Crazy Dave

Last night my uncle Dave Simonson and aunt Audrey stopped by our house for a visit.  They were in town to visit some of their kids and grandchildren in the area and at BYU.  They told us that it had been almost 7 years since Dave was last able to travel due to health reasons.  We were very touched that they would spend one of their precious travel nights watching us decorate Easter eggs.  Dave spent some quality time teaching my son Michael about the settings on his electrical guitar and amp.  Then we spent the rest of the night recounting a few of the fun memories I have of "Crazy Dave"...

When Jeff and I were young we went to spend a couple of days with Grandma Simonson.  After doing a few of the standard activities (playing office, candy trip to U-tote-m, lunch at the hospital cafeteria) Grandma called Dave and had him come over to create other sources of entertainment.  He invented carnival style game where we had to try to knock over old shaving cans with tennis balls, or throw bean bags into a hole.  It was amazing to me how his imagination could create hours of fun using garbage.

When Dave was a school music teacher we used to go see his school perform at the Arizona State Fair (I love their Indian Fry Bread with beans).  One year I was impressed to see him accompany the choir with a top of the line Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer (keyboard).  He told me that each year when he would submit a music budget to the school district it would get returned with many of the items cut out.  He decided one year that he would include an expensive synthesizer on the list in hopes that it would get sacrificed and all the other small items (bongos, triangles etc) would be approved.  To his surprise the synthesizer was approved and they had to make due with a few less triangles and bongos until the next budget year.

When Laura and I were married 18 years ago we had a second reception in Arizona where Dave was kind enough to volunteer to take pictures of the reception (is there anything he doesn't do).  Since he had another appointment on that side of town, he and Audrey decided to get a hotel room nearby.  When I jokingly tried to pin him down about where he was staying so we could come use the hot tub he straight up told me it was the Day's Inn by Fiesta Mall.  Of course, I didn't believe him because I didn't think he would want to be bothered.  Well, the next day he brought us some pens, paper and other items with the Days Inn logo to prove he was telling the truth.  In fact, each time our paths have crossed over the past 18 years he continues to hand me some sort of Days Inn memorabilia.

 I hope to be just like Crazy Dave when I grow up.  I am so blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding me. So as I try to develop my "Crazy Crack-up Kid"... Giddy Up, StevieG

Love Knots

Laura is a culinary genius.  I was painfully reminded at how fortunate we are when she went to Cosmetology school for 18 months and we were sometimes left to fend for ourselves.  It wasn't pretty.  Laura would often prepare most of a meal and then turn it over to us to complete a few 'simple' steps.  Somehow in those final few steps we would make a fatal mistake that would make us more fully appreciate Laura's exceptional talent.

I imagine it must be hard to cook for 7 different people while trying to satisfy their unique tastes.  Laura does a great job of planning a menu that gives everyone something to look forward to.  She also keeps things fresh by continuing to discover new recipes for us to enjoy.  In fact, over the years my list of 'favorite' meals has continued to grow.   One of my all-time favorite things that she makes are homemade pretzels.

 first time I remember her making pretzels was when we lived in Aurora, Colorado.  It was the last week of December and we were still on a Christmas high.  There was a clean blanket of fresh snow covering the yard, I was watching the Denver Broncos win a playoff game and Laura was honing her talent with a new recipe.  This recipe took longer than most as it required time for the dough to rise as well as 2 different baking steps.  The results were unforgettable.  This new recipe was an instant favorite.  Since it yields just a dozen pretzels and requires hours of hard work it is truly a labor of love.   Laura has started a tradition of making this family favorite during general conference.  These love knots don't even have a chance to cool before they are gobbled up by the entire family.

Pretzels
4 - 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast (2-1/4 tsp)
1-1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons cooking oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons salt
3 quarts boiling water
1 slightly beaten egg white
1 Tablespoon water
coarse salt

    In a mixing bowl stir together 1-1/2 cups of the flour and  the yeast.  In a saucepan heat and stir milk, sugar, oil, and the 1 teaspoon salt till warm (120 - 130 degrees).  Add to flour mixture.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly.  Beat on high speed for 3 minutes.  Using a spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.
    Turn out onto a lightly floured surface.  Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes total).  Shape dough into a ball.  Place dough in a greased bowl; turn once to grease surface.  Cover and let rise in a warm place till double (about 1-1/4 hours).
    Punch dough down.  Turn out onto a lightly floured surface.  Cover, let rest 10 minutes.  Roll dough into a 12x10-inch rectangle.  Cut into twenty 12x1/2-inch strips.  Gently pull each strip into a rope about 16 inches long.
    Shape each pretzel by crossing one end over the other to form a circle, overlapping about 4 inches from each end.  Take one end of dough in each hand and twist once at the pint where the dough overlaps.  Carefully lift each end across to the edge of the circle opposite it.  Tuck ends under edges to make a pretzel shape.  Moisten ends; press to seal.
    Place pretzels on greased baking sheets.  Bake in a 475 deg oven for 4 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees.
    Dissolve the 2 tablespoons salt in the boiling water.  Lower pretzels, three or four at a time, into boiling water.  Boil for 2 minutes, turning once.  Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.  Let stand a few seconds, then place about 1/2 inch apart on well-greased baking sheets.
    Combine egg white and the 1 tablespoon water.  Brush pretzels with a little of the egg white and water mixture.  Sprinkle pretzels lightly with coarse salt.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or till golden brown.  Remove from baking sheets.  Cool on wire racks  Makes 20 pretzels.

You Can Do Hard Things!

The greatest hoodwink of all time has to be almost 18 years ago when I somehow convinced Laura to marry me.  Fortunately for me two of her greatest characteristics are commitment and loyalty which have motivated her to try to make the best of that momentary lapse of judgement.  I am a much better person because of her example in my life.  When we started raising children almost 17 years ago I was overwhelmed.  I was sure that I had missed a required parenting class somewhere along the way.  (Kind of like the dream where you show up for a final exam in school and realize that you had forgotten to attend that class the whole semester.  I still have that dream to this day).  Laura, on the other hand, was completely unfazed by the transition.  It was so natural for her.  Maybe it is because she had already completed a year of raising the first child in our home...me. With Laura in my life I feel like I can survive the diverse hardships that life brings.  

I can remember on several occasions while visiting Grandma and Grandma Heika (Laura's parents) my young children would get discouraged trying to do something and bemoan, "It's too hard!"  I was touched as I observed the mother of my dear wife patiently approach the child and declare, "You can do hard things!  You have smart parts!".  Sure enough, with this new found confidence, my child would accomplish the task at hand. This quote has become a family favorite.  If anyone in the family is caught saying something like "it's hard", you can be sure that at least one other person (especially Lindsay) will quickly chime in with, "You can do hard things, because you have smart parts". 

It is amazing what we can accomplish when someone shows faith in us.  I am reminded of the quote "Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be, and he will become as he can and should be." (Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe). I believe that is a true principle.  In our Marriage and Family class at church our instructor told us the story of a woman he knew in a previous ward that was an amazing cook.  Everyone wanted to attend parties at her house to sample some of her creations.  He asked the husband where she learned her culinary art.  He confessed that when they were first married she was a terrible cook.  In fact, the only thing she made that was edible was spaghetti.  So whenever they were around other people he made it a point to mention how well his wife cooked spaghetti.  These compliments gave her confidence and motivated her to continue to improve her cooking skill.  She learned to excel in something that was hard for her because her husband treated her like she already was a great chef. 

I need to do a better job of pointing at the positive in others and reminding them of how special they are.  There is good and bad in everyone (quote from Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) and I just need to look past the bad and focus on the good.  Giddy Up, StevieG

D-Man Madness

I really enjoy watching the NCAA basketball tournament known as March Madness.  I must admit that I really don't follow the college basketball season until March rolls around and the tournament begins. My brother Eric or Brian will usually setup a group online where all the extended family is invited to create a "bracket" with their choice of winners and losers.  The winner gets lunch brought to them on the beach during our annual reunion in San Diego.  However, the bigger prize is to have bragging rights for the rest of the year.  This is especially sweet when one of the kids or wives humbles their proud, sports-following husbands.

This year I made sure that Laura and all our kids created a bracket.  Since they don't know the schools I explained to them how the seeding works (lower numbers usually mean better teams) but also explained that the tournament is famous for upsets.  When Daniel (10) created his bracket he later told me that he got confused for a few minutes part way through and thought that the bigger number seed were the better teams.  This created a very interesting bracket to say the least.  In just one of the four regions he had unknowingly chosen some very low seeded teams (12, 13, 14, 15) to win a few games.  Since he got back on track and picked the better teams to prevail in the end I didn't even notice his hiccup until after the tournament started.  In fact, it was his uncle Eric and cousins who noticed after the first day when Daniel had correctly picked some incredible upsets.  Not only was he leading our family group, he was one of the top people in the millions of brackets on ESPN.  We had a good laugh that first day and figured that it would be all downhill from there.

Well, the upsets continued over the weekend and Daniel is now up to 25th place in the entire ESPN tournament challenge.  Somehow one of the teachers at school found out and had paraded Daniel around from class to class explaining what an amazing feat he had accomplished.  Daniel is obviously very excited but is also handling it very well.  I have now given up on my bracket (2nd to last in the family pool) and am pulling for Daniel the rest of the way.  He is going to need a miracle from BYU this week to win just one more game.  He has become very interested on the details of the winning prize.  I think he is envisioning the entire San Diego family reunion (50+ people) to all go buy him lunch and bring it back to him as he lounges alone on the beach.  He'll enjoy his breakfast burrito and rolled tacos while his Dad and uncles eat a healthy portion of humble pie.

Giddy Up, DMan!

Toast to Language

My memory is definitely not what it used to be.  Sometimes I fear that I might be experiencing early symptoms of  dementia.  However, there are some memories that I can remember vividly.  One such memory dates back to when I was six or seven years old.  At least I hope it was before the age of accountability (8).

It was Sunday morning and I was waiting for the toaster to become available so I could heat up my breakfast. I set my bread next to the toaster to reserve my place in line (kind of like we used to do at the arcade with quarters and video games).  When I returned from powdering my nose I found my oldest brother Eric putting his bread into the toaster, which was clearly a breech of kitchen appliance etiquette.  Like only a spoiled little brother could do, I completely lost control.  With steam coming out of my ears I attacked with the first words that came to mind.  Unfortunately, they were words that I had overheard on the playground at school and I didn't fully comprehend their strength.  They landed with a direct hit causing my target to spin around with an expression of shock and disbelief.  Immediately it was clear to me that my response was not commensurate to the crime committed.  Now I was in harm's way, so instinctively I began my retreat.  Eric was in full pursuit and the battlefield, that was our home, never felt so tiny.  I ducked behind an open door of a bedroom and tried to slow my breathing.  Unfortunately, my heaving chest betrayed me as it caused the door to move ever so slightly.  In an instant, Eric had me on the ground and he sat on my chest.  With a finger in my face he commanded, "Don't you ever say those words again!"  In a mode of self preservation I readily agreed to the terms of the treaty.

I don't remember exactly which words I spoke that sabbath morning, but I do remember being scared by their powerful impact.  Thanks to the tough love by an older brother that day and the positive influence of friends and family over the years I can report that I have been true to the commitment I made.  Therefore, in celebration of over 30 "clean" years,  I'd like to raise a toast to the brother that scared the !#*$ out of me.   Giddy up, StevieG.

On My Honor

The BYU basketball team may be having their best season ever.  They reached a ranking of 3rd in the country and were projected to be one of the four #1 ranked teams in the NCAA tournament (March Madness).  The state of UT has been buzzing while the BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette has been receiving national recognition as perhaps the best player in the country.  Then this past week one of the top players was kicked off the team because of an undisclosed honor code violation, virtually limiting the success this team will have in the national tournament.  Now the entire country is buzzing and the focus is on the BYU honor code.

Any disappointment I have as a fan is far outweighed by the pride I feel as a BYU alum and a member of the LDS church. We stuck to our values and in turn gave credibility to the honor code and the life we pledge to lead as members of the church.  Karl Maeser who served 16 years as the principal of BYU academy (precursor to BYU) said this about honor: "Place me behind prison walls - walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground - there is a possibility that in some way or another I might be able to escape;  but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it.  Can I get out of that circle?  No, never! I'd die first".

I imagine during times like this that the lifestyle of members of the LDS church and their honor code must seem quite bizarre to the rest of the world.  It reminds me of the words of Peter in the Bible to the early Christians that they were a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people..." (1 Pet. 2:9.)   Or Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians where he taught, "...the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God" (1 Corinth 2:14).   Though our actions may seem eccentric, it sounds like good company with which to find ourselves.

As the country gets ready to begin the final tournament to crown their champion I feel like BYU has already won.  They have accomplished something much greater that a sporting championship.  They have stood by their word of honor and in turn they have stood out to the rest of the world.  May I have the fortitude to do the same when faced with my own decisions each day.  Go Cougars, and giddy up StevieG!

Lasting Legacy

I was blessed with wonderful parents.  I don't think I am overstating it when I say they are one of the greatest parenting teams of all time.  I believe the litmus test of a great parent is when their children are more concerned about disappointing their parents than any consequence or punishment their parents might levy.  I know this was true in my case.  If I made a mistake I was worried about what my parents would think not what they might do. In fact, besides being sent to my room to cool down, I can't remember being punished.  However, I do remember clearly feeling awful as I saw my mom crying while she made dinner and knowing that I had been part of the reason why.  Ouch!

They taught me right from wrong and then showed me unconditional love as they watched me try to apply these principles in my own life.  Perhaps the most important trait of any leader is to 'lead by example', and they were the model of "do what I say and do".  I was fortunate to have many positive influences during my impressionable years, but certainly none as profound as my parents.

My father has a very positive attitude and an infectious sense of humor that make people want to be around him. When people casually greet my dad with a "Hi, how are you", he quickly responds with an enthusiastic "Excellent!" that stops them in their tracks.  They can't help but smile as they continue on their way.  I remember during scout outings being around the campfire with my friends while my dad would tell funny stories.  Later, as we laid in our sleeping bags, my friends would all tell me how lucky I was to have such a cool dad.  How right they are!  My dad is also the smartest person I have ever known.  He seems to remember everything he has ever studied and can fix anything that is broken.  Unfortunately, I did not inherit that quality from him.

My mother is the standard of patience, spirituality and self-motivation.  I believe her mansion in heaven was secured when she survived raising us four rambunctious boys.  She showed the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon as she faced the daily challenges that we (mostly my 3 brothers) created.  There was never any doubt of her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I leaned on it more than my fair share during my teenage years.  She also has a way of getting people to accomplish more than they think possible.  I can remember when she served as the primary chorister she would challenge all the children to memorize all the verses to a specific hymn (Let Us All Press On, There is a Green Hill Far Away) in order to earn a pack of gum.  Each time we sing those songs in church I smile as I think of the great legacy she has left me.

My parents sacrifice so much to be involved in the lives of their grandkids which, fortunately for me, allows my kids to be influenced directly from their great examples.  They are leaving a great legacy to many generations.  As I have mentioned previously I know that "where much is given much is required", so it follows that since I was given the best parents I will be held to the highest standard.  Yikes!  As I am getting older I realize that I have a long way to go and a short time to get there, so... Giddy up, StevieG

Crack-Up Kid

I can clearly remember the day over 30 years ago when I announced at that dinner table that some of the kids in grade school referred to me as the "Crack-up Kid" because of my witty personality. This turned out to be exactly the kind of ammunition my brothers were hoping to hear.  They instantly clued in on this and started using the hard earned title of "Crack-up Kid" in vain.  It didn't take long before an innocent moniker among friends turned into tedious ridicule from my siblings.  In fact, even today, it is not uncommon for my brothers to enjoy a little chortle at the Crack-up Kids expense.

I have only had a few other nicknames over the years.  In High School there was a small contingent who referred to me as Scooter - after the glasses wearing Muppet character.  Also during that time we had occasion to video tape a few "raps" that my friends and I wrote.  I often referred to myself in those raps as "Master G".  Funny how that name never stuck.  During my mission in Italy many of the teenagers didn't like referring to the missionaries as Anziano (Elder) so they were always trying to find out our first names.  However, the mission didn't want us to give out our first names.  So I took the middle ground and told them my first name was Fletch (after one of my favorite movies at the time).  At work I often find myself in the company of several other people named Steve so about 15 years ago when I worked for Hughes Aircraft in Denver I sometimes referred to myself as StevieG to help avoid confusion.  That name has probably gained more traction than any other.

Now you know the rest of the story behind the name of this blog... Giddy Up, StevieG  or should I say... Giddy Up, Crack-up Kid!

Who's Serving Who?

Last month marked the 20th anniversary of the start of my mission to Milan, Italy.  I reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah on January 2nd 1991.  Wow, has it really been that long?  Growing up I always said I was going to serve a mission, but I remember so clearly the day I decided I was going for sure...

I was about 16 years old and was mowing the lawn for a neighbor while I listened to my walkman (kind of like an iPod, but less cool and much bigger).  I have always enjoyed the isolation that the roar of the lawn mower provides.  I was thinking about the various events on my calendar that week - sports, dance, mutual, church, seminary - and it occurred to me that they were all somehow related to church.  I was immediately overwhelmed with what a blessing the gospel was in my life.  I thought about other kids my age all over the world and wanted them to have the same experiences I was having.  From that point I knew that not only did I have a responsibility to serve a mission, but I wanted to go.



I did not like pasta with red sauce when I was growing up.  In fact, I remember my mom stopped setting a place for me at the table on nights we had pasta.  (However, I do remember enjoying the buttered, toasted hot dog buns we ate with the pasta.).  I was a little worried about what I would eat for 2 years, but I learned to love Italian food and the gelato certainly kept me from withering away.   Now Italian is one of my favorite foods.

I can remember at times feeling very lonely during my mission.  This usually happened at the start of a new area or companionship.  I quickly found that the antidote for those feelings was hard work.  If I sat around feeling sorry for myself it only seemed to slow down time and make me feel worse.  Instead, I would try to remember a poem my Grandma Simonson often sent me:  "Work will win, when wishy washy wishing won't."  Most nights I would reflect on the wonderful experiences and memories of the day.  This habit made it easier to jump out of bed the next morning with the anticipation of what new relationships and adventures awaited me.  The days were long but the weeks went by fast.

The mission was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life.  I thought I was going out to help others, but in the end I benefited the most.  I gained a stronger testimony of the gospel, I learned to serve others, I fell in love with the Italian people and culture, but best of all I made the most important acquaintance of my life.  Through various mission conferences and a visit to the hospital I was fortunate to meet Sorella Bennett.  I didn't know it at that time, but she would later become my eternal companion and the mother of 5

perfect children.  The lesson I learned is that even though something may be scary and/or hard the blessings often far exceed the sacrifice.   I just need to take a deep breath, grab the reigns of faith, give the horse a kick and... 

giddy up, StevieG

I Scream, You Scream...

My favorite dessert is ice cream.  It is not even close.  I adore ice cream!  Although I recognize that some ice cream is better than others, I would rather eat bad ice cream than a great piece of pie or cake.  My favorite ice cream is Oreo flavored Nielsen's frozen custard.  In fact, anytime we are driving through St George, I try to make time to stop and pick up an Oreo Concrete from Nielsen's.  When I am buying ice cream from the grocery store I usually choose flavors like Cookie Dough, Cookies and Cream (Oreo), Cherry Vanilla, Chocolate Chip (shaved not chunks), or Candy Bar (Butterfinger).

Some of my favorite ice cream memories include:
- Drew's in St Louis.  While my family was visiting my Uncle Sutter in St Louis we went to Drew's where they handed you your ice cream upside down to show how thick it was.
- Gelato in Italy: During my mission I had more than my fair share of gelato.  In fact, I became close friends with the owner of a gelateria (Chilly) in Monza and he made me my own batch of Cookies and Cream Gelato from a package of Oreos my mom had sent me.
- Brewster's in Pittsburgh: When Lindsay was just 6 months old we stayed in Pittsburgh for a few months for work.  Even though it was fall/winter, we made frequent trips to Brewster's to get some of their delicious ice cream. They even put candy eyes on the kids cones.
- Homemade ice cream: My mom would make homemade ice cream (and donuts) for us after school dances.  I think it was her way to get us to bring our friends and their dates back to our house so she could get to know everyone.  Whatever the reason, there was no argument from us.
- Soft Serve in Palmyra: While in Pittsburgh we went with my parents to Palmyra to see the sacred grove.  While we were there we had a giant soft serve cone with sprinkles on it.
- Macy's Kong Cone:  The Macy's grocery stores here in Utah have a giant Kong cone for just over $1.  It is more ice cream than 2 people can eat.
- Thrifty Ice Cream: The only ice cream I have had served as a cylinder.  It was very cheap too.  You could get 3 scoops for around a quarter.  My favorite was Double Chocolate Malted Crunch.  Yummmy!
- Priesthood Session: When I was growing up it was a tradition for my dad to take us out to ice cream after going to the Saturday evening priesthood session together.  I have continued that tradition with my family.  Here in Utah the ice cream establishments can get overwhelmed right after conference.  Therefore, we will choose where we want to go for ice cream and then find the nearest church and attend the Priesthood session.

My parents tell me that when I was a toddler and they would take the family out for ice cream they would just order me a cone without any ice cream.  I guess it made me feel like I was having the same thing as everyone else but without the mess.  While growing up I remember my dad would limit me to 1 scoop at night before I went to bed.  When I was away at BYU I remember going to put my bowl away after having a scoop of ice cream and realizing that now I am the man of the house and I am going to allow another serving.  It was liberating!  Ever since then, I think I have been on a mission to make up for lost time by eating a little extra. It is a miracle that I have not put on 300 pounds since that 'a ha' moment.


A few years ago I started to worry that I was addicted to ice cream.  I challenged myself to go a whole month without it. Wow, was that hard!  I craved ice cream more during that month than I think I ever had.  After the month had passed and I had ice cream again for the first time it tasted so good.  It reminded me of the doctrine that Brigham Young used to teach that the only power you can gain in this life is power over yourself.  And how wonderful the feeling is when you succeed. After that month our family decided each month to try to go without something.  Therefore, we did a month without chocolate, soda pop, fast food, cookies, eating after 7, TV...  Sadly, I think the month without TV was the hardest.

So now as I try to consume paradise on a cone in moderation I go armed with the knowledge that I can overcome my physical cravings and desires.

 Giddy Up, StevieG!

A Season of Joy

I have been very blessed!  When I stop and try to count my blessings I am quickly overwhelmed with all that I have been given.  This is a very happy conclusion but it is also quite scary to consider the expectations that must come to someone who has been given so much.  In the Bible we are told, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48.).  And in the Doctrine and Covenants we are warned, "For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation (D&C 82:3). 


At the beginning of this year Laura confided in me that she wondered if this might be a difficult year for our family.  I am not sure if these were inspired feelings allowing her to portend future events or rather a recognition of how fortunate we have been as a family over the years and acknowledging that it may be our turn to be tested.  After all, I do believe that this life is a time for us to be tested so that we can grow as we work together to overcome these trials.  So I guess it makes sense that I can't always expect sunny days.  


Recently, I have seen many people suffer through terrible illness, financial stability and even untimely death of a loved one.  I have wondered how they make it through such difficult circumstances.  Laura gave me great comfort when she pointed out the scripture, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it' (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Perhaps I have not had to suffer as much because I am not able to bear as much.  However, it is comforting to know that when I do have trials that they will not be more than I can handle and that the Lord will help me escape it.  


I am reminded of the early saints who had to endure so many terrible hardships one after another.  But as they began to rebuild their lives in Nauvoo they seemed to be given a period of rest where they could regain their strength and be ready for whatever lies ahead. They did not worry away this season of joy afraid of the next storm that might be coming.  Instead they worked together to build each other up and enjoy this rare time of peace.  


If there are clouds beginning to form beyond the horizon I need to do all that I can to prepare.  I need to fortify my defenses by building strong relationships within my family.  I need to lead by example in increasing my faith in the Lord.  I need to support others in their trials so that collectively we can be stronger.  I also need to be sure to enjoy the current weather and catch my breath so that when adversity comes I am ready to..."Giddy Up, StevieG!"

One of the Places on Earth My Family is Happiest

I do not enjoy roller coasters and other intense rides.  Whew! It feels good to get that off my chest.  As a child I can remember feeling the internal struggle of not wanting to go on certain "scary" rides, but also wanting to be a part of the unofficial 'club' of people that did.  I adopted the technique of holding on tightly to the bar, closing my eyes and counting the seconds until it was over.  I reasoned that just once was enough to be like everyone else.

Disneyland 2003

With that confession it may seem incongruent that one of my favorite family vacations is to go to Disneyland.  I absolutely love it!  I could go several times in the same year.  In fact, usually I have to convince the rest of the family that it is time to go again.  I don't know if it is the 'happiest place on earth' as Disney claims, but I do know it is one of the places on earth where my family is happiest.  Laura says the kids turn into super-kids when we go there.  They seem to acquire the super power of extra patience which helps to foster the ideal conditions for a great family vacation.  Don't get me wrong, it is exhausting.  We start early so we can be there when the gates open and stay until they kick us out at night.  We are on our feet for most of the time and usually have very little to eat (have you seen the food prices... ouch!).  By the time we walk back to our hotel at night my legs are usually throbbing in pain and I wonder how we are going to wake up in just a few short hours and do it all over again.  But somehow, magically (pixy dust?), the next morning my legs are fine and I can't wait to get back into the park.

California Screamin' - 2009

Luckily for me, I married Laura (period) who loves roller coasters.  She will often take the older kids on some of the more intense rides while I take the younger kids on Buzz Lightyear or Jungle Cruise (those jokes kill me every time).  However, as the kids are getting taller I no longer have an excuse, so for the good of the vacation, I relent and assume my old strategy to survive the ride.  The older kids are also very good at taking their turn on some of the kiddy or "dad" rides.  I think we have been on every ride at Disneyland and California Adventure except the Tiki Tiki Room and the Canoe Ride.  I guess getting into the 'club' for those rides just doesn't seem as enticing.

Disneyland 2009

People who know me and understand that I am averse to intense rides, spending money and large crowds have asked why I keep returning to Disneyland.  I think it is as simple as the title of this entry.  I love spending time with my family in one of the places where we are happiest.  Any sacrifices that are needed to get there seem trivial.  I think it is the same with heaven.  I know that being together as a  family after this life will be the pinnacle of happiness.  I also know that any obstacles or challenges that we have to overcome in this life in order to make it to heaven with my family are worth it.   Therefore, as I prepare to face life's challenges I will tighten my safety strap, keep my hands and feet in the vehicle at all times and...

Giddy Up,
StevieG

Video 1: Disnelyand over the years with the Porters

Video 2: Disneyland 2009

Trust Your Training!

This past year I joined Laura for just part of one of 4 marathons she completed this summer (she is my hero!).  It didn't take long for me to become painfully aware that the Park City Marathon course was not designed around speed, but rather to highlight the beautiful mountain scenery.  In order to keep my mind off the agony I began to take note of the various signs being held by the crowd that had come out to support (or deride) us.  Some signs bore encouraging sentiments: "You can do it", "We love you, mom", or "I'm so proud of you".  Others made me smile like: "They say 80% of running is mental... that means you are all crazy".  However, there was one sign that had a lasting impact on me.  It read simply, "Trust your training".  It occurred to me that besides telling someone NOT to run, this was the next best piece of advice you could give someone on race day.

Sample Training Plan - Ogden 2011 (goal time 3:45)

We usually spend around 5 months preparing to run a marathon by following a strict running schedule (sample below).  The running schedule we use is developed based on the distance we plan to run (marathon) and the time we want to achieve.  The schedule demands running 4-5 days a week at various speeds and distances. If we are fortunate enough to stay healthy, motivated and complete the training we might have a fighting chance at reaching out goal. However, more importantly than the physical preparation, the 5 months of training is meant to prepare us mentally for the inevitable moments during the race when we question our ability to complete the distance or keep up our target pace.  It is at this difficult time when I 'dig deep' into my memory and recall overcoming similar doubts over the previous 5 months of training.

Red Rock Relay - 2010

And so it is in life when we progress outside our comfort zone and worry that we are not ready.  Whether it is starting Jr High, High School, College, or a new job;  Or perhaps performing in a concert, big game, or taking a big test.  The knowledge that I have been prepared for each step by completing the prior training (graduation etc) is the confidence I need to keep moving forward.  I believe that this principle also holds true for after this life.  Through our Savior's example and teachings I believe we have all been given the training plan we need to prepare us for the step we will be taking after we die.  Do we trust this plan enough to follow it?  Will we have confidence as we meet our judge in heaven because we recognized that this life was the time to prepare to meet God (Alma 34: 32-34)  and so we worked hard and completed the training plan .

Red Rock Relay - 2010

I know I still have a lot of training I need to do in order to be ready to graduate from this life.  So I will lace up my shoes, toe the starting line (with my remaining 6 toe nails) and ...

Finish Line (Zions) of Red Rock Relay - 2010

Giddy up, StevieG!

New Year... Same Old Goals

At the start of each new year I try to take some time to reflect on the events and blessings of the previous year.  Sometimes I even get so bold as to create a slideshow of some of the highlights.  For example, here is a slideshow I made last year for Laura (my inspiration) to remind her of a very eventful 2009 - running, vacations, cosmetology school etc:

Next I like to jot down a few goals to focus on in the upcoming year. To help me decide on where to focus, I imagine myself a year in the future watching the slideshow of highlights.  After writing my goals for 2011 I stumbled on goal sheets from previous years.  I was disappointed to see that many of the goals I created this year were the same goals I write down each year.  Are these goals really not that important to me?  Or do I just need to be more focused and motivated all year long?  In an effort to clear the log jam of goals I have decided to publicize my goals in hopes of staying motivated.  At the very least, the humiliation of other people knowing that I fell short once again should convince me to try a different set of goals next year, right?

I was inspired by the scripture Luke 2:52 to set goals in 4 different areas.  My FY2011 goals are (Drum roll please)...

Wisdom--> Intellectual

• Learn 4 songs on the guitar
• Practice for 15 minutes at least 3x / week
• Learn a new chord each month (Taylor Swift recommendation)

Stature --> Physical

• Train for and run Marathon with Laura in under 3:50 (Boston Qualifier)
• Sign-up for Marathon (Ogden)
• Create and follow 18 week training marathon
• Complete P90x (or similar) program before beach trip in July
• Acquire program (DVDs)
• Eat a low fat, high protein diet

Favor with God --> Spiritual

• Write in a journal at least 1x / week (52x / year)
• Find Medium for journal (Blogger.com)
• Find regular time to write in journal (Sunday?)

Favor with man --> Social

• Rip all home movies to MP4 to be backed up and viewed on iPod, AppleTV etc
• Acquire all materials - External hard drive, Fire-wire cables, mozy.com account
• Rip 3/week (12 / month) starting Feb 1st.

Hopefully in a year I will be watching a slideshow that includes the accomplishment of these goals.  It is time to grab hold of the reins, give the horse a kick and ...

Giddy Up!

StevieG