Al and Monica's Family Blog

Our New House To Be

2011-11-18T18:28:00.006-07:00

Today we had our offer accepted on a house in Tooele. We are very excited to be moving forward toward closing now, rather than still looking for a house. We expect to be moving now within 3-4 weeks. That is if nothing goes wrong along the way, which since this is us we are talking about, who knows what will happen. In other words it's not over until I post the colors on that flag pole. That will mean that it is ours.

Sam's Birthday

2011-10-25T15:47:00.010-06:00

Wow! My first born turned 12 yrs old on Oct. 16th 2011. What an important year for him. He recieved the Aaronic preisthood and his first temple recomend on his birthday! What a special birthday! We were able to celebrate in style at Planet Play. They had a ton of fun playing games, eating pizza, and doing various attractions. It was a fun party! Thanks to those who could come to either or both and make it special. For Sam's birthday we gave him a new bike. It was much needed since his last bike was given to him about 5-6 years ago.

Sam also got a friend party at our house. A few friends came and they played capture the flag, maffia, mind games, and ninja. We ate pizza and ice cream and cake. I asked Sam if he wanted a theme. No theme for him. He's getting too big. Sad, Sad. My boy is growing up too fast. It was a fun party though. I think they all had a good time.

Sam is having a lot of first with this birthday. First time going to priesthood session of confrence. First time getting the priesthood. First time going to young mens or scouts. First friend birthday party at our house. First temple recommend. First time going to the temple (we're going there soon, I hope).

odds and ends

2011-10-25T11:04:00.029-06:00

Back in Aug. We went to a Starwars Party at the library. It was a lot of fun. They had games and crafts for the kids. Ammon came in second place for the costume contest. He went as Han Solo. He had fun coming up with his costume. First place was a little girl dressed as Yoda. Sam wanted to go, but was at scout camp.

In Sept. I took Bella and Shahayla and her Mom, Tonya, to tempel square. They have lived here most their lives and have never been. It was a nice outing with just us girls.

Also in Sept. Samuel went on his first backpacking campout. I was so scared for him. Thankgoodness Al went with him. I think that pack wieghs almost as much as he does. It was an extremely difficult hike and he did pretty good for his first time. Dad on the other hand twisted his ankle on the way up. Ouch!

A couple weeks ago we went to see the witches at gardner village. My kids look forward to going there every year. It was a georgeous October day. This witch was just dieing to get a picture with my kids! Joshy wasn't too sure and didn't want to get too close.

These pictures didn't turn out so good. I don't think my flash was on. But I had to add them anyway because they make me laugh. Gideon got his first taste of some colorful buble gum. Some how he had opened his from grandma and thought it was great! One big one in his mouth, and one in each hand. Taking turns from hand to hand licking the different buble gum. He was quite the mess, along with the carpet. But ohhh the joy from that baby!

One fall day in Oct. we (Joshy, Bella, and I) decided to gather the leaves and have some fall fun. They had fun running and jumping in the leaves. And then burying each other in them.

Gideon didn't know quite what to think of the leaves. He was a little scared at first.

Last night for family night we carved our pumpkins. Bella and Ammon designed the faces. Sam and Dad cut them. We all helped get out the goo, and I separated the seeds for roasting.

I found my Camera!

2011-09-21T13:37:00.014-06:00

My camera has been missing for a long while now and that has been my excuse for not blogging. But alas, my mother in law found it at her house. Yeah! Not that that is good excuse to not blog, but I'm happy to have it back. So here are some pictures.

Sam, Ammon, and Bella took swim lessons this summer for the first time. They really enjoyed it. Being older they learned real fast.

Joshy did T-ball this summer and Al coached his team. We saw a lot of the above picture. But Joshy did get in some good hits and some good throws. Sam and Ammon assisted Al, so it was a family afair. Bella took a lot of pictures of Gideon as we watched.

Gideon loves to suck on his toes. Those feet of his are so "handy". He even holds his bottle with his feet so he can use his hands to play with other things.

Look at those Big eyes! How beautiful. I hear this comment a lot. I have to agree. Gideon is getting so big. He is doing the army crawl and climbing on furniture. and into everything. He is such a good baby though. I can't complain.

About a month ago we started back to school and this month Joshy got to start preschool. No pictures because my camara was lost, but they are enjoying it. For discovery this term Bella, Ammon, and Sam all get to do fishing. Al gets to go with them to Tibble Fork Lake to fish this week. Joshy is loving preschool. He talks to me for hours about it. I'm so glad he gets this opportunity.

Also a little miracle. Al got an unexpected raise just after my birthday. This makes it possible for us to start looking for a house. So we are now in the prossess of looking at houses. We found one so far that we like, but are still looking. It's been fun to look, but also it's hard to imagine leaving our ward and school. We love them so much and have lived here for over 7 yrs. Change is always hard, but it can also be rewarding. I'm just excited to get in a house we will fit in!

So much going on!

2011-06-27T13:57:00.034-06:00

So much has happened from now until the last time I blogged. So I will briefly touch on the things I can remember. April 13th was Bella's 7th Birthday. She is a big 7! Time to start preparing her for baptism. She got her first friend party this year. I haven't been very good about giving the kids friend parties since we always do a big family party, but I wanted them to have the experience this year so I promised them all friend parties this year. This was before I had Gideon. Only 2 girls could make it, but we still had fun. She wanted a Scooby Doo party this year. Ammon made this "Pin the Nose on Scooby Doo" game for her. He did it all free hand. I am quite impressed with his artistic ability.

Bella still had her family party at Cecilia's. This was a fun party too. Grandma bought her a schooby doo candy game where you pull out the sticks and candy may or may not fall out. All the kids had fun with this game.

Happy Easter! Easter was at Myndie's house this year. We had fun coloring easter Eggs and eating a yummy dinner.

Ammon had his school play in wich he had some talking parts. All the 4th graders helped write the play. I was verry impressed. Ammon did such a good job. It was all about the pioneers. Something they studied this year. It was a musical and everything. They even made their own scenery. I loved watching Ammon acting on stage. He had such a good experience. He loved it! Even with all the practices he wants to do it again.

Bella got her first hair cut in a salon. She has been asking for about a year now to get bangs. So she finally got her bangs! She also has been begging me to cut her hair short. I didn't want too, but told her when we could go to a stylist she could. So she and I went together to get our hair cut short. Mine is as short as hers. It was a fun mother, daughter time.

Alas, Al had to sell his truck. He was so sad about it. But after the bus hit him, he decided to just sell the beast instead of fixing it. It is weird to come home every day and not see his truck sitting there.

Ammon had his 10th Birthday June 26th! He wanted an indiana Jones birthday party. There was NO indian Jones stuff available. However, Ammon with his artistic abilities created his own. He did an Indiana Jones Pin the head on the body game. And I created a treasure hunt, and obsticle course for him. Only 2 boys could come, but they had fun.

Ammon also got two parties this year. The other being at Grandma Ramirez's. This was fun as well. As you can see he and his cousins especially had fun with the streamers grandma Ann put in his presents. He also got a new bike for his birthday!

June was our pack's Raingutter Raggata. Al being the Cub Master was in charge. It was quite the event! This was in place of the Pinewood Derby. We had a lot of fun. The boys make these boats and then race them in the raingutters by blowing on them. Ammon did so good. He won first place! Way to go Ammon! We gave him the most spirited racer award because every time he won, instead of glorring in his own acheivement he would stop and cheer on the other scout to finish the race. It was so inspiring.

Gideon ate in a high chair for the first time. He is growing up! Sam is such a big help with him. He wanted to feed him. Of course I can't turn that down.

March Madness

2011-04-06T10:40:00.009-06:00

Gideon's blessing day

O.k. So March wasn't really mad, but there was a lot I haven't bloged about. First we had Gideons blessing. Thanks to all those who came. We had a nice dinner the Saturday before then Al blessed Gideon in church on Sunday. We had a lot of family and friend support it was nice. Unfortunately we forgot to take pictures. Next time I think I'll give someone camera duty.

Happy Birthday Joshua. Joshua turned 4 in March as well. We had a party for him at Cecilia's. He had a transformer party. We played Transformers, lightning ball, and birthday bingo.

Bella had surgery on her teeth in March as well. She had an extra tooth that needed to be taken out. She was nervouse the night before, but she went in all brave. She did so good. I was the one having problems and had a panic attack. The nurses were great and helped me and her. I just couldn't stand seeing my girl in pain. By that night she was feeling better.

Sam and Ammon also had thier discovery recital in March. Ammon's class wrote a play and performed it. Ammon was a detective. He did good. He was the only one I could hear because he spoke good and loud. Sam played the drums. You can't see him but he is right in the middle. He did a good job too.

What the kids are up to.

2011-03-02T14:40:00.008-07:00

Sam and Ammon entered a Lego contest that they saw in a magazine and this is what they came up with. Sam's is the one with out him in the picture.

Bella got to perform in a recital with her school for discovery. She was in princess camp. She learned all about how to be a princess and a dance. She did really good for her first time performing a dance.

About a month ago Joshy fell and hit his head on Ammon's bed frame. It caused quite the goose egg, and left a nasty bruise. He is better now. Here he is in front of Dad's new T.V. I still think it's a little big for our little place, but dad and the kids are loving it!

Gideon is just such the cutie pie. He is smiling more and more. He is also getting more and more louder. He is a good baby for the most part and we are greatful to have him as part of our family.

Growing

2011-02-20T20:21:00.005-07:00

Gideon is now over 6 weeks old and is already changing and getting bigger. He is smiling more offten now wich warms my heart. He is sleeping for about 5-6hrs through the night now which is nice.

I'm growing too. It has been a rough road for me. I have a panic attack or anxiety every day. Some days are better than others. It has been hard to deal with, but with the support and love of family and friends, I am making it through. I'm learning more than ever to rely on my Savior and Heavenly Father. I know they love me and will help me.

Gideon Moroni Ramirez

2011-01-07T12:26:00.008-07:00

On Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 3:57 a.m. we welcomed our new little addition to our family. We named our little boy Gideon Moroni Ramirez. We were all so very excited to see him that ever since the last week of December we've been anxiously awaiting his birth with baited breath. The kids were getting to feel that he would never be born. But, when the time was right he came with little fanfare in a peaceful serene manner.

He is a very calm baby, he doesn't cry much and when he does, it is a very quiet cry and only for maybe a minute. He is beautiful though.

Monica did wonderfully utilizing her hypnobirthing techniques. I was very proud of her, but couldn't tell her that during the birthing phase, because as the birthing companion I am not supposed to make comments like that, just help her stay in the moment. It was great, she didn't think that I would remember my role and that I would mess up and ruin it for her, but I stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. The midwife said that we were a perfect team, and that Monica should be in a birthing video showing how it is done. Like the book says the attending nurse was in awe with how easy Monica made it look. No wonder though, because when we were there on Thursday the week before I could hear all the women screaming in pain during birth, and Monica didn't even wince with pain. I could brag for hours about her and how wonderful she did, but I will end with this, she is an amazing women who has a tremendous inner strength, that I believe that she doesn't even realize at times. I couldn't ask for a better woman to call my wife.

Now, about Gideon. All the nurses and hospital personnel couldn't stop talking about how beautiful he is. The midwife told us that he was so beautiful and that she could not say that about every baby she has delivered. Pretty much everybody who sees him, just can't get over how beautiful he is.

The kids are very excited to have a new brother, even Bella. Joshua is the most excited I believe. He is very protective and just wants to play with him. He wants to share all his toys with Gideon and doesn't understand why he can't play yet. He is a great big brother.

We've received congratulations from China to Canada, from Boston to Florida, fom Texas to Washington and many places inbetween. Gideon is already known throughout the world and he is only a couple of days old.

Pictures with the Claus

2010-12-18T12:50:00.004-07:00

A Star is Born

2010-12-18T12:38:00.006-07:00

Thursday night Samuel's 5th grade class put on a play based upon the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence. The date was chosen because it was the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. He played a French born Colonist who desired for freedom from the British Crown. He did good in delivering his lines, he even spoke with a French accent.

He remembered all his lines and looked the part in his costume that Monica helped him put together.

His character took part in the skirmish at Lexington and Concord, the act was called "the shot heard around the world".

We were very proud of him.

No longer a Cub, but a Boy...Scout that is

2010-10-23T12:56:00.003-06:00

Now that Samuel is 11 he is no longer a Cub Scout, but now will be going into Boy Scouts. As one of his last projects as a Webelos he made this display for his awards and badges that he earned during Cub Scouts. Monica and I are proud of him for being dedicated as a Scout. We hope that his dedication will carry over into the Boy Scouts. We are a little worried as are Ward's Boy Scout program sucks. That means that Monica and I will need to work with him and give him every opportunity available to get his ranks and move toward his Eagle. He's on the right track with having earned his Arrow of Light.

I've already bought the leather for Ammon's. Once he becomes a Webelos we will work on his and then he will display his awards as well. Like everything else though, Ammon seems to get the short end of the stick when it comes to opportunities. He makes the best of it though. We are proud of all of our Children. They each are skilled in their own ways. They bring a lot of joy into our lives. We just can't wait to see how Gideon is when he is born.

Sam's 11

2010-10-19T14:27:00.008-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!

WE LOVE YOU!

Our crazy weekend ended with a great party for Sam. Sam turned 11 on Sat. Oct. 16. Cecilia went all out as usuall with Scooby Doo decorations, Pizza, and gift bags for all the children. Sam only wanted to play one game called Maffia. Thanks to everyone for playing. He is getting older and dosen't want to play the kiddy games any more.

Mostly the kids had fun just being together!

He loved all of his presents and has had a ton of fun playing with them and putting them together. Thank you everyone for coming and making this an enjoyable day for Sam.

A Weekend of Ups and Downs

2010-10-19T11:20:00.008-06:00

Well as you all know Friday didn't end too well for us as a family, well I should say that Friday didn't end too well for our van. Our family was miraculously safe.

We were having a great 4 day weekend. Thursday, Monica took the kids to Gardner Village and later that evening we went out for dinner as a family, something that doesn't happen all the time. Friday morning Sam, Ammon and Bella and I went shooting with my dad. It was an early birthday activity for SamWe all had an enjoyable time. Since Sam was feeling older and more confident he wanted to shoot the big guns. He really liked them and I was proud of his ability to keep them steady and accurate. Ammon and Bella participated more this time than they normally do, they only stopped when the magazine for the gun that they were enjoying shooting broke. They both did an excellent job. Like I always say, I really enjoy going shooting with my kids. Even when I am just sitting there watching them have fun I am having fun. Most of my time out there is helping them and watching them so that nobody gets hurt, so I don't get to do a lot of shooting, but I don't seem to mind it. I just love being out there enjoying the time with my kids.

After we were done we left to come home and my dad bought us lunch at Mcdonald's. The kids were so excited. They love that place for some reason. So things were going great so far. We were all excited to go out as a family later to watch a movie for Sam's birthday. We got home and rested for awhile. Sam and I started on his final project for Webelos, he is making a Family Night Assignment Board for his project. When it was time to go we all excitedly got in the van and went to the District to watch "Legend of the Guardians" . It was a surprisingly good movie. Monica and I were pleasantly surprised.
After the movie we jumped into the van and started on our way home. Monica and I started talking about how great the weekend had been so far, and how blessed we felt to have been able to do so much fun stuff as a family. We got to the Bangerter and 7000 South intersection as the light was turning red, so we were sitting there waiting. I was just thinking about what we were going to have for dinner and how much fun it was that day, and how grateful I was to have been able to take vacation time when the kids were out of school, when all of a sudden the van leaped from the stopped position and entered the intersection. I didn't realize what was happening, all I had heard prior to it moving was a dull thud sound. I was pressing the brake trying to get the van to stop when it finally came to a stop, I was dazed and I looked to my right to see Monica and the kids, when I noticed that there was no glass on that side of the vehicle and I realized what had happened and I jumped out of the van .

As I came around the side and saw the extent of the damage, and I didn't hear anything coming from inside, I thought my children were dead, and I snapped. I turned to the guy sitting in his truck and started yelling at him that those were my kids and my family and I went for my gun. Before I could pull it I heard a loud voice behind me say check the kids. I ran over to the side and to my relief and great joy they were all ok. I felt as it were a great burden having been lifted as I asked them how they were and if they were hurt. They all said that they were fine. Ammon was sitting in a cocoon of twisted metal. Everything collapsed around him, but stopped short of crushing him. Not one of them had a speck of glass on them, not even a scratch. I turned to the guy who hit us and apologized for yelling at him.
The miracle extended to us that night was probably the greatest evidence in my mind that God loves us. There is no natural explanation as to why nothing happened. Yesterday Monica and I went to get our personal belongings out of the van and I just reached my hand in the van and rubbed on some of the glass and got cut, yet not one little scratch on my children or Monica. The gratitude that I feel is immense. I thank our Father in Heaven for sending his Angels down when we needed them the most, and although He speaks to us in a still small voice, He knows when it is necessary to yell at us, for which I am eternally grateful. God lives, nobody can ever convince me otherwise. Although miracles take place daily in our lives, this one stands out in my mind as one of the greatest miracles performed by God, because He saved my family.

Save

A Night of Honors and Awards

2010-09-17T07:09:00.010-06:00

Wednesday night was the boy's Pack Meeting for Cub Scouts, and it was a good night for them and a proud night for Monica and I as parents.
Ammon and Samuel received a lot of awards and recognitions for a lot of hard work. Monica has been really helping them see the importance of scouting and working with each of them on a weekly basis, and it showed on Wednesday.

The grand event for the evening and why we invited the Grandparents to attend was that Sam was awarded his Arrow of Light, the highest award given to a Cub Scouter, and the only one that will continue with him on to Boy Scouts. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but Monica helped him get it. She has been a wonderful example as a Webelos Den Leader and has really helped all the boys in her den move toward the Arrow of Light. If not for her and her efforts none of the boys would be getting that honor as being an Arrow of Light holder.

Monica, as the Webelos Den Leader presented the boys receiving their Arrow of Light , and the ceremony began.

He received his award and was congratulated by the pack for his work and dedication.

He then crossed the bridge representing the emmergence from a Cub Scout to a Boy Scout, and was welcomed on the other side by the Boy Scouts that were present.

As a father I am proud of both of my boys. They have showed forth a great deal of dedication and respect for their mother as they have followed her instructions and advanced in scouting. They are good boys. As Monica was sewing the Arrow of Light badge on Sam's shirt last night I couldn't help but see in a few years an Eagle badge sitting directly above it.

The Forgotten Man - Jon McNaughton

2010-09-16T21:06:00.000-06:00

The Verdict is in.....

2010-08-23T17:30:00.007-06:00

We had the ultra sound today and of course we found out what we are having. We will be having another BOY!!!!!! Bella was so set that she wanted to have a baby sister, that we were a little worried about her reaction, but Monica said that she took it good, she just hung her head and sighed another boy. The boys are excited though to be having another brother. Joshua went with us and he said that it was going to be a boy.

We are very excited to be having another son. I am grateful that the baby is healthy and everything is going well with the pregnancy. He was very cooperative wanting to let us know even before the technician was ready to try and find out. He said, you've been wanting to know here you go.

Of course it is exciting to see the baby for the first time. It is always neat to see your child. To me he looks soooooooo cute! I love all my children, I love being a dad. We are excited for the due date, whenever that may be. They told us today that the size indicates a due date of 12/29/10 a whole week earlier than we thought. That is a little stressful, but God's will be done, I will accept it and press forward in faith.

We are excited, if I haven't already said that!

Day's of 47 Youth Parade

2010-07-17T13:34:00.011-06:00

This morning was the Day's of 47 Youth Parade downtown, and Sam and Ammon had the austere opportunity to participate in the Parade as part of our Stake's float. Ammon didn't want to do it, but Monica forced him to, since it is not something that you get to do all the time.

To tell you the truth, neither Monica or I knew that they did the Youth Parade the week before the Day's of 47 Parade. There wasn't a ton of people, but there were a lot and about 50 floats.

Joshua loved the bands! He would start dancing up a storm to the music and would not stop.

Then when the boys came by we started yelling their names and cheering for them. We were right by the TV cameras so they were on tv as they passed by. They had fun!

It was hot, but fun. It is better when you are anticipating something, especially when that something is your children.

A Night out at The Ball Park

2010-07-15T18:40:00.008-06:00

This is coming a little late, but better late than never, and I need something to do. On July 5th we went to the Bees game as a family. I was nice, I got the tickets for free from work since US Bank sponsors the Bees, my manager gets a lot of tickets every year. I mentioned that I like baseball and we've been wanting to go to a game and he came to my desk and gave me tickets. Anyway it was nice because since it was the day after Independence Day they did fireworks. The kids were very excited for the fireworks. The park was pretty packed for the fireworks.

We had fun watching the game, it was a good game for the first few innings and then turned bad for the home team.

The fireworks were spectacular!

We got home pretty late and everybody was hungry. We weren't about to pay $6 for a hotdog at the park. It is always nice when we can spend time together as a family doing something fun and out of the ordinary. I am thankful that my manager gave me the tickets.

Ammon's Birthday

2010-06-28T10:03:00.013-06:00

Ammon's birthday was Saturday the 26th. I can't believe he is already 9 yrs. old. We had a kind of mixed but fun birhtday party for him. He wanted a lego/scoobydoo birhtday party but ended up with spiderman decorations. I guess that's all Cecilia could find. She treated us all to hambergers at Gustovos, then we came to our house for ice cream and cake and games.

We played Mistery inc. Solve that puzzle game. Basically a twist on the treasure hunt. And Ammon made his own pin the head on the Lego game. He drew out the Lego body then drew a head for everyone who was coming. He did a really good job and all the kids had a great time.

Then of course we opened presents. He loves all of them!

It was a great day for Ammon. He had a great birhtday thanks to all who could come. And a special thanks to Cecilia for all the food and decorations. Ammon We love you and are so happy to have you in our family!

9 things about Ammon

1. He likes to draw, and is good at it. He wants to be an artist when he grows up.

2. He is considerate of others.

3. He is a good helper with his younger siblings.

4. He likes legos.

5. He has a strong testimony of the gosple, and likes to share it when he can.

6. He likes to play video games.

7. He is a good speaker.

8. He likes catchup especially with frech fries.

9. He has a great imagination.

So many blessings being poured into our lives...

2010-05-27T20:24:00.005-06:00

So, I will be starting a new job on the 7th of June working for U.S. Bank as a Personal Banker. I am excited about the prospect of being able to work again towards a career. I've been working for the Church at Temple Square as a Gardner. I know absolutely nothing about maintaining a nice yard, but my Bishop is the boss down there for that department so he said come and work for me until you find a job, and so I did. They have kicked my butt, and the work is very, very hard, but it is worth it. So many people approach us as we work and thank us for our work in making Temple Square so beautiful. I've been grateful for the opportunity to work with some good and very talented people who work hard so that everyone who visits Temple Square feels the Spirit in what they do.

I was happy when U.S. Bank contacted me and offered me the job, they were afraid that because I was over qualified for the position that I would up and leave them once I found something better. I assured them in the interview that if I was offered the job that I would not be looking for another one, but to move up in the company as soon as possible. I stopped looking as soon as they offered, I actually felt that I was going to get it so I stopped looking about 1 week before getting the job. So anyway I get the job with U.S. Bank and all of a sudden I get contacted by this company out of Portland, OR about a position that I inquired about 2 weeks prior. It was for a company developing a FEC. I spoke with the CEO, and he essentially fell in love with me over the phone. He assumed that I was LDS being from Utah and therefore assumed that I put God first in my life (he's a leader in the Methodist faith) as he does and liked that. He wrote me an email after our initial conversation telling me that my resume, website and associated links from my website along with my adherence to the LDS faith and leadership in the Republican party made me a strong candidate for the position that he had open and then welcomed me. I then started getting all of his business plans and financial projections in my email telling me to begin formulating a plan with his son and attorney to present to investors. I was never offered the job formally, but I think that I was hired. I am not entirely sure at this point. The position would be literally a dream come true, and a massive blessing from a loving and kind Heavenly Father. To be able to work with someone who has read my political writings, and liked them, and agrees with me politically and spiritually would be wonderful. Yet another blessing poured into our lives.

Then there is another company located in Canada that has contacted me and is interested in me as well. That would be a huge opportunity as well. If that works out I don't know what I will do with myself. Just more blessings! Both are stipulated on locating funding for the expansion of the business, but to have the positions would be great. I still have US Bank so no worries! And US Bank comes with benefits. What a blessing!

We are going to need the health benefits for the next blessing that God has decided to pour into our lives right now. Having health insurance is going to come in handy when Monica has the baby in January. That's right Monica is pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!! I am excited I don't know about her. Bella wants a sister, and Sam and Ammon want a brother and I want a son and Monica wants a daughter. Joshua doesn't want anything. She hasn't been to a doctor yet, but I did one of those online due date calculators and it put the due date at January 5, 2011. So it can be either in late December or sometime early January. The blessings just keep on coming!

I knew this year would bring changes, but I never dreamed of this.

Bella's Birthday

2010-04-19T09:33:00.010-06:00

Bella is now six years old! She is such a joy to our family. We are so blessed to have her. She is our only daughter, and I am so glad to say she is ALL GIRL. She had a Cinderella birthday party at Cecilia's, and as always grandma Ramirez went all out like she does for all my kids's birthdays.

We played pricess dress up relays, and find the lost slipper, and Cinderella bingo.

It was a beautiful spring day for my Bella Victoria. She had such a wonderful time. Thank you to all of those who were able to make it, and we missed those of you who weren't.

April Fools

2010-04-19T09:22:00.004-06:00

O.k. You have to look sideways for these pictures. I don't know how to turn them around. Anyway this was April fools day. We got so much snow that actually stuck, so Joshy and I had fun making one last snowman for the season. It was prefect snowman snow!

Caucus Night

2010-03-24T18:10:00.004-06:00

Last night was Caucus night for Utah's political parties. I had time this year so I took the opportunity to participate in my Caucus meeting. I had been debating back and forth for several days whether or not I would seek election as a delegate for my precinct, and thought that I had made a decision by the time that I arrived just to support those who were nominated since I didn't have anyone present to nominate me. Once the meeting started they asked who would like to run for election as the delegates. They needed one for the County and one for the State. I decided to go ahead and put forth my name for consideration. There were four of us. Each of us took our turn explaining why we should be elected to represent the precinct. I hadn't prepared any remarks since I had decided not to. As I began to speak I felt the words flow from my mouth with confidence and passion. When I finished everyone was silent and the next two fumbled through their explanations. Then we voted and I won with a unanimous decision. I was told that they felt that with my knowledge of the Constitution they felt that they would be better served with me as the delegate for the State. After the meeting I was held up for about 2 hours talking about politics, The Constitution, U.S. History and other topics. They wanted to talk to me to pick my brain. It felt good to know that I would be participating in the political process in a more intimate manner. I will serve out my two years as the State Delegate for my Precinct and then I will consider running for public office. The people who were picking my brain have the responsibility to identify individuals who they want to run for public office. Who knows what will happen within the next two years. I might decide that I will just stick to political commentary, or I might decide to make a difference and do something great.

Happy Birthday Joshua

2010-03-11T09:41:00.005-07:00

Tuesday was Joshua's 3rd birthday. He was so excited, he knew that the day that he woke up and saw the kitchen decorated that was going to be the day of his birthday. He woke up Tuesday morning he woke up and I carried him downstairs singing happy birthday to him and when he saw the kitchen his jaw dropped and he was in shock. We used the Superman stuff from Sam's party a couple of years ago (since he is obsessed with Superman). He ate his requested breakfast of pancakes, and was just happy being the center of attention.

Joshua has brought a lot of happiness into our family. His brothers and sister love him as do Monica and I.

He has a smile that lights up a room. I can't believe that my baby is 3 years old.

He is excited for Saturday. That is when we will be having his birthday party and his Grandma and Grandpa are doing something different and special for him. All the kids are excited for his party. I think that his excitement is just because his brothers and sister are excited. I am sure that he doesn't know what is going to happen.

In My Defence

2010-03-04T18:10:00.004-07:00

I am compelled to write this blog and post it on my family blog in defence of myself and my views. It has come to my attention that while trying to explain my reasoning behind not wanting to work for the U.S. Census taking place this year, Monica portrayed me as an ignorant, narrow-minded individual who makes decisions based upon hearsay and falsehoods.

So, in my defence I need to set the record straight. My refusal to work for the U.S. Census is based off of my personal beliefs. It is not based off of anything that I've heard on the radio or read on some blog online. It is deeply entrenched in the Constitution.

The Constitution of the United States, indicates in Article 1, Section 2, "An enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct." The only Constitutional mandate made by the Constitution is that the people are to be counted to determine the head count of the population in order to properly seat the right amount of Representatives in Congress. The current Census is directed under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. It is my personal belief that the Constitution only authorizes a head count, and that the long form should not be required by law, on the basis of the Constitutionality. I could care less about who is President of the United States, or which political party one is affiliated with.

I am not one to make decisions without fully understanding the reasoning behind my decision being made. Hopefully this clears things up a bit. I always tell Monica not to try and defend my positions, but she is always tries. I love her, and I know she does it because she loves me. She is great.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2010-02-23T15:12:00.009-07:00

Typically I would not be writing my own birthday blog, but I just got back from an awesome outing with my kids and Dad. Monica said that since it was my birthday I should go shooting. She tried to get a baby sitter, but was unable to, so she suggested that I ask my Dad and take the boys.

Sam, Ammon and Bella were all excited to go shooting with me. I guess that it didn't hurt that it meant not having to go to school. It was a beautiful day, I was afraid that it would be cold so I had everybody dress really warm, but it turned out to be a great day for some target shooting.

Samuel did as he always does. He is an amazing shot. He takes his time and places his shots on target.

Bella was a little hesitant at first. This was her second time going out and she still gets a little scared holding the gun, but once she got going she liked it.

Ammon, did good, he really likes the .22 handgun and shot that the most.

I had fun shooting and watching my kids enjoy something that I love to do. That was the best gift of the day, being able to spend time with Sam, Ammon, Bella and my Dad. Joshua really wanted to go, but he is too young right now to fully understand. He gets to participate in the safety lessons that we do for Family Night, but maybe next time he can go and shoot the BB gun.

Well I have to get older, I might as well get older doing something that I love, with those that I love, in my truck!!!!!!!!

Mom's right to brag

2010-02-17T14:13:00.002-07:00

So I am sitting here thinking about how wonderful my children are, and just have to brag for a minute. Yesterday, Ammon and Bella had a recital for discovery. Ammon performed a song and then a dance he learned. It was fun to watch. We'll just say he is a good leader. Bella, did a song with actions. She was saying how scared she was before, but got up there and did an amazing job. She remembered all the actions and really got into it. I thought she was the best up there.

Sam got student of the month in Jan. Sam's teacher just can't get over how good Sam is doing behavior wise, and he has always been good at reading and math. Ammon and Bella got student of the month back in Oct. So now all my children have gotten student of the month awards at Entheos.

Sam and Ammon gave talks in sacrament meeting back in Jan. and every week I go to church I still get different people telling me what an amazing job they did. They really did. Ammon only looked at his papers once. He gave it all in his own words, and he even got the congregation laughing. Sam bore a strong testimony and with both talks I felt the spirit. The amazing thing is that Al just handed them the materials and they prepared them all on there own.

Tomorrow Ammon gets to be an "Entheos Ambassador". He is going to the State Capitol to represent Entheos. They are setting up a booth and talking to the state legislators and local representatives about Entheos. He was one of twelve of the whole student body grades k-9 chosen to go. The school has been helping him prepare to answer questions and such. Ammon is excited for this opportunity.

Joshua is just getting bigger and bigger. He is talking more, and lately he has been doing better about cleaning up his toys. He likes to try to make you feel better. If you don't feel good he'll kiss you, and ask, "Is that better?" He also likes to help with what ever your doing. He's a good kid.

I love all my children. I am truly blessed!

I'ts Coming!

2010-02-02T11:13:00.002-07:00

Typically at this time of the year I start feeling anxious. Ever since I was a kid, the start of February always meant one thing. Well, OK, two things. First, my birthday, but most importantly...three days after my birthday, baseball always started! That's right, baseball season is just around the corner. Spring training will be kicking in soon, and all those young prospects with big dreams of playing in the big leagues will be showing up for their chance at the big time.

I can't wait to see what this year brings to the game that I love so much. Who will win the World Series? Who will come out of the gate on fire and hold it steady for the entire season, and who will stumble and fall before they even get started? And most importantly when will my Oakland A's finally get it together and put together a team that will be able to compete with the big boys? We lost a pretty promising pitcher to the priesthood last month, who will step up and take his place? Will my A's be considered contenders for the Division Title, League Pennant, or dare I say it a World Championship? Oh so many unanswered questions, and so many possibilities I am shaking with excitement. OK, so I'm not actually shaking, but I am excited.

New Calling

2010-01-10T14:47:00.002-07:00

For the past 31/2 years I have been the Young Women's 1st counselor, and loved it. Most the time anyway. It was a bit time consuming, but fun. I was released about 2 weeks ago. I was sad, but excited to do something different. Today I was called as the weeblos leader. I just knew I would be in scouts aventually since I have boys. To tell the truth, I'm a little nervous being over all these little 10 yr olds. I' m excited to work with Sam, but I have no clue when it comes to cub scouts. I guess I'll learn.

A New Year With New Opportunities

2010-01-04T09:53:00.005-07:00

Well here we are in a new year with many new opportunities presenting themselves to us as a family. All of which are very exciting in varying degrees.

I know that I will be getting a new job this year that I can feel good about. That is exciting in itself because I don't feel that I could say that I am honest in all my dealings with my fellow man while doing title loans. It makes me feel guilty to be doing that which I deep down feel is wrong, just to get a paycheck.

We will be buying a new house this year, which we've been anxiously waiting for, for the past 7.5 years. We've been told by one agent that the bank told them that they will most likely accept our offer, but it won't be until February 10. I've placed some pictures of the house here because unless something else comes along or we decide not to purchase it this will probably be the house that we get.

Along with everything else, life's possibilities are limitless. I've enjoyed learning everything that I have over the past 7 years, and I look forward to learning a lot more. My faith in my Lord Jesus Christ is unmovable. I have a firm determination to serve Him who is my God. I am the only one who can put limits on my possibilities through my lack of faith and disobedience which follows.

I love Monica and my children. Everything that I do is for them. I know that I make and have made and will continue to make mistakes, but Monica has never faltered in her love and support of me. That is all I need to succeed in life, is to know that my best friend supports me.

Happy New Year!

Ward Christmas Party

2009-12-10T13:05:00.005-07:00

Last night was our ward Christmas party. It's always fun to gather with friends and have a yummy dinner and program staring our children. Ammon and Bella were our only stars last night. Sam I guess is feeling too old for this sort of thing. However, He was all excited to sit on Santa's lap to say what he want's for christmas. Joshua on the other hand would have nothing to do with the big fat man in the red suit that came in saying, "HO, HO, HO!

The Holidays are here at last!

2009-11-29T11:40:00.002-07:00

For those of you who didn't know, I love this time of the year! I always consider Thanksgiving and Christmas and the time that intervenes in between as one long holiday, and I love it. I love the feel of the season, and I don't mean the weather. Having just celebrated Thanksgiving my mind is centered on the family aspect of the holidays. My whole family was able to get together this year for Thanksgiving and it was great. David came up from Texas with his family and when we went by to see them the day that they arrived our kids just couldn't get enough of each other. Bella and her cousin Angelina were inseparable the entire weekend while they were together except for one brief moment when Bella wanted to play chase and Angelina didn't, and Angelina started crying because Bella wouldn't play with her, but other than that they were together at all times. I got to see my niece Taya for the first time and I hadn't seen Haley since she was essentially a newborn. It was sad to see them leave. I know Monica feels the same way about being able to see Merilee and Michael and their families too.

Family is great.

As we get prepared for Christmas I can't help but continue to give thanks to a loving Heavenly Father who has in a very real sense opened up the windows of Heaven and poured out His blessings upon us not only during this time but throughout the entire year. Monica and I had set the goal at the end of last year like we do every year to be in a new home before the end of the year, and about mid-way through I think we had pretty much given up on that idea and were planning on being here for the next 2-3 years, and then the unthinkable happened, we decided to buy a home. What a blessing to be in this situation in life. We will be in our own home early next year and who knows what else lies before us.

I have so much to be grateful for. Words cannot describe my joy and happiness as I watch my children grow not only in stature, but in the knowledge of the Lord. As they experience His matchless power and His love for them, it causes my heart to swell with great joy.

I would be an ungrateful servant if I didn't give thanks for my job, which God provided for me. I might not like what I do, but that doesn't diminish the fact that I view the job as a blessing from on high. And being the eternal optimist and dreamer that I am I look forward to the opportunities which will be presenting themselves in my near future. These opportunities have the potential to bless my family even more.

I recognize God's hand in all things and I don't fear that which I can't see. I am grateful for His love, and the testimony which I have of that matchless love which He so freely extends to me His unworthy servant. I know my weaknesses and my shortcomings before God, and I don't pretend to be anything more than unworthy before God. I fully understand that the blessings of God have permeated my life for the blessing of my wife and children despite me being the great impediment to them. Yet despite this, God still loves me and continues to extend His hand towards me with the petition to take hold and come unto Him. Someday, I hope soon, I will have the strength to take hold of His hand and come unto Him with full purpose of heart, until then I pray that His patience will not run thin with me.

I come back to my original theme. I love the holidays. I am grateful for this time of the year, and I am grateful for friends and family with whom to celebrate. May the blessings of God forever penetrate the hearts of those who truly seek after Him and may His love shine forth in the countenances of all those who confess His holy name this holiday season.

Strike One!

2009-11-11T19:48:00.002-07:00

Well we finally heard back from the realtor and the bank accepted the other offer over ours. We were told that it wasn't a significant amount more, but more nonetheless.

I had the day off today so we decided to spend the day in Eagle Mountain with our agent looking at homes. We found two that we are putting offers on. They are short sales so it can take awhile to hear back from them as to whether or not they accept. We are also looking at building a home that I designed back in February and recently did some modifications on. I have a builder/designer looking at my design now to give us an estimate. So we push forward trying to decide what direction we are going in, but one thing we do know is that eventually once we make a decision we will be moving soon.

It's Official

2009-11-05T15:53:00.003-07:00

Since Monica and I made it official on Tuesday we can actually say we are in the process now of possibly buying a new house for our family. We won't know for sure until we hear back from the owners of the house as to whether or not they accept the offer, but we have our fingers crossed. We were a little nervous about being able to close on time for the tax credit, but that was taken care of today with the extension of the deadline. If this falls through we are thinking of just building unless something else comes on the market that we like.

We are very excited and I think the kids are getting there too. Sammy seems to be doing a little better with the prospect of moving. Bella and Ammon just want to move, and Josh just doesn't know what is going on, although I think he actually liked looking at houses.

Party Time!

2009-10-18T13:13:00.007-06:00

Saturday we had the party for Sam at my parents house, and like always my mom went all out.

All the kids seem to enjoy themselves,

Monica organized the games like always and kept the kids busy.

All in all we had an enjoyable time like always. It is always nice to get together with family and have a party.

2009-10-18T12:47:00.012-06:00

This week Samuel turned 10 years old. I can't believe that he has been with us for 10 whole years. He's grown up to be quite an impressive young man.

He is a good big brother. He's usually willing to help when asked, and will even take the iniative to do things when he sees a need.

He's always had an infectious smile that lightens up his entire countenance. As a father I am very proud of him.

Monica and I love Samuel very much, we are so grateful that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with the great opportunity to raise him and teach him of His word and laws. Happy Birthday Sam!

School Break

2009-10-04T19:36:00.010-06:00

The kids had this past Thurs. and Fri. off of school. We tryed to go to the zoo, but it was packed, I couldn't find a parking spot any where. So we went up Cottonwood Canyon instead. There was no crowds there. It was nice and peacful. The kids loved climbing the rocks at a picnic place we stopped at.

Ammon loved jumping off the rocks

Sam is quite the climber and got pretty high

Bella got into the climbing too.

Joshua loved throwing rocks in the water

We spotted a moose and the most exciting was a rabbit. It let us get pretty close before it hopped away.

It was a fun outing and beautiful with all the fall colors coming out.

A "Fair" Day

2009-09-13T11:10:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we had the opportunity to go as a family and spend the entire day at the Utah State Fair. The kids were so excited for it all week. They wanted to be there right when it opened.
We bought our tickets last month so that we could get them at a discount especially the all day ride passes for the kids. They started riding on the rides as soon as they opened and rode all day until we left at 9:00 pm. It was fun watching them run from ride to ride and just enjoy themselves. Since we were there all day we had plenty of time to see everything.
The only problem is the food. It has been awhile since we've gone to the fair and purchased food there. It was expensive, luckily we had put aside enough money. If we go again next year we won't be eating at the fair, we will take our food.
I am grateful that we were blessed to be able to go this year. Monica has been wanting to do something fun as a family and we were blessed to be able to receive some bonus checks through my work that we were able to divert some of them to being able to have fun. I do believe everybody had a good time. Joshua was asleep before we even left the parking lot and as soon as we got home and had scripture and prayer the others were asleep before Monica and I went to bed. They were exhausted.

Happy Birthday Beautiful

2009-09-04T16:27:00.002-06:00

I just want to wish Monica a happy birthday and let everyone know how much I love my wife. I am grateful for her. She is an amazing mom and wife, and she is my best friend. She puts up with a lot being married to me, but never really complains.
For her birthday we are going out to dinner as a family and then tomorrow we will go see the Scarlet Pimpernel at The Hale Centre Theatre. I think she's excited, if not she sure hides her disappointment well. Monica, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Scouts

2009-09-01T12:56:00.004-06:00

Sam and Ammon have been working this summer on their cub scouts. I am proud of both of them. Sam earned his religous knot, 1 gold arrow, and 3 silver arrows. Ammon earned his Bobcat, and 5 belt loops. Way to go boys!

Back to School

2009-08-25T20:46:00.002-06:00

Sam and Ammon started back to school on the 19th, and Bella's first day of kindergarten was yesterday. This is a picture of them just before school (Bella has afternoon kindergarten so her hair wasn't done yet). She was so excited to go all day she kept asking, "Is it time yet?" I would say no, and she would say, "I just want to go to school". She did so well too. She just walked right in and didn't even look back at me. She could care less if I stayed or left. Joshua on the other hand cryed when we left without Bella. We had some nice one on one time at home though. When I went to pick the kids up from school, the first thing Bella told me was, "Mom, guess what?! I got homework!" all excited like. I heard Ammon telling her in the back seat of the car that he used to like homework, but now he doesn't anymore. Bella loved her first day. Today was good too because she got a Popsicle as a snack. Sam and Ammon are enjoying being back in school as well.

Coming full Circle

2009-08-23T18:53:00.003-06:00

Things have come full circle for me today. I have been wearing this bracelet since March. It was given to everyone involved with the youth temple celebration. We got it at a youth fireside introducing the plans for the youth celebration. We were told to wear it everyday as a reminder to ourselves to go to the temple, or keep ourselves worthy to go. It is also a tool to let others know about the temple. It says, "Come Up To The Mountain".

So I have been faithfully wearing it, never taking it off, not even for showers for 5 months now. I was going to take it off after the youth celebration in May, but decided to keep it on till the dedication of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. I have been wearing it with pride, as I went to the temple, volunteered at the temple open house, and now today as I went to the temple dedication. It is actually hard to take it off. Kind of like taking off the missionary tag. It has been a constant reminder of the peace, love, and joy I have felt has I have had the opportunity to serve, and be a part of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Now I can't wait to go and serve in this beautiful temple.

Here I am at work

2009-08-17T14:30:00.003-06:00

Well here I am at work and I was looking at our family's blog and saw that there were some comments left on post I did about my job. So I decided to give an update.
I probably have the easiest job on the face of the planet. I sit here do a little work throughout the day, but mostly I sit and stare out the window from my desk. I have done what I can to make my office a reflection of me. When I got here it looked too feminine since the old manager was female. So I took all the frilly stuff down and put up my baseball stuff.
I guess I should go back a little and say starting this week I have the easiest job in the world. For the last few weeks I've been dealing with a situation which tried my patience and my willingness to stay at it. The old manager decided that taking the coffee maker when she left wasn't enough so she accessed the account with some checks that she took with her and drained the bank account of $20,000 by the time she was caught. Well every loan that I wrote and every check that I made out bounced because the bank closed the account as soon as the fraud was discovered. I had to deal with all the angry and confused people. It was good in that I showed the company what I am capable of, and I continued to write loans and get them funded during the whole ordeal even though it consisted of a lot more hoops to jump through for the client. I had several of the VP's of the company here working with me and the Chief Marketing officer here a couple of days and they were all very impressed with my abilities. I did tell them that if they were trying to get rid of me they were doing all the right things to do it. It is all taken care of now, I had to yell at the Senior Executive VP and the CFO of the company to resolve it, but now I am able to work smoothly without problems. At least for now. All in all there are not too many jobs where you can sit and do nothing for about 75% of the day (most days not all) and get paid for it.

"This Is America" song video

2009-08-16T10:05:00.001-06:00

I was touched by this song and what it says about our Nation.

2009-07-19T18:31:00.002-06:00

Well on Friday I finished my last day working for American Title Loans, and Monday the 20th of July I will be starting my tenure as the Branch Manager for Lighthouse Financial. I am pretty excited about the prospect of helping the business grow and being paid to do so.

The owner of American Title Loans came by the other day to talk to me before I left and wanted me to know that he appreciated all that I did for him during the 1 1/2 months that I was there for him. He mentioned that everybody attributed the growth of his business to my efforts. He asked that I keep him in mind for the future. He is wanting to open another store next year and wants to offer me the position of Regional Manager. I told him that it would all depend on the offer, but that I would be willing to keep him in mind for the future. When I left on Friday he told me that I am always welcome to come back at any time. It is always nice to know that if something goes wrong I will at least have a job to fall back to.

I am grateful to a loving and kind Heavenly Father for giving me the opportunity to provide for my family. We still need to make up for some additional income that we need, but at least now we are in a better position to be able to fully take care of our financial needs. I've seen the hand of God in this and I am humbled by His goodness.

Being Mr. Mom!

2009-07-03T14:18:00.002-06:00

This past week Monica had her Young Women's Camp and so I had the responsibility placed upon me to manage the household and do my work. I am grateful for all the help that I've received during the week from everyone. It is not easy trying to juggle everything, but with help I was able to get through the week unscathed.

It helps to have great children too who are willing to help and who are very well behaved. All in all I am grateful to have Monica back home, we all missed her.

So I thank all of you who helped me out this week.

Ammon's Baptism

2009-06-28T10:03:00.004-06:00

On June 27, 2009, Ammon followed the example set by Jesus Christ as was baptized by immersion expressing his desire to follow Jesus Christ and be a member of His true Church. I am grateful to my Father in Heaven for giving me the opportunity and authority to officiate in this sacred ordinance for my son. I am very proud of Ammon for having chosen to be baptized. I am very impressed by his spirit and his understanding of things. He is an amazing young man.

The presence of the Spirit was felt very strongly by Monica and myself. I was moved to tears as the opening song was being sung as I began to think of the pride I had in my little son sitting there next to Monica dressed in white. He is growing up so fast. As I placed my hands upon his head to confirm him a member of the church and to convey the gift of the Holy Ghost I felt overwhelmed by the Spirit. I could feel the tremendous love of the Saviour for him.

It was nice to see the support from family there, and to spend time with family afterwards as we met at my parents home for our celebration party.

Happy Birthday Ammon!

2009-06-26T07:38:00.014-06:00

Eight years ago today Monica and I were blessed to bring into this world a new little baby boy and today that boy is turning 8 years old. I can't believe how fast time flies. From that little baby that I held in my arms to today he has turned out to be an exceptional young man.

As he has grown his personality grows with him. He has been a pleasure to have in our family. As a father I am very proud of him

I am proud of his decision to be baptized on Saturday. I don't force my children into baptism. I believe it has to be their choice. As Joseph Smith said, you teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves. I've taught him that baptism is essential for salvation and he is taking the path which leads to happiness, and once again I couldn't be more proud of his decision.

We look forward to many more years with Ammon. He is a joy in our family and is a light in this world! I love you Ammon, Happy BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Mormon Message for Fathers

2009-06-19T08:57:00.002-06:00

Here is the latest Mormon Message released by the Church. I really enjoyed it so I decided to share it.

The Final Days of School for the Boys

2009-06-10T13:35:00.005-06:00

Well as the school year has come to an end for the boys they both got to participate in some special programs.

Last Wednesday Ammon's class performed an Opera that they wrote, choreographed, and created the melody for and everything! I was not able to go and see it performed at the Midvale Main Street Theater, but I was privileged to see it this morning as they performed it for the rest of the student body at their school. I was very proud of Ammon and his role in the creation of the Opera with his class. His role was that of a horse and the night of the performance Monica had him done up pretty good as seen in the following picture.

Last Friday Samuel graduated from the 3rd grade so his school held a special ceremony to commemorate the event of them leaving the primary grades to the upper grades. The program consisted of several songs and the presentation of certificates of graduation and a breakfast afterwards. I am very proud of Samuel and his progress this year. He has done exceptionally well.

All in all I am very proud of my two boys. They both got amazing grades and have grown a lot this past school year. It is crazy that the school year is already over, and that come next school year my Bella will be joining them in school. I love being a father, it is easy to enjoy fatherhood when you have children like those that I have.

The Zoo

2009-05-31T18:18:00.004-06:00

Yesterday we went to the zoo as a family. My parents purchased a year pass for our family so that we can go whenever we want. The kids have been wanting to go really bad, at least Sam and Ammon. We took the opportunity to go with Joshua and Bella a couple of weeks ago for their very first time ever. It was cool seeing Joshua and Bella light up with every animal.

Yesterday we went and let the kids play in the playground for awhile and then went and looked at the animals. Joshua was just as amazed this time as last and the others were just excited to be doing something fun.

We took a picnic lunch and had a picnic there at the zoo. As a part of the membership they gave us a bunch of tickets to ride the carrousel and the train so we took advantage of that as well. I am sure that we will get a lot of use out of the pass during the summer with the kids out of school.

Temple Celebration

2009-05-31T16:48:00.002-06:00

So last night was the Oquhhir Mountain Temple Celebration. About 6000 youth from the Oquhhir Mountain Temple district got together and performed at the Conference Center in celebration of our temple. The Youth have been practicing for about 3 mo. now, and it was AMAZING! The Choir and the dancers did such a good job. I was so proud of my little group of 6 girls that I was put as a captain over. They were at every practice and rehearsal, and worked so hard. They were so excited for the opportunity to perform at the conference center, and for the prophet. After words they said it was a great experience and it made them want to go to the temple. They were blanket girls in the Dug Out dance. I didn't get to see them because I was helping back stage, but it was fun to be with them when they came off stage, and run with them through out the conference center to get back in our seats. It was also fun knowing that Marnie was also a part of this experience. She choreographed the roller skating dance in the 50's number. Her girls were so cute and did such a good job. They even got an extra applause from the audience because they looked so cool.

I am glad that I got to be a part of this experience with the youth. This is the first time since 1892 that they have done anything like this in the Salt Lake Valley. And the first time that they have done anything this huge at the conference center. It was a lot of time and sacrifice, and I think Al is glad it's over, but it was worth it. I'm sure the youth will be talking about it for years to come. They can tell their children and grandchildren about the time they got to perform at the conference center for thousands upon thousands of people including the prophet and some of the apostles. The Center was full! The spirit was there and it was cool to see it all come together. I will always remember it. I just can't wait for the DVD to come so I can finally see how my girls did. I love the Temple! I'm grateful we could celebrate our temple in such an awesome way.

WHAT A WOMAN!!!!!!!

2009-05-23T15:44:00.009-06:00

Today Monica and I went on our date to celebrate our 11 years together as husband and wife. It was so much fun! Monica had a blast shooting all the different guns at her disposal. She did amazingly good as well. I couldn't believe it she was hitting the cans with with V53, SKS, and 9mm tactical rifle with her first shot. On her paper target she hit two dead center with the V53 and had all her shots in the chest area.
She was so excited with all her successful hits. She especially loved

shooting the 9mm shown in this picture and the V53 which is shown in the picture above.

Her stance might be a little unorthodoxed but it works for her. We had a wonderful time just out there by ourselves with nobody around. The weather was perfect for an outing like this. Afterward we ate lunch and had dessert. All in all we had a great time together. I sure do love her!

11 Years and Going Stronger!

2009-05-17T19:24:00.002-06:00

Well this Thursday Monica and I are celebrating 11 years of mariage. It is hard to believe that it has actually been that long, and that we have 4 children to celebrate this milestone with us.

This week is actually going to be crazy! Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I have to help people move. Thursday Monica has to spend the entire evening downtown with the youth preparing for the Temple Celebration. So actually we will be celebrating our anniversary apart for the majority of the day because Monica has Bella's end of year party for her pre-school. I reminded Monica of Elder Holland's comments that this is the only church which seals us for eternity but separate's us for life.

We are going to try and go out on Saturday, it was going to be Friday but that is not going to work out. So Saturday we will have our date. And can you believe it, Monica suggested that we go shooting! What a woman! No wonder I love her so much, how many men can say that on their anniversary their wife suggested that they go shooting as their date? I would have to venture to say the percentage is miniscule to say the least.

I can definately say that I love Monica more today than I did when we got married and I loved her then. As the years have gone on my love for her has grown to consume me in its entirety. She is definately something special and I love and honor her as a woman and as my eternal companion.

So when you read this Monica, I want you to know that I love you very much. I look forward to the next zillion years together.

Finally Published

2009-04-23T09:05:00.003-06:00

Not too many people know that last year I wrote an ebook at the insistence of an individual that I met with who is a business guru. My meeting with her was set up by a good friend of mine. My meeting with her started out a little weird. My friend had told her about my Park project and she wanted to meet with me to what he thought talk to me about finding funding so I okayed the meeting.

She started by asking me a few questions and then really laid in on me because of my answers. She said that I was arrogant and egotistical and I stopped her and put her straight. The meeting lasted about 2 hours and by the end she was singing my praises as one of the most knowledgeable individuals in my industry. She went on to say that just by listening to me and my answers to her questions and my solutions to scenarios that she brought up anybody meeting with me would automatically assume that I earn at a minimum $250,000 per year, but that she was going to bet that I didn't make close to that. She told me that I had become the Walmart of Business Planning and Consulting and in most cases a pro-bono consultant. She told me that I was doing a disservice to my family that I cared more about others than my own wife and children. It hit me pretty hard the realization that although I was helping a lot of people I wasn't getting paid for my work and when I would it was way below market and way below what she perceived my worth to be. She asked my about how much I charged for a business plan and I told her my price and she was blown away by the low cost and said then you must not be any good (trying to drive the point home to me). I told her that most of my clients when they presented their business plans to investors were told that the plan was the most detailed and informationally solid plans that they have ever read. She told me that I needed to start seeing my worth and charging appropriately. She said because of the low cost my clients weren't valuing the information as they should and I was doing them no good by not charging them or charging them too little.

She told me because of my views on finances that I needed to write an ebook and perform seminars. At the end of the meeting I went from being arrogant and egotistical to being an intelligent, confident person who should be hailed as a master in my field. Like I said the meeting was weird.

After the meeting I went home and thought a lot about what she said and I decided to write the book. I did so and left it at that. Recently I decided to have the book published and found a publisher. It is now ready for sale and Amazon is going to be selling it on their site. I was contacted by the Executive Director of the Small Business Development Center who requested to meet with me on how we can collaborate our efforts on helping the small businesses in the Salt Lake Valley and how he might be able to promote the book to his clients and possibly set up workshops and seminars to be given through them. I am pretty excited about the prospect, we shall see how it goes.

I need to get it translated into Spanish because I already have some people in Mexico who are interested in reading it and promoting the book there in Mexico. I am pretty excited about that. Who knows, if I can't get a job maybe I can do something with this and make a difference in the lives of many while supporting my family finally with my knowledge that I've garnered over the years.

My parents are pretty excited that I am a "published" author. It is kind of surreal to look at the book and see my name on the cover. I just hope it does the job at helping someone find the peace that it is meant to help find.

I am grateful to my Father in Heaven because I know that He is the fountain of all that I know. It is only because of His eternal love that I can do what I do. He blesses me with the ability to learn and decipher information. All glory and honor be His continually because I of myself am nothing, but He is great and eternal, and I love Him with all my heart.

It's Party TIME!!!!

2009-04-20T15:52:00.012-06:00

Well we had Bella's party on Saturday and it was a lot of fun. Then again any opportunity that we have to spend with family and loved ones is fun.

Of course we had plenty of good food and Monica made Bella her requested Care Bear Cake.

We played games....

Of course there were lots of presents fit for a queen...:)

All in all we had a great deal of fun and Bella had a great time. We are very appreciative to my parents for opening their home to our parties and doing so much for our guests. Thank you all for coming!

Bella is 5

2009-04-14T12:10:00.012-06:00

Yesterday Bella turned 5yrs old. Wow she is growing up! Here are a few pictures of her.

Bella loves to play house with anyone who will play with her, watch Qubo, go to preschool, and play with her brothers. Her favorite food is Macaroni and cheese. Care Bares is her favorite show, and her favorite colors are pink and purple. She wants to be a girl police when she grows up. She loves everybody even though she is shy. She wishes she had a little sister, so she could play with her. She can't wait to live in a house and go on a vacation to Disney Land.

We Love you Bella! Happy 5th Birthday!

Sam in Action

2009-04-10T14:20:00.003-06:00

OK, I know, it is no surprise that I love guns. I believe it is a widely known fact. I believe that Sam shares my love and he is becoming an amazing shot. His target today was set at about 30-35 feet from him and he hit dead center bulls eye 3 times. He was trying really hard and he did it more than anybody out there today. I am so proud of him. I tested some new loads that I made which were a little tricky because they were a 125 gr 9mm SP and I loaded them into a 380 casing. I was a little nervous firing them because I had to pretty much guess on the charge for them and I did pretty good. They were a very beefy load to fire out of a 380, they did great. I needed to try them because I have an order for 500 to fill and I wanted to make sure that they were safe before I made them for the customer.

Sam is getting better and better every time we go out. It is always fun going shooting with my little buddy! He is the one person that I always want with me when I go shooting. He's great. Don't get me wrong I love spending time with Ammon and Bella and Joshua but when I go shooting I love being with Sam, because like I said it is a love we both share.

2009-03-21T16:01:00.003-06:00

I am coaching the Diamondbacks again this year. I am a little hesitant about it because of the time commitment, but Sam and Ammon are playing on my team this year. My entire team is pretty raw, I have 3 returning players, but you can tell the off season has not been good to them. We had an exhibition game yesterday against the Mets and were spanked hard by them 11 to 4. Our pitching was horrendous and our infield allowed way too many runs. We had a player steal 3rd base right in front of our shortstop who happened to be holding the ball as she ran past him. Our 3rd baseman threw the ball to home plate for a hail mary play while a runner was bearing down on him from 2nd. Our catcher was watching the visiting team bench while the pitcher was pitching to him. I was jumping up and down like a madman yelling at everybody trying to call plays and position players. It is going to be a long season. I guess I shouldn't complain too much they've only had 2 practises so far and we were wanting to see how they fared in a game scenario. Sam didn't catch the ball but he made two plays. Both him and Ammon struck out at the plate. I need to work with them more.
I tried getting out of the commitment, but was unable. I have so much on my plate right now it is a little nerve racking for me. Maybe it will help me relax a little, who knows. At least I will be able to spend a lot of time with the boys helping them hone their skills.

Product Testing!

2009-03-18T18:22:00.003-06:00

Most people don't know that I recently started loading my own ammunition. I decided to take another thing that I love and make a business out of it especially since ammunition is very difficult to find these days. I listed it on KSL.com and within 1 hour I had a hit for someone wanting to buy everything that I had. I got another guy who contacted me and told me when I had another 1,000 rounds that he was willing to buy them. I've been asked about making other calibers than those that I listed. I went out today and tested my first rounds and they are some of the best rounds I've ever fired! I couldn't believe the smoothness of the firing of the rounds and their accuracy was amazing. I was shooting the .380 with the rounds that I loaded, which were 100 gr rated at 825 fps with the charge loads I was putting in them and at roughly 75 feet I was placing them in a grouping of about 2 inches on a target that was moving with every shot that hit. The recoil was minimized the accuracy was spot on. I will never go back to store bought rounds again. I had a blast, and I was very pleased with the product that I created. I can't wait to go back out on the 28th! Those of you who are going out with me, be prepared to have a blast (literally).

America!

2009-03-18T14:14:00.002-06:00

This video says everything! I know it doesn't have anything to do with my family, but I wanted to put it here any way.

Joshua turns 2

2009-03-09T15:07:00.012-06:00

Joshua was born March 9th 2007
8lbs 3oz. What a cutie!

Joshua at 4mo.

Joshua has such a bright smile. His whole face lights up. We are so happy to have Joshua as part of our family.
Joshua loves to be around his older brothers and sister. He especially likes it when Bella will play with him. As long as he is involved with what they are doing he is happy. Joshy loves PB and Jelly sandwiches, grapes, and just about anything sweet. His favorite toys is his stuffed bears. He likes to say no, but he does it with such a cute smile. He likes to play ball and wrestle with dad.

Happy Birthday Joshua! We love you!
p.s. Sorry I didn't have pictures of his party because we forgot the memory card to our camera.

Turning the hearts of the children to the fathers

2009-02-19T18:45:00.005-07:00

Many know that I love genealogy work. I started a few years ago and have literally found hundreds of names going back several generations to the early 1700's. I've enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and the tremendous spiritual experience it is for me.

It all started a few years back, I had been trying to find some information, and had spent hours going through micro film. I found a name, but it was the wrong person, so I continued to advance through the film and I heard a voice say go back that was me. I went back and read the name and it was not the name I was looking for, so I continued to go forward. Then I heard it again, "go back, that was me." I went back and went through the entire record and sure enough it was him! My great-great-grandfather, Severo Marin. From that one name I was able to uncover generations of ancestors who were waiting for their temple work to be done.

Then after a couple years I started again and I was having a hard time finding information on my grandpa Garcia's line. No information was available. The Church that was in his hometown was burned down during the Cristeo War because his town was very active fighting against the federales during the war. I was lost, and I started searching some areas, and one day while looking I found some records with his family name in another town. I checked and the town was next to my grandfather's home town and the records were located there. I checked on the town originally because I felt an impression to check there, even though I didn't know where it was. Following that impression helped me find literally hundreds of names and several generations.

This week I've spent some time looking up some information on Monica's dad side. I found a ton of stories for her about her ancestor Ute Perkins, and the entire Perkins family. I found Ute's Will and it was witnessed by none other than Abe Lincoln (he died in Illinois). He got his endowments out in the Nauvoo Temple and they gave the land for the church to start the town of Ramus. He was a Revolutionary War veteran and the first in his family to accept the gospel, and he has quite the massive posterity. I found some other information and stories for her, and I started thinking that I wanted to know about my ancestors as well. Unfortunately my ancestors didn't keep journals or have volumes written about them. I do know that my ancestors fought in two Revolutions and most importantly they fought for their religious independence in the Cristeo War. I found a story last night about the men who fought in the north east portion of Jalisco, and that is where my ancestors are from. They played a major part in the war, and I am proud to be a descendant of someone who would recognize the need to fight for something as important as the right to worship God. They had endured the liberal Mexican government taking everything from them and when they took their religion they had enough and would take no more.

My heart has truly turned to my fathers. I love them and want to know them. I have a strong desire to see them and talk to them and get to know them as people. I look forward to the time that I can sit with them and talk to them. When I was 12 years old I had a dream, where I was walking through the ruins of Mexico. I went into one of the temples and I remember looking at some pictographs on the wall and saying I wish I could know my ancestors. Just then I heard a voice behind me and sitting on a rock on the other side of the room was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, He said would you like to know them and raised his hands and the wall behind him opened and I saw numberless spirits coming forth and falling at His feet and worshipping Him who is our King. I could see that their hearts longed to be with Him and they were bathing His feet with their tears. As I saw this scene my heart ached for them, and I woke up. Then a couple of years ago I thought I was doing pretty good. I was actively doing my family work in the Temple and finding names. One night as I was asleep I had another interesting dream. In my dream I was with the Prophet Joseph Smith and he was walking me through the aftermath of the saints being expelled from Independence. He was describing to me their privations and their sufferings. He was telling me that they were doing all that they could to help these saints, but that there was one that they couldn't help, only I could. He turned and pointed to a person standing in the corner, and it was my Grandma Ramirez (grand-daughter of Severo Marin who originally helped me with my initial family work). She looked so sad and was crying and saying that nobody cared about her. I insisted that I did, but she kept repeating that nobody cared. All of a sudden I realized that I had not done her work in the Temple yet. I woke up crying, realizing my sin against her and my family. Needless to say I've done her work and she is now sealed to her family.

I will continue to do the work for my ancestors, and I will continue to expect their help in the process. I love them and I know that they love me. I made promises before coming to this earth and I must keep those promises. I love genealogy!

Optimism, Faith and a Determination to Prevail

2009-02-09T08:28:00.002-07:00

I am going to break away from my normal posts of informing what I've done with Monica or the kids and talk a little about what pushes me forward and motivates me.

It is pretty simple really, what pushes me daily is a knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and that we have living Prophets, Seers, and Revelators on the earth today. How does this help? Well, it helps to know that God knows me, He knows the current situation in the world, and that He speaks to us through His prophets and always has. The scriptures and writings of the Prophets are jam packed with prophecies and revelations of what is going to happen in the last days. None of it is coming at us unawares. In Amos we are told that the Lord will do nothing save He first reveal His secret unto His servants the prophets. Nothing that is happening scares me, it doesn't shake my faith, nor does it dampen my optimism. I have faith that God will help me and that His will, will be done. That gives me comfort! I know through personal experience that you can loose everything and none of it matters because it is all irrelevant in the eternal scheme of things.

I am optimistic about my future because although things are dark and uncertain in life, I have faith, and as Joseph Smith said, "should we not go on in so great a cause?" My answer is yes! I will push forward with a firm determination to prevail in the end, that is in the end of life, in the end of our current financial struggles, in the end of everything. Every day we arm ourselves for a battle, the battle that has been waging since the dawn of time. Satan wishes to destroy us and to tear down our faith. God has given us our armour, our weapons, and our protection. Just as the children of Israel when they were preparing to go forward to take over the land of Canaan, we have God on our side and we will prevail. We should not be counted with those spies who came back from spying out the land of Canaan and gave an evil report and weakened the resolve of the Israelites. Let us be as Caleb and Joshua and know that we have our Lord on our side and if He has decreed from the eternities that we His people shall prevail, then we shall.

That is why nothing is causing me to change my direction, I am preparing for tougher times ahead, because I know the prophecies which have been given, but I do not let them cause me to fear and shrink before my Maker in paralyzed fear. God will bless those who believe in Him and make Him their God. He is in our midst, we just have to open our eyes and recognize His loving arms extended toward us beckoning us to come unto Him and our burden will be made light.

Temples

2009-02-04T13:16:00.002-07:00

Monday my family was able to go to the Draper temple open house. My kids were so excited to finally be able to see the inside of a temple. They enjoyed it. Their favorite rooms were the ceiling room and celestial room. Even Joshua kept pointing to things and telling dad to look. He some how understood the importance of what he was seeing and kept his voice down to a whisper. All my children were reverent and respectful. It made Sam and Ammon excited for the day when they can go to the temple. They can't wait now for the Oquihr Mnt. Temple to be completed so they can go through that temple.

Tuesday Al and I were able to get the work done for 8 of our families names. We went twice, once in the morning and then again in the evening. It was our wards temple day so we had help from people in our ward to get those names done. I love being able to go to the temple. The spirit is always strong there. I also love doing the work for our ancestors who have passed on. It makes me feel connected to them. How grateful I am for temples!

Rafael Enrique Garcia III "Champ"

2009-02-01T11:31:00.002-07:00

On January 24, 2009 Monica and I had the opportunity to attend the Temple and perform baptisms for the dead, in the which we performed a baptism for my cousin Rafalito who was brutally murdered on August 19, 2004 while walking to a store not far from his home. The best part about performing the baptism for him, was that it was his birthday also.

As I stood in as proxy for him my heart ached inside for him. He was only 17 years old and had overcome a lot and turned out to be quite an outstanding young man. He was born into an abusive home, where he was constantly belittled by my uncle. He lived with us off and on a couple of times and he really loved my family as a child. I last saw him about 6 months before I left on my mission, so that was a long time ago. My mom and dad went to see him while he was staying with a school group in a hotel in Houston about a month before he was killed. When they attended the funeral for him they reported over a 1,000 people in attendance and that was just what was counted. The local news in San Antonio, TX showed pictures of the church and the entire place was surrounded by those who loved him. His big heart and his ability to love unconditionally made him more friends than I think he even knew he had amongst all levels of society. My mom recently received a CD from my aunt from some kids in his school who made a song about him. A cable crime tv show did a show dedicated to him and his case, and the science used to solve his murder.

I miss my cousin, and although I wasn't able to see him before he died, I know that the work which I did for him will be accepted and I will see him again, and then I will embrace Rafalito in my arms and tell him that I love him. I am grateful for temples and the great privilege given to us to perform the work therein for and in behalf of our ancestors and family members.

A Boys Day Out

2009-01-17T18:17:00.006-07:00

Everybody is probably sick and tired of hearing me talk about shooting, but I figure oh well. The boys and I went out today to Stansbury Island and shot litterally hundreds of rounds and had a lot of fun. Samuel and Ammon are turning out to be quite the marksmen. Bella couldn't go since she has to be five before Monica will let her go out with us, but in 3 more months she will go out with the boys and me or with Monica and me.

We had a lot of fun. I sure do love spending time with the kids. It's great! A big group of us were supposed to go out, but nobody showed up this morning, I was a little upset this morning while I was waiting for them, but once we got out there and I had more time to shoot and spend with the boys I wasn't upset anymore.

As you can see from the picture below they have a lot of holes in their targets.

Monica Get Your Gun!

2009-01-08T16:48:00.005-07:00

Now, I am sure all of you have heard of the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Well Monica lived the experience today, and although she isn't an Annie Oakley just yet she at least hit the target several times and the target stand a couple of times. If the stand was attacking her she would have taken it down without a problem.

Monica and I went on a date today to Stansbury Island to do some target shooting. Monica hasn't been shooting for about 6 years and she has always wanted to go out with me, so we decided to take advantage of the day. We both had fun, we cycled through all the different guns that I have firing several rounds through each, and then we finished off firing the ones that we enjoyed most. I was surprised of her ability to handle the SKS in the above picture, and the shotgun as well. She finished shooting the V53 which is a pretty beefy calibur as well and did well with control of the firearm, we don't know how she did with the target since it wasn't cooperating by that time. She did better with those bigger caliburs than with the .45, I thought that that she was going to hit herself with it.

We had a lot of fun! I was happy to be able to spend time with Monica doing something that I enjoy and that she enjoys as well. We will probably be going out again together. I am going out in two weeks with Sam and some others so that will be fun.

Chistmas Traditions

2008-12-31T16:31:00.004-07:00

With the passing of Christmas I must reflect back and express my gratitude for the season and those traditions which we do to celebrate what I consider the most wonderful time of the year. This year was no different. On Christmas Eve, or as we say in spanish Noche Buena (The Good Night) we got together with my family and had a great time making tamales. That is something I look forward to with great anticipation since they taste soooo good and that is the only time of the year that we eat them. Buying them from vendors or at restaurants is not the same, because nobody can make them like my mom, I can come close but hers are the best.

I really enjoyed this year as I was able to make everyone's gifts. I told Monica that I should have placed a sign on our garage door that said "Santa's Workshop". I made my mom a lighthouse for her mantle, I made Gabriel a MLB Season Standings Board designed after a old style stadium scoreboard. I want one now. It was fun to make. The box that I made for Monica's mom was probably the nicest gift out of all the ones that I made this year, along with the words for her tree. I made some other items as well, but I really enjoyed it.
Christmas Eve we open our gifts and the kids were excited all day for the night. Joshua didn't really know what was going on, but as soon as he realized that there were toys and fun stuff in those packages he was excited as well, wanting to open everything.
Christmas day we opened up our gifts from Santa and had a wonderful breakfast. Monica made her most amazing cinnamon rolls, and we had eggs and bacon and orange juice (those items were provided by David). After breakfast we made the scary journey down to Utah County where we spent a few hours with Monica's family, and then made the trip back up to Salt Lake County to have dinner with my family. All in all we had a wonderful time and we spent the two days with those that we love.

I can't wait until next Christmas!

A New Year, A New Job

2008-12-31T16:14:00.002-07:00

Well it finally happened. The last day of the year and I get hired on the spot for a decent job. I am pretty excited to get started, but I will need to wait until the second full week of the hew year to do so. I am still being considered for a position with Edward Jones Financial, but this company jumped all over me as soon as the State Manager saw me. He couldn't contain himself he was so excited. As I filled out some paperwork he was pacing the room and he said, "and I haven't even told you that I plan on promoting you to a district manager within 3 months." He just kept saying that he believed God sent me to him and he never just hired somebody on the spot like that, but there was something about me that just made him excited and he didn't want me to leave without saying that I would be a part of his team. So I said give me the contract and I will join the company and go from there.

I will be working with PMA USA, which is the marketing arm for Conseco Life and Health. I am very familiar with their product line since I use to be appointed with Conseco a few years back. I will be going into existing accounts and doing presentations, and will be given the chance to greatly increase my earnings by opening new groups. Once I am a D.M. my income will increase and he will start hiring agent/producers and building my sales team which I will override.

I have taken a great deal of time to learn everything about the insurance and financial services industry and it showed to this gentleman and he is ready to as he put it "spoil me". So I'll start this job and see where it takes me.

I am very grateful that I was able to finish the year with a good job doing something that I at least am excited about.

I would just like to thank everyone for your prayers on our behalf.

Some thoughts about the Lord and His goodness

2008-12-21T13:42:00.002-07:00

As the events of our Christmas celebration draw near, my heart has been drawn closer to my Lord and Savior than at any other time in my life that I can remember as of late. As all of you know I've been struggling with finding adequate employment that would allow me to provide for my family. My greatest desire is to ensure that my family is taken care of and provided for. My inability to provide has been a cause of deep despair and depression for me. It has been augmented the last couple of months where I've been turned down for some jobs that I was more than perfect for, I've been lost in the pattern of feeling sorry for myself, wondering what it all was for. Wanting to quit all together I was torn between my faith and loss of hope.

That was until this past fast Sunday. I decided to fast to know that God still loved me and was aware of my desires. I wanted to know that He forgave me. As I sat in sacrament meeting during the sacrament portion I began to feel a feeling that I haven't felt in a long time. It was of pure love, and I could sense the voice of the Lord say that He loves me and always has. I share this not to make myself seem special, but to express my gratitude to my Savior for knowing me. The week for last I was feeling a little down so I fasted during the week and all day was a tough day, but I kept focused and pressed forward. I received further witness from the Lord of His love for me and His desire to bless me when He was ready and after I showed faith.

This past week I've been tempted to let go of my core beliefs of ethics and honesty. I came out of training with this job that I just started and was told that I had to get a certain amount of sales every day to meet the company imposed quotas. Selling is not a problem for me when I believe in a product or service, but I will never push something upon someone or lie to make the sale. I know how many sales I have to get to make what I need to make, and I couldn't make the number. I was told that I could not give advice or counsel to those I was calling just make the sale. I was to give the scripted dialogue as given me and nothing else. Those who know me know that is impossible. The reason I don't make money isn't because I don't know what I am talking about, but because even if the person can't pay I feel a need to help with the knowledge given me by the Lord. Those around me making and exceeding the number of sales that I needed were lying and misrepresenting the service, basically telling the people what they wanted to hear to make the commission. I kept hearing the voice tell me you need the money just do it, there is no wrong in it if you don't directly lie, just omit all the facts. The nagging feeling to let go and do it was suffocating, but I wouldn't and couldn't. It is I that has to kneel before the Lord every night at the end of my day and give a reckoning of my day, not my manager and I would not give in. I believe that the Lord tested me and that I passed. Friday was amazing, as the Lord expressed His love for me and my family. The expression of His love extended into Saturday as He continued to tell me that He loved me, and still continued into today as He had our Sunday School teacher share a scripture that I feel was directed to me and Monica, and she broke into tears saying that the Spirit had told her to share that scripture because someone in the class needed to hear it. I heard it, and received it with gladness.

I am optimistic that the love of the Savior will continue to flow into our lives this coming week as we approach Christmas. I have my 5th and 6th interview with Edward Jones Financial Advisers, which will be a good job for me, and one of the counselors in our bishopric told me that his brother is hiring and wanted him to recommend a couple of people to him. He deals with fraud investigation, which is a job that I would enjoy as well.

All in all I feel extremely blessed. I am happy and I look forward for the new year. The blessings of the Almighty are pouring into our lives, and He loves me and my family. I love my family. Monica is wonderful, I couldn't have asked for a better companion in life. Her support and willingness to pass through these trials with me and stay faithful as my only true friend on earth has won her a crown in the heavens and she shall be rewarded a hundred fold for her sacrifices. I fall before the God of Heaven and declare my love. I declare to the world that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, I turn my life over to him and submit myself willingly to His guidance and counsel. I declare that God lives as well as His Christ our Savior. I declare the gospel as it has been restored in the last days through the Prophet Joseph Smith is the only true and living Church of Jesus Christ to be found on the earth today. I declare that we have a Prophet on the earth today, even Thomas S. Monson, and that I love him and follow his counsel. I bare my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

It Lives!

2008-12-07T12:48:00.002-07:00

Well for the past 5 months my truck has been sitting in an inanimate state at my parents house because I didn't know what to do to fix it, and my dad told me that it would probably be about $1700-$2500 to fix it. Every time I see my truck I want to drive it, but it hasn't been possible. Not too long ago my dad was talking to an uncle of mine who is a diesel mechanic and he my dad that he would bet his reputation that it was a fuel injector pump. I sat on that information until just recently. I decided to give it a try and see if I could get my truck purring again, well that truck doesn't really purr it more like roars like a hungry lion. But you get the picture. Anyway, anybody who knows me knows that I am anything but a mechanic. It is one of those things that God has not really blessed me with the ability to do. This truck is determined to change that though. Changing out the fuel injector pump according to the research I did before I started was only supposed to take me 2 hours at the most. Well, it took me 2.5 days and then a little bit yesterday.

Nothing can compare to the feeling of hearing that monster come alive, and boy did it. It came roaring out of its deep sleep and everybody in my parents neighborhood heard it. My truck is back in operation and it felt sooooo good to drive it again. It might not be a pretty thing but it is mine. All my life I wanted a Ford F350 crew cab truck and I have mine back.

I only have one problem. Not only have I always wanted a F350, but my kryptonite when it comes to cars are classic Mustangs. I had a Mustang when I was in High School until my brother ruined the engine, and I have always told Monica that I would like a '60's Mustang. What does this have to do with my truck? Well my brother told me that he has a friend who wants to trade his 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby for an early '90's Ford truck. Aughhhh! What to do? Tempted to trade my dream truck for my dream car. Why couldn't that dilemma happen with a job?

Well any way for right now I am loving having my truck back parked in front of my home. We'll see how long it lasts.

Most Aerodynamic Pine Wood Derby Car

2008-11-12T20:22:00.011-07:00

Today was Sammy's Cub Scout Pine Wood Derby. He has been waiting for this day for over a month now. He took the time to sit down and design his car and we worked on it together. I supervised as he cut out the shape and he put it all together and painted it.

As we entered the Church for the Derby expectations were high. He was hoping to to come in first. Unfortunately due to a small problem that we had with the front axle he came in second in all three heats. He made me proud because you cold tell that the cars that beat him were not built by the scouts that were racing them. He on the other hand built his car and he did amazingly well. He knows what needs to be done for next year and is already working on his new design that will win the derby next year for sure. He did get an award for the most aerodynamic car in the derby though.

Christmas is Coming!

2008-11-02T13:55:00.003-07:00

Well, one thing I love more than October and the baseball playoffs is CHRISTMAS! I love Christmas, it is the best part of the year. I love listening to Christmas music and the excitement that is in the air. I can do without all the commercial aspect of the season, but I love going to the stores and seeing all the Christmas stuff up and I love seeing the kids getting excited. They've been going through the Toys R Us big toy book this past week and they are pointing out all the stuff they want. Bella is so cute. She goes through and if it's pink, purple or girly looking she says that she wants it. Yesterday I asked her what she wanted and she said everything, except for a nerf gun, and I asked her if she wanted a real gun and she said no, but then I added even if it was a pink one, and she right away said yes if it was pink she wanted it. She is all girl! I've been eyeing a rifle just like the one I bought Sammy last year that is pink, Monica said I have to wait for her to get older though. Oh well, I guess I can wait. I think I get more excited than the kids, because I love to buy gifts for my children. I never go into Christmas wanting anything, but Monica always manages to get me something special. I love to see the look on her face and kid's faces when they open their gifts. That is all the gift I ever need.

Another aspect that I love about this time of the year is the miracles which seem to surround our family during this time. Every year Monica and I brace ourselves for a tough season, and without fail our Father always steps in with His tender mercies and grants our children a wonderful Christmas. I feel that He gets as much joy out of seeing the joy of the children as I do. It's wonderful. I always feel His miraculous power and love. We get to celebrate the birth of the Son of God and glory in His love. He came to earth in the humblest of circumstances and brought with Him hope and light. He it is of whom the prophets of old testified should come into the world and it is Him whom the prophets have testified came into the world and died for our sins. He came, born in a stable, making his abode with lowly animals, He died Lord of the universe, hung upon a cross and raised up in public humiliation. It is He who on the third day was raised from the tomb, the immortal Savior of the world. I love my Savior, and I love celebrating His most humble of births. This is why I love Christmas!

Guns, Guns and More Guns!

2008-10-25T16:20:00.002-06:00

Well, it is no surprise to anyone, but I like guns. We had the funnest Elders Quorum Activity EVER! We as a Presidency organized a turkey shoot (being in the presidency is great when you have input for an activity like this, surprisingly enough I didn't suggest the activity). Anyway, we shot 3 cases of trap and spent about 400 shotgun rounds and about 400 rounds of ancillary ammunition with my hand guns and other rifles we had up there. IT WAS GREAT!!! Everybody commented on how great it was and that we should do it again. I didn't win the turkey shoot though, I only hit 9 of my 10. I did get a nice 1 lb. roll of turkey sausage, yippe! While up there I tested myself to check my accuracy, and I shot a 3 inch cluster with the .45 shooting rapid fire, I hit bullzeye with the SKS at 200 ft., and was an inch off bullzeye with the .22 handgun at 150 ft. So all in all not a bad shooting day. I know that this doesn't interest anybody reading this except maybe my brothers and dad, but I had fun and wanted to write about it. I can't wait to go out again.

On His Way to Eagle!

2008-10-24T19:39:00.002-06:00

Well not really, but if he keeps up the pace he will be an Eagle by the time he is 15. That's Sam of course. He had his Cub Pack Meeting on Wednesday and received a bunch of awards. He got another arrow point and four academic belt loops and 3 academic pins.

He is well on his way to completing his Bear (and he just started this week) and he will be getting at least 2 more belt loops and another couple pins next month. He is on fire with Scouts. Like always I am very proud of him. Ammon is getting ready for June when he starts his Scouting career. He's wanted to do Tiger Cub Scouts, but the Church doesn't sponsor Tiger Cubs. He will probably hit the ground running come June though.

Halloween Preview

2008-10-22T11:47:00.003-06:00

Well Everybody got together at Monica's mom's house for an early Halloween party and the kids all had a wonderful time playing and dancing and being with each other. The kids always love it when they can get together with their cousins. And it is always nice to get together with family and enjoy each others company.

If you couldn't tell, Ammon is a soldier, Bella is a spider witch, Samuel is Count Duku, and Joshua is Robin (he was so excited to put the costume on).

Sam's 9th Birthday Party

2008-10-22T11:19:00.003-06:00

Well Samuel turned 9 years old on the 16th of this month. He was soooo excited to be turning 9. Monica made him a special breakfast on his birthday and I got up real early to decorate the dining area so when he came down for breakfast the house was all decorated for his day.

His party was on the 18th and everybody showed up for his Superman party. He didn't ask for Superman, but I got a good deal on the Superman decorations so that is what he got. He enjoyed it though so it wasn't bad.

I believe he pretty much got everything that he asked for and then some. I don't know what we are going to do with all the gifts that they get when they have a birthday.
The kids seemed to have a lot of fun. Grandma Ramirez went all out like she does for all our kids parties. We are so grateful for her willingness to host the parties and for everything she does to help.

My Sammy is growing up, he is quite the young man, I am always impressed with him and his understanding of complex things. I am proud to be his father and I love him very much, as I do all my children.

Father and Son Time

2008-10-03T19:52:00.003-06:00

Today the boys didn't have school so we decided to do something fun. Ammon decided lastnight that he didn't want to go with us so Sammy and I went and had some fun in the west desert. Sammy as always did quite well and we had a ton of fun. I enjoy when we have the opportunity to go out and either go shooting or fishing.

I Love October!

2008-09-24T21:04:00.005-06:00

I can't believe the baseball season is drawing to a close and we are entering into the post season. I know I am the only one who really cares about this, but this is what I live for. This year baseball has been pretty crazy. We've seen Tampa Bay of all teams come from nowhere and kick some serious butt on the field. They've all but finished up clinching their division (one game away from eliminating the Boston Bo Sux's). Although my A's were eliminated more than 20 games ago it brings me much pleasure to see Boston beat out by the TB's. I am sitting here listening to the songs on my blog getting pumped for some post season play.

It looks like th AL will be playing a series featuring TB vs. LAA and CWS vs. Bos. Both should be worth watching, but I would have to say the Angels will win their series and it will be a death match between the two Sux's teams. If Boston makes it they are hoping that the Angels win their series because they have been owned by TB most of the season.

Now for the NL, who knows what will happen there. I don't think the Cubbies have the depth to go all the way. Once you make it to this point coming back from behind gets more difficult. The Dodgers have pretty much clinched since Arizona is 3.5 behind and they will be eliminated with 2 more losses. The Phillies and the Mets have been battling it out all season. At one time the Phillies were running away with the division, but obviously remembered that they were the Phillies and that they needed to start playing traditional Phillie baseball. My money is on the Mets (no particular love for them, but if I were to chose one they would be it). So the wildcard will go to Millwakee. We will see a series featuring the Cubbies and the Mets and another featuring the Dodgers and Millwakee. The Dodgers will win theirs because Torre wants to rub it in the face of Steinbrener. Between the Mets and Cubbies it is hard to say. I'll go with the Cubbies because I like their skipper. He should provide good comic relief when it gets tense.

Eventually the World Series will feature the Angels vs. Cubbies and the goat will live on. We'll see though. That is the beauty of fall ball, nobody knows what will happen. I am soooooo excited. LET'S PLAY BALL!!!!!!

My Scouting Champion

2008-09-24T20:28:00.004-06:00

Tonight Sam received the fruits of many hours of hard work. During his Cub Scout Pack Meeting he received his Wolf Rank, 6 belt loops and one gold star and two silver stars.

He has been working so hard to get his Wolf and I am so proud of him. He is one determined young man when he wants to be and tonight he proved his ability to do something great.

A Little Bit of Family Fun

2008-09-20T13:22:00.003-06:00

Yesterday we had a fun afternoon as a family. I noticed Monica was looking a little stressed so I suggested that we go pick up a pizza for dinner and eat it at the park. The weather was perfect for a picnic. We ate and let the kids play at the big playground located at the Veteran's Memorial Park (aka West Jordan Park). Joshua was in high heaven. He always wants to go out to play, but doesn't get too many opportunities. He had access to the entire playground and we just followed him around. They played for about 1 hour until Ammon got hurt and we had to leave. Joshua had the biggest fit because he wasn't ready to leave. We went home and watched a couple of movies. I love watching movies at home with the big screen and surround sound it is like watching them in the theater. The best part is that we don't miss anything because of the kids. Anyway Joshua spent most of the evening trying to get outside. Finally I let him see that it was dark outside so that maybe he would give up trying to get out. That didn't work he walked outside and wanted to play. I thought that I would scare him into wanting to come inside so I acted like I was shutting the door and he took off. He was determined to play outside. We really had an enjoyable time and I think Monica was feeling better by bedtime.

It is always great when we have the opportunity to spend time together. I am always grateful for those tender mercies granted by our Heavenly Father which allow us those moments.

Pears, pears, and more pears

2008-09-15T20:49:00.003-06:00

Thanks to Marnie and her friend I now have 14 bottles of pears. I went to Adriann's house today with Marnie to learn how to can pears. Someone in my ward gave me a box of pears yesterday. I was grateful for them, but had no clue on what to do with them. I found that it wasn't really that hard to can pears, but time consuming. Marnie also let me borrow her dehydrator. So for family night tonight my family peeled, cut and dehydrated pears. Bella thought it was such a fun night. Who knew. The boys also had fun. Maybe we'll have to make this a family tradition.

Time Out For Women

2008-09-15T20:31:00.003-06:00

I recently had an awesome opportunity to go to Time Out for Women. It's like a retreat for women. Someone in my ward bought tickets and then wasn't able to go. She asked if I wanted to go, and of course I said yes. It was in Logan, so I carpooled with 3 other women in my ward, and we stayed at a hotel there. We left Friday afternoon, and came home Saturday afternoon. It was a fun getaway for me and opportunity to get to know some of the women in my ward better. I didn't really know any of them very well.

The talks were all inspirational. My favorite was by Mary Ellen Edmunds. She is so funny. She talked about being a peace maker. She got the point across, but I was laughing so hard I was crying. There were a lot of other good talks about finding joy in life. We also enjoyed a concert by Kenneth Cope and also Jenny Oaks Baker (an accomplished violinist). It was amazing! I felt so blessed to have this opportunity.

I Fixed It

2008-09-14T21:21:00.001-06:00

Ok, you requested it and I listened. You can now comment on our family blog.

A Family Affair

2008-09-11T14:22:00.004-06:00

I just got back from spending a few hours downtown at the Family History Library going through over 2,000 names to see if what work needed to be done within the Temple. I was able to narrow the names list to a little over 100 of Monica's ancestors who are in need of their work to be done. I was thinking, here I have thousands of my personal family ancestors who need their work done and I am preparing the names of Monica's family. Then I thought everyone needs their work done regardless of whose family they belong to and Monica is my family therefore her family is my family. Now it will be quite some time before we go to the Temple and do Temple file names. Too much work to be done in our families. The work will roll on and I will continue to do my family history work and preparing names for Temple work.

I love this work, I get a kick out of it. There is something exhilarating about searching for a name of an ancestor and just when you are about to give up, BAM! there it is the information that you've looking for. And not only do you have the information that you were looking for but enough information to open the door for even more work. It's great, I highly recommend family history work for everyone. It seems to improve your outlook on life as you loose yourself in service to those who have passed on before.

The Toilet From HELL!!!

2008-09-10T16:30:00.003-06:00

At the end of June I finished a remodel on a house which I was very excited about, at least I thought I'd finished it. When I went to put the toilet in place, it wouldn't fit. I measured the space and discovered that when I went off of the original wall the imbeciles that built the house didn't put the drain for the tiolet in the correct place. I had a wonderful idea, so I thought and I purchased a special order toilet online for about $470. I wasn't going to break up that floor and retile and the works. The toilet came and there was no flush valve, so I got online and ordered one, another $200. Well a month later it comes and I am ready to install, so I think. I go to the house and cut into the wall and redirect the drain to the back of the toilet and do some additional plumbing to install the flush valve. Well wouldn't you know it, the house didn't have sufficient water pressure to operate the valve. So guess what, I had to break the tiles and cut into the ground and fix the holes that I made to install the other toilet. But the journey is complete and I am done. The toilet from hell is installed and it works and I never want to see that house again. The moral of the story, always, always, always, check the work of others, if not you will find yourself doing a simple job over and over again. Additionally if anybody has a toilet to install, don't call me I've had it with toilets (just kidding if you would like help I will be more than happy to help, I'll just bring my tape measure).

Well I guess we will join the crowd

2008-09-08T21:02:00.000-06:00

Well, I never thought that I would end up putting a blog for my family on the internet. But here I am doing it. I really don't know what I will use it for, but whatever it is hopefully it will give people an idea of what is happening in our lives. I hope to get Monica involved in posting what is going on in our lives. Most people will get bored of hearing about us and will go away. We don't live exciting lives or really do anything. We normally sit around our home and wish we had the means to do something different.

Those who know me know that I am a dreamer, and I don't dream small. I am very politically minded and I let myself be heard. At one time I would surf the internet looking for articles about The Constitution and respond to them and to comments being made on them. I would get into some serious discussions with small minded people who had no idea what they were talking about and were revealing their ignorance at every turn. I really enjoyed that. I don't have as much free time as I then had, so I post articles about America on my other blog. I love my family, my God and my Country. I'd do anything for Monica and the kids.

Monica is the rock in the family. She wakes every morning and starts the day with exercise and then dives right in to motherhood. I am amazed at watching her do everything that she does for this family. She is my hero when it comes to maintaining a household. I tried it for a few days when she left for camp back in July and then again when she went to Trek. Believe me it was difficult and she does it day in and day out. She serves in her callings at church with such strength and dignity, she volunteers at the boy's school, she is going to start teaching as a part of a rotation for Bella's pre-school that her and a group of sisters from church are starting for the kids, she cooks, she cleans, she does laundry, does her visiting teaching, and everything else that I, the kids or the church asks her to do. She is AMAZING!!! She puts me to shame on a daily basis.

Our children are pretty amazing as well. I love to watch them grow and develop their talents. Samuel shares a lot of the same interests as I do. We love to go fishing together and shooting and play baseball and he likes to help me when I am working on a project in the garage. Ammon is his own person. He is very creative which I believe he gets from me. He can write stories and do art projects all day and just be in high heaven. Bella is quite the little princess, but always wants to go fishing when we go, although it doesn't last very long once she starts. She loves to play house and always wants her mom to play with her. Joshua is my mini-me. He likes to try and copy the things that I do and he loves baseball, or I should say loves to throw and hit the ball, any ball that he sees. He has quite the arm and can catch pretty good as well. He is into everything and he can drive his mom batty. All my children are so amazing to me. I watch their little spirits as they grow and develop their own understanding of things and I see so much light and knowledge in them that sometimes I sit in awe and wonder, wondering how I deserved them as my children.

Well we shall see how this blog progresses or doesn't. Like I said nothing much happens in our little household.