And Rarly Again

When I did the first blog I though it would be a great way to keep a sort of a journal. Instead its been two other things. One a great opportunity to read and see what's happening with family and second a connection I can make at any time to people that I'm a distance away from. Nine months later I find not much of a journal but an opportunity to think about what has happened during the last nine month that maybe I should have written about. Its been a good time of my life for the most part. I've seen my children and grand children many times (always good). My business has taken off fairly well (I've made more with it than my daily job). The garden has been wonderful (see Jeanette's blog). The world situation hasn't seemed to bother me to much (I guess that's because I don't listen to talk radio any more and try to follow President Hinkley's advice to just try to do the best I can). Nathan got married in the temple (I now feel kinda like King Benjamin. My children have all been taught the real important things in life, if they screw up now it's their problem) though it would be to my sorrow. Some other good things. I've gotten to know the in-laws better, I hope they count me as a friend as I do them. I realize ever more that families can bring the only true lasting happiness. Its good to be able to now concentrate on some of my own thoughts and habits that seem to keep happiness at a distance at times. I passed 50 without breaking down too much. The Suburban is still running with a little help. I can now wire a house without asking for help. I can forget to do things and it's alright because I'm having a senior moment. I'm a middle aged man living with a wonderful younger woman. By the way these things aren't in order of importance. I'm taking a computer troubleshooting class over the internet, It's fun. There are to many to name so I'll stop now, I hope you all don't. Thanks, Tim

I'm at it only rarely

I've been neglecting this part of my life for long enough, and my children and children in law's are setting a very good example for me in how to document a life. Why this is almost as good as a "journal". I do however think things things that I don't want everyone to know about. This is sort of the subject of this blog. I've been thinking more lately about what is the real core of a person. Is it their dreams and aspirations? Is it what a person does or what they wish they could or would do? Maybe its because I'm getting older and can now see the end of my life approaching, I'm very curious about who and what I really am. I know that I'm a child of my Father in Heaven and that I have eternal potential. I have a fairly good understanding of the plan of salvation and have studied a lot about the Atonement and life after death. Something interesting passed through my mine the other day without sticking then it came back so I've given it more thought. I think God's mercy will make up for a lot of things that that we do in this life and don't think to repent of, and for lives (maybe ours) that due to circumstances beyond the individual's control, have no real chance to experience the best in life that most of us enjoy daily. And I further think that some of these people have been foreordained to be some of our "opposition in all things". I think that a loving Father in Heaven wouldn't exclude those that are like that from his greatest blessing. This being where mercy comes in, if these people will at some time recognize their Father for What He is, (they being a necessary part of our lives). I guess I believe somewhat that we will all (even those difficult people) be judged on (1) what we do with what we have been given by our Father in Heaven and (2) what we do to rise above what we were trained to be in our youth (some people have a much different life than most of us could even understand though we see evidence of these things daily in the news). You may say "I already know that" my point here is that some people that we chose not to like, because of their actions and lives, may gain as much or more from their starting point (yet never reaching an understanding of eternal life and developing a relationship with our Father in Heaven as we believe to be necessary for salvation). In more simple terms all of these people that we look at and wish we never had to see or be around are necessary for our growth and when we can love them and react well to all they do or say or represent and then reach out to them in love, friendship and compassion to help in any in any way we can that's what life is all about.

2nd Installment What's Normal

I've been thinking a lot about blogs and the purposes of blogs. I've also been reading some of my family's blogs and some others at random. (Please don't think when reading this blog that I think you aren't normal, on the contrary I believe there's much more normalcy around us than we think.) This and other things brought me to the main thought behind this next installment. I think it interesting that most people think that their life is normal and everyone else is just a little bit off course (especially in a global sense). I've recently come to believe that learning to show Christ like love in a family environment (and later in our whole environment) is the thing that will make us most normal and also, that any other goal, or any lack of a goal in this life is what causes the real day to day problems in this life. And that no other pursuit in life can bring us as much happiness. Susan's gratitude blog and many other comments in other family blogs-discussions, etc and some time in places like Germany and Iraq brought me to this conclusion. We that live in the more peaceful parts of the world and have the luck or what ever to live with family nearby, are the most blessed, and normal, and that we are sometimes unaware of how lucky we are. I've witnessed many types of family life, in many parts of the world, we have it pretty good. A little Bedouin family I got to know in Iraq loved each other as much as we do, they played together as we do, they worked together to survive which we do to a small extent. A German family I got to know were divided by the Iron Curtain. They still loved each other though only able to communicate with letters. Our lives are much more stable than some other places and this makes a normal life more certain. The thing that ties all happy families together in the in the realm of normalcy is that they love and serve each other. That is what brings them true happiness. No selfish goal will bring happiness. I thank you for teaching me this. Blogs are making the world smaller. Maybe the "family of man" can really happen if enough people in the world show their Love for their brothers and sisters all over the world. I hope we"ll all pay a little more attention to greeting the world around us with love (happiness).

A begining

Lately I've enjoyed reading my daughter in law and son's Blogs. I think I'm getting to know them better, especially the wonderful girl that is helping my son to live "the good life". I also realize that this is a good chance to express many things to people I don't see very often, and to put myself on record about some subjects. As families seem to kinda spread out over time it will also be a good way to keep in touch.
I guess I'm also living the good life. My wife Jeanette and I have been married 28+ years and have seen some of the world. Our life has been centered in southern Utah (even the 9 years Army life), we looked forward to and enjoyed every moment of leave that we spent in Utah (the greatest part of this great Nation). I believe that love for this part for the world is what motivated me to serve my country those years. The history stuff I'll add sometime later. In Alex's blog in one paragraph he talked about his great grandfather, grandfather and dad (me) spending Christmas's away from home in a hostile environment in the service of our Country. I don't know about my predecessors but that time made me appreciate my home (Southern Utah) even more.
My wife and I have 3 children, Alex that's married to Nicole and living the best years of his life, Nathan, He lives here in Orderville after spending a few years in Provo, and last but not least Miranda that lives in Lacrosse, Kansas with her husband James and two children, Liahna almost "2" and Peter, 1 1/2 months. My Parents, Jeanette and children are the joy and purpose of my life. Enough for now.