j . a . m . k . m . b: $2.21 and 2001

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, November 20, 2008

$2.21 and 2001

I stopped on the way to work this morning to get gas. Two amazing things happened: 1) I filled my tank for less than $30 - $2.21 a gallon - I mean, I don't remember gas this cheap since well before we moved to California! and 2) The guy who came out to fill my gas tank was NOT a Utah grad (the guy said in broken English that the U grad was in the back cleaning the toilets but hoped to move up to "pumper" by the end of the year) ... OOOOOOHHHHH!!!

Staley, Nose Bleeds, and Pandemonium

The Cougs were 10-0 and ranked #8 in the country - you can imagine the expectations! I truly was sitting in the nose bleeds of Cougar Stadium that year. I was in the corner of the East stands, about 150 rows up, and had a great view of, well, nothing. The game did not go well for the first 3 quarters and most of the fourth. BYU found itself down 21-9 with about 3:30 left in the game, and they had driven 85 yards to keep hope alive. Doman took the snap at the 7 yard line, scrambled around a bit, and found Luke Staley breaking free on the sideline right in front of us (although far below) for the touchdown. A Staley 2-point conversion brought the Cougs to within four, and then the BYU defense held Utah and forced a punt. With 2:11 remaining, BYU got the ball back, and drove down the field. It seemed like things were stalling in the face of a staunch Utah D, and BYU needed something big when they got down to Utah's 30 yard with 1:16 to go. Doman called the patented option to the short side of the field, and the play began. It's hard to describe exactly how it worked, but you had Doman and Staley matched up with three unblocked Utah defenders. Doman jitter-bugged a bit because there were clearly no openings for either him or for Staley, and in that moment of hesitation, he succeeded in drawing the two nearest U defenders to him. He then flicked a pitch out to Luke, and the last U defender, who had also been leaning toward Doman, looked like a statue as Staley exploded down the sideline(again, right in front of us) untouched for one of the greatest touchdowns I've ever seen AND heard. You should have FELT the stadium erupt...it was sheer pandemonium. I nearly broke an ankle jumping around on the bleachers, hugging everyone in sight, and celebrating wildly. As BYU was up 24-21, Utah still had a chance, and the put together a drive of their own down to BYU's 30 yard line. Then Jernaro Gilford picked off a Lance Rice pass and the game was over. Beautiful...

j . a . m . k . m . b

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

Thursday, November 20, 2008

$2.21 and 2001

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