Where have you been?

I know, I know I haven't written anything on my blog for a long time. Sorry I have been busy with work and stuff! Oh, and did I mention my wife and I took a wonderful trip to the Mediterranean? I wish I had all the time in the world to devote to "blogging" but I dont. I have to keep the wheels turning or else this household doesn't exist. Just kidding I would argue that Hillary pitches in to keep the wheels turning as far as the kids clothes, occasional food and dance fees for Soraya. Seriously she does her fare share! Where would I be without my Hilly? God knows I would be the biggest stoner alive if Hillary didnt say yes when I asked her to marry me. Good thing she said yes because I have the best extended family, the best kids, the best life!

This Christmas season is really for us this year, a time to be thankful for all our freinds and family. We have quite a strong support system. Even though we may not spend as much time with all our family, I would guarantee that if we were ever in need of something they would all be willing to help. I thank God for them they really are special to us.

So what do I want for Christmas? To be honest I really dont want anything for myself. What I do want is for my kids to get what they need and want. Isnt Christmas really for the little ones? To be honest when I need something or want something I typically go and get. I do this all through the year so when it gets to Christmas time there really isnt anything for me to want or need. I can tell you that there is nothing better than to watch your kids open their gifts on Christmas day! That in itself is a gift I alwasy look foward to each year.

Well everyone enjoy yourselves this Holiday season! We love you!

I Thank God

Out of the billions of people in the world today many of them passed away today by accidents, old age, disease, drug abuse, physical abuse, etc. Ever wonder when it will be your time to go? Ever wonder if God really is there watching over you? Today I found out how significant I am to my Father in Heaven, He really does listen and watches over us!Today I rafted for the first time down the Snake River in Wyoming at about 10 AM. I had gone rafting only one other time with Hillary in Costa Rica. The river in Costa Rica was quite tame compared to the Snake River which has reached a 10 year high due to the long winter run off in Jackson. If you have ever rafted the Snake River there is a portion of the river that is named the "Lunch Counter." This is named so because its quite possible that going through it just might make you lose your lunch!This portion of the river had a rapid that was easily a class "5" or higher it was about 6'f to 7'f high. The reason I know that is because you can actually walk down and look at it and watch rafters go right through it! Anyhow I was with a group of about 20 people, we had 2 rafts for all of us to float down on. Some people chose not to float down but rather chose to drive down and watch us go through the rapids. In my boat we had a total of 8 people. Dennis (Owner Jensens Floor Coverings), Clint Beckstead (my boss), Kyle Roberts (Tuftex Rep), Kara, Stephanie, and an 11 year old boy named Jackson (all 3 related somehow to the Jensens). I was on the front of the Boat on the right hand side, my responsibility was to listen to the "Rudders" instructions on when and when not to paddle. Anyhow as we started things were mild and we only faced a few small rapids at the beginning as we continued on we came upon a rapid that had a large island of rocks coming from the side of the river. As we went towards it our boat swung sideways and buckled and flipped in the rapid tossing all but one person from it send us all down river. I heard screaming and yelling and as I tried to get to the side of the river I saw some rocks above the river I thought I could gab on to and just as I did a big push of water knocked me off and sent me further down. The rule is if you are heading down river through rapids lay back and float down with your feet first so that's exactly what I did and let me tell you it wasn't as easy as it sounds. I could see up a head of me more rapids and some more rock extending out in to the river as I headed into it I got caught in what is called an "Eddie: or a "Hydraulic" This is where the river water runs over the rock and water underneath is moving up river causing sort of a whirlpool. I got sucked into it and waves kept crashing right over the top of me pushing me underneath and every time I came up I had just a split second to try and get some air. I did this several times sitting and spinning in just the same place. I began to loose air, I began to panic, I was losing hope. As I saw myself looking up towards the sky underneath the water, the sounds of the ferocious waves swirling over me I wanted to give up. Just when I thought I had reached the end of my life my body relaxed and boom, immediately I popped up out of the water to find a commercial rifting drifting towards me with people leaning over the side with the ends of their ores out towards me. I reached up and caught one and then two men pulled me up by my life preserver into their boat. God through the help of his people chose to save me today at the moment, yeah little old insignificant me! Out of the billions of people in the world God heard me underneath that rushing water, he heard me quietly in my mind call for help. As the raft brought me to the shore to my group and raft I looked down and realized that I had large scratches on my thighs and gashes out of my shins. My adrenaline must have been pumping really hard I didn't even realize it, nor did I realize the frigid water I was just dumped in. Kara and Jackson (11 yr old boy) were the other ones besides myself that got scared and injured. Kara had a broken nose and had similar gashes in her shins, while her son Jackson was scared out of his mind he thought he lost his mom and wouldn't see her again because they had become separated. As we all regrouped and calmed down Kara and Jackson decided not to continue down the river I chose to stay along with them because at that point I wasn't going to risk my life and ruin my family's life just for a little adventure. At least not for today anyway. So I chose to hike out to the road with Kara and Jackson in hopes to get some help and have our wounds attended to while the others would continue down the river and get some help. Well needless to say our adventure didn't end here. The hike was quite steep up towards the road. The hill was lined with nothing but lose rock and grass. The hill became so steep that Jackson the 11 year old boy began to panic and couldn't continue. I had to calm him down and figure out a alternate way out to get to the road. At one point Kara decided to continue to ascend the hill and Jackson and I became separated from her for about 45 minutes and that's when Jackson lost it! In his mind he lost his mom in the river found her again and then lost her again on the hill and wouldn't see her ever again. Again I had to calm him down and pray with him that we find his mom and we would get out okay. An hour and a half later Jackson and I found his Mom she had already made it out and he started screaming his moms name he was so happy! At that moment he turned to me and hugged me and said, "thank you, thank you I would never had made it out if you hadn't helped me get through all this." I guess the moral to this life changing story is be prepared, be ready for the challenges life will bring you. Reach out to help someone or save someone even if the situation takes you out of your comfort zone. Live a good life, be a good person love your family you never know when it will be your time. Know that there is a God, he knows who you are, where you are and what you are doing. Be willing to give him thanks for all that you have and make an effort to live according to his will the best that you can. Remember we will never be perfect in this life, we will never all be adequately prepared to meet our maker when its our time to go, but do your best all the time and if you slip get back up again and keep pressing along. God Bless all of you!

Goooooooshhh!

What? Seriously what? Why has everyone been hounding me about not updating my blog since Christmas? Lame! I don't have time for this, geez! Just kidding! So whats up everybody? How is everbody doing tonight? Tonight I am anxiously awaiting my wife to come home because she said I get to open up my Fathers Day present, yeah baby!Hmmm I wonder what she got me this year? The excitement is killing me like a song in the night (whatever that meant)! Anyhow, Ill wait patiently here for a while til she arrives.

Tomorrow Nate Noel, Steve Corpuz, Jason Wallin and myself are traveling down to Mesquite for our annual golf tournament. We will probably play 9 holes at the Fillmore golf course on our way down, we need all the warming up we can get. Well, I won't speak for all of us, lets just say I need all the warming up I can get! I pretty much suck at golf! Oh well! Its fun to get away with the bro's and play some golf, see a movie, drink some root beers and puff on bubble gum cigars! According to the weather man it is supposed to get to 103' F in Mesquite for that reason we are tee'ing off at 7:00 am this year! Ill keep you posted and let you know how many houses I was able to puncture with my golf balls!

As for my chillens have fun with Uncle Ty and Aunt Liza! Dont let their dog eat you! Bye Osita have fun with Rajathi! See everyone Sunday! Peace and Im out!

White Christmas

Well he came and he went! What am I talking about? Santa Claus you fool! Just kidding, but seriously Christmas day came and went just like a thief in the night. It was a good Christmas though, the kids were happy the wife (although sick and feeble) was happy which meant I was happy too. I hope the kids realize how good they have it! Before Christmas we took them down to the homeless shelter in downtown Salt Lake City. We gathered some old toys and clothes from home so that we could donate them to the shelter. While we were down there the kids got to see 2 large lines of homeless people, one line was for food and the second line was the one to see if they could get a place to sleep for the night. My daughter Soraya on Christmas day said to me when she finished opening all her presents, "I hope Santa went to give presents to the homeless too." I think it did help a little to have the kids give something to the shelter and to see how difficult homeless life can be, hopefully they have a new perspective and appreciation for what they have. Thanks Santa! Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year!

"Que mai"

Well as you've already figured out from my wife's blog we arrived safe and tan from Costa Rica. It was awesome! There is no way we could have afforded to that on our own! Earning through work is definitely the way to do it. Probably the funnest thing I did down there was the white water rafting through the jungles of Costa Rica. Here are some pictures, enjoy!

Two Weeks To Go

Costa Rica is just around the corner. Last night my wife Hillary and I went to get all our shopping done for the trip. We had to get luggage because we've never had a good quality set, and we had to buy cool clothes to wear like sandals, shorts, etc. We needed to get tanning lotion along with bug repellent and rain jackets. I am sure we will just have sunshine and we will come back all crispy and dark, right in time to make everyone jealous during the Holidays! While every ones tans have faded ours will be truly fresh!!! Hillary is getting totally excited! When I talk to you her I can see visions of sunshine, beaches and adventure dance through her mind. So who's going to watch the kids while were gone? Well my father and mother will be staying at our house to watch them. This will be quite a task for them, even though they raised nine kids. Unless you are immersed in child rearing all the time, watching four kids can be really difficult! I know they can do it though, my kids adore them. Anyhow sorry to make you jealous that we're going somewhere cool and your not but sometimes thats life! I did work hard to go though, so I really don't feel bad at all. Adios!

2008 Greek Isle Cruise

Well I was right! For next years work trip we will be taking a Greek Isle Cruise on the Royal Caribbean in November 2008. I have 3 quarters to qualify and qualifications start October 1st. Sounds like a good time and I should qualify for it as longs as I hit all my quota's. See you there!