Moments To Be Grateful For

As a father, I am always trying to teach my kids between right and wrong, between honest and well, you know the rest, the list can go on and on.  It seems sometimes that there are so many moments where I feel what I am doing is a waste of time.  I seriously feel sometimes that nothing is getting through and that every ounce of effort I put in is being combated with a dumb kid move or the "I don't know" reasoning.  In fact, over the last few weeks, even with the threats that Santa will not come, I have felt like my kids just don't listen or even hear what I am saying.  I mean, how often, be honest, do you tell a child over and over to do something, to get something, or to listen, to only have them go do or say something completely different right after your comment.  Me, everyday this happens.  I mean, someone shoot me!

So my wife comes home the other day and says, I need to tell you something about Brenden (our 9 year old).  I think to myself, Brenden is a pretty good kid, but once in a while, well, dumb will happen.  My wife says, "Brenden saw a person drop a dollar on the ground", I had no initial thought.  Most of the time we think, ok, the kid thinks they find money, so it is their money, even if they watched a person drop it.  So my wife continues, "he saw the person drop the dollar, picked it up and ran over to them to give it back to them.  I was so happy to hear that.  It is such a simple thing, I mean it is only a dollar, 100 pennies.  The fact that he thought that was the right thing to do, that he had that thought in his kid brain, that was wonderful to me.  Brenden is always one to do good, and choose the right, but in this case, it deals with money.  Money changes people, let alone a young kid.

I was so proud of him and his honesty.  He will make an amazing older brother, missionary and father some day.  If I could just get him to put his shoes in his room.

So the 6-year old in our home, Caden cannot be left out of this.  It was interesting to watch him the other day.  We had just finished prayer, were putting everyone to bed.  Our youngest boy, Isaac fell asleep on the couch.  We told the boys to get in their beds, and we were helping our oldest daughter get to bed.  There seem to be a lot going on that night, and we were busy helping her with something.  So when Caden came back in the room, I was ready to yell at him, "get to bed".  You understand right, if you read above, you understand.  For some reason, I kept my cool and just looked at him.  He said, Dad, I put a blanket on Isaac while he is asleep on the couch.  Great, I told him, and I was back to helping my wife and daughter.  A few minutes later, he comes back in.  Again, think if my opening words, I am ready to yell at him, "go to bed!!!", but I keep my cool.  He says, "Dad, I put a pillow under Isaac so he can sleep good until you take him to bed".  So I look at him, this rambunctious 6-year old who loves to do the opposite of what he should sometimes.  I look at him and thank him for what he is doing and for caring.  I tell him that is very nice and that he has a good heart.

So two things, one, don't yell right away.  It can sting later.  Two, wow!  That is a sweet thing to do, and a very charitable thing from my view point.  Something that a dad can always be proud of.

These young boys have a lot to learn, they have a lot to practice and overcome (just being a kid can be hard enough), but I have to say, maybe sometimes things are heard.  Maybe sometimes they are getting through the wax in the ears.  Regardless, I am proud of my boys and they great men they are becoming.

Holiday Season and My Thoughts

At the beginning of the holiday season, things were just great.  Family was looking forward to Christmas, kids were excited to see Santa, and I was looking forward to what I might receive for Christmas.  Since Thanksgiving, all I have thought about were presents and decorations.  You know, the typical ways we celebrate the time of year.  We even have a brief service project in mind, one that would include and help a family member, but nothing we had to go out of our way for.  You know, write a check and all is well.

Move to this morning, December 5, 2011.  I received a phone call from my Mother-In-Law.  When I answered, she sounded a bit down.  I said hello in a “chipper” way to let her know I was happy to hear from her.  That did not work.  She immediately said, “Jeremy, Greg is being taken off life support today”.

I was playing basketball the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Greg was there with his three kids (they sat watching) and he was there with his brother and my brother-in-laws.  We had a good time, and of course, Greg was the hot item, tall, fast, hit three’s like crazy and was the most in shape of all of us.

This young man is part of a family that is very close with my Wife’s family.  They have known each other for years.  And it hit me so hard to hear that he will be gone for Christmas, taken in the prime of his life, leaving three kids, a fourth on the way and a wonderful wife behind.

So now, I sit here a few hours later, a few tears have been shed, and I began to think about how many have it so hard this time of year that I know.  I began to think more about this family losing their father, I took thought to my sister who is pregnant, but we know that the baby, who will make it full term, may only have a few hours to live after birth, my heart began to pound for my brother who is divorced and will not be with his children on Christmas day, I began to think of Kevin, who is in the process of divorce.  My sweet sister-in-law who is trying for divorce, who has so many challenges and as many responsibilities. Then I remembered our Vick Family Christmas project, Jeremy, Brooke’s cousin who has cancer and then to my great Uncle who just found out he has cancer and lost his job.  Then to my friend who is helping a family with 11-kids, no fathers in the picture, heating house on a wood stove and cooking food on a hot plate.

So now I sit here writing this note to myself in appreciation to my God for all he has done for me and for what he has provided me and my family.  A home, food, health, my needs, my wants and even an abundance of love.  I think about the trials these families are going through and how strong they must be to have this trial, but how hard it must be regardless.  I wonder how anyone can handle such situations without losing it.  I know that I would be a mess and have no patience for any of these things.  Even harder, as a man, feeling helpless, like there was nothing I could do.

So I take this time to tell myself, my family, you, that this year will not be the status quo!  There is much to be done in God’s Kingdom and I am blessed enough to get it done.  It will take some thinking and working with my Wife, but we will not sit idly by and just “write a check”.  We will provide service, we will provide love and we will provide for those in need, their needs and if we can, wants!

Happy Holidays to all, Merry Christmas to everyone and God bless you all!

Can I Do Some Sit-Ups?

So I am a Scoutmaster for the 12-13 year old's in our Ward and Scout Troop.  I have nine scouts and they are great.  We have a lot of fun camping and learning skills, and the guys are great.  One of the things that I really work on is being on time, and wearing the right uniform for the day.  These guys know that if our event starts at 7:00 PM, they on time is no later than 6:59 PM.  It is funny to see them run up the stairs of the building as they arrive, when they know they are close to the time.  They are hurrying, and the other scouts are always cheering and saying, hurry, hurry!!!

Well, if they are on time, and they are wearing the right uniform that is required, I give each one of them a dollar candy.  It is a tradition now, probably not good for the bank account, but it works.  I do not give in much, I am very strict, so if they are not on time, they know there is no reward.

So, a few weeks ago, everyone was on time but two of them, a couple of guys forgot parts of their uniform, but most were very close.  I am not sure what got into me, but I decided to be charitable and so I said to them, to those that did not get the reward, that I would allow for them to earn it.  Push-ups!  25 each.  Too funny I thought, but they began to do them.  One young man was trying hard, but just is not strong enough to do the push-ups.  So I said, find, do 50 sit-ups.  Those are not as hard and he seemed very confident that he could do them.  As he began, I realized that he would not make it.  I began to think in my mind, how am I going to get this young man through this.  I am very strict, and one must comply, and so how can I help him without being soft and not keeping my word.  I began to worry and stress about this.

The other scouts were cheering for this scout, trying to motivate him along.  He was giving a very valiant effort, but could barley get to three sit-ups.  I said to him, you cannot get the reward with out the work being done.  So keep working hard, you can do it.  Suddenly one of the scouts looked at me and said, Brother Vick, can I do 10 sit-ups for him, will you count it as his if I do it for him?  Without any hesitation, I said yes!  Then I went on to say, I want the work done, and if you choose to do this for him I will accept it as his as long as you are aware he still get the reward.  The scout said, no problem and began to do the sit-ups.  Then from the other scouts another scout said, well  I will do 10, and then another and another, and another.  Finally, there were four other scouts doing the sit-ups, others cheering and one scout working hard to complete his own sit-ups that were required.  When it was all said and done, I received the 50 push-ups I requested, everyone received an award and my little troop, troop 1148 came together, served each other and became on, even if it was for that evening.

I am very proud of my Scouts!  I would not have expected that from them one year ago when I started, but they are growing up and becoming men.  What a great honor it is to serve with them and to see them grow and learn the aspects of the gospel, and implement it in their lives.

Pinewood Derby Build

My son has a pinewood derby coming up tonight.  We have spent the last few weeks designing and building his car.  I really have enjoyed spending time with him during this.  He has really enjoyed building a finished product as well.  I have really tried to allow him to build, design, and take the lead in this.  It is hard to let that happen, but it was fun to see his face after each step.  The car looks awesome, not perfect, but it is his car.  I asked him the other day if he felt like I did more of the car or if he felt he did more.  He looked at me and said, "I feel we did it together and we both made the car together".  That made me feel really good.  I have to admit that at times I would get frustrated with him and try to do it myself, but I really focused on letting him do it and let the mistakes be a non-issue.  I think that helped me learn how good my boy is at things.  It was amazing how smart he is and how he can really put things together.

Blessing Brynlie

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to bless our baby in church.  We call it a name and a blessing, but other religions will call a christening.  It is not exactly the same thing, but for an understanding, that would be close.  In this, we pray to our Heavenly Father and give the child a name and a blessing.  This is not a saving ordinance, but something that helps bring the baby into the fold for the ward.  I have always felt a little silly doing this as it is more of a tradition that anything, but it is something we do and it does not hurt at all.  For this one, with our newest child, I felt that same in morning as I have with the others, not thinking much of it, but feeling this is a nice occasion.  A funny thing happened when I entered the church building.  I felt the spirit very strong.  I sat down to reserve seats and began to ponder what I would do and say.  A bit later, my Wife Brooke, arrived with our baby.  Brynlie was so small and cute, she was all dressed in white.  A white dress that Ashlyn (our oldest daughter) wore for her blessing.  At that point, the spirit hit me very strong, and I felt so warm and happy.  Excited to participate in this blessing.  Again when the opening song began, I could not sing.  I was choked up.  I felt the spirit so strong.  As they called us up for our turn to do the blessing, I almost lost it.  I had to work very hard to compose myself.  I gave the prayer, very simple but focused.  It was a sweet blessing.  I then sat down and worked very hard to compose myself again.  It was a fast Sunday and there was time for me to bare my testimony.  It was very short, but the gratitude I felt towards my Heavenly Father and the peace I felt was amazing.  I was so grateful to be able to do that and happy that our little daughter is here with our family.  She is a great part of the family and that day, giving her a blessing only helped me feel how wonderful and important that she is and how a big part of the family she has already become.

Why Mormon Today

A relative asked me today why I named my blog the title I did.  No real reason, I wanted something that showed my religion, and I also wanted something that showed I would talk about my life now and how the past has formed me into what I am now.  No real reason, maybe it sounded like a newspaper, not really sure, but I like it.  Bottom line is, I want to make this blag about my life and how my religion has affected my life.

Being a Husband

I took my brother to the Utah football home opener the other day.  It gave us some time to not think about work but to hang out and just chat.  It was a lot of fun.  We get along real well.  It was interesting as we chatted.  We began to talk about our wives and how grateful we are for the lives we have and for our wives that treat us so well and take care of us.  I do not mean to say that life is not perfect, but it was really nice to share things  with each other that made us both realize, I believe, that we were not appreciating what we have to its fullest.  There is so much to be grateful for, and as I read the August Ensign about marriage I realized what I was not doing and therefore as I was not feeling fulfilled, I was becoming more selfish.  That selfishness was getting me no where.  A change of tune, I mean immediate, and more service to my wife and kids really helped things turn for the better.  It is better to serve and be wrong that to not serve and think you are right.

The Begining

I thought that today would be the day that I really begin to blog about life.  Not just any life but Mormon life.  We see reality shows all the time.  I think sometimes they are crazy but on occasion they can be fun and even informative.  I like when I can relate to someone and see that I am not alone in the world.  So, I begin this blog spot and have called it Mormon Today.  Mormon Today will be my daily interactions as a father, parent, husband, employee, church member, neighbor and every day life.  I hope you enjoy it and chime in when you have a chance.