The Zoo

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

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!!!!!!!

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!

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

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!!!!

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

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!