So it has been awhile since I last wrote and I have a lot of random thoughts. So I will try to organize them the best I can.
Life- I am sitting on my deck looking at dirt imagining that someday I will have it graded out nicely and some grass with trees. It is a good thing that I have a somewhat active imagination. Last weekend I finally put my speaker out on the deck so now I can listen to pandora while imagining about grass and all the fun times we will someday have in my backyard. Hopefully that someday will come sooner than later and Jacob my 11 year old will actually have a place to play soccer or football or whatever torture he can come up with for his sisters.
I am also crossing into an interesting threshold of my life. 17 years ago on Sunday I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Talk about random, as I am writing this the song "one" has come on the radio which was popular 17 years ago) Whats crazy about that 17 year mark is that now I will be a member of the church longer than I wasn't a member. I think time goes faster as we get older. 17 years doesn't seem that long ago, yet my life has changed dramatically. I can emphatically declare that everything good in my life has come because I found my father in heaven and I accepted the atonement of my savior Jesus Christ. The challenge is just maintaining that faith and doing my best to emulate the love I have felt from Him.
We are also just over a month away from adding our last child to our family. Kris decided not to find out what we are having so we are trying to decide names for both a male and female. I have such a good wife and mother of my children. Jacob my son has been going to football conditioning camp three days a week since school got out. It is amazing to see how dedicated he is to doing his best. This will be his first year in football, but he loves getting in shape and trying to get stronger. My daughter Emma is busy training for her next ice skating competition next week. I hope I can provide the opportunities for her to really excel in that sport. Her coach really wants to push her and by next year my 10 year old will be doing a single axel. She will be joined at this competition by my daughter Kira (5) who also loves skating, but we are only allowing her to compete maybe once a year. Julia (7) is patiently waiting for ballet to start again, and we have to decide whether or not we are going to put her in the more expensive ballet school where they actually can become great dancers, or continue with the cheaper option. Finally my daughter Lily (2) is just being a typical 2 year old..who thinks she is the queen of the house.
Finally one last thing about life.....my brother-in-law is now in Kuwait serving the country. He landed there a couple days ago. He is a great example of dedication to Country and God and to his family.
Politics- Today I had lunch with Sen. Orrin Hatch. There was about 12 of us at this lunch so it was a great opportunity for all of us to ask questions and learn. Sen. Hatch has been Utah's senator for 33 years. Now some will say its time for him to go. But I will say that his experience is important and valuable for us in this state and for those that call themselves Republicans. I was impressed with his kindness and his wisdom. Our country is struggling right now. Those of us on the right see the new President as a liberal who is ruining our country. Those on the left is breathing a sigh of relief after the Bush years. I have been reading the Federalist papers and brushing up on my American History. If you study history you see these same battles every time there is a change of leadership. The real problem lies in the fact that no real debate is happening on the issues. We need to have active dialogue instead of the controlling party just pushing their measures on the American public. Good things happen as two people with differing opinions meet and discuss and come up with solutions. The real problem with America is that we are quick to point out the problems and not so quick to offer realistic solutions to the problems. We often take the approach that it is my way or the highway. Is this how we should govern? Shouldn't those that have been elected to represent us, actually try to do their job and represent all of us and not just the vocal minority? True solutions happen by listening to all willing to share opinions. By truly listening we are humble enough to concede when maybe our solution isn't the best and that a hybrid solution may be in the best interest of those involved. And so, as I look at our nation, I hope that we can remember those that have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. That we can look to the past to find the solutions of our problems and that we can come together as Americans and truly honor and understand what a great nation we live in.
