A More Determined Discipleship

This Article

A More Determined Discipleship

I found inspiring in many ways. I will let you read it yourself and see what you think.

Meaning of "Come Unto Me"

Angela Johnson relates what it means when the Savior says "Come Unto Me".

I love this Christmas Story

A few days before Christmas, when Rob was fifteen years old, he overheard his father say to his mother, “Mary, I hate to call Rob to milk the cows in the mornings. He’s growing so fast and he needs his sleep. … I wish I could manage alone.”

These simple words made Rob fully realize something for the first time: his father loved him!

The family was poor. Rob had bought his father an inexpensive tie, but as he lay thinking on the night before Christmas, it didn’t seem enough. With growing excitement he decided on a better gift. He would get up early and milk the cows before his father got up. He laughed to himself in anticipation of his father’s surprise.

The task went more easily than he had ever known it to go before. Milking for once was not a chore. It was something else—a gift to his father, who loved him.

His task finished, Rob returned to his bed just moments before his father called him. He knew his father would go to the barn ahead of him to get started and in only a few minutes would discover the two big cans standing in the milk-house, filled. Breathlessly, Rob waited for his return.

After what seemed an eternity, Rob heard his bedroom door open, heard his father laughing, a “sobbing sort of laugh,” and heard his father say, “Thought you’d fool me, did you?”

“It’s for Christmas, Dad!” In the morning darkness, he found his father and clutched him in a great hug. Rob’s heart was “bursting with love.”

“Son, I thank you,” his father said. “Nobody ever did a nicer thing. … The best Christmas gift I ever had, and I’ll remember it, son, every year on Christmas morning, so long as I live.” (Adapted from Pearl S. Buck, “Christmas Day in the Morning,” in Colliers, 23 Dec. 1955, pp. 10–11.)

Happy Thanksgiving

Here is an appropriate video for the day.

Feeling down. This will pick you up.

It would be very hard to feel sorry for yourself after watching this video. What amazing examples we have available to us.

What do you do with your surplus?

This video makes an interesting point. It gets to the point of what are you doing with your time surplus? It gave me to cause to think doing something better with it than watching sitcoms.

Prophets Warn of Dangers Facing America

Come Listen to a Prophets Voice. I hope others may be benefited by this message. How timely it seems to me.

A Marvelous Work and a Wonder

This video reminds me of the title of LeGrand Richards book "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder". The growth of the LDS Church is exactly that. I marvel at the church's growth and yet an even greater marvel is that Jesus Christ's love can and will eventually be personally felt by every person on the earth. I can testify that I have felt of his love for me.

Blue Heron on Jordan River

When on a walk this weekend with my daughter Morganne we saw this Blue Heron. The picture is not that great because we took it with our phone. But here it is. Look close and you will see it right in the middle of the picture.

2008 ICS Mental Olympics Rocket Launching Contest

Does this look like fun? Your right it is. Some of those rockets went really fast and far. What a hoot.



Here is a picture of our teams rocket.

Wise Financial Advice

"If your outgo exceeds your income your upkeep will be your downfall"
Anon - attributed to Bill Earle

I heard this quote today and it rang true to me so I decided to share it.

Here is an additional link talking about
"7 Secrets of Millionaires"

Come Listen To A Prophets Voice

You can hear a prophets voice by listening to LDS General Conference. The live video will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language. The video below will introduce you further to what LDS General Conference is. Enjoy.

The Woodpecker Might Have To Go!

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark... One: Don't miss the boat. Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat. Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. Six: Build your future on high ground. Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs. Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. Nine: When you're stressed, float a while. Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. NOW, wasn't that nice? Pass it along and make someone else smile, too.

My First Bonsai

I have no idea what I just got myself into. It is not a big investment to get started. It was easy to talk myself into giving it a try. The question is "just how far I will go with it?". My son Merril is going to college and is interest in biology and living things. He likes to discuss fish and plants and things like that. So while he was visiting us this weekend on a short break from his college life down at Dixie College I said do you want to go to the "bonsai show" at Red Butte Gardens. He said sure that sounds interesting Dad. That is how it got started. So I just started looking at the bonsais that they had for sale and said how can it hurt to give it a try. I only spent $19 on it. Here is a picture.The next question is "Should I join the Utah Bonsai Club?" I am pretty sure it would be worth the fee of $20 a year to be a member. I have looked at a few of the "Bonsai of the Month" pictures and they are amazing. I am pretty sure I will end up joining.

The Leonardo - Body Worlds 3

I was able to take in this exhibit tonight. All I can say is that it was mind blowing. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had personal host who was a highly educated physician to walk me through it and elaborate. This video will give you some idea of what you will see.

Yippee on rides at lagoon

Here is a video of the "Wicked" ride we did today at Lagoon. No it was not produced by me. Just thought I would share it.

"Gift of Music" Concert

Friday night I went to a performance put on by the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir". All I can say is that these performers are amazing. Listening to them just astounds me. I don't know how they can make sound like that come out of their mouths. I will let you read what is written on the website rather than I have to say. Another things I found amazing was the beautiful works of art hanging in the hallways of the lds conference center.

On your MARC!

Are you "On your MARC"? Yes I do know how to spell. Just a little play on words. As part of my new position I am supporting a library cataloging application which is a system used by the LDS Church History Library and Archives. This system uses a common industry standard format for cataloging called MARC. If you want to read more about MARC it is available. I was surprised to find there is even a wiki completely dedicated to library science. I have been studying this just before bed and it really works out well to put you to sleep. Whats next "get set and go" right!

Mt Dew - Right out the window

Check out this crazy person. I have a spectacular view of these guys right out my office window. That's right I guess there are a few benefits that come with the job.

Sunny Strawberry Meadow

Simple Artistic Inspiration

I really do love "Our Creative Friends" I once heard that when you ask a room full of kindergarten age kids the question "how many of you are artist"? Almost all of them will raise their hands. When you ask a room full of high school student the same question you only get a few to raise their hands. What happens between kindergarten and high school to these artists? Hopefully this will inspire someone to regain that creative spark they had back in kindergarten.

May your day be a "Shay Day"

This story is very touching. I decide to just link to it rather than copy and paste it here. I hope you enjoy it.

Good Stuff Maynard

My kids here me say this and think I am crazy. It really does come from somewhere. This is a good a commercial. In fact you could say "Good stuff Maynard!"

Daily inspiration

LDS Gems are back.

Kids are so smart

This is one smart girl. I saw this and just felt it was a good thing to share. Most of the important stuff we know we knew before the age of two. Sometime I think it is important that we remind ourselves of this Once in awhile.

Procrastinate Now. Don't Wait.

Post coming soon...

Global Warming Hoax

I am not sold that Global Warming is the worlds biggest concern.

Pams Ride

(Click here)

(Click here)

Test Software - Warning long video

This is the best video I have seen on testing software.

Daily walk

Most everyday at work I go out for a regular walk. My work location is the Cannon Building at 288 North 1460 West. There is a nice little walking path connected to the building that makes for a nice place to go for a walk. Here is an aerial view of what the walking path looks like.

View Larger Map

Considering a Smart Car

My Mom wrote her first blog today

I must say I am proud of my Mom. She wrote her first blog today. That is an accomplishment for someone who only does things on the computer when they have too.

Backpacking with Morganne

Morganne was intent on getting out and doing some backpacking. She has not been for a long time. It was raining and I was not really excited to go. For such a quick overnighter and back early on Saturday morning I did not want to drive far. We decided to go out west to what is called Yellow Fork up by Rose Canyon near Herriman. The thing about that is your not supposed to camp up in there. So technically we were breaking the law. Something I usually try to avoid. We did end up having a good time. The weather cooperated there was not a bit of rain or wind all night. We cooked up some "Chicken Alfredo" (yum yum).

Provo River Fishing Trip

I went fishing on Saturday with my son Merril. It was note worthy because Merril caught his first fish on a fly rod using a nymph. He has caught lots of fish but every time he has tried fishing with nymph he has not been successful. He caught three fish on the trip. That is if you count the one he swatted like a bear up on to the shore with his hands. It was really a funny thing. He had been fishing for a while in this one hole and turned around there was this big fish just sitting in the shallows right behind him. He thought he would try just scooping it up and throwing it onto the shore. The fish did not even move. It was a really old fish and was just about to die. The others he caught were younger and lively. One of them he snagged in the fin rather than hooking it in the mouth. I don't know what my problem was but I just didn't seem to have it. I guess that is just how it goes. Better luck next time.

Do I really like blogging?

Do I really like blogging? No not really. So why do I bother. It seems like there must be something I should be learning from it. I see others blogs and wonder why they blog. It must be one of those self confidence factors. What is there in my life that is worth sharing? It is easy to just give the answer - nothing and leave it at that. Isn't it? But when I stop and ponder for just a moment I know that it is not true. Even some small simple expression of thanks can make a world of difference to somebody. At least I have found that is true for me. All I need is for someone to tell me they appreciated something that I have done and it makes me very happy. So maybe I will keep on writing another blog. Who knows maybe they will get better as I write more of them. So - yippee - blog time is over for now.

Trying it out

Not to bad so far.