Don't forget 9-11!

Some Fun Family Photos

Just Returned from the Northwest

I just returned from the Northwest this week, had a great time with 7 other bikers from family and friends. You can see my blog here: Northwestern States Trip

Charity Never Faileth

This morning, as I was reading the lesson for Church, I was deeply touched by the subject, Charity. According to the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, Charity is the highest attribute that one can obtain.

1 Corinthians 13:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not ^acharity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of ^aprophecy, and understand all ^bmysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the ^apoor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 ^aCharity ^bsuffereth long, and is ^ckind; charity ^denvieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself ^aunseemly, seeketh not her ^bown, is not easily ^cprovoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in ^ainiquity, but rejoiceth in the ^btruth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never ^afaileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a ^aglass, ^bdarkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Charity is the purest form of love that one can possess. It is the pure love of Christ.

To me Charity is doing acts of kindness without requirement for recognition. It is loving your enemies. It is giving fully of yourself unconditionally. I am far from having charity in my life, but I hope to work towards it.

If this world had more charity, can you imagine the better conditions we would live in. Having had a little experience in Third World Countries, I am amazed at the simple needs they have. Things like clean drinking water and safe fuel sources are among the basic needs for almost two thirds of the world's population.

May we all do a little more in being charitable toward our fellow human beings.

My Personal Story about Choice Humanitarian

It's the Little Things that Matter Most!

Remember the movie "City Slickers?"

When Curly, the old cowboy, said "Do you know what the secret of life is?"

Then he held up one finger. "One thing, just one thing."

"You have to find out what that one thing is."

I think that is partly true. However, I think the secret of life, a happy, fun, successful life, is made up of a gillian different little things, not the big--not the major ones. The little, small occurrences in our lives, over time add up to the secret of life.

It is a pleasant smile to someone you pass on the street. It is a small thank you note to a friend or co-worker, it is five minutes of a beautiful sunset, it is holding open a door for a stranger, a beautiful melody of a bird, or adding a little something extra to a company or school project.

A great life, an NBA star, a successful company, a Tiger Woods, all did not happen over night, nor were instant successes. They were built upon an unquenchable thirst for detail, tiny little details. Work out the details, put together all the little pieces of a big puzzle, and you have the secret of whatever your goal is.

So don't anguish over the big gigantic stuff. Concentrate on the little stuff.

For when you add up all the little things, you'll find the big successes.

Families...it's about Time

Take a moment to consider what is most important to the enduring future of our Global Society--It is the proper development and growth of families. The core values of humanity, those that lead nations down honest and forthright paths, are taught in homes where love and kindness are spoken.

As the family goes, so goes a nation. In all nations of the world, we have witnessed the steady decline of the family. Sadly enough, our global community is following similar declines. Broken homes lead to broken relationships and broken ideals. In the United States, children in single-parent families are two to three times likely, as children in two-parent families, to have emotional and behavioral problems.

More than seventy percent of all juveniles in state reform institutions in the United States come from fatherless homes. Half of American children will spend at least some of their childhood growing up without a father in the home, and that in a radical departure from virtually all of human history, responsible fatherhood is declining disastrously in our society.

So, it's about time, spending quality time with our families. Even though most of my children are married and raising their own families, I love the time we spend together when everyone comes over to the house.



If you haven't done so today, hug your family, spend time with them. When everything else in the world seems to be crumbling down, it will be your family that will give you the strength and support to keep carrying on.

Thanks to my family...they are the best!

What is in a Family?

After returning home from my recent motorcycle trip through the southern United States, where, during the trip, I visited the graves of my 4th great grandparents, I developed a deep connection with my kindred dead. Since, I have found myself researching, reading and pondering the experiences of my ancestors with greater appreciation for the sacrifices and trials they went through. Through the Internet and the LDS Family Search, I have been able to add an additional 40 names of ancestors to my ancestral lines.

It has been interesting to learn and read about the journeys many of my ancestors made across the Atlantic ocean in ships from England, to settle in America. I have learned about the struggles through the Civil War, and the rebuilding they made of their lives after the War. I have followed them as they loaded everything they could into a covered wagons and journeyed across the rugged America to settle in Utah.

I am proud for the great heritage I have received from my forefathers. This has helped me to understand and appreciate the importance of family, and the importance of keeping my family strong and living good moral principles.

So what is in a family? All the things past, present and future that families do to create meaningful memories and traditions. When the world around you becomes a scarer place to live, you can always turn to your family for stability, warmth and love.

I know, because that is my family.

5,500 Miles in 2 1/2 Weeks--But Home at Last

Well, I pulled into my driveway at home Friday night with my whole family waiting to cheer my arrival.

All in all, it was a good trip, but long, tiring, and boring at times. I met a lot of good people from different parts of the country. Each area was a little different. Basically everyone I met were good hometown folk.

The homeless (street) people seem to be attracted to me. It was like I was their Vietnam Vet buddy from long ago. They all came up and talked to me. I think it was the motorcycle that attracted them.




But in the end, it was good to be in the arms of family. It felt so good to be home. I love my family very much. I guess, in a way, this trip helped me to realize that even more.

I don't have plans for anymore cross-country trips...at least, not this year.

I'm not here...

If you are waiting here for my next blog post, I'm not here during March. I'm on a motorcycle trip across the United States. You can follow my trip here: http://southernstatestrip.blogspot.com/

Young Whppersnapper

As a youth I can remember my grandfather Davis calling me a "young whippersnapper." I never really knew the full meaning of that comparative title until just recently.

Lively young men of the seventeenth-century England developed a great passion for fast driving. With two teams of horses hitched to heavy coaches, they dashed about in style that made the old-timers shake their heads and wonder what the world was coming to.

This newfangled sport required great skill in the use of the whip. No man was considered adept until he could flick a forward animal from below the lead bar without alarming the wheel horses.

In this age of conspiracies, plots, and attempted rebellions, every swaggering bully prided himself on his prowess as a "whipsnapper." Naturally, adolescent youth and small boys tried to imitate their elders. Gangs of rowdies--boys who today would be called juvenile delinquents--made a great commotion by continually snapping and popping their long whips. This practice was so general that by 1700 any upstart youth or presumptuous person was likely to be sneeringly described as a "whippersnapper." (I've Got Goose Pimples, by Marvin Vanoni)

Well, with my Grandfather Davis long gone, I now know what he meant. I must have been doing something really rowdy to receive a title like that.

Why aren't there seatbeats in buses?

Have you ever wondered why buses don't have seat belts? By law they are not required because they are over 10,000 pounds. Also, through numerous experiments and research, they found that passengers simply will not use them.

Experiments with seat belts in school buses have been disastrous. Not only do children refuse to wear them, but they use the seat belt buckle as a lethal weapon.

There are a couple of other reasons:

Twice as many students die each year getting on or off school buses than riding them; seat belts are unlikely to prevent deaths caused by head-on collisions (the cause of most on-the-road bus fatalities); and

Money allocated for seat belts is better spent on training bus drivers and providing better maintenance of the vehicles.

Just thought you'd be interested in a little bit of useless information.

(Source: Imponderables, by David Feldman)

The Greatest Family

It all started many years ago when I met the girl of my dreams. It was my first day of work at Castleton's, a retail clothing store at the University Mall in Orem. As the store manager took me around to meet all the store employees, the moment I was introduced to Penny, I was on fire from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. Nine days later we were engaged.

The rest is history. Five beautiful children, all of whom are living exemplified lives. When I grow up I want to be just like them.

Sarah: From the moment she was born, Sarah has always been a mover and a shaker. All through Elementary school she would stand up to protect her brother Chad, and let her teachers know how they should run their classes. She has grown into a beautiful woman and awesome mother and wife.

Chad: Was so dang cute and funny as a little boy, that he made it difficult for people sitting behind us in church to concentrate on the meeting. He would stand up on the church bench facing the people behind us and pull faces. He kept them entertained all meeting long. He is now a very dashing and handsome young man, one who turns heads when he enters a room.



Becca: Loved to eat as a little girl. One early morning, Penny and I heard the outside water running in the backyard. As we went to discover the cause, we found 3 year old Becca. She had gotten into the food and had eaten an entire plate of brownies and was trying to hose off the evidence. Becca is now a beautiful and very dependable woman. She has such a deep conviction for the gospel and loves to help others.

Teresa: Was our happy child. She was always happy and smiling. She was also very talented with her eyebrows. At a very early age she would entertain us for hours on end by moving her eyebrows up and down, at the same time maintaining a perfectly pleasing smile. Teresa has also grown into a very beautiful woman, mother and wife. She is a wonderful example of motherhood, nurturing her two children, Quin and Gavin. Gavin by the way, seems to have acquired Teresa's trait for smiling.

Jennica: Our little "Princess and Puppy." She earned the name of "Puppy" from me. When she first learned to walk, she would follow daddy all over the house, just like a little puppy. At an early age, Jennica decided to give herself a haircut and cut away all her bangs. She looked kind of odd for a few months until it grew back. Jennica has always been our little princess, never doing anything wrong. I know this has drawn criticism from her siblings, but to this day, I still can't think of one single thing she has ever done wrong. Every day her beauty grows inside and out.

I probably sound like a cheesy father and husband, but I must admit I have a pretty awesome family. Our time spent together as a family is full of laughs and moments of endearing gratitude for each other.

I love you all!

Happy Valentines

45 Random Things About Myself

At first I didn't think I could come up with 25 random things about myself. But once I got going, I ended up with 45. I may keep adding, so stay tuned.

1. I love sunsets...to me they are always a sign of something good.
2. I enjoy anything that involves water. Lake Powell, the Ocean, Water Slides, Wading Pools, etc.
3. I love my dreamgirl (Penny). I dream of her every night.
4. I really don't like TV Sitcoms. I think they are all the same corny stuff. (However I have gotten hooked on "The Office" recently.
5. I enjoy reading the encyclopedia. It is concise short bursts of information, and that is all I need to stay informed.
6. Number 5 leads to: I do not enjoy novels. They take too long. I want to know what happens right now.
7. Number 4 and 5 leads to: I did not enjoy history in high school. I thought it is a waste of time to study stuff that already happened. But I love history now. I enjoy learning about individuals and how they couped with their circumstances.
8. Speaking of school in number 7: I typically got bored in class, unless it was anything to do with Math. I loved Math. When I was bored in class I would count and calculate how many holes where in the ceiling tiles. (523,453 if anyone wants to know)
9. My favorite TV program is the news. I enjoy staying up to date with current events.
10. I love my solitude time. I enjoy being around people, but I also love my quiet time when I can explore, think and ponder.
11. I enjoy taking long motorcycle trips that applies my number 10 above.
12. I like to fix things. Makes me feel like I'm worth something.
13. My favorite movie is Silverado. Probably not new news to my family.
14. Speaking of Silverado, I enjoyed watching the TV series Gunsmoke, growing up as a kid.
15. My favorite meal is roast, with potatoes, gravy and carrots.
16. I hum and sing random songs. (And I don't even have a good voice for it)
17. I love to play racquetball.
18. I love the outdoors, and enjoy backpacking with my family and friends.
19. I love tropical areas. Places I can go scuba diving at.
    
20. I love working in third world countries and helping others.
21. I enjoy business and business development.
22. I'm typically cautious with a lot of things, especially driving and outdoor activities.
    
23. I haven't had any tickets in 30 years.
24. I love life.
25. I love doing things with Penny.
26. I highly dislike (hate) shopping.
27. I do love browsing through Home Depot and Costco. (That's different than shopping)
28. I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.
29. I have a deep love and admonition for Joseph Smith.
30. I do not like pickels, unless someone else puts it on my hamburger.
31. I'm not a big fan of a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. I do like apples, carrots, corn, peas...and that's about it.
32. I'm kind of a tech junky. I like electronic things that do amazing stuff.
33. I feel it is important to take care of personal things. (Boat, motorcycle, cars, snowblowers, etc.) They last longer.
34. I am an optimist, and don't have a lot of patience for pessimists. (And the world is full of pessimists)
35. I love and enjoy my grandkids, until they cry or poop their pants.
36. I love smooth Jazz music. I have every album of Kenny G.
37. I have a sweet tooth for chocolate. Ghirardelli is my favorite.
38. I pole vaulted in High School and College. 15' 6" was my best jump.
39. I love to stream fish.
40. I don't like to lake fish.
41. I like the smell of diesel fuel and freshly poured asphalt.
42. I love to watch fighter jets fly overhead. I actually fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams and flew in a fighter jet, and even got to take the controls and fly it.
43. I like to fly RC helicopters.
44. I love to slalom water ski. I use to be able to cut around a buoy and drag my shoulder. Too old now.
45. I love the American Flag, for which it stands. I still get a tear when it passes in parades.

Last Day of Magic

Our last day in Anaheim. We'll be leaving for home tomorrow.

Just before Soaring over California.

On the new ride Toy Story. We all did pretty good with our target practice.

Jennica met a new guy at Disneyland.


A scary ride on Thunder Mountain.

Happy Birthday Becca from Disneyland!

Today is Becca's special day. Happy Birthday Becca.

We sang the Happy Birthday song to Becca via cell phone. We actually sounded pretty good.


Jennica wearing a Happy Birthday hat in honor of Becca.

At our favorite ice cream parlor for a Gipson Girl.

A random photo on Indiana Jones.


Penny was feeling a little Goofy.


A scary ride on the Screamer roller coaster.


...And even scarier man on the Screamer.

Penny's breakfast with her supply of syrup.

At The Happiest Place on Earth

We arrived at Disneyland this morning, spending the day at the Park. As always we felt the magic.

Jennica said that she had to have her picture taken with Aladin.



Jen and me on Space mountain. I was so tired that I fell asleep halfway through.