New Year's - Resolutions or Restrictions?!

Okay, before I start a new post, I must say that I TOTALLY SUCKED at finishing the 12 Days of Christmas.  I realize I only made it half way through, but I'm totally thankful for SO MANY more gifts in my life.  The ones mentioned were definitely of high regard, though, and I'm grateful for all the other many blessings that I've had in my life!  Life just got a little crazy prepping for Christmas, traveling, work, etc.

Christmas was pretty great in St. Louis.  It definitely ended up being A LOT warmer and drier than it was here in Utah.  I hadn't been back to Missouri since right after Heather and I were married, so after 4 years it was nice to be back!  Travelling with Ashlynn was actually pretty entertaining.  Our flight out was delayed by almost 45 minutes....and we were already early to the airport...so it made it very interesting to entertain a toddler for a long period of time! :)  She's a trooper, though, and was actually very decent the whole time.  She fell asleep the last 30 minutes of the flight, so didn't like being woken up, but it sure allowed me to push some people out of the way that were getting antsy to get off the airplane.  I'm continually amazed with how the decency of some people goes out the window when they get on an airplane!  But eh, we still love travelling.  I'm also very grateful that I have some pretty awesome in-laws.  They take care of us and love our little girl like nothing else...not to mention they raised the pretty great wife I'm married to ;)!  THANKS for dealing with me for a few days!  And, with that...

  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I don't know that I'll actually have time to do another post over the next 2 days, so I'm getting to the point right now! =D  I've been thinking a lot about 2015 lately.  We'll be adding another little one to our family, I've already started planning my race calendar, and it just seems like we'll be keeping pretty busy next year!  With all that, I think just about everyone hears, thinks about, or commits to some type of New Year's resolution with proverbial dawn of a new day.  Now, the percentage of people that actually keep those resolutions...that's a different story!  I think sometimes, people get "restrictive" with their resolutions...which can be effective...but they aren't prepared to make such sacrifices.  Life can also just get in the way and the great plans you have just go out the window with everything else!

Well...with this year...I'm committing to a few things myself...and I wanted to share that with anyone else that cares =)!  Plus, I've found that sharing goals and commitments with others also helps keep you a little more accountable.  So, here's what I've come up with so far:

1. Build a better home:  We don't have a bad one, by any means, but I just want to make it better!  With a little Superman coming along, and Ashlynn learning more and more every day, I just want to make our home an even happier place.  For me, I think a lot of this stems from growing more spiritually.  Whether it be fully taking on my new Scouting calling, actually doing my home teaching, reading scriptures and/or saying prayers as a family, or going to the temple more often with my wonderful wife...I just want to do better!
2. Build a better self:  This one is probably going to be broken down into a few smaller goals.  Part of this one actually stemmed from today...my first dentist appointment in 5 1/2 years.  I've never had a cavity before, but I knew I was definitely pushing my luck with so much time having passed.  And yup...sure enough...THREE cavities...all on the left side, with two on the top and one on the bottom.  So, I have to go back and visit the wonderful dentist next week and get those taken care of...NOT a happy camper =P!  But, with these pesky cavities (and some other recent thoughts), came the conclusion that I really just need to be taking better care of myself physically...especially so that I can fulfill #1 and continue to be able to support my wife and kids!  So, here's a few things to help with that:

Run 1,000 miles -- Yes, this sounds like A LOT...and...IT IS!  I ran the St. George Marathon this year, my 2nd marathon, and for sure thought I wouldn't do that again.  BUT, that didn't last long.  I've signed up for my 3rd marathon, which will be a repeat of my first, in Ogden in May!  Just to give everyone an idea of what goes into Marathon training...here's my prep schedule for 16 weeks leading up to the race!!!!!!  

If you didn't care to add all those numbers up, I don't blame you!  However, just for fun, it's around 488 miles by mid-May! =0  And, I have at least a handful of other races, including a New Year's Revolution run where I plan to start the New Year out with a Half Marathon! =)  In 2012, I ran about 197 miles...in 2013, a little over 355 miles...and this year, about 213.  So, hitting 1,000 is definitely going to be a push!!  However,  I don't think I've ever fully prepared for a race like I should...so, by doing such, I'd be pretty well on my way!

Set a PR -- Adding to my first running goal, here's another!  I was SO close this year to reaching several PR's or "personal records" with my races.  Whether it be a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, or Full Marathon...I want to reach a better time in any or all of these races than I've achieved in previous years!  Hopefully, with better training and looking forward, I can git-r-done!

Get into better shape -- In the past few years, I've yo-yo'ed between 190 and 240 pounds.  At times, I've felt GREAT...other times quite discouraged...and I'm currently sitting about in the middle of it all!  I found a great Amazon.com deal where I bought P90X for pretty cheap.  So, with my Marathon training, I'm going to be starting that program...plus eating healthier again!  Mentioning the cavities above, and wanting to lose some weight and look better, I'm making a commitment to CUT OUT  SWEETS AND SODA! =O  For those of you that know me...this is a BIG DEAL!  But, it is really just an unnecessary indulgence.  I've already told my wife she has to help me...although she doesn't have to do it with me (you can't take those two things away from your pregnant wife)!  

All of these goals are really just about taking control of my life!  They are within reach and definitely achievable, but they are going to make me stretch and be a little bit uncomfortable...but that's how you grow!  A great illustration my Mission President always used was to be like taffy...if you've ever seen it made...they have to keep on stretching it more and more until it is where it should be!

So, HERE'S TO 2015!  I'll give periodic updates on everything through the weeks and months ahead!  Feel free to pass along some encouragement, because I know I'll definitely need it! =D

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

On the 6th day of Christmas, I've grateful for the life that I had up in Logan, Utah (good ol' Cache Valley)!  From Utah State University to Sigma Phi Epsilon and everything in between, my years spent in this little town provided me with several different gifts: an education, lifelong friends, and experiences I likely wouldn't have had anywhere else.

In about 5 years, I was able to obtain 2 Bachelors and 2 Masters degrees there.  As part of these programs, I was able to travel to China, South Korea, Vietnam, France, Spain, and Israel.  As part of the fraternity, I was able to serve my fellow brothers and also make friends that have continued beyond school and into the rest of our lives.  As part of Golden Key International Honour Society, I was able to network and also obtain a $10,000 scholarship!

Now, all of these listings aren't to boast, I promise!  But, it is a display of all the gifts that I have received by attending USU and is an outline of several years of my life.  My education has propelled me decently forward in my professional career in a few short years.  My association with USU probably even played a role in getting my current position today.

While this great place did have some disappointments or heartbreak, it has its stamp on my life and has helped shaped who I am today.  Without my experiences and opportunities here, I likely wouldn't be where I'm at today!  So, here's to higher education, if any of you ever had your doubts :)!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

HOME SWEET HOME!  

We've only been here for about a year and a half, but this townhouse has been the first place that we could really call OUR home.  With the two girls I've mentioned in previous Days of Christmas, we've been blessed with somewhere we can eat, sleep, teach, relax, etc.  While it may not be our end goal, it has and will continue to serve us well until we can move to bigger and better things!

12 Day of Christmas - Day 4

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

While this fourth day of Christmas may not stand out to many people, it is an annual reminder of one of the other greatest gifts that I've received in my life: my beautiful, amazing, and wonderful wife! (That list is not exhaustive, but I'd be here all day if I had to list them all).

I wanted to save this post for today, because it is a pretty special day.  However, I also had to post it sooner rather than later, because just last night my wife mentioned "Oh, so I didn't make any of the first three days, huh?!" =)  But, I kindly reminded her that my very first post said that all except the first day weren't in any particular order! ;) (Love you, honey!)

Through the thick and thin, through the good and bad, my wife has been there!  Sure, we have our differences, we've had our quarrels, and all the jazz that comes with marriage.  But, she's always by my side and we are constantly learning from each other, which is what marriage is all about!

She's blessed me with a beautiful little girl, and another baby on the way, and stays home to make sure that they are raised with love and care.  Just the child birthing process itself is enough to make you appreciate what women go through!  That's something I never even want to come close to having experienced. 

Through that, she's also graduated from college, completed an internship, and passed the board certification for her Music Therapy profession.  I think her accomplishments can often be overshadowed or not noticed as much, but she has done SO MUCH in just a few years!

She's one of the best Christmas presents I've ever received and I'm excited that we get to spend eternity together with our family! =D

Thanks for being my better half and dealing with me for the past four years!!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 3

                 

                               2012

2013

2014

R U N N I N G ... this may seem like a strange gift to be thankful for during this third day of Christmas, but it has really made a HUGE difference in my life! 

From a high of 240, to a low of 190, and a little of everywhere in between, running and exercise has definitely made me get my health into check.  As can be seen by the first picture above, in the past three years, I have spent basically 149.5 hours travelling almost 765 miles by feet!!  While I'm still a little slow, THAT'S A LONG WAY!! =D

I'm still contemplating my mileage goal for 2015, but you better believe it's going to keep moving.  Running has also given me a bigger appreciation for the things that are around me.  I've seen places that I probably would have never been able to see.  I have had the opportunity to see scenery that is picture perfect and made me really acknowledge how beautiful all of God's creations can be!

One of the best parts of running is the sense of accomplishment that you get when you FINALLY cross that finish line!!  I've done 5k's (3.1 miles), 10k's (6.2 miles), half marathons (13.1 miles), and marathons (26.2 miles)...and no matter the distance, there is just something that makes you feel special when you see family and friends cheering you on as you cross that white line.  While the aftermath may not be so pleasant, and recovery can be very interesting, each race and all the training for them takes a different type of dedication that just seems to make you a better person!

I haven't always loved running...but, I think there are some gifts that we may not totally realize their value until later in life...and running fits very well into that category!  HAPPY TRAILS...and here's to more miles, medals, and memories! =)

Definition of the Day

As an HR professional, currently working in the trucking/transportation industry, this definition has become increasingly poignant:

mor·al

ˈmôrəl

a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.

When working through "employee relations", after a while you think you've seen it all.  I've been only been working in my current position for a year and I'm unfortunately still continually surprised at some of the things I hear.  Now, this isn't a bash on truckers, because my own grandfather was one for UPS.  They also are a vital part of our economy by bringing goods to and fro across the entire country.  They are away from their family and homes for extended periods of time and drive countless miles and hours.  It's HARD work!

I wish I could share the voice message that someone left for me today, but that probably isn't a good idea to do in a public forum.  However, I'll briefly explain what is was about.  A husband of a female truck driver trainee called.  The wife, our new employee, had called him telling him that she wanted a divorce.  He stated the she also called later stating that she was having "relations" with her trainer, also our employee (which yes, that's against company policy), and that she felt terribly guilty for having done so.  This husband was calling us to try and get a hold of her, because he thought she was off her medication, was now taking handfuls of cold pills that made her hallucinate, and the trainer had supposedly thrown away her phone so he wanted to make sure she was safe!!

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!!!  What's going on in the world?!

Unfortunately, I think there has definitely been a breakdown in morals in today's society.  There's plenty that  likely contributes to that degradation which would be another handful of posts in and of itself.  However, I think it would be wise for all of us to remember the definition given above.

As we grow older and have more experiences in life, we may run into situations that we haven't necessarily had to face before.  However, if we've clearly been establishing our morals and have been building our foundation of what we think is right or wrong, I believe it'll be much easier to face those unpredictable or questionable times ahead.

So, not to be preachy or anything, but REMEMBER YOUR MORALS!  Life is already hard enough and I think this is one thing that could just make it a little easier.  Plus, it'd make my job a little less stressful =)!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 2

Ashlynn Brooke

It is incredibly amazing what a little girl can do to change your whole world around! =)  As I celebrate the 2nd Day of Christmas, my thoughts continually turn to this angel!

I'm sure it's the same with any small child, but these specials gifts to a family have a way of softening hearts, bringing joy you never knew you could experience, and making you appreciate things that you may take for granted.

I remember one of the first nights that we had her home, I was kneeling in our room saying my prayers while she was sleeping, and I just started sobbing uncontrollably.  To do this day, I really can't pinpoint why I started doing such, but I just felt this extreme feeling of gratitude for being blessed to have the opportunity to take care of such a sweet spirit.

Ashlynn has opened my eyes to a whole new world...and yes, I have watched my fair share of Little Mermaid to know what that phrase means!  As I've taken her out on runs in her stroller, she points things out to me that I have never noticed.  During this holiday season, she thinks the Christmas lights are AMAZING and soaks in every minute that she gets to see them.  Even the moon, the snow, and the stars are a simple amazement to her.

She has helped me realize that sometimes we can get a little TOO caught up in the daily routine and we really just need to stop and realize what is going on around us.  Plus, the way she makes us laugh...man, that's something to look forward to every day.

I think one of the greatest gifts a Dad can have is hearing his little girl scream at the top of her lungs when she gets home, yell "DADDY", and run towards you with her arms wide open to give you a big hug.  It doesn't matter how manly, big, or tough you think you are...something like that with always instantly melt your heart and make you glad to be home after a long day at work!

No matter how big she gets, how fiery she can be (and yes, what they say about red-heads is true!), or how much mischief she can get in to, she is always going to have a special place in my heart.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1

I'll actually probably be double posting for the next 12 days, because I realized that today would be the beginning of the "12 Days of Christmas"! =)  The Christmas season is one of my most favorite of the year...not because of the presents, commercialization, etc...but because of what it means and how it brings people together more so than any other time of the year.

If you haven't already, I would encourage you to go watch the two videos that I've posted above.  The first is a simple message "He is the Gift".  It is a great reminder as to why we celebrate CHRISTmas and the true reason for the season, which I think can sometimes unfortunately get lost among all the hustle of the holidays.

The second video is a music video put together by many artists that are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, David Archuleta, The Piano Guys, etc.  They all came together to produce an amazing depiction of the nativity along with one of the most beautiful songs.

As I go through the 12 Days of Christmas, I wanted to share some of the greatest gifts that I have received.  These won't really be in any particular order, except for this one, as Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that we all have received! =D  I could have saved this post until Christmas Day, but I thought it deserved to be first on my list!

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!!  May you all have joy and happiness this holiday season!

Preparing for the Lord

Today was my last day as a Primary teacher at church.  For the past almost year and half (and practically the majority of the past four years that I've been married), I've been called to handle different duties that involved watching/teaching/babysitting/feeding the younger children of my congregation.

At times, it's been fairly overwhelming, as kids are screaming, crying, fighting, and smelling funny! :)  After a week of work, that's about the last thing that you want to deal with on your weekend.  However, at other times, it's been fairly rewarding...as you see the children remember what you have taught, form their own small testimonies, and carry those valuable tidbits out the door after three hours of church.  That's what made it all worth it!

As can be deduced form the title of this post, my last lesson was on "Jesus Christ Will Come Again".  Now, I realize people who may not be actively religious could be reading this post, but nonetheless I think the message is important for everyone to hear.  No matter with what faith you affiliate yourself, or even if you don't at all, I think the concept of "Preparing for the Lord" is especially poignant during this time of the year!

I started my lesson by watching the following video:

During my trip to Israel while in college, I made sure that one of the souvenirs I brought home was my own oil lamp.  Although I still have no idea how to use it, I love the teachings that a simple symbol can hold.

We played a game, looked at a few pictures, but the main message throughout my lesson was in the form of a question: What are we doing today to prepare for the Lord?

No matter our beliefs or convictions, shouldn't we all be doing something every day to make ourselves better?  The idea is simple, the execution can sometimes be difficult, but the rewards are priceless.

That's why...as of today...I've renamed and restarted my blog.  I've also deleted SOME of my social media sites (others are actually worth keeping and productive), games, and other wastes of time.   I had a conversation with one of my church leaders today and he just said some inspirational things that made me realize I could be doing better myself!

If you've made it to the end of the post, thanks for reading...and, through some way or another, thanks for your support in my endeavors.  I look forward to starting this blog back up again and sharing!  Have an awesome Sunday and a great week! =)