I know he's in his underwear, but I thought it was cute. He was doing this for a long time. He could've done it for even longer if he wanted.

Dreams

Do you ever have those times when you wake up from a deep sleep and know you were having an important dream, but cannot remember what was going on? That has happened to me the last couple of nights. I wake up, know that a certain person was in it, and that it would be helpful in real life, but I cannot remember any of the details. I hate that. Some people don't take a lot of stock in dreams, but I personally do. I have a couple of dream books, and they have helped me quite a few times to discover some of the deeper meanings of dream symbols. I kinda look at dreams the way Joseph did in the Old Testament. Yes, some are just crazy, but I feel that we can learn many things from them. Some things deal with day to day life, but others can be lessons from above.

I have had several "spiritual" dreams in my lifetime. Many have come at times when I just needed that little nudge. At other times they have been in answer to prayer, and even out of the blue, when I wasn't looking for guidance. On my mission I had a series of what I like to call "Gordon B. Hinkley Dreams". President Hinkley is one of my heroes. During my service as a missionary in Scotland I had several dreams where I would sit and visit with him. Pretty cool just on its own, but there was something extra with these dreams. When we would sit for our next visit, we would review what we had previously talked about. It was almost like he was training me. Had he been dead at the time, I might have freaked out a bit, but alas, he was alive and well, and I loved our 'visits'.

There have been occasions where I have heard a voice and then woke up. I never thought about adding the Samuel response to those moments "speak Lord, for thy servant heareth." I can only imagine what could have followed... Other times I have had words spoken to me. I've heard them as clearly as if someone were standing in the room talking to me. Revelation comes in many many forms, and I feel that we can definitely receive instruction from our Heavenly Father in our sleep. Throughout the ages, prophets have received guidance through dreams. I'm not putting myself on that plane, so don't get any ideas. I just know that I have received instruction and the Spirit in my dreams.

So whether you are being chased by a giant gummy bear with a harpoon gun, or sitting face to face with a spiritual guru, pay attention. There are things you can learn from them. If you need help figuring out meanings, I'll put on my coat of many colors and try to help you out. :D

Chloe in her dance costume. She performed to the song "Rubber Ducky". She was so cute and was the only one that knew the dance. We are proud of her.

I thought I would put up a few pictures of our family.

Thoughts

So I've been a busy boy lately. I've been working with my new band, Run The Sky Is Falling, learning songs and looking for gigs. I have been doing the P90X program, working full time, serving as 1st counselor in the Bishopric, playing in a rec. softball league, all while trying to be a husband and father. With all this, I still feel there is something missing in my life. Anyone who knows me on a personal level knows that I'm not getting fulfillment from my current employment. The company is great, there are some really great people that I work with, and it's so laid back. Some people would tell me I'm nuts for feeling this way, but I really dislike leaving my family to spend my days there. There's the option of asking for the ability of working from home, but I really don't want to bring that stuff into my home. I like the separation.



One thing I really would enjoy doing is getting involved in sports again. I've played basketball at many levels. High school, D-1, JuCo, ABA, and now church ball. I really think I need to get back into playing. I've had inklings since I've been getting back into shape, that it would be fun to try to be the oldest rookie in the NBA. I'm not counting that out, but I'm not banking on it either. I would love to try my hand at coaching high school basketball. I had an opportunity fall apart for some reason, and I wish I knew how to get it back. I was slated to be the coach of the sophomores in a spring fling tournament for Hillcrest High School, my Alma Mater. For some reason, I never got the details of the league, and the time has come and past. I was so excited. I had spent hours studying the flex and triangle offenses. I was excited to be able to work with youth. I was excited to share my knowledge and talents with the game of basketball to others. I looked forward to motivating people. To help them see the greatness within themselves, on and off the court. I have not given up on that goal. I will coach, mark my words.



I am not the type who should be sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day. I need to be active, moving, interacting with other people. At the moment, I sit in a corner, fairly secluded from everyone. I sit and listen to music, send emails, and take phone calls all day long. That is not something that brings me happiness in life. I get no fulfillment. Most of my interactions are over email. I never see the result of the work I do. I never get to see the people I work closely with. I never get kudos for my work. Add on to that, I have not received a raise, not one cent, for 3 years now. I know times were hard, but our company actually grew in that time. So it irks me that I have received nothing for my work.



In other areas, I have found great enjoyment. I have always loved music, I listen to it often, I play it often, and I even try to create it myself. Music has a great power in my life. It brings emotions and memories in an instant. My ultimate musical goal is to write a song that has that power in someone else's life. I love music.



As Liselle and I approach our 8th wedding anniversary this month, I have had many thoughts, especially about this past year. They say the 7th year is the hardest, and by comparison, ours probably wasn't as hard as many. We had ups and downs. Moments of uncertainty, moments of fear, moments of worry. But through those moments we were able to discover some very important truths. Many hours have been spent in prayer and deep thought. Things have been pondered in the Lords house, and the sweetness of the Spirit extended to us both. I know that things have a purpose. I know that Heavenly Father can, and does, give specific answers to prayers. I know He knows what is best for us, and that as we receive answers, He knows the timeline of when those blessings will be given.



Knowledge is a tough thing. To have certain knowledge, but not know when it is to come to pass can be a great trial of faith. I've had moments where I have second guessed what I had felt, where I wondered if I had made it all up in my mind. Every time I had those thoughts come, I would pray, or a thought would come to my mind, and I would get those chills that only the Spirit can bring. Did I waiver again? Yes I did. Did the answer ever change? No it did not. Even though the fruits of that answer have yet to come, I know they will. When? I have no idea, other than the feeling I've had all through this... Soon. What do I do to pass the time? I just take it all one day at a time, but that doesn't prevent me from having that thought in the back of my mind. We just have to roll with what life gives us, and keep the faith that when we receive answers to things that we cannot directly influence, that He will take care of it when it is the right time.

Whoa baby

So after a long, long time, I finally remembered the password to this thing. I doubt anyone even looked here, so no biggie I guess. Anyhoo, just a heads up that I will probably start writing here and there again, as there is a lot going on in my little brain. Stay tuned...

Thoughts and Realizations

Yesterday I was doing my usual morning scripture study and had something pop into my head. I was reading in Jacob 5 (the grafting of the olive tree chapter). I can't tell you how many times I have read that chapter, but this time I had the spiritual light bulb flip on. We all know that the initial grafting in of the branches to other olive trees represents the scattering of the 12 tribes of Israel, and that these branches were good. Also, branches from wild trees were grafted into other trees. These trees yielded up good fruit, and they were laid up against the season. As time passed in the vineyard, the trees became overrun with "wild fruit" or "evil fruit". The harvest to lay up the fruit against the season was approaching, but the Lord of the vineyard had no good fruit to harvest. This grieved the Lord of the vineyard and He even suggested they burn and destroy the vineyard and prepare for the next season. This example of the trees being overrun with wild or evil fruit rang out to me especially strong as I read it. I felt the enlightening power of the Spirit upon my mind as I drew the parallel that this overrun state was an example of the Apostasy. When the gospel was diluted, and different sects put their own spin on the gospel of Jesus Christ, thus bearing much fruit, but none of it was good like unto the first fruit.

Take a look at the account given by Joseph Smith regarding the "religious excitement" of his time. There were many revival style meetings, and each sect had such a different idea about the principles of the Gospel that Joseph because confused. As we know, this lead Joseph to pray in faith, and thus ushered in the restoration of the fullness of the gospel. As I compared this to chapter 5 in Jacob, it just clicked to me. Now I'm sure that you guys already knew that, and drew that parallel long ago, but for me, it happened when I was 28.

That is the amazing thing about the gospel. It's all true and unchanging, but we as His children progress and grow at different paces. Some people are scriptorians and scholars when it comes to the scriptures. Others are just getting started on their journey. The thing we each need to remember is that no matter our point in our progression, we are all loved the same. As long as we make and keep covenants, exercise faith, and endure to the end, we will be alright. We wont be judged according to our ability to quote scriptures, or to expound the gospel like the prophets do. Rather, press forward with faith and hope, and the Lord will watch over you.

I just thought I'd share that with all of you, I hope it wasn't too boring!