Dallin and Allison

Jenna loves to get the kids pictures taken. While posing children may not be my idea of a good time, I am always happy she does it. Her friend, Anne Hepworth, here in Orderville does such a good job. So, here I am posting some of my favorite shots from the last session.
I love seeing the the expressions on their faces, how Allison is so happy and Dallin can be so funny. The more steps I am taking along the path of fatherhood, the more grateful I am for the opportunity to be a dad and a husband. When the Psalmist wrote that "children are an heritage of the Lord", it wasn't just a nice thing to say, or something that sounded good. It was and still is the truth. Nothing has helped Jenna and I to grow more and bring us closer than our kids. We worry about them, we talk about them, we live for them. Sure we still have the things we were interested before them, but I think our perspective of what truly matters in life has changed.
Some people worry about finances and things, which is a real concern, but I am of the belief that things work out. I see it all the time around me, when people of faith have the faith to have a family, the means are provided for them. The Lord intervenes when he must. I believe He deserves a lot more credit for our well-being than we realize.
Anyway. These are our kids. Jenna is such a great mother to them. Maintaining children is a lot of work, and Jenna does more than her share. I am gone most of the day and she has chosen to be with them during that time. I know this is a lot of work on her part, and it is often without a lot of reward. But she does such a good job. I do not think anyone could do better. I know she realizes how valuable she is to our children. I also know she needs a break once in a while. I get to come home from my students in the afternoon. For her, many days there isn't any break, until I take them for an hour or a few minutes.
Well, If there are any reasons our kids are so cute and great I would say the responsibility likes mostly with my wonderful wife who takes the profession of motherhood very seriously and loves it. Thanks honey bear, I love you!

Still Around

Just checking in real quick. I have been thinking about different things to write about, but nothing has settled in long enough.
Things are going really well so far this year with school. I have an excellent group of students and really enjoy them. I took some extra time to get more organized and it is really paying off.
I have also been getting things together to begin my Master's in Educational Leadership this Summer. I am really excited about starting it. It took the Lord giving me a pretty major kick in the behind for me to get rolling on this, but ever since I "opened the door", EVERYTHING has been falling smoothly into place. I know this is the Lord opening the way before me.
Our family is being extremely blessed, our babies are healthy, Jenna is doing so much as a mother and wife and I love her so much. I am very grateful that I married a woman with the same ideals as myself. She was a good choice. Very good. Once again the Lord directed my path.
It seems the more I allow Him to do so, the better things go. Always. My only problem is the hard-heartedness I have in thinking I am more wise than the Lord. This is obviously not true as He has the clear blueprint for what He needs me to be. Perhaps I should be more open minded to the possibilities.
Anyway. Things are going well and doors really seem to be opening. There are times of trial, but there is always light in the Narrow Path.

Getting Ready! Mostly...

Well. I think I have officially hit the point of summer where I am starting to get excited about school again. This last year was pretty stressful, I had some very interesting class dynamics going on. It was all a bit crazy. Between the group of kids (The combination was phenomenal! It was wild and crazy, but I enjoyed them immensely!) I had and a constant stream of people through my classroom (aides, SPED, whoever else felt like it...) I was pretty worn down by the end of the year. I probably would have written more about it, but thinking about it was somewhat painful...
ANYWAY.
I am now getting to the point in the summer where it is all about the future and looking forward. I think that there are many things I will do the same, but I have been working more on some of the mechanics of my class, my procedures for students and my expectations. I have taught these things over and over to my previous classes, but I believe I will put even more emphasis on it this year.
Education is a tricky thing. The actual planning, teaching, and relating to students is very enjoyable and quite simple. The expectations, communication, and measuring up are somewhat difficult. Especially for the teacher, not to mention the students. I suppose interpersonal relationships can be the hard part. I am more afraid of disappointing an administrator than of being a bad teacher. The hard part of an administrator's job is that they have too much to do, too many teachers, too many papers, and too much to report. This of course carries down to the classroom where, instead of being able to enjoy teaching and building student relationships, stress comes into play and unrealistic expectations are put upon all involved. Teachers are worried about reports, tests, and performance. Students are worried about reports, tests, and performance. Administrators are worried about reports, tests, and performance. We should have these things. Reports. Tests. High Performance. They are crucial to measuring progress. But, somewhere in all this achieving, we lose something.
How do you get it back?
I think being organized solves a lot of these problems. I do not feel that I am a poor organizer or manager, but I realize I can improve. Classroom structure sets a precedent for kids to follow. They want to know what is expected. I want them to know what is expected. I believe teaching and learning should be fun, that it should really apply to life. Just like life, there are consequences at times, but if I can teach them to go through my class and learning to follow our class procedures they are learning success patterns for the rest of their lives. My most successful students are those who give their all. If my students are struggling with a concept, verbally lashing them is not the answer. Pulling them back to my desk is the answer. Having an aid assist them is the answer. Gentleness. Meekness. Love Unfeigned.
I guess in all of this it is about people. If we lose the trust of the people we are responsible for, it is very difficult to get it back. Reports, tests, and performance are important, but I feel my main responsibility to my students is to be a trusted adult that can offer some guidance. Not just on their math, or language arts, but in their lives as well.
So. I am getting ready for a new year. I have been organizing a little more. I have been planning different things to do. I think it will go well. But please remind me if I start freaking out about reports, tests, and performance, that this whole education sphere is really about kids and helping them be ready for the future.
It's interesting to me that in the course of my teaching thus far, the Lord has been teaching me many, many lessons and giving me insights I wouldn't have gained otherwise. It is about people and kids and service. A teacher has a responsibility to give their all for these kids. They may be a little crazy at times, but so is there teacher, and I wouldn't trade the opportunity I have had to teach any of them! (Just make sure you ask me on the right day!)

Marriage and Divorce

I realize I have been in the habit of posting a lot of videos lately. You may have seen this one already, but I really think it is valuable. Very valuable. It's really short, so if you haven't seen it take a couple minutes to watch. The part that hit me hardest was where Elder Oaks says that repentance is part of solving marital problems. I have experienced that first hand! I hope you enjoy this video.

4th Anniversary

Tomorrow is our anniversary!
It has been four years already and a lot has happened. I am grateful for her and her putting up with me. I think she is a wonderful girl. She is good with our kids and awesome with everyone around her. Mostly she is good to me and everything I ever wanted and want!
So that's it. Happy Anniversary Jenna! I hope it is great for you...though it will be pretty busy, eh?

Testimony

Well. Jenna and I are giving talks in church this Sunday. The topics are Joseph Smith and Testimony. Jenna's going to cover Joseph Smith and I am going to address Testimony. So of course, as soon as this assignment was given, my mind started trying to organize thoughts about testimony and just what it is.
First. I think that there are two parts to testimony. (Well, AT LEAST two...) First we all think about the question, do I have a testimony? Is it strong enough? How should I share it. Part of testimony is a very, very personal thing that involves the gaining and sharing of it. Not only do we need to gain the testimony but the testimony needs to be of truth. We go about gaining a testimony much as Alma described in Alma 32. We plant the seed-the idea. We nourish the seed through study and obedience to the principles we are working on. If the seed is good it grows. Simple right? I have seen this process work on any number of gospel principles. Tithing. Fasting and Fast Offerings. Repentance. Missionary work. Faith. Temple Work and Ordinances. Chastity. Charity. Baptism. Celestial Marriage. All of these things have proven to produce good fruit in my life and as long as I continue to nourish them, they stay healthy and strong and guide my life.
The second part of testimony that I probably don't think about as much but is crucial to its development is listening and heeding the testimony of others. Especially those ordained as our leaders. Prophets. Apostles. Seventy. Stake Presidents. Bishops. Relief Society Presidents. Our teachers. These persons have been given authority in many instances to teach us. Those who bear powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith, as well as other gospel principles are adding strength to our testimonies. The responsibility we have is to be hearers of the word and then doers.
I find myself worrying often if I am keeping my testimony strong enough. I think the reason this is such a concern is because a testimony is alive. When I get busy with life, sometimes I feel like I haven't given it the attention it needs. Feeding it and nourishing it every day will keep it alive. Sharing it with others will keep it alive and nourish another's testimony. I have noticed that those who lose testimony have usually done something or aligned themselves with someone or something that is contrary to gospel principles. They begin to question and apostatize. I believe it is okay to ask questions. That is how we learn. But the intent of those questions must be pure.
Anyway. Some thoughts for me to ponder. I hope the talk goes well, if not at least I learned something!

"Hope Ya Know"

Maybe some have already seen this, it is from the church web site. I thought it was really good.

This one is also great.

Happy Birthday Jenna!

Today is my wife's birthday. She is a great, great wife and friend. So. I just wanted to post about that. I really can't believe I actually survived for 25 and a half years without her by my side. She has made everything I do better. She even helps me think straight when I get frustrated, "anxietied", or over-worried. She takes wonderful care of our children and me. She teaches them the gospel and proper and upright things and I couldn't have married anyone better. She is beautiful. She is loving and caring. She is a perfect companion and keeps me doing the right things. I love you honey!

PUNCH OUT!!

This is way off of the beaten path of my usual posts, but I am a Punch Out!! fan and I have to say this commercial/advertisement is hilarious...
At least to me...

Ah...
Nintendo.

Leadership

I love Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-46. There are several reasons why I love this selection of verses, but a lot of it is because it is a perfect guideline for leadership. I had an experience this week that brought these verses to my mind. I am not going to get into any detail as it is the lesson learned that is the important part.
Here are the verses in case you don't want to look them up:
34 Behold, there are many ^acalled, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35 Because their ^ahearts are set so much upon the things of this ^bworld, and ^caspire to the ^dhonors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

36 That the ^arights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be ^bcontrolled nor handled only upon the ^cprinciples of righteousness.

37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to ^acover our ^bsins, or to gratify our ^cpride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or ^ddominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ^ewithdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to ^akick against the pricks, to ^bpersecute the saints, and to ^cfight against God.

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the ^anature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little ^bauthority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise ^cunrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many are called, but ^afew are chosen.

41 No ^apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the ^bpriesthood, only by ^cpersuasion, by ^dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By ^akindness, and pure ^bknowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the ^csoul without ^dhypocrisy, and without ^eguile—

43 ^aReproving betimes with ^bsharpness, when ^cmoved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of ^dlove toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of ^adeath.

45 Let thy ^abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let ^bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy ^cconfidence wax strong in the ^dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the ^edews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant ^acompanion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of ^brighteousness and truth; and thy ^cdominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
I think I realize more and more as time passes that a good leader will build inspire and carry those he or she is responsible for. I believe that many leaders are looking to help those around them.
I think it most important above all that a leader beware of the warnings in verse 37-39 and do their best to resist the temptation to abuse that authority. It most certainly is the "nature and disposition of almost all men" to exercise unrighteous dominion when they believe the are "in charge".
Along with that however, when the time for reproving does come, and it will, verses 43 AND 44 are imperative and must come TOGETHER.
In my line of work there is a constant stream of evaluation and pressure to perform. Not only is this pressure placed on the kids by myself, but it is placed on teachers, administrators, and other staff. The pressure is HIGH at times and many of us get stressed about how we will look if someone below us fails. Believe me, when my kids struggle or perform lower than my expectations, I feel the stress. (From myself mostly, and also others.) Unfortunately in my case this stress is caused many times by my desire to please man and "not look bad". This can be motivating, but it, at times, feels draining and uninspiring. There have been many times when I have chastised my class (or children at home/church) because of my selfish desire to "look good." This is not something I am proud of, yet I think that many of us face the same dilemma.
I cite these negative examples because they do happen, yet I believe that if one were to look at education in general, along with teaching in our homes, these negative examples would be few and far between. I think mostly I have seen positive examples. Now, I realize that the business of education is not completely comparable to the rights of the Priesthood, and yet, I think that the gospel we have applies perfectly to any situation given that people will do the work and apply it.
When it comes to teaching and leadership I love verse 44 especially: "That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death." This is a lot to ask of a leader. But it is possible. Those whom we have stewardship over, whether it be teaching, parenting, callings, community or otherwise need to know we love them. That we do care about their well-being. That we are not out "to get them", but that we have a sincere desire for them to succeed in a temporal and eternal life. This is where having our "bowels full of charity towards all men" comes into play. We all know this is not easy, and yet there is something comforting in the knowledge that we are trying, though not always succeeding.
I appreciate a leader who recognizes my successes and points them out while at the same time fulfilling their duty to offer words of correction or assistance. Not just words, but example and follow-up.
Ultimately if we can give an honest effort to verses 45-46 our confidence as leaders will "wax strong in the presence of God" and also of man. When we quit trying to impress the people around us and seek to do our duty sincerely to God and his children then our confidence that we are doing what is right buoys us through discouragement and opposition (AND there IS opposition to any good leader. Just ask the Savior, or Joseph Smith, or any person in a position of authority.). Preparation and study are essential and success cannot be achieved without them, but all the preparation and study in the world cannot make us good leaders unless we are willing to follow and apply the correct principles leadership is based on. We must forgo our natural desires and seek a higher good than our own good. The best part of these verses is the promise that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion along with the rest of verse 46. With the Holy Ghost as our constant companion our decisions will be right more often and our sincerity in our leadership will be more pure.