This Weeks General Conference Talk

The talk for this week is by Bonnie D Parkin, it is called. "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness". I thought this talk was pretty short compared to some of the others but, that made it short and sweet. Some of the things that stood out to me were: One, She said, "The Lord counsels us not to murmur because it is then difficult for the Spirit to work with us". This statement kind of hit home because over the past few weeks Ryan and I have noticed that we have been complaining a lot. If it is not his job or mine or both, the heat, the commute, homesickness, or just whatever. It seems that for some reason or another we are complaining when usually we are the glass is half full kind of people. I didn't realize it then but after reading this talk it made me realize that is id effect the Spirit we felt in our home. Complaining just brings unhappiness and when you complain about one thing it seems like the flood gates are opened and the list of complaints gets bigger and bigger until you just go to bed because there is nothing good to be awake about. Not any more! The little light bulb came on and I realize that when life gets this way it is time to make a change. A change in attitude. A change in the way I feel about the things in my life and I need to be grateful for the little things...and make my thankfulness list get bigger and bigger.

The second thing that stuck out was just being grateful. She quotes, "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things." And continues, "All things means just that: good things, difficult things -- not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love." I agree! When I was in high school I started a thankfulness journal. Each day I had to write three things I was grateful for and I couldn't repeat anything. It made me really look at each day with a grateful attitude and see that each day, even the bad ones, had something to be grateful for... even if it was the ink that was in my pen at that moment, I was grateful for it. I think that I have always had a attitude of gratefulness but remembering that journal made me think about how happy I was to have so many good things in my life even amongst things that were rotten. It makes me want to make changes in my like to recognize those things again...because I have SO MUCH to be grateful for. She also said, "Gratitude is our sweet acknowledgement of the Lord's hand in our lives; it is an expression of our faith".

This next part really spoke to me because I have this aunt who I feel is very strong in her faith and even though she has been handed some really hard times she has appeared to always remain a rock. I have always been impressed with this and sometimes wonder how she does it. Well, I feel this next part may explain a little bit of how she remains to strong under such tough circumstances. Sister Parkin writes, "The kind of gratitude that receives even tribulations with thanksgiving requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit, humility to accept that which we cannot change, willingness to turn everything over to the Lord -- even when we do not understand, thankfulness for hidden opportunities yet to be reveled. Then comes a sense of peace." I feel this statement is the reason why my aunt is able to with stand tribulation. Besides being grateful she has a broken heart and a contrite spirit, something we have all been asked to have but, in my opinion what few have accomplished. My aunt is a great example of this and I only hope that if she has not already she will soon feel that peace that comes only after being grateful for tribulations and having a understanding of why we have them. She is a great example to me as I continue to strive to be grateful for all things and having a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

Cool videos

Here is a pretty sweet video of this years race. It happened the second week of the race, but it's pretty crazy. Watch the front wheel. Sweet huh. I'm sure that wheel was more expensive than my entire bike. Just click on the link to see it.

http://video.bicycling.com/item/6B7VTWB5HX54LKN1


This one's longer, but it is amazing. I'm not going to tell you what it is cause I think everyone should see this video to understand just how great Lance Armstrong really was. He is in the yellow jersey and you can't miss him. Keep in mind this is on a huge mountain stage during the tour on 2003.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQDjqAkLUB0

This one happened this year. You will do a double take for sure on this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmIJjR1kdYw

Enjoy

More tragedy has struck the cycling world today

Two days ago a man who was counted out won an individual time trial in the Tour de France. And yesterday he won one of the hardest mountains stages of this year's tour. Two stage wins in three days. Just to give you an idea of how difficult it is to win a stage. There are over 170 riders in one race. If you win one stage of the Tour de Fance in your whole career, you will go down in history as a great cyclist. This riders name is Alexander Vinokourov. He was considered one of the top five contenders to win this year. For those of you that don't know, the race is three weeks long. One "race" everyday for all three weeks, minus two rest days. The winner is whoever has the best time out of all the "races". He is reffered to as Vino. His team, Astana, is gunning for number one in the team rankings too. Astana has two other riders who are contenders.

The first week of the race Vino crashed so bad he had stiches in his knees, elbows, and fingers. Everyone counted him out. The day after he looked like a man beaten. Swolen so bad that he could barely walk. Everyone wondered how he could even ride a bike. His team raced for him, the crowds cheered him on, and we all believed that there was something magical in him. He pushed through the pain and the doubters. He fell almost 8 minutes behind the leader in the Alps. In the Tour, that is alot of time to make up. Then after the Alps on the first flat stage, Vino, lead his team on the attack. Dropping some of the top contenders to battle a large gap all while pushing through a "nasty little head wind" as Phil Liggett would say. With a kilometer left Vino attacked all alone. He was caught by the sprinters, and did not win the stage but it showed everyone, I'm back, I'm here, Bring it.

A day later came the individual time trails. If Vino was to have a go at the yellow, he would have to gain major time on the leaders, still being almost 8 minutes behind the yellow jersey. Well, he did just that. Beat the yellow by almost 4 minutes and the second place that day was a whole 2 minutes behind Vino. He was back in it. I was extatic, just ask Nici I told her all about it for over half an hour that day. I was one of the believers, I wanted him to prove everyone wrong and come from behind and take it in the last few days of the tour. Vino was the man and everyone had his name on their lips that day.

Now, just three days after that amazing ride, he may never race again. Not because he crashed again so bad he cannot walk. Not because he decided to retire on a high note. Not because he had a life altering event. No he cheated. He doped as is the term in Pro cycling. His A sample tested positive for a blood transfusion after he won that individual time trial. It is an incredable feeling when a new found hero of yours is found cheating on a scale like this. I know no one is perfect. But I am speechless and almost cried when I read on Bicycling.com the latest dopping scandal. I am one who has fallen in love with the tour this year. I watch every stage start to finish, know all the big names, and love a sport that is so demanding on its participants. Cycling is a sport that takes athletes and makes them super-human. I am left watching everyday how do they do that? It is a sport where an average person can get out and do what the pros are actually doing. What I mean is go out, find a hill, and try to go up it as fast as you can on a bike. Then sit down, watch a stage with a cat 1 climb, and you will know what I mean. You will automatically know how insanly awesome these guys are and will be left wondering how on earth do they do it. Even if some dope, not all do, and it leaves me spellbound everyday.

On a more positive note, we have to wait for Vinos B sample test until we can be for sure. But if he is anything like Landis, who still hasn't been proven guilty from last year, Vino did something amazingly wrong and did hiself, his team, every other rider in the ProCircut, and any Tour fan a huge disservice. Now we all have to stick up for a sport so tainted by dopping, that it is loosing its crediblity as a serious, worldwide sport. (Just a note, his whole team of 9 riders pulled out of the tour. His sponsers left. Two of his team members were in the top ten contenders to win. Andreas Kloden is in fifth only four minutes from the leader and had a serious shot to win.) My greatest hope is he is not found guilty but that won't happen. I hope he can save face somehow someday, but at this point that may not happen either.

I will continue to love the Tour this July and every July to come. I know the sport can over come these scandals, and the new generation of riders will come through for all of us. The rest of the tour I am behind Discovery all the way. GO Levi and GO Contador!!!!

Letter to My Pets

If you have pets...you get it! If not you can't help but laugh...

Letter to My Pets:

When I say to move, it means to go someplace else, not to switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in my way.

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note that placing your paw print in the middle of MY plate and food does not stake a claim making it YOUR plate of food.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help your quest to reach the bottom first, because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think that I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats actually curl up in when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to one another stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, and try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the edge of the door and try to pull it open. I must exit though the same door I entered. Honest.

Also, I have been using the bathroom by myself for quite sometime -- canine or feline attendance is not mandatory!

I can't stress this enough -- kiss me, THEN go smell the other dog's/cat's behind.

To pacify you, my dear companions, I have posted the following notice on our front door:

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and then Complain About Our Pets---

1. The pets live here. You don't!

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture (that's why it is called "fur"niture).

3. To you, our pets are just animals. To us, they are an adopted son/daughter who happens to be hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

4. Dogs and cats are better than kids because:

-They don't ask for money all the time.

-They are easier to train.

-They usually come when called.

-They don't hang out with drug-using friends.

-They don't need a gazillion dollars for a college education, and if they get pregnant you can sell their children.

(Author unknown)

This Weeks General Conference Talk

Each week our bishop assigns the ward a new talk from the May General Conference Ensign. He challenges us to read and study it. Each week one member is invited to share their testimony about the talk. I am happy to report that I have not been chosen to speak in church about it but, I have enjoyed reading the talk each week. And thought that maybe some of you might enjoy checking it out yourself.

This weeks talk is by Elder Marlin K. Jensen, it is called "Remember and Perish Not". I really enjoyed this talk, like all the others. Even though I listened to these talks a few months ago it is always nice to go back and read them again. I also think that everyone gets something different from each talk and it is fun to share. I would like to share a few things that stood out to me.

Elder Jensen recited the First Vision (last weeks talk also mentioned the First Vision) the thing I found interesting about this was the statement that followed, "Remembering his experience of the First Vision never fails to stir my soul to greater commitment and action". I agree. I felt this same way over and over again on my mission when we would share Joseph Smith's experience. It didn't matter how many times we shared it in a day there was just an amazing feeling I felt each time it was recited.

I remember in my first area we had taught a woman who didn't really seem to be moved by our message but as we were finishing her husband came home and agreed to hear our message too. As his wife worked in the kitchen preparing dinner about 8 feet from where we were giving her husband the same message we had just given her, we had an amazing experience. I will never forget the spirit that came over that house as we recited Joseph Smith's First Vision to this man and the tears that streamed down his face that witnessed he felt it too. At that time he told us that he did not know what was making him cry but he wanted to know more. It was truly a story of when remembering the First Vision did not fail "to stir my soul to greater commitment and action." Four months later that family (George, Clede, and their daughter Ariadanie) was married and baptized. This was just one experience of many.

At the end of the talk Elder Jensen concludes with, "Coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him is, I believe, the ultimate purpose of all remembering". I feel we can not afford to not remember, not only all that the Lord did for us to be here but, all that the past leaders and members of this church have done to pave the way for us to be where we are today. I give thanks to them who have paved the way before me and those who will come after. It inspires me to remember to Remember!

If you want to read this talk click on the link on the right side of the page under: This Weeks General Conference Talk.

A Birthday Tribute

It is a months full of birthdays! Today is my nephew, Harrison's birthday. He is turning 6 and going into the first grade. He is a funny little boy.... for his birthday he wants a cell phone, an ipod, and 360 x box...what every 6 year old wants. My kids are in for a surprise because they are getting baseballs, basketballs, and footballs :) Happy Birthday Harriboo... we miss you!

Next, Tomorrow is Ryan's little brother's birthday...little by age but not height. He is turning 15 and as you can see from the picture his is getting taller than Ryan. This picture was from when we were in Indiana at the beginning of the year. We went and played paint ball in the woods. We got our butts kicked by Ryan's brother, Nick (then 14) and his cousin, Conner, who is 13. Yeah, Nick only got hit once and it was by his team mate, Conner. Ryan and I were covered! It was hilarious. Happy Birthday Nick!

One more birthday to talk about is my other nephew, Jett. He is also turning 6. He and Harrison were born three days apart, I was on my mission. Jett is funny too. He is full of energy and I am sure he can't wait to start first grade and be able to go to school with his sisters. Well, Jetter-bug... Happy Birthday!
We wish we could be with you on your special days...but you will have to accept our "tribute" in place of our presence. We love you all and miss you like crazy! Enjoy your special days!

How sweet cycling is!

I found a new love the past month. Cycling. About a month ago I had a crazy idea to get in shape that I should buy a bike and ride it to work everyday. I'm so out of shape that I still haven't ridden both ways to work yet for a whole week. The goal now is to ride one way then drive home the other way. That would still be alomst 100 miles a week which I think is really good for me. To get an idea of how it works:

Monday am--drive to work

Monday pm--ride home

Tuesday am--ride to work

Tuesday pm--drive home

and soon on. That way I don't have to pack tons of cloths in a back pack. Also, I don't have to get up every morning at the butt crack of dawn and get home after dark. And talk about saving gas! That just might be the best part.

After about two weeks of researching online and going to stores to look at bikes and ride some. I decided on Cannondale. I found out they have the best frame for the money. I knew that I wanted aluminum cause I would never be able to afford carbon fiber right now. But Cannondale puts the same frame on all of their bikes. So if you buy the least expensive or the most expensive aluminum frame from them it doesn't matter. What changes is the level of components. I liked the idea knowing I have a really good frame and that if I wanted to I could upgrade the components and still have a really good frame.

One Saturday I finally got Nici to go look with me at some bike shops. I found all the Cannondale dealers around us and we were going to go check three of them out. The first one we went to was Focus Cyclery in Gilbert. We both really liked the store and the sales guy, Jesse, was way helpful. I liked it so much that I never buy anything anywhere else. Looking around he showed me an '06 model that was about $500 more than I wanted to spend, but it was in my size. So I road it and of course it was totally painful and I thought I would never be comfortable or able to ride it more than a mile, but I liked it more than other brands I had ridden before. He lowered the price to how much I wanted to spend and so it was the one for me. I was really happy too cause I got alot more bike out of it since it was last years model.

Here are some pictures of him:

It took me forever to load those up. I'm going to be done for the night, but I will write more tomorrow about the new found fever.

Keeping up with the Jones'

To give you all a brief overview of what we have been up to for the past few months here are a few pictures that expain it all...

We drove to Utah in May and went jet skiing with the family. by the looks of my parents over there...it was warmer in the water than sitting on the beach. But, we couldn't resist and had to stay all day and play in the water. We missed our family member and had a great time!!

On June 9th, we went to our first D Backs game. They played the Boston Red Sox. We bought the tickets like 3 months in advance and they just sat on our fridge. There were by far way more Red Sox fans there than Diamond Backs...it was funny. Good News...The Red Sox won. And yes, we were that far up.

Also in June poor Chase was Nutered. Poor thing, he just moped all around the house for a few days and he had to wear an e-coloar at night because we couldn't watch him and he sometimes licked himself. He is feeling much better now and back to his old self... full of energy!

Chase started puppy training classes this past week. He was the trainers favorite, of course! :) He did all the training techniques he was taught. He is learning to keep eye contact even when there is a treat out in front of him, he is learning that the sound we use for "No" means "No!". We also have to do this thing called "settle" where he lays on his right side in our lap and allows us to pet him and touch all his feet, ears, teeth, and tail...I guess it gets him used to being touched at the vet and by others and he remains calm. He has to do this for 20 to 30 minutes a day... he seems to really like it. But, with a mug like that who can resist giving extra treats for any little thing. :) We will keep you updated on Chase's classes and how smart he is...I know, we are such proud parents!

Beware...We are first time bloggers!

Well, Hello and welcome to our family blog. Last night after going out to eat with our good friends James and Dede they talked us into starting our own blog, so we thought we would try it. So far so good, but bare with us as we change things, add things, and move things. We are still learning how this whole blog thing works. We are very excited we hope this will help us stay better connected with our friends and family no matter where we are in world. :) Well, stay tuned as we give insight to our lives here in HOT AZ or where ever the wind blows us. Thanks for passing by.