Just a couple of things...

Ever since L learned the word "down" he has used it synonymously with up. I admit, it's cute and I would love for it to continue forever. However, after T's whole "hushoo" debacle in kindergarten, I know it can't continue with out correction. That being said, I guess you all are wondering what the hushoo thing is all about. When T was a toddler she couldn't say tissue, what came out was hushoo. We never corrected her but also began calling them hushoos. (It was way too cute) as you can imagine, going to school and asking your teacher for a hushoo gets you nothing but blank stares and one heck of a frustrating moment for a kindergartner who just wants to wipe her nose. Lesson learned. Now to L's story, he is famous for walking up to us, putting his arms outstretched high in the air and saying, "I want down." My reply is always the same, "But you are already down. You are so far down you can't go anymore." This gets me, "I want down, Daddy." This routine has gotten chuckles from people as the are walking by us at the store. He has now learned the word "up" but hasn't figured out that that is the right way of saying what he wants. We still have a few years to work on it.

I have been doing some soul searching for a while now, and as a result been rereading books I have read before (shocker I know), and listening to past General Conferences again. 'The Miracle of Forgiveness' is a great book. The first time I read it, I couldn't get all the way thru it. I thought it was painting a very bleak outlook. Just about everything a person does or doesn't do is a sin. And our mission? To master all of them and be perfect.(A daunting task, to say the least) Let's just say, the wicked take the truth to be hard. Attitude has a lot to with everything. This time, I find it is a book of hope, sure we all mess up and these are many of the ways we screw it all up, but there is hope.

As I was listening to the priesthood session from the last conference, it struck me that it was a calling out to ready ourselves for what is coming. To take part in the blessings and power of the priesthood. To go forth, boldly with the spirit of God, working miracles, and using all the keys and powers of the priesthood. It sounded like a call to arms, and wield the power the holding the priesthood endows. At one point, while President Monson was speaking he pounded the podium. To me it seemed out of frustration for having to say the same things over and over again. As I read Isaiah in 1 Nephi 20:5-8, this is not new. The Lord speaking thru Isaiah says:

5 And I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say—Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them.

6 Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not declare them? And that I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.

7 They are created now, and not from the beginning, even before the day when thou heardest them not they were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst say—Behold I knew them.

8 Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time thine ear was not opened...

This is a first for me, I have never understood anything I read from Isaiah. This time I got it and learned something I had never considered before about the way he communicates. He's very poetic, and repeats himself a lot in varying ways. He tells you that God said this and then proceeds to tell you which God by using all his names. He also speaks in conversation style sometimes keeping you on your toes. The key for me was read slowly.

That being said, one of the lessons I learned from 'The Miracle of Forgiveness' it is necessary to completely change your surroundings and life when trying to break habits and correct your life. So while I am not going to move change is happening ;)

Wait, What?!?!?!

Yes it's very disappointing and I can scarcely believe it. But these things are true.

First.

After much thought and consideration. Comparing qualities, morals and ideology. I finally arrived at a decision as to which of the several presidential hopefuls I like enough to through my support to. I hadn't given any money to my choice as its the primary and I wouldn't want to be wasting my money if they dropped out before my primary. In this case it was Michele Bachman. She came in nearly last in Iowa with only Huntsman with behind her. After such a poor showing she suspended her campaign. Guess I move to my very close second choice, Rick Santorum. He did very well in Iowa, hopefully well enough to get momentum for the rest of the race.

Second and third: news from apple

The iPad 2 is going to drop in price this year. Now before you go and celebrate, it's only because of the release of the iPad 3. Or so the rumors go.

A new battery has been invented and patented by Apple. It's a hydrogen battery. It's rechargeable and performs much better than the lithium. Did I mention it's smaller too? This battery may be what the electric car people have been waiting for.

Fourth

Had a great time with family for the new year celebrations. I got to see everyone and even say hello to IZ. The kids love the gift from Mel and family. They play with it constantly until play turn to bickory (is that right?) and we take it away and force them to go play something else or go outside. It was a hand-me-down that started with Mush and family destined to fall into the hands of CK, IZ's and Julzes first born. (I can only hope it lasts long enough ;-) Also, I hope everyone is fine with you blog names I put a ton of thought into them :-p)

New Year, New Me???

Toward the latter part of the year, I found myself with the desire to change myself. To unplug from the addiction that is amusement, living in the fantasy world the television and Internet bring into our lives. So cut the tv shows I watch both on tv and the internet. As I examine the lives of those that I consider successful they have at least one main thing in common they watch little to no tv, seeking their amusements else where, seeking first family and personal growth through engaging activity.

As the new year commences, I find myself continuing to look for different results than I had in previous years. To get new results requires different actions. With this in mind I am again (as current tv shows are in hiatus from winter break) going to cut the television shows I watch. I will spend more time with the words of the prophets. Seeking first the well being others than my own (yes I tend to be very selfish) I will seek to be a participant in life rather than the casual observer.

While these seem general and many may say I have these qualities already, I feel there is a great amount of room for improvement. For those that think this is too general, or this is too small -- rest assured, as it took 40 years to build the salt lake temple and 40 years of wondering the wilderness for the Jews, it may well take the sum total of both those events for even I to reach perfection ;-p

As I observe my children, it is evident that they take far too much after me and so the example that they look to needs to show them a better way.