think one of the final breaking points along the road was the realization that I'm not performing as I need to at work and I've been stripped of my project lead duties. That one hurt and has left me a bit bruised. Humility is a good thing unless you're the one taking that humble spanking.

My current state of being has turned slightly to the pessimistic end, seeing all duties as a drudge and feeling little gratitude for this time to serve. The attitude that accompanies this lack of thankfulness is certainly not the kind I would like to have going forward. But I'm being honest in my self pity and self-deprecation.

So to add to the prideful list of duties I'm to accomplish in my wife's absence, it's our turn to feed the missionaries from our church...tonight. Can you say Lil' Caesar's? I hate relying on fast food, especially of such low-caliber as the roman named pizza hut chain, but honestly, I've got nuthin' of worth to provide and I'm tired. Sorry guys.

I am grateful that the loneliness train looks to be pulling into the station as my wife is contemplating a return date of this Thursday. This brings me tremendous comfort. Yet even with that consoling premise, I realize that things change and the trip may extend.

Sorry for the selfish post, but I'm wallowing in self-pity at the moment and I just need to get this off my chest. Please disregard such a lame post and I'll try better next time.

Bachelor On: Craving Reunion

Anyone that knows me can testify that I'm obsessively in love with my wife and that separation from her eats me up in side. While our separation for the last week has been doing just that, I feel as though I'm dealing well with the loneliness and can push on for a bit more. I believe even the kids are not terribly neglected and for the most part are dealing well with just "Daddy time." So today begins another week of bachelorhood while we anticipate the return of our beloved "Momma."

Thanks again to all of the friends that have made my time with my kids more enjoyable and productive. Thanks for the prayers and well-wishes on our behalf. I mentioned yesterday during a testimony to our church congregation that simple acts of random kindness are like the Butterfly Effect I mentioned in a previous post: the effects of something small can have great and lasting effects. For me these prayers, which seem small and maybe insignificant, are huge and have lasting effects. They are the hope of God's children for His will to be carried out. Thanks for the tiny currents of goodness that I feel swirling about me. They are lifting and carrying me.

Child Quote of the Day

When my son learned that we have been invited over to the Taylor's home for dinner he had a slip of vocabularly that made me giggle. The Taylor's recently made a trip to Alaska where they enjoyed salmon fishing and bear sight seeing. We've been blessed their friendship to receive yummy dinners with great fish and warm company. Their friendship is sincere and especially at this time very welcome and appreciated. My son recognizing the location of the dinner invite stated with excitement, "we'll probably be eating 'semen' tonight!". To which I replied, "that would be 'salmon' son, 'salmon'."

Mother-in-Law Slipping: Conflict of Sadness and Joy

For those that may be following the blogging thread on my mother-in-law, the news of her sliding downhill may be greeted with a sense of despair. It is really difficult to communicate the feelings of losing someone you love as mine are mixed. One part of me is saddened for the expected loss and the heavy burden that mourning causes my family. I sense my kids are not numb to this eventual loss and know that the tears and sadness will effect them. And yet there is a part of my heart that sings out in joy and gladness for the experiences I've had with this woman and the joy she seems ready to experience in the arms of our Savior.



The heaviest burden, and maybe burden is wrong term, is the impact that will be profound upon my dear wife. She has labored so long with the complications of her mother's health and the difficult familial challenges her relationship to her parents and siblings has caused. Watching her shoulder the responsibility or "hope-giver" is painful yet rewarding: painful as it is a roller coaster of emotions that seems doomed to failure yet rewarding to see a glorious woman bring hope and comfort to those that are oppressed.

As it seems that my mother-in-law's struggle to regain a positive recovery seems bleak in light of a sky-rocketing blood sugar level and reduction of insulin, hope becomes a conflicting point of interest at this point. So many people offer prayers in hope and one questions exactly what that hope is. Is it hope for recovery? Is it hope for death? Hope should be for the Lord's Will to be manifest and exactly what that Will is should not be dependent upon perspective but upon His everlasting need to carry out His work among His children. It is often the most difficult thing to align our will with His and until this happens our hope can be misguided.

I moment of joy came to me last night as I spoke with my wife. As she sat next to her mother she mentioned that her mom, at a waking period, whispered to tell me "hi." I replied that I love her to which my wife replied that her mother responded with "I love you too," pronounced with a smile. Those simple messages of hope convey a great sense of joy and relieve the sadness associated with our trial.

Today my hope is that our family will heal, not immediately as we all need time to mourn and recover and feel a loss of a great woman that has had a huge positive impact on our lives. Be it today, tomorrow or 10 years down the road, I know the comfort and healing power of Christ will normalize our lives. My hope is also that the woman that bore my eternal companion and provide a path to my greatest happiness will be given her crown of glory by a love God and feel the burdens of her bondage in mortality no more, according to the Lord's will.

Quick Status Update then off to Soccer

Just have time for a quick update in regards to my mother-in-law's health, our crazy life and what's to come.

My mother-in-law's health seems to have stabilized. The skin bacteria, while still spreading through various parts of her body, is clearing up on one arm which is a sign of healing. Her spirits seem to have been lifted by my wife's presence and the dark shadows of death do not seem so omnipresent but appear to have receded by the wonder of prayers and blessings. Her nurse put it this way (paraphrasing): "with any other patient I'd say they were dead for sure; but with this woman, anything could happen, including a full recovery."

My wife is contemplating coming home a few days early and to be honest I wouldn't discourage it in the least. I love her dearly and miss her every second she's gone. But I also realize her comfort to her family is priceless and obviously works wonders that inexplicable.

Our family is still plodding along, gearing up for 4 games in 2 locations today. From 8:30am start time this morning until 8pm ending time tonight we'll be hunkered down for some serious and seriously fun soccer. Thanks to all of the friends that have offered to help watch children.

Lastly, thanks to all of you for your prayers, your sincere kindness and offers to help. I got a small glimpse of what it was like to be single over the last week and have to do it all. I would never want that life and in a small way now empathize with those that have no other choice. Families are the most successful when all pitch in, love each other, and make the home a truly glorious place to be. While our home is joyous, it definitely feels the loss of our beloved mother/wife while she is away. My gratitude to those that have offered to help fill in with menial tasks to lift my burdens.

Update on Mother-in-Law

The past couple of days have changed little in the status of my mother-in-law's health other than to say the skin disease has spread and is increase in surface area. Upon arrival at her home, my wife asked her mom what her plan was to which she replied that she was unwilling to take the potentially life-saving antibiotics. She is tired, worn out and physically deprived in this world that she is now ready to move on. She is concerned that others will see this as giving up and not knowing her situation many would blanketly describe it as such.

Here's some insight into her world for the last 35+ years.

--was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis
--disease became exacerbated (my mother-in-law's favorite word) with the birth of my wife
--car accident further worsened her condition and took away the ability to properly use her legs (about the time I first came in contact with her)
--slowly lost the use of her legs and went from crutches to a power scooter
--had her van crunched by a boyfriend of her daughter's and nearly run over (that was me)
--lost much of the use of her hands
--converted smaller scooter to a full body chair with neck support
--many bouts with immune diseases with a lot of time spent in the hospital

These are all the negative effects that she's had deal with and they only scratch the surface of the pain she has suffered. What is not represented is all of the joy she has experienced and provided to her family and friends. I personally have sat with her for hours talking about personal experiences in life and spirit. She is an inspiration to me personally as her attitude in life is positive regardless of some serious physical struggles she deals with constantly. How she finds the inner strength to overcome her limitations is incredible.

To empathize just slightly with this beautiful woman, imagine yourself in the following condition:

--sit yourself on a semi-comfortable chair for 16 hrs a day. Don't move and don't adjust
--lock your arms in the same place on the arm rest of the chair.
--put your feet down and regardless of blood flow, keep them still
--if you have a tickle on your nose that normally you would brush away or scratch at, don't. just let it fester.
--try sleeping/napping in a sitting position
--rely upon others to feed you whatever it is they're eating. if you spill, oh well. they'll have to choose to clean you up according to their standards. hope you're not squeamish about stains.
--have to use the restroom? try a catheter, for years. can you say UTI?
--have the urge to hug your loved ones? well, it's mostly one-way as your arms don't work. hope they embrace you for as long as you want.
--get used to sleeping in one position in bed as you can't roll over. bed sores anyone?
--have an annoying spouse that controls the TV remote? oh well, protest as you may, someone else is in control.
--dying to read that best seller? hope it's on audio and that someone will press play.
--intimacy? are you kidding?

Such is the negative side of life for my dear friend and mother-in-law. Is it any wonder she would be tired of this mortal existence? While we will miss her terribly, I think mercy in passing will be such a blessing for her. May God grant her that mercy and return a fulfilling and eternal joy to her!

The Butterfly Effect

The concept of tiny changes having large effects seems to be something I can relate to as I struggle to find a balance in my chaotic world. As my wife is away (and some would categorize this as not so tiny of a change), my life is in constant flux. But this is not the change I'm referring to.

Little changes can impact my overall stress levels and cause me to stray off course for a time. The definition of what will break a level of stress is unknown but it can be anything from running late to having a kid break a toe nail in the midst of disobedience. But not all stress breakers are negative.



Last night in the middle of rushing to get ready to take off for the church to set up for "Standards Jeopardy," (Standards Night at LDS church for youth 12-18 turned into Jeopardy game) I noticed a little fluttering in the garden tub window. At first I thought it was a bird outside casting a shadow through the frosted window. But upon further inspection I found a beautiful butterfly. The effect was transforming. While the fluttering of the wings likely didn't generate or stave of a Texas tornado, my heart was gladdened by the sheer simplicity of the sight and my mind raced to explain the existence of the being in this setting. As we had recently brought in our herb garden to avoid any punishing effects from Ike, my logical assumption was a cocoon had been in the potting planters and it had recently been re-born.



Later last evening the butterfly remained in it's new habitat and I began to wonder whether it should be trapped their. I attempted to escort it outside (yes, a bird would likely just eat it but that may be the purpose of it's existence), but it took the stance of landing on me. It was nearly still as it gently, and with a slight tickle, walked on my hand. With iPhone in my other I took this gentle picture and my heart soared with gratitude for this simple moment.

What was the butterfly effect in my life last night? Joy in the simple creations of God and for the gratitude that He watches over me. Regardless of negative and imposing stresses I may deal with, I can see God's hand in my life and turn something that may seem inconsequential into something worthy of joy. God is great and my life is meaningful with Him in it!

Secret Message :)

¡noʎ ɹoɟ ǝɹɐ sɹǝʎɐɹd ʎɯ ˙ʎʇǝɟɐs uı sn oʇ ʞɔɐq ʎɹɹnɥ puɐ ɹǝɥ oʇ ǝʌol ʎɯ puǝs 'ɯoɯ ɹnoʎ ɟo ǝɹɐɔ ǝʞɐʇ ˙ǝɯ oʇ uoıʇɐɹıdsuı uɐ ɥɔns ƃuıǝq ɹoɟ sʞuɐɥʇ ˙ʎlqıɹɹǝʇ noʎ ǝʌol ı 'ɹ

Made It Through First Full Day

For anyone keep score, you can chalk up a successful first day to my team, gaining the victory over normal frustrations and impatience as I battle the lonely and under-maned challenges left in the absence of my dear and exceptional wife. Considering I have a history of quickly losing my patience when dealing with the kids by myself, I consider the first day a success.

While yesterday was only a little challenging with just one practice, dinner, homework and school to deal with (not to mention a stressful day of work), today offers a bit more of a challenge. Even though L will be swept off by loving friends to play at playgroups and parks, I've got laundry to finish, dishes to clean (did them this morning), work (and plenty to do there), soccer practice for S, and a combined activity to carry out tonight for our YM/YW at church (I'm the MC). On top of that I've got to get ready for the Give Together campaign at work, pulling to together the last few tasks necessary to run a great Executive Fear Factor. Unfortunately, with time constant play today I opted to forgo my work out. I think I'll pay for this later.

Lastly, my car, which has been in the shop for an engine replacement and was supposed to be finished last Thursday then Monday, is supposed to be ready for pickup today; hopefully. That means, if I get lucky, while L is playing, I can take a run out to the shop and pick it up (just a mere 2.5 miles away). Hmm, guess that takes care of my work out then. Blessings, blessings, blessings.

Even as I write this entry, a dear friend called to offer her assistance through food services (pizza, yum) or house cleaning. I'm constantly amazed at the service people are willing to render.

Thanks again for the prayers on behalf of our family. Whether you're from our church, religion or otherwise, your kind words of inspiration and support are truly answers to our prayers. Same God, all His children and plenty of blessings to go around if asked for and received (the last part is important).

Update on Family Situation

First let me express my gratitude to friends that have commented on the blog, through e-mail, and for those that not only have contributed their efforts through prayer but through dedicating time to comfort my family and relieve what could be a very stressful occasion in our life. Your help is timely and much appreciated.

Just after my return with the kids from our oldest son's game last night, I received a call from my father-in-law. He was asking for my wife and when I informed him that she was at the airport ready to depart he sighed. Apparently my mother-in-law woke up and was quite alert. But he admitted that with the price she paid for her ticket she should probably make the journey anyway.

My wife called this morning and after talking with her mom late into the night and with that sleepy (almost sexy) sounding voice she let me know that her mom wasn't out of the woods yet. Sounds like she is ready to depart this life and welcomes the relief. She is tired, worn out and likely is praying to be taken. And who could blame her. After 35+ years of battling a degenerative disease it would make perfect sense to crave an existence free from her current limitations. To have her life force which has for so many years be bottled up in her intellect explode onto a resurrected body, or at least for a time to a free spirit, would be terribly satisfying.

So with a little update my wife was back to trying to getting a little more sleep before sitting with her mom for the day. I'm at home working (yes I blog while I work during builds), taking care of the kids, doing laundry and thinking about practice later today. I certainly am glad my kids are fairly self sufficient, making their own breakfasts, dressing themselves, helping in the house work and generally making my life much easier.

Once again, thanks for the prayers and offers to help with L. Drop my wife a note when you get a chance or just leave it here in the comments. All are appreciated and greatly lift the spirit.

Running in Overdrive

Unfortunately this post is not about my morning runs and some fantastic experience I had in the wee early morning hours. My musings today will be about my expected state of being over the course of the projected 2 weeks.

My wife just booked a flight home to Seattle with an expected run date of Oct 5th. Her mother is once again comatose and it is expected that this will be her remaining few days in life. As with any ailing parent that may pass through the veil of life into death, my wife wants to be there for her and to have no regrets with which to unnecessarily mourn through her life.



A little about my mother-in-law's condition. She has contracted a skin disease that if left untreated turns to sepsis which ultimately is a death sentence for her. As Multiple Sclerosis has beat against this fine woman for over 35 years, it is amazing that she's personally conquered as much as she has. It would seem fitting for her to pass quickly, if that is God's will. Another bout with some disease seems to be her lot in life and yet for 35 years she has battled and conquered each fight. But the mortal war is taking it's toll and just as any of God's children will eventually succumb to the frailties and eventuality of death, her life seems to be drawing to a close.



My wife rides the roller coaster of death and life with her mom as though it were a season pass. Two to three times a year for the past 12 years her mother's health has failed and death has come knocking. Yet as if on cue, my wife arrives on the scene and her health prevails. The loops and corkscrews of each emotional ride leave my wife breathless, yearning for a more stable event to take it's place. Yet through her experiences, while nauseating at the moment, she has grown stronger, empathetic and has always found her spiritual footing.




So why does this put me on a path of running in overdrive? Well, despite my goodness in sending my wife off, there is a great burden to deal with in her absence. How many husbands/fathers are willing to take care of the house, homework, school rides, cooking and homemaking duties on top of working full time, coaching 4 soccer teams, volunteering as a board member, refereeing, church responsibilities, work volunteer items, and being a full time dad? There are some and I applaud those that are insane enough to do it.

This isn't the first time we've parted ways for a short time due to family health concerns. You could probably even search here in this blog and find posts regarding similar circumstances. Yet this time it feels a little different, more final, more rigorous. Never knowing when she'll return is part of the adventure and stress. Adding to the seriousness of the nature of this event, my wife has been researching air fares for the family in the event her mother passes. So to complicate an already ungodly schedule, we may head out of town in a few days.




Whatever the outcome, we'll grow stronger and be better individuals and a family for it. My prayers go out not only to my wife, but to her family and especially that God will continue to display His infinite mercy and love upon the woman that has brought us so much strength through the years. I would ask you readers to join with me in prayers for these beautiful women in my life. I'd appreciate some my way as well.

Some take life at a slow crawl, others at a brisk jog; I seem to be required to run and juggle at the same time.

Picture Day and Picnic Turns Ultimate

Ever feel as though your day is spinning you round and round and you just don't have enough energy to complete it? Well, that was almost my day. With 2 sets of team pictures, 2 games and a church picnic this evening I felt ready to collapse on my 10th piece of watermelon. But these are also the days I live for.

My day started by rising to the awful knowledge that I had forgotten to retrieve my soccer association office key from my key ring that is in the car repair shop with my not-yet-swapped-engine vehicle. Not a bad realization if I weren't scheduled to open the park this morning. But gratefully our office manager Charlotte met me there and with the help of my youngest son prepped the park just in time for games to start on time. After a couple of hours of field monitoring my first team showed up for pictures.

In the meantime, my good wife was at home getting one kid out the door to a merit badge college across town (he nearly earned 2 more merit badges towards his path to eagle), got 2 girls ready for pictures and arrived on time for pictures.

I failed to mention our good friends the Taylors were gracious enough to let us borrow their vehicle to mitigate an already hectic weekend of split driving. Thanks so much Kristy for this huge relief!

After pictures we high-tailed it to the first game of the day where we managed a 4-1 win. The team performed so well and I couldn't have been more pleased with their success.

Last team to get pictures was my baby girls and then they played their match. Not so stellar as the other team obviously had played last year and were handling our team pretty well. But one of the exciting plays of the day was when our player heard me yell "pull back" and executed a flawless turn, dribbled all the way across the field to score. She was beaming. What a great, positive reinforcement of the simple skill we learned in practice.

The last activity of the day was the church picnic. While not a huge drain on energy, normally, I took the liberty of changing an underwhelming activity into a more physical event. I was invited to play ultimate frisbee.

For the uneducated in this fine sport (I'm not sure why it's not an olympic event yet), the game requires two teams, is played similar to soccer/football but with a frisbee with each successful toss and catch resulting in the movement of the attacking team. Any drop or steal by the opposing team results in the re-direction of play.

My team was hopeless under skilled and we lost not so gloriously. But it sure was a sweaty good time. We even had our bishop out their playing, and diving with us. The best part of the game was watching 30+ men dive for the frisbee just out of their reach and laughing my head off at the scene.

Dizzying day? You betcha! Well worth it? Ever spinning moment! Time for bed.

How did you spend your day?

Genetically Engineered Animals for Food? Seriously FDA?

OK, I'm not a geneticist but common sense would tell me that the picture below is outside the bounds of normal and likely healthy.

The picture is not doctored via PhotoShop but is an actual photo of featherless, or bare-skinned poultry that has been genetically altered for the purpose of providing more "succulant, low fat poultry that is environmentally friendly." So mostly naked, featherless foul are supposed to help us how?

The FDA announced today that it is starting to consider industry proposals to sell genetically engineered animals as human food. "Genetically engineered animals are created when scientists insert a gene from one species of animal into the DNA of another animal to reprogram some of its characteristics" says AP article found here .

Here's where my recent switch to a more healthy food intake (please disregard that I just had a helping of nachos) makes some sense.  While the government has condoned genetically altered crops for a while, I think this can mostly be targeted to high yield crops and not necessarily organically grown crops from which we primarily consume our food. Our recent switch to a near meatless diet, especially in this case, has it's benefits. No more guessing.

The government assures it's citizens that altered meats will be labeled but it won't necessarily disclose exactly what is being altered. The thought of ingesting pork that was crossed pollinated with
rat or some other animal for the purpose of cleaner waste just doesn't
make sense to me. I would be quite wary of what would be in the "meat" before attempting to take it into my body. This is not even bringing up the point of what the impact will be on our own genetic code if we consume altered food.

Is it just me or is man playing a little too much God and blaming it on our stewardship to protect the God created world? There seems to be a direct conflict here and I think man will be the one to lose out, not God.

What do you think? Willing to give genetically altered food a try?

Random Viewship: Reflective of Facebook Status or Content?

I can't get my mind wrapped around what constitutes traffic worth blogging and what is passed over for fodder by the masses (of course masses for my site is max of 35). At times when it seems like a really good post would attract more viewers little traffic is actually garnished to the site. Contrast that with times when near plagiarism is submitted and a larger response is obtained.

Cracking the nut of more viewership is certainly a challenge for my blog. I typically bring in about 15 viewers on a daily basis and I'm one of the those viewers (checking to see that the content is rendering correctly and possibly obsessing over silly statistics). I've done all that I know how to increase viewers: signed up with feeder programs, auto update posts to Twitter, capture Twitter changes on Facebook, etc. I've stopped short of e-mail, or mass messaging my direct contacts that I've posted new content. I think that approach is too intrusive and at times just annoying.

But how do you attract users to the site? Why would I want to anyway? Some have asked this question as blogging can be very personal and yet open to the world. Here are my reasons:

1) I love to share my experiences and this is a great medium for it. Not that my experiences are superior or outlandish by any means. Just hopefully flavorful and different.

2) I enjoy hearing that something I've written provides hope in same way to the reader. From co-workers to family members, this type of reaction is core to my reasons for blogging.

3) I could be a little narcissistic though I think this is definitely the least of my reasons. Admittedly I like a little attention and sharing about "me" is kind of intriguing.

So there it is, spelled out in plain fashion. Now, does anyone know a better way of attracting viewers to your blog?

Leggiest Woman Meets World's Smallest Man

Quite unusual. You gotta see it to believe it.

Am I Too Serious?

I recently received some feedback through a trusted channel that I may be a bit too serious. It's not always and may only come during my competitive periods (read soccer) but somewhere in my life I went from relaxed, things rolling off my back to a little up tight and a bit too serious. Is this true?

Yesterday I took a different approach with my soccer practice and relaxed a little. I even went so far as to play a silly game with my U9B team which they appreciated. I think it helped them re-focus back on the skills we were practicing and the practice ended well.

I appreciate personal feedback like this. I think sub-consciously I know when I'm getting a bit too serious but it takes criticism to snap my perspective back in line.

Anyone else feel like offering a little criticism? I feel open and vulnerable now and who knows what kind of results you'll get :)

Are Biblical References Unconstitutional in our Courts and Government?

AGREE OR DELETE

< /FONT>Andy Rooney

DID YOU KNOW?

As you walk up the steps to the

Building which houses the U S Supreme Court

You can see near the top of the building a row

Of the world's law givers and each one is

Facing one in the middle who is facing forward

With a full frontal view ... It is Moses and he

Is holding the Ten Commandments!

. DID YOU KNOW?

As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the

Two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments

Engraved on each lower portion of each door.

DID YOU KNOW?

As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see

The wall, right above where the Supreme Court

Judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW?

There are Bible verses etched in stone all

Over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in

Washington , D.C.

DID YOU KNOW?

James Madison, the fourth president, known as

'The Father of Our Constitution' made the

Following statement:

' We have staked the whole of all our political

Institutions upon the capacity of mankind for

Self-government, upon the capacity of each and

All of us to govern ourselves, to control

Ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to

The Ten Commandments of God.'

DID YOU KNOW?

Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding

Father of our country said:

'It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too

Often that this great nation was founded not

By religionists but by Christians, not on

Religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ'.

DID YOU KNOW?

<>

Every session of Congress begins with a prayer

By a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid

By the taxpayer since 1777.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the

Constitution were members of the established

Orthodox churches in the colonies.

DID YOU KNOW?

Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would

Overstep their authority and instead of

Interpreting the law would begin making law

An oliga rchy

The rule of few over many.

DID YOU KNOW?

The very first Supreme Court Justice, John

Jay, said:

'Americans should select and prefer Christians

As their rulers.'

How then, have we gotten to the point that Every thing we have done for 220 years in this

Country is now suddenly wrong and

Unconstitutional?

Lets put it around the world and let the world

See and remember what this great country was

Built on.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed or

Delete if I didn't. Now it is your turn...

It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.

Therefore, it is very hard to understand

Why there is such a mess about having the Ten

Commandments on display or 'In God We Trust'

On our money and having God in the Pledge of

Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the other

14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!

If you agree, pass this on

Crisp, Cool Morning Equals Energetic Run

Just before the alarm sounded off this morning at 5 AM I rolled over, spied the clock and made my way to silence the gadget and allow my sleeping beauty wife to gain a few more minutes of blissful rest. I made my way up the stairs to wake my 12 year old son, who had the previous night committed to get up with me, roused him from a seriously deep sleep and traversed the stairs once more to proceed with my morning pre-run ritual. As I dressed in my normal shorts and sleeveless tee, I thought about the coolness of the air I was sure to expect upon my departure from the warmth of the climate controlled home. With a shrug of the shoulders, I donned my usual gear and made it to the living room to hopefully once again greet my son who would be ready to share an early morning, calm and serene run with me.

Nope, he was still in bed. After trudging up the stairs again, I woke him to receive a response of, "did I fall back asleep?" to which I replied, "no, your eyes were just closed, you were dreaming and drool normally accompanies your wakeful moments." He got up, strained his knee a bit and declared that he would be skipping this morning's workout. With that declaration, enough wind was missing my normally blustering sail that I nearly crawled back in bed for another 60 minutes before the whole clan would be up for morning scripture study.



Fighting the temptation to secure myself in the warmth of the blankets, I made my way to the front porch to be greeted with an absolutely gorgeous, still and calming morning moon-kissed ever so gently. The pavement beneath my feet seemed to just glide along all through the run. My heart rate remained steady and not overbearing. While cool at first (just 52 degrees through the run), the sweat from my body regulated my body temperature perfectly at the end of the run. In the end, a wonderful 5 mile run was the fruit of my labor with a decent pace of 8 minute mile. I didn't push, just kept a steady pace and enjoyed the utterly magnificent, and almost deafening silence of the morning.

Maybe Thursday I'll have more luck with my son and be able to relish the moment with one of my favorite persons in this life. Such a glorious moment, while shared with the Creator of my existence, should be shared with those you love, doing something you love at a time that is easily duplicated. I could go on and on by I think my morning endorphins will eventually wear off ;)

I Dislike Car Maintenance

Yes, it's true. I've always sniffed at the thought of maintaining a car, especially if that requires me to do any of the work. It's not meant to sound snotty, it's just a fact of who I am. Just ask my parents. When I was little and believed whole heartedly that I would be an Orthodontist (that's a great tie in to another blog entry) and my father would approach me about working on one his cars (changing the oil, clean something or other, rotating the tires), I would look him dead in the eyes and declare that I was not interested. When he asked me how I intended to obtain this skill on my own I retorted that it was unnecessary as I would take my cars into the shop and let someone else get their fingers dirty.

Even when I was engaged to my beautiful bride my father-in-law sense of the storm brewing and trained me in the fine art or changing the oil, one I had purposefully neglected through my adolescence. But I relented as I knew I needed to take care of my bride and future children...for a time.

Once life got a little more comfortable I began taking our vehicles in for maintenance and oil changes. Well, actually, my wife would take them in :) But lately I've been completely derelict in my maintenance duties and put off having my vehicle worked on. The result?

Engine problems. Yep, my engine is in the shop being swapped out.

Not only was I neglectful, I set our savings, which we have so diligently been scraping together for the past 7 months, into a tailspin and set us back quite a bit. My heart has been aching since I began hearing the pinging in the engine and found out that it would need to be replaced. We even contemplated dumping the vehicle and getting something else but the economics of it just weren't feasible.

So here I am, vehicle in the shop, eating plenty of helpings of "maintenance crow" and now financially wounded. Can anyone say, "I hope you've learned your lesson?"

Charitable Contributions of Nominee's Well Under God's Tithing Law Percentage

According to tax records reported from up to the last decade of presidential and vice-presidential nominees from the country's two major parties, there is a serious deficiency in charitable contributions. One can look at the small percentages and see that none of the nominees, with the exception of perhaps McCain, if he contributed his tithes, are following God's law of the Tithe. God requires a tenth (10%) of income to be donated to the building up of His Kingdom. All 4 nominees are "god-fearing" individuals yet none are following this sacred law that has existed since at least the time of Abraham.

So here is my concern: in a time when leaders profess to follow God's commands and profess Christ's name, what does it say about their personal integrity when they do not follow such a basic law of sacrifice and charitable goodness? How can we expect these leaders to rule over us when they themselves do not follow the same laws they profess to uphold? What does it say about a candidate that is unwilling to contribute to charitable offerings, especially God's Kingdom, yet claim to have the answers to our nation's poverty and welfare problems?

I think it should be interesting to hear responses to their neglect in the charitable donation category especially when each are in the highest income brackets and none are struggling financially, nor will they in their lifetime. The people, us, must hold them responsible for their neglect.

What's your opinion on the obvious lack of interest in charitable contributions by our nation's nominees for the highest executive offices in the land?

Tired of Dems vs. GOP? Vote Greg Hanson for President

What Not to Expect in a Mormon Meeting House

So yesterday was an adventure in the unexpected. For anyone that has visited an LDS church service, exciting is not a word that usually comes to mind to describes the proceedings. At times there are some unexpected comments made and I've sat through some pretty unusual witnesses of nothing in particular. But yesterday had to have topped all previously acknowledged strange experiences.

The first Sunday of each month a typical LDS congregation worships together having prepared themselves through prayer and fasting. After the holy communion, or sacrament, has been administered, lay members of the congregation bare witness of the truths or tenets of the Gospel, of the Living Christ and of the Restoration of the Church of Christ. Testimonials include baring witness of the Book of Mormon and Bible, of living prophets and apostles and of personal faith promoting experiences.

As yesterday's meeting was drawing to a close with just 10 minutes left, the members of the church (at least 2 congregations) were shockingly jolted by the piercing sounds of the fire alarm and the annoying flashing of the strobe lights (glad we don't have any epileptics). The Bishop and I bolted to the side door to find out a young feller had pulled the alarm. Without even taking a 2nd breath we bolted for the system to shut off the alarms (in retrospect I probably should have gone back to the microphone and notified the congregation that there was in fact no fire and to remain calm).

Through the remainder of the testimonies, the alarm hiccuped another 3 times, jolting the listeners to attention and forcing mass amounts of adrenaline to pump voraciously through our veins. All-in-all the meeting ended well and I'm sure we'll not soon forget the excitement we felt at the meeting as well as the calming influence of the Holy Spirit before and afterwards. Quite a contrast!

Way Behind on Blogging

Not that too many people noticed that my last post was pre-Labor Day and it was meant to tease readers into reading my next post about a great campout, I've failed to post since and have backlogged myself into deadlock. I'll attempt, some time this week, to sort through the news of the Hanson family and bring this once rolling blog back from a dead stop to crawling again. Until then... ;)