I wrote a poem yesterday about the challenges we go through while on this journey we call life. May this little gem bless you as much as it has blessed me. I TRUST I WILL RECEIVE By Les Patterson Oh the challenges of life Be they large or kindly small May my heart wax confidently That in faith I may conquer all. May I look with courage strong Upon the obstacles in my path To see them as stepping stones…
Thirty years ago yesterday a love story began. It’s not a perfect love story, it’s full of challenges, mistakes, and rough patches. But it’s also full of joy, happiness, wonder, and amazement. Most importantly, it’s full of kindness, forgiveness, hope, and love. Elisa and I grew up in the same neighborhood. Her dad was my scoutmaster and I helped sheetrock their basement as a teenager. But Elisa was three years younger than me — a lifetime when you’re a teen —…
The first record I ever bought was “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen. It was a single 45rpm with “Don’t Try Suicide” on the flipside. I was in junior high and bought it one day after school at Thomas Music, a record shop and music store on Main Street in Richfield, Utah. I was a country music boy through and through at the time who had no desire to listen to rock-n-roll. But when I heard that distinct rhythmic…
Today in church we explored a talk given recently by Elder David A. Bednar, “Gather Together in One All Things in Christ.” Elder Bednar, an apostle for the Chuch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shared the illustration of a rope as an essential tool with which all of us are familiar. “Ropes are made from strands of fabric, plants, wire, or other materials that are each individually twisted or braided together. Interestingly, substances that may be quite unexceptional can…
Every journey we take is accomplished one day at a time. Difficult journeys; normal journeys. Hard journeys; easy journeys. “One Day At A Time,” no matter the journey, creates significant power on the very first day of a journey. One day at a time is the salvation of daily life. We don’t have to conquer the mountain in one day, nor must we eat the elephant in just one bite. I first learned the power of “One Day At A…
If you could listen to only one musical artist for the remainder of your life, who would it be? Quick, what is your initial answer? The bigger question — is that still the musical artist you would select if you could only listen to one for the rest of your life? It is not an easy question to answer. But if you were to ask me, I do have an answer. I’ll share as soon as someone asks me… Cool!…
Life is tough. Sometimes life is very tough. And sometimes we may not feel strong enough to get through those tough times. No matter what stage of life we are in, life is tough. It’s tough growing up as a kid, walking the hallways at school, trying to discover who we are. It’s tough transitioning into the reality of post-high school, processing adulthood responsibilities, and dealing with new relationships, or the lack of new relationships. It’s tough being newly married, figuring…
30 FOR 30 #1 I experienced a milestone in my life this week. I turned 50 years old. I approached this day with trepidation. It is hard to celebrate a day which reminds you that you are getting older. Les and I are celebrating another great milestone this year. On Feb 17, we are celebrating 30 years of marriage. As this day approaches I am excited. I love reliving all the beautiful and challenging memories which make up this beautiful…
Tough moments may sometimes feel like the norm rather than the exception, especially when you are bombarded by situations out of your control. Such tough moments can be very challenging. They hit at the very core of the value you see in yourself. They can make even the strongest doubt who they are. I believe it can be easier to bounce back, or even claw your way back up, if you fill your heart, soul, and mind with a better…
We explored last week the importance of reviewing the past year as a tool for creating a better year going forward. We looked at several areas, including what we hoped to accomplish, what we actually accomplished, what challenged us, and what we learned. Through the process, we discovered reviewing the past year will help us create better focus and clarity for the new year. Now it’s time to take what we learned and do something with it. This is where the…