On the Mend...

Last week had a few bumps in the road. Our little guy got hit by a nasty one-two punch of a cold and ear infection. His temperature hit 103 degrees more than once. I wasn't alarmed, but I did feel quite concerned and wished I could take away his pain and discomfort. The three of us went through a few very fitful nights and felt pretty weary by week's end.

Echoing what Jilly alluded to in her post. I feel grateful for the advances of modern medicine. Not so very long ago, a cold or fever could lead to pneumonia or a host of other serious illnesses, many of which did not have a cure. I am grateful for the light and knowledge given to man that has allowed him to better understand the human body and how to care for it and to cure many of the ailments that were fatal not so many generations ago.

On a personal level, I was grateful for the opportunity to minister to my son, with the help of a good friend. I was reminded by so doing that prayers are often answered through those around us, and by the magnifcation of their skills, gifts, and talents. I was also reminded that we, if in tune with the Spirit and willing to act, can be the means by which prayers are answered for others. The Lord's love and His tender mercies are manifest in abundance, and my family has been blessed greatly this week with such mercies.

In addition, I was impressed yet again by the character and selflessness of my sweetheart. Night after night, in the early morning hours and throughout the day, Jilly was steadfast, providing the comfort and succor only she could give to sooth Ryan, quite his tears, and help him rest. This is enough of a load, but combined with all the physical symptoms of her pregnancy, the effort required is beyond formidable. I have seen the Lord bless Ryan with what he has needed to heal and I have seen Him bless Jilly and give her strength beyond her own that has made her equal to the task of caring for him. And I know He has made me more than I am alone to serve and provide for them both this past week.

I read today from Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley that "God planted within women something divine that expresses itself in quite strength, in refinement, in peace, in goodness, in virtue, in truth, in love. And all of these remarkable qualities find their truest and most satisfying expression in motherhood." I have certainly seen the application of these truths evident in Jilly's actions during the past several days.

Grateful...

A poignant sense of how fortunate and blessed I am has been on my mind and in my heart for some time. A good friend gave a talk in church today and stressed how important it is to express gratitude for all that we receive and enjoy. Below is by no means a comprehensive list, but a few especially precious gifts for which I feel enormously grateful.

My Wife Companion

The moments of my life where I have felt the most overwhelming, consuming love have come because of and are connected to my sweetheart. In ways obvious and subtle, the love I feel for her grows daily and I learn to a greater degree what the Prophet Joseph taught: love begets love. My Jilly is selfless, virtuous, resourceful, modest, faithful, steady, creative, wholly committed to her covenants and the Gospel, a wonderful mother, a great beauty inside and out, intelligent, funny, compassionate, genuine, lovely, and my very best friend in the wide world. I depend on her so much, draw so much strength from her faith and optimism, learn from her everyday, and feel inspired by her belief in my ability to do good. I've heard it said that standing beside every good man is a better woman. This is certainly true in my case.

My Son

Ryan is such a delight in my life. I'm just all kinds of crazy about him. I love to hold him close. I love to watch him learn and discover. I love to watch him play with Jilly and my parents and our friends. I love to see him light up when I come home from work. I love to read books with him at bedtime. I love to hear him speak and laugh. I love to watch him sleep. I love to wrestle and tickle him. I love to watch him make people smile. He is a special spirit and I am grateful to be his Daddy.

My Daughter

I realize that several months remain before she will be born, but I have seen and felt our little girl and I look forward to her arrival in the spring. There is a lot unknown for me in raising a daughter, but I feel a great love for her already and am grateful for another addition to our family.

Parents

I really have been born of goodly parents. They were recently here and it struck me how intimately and in great detail they know what my little family is about and the things that matter to us. This underscores to me the love they have for my wife whom they have always treated as their daughter, their grandson, and me. They have gone to great lengths to make sure they bond with Ryan as he grows and develops, and their devotion and care mean the world to me. They continue to teach me, and their counsel for me and my family makes all the difference. I see in my own relationship with Ryan and their relationship with Jill and I a type and pattern of Heavenly Father's relationship to His children, and how these relationships help man become like God.

Friends

When you are far from family, a strong network of friends is worth its weight in gold. More than at any other time in my life, I am deeply grateful for loving and devoted friends who have become family to Jilly, Ryan and I. Their joys are my joys, their successes my successes, their sorrow my sorrows. Relationships with our friends are deeply meaningful and are a great blessing to me. They add a dimension to my life that is sweet and fulfilling and a great manifestation of how prayers are answered.


Truly, when I count my blessings one by one it not only surprises but reaffirms the perfect love Heavenly Father has for me and for all His children and the countless ways that love is shown. I sincerely feel confused at the grace by which He so fully profers me. When I think about how I might express gratitude for all these blessings, I determine that the only possible way is to do unto others as has been done unto me, to carry on the legacy of love of which I am a part.

Tagged

First, an acknowledgment. I realize this is my second post today. This is two more posts than I typically write in a week. Who knows, perhaps a trend is developing.

Jill tagged me back in September, after having been tagged by friends and family to share a little info about herself. Thought I should finally respond.


4 Jobs I've Had
Construction Worker
Glass Intaller
Portuguese Teacher
Financial Consultant

4 Movies I Could Watch Over and Over Again
Any of the films in the Bourne Trilogy
Any of the films in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Most of the Abbot and Costello Films
Waking Ned Devine

4 Places I Have Lived
West Jordan, Utah
Hackettstown, New Jersey
Jacksonville, Florida
Iguacu Falls, Brazil

4 Favorite Places to Visit
Anywhere with family
The Rocky Mountains
London
Italy & Germany (would like to someday)

4 Favorite Desserts
Ice Cream
Trifle
Chocolate Mint Cake
Texas Sheet Cake

4 Favorite Dinners
Beef Stroganoff
10 oz. medium well filet with crab or shrimp
Hamburger Soup
Beef Enchiladas - homemade

4 Websites I Visit Daily
childsplayground.blogspot.com
www.forceprotection.net
CNN.com
LDS.org

4 Hobbies
Tennis
Reading
Writing
Traveling

Times and Seasons

The other day I watched a press conference held at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen were bringing the media up to speed on various DoD programs and developments related to the war in Iraq and other operations throughout the world. The camera would pan from the reporters to Gates and Mullen. Whomever was speaking was identified by a title block at the bottom of the screen. I realized as things progressed that I had personally worked with the majority of the press reps in the room - correspondents from NBC, ABC, Fox, CNN as well as the print and radio folks - Associated Press, Defense News, National Public Radio.

Four years ago, I hadn't even the slightest inkling that my profession would involve working heavily with the press. My understanding and respect for the motivations, processes, and roles of both have increased exponentially. A report that takes all of 30 seconds of airtime during the evening news typically involves several months of behind-the-scenes pitching and persistence, planning and persistence, coordination and persistence, patience and persistence, and persistence. Then, overarching this massive effort is the elusive and usually uncontrollable tipping point of "timing," that mysterious trifecta when the public interest and subsequent media focus is actually inclined toward your product and message. When that perfect storm hits, the floodgates open, and it is a great ride.

Through close personal friends and business associates, I have also come to have a much greater appreciation and understanding of the men and women of the military, and the military itself as an organization. The role they play in safeguarding our national security and being a responsible neighbor in the global community is remarkable. No one individual or organization makes perfect decisions, but I know that there are legions of people who care deeply about this country and who are willing to lay everything on the line to support and defend it. I have seen reports from Iraq that stand as poignant, powerful evidence of this. I have spoken to Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Guardsmen and felt their commitment, dedication, and resolve firsthand. I express the utmost respect and admiration for these noble souls and gratitude for their willing sacrifices.

I have a sense that I'll look back on these experiences and the early years of my career and realize better than I now do the substance and significance of the work in which I have been engaged. None of this is intended to be boastful, only reflective of how sometimes the most remarkable events of life come not as the result of specific, conscious planning. Rather, there are times and seasons leading to experiences that are the result of trying to do what is right for the right reasons, and having faith that in seeking to do good, a beautiful life will unfold in a way that works together for your best good.

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ

I feel deeply grateful and energized in contemplating the recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that took place a week ago. This two-day conference for members of the LDS church throughout the world and all who wish to participate gives a precious opportunity to gather and listen to the teachings and counsel of living prophets and apostles of God.

I am grateful that our Heavenly Father has allowed the fulness of His gospel to be restored to the earth, and that the same organization that existed during Christ's earthly ministry is on the earth today. I am grateful that my family and I don't have to have doubt and fear in darkness, but rather know that men are called and given authority to teach eternal truths that help us understand the quintessential questions of life: Where do I come from?; Why I am here?; and, Where I am going?

In equal measure, I am grateful to have heard the powerful testimonies of the leaders of the Church concerning Jesus Christ, and His role as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. I am grateful to know and to understand that the two barriers that keep us from returning to the presence of Heavenly Father when this life is through, those of sin and death, are overcome through the atoning sacrifice of Christ and our faithfulness in keeping His commandments and taking upon us His holy name.

I am grateful for the brightness of hope, the catalyst for joy, and the inspiration to move forward in faith that my knowledge and testimony of these truths provides. I am grateful that Father sends the Holy Ghost to reaffirm these truths and to give guidance, peace, and direction and keep me and my family (as we listen and obey) moving in the right direction.

I am grateful for the abundance of evidence of God's love in my life and in the lives of my family and friends. I know that He loves His children, and invites them to approach Him in prayer and share the feelings of their hearts with Him and work out the concerns and hopes and challenges and joys of life with Him. As God's prophet in our day, President Gordon B. Hinckley, has taught, I am grateful for the wonderful and humbling opportunity and invitation to develop a kinship with my Heavenly Father.

I am grateful that the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is found in the only true and living Church on the earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that God lives. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, was the only perfect Man to walk the earth and that it is by and through His merits, mercy, and grace that I may be cleansed from sin and be given eternal life with my family. I know that this is real and true through the confirmation received from the Holy Ghost, and I know that every person on this earth can receive this same confirmation.

I am grateful for the Lord's apostles today who have reiterated that members of the LDS Church are Christian in every way. We worship Christ as our Savior and Redeemer and perfect Exemplar. We talk of Him, we worship Him, we emulate Him, we testify of Him, we teach our children of Him, and we know that it is only under His name that we may be saved.

I am grateful for my precious family - my sweetheart, little prince, and the new baby and rejoice in the knowledge that death will not end our relationships, but that through God's Plan of Salvation and the central role of Jesus Christ in that plan, I can enjoy and be in their presence forever.

I am energized to stand taller and to know that I can improve and be a better man, husband, father, son, brother, servant, friend and neighbor because of what I have heard and what I have felt during General Conference. I am grateful that I can read, watch, and listen to the addresses of the men and women who lead the affairs of the Church throughout the world and renew the inspiration and influx of energy to do my part in contributing to the work of the Lord in my home and among those with whom I associate.

The Knife Thrower

I was in a meeting not long ago when my employer told me about a conversation he'd had with a client we service. He said that he told this client to (figuratively speaking) throw as many knives as possible as quickly as possible at me - and that I would be able to catch each one. This had an unexpectedly profound effect on me.

In a more recent meeting, disbelief was expressed when it was discovered that a group of 14 and 15-year-olds did not have a clear orientation or vision as to what they wanted to do with their lives or what they wanted to be when they "grew up."

Stringing together these two seemingly unrelated observations, I have thought both consciously and subconsciously about the direction of my life. Do I really know what I "want to be"? I am heavily engaged in my professional obligations, a host of extracurricular activities, and Church responsibilities. For the most part, I enjoy and feel confident in what I do. Do I know for sure that I will always do what I am currently doing? Do I know exactly where I will be in five years, in ten? I don't think so.

I do know that, sooner than later, I want to become the knife thrower.

I also know that, as I put Ryan to bed tonight, one thing is sure and will always be so. What will define me is my role as a father to my precious son and the new baby, and as a husband companion to my beautiful wife.

And you know what? Really, that's all I need to know.

And so it begins...

So, here it goes. I have been observing the blogging craze that seems to have swept the nation. I have long debated with myself and others the catalyst for this. Do people have an overdeveloped sense of importance about their thoughts and daily lives to the point they become convinced others should and do care to read about them? Or is it an outward manifestation of an inward need we have as innately social creatures to feel connected to other people, to reach out and be assured that someone is there and listening. Maybe it's a bit of both, or none of the above.

In any case, it may appear that I have succumbed, and that I too feel that my thoughts, opinions, and doings merit the attention and precious time of others. I hope not to appear and do not feel quite so presumptious. Rather, I have determined that, at least for a time, this may be an effective way to keep my writing from being geared solely to support my profession. I am essentially a writer for hire. From commercials to speeches, ads to film scripts, press releases to Web sites, collateral kits to media advisories, I am essentially paid to write and make writing come alive in the attempt to influence hearts and minds and incite action.

This blog is begun with the intent to write for the joy of writing, to exercise my reasoning and logic skills, and to explore my views about the world and what is happening in it. I aspire to be a man of God, and as such, anything I write will doubtless be flavored if not fully focused on the application and meaning of Gospel principles from day to day, experience to experience, impression to impression. Men I greatly admire emphasize and exhort people to make a record of the promptings they receive so that they can remember and continually build upon them, thus expandng their character. This is in large part what I intend to do.

So, again, here goes. If reading these is worthwhile to anyone but me, please feel free to chime in. It is always healthy and interesting to engage and benefit from the perspectives, wisdom, observations, and thoughts of others - Elder Maxwell has said that we are each other's "clinical material."

And so it begins...