For Kjirsten!

We finally celebrated Kyle’s 16 birthday. We gave him his present as he left school yesterday. Many of his friends were there to enjoy cupcakes and cookies. We’ve been building this car since April 2008. Yes, it’s a bit much for a 16 year-old. But, Kyle’s a good kid. I’ve always taught him that you get rewarded in this life based on your work. He works very hard and I couldn’t be happier with his efforts. As a Sophomore, he has AP Biology, AP European history and 4 more honors courses. He carries a 4.something GPA. (I know, us oldies are skeptical of GPAs better than the perfect 4.0; but they now add points for AP and honors classes). He’s finishing his Eagle now, and can’t drive until he does. He just killed the PSAT and prep ACT and is now getting emails from some great Universities; like 5 per day. So, it’s a cool gift, and he deserves it. Happy late Birthday Kyle. We love you.

Happy Birthday Elliot!

To celebrate Elliot’s 34th birthday I thought I’d list 25 reasons why I love my sweet husband, so here they are:
1- He completes me. I know that sounds cliché but I truly believe that I could not reach my full potential in life without him.
2- He writes me beautiful poetry. I would share them with you but they are too personal.
3- He has an awesome sense of humor!
4- He is more handsome today than ever before (don’t be jealous ladies).
5- He is an excellent chef. Considering that cooking is a chore to me this helps out tremendously.
6- He’s my best friend.
7- He has a photographic memory.
8- He’s very optimistic.
9- He’s extremely opinionated and he doesn’t sit on the fence of any issue. He’s also not afraid to voice his opinions, see #18.
10- He’s confident, not conceited. Yes, there is a difference.
11- He is an amazing father. Elliot is the only man I know whose hobby is his family. He would rather be hanging around with us than doing anything else in the world.
12- He’s totally selfless. Elliot got up at 4:30 in the morning just to get his workout in before he drove the kids to seminary and school so that when he got home from work he could spend that time with the family.
13- He’s a hard worker and he’s teaching our kids to be industrious also. Elliot finished BYU in less than 3 years while having three kids and providing for us. I don’t think people realize he took 21 credit hours for three straight semesters and 24 credit hours his last semester and he graduated with a 3.9 GPA.
14- He’s a very determined and driven man and heaven help the person who tries to get in his way!
15- He’s a natural born leader.
16- He’s never been beat in an arm wrestle. I won’t even tell you how much he bench presses (350+) but I am proud to say that Kyle is well on his way to being the first one to beat him.
17- He loves to practice cheer moves with the girls in the pool. It takes a real man to participate in cheerleading. Okay, I confess he just holds them up to practice their flying skills, he doesn’t actually do cheers or dance moves.
18- He couldn’t give a hoot what people think or say about him! See #’s 9&10.
19- He is extremely loyal and he always thinks the best of others.
20- He won’t skip church ever and he always goes above and beyond in his callings.
21- He loves to talk which is totally the opposite of me. I’m always dragging him out of places because I’m bored and he’s the center of attention.
22- He’s very forgiving which considering he’s married to me is a really good thing!
23- He’s very receptive to promptings of the Spirit and he follows those promptings, even when it means going tracting to someone’s door when they have a huge Rottweiler guarding their front gate.
24- He loves to serve others and always does so with a glad heart and kind spirit.
25- He loves me absolutely unconditionally.

I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface of everything I love about Elliot. So now I’d like to ask you all a small favor and leave a brief comment about what you like or admire about Elliot. Not that he needs it of course (see #10) but I just thought it would be nice!

Happy 34th Sweetie and I look forward to the next 50+ years with you!

I know I’m late updating our blog for Amy’s birthday. For the record, I didn’t forget, I just placed the blog lower on the priority list than all the other things I’ve done since the 15th.

So, Amy is now in her late 30s. She argued that 35 is mid-30s, but I always round up; cause I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy. I wanted to go through all the ways Amy has changed since I met her in September 1990…here goes…

When I met Amy she was this foxy little spark plug who came into Biology late with a little attitude and fling of her long, perfect hair. Today, she is still a foxy little spark plug with a little attitude and perfect hair. In 1990 she looked a bit too good in a swimsuit. Today she looks even better in her beachwear. Amy was a Bills fan when I met her. Now, she wears Broncos PJs around the house and knows the names of every Broncos O lineman. In 1990, Amy didn’t really know how she felt about the desert; now she knows she hates it. In 1990, Amy would rather hang with loved ones and chat than travel to Europe. More than ever, she just wants to hang with the fam wherever they are. In 1990, the boys were all after Amy. Now, they just stare as we walk through the mall. Oh, she still hates shopping and the mall. Maybe it has to do with the staring dudes. Amy always wanted to be a mom and a doctor. She is the best mom in the world; so that’s one down and one to go. In 1990, Amy was in seminary and studying her scriptures on a regular basis. She had a firm testimony of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, Amy is a mature scriptorian, she’s a dedicated missionary, a kind friend, a tender mother, a loving teacher, and a pillar of strength for her kids against the winds of the world. In 1991 Amy became my best friend. Today, she is my best friend and the kind of wife every man wants but rarely gets. I am the luckiest man alive to have Amy at my side through this life and forever. I only hope my sons are blessed with such sweet daughters of God at their sides.

So, you can see, Amy has changed very little over the last 18 years. She has only improved over time. In fact, you can hardly say she's aged. I’m sure in 18 more years I’ll be saying the same thing.

Happy Birthday Sweetie, I love you, your kids love you, and you serve the Lord with all your might. Nothing else matters.

I’m sure everyone can tell that KJ is growing up fast now. I know it seems that she is now 14 going on …college; but a look at where she spends her time and effort helps to understand what she is really about. As she turns 14, the things that are most important to her are now her young women’s program, seminary, school, cheer, and her family. She spends 99% of her waking time on church, school, cheer, and family activities; and that is not an exaggeration. When she was 10, the things that were most important to her where school, family, church, cheer, violin, and playing with friends and fam. So, you can see that she has really not changed too much. She just stopped playing with friends and her violin. She really misses the violin and begs us to take lessons. But, we ask “when would you like to take lessons?” This brings up another change in KJ’s life. She is the busiest kid I know. Her big brother is very busy, but she has him beat. Her daily schedule is something like this:
4:50 – get ready for school
5:45 – go to seminary
6:45 – go to school
3:20 – school is out, go to cheer practice
6:30 – cheer practice ends, go to mutual or cheer for a game
9:00 – do homework, read scriptures
11:00 – go to bed

KJ is our sleeper. I’m not sure if it has to do with her lack of sleep during the week, but she can really sleep in. I have a little cold, so I took some medicine the other night and slept until 9 AM. I got up and joked that I had pulled a KJ. But, she was still asleep for another hour. So, in that small way, she is a true teenager.

KJ is not really infatuated with boys yet. I’m happy to report that yesterday I asked her to name her 5 favorite boys; she responded with Dad, Kyle, Tanner…she then paused. This is where I was waiting for the name of some boy at church or school. I was mistaken. She continued with the names of her male cousins; who are all 10 and under.

Kj is, however, very excited for the stake dances. She has her first dance this Wednesday. She’s lucky to be going with her big brother.

KJ has developed a special relationship with Kyle that will likely carry through to adulthood. While her attitudes and activities advance in maturity, she’s becoming a wonderful little lady. I’ve noticed that Amy and I are starting to treat her more like an adult as each day passes. I honestly don’t remember that last time we corrected KJ. She is a smart, focused, driven, sweet, tender, principled young woman who is guided more by her testimony of the Savior and the Restored Gospel than by any other thing.

The most telling thing I can say about KJ is that she has many pieces of knowledge to learn in this life, but she is wiser than nearly every adult I have ever known.

Happy Birthday Kjirsten.

Sixteen years ago today a little teen-age girl gave birth to a skinny little baby. I had only been back from active Army duty for three days. I too was skinny and young. Amy and I had just worked through the hardest 9 months or our lives. Finally, he was born and everything has been easy-street from there. It finally seems like a long time ago that Kyle was born. He has been here for Amy’s and my entire adult life. He has grown from my favorite little buddy to an exemplary young man. You always have grandiose wishes for your children and I wonder if reality always outperforms your dreams. Kyle is as fine a man as any I have ever met.
Today, Amy and I experience measureless joy as I ordained Kyle to the office of Priest and we were blessed to witness his patriarchal blessing. So many spiritual thoughts, memories, feelings, and promptings; all are too personal to share. But, I must say, this is one of the finest days for a father. I can’t imagine more happiness. I held Amy’s little hand as Kyle saw his existence laid out before him. A true fulfillment of the efforts and dreams since the day I held Amy’s little hand as she labored to bring him into the world sixteen years ago.

Happy Birthday Kyle!! Thank you for sharing it all with us. You are a fine example of what a young man should be.

I am grateful beyond words for the calling I have to serve as a father to my kids and a husband to my Amy. This morning was especially spiritually rich for me. On a day which could represent such dismay for the country I love, I was surrounded by tender mercies.

Our Priesthood leaders asked us to support Prop 102 and my family responded. They did all they were asked to do and more. My wife and kids displayed the faith required to accomplish anything. I can truly say these kids, Kyle, Kjirsten, Cicely, Alycia, and Tanner, as well as thier mother, are the types of disciples who would have pushed the hand-carts wherever their Prophet asked. The Lord does my work for me. All is well when you have a family like this.

I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.