Fathers & Sons

Jonah and I went on his very first Fathers & Sons campout this weekend.  Treven had baseball and Wyatt is still to little, so it was just my Jonah Bear and me.  We had a lot of fun.  We left in the early evening and stopped at the Train Station in Heber for dinner heading up to the Heber Valley Camp.  We spotted many deer up there and even had three different moose sightings.  Overall, he had a great time, but every once in a while, he would ask, “We go home now?”  He did not seem to understand that we would be sleeping over, and I am sure he missed his Mommy and little brother.  We had a great time, though we did not sleep much (does anyone at these things).  It was fun to spend some one on one time with my little buddy.

Mother’s Day 2014

On this Mother’s Day I cannot express my gratitude for my beautiful and amazing wife.  I don't know how she shows so much love, gives so much of her time, worries so often, and shares so much of herself. Her life is full of service and kindness towards others.  I am lucky that I have married a wonderful companion who dreamed of one day growing up and becoming a Mother.  She takes amazingly great care of each of our children.  She constantly worries for Treven and Ady when they are not here.  She worries that they are getting all that they need.  She does so much for them and worries and prepares for the times that they will return.  She loves and laughs with our little Jonah.  She helps him to be happy and to make good choices.  The happiness of that little boy should be a testament to what kind of Mother she is.  She loves and cuddles and cares for Wyatt so much.  She makes sure that he is getting every little bit of medical care necessary and she constantly does therapy with him to help him.  She worries about the house and my well-being as well.  She is a supportive and loving companion and I find peace throughout my day knowing that she is home with our children.  All of us are so lucky to have her. She has truly partnered with our Heavenly Father in raising these four great kids.  She seeks his guidance, she follows his ways, and she is doing everything necessary to draw four of his spirits back towards their eternal home.  Words cannot express my love and appreciation for my wonderful eternal companion.

 

My Mother has been watching over us for three years as an angel in Heaven. She earned her wings long before she left this earth by raising all seven of us children. She taught us right from wrong and loved us beyond human capability.  She was tough when she felt it was necessary to see us do our best, but she showed so much compassion and love when times called for it as well.  I do not know how she had time to attend to the needs of seven children.  I have no idea how she found the strength to push forward when I knew she was beyond her limits.  I remember her staying up late to help me complete school projects I had procrastinated.  I remember her contagious laugh and how much I loved being the cause of it.  I remember how sweet and gentle she always was to each grandchild.  She truly is an angel and I cannot wait for the day when I hold embrace her again and tell her how much I love her. 

 

Ashley's Mother has loved me as her own son.  I am so grateful for this second Mother in my life.  There is nothing that requires her to love me this much, but she does it anyway.  I love to be in their home, to share experiences with them, and to laugh with them as well.  I am blessed to have another Mom in my life to talk to.  I am blessed that my children have such a wonderful Grandma.  I am blessed that she has raised such an incredible daughter that I now get to call my wife.  We are blessed by her continued love and support in all that we do.  I love her and am so thankful for all that she does.

Graduation

Today was the commencement for my graduation from Utah State University.  My Dad and Arlene, and Ashley’s parents were all there to celebrate the big day with us.  Afterwards, we went to the Bluebird Restaurant for lunch.  The commencement was a great experience and the speakers were excellent.  I cannot believe the day has actually come and I was not sure it would ever arrive; it still feels very surreal.  I am actually really proud of myself.  I do not want to compare myself or wish for the challenges of others, but I feel that I have had to work with a lot of weight on my shoulders to get to this place.  That is not to say that others had it easier, or that I had it harder, just that I am happy with what I have been able to do.  I have to acknowledge that things would have been even harder had I not had such an amazing wife in Ashley, a supportive family, the blessings from a loving Heavenly Father, and many other things to help me.  I started school as a single Dad with two kids.  I was working full-time and the children were with me the majority of the time.  Early on, I often even took them to my classes with me at SLCC.  Since then, I have been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition, I have dealt with people who would seek to harm our family relationships, I have often worked 60+ hours per week, I have married my amazing eternal companion, we have had two additional children, and we have dealt with the challenges of having a child with medical conditions of his own, just to name a few.  I don’t journal these things to brag or to complain, but to show what we are all capable of if we only persevere.  While some of the these things were far more blessings than burdens, each one brought increased pressure or responsibility.  Each one of these pressures, challenges, or responsibilities, at times, has caused me to feel a crushing weight on my shoulders.  Some times I wondered if I would survive.  Some of these pressures still exist and new ones come along all the time.  The point is that if we use our strength for a good goal, eventually, we will make it.  Accomplishing this degree has shown me that I am capable of accomplishing anything.  The thing is; I am no different than anyone else.  If anyone had told me the challenges I would face, I am not sure I would have believed them.  I certainly would not have believed that I would survive them.  But, just like anyone else, we get through some things because we have to.  We survive by finding the joy in the little things.  We survive by taking a breath, a drink of water along the way, or talking to someone.  In the end, nothing can stop us but ourselves.  No one who is still living has been killed by a bad day.  We all have a perfect record for surviving even our worst day.  While I may not have been the valedictorian at my commencement, I feel no less accomplished than anyone else in that room, because for me, this was a huge victory in my life.