My "Kaylagirl"

My Kaylagirl is 9 years old now. I've always heard how parents say how amazing it is that their kids grow up so fast. Maybe that's why it's hard to accept that they are actually getting older. My memories of her 2 year old birthday party are so fresh in my mind that it's sometimes hard to remember that she can do multiplication and reminds me that she is perfectly capable of staying home by herself (for short periods of time, of course. With me calling and checking on her . . . often. With her telling me that she has to go now when I do call to check on her)
On par with growing up comes the challenges that we all face with experience. Although natural, it doesn't make it any easier for me as a Dad to watch my kids face difficult times. I'm ok with challenges, I like to watch my kids work them out and learn from them. But when their challenges involve heart break or disappointment, my heart breaks for them as well. My greatest desire is to take their hurt from them, to make it better. But I know that my heart breaks and disappointments are what helped me to become who I am today. I still feel as if I didn't really need all of them that I got, but somehow it's worked out fine.
To my Makayla: The other day you told me how your friend at school hurt your feelings because she said you weren't very good at something (3rd grade fair). I know how hard it can be to be told that you aren't good enough. It can hurt and make you feel hollow inside. As your Dad, I want you to know how great you really are. We all look and crave acceptance from those we love. Sometimes we search for acceptance from those that we are better off not being with. I've learned that our true friends are those that lift our spirits in spite of our circumstances (or our deficiencies). That's how you come to find who your true friends are. Friendship is something that will be a huge blessing in your life. Friends can be a source of comfort, love, and support that you will come to depend on at different points in your life. My biggest piece of advice about friendship is to be the best friend that you can be to those around you. Be genuine and be free with your love and support. Friendship is like a lot of things in life, the more you give, the more you receive in return.
So my Makayla, for what it's worth, let your loving personality run wild in your friendships. Understand that not everyone will give back what they receive from you, but don't hold that against them. Be the best friend that you can be to your friends and you will find that you will always be surrounded by people that will do the same for you.
And if that doesn't seem to work out just come to me, wherever I am, and I will just give you snuggles and hugs till you feel better.

For What It's Worth

This is where it all started. I remember this day pretty well. I had been very sick for the few weeks leading up to our wedding. Really sick. (Notice my collar a little loose around my neck - I lost over 15 pounds over those 2 weeks.) But on the morning of our wedding, it just seemed to go away. I felt great. My parents had flown in the night before to meet my future wife for the first time. That sounds weird to some at first, my parents meeting Chauntel for the first time the night before we got married, but I guess the pattern started there of just how things work with our family. Not everything is so traditional, I guess.

The wedding went fine. We were married 10 years ago in the Seattle Temple, with a ceremony that we believe will "seal" us for time and eternity. The concept of a "forever family" is important to us; how important we would never know until our family began to grow with children.

I remember something that our sealer taught us before we were married. He told us to never keep score in our marriage and to look to be selfless. I will say that it has been great advise; advise not always headed with me, but over and over with my wife. She is a peacemaker and keeps our home running with the Spirit of love.

As mentioned below the title of this blog, this is intended for my children. I hope at some point they they will look back on this and find love and counsel to help them through the trial of life. As the Lord has trusted Chauntel and I with children, they have brought the greatest joy and concern to us. The joys of parenthood have easily outweighed all the frustration and concern. Watching the children achieve, win, lose, learn - all the different scenarios that they go through have given me a deeper love and understanding of the joy and sorrow God perhaps feels towards me, one His children. I hope to be the Dad that I need to be in order to teach my children and equip them to make it through life's struggles. I hope they will treat others with respect, because they see me treat others that way. I hope they will look to serve others because they see their mother and I do that. As I find "snapshot" moments, I'll take the opportunity to post the moment and the lesson hopefully learned from it. We'll see how it goes. It seems as if there is a snapshot each day worthy of posting.