j . a . m . k . m . b: Birthday Recap and Travel Plans

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

... Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in [The Music Man], voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”

f you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”³ We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”¹⁰ May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Birthday Recap and Travel Plans

Morgan had a really great birthday yesterday! We decided that rather than load her up with a bunch of stuff, we would create the perfect birthday day from start to finish. Angela did an amazing job of planning fun things throughout the day. She would open a new envelope each time one of the adventures was done to find out what the next one was - here's how Morgan's day went:

First, donuts with the family as per our unbreakable birthday tradition (unfortunately Dad was already at work on an early call); Second, breakfast with Dad, Mom, and Brig at Google; Third, a trip with Mom and Brig to Build-A-Bear where she got a husky named Snowflake and a High School Musical dog outfit; Fourth, afternoon kindergarten (not part of the fun...); Fifth, a trip to the beauty salon with Mom and the girls to get toenails painted all sorts of funky colors and patterns; Sixth, a family picnic to a beautiful area in the hills where we got to watch Micah perform some dances with her team; Seventh, tickets to the community theater presentation of High School Musical this weekend; Eighth, some presents from the family; and Last, a scrumptious ice cream cake and a late bedtime. Great day! I myself was bummed I missed the toe-painting party...

Now for travel plans - we have made a few decisions on travel plans for the upcoming months so I thought I'd share with you where we'll be and when.

Next week, Angela and Kennan are flying to Utah for a quick trip. The main reason for the trip is to be at Camille's baptism (she came to Kennan's), but I'm sure Angela will take the opportunity to help finalize any house things that still need to be done on the Provo house.

The week after that (Memorial Day weekend), I will fly out to Utah on Friday afternoon and go straight to work with Cameron on the Provo house. We'll work late that night, and all day (and night?) Saturday. We should be laying sod, planting trees, moving staging furniture in, and whatever else needs doing. Should be 'fun'.

And we've finalized our big summer trip dates as well: We'll drive to Utah on July 26th and all be there through the end of the Richards family Jackson Hole trip. I'll fly back to CA on the 6th to work until the 15th. I'll then fly back to SLC after the work week to collect my reluctant family. It turns out that Dan and I will likely be heading to SLC the same weekend, so my options are fly and be grateful I'm not driving, or drive with Dan and be grateful for the time with him. Pros and cons to both...we'll see.

j . a . m . k . m . b

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Birthday Recap and Travel Plans

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