What's in a Name?

I've recently been doing a lot of Family History work (I caught the bug), and have been amazed with how wide and deep family lines go. It's kind of like an hour glass with our present self at the narrow neck connecting the two larger glass tubes, with our ancestor lines coming deep and wide from the top, filtering down through us, to our posterity through the bottom, going deep and wide.

It is sobering to consider the importance our personal current-day link plays in linking our past family with our future family. Hopefully we are not the "weakest link," but doing much to leave a legacy our progenitors, as well as our ancestors, would be proud of.

Another thought to consider -- just what ancestral genes and DNA do we have flowing through our veins. We know that we are all related back to Adam and Eve, but who in between are we related to, and what hereditive characteristics have been handed down to us from our ancestors. The thoughts of being tied to important historical individuals, makes one think about how well we are doing with what has been given to us, and what we will be passing on to the generations after us.

For me, I'm still working on it...

Our Friends in Haiti

Just over a year ago, my company decided to adopt an orphanage in Haiti. My business partner and his wife, Dave and Candice Aitken, were in the process of adopting two Haitian orphans from "The Hope for Little Angels of Haiti" Orphanage, and asked if the company would be interested in financially supporting this orphanage. Prior to this time, this orphanage was experiencing one to two deaths a week due to starvation and malnutrition. They barely had enough food to provide one meal a day to 60 young kids.

Well of course we were excited with the opportunity to support these children who had be taken off the streets, who were either parentless or abandoned by their parents. They were barely getting by eating a small mixture of rice and protein and drinking unclean water.

We went to our employees and solicited their help, asking them to donate what they could from each paycheck to the orphanage, and we, as a company, would match their donation. We have been donating about $4,000 per month to pay for food, medical aid and water filtration devices.

Since our 12 month involvement not one child has died. We have literally been saving lives.

When we heard of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, we were heart-broken. Were our kids okay? What about Dave and Candice's adoptive children? (They were still waiting through all the government red tape to bring them home. Now the paperwork surely is under rubble.) Were they still alive? Many questions, with not many answers.

We finally received word that most of the orphans, with the exception of 6, have been accounted for and were fine, and Dave and Candice's adoptive kids were safe. They are currently being cared for by Harry, the LDS Bishop in the area. Prayers have been answered.

But, there remains a lot of challenges ahead, that of getting food, water and medical supplies to them, among other things. The Orphanage will need to be rebuilt.

We are in the process of organizing funding efforts to help them rebuild. If you are interested in helping, please go to the Orphanage website and make a donation: http://www.hopeforlittleangelsofhaiti.org

Haiti will take a long time to rebuild, and needs the help of the world to do so. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Welcome 2010!

I always look forward to a new year. For some reason it gives me hope and excitement for the future. Putting the past behind us in cured cement, so to speak, the future is moldable and workable, making it whatever we set our mind to.

A year ago, as we entered 2009, the world was frightened and scared with the future, given the dismal economic conditions then. But somehow we pulled through this year, even though the monetary stimulus funds that the US government pumped into the economy were a "robbed Peter to pay Paul" scenario, it still gave us hope to move forward. Time will tell how it plays out in the long run.

I think I relearned an eternal principal this past year--no matter how devalued everything around you becomes, I can still find great value in my family. I have the greatest family in the world.

From a wonderful wife who is totally unselfish and knows the true meaning of Christ-like love, to children who uphold high standards of honesty and decency.

Although they each had their own challenges this year, they all came through it with a high degree of integrity. When I grow up, I want to be just like them.

So, looking forward to another 365 days in 2010, I am renewed with a certain degree of optimism. There are several goals I would like to accomplish, number one being, becoming a better person to serve my family and mankind. This world is so full of selfish and prideful people, my hope is to do my part to counter-balance the scale with my portion, to the side of decency. My aim is to follow the teachings of Christ, and do unto others as He would do.

My second goal, since I have been given much, is to give back to society, especially to my brothers and sisters who struggle in Third World Countries to survive. Their need for clean water and proper sanitation is a daily challenge. Through the newly formed organization of HIT Humanitarian, and our efforts to raise funds, will be a primary focus to meeting this goal.

I have many other goals, but they all seem to be less important than my top two, so I will not belabor the time of listing them here.

I do want to thank all of you who strive to be good people. Together we can change the current paradigm of today's civility.

Have a great year!