Saturday my brother Shane would have turned 40 years old. I’ve been thinking about the challenging journey of his life and the impact it had on our family and those who knew him. Last year for Shane’s birthday our brother Marc and I spent the day with him. We both chose to give him the gift of simply just listening to him. Shane was passionate about many things. Sometimes his passion and ideas seemed unpractical and difficult to follow. But…
Lawrence Horman is homeless. He lives in a shipping trailer on a commercial lot and gets his electricity from a nearby power pole. At a recent town hall meeting for a proposed homeless resource center in Draper, Utah, Horman had something he wanted to share with the hundreds of residents in attendance. “We’ll help ourselves if you give us a place to start from.” That was the message he hoped to share. But Horman, according to an article in the…
Today is a new day. Today is the beginning of a new week. Today is another beautiful day of spring. Spring is a time of birth, hope, and renewal. Flowers burst forth from their winter hibernation. Baby Holstein calves dot the pastures around Cache Valley. I love the smell of spring in the air, watching robins flying around, and the rumble of my neighbors on their Harleys. Like the beginning of a new year, spring gives us the opportunity for…
“Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…” Not many stories start out this way anymore. Nor do they end… “And they lived happily ever after.” Still, every person has a story within themselves. It’s the story of who we are, what we think, and future we will create. Our individual story, that’s totally our own, is one of the most important and one of the most powerful parts of our life. While your story may have similarities…
Maybe coincidences really are the Lord working His tender mercies. Last Sunday, January 15th, I had the privilege of speaking in a sacrament meeting that morning for the Autumn Care Assisted Living Branch in Hyde Park, Utah. As I pondered what to speak about, I was drawn several times to Paul’s teachings to the Ephesians that they were “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). The impressions continued…
Running a nonprofit, no matter the cause, is an incredibly difficult and challenging adventure. Here are 8 1/2 ideas to help your nonprofit Gain the Red Edge! 1. Clearly identify your primary mission, focus, and direction. 2. Establish your board of directors, if you haven’t already, who have specific expertise in various areas such as legal, accounting, marketing, mental health, etc. Direct them to hold you accountable to your primary mission. 3. Run your nonprofit like a business. Set goals,…
Nestled on the east side of the cemetery in Hyde Park lies the little known grave of Civil War veteran Joseph Cain. According to his headstone, Cain was a private in Company B of the 50th Regiment in the Illinois Infantry. He was born September 30, 1841, and died February 16, 1907. That’s the facts; but that’s all they are, bare facts. What is the rest of his story? What brought him to Utah, to Cache Valley? Did he have…
My daughter Leslie has been encouraging me to write in my journal. I tell her a write in my journal every Monday morning, but she says that doesn’t count. While serving as a missionary and in my early military years I was more regular journal keeper. I wrote about everything; well, almost everything. When I go back and read I find lots of what I did but very little of what I thought. I guess that’s why I feel the…
The internal clock on my smartphone was stuck on Central Time for a couple days last week. All appointments I entered into my calendar automatically offset by an hour. I was constantly checking another source to verify what time it really was. All appointments I entered into my calendar automatically offset by an hour. I was constantly checking another source to verify what time it really was. What caused the technical hiccup? While I’ll probably never know for sure,…
I love Mondays! Just in case you didn’t know. Always have. Always will. I find the day refreshing, rejuvenating, and a great way to mentally reset. Last week I explored the concept behind the Monday Morning Boost and the question: “Why Mondays?” Several of you chimed in with your thoughts, and I’m excited to share a few. I’ll also share the event that inspired the name Monday Morning Boost. The new week is a great way to create a mental…