Respect Is A Powerful Inhibitor Of Temptation ...

Respect is a powerful influence in doing what is right. While admiration may lead you to temptation, respect inspires your best behavior. When we respect one another we acknowledge the fact that they are a son or daughter of God and we treat each other as such whether they acknowledge that or not. Understanding who we are and the expectations that come from our divine parentage leads us not only to doing good to others but to respect their property as well.
When we respect God we also respect his creations. The temptation to litter, misuse resources, or otherwise truly damage the environment is inhibited when we respect God's creations. Vandalism, theft, and violence is not a temptation when we respect our neighbors. Morality comes naturally when we respect each other.  When we respect God his commandments are easy to keep. When we respect each other laws are not needed. Maybe this is what Christ meant when he said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."
Respect brings us a greater appreciation for the good in all people. 

If I Can Walk It I Can Run It

The Saturday before last, my family decided that we would have some fun up at the University of Utah 5k. The event was to kick off Health Week at the University and bring awareness to Atrial fibrillation.
So, bright and early we headed out for the 5k. Matt was his usual grumpy self not wanting to go anywhere, but once we got him out of the van he was excited to be there. As we wandered over to the starting line Matt paused and reminded us that we need to stretch. He then started doing a runners stretch and then touched his toes and then as we were finishing our stretches he started shaking his legs loosening them up, and said, "We got get ready to run."
As the race got underway we kind of held back so that the registered runners could run ahead of us. As we continued through the campus we made the first mile with little problem. We stopped at the water station and continued on. Matt kept running so, while we intended to run or walk together, Spence decided to fall back so DeeAnn stayed with him. Matt just kept running so I kept running with him. As we were running Matt just kept talking and talking about all kinds of stuff, but he made one statement that revealed where he was getting his energy to run. He said, "I told myself, if I can walk it, I can run it."...and he did. He ran the whole way.
We have the ability to draw upon that same power if we just believe. Let this motto rise from within, "If I can walk it I can run it." Let that seed grow in your heart until you can sit no longer... Then Start Walking!

We Mourn With Those That Mourn

It doesn't matter how strong our faith, when the generation ahead of us takes their final sigh and gives their final good bye there is a certain amount of uncertainty that weighs upon us as we are asked to take the lead. And though we may feel alone for a time if we listen closely their voice is ever present guiding us through those obstacles they could not while they were with us. So, we mourn with those that mourn and we rejoice with those that rejoice that by lightening their burden our own burdens are made bearable.

10 Years Ago...9-11

Ten years ago today I remember waking up hearing something about a plane that had flown into one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City. At the time they were not sure what size of plane nor if it was on purpose. I jumped out of bed and turned on the T.V. it wasn't more than a couple of minutes when the second plane flew into Tower number two... I remember feeling sick to my stomach wondering what just happened, but deep down knowing that something terrible was going on, this was no accident.
My eyes were peeled to the television as I got ready for work and then at work I watched as the evil fires of hatred brought down tower number one and then tower number two. That day is burned in my memory forever.
I remember the feeling of uncertainty, the over all feeling of uneasiness, some fear, some anger. That day we became a new country. That day we were the United States of America. We were all New Yorkers. We were all Americans. We set aside the petty political bickering and we prayed... We sang God bless America, and we meant it.
That day more than 3,000 people lost their lives at the hands of evil. 3,000 lives is hard to imagine when you are watching the metal and debris, but you don't see any bodies. It seems unreal...like a number is just a number. Your mind goes numb to the concept that in one fateful event so many innocent lives could be lost.

Oh, how our memories are so short. How easy it is to forget who the enemy really is.

Today we commemorated the 10th Anniversary of that fateful day.We as a family decided we should go to the Healing Fields in Sandy. There we began to understand what 3,000 lives really means. It was an emotional, spiritual experience. Flags were placed about 6 feet apart 28 wide and 110 deep, it was a quarter of a mile to walk from front to back. Each flag had a tag with a name and a brief story about the individuals who the flag represented. Many had tears in their eyes, including myself, as we read about those who lost their lives.

The world Changed 10 years ago. It will never be the same, but it is yet to be determined whether the world will be a better place or not...That is up to us.

I personally am grateful to know how the story ends... There is hope!

Our Favorite Salsa Recipe Just Leveled Up

As the summer begins to wind down we begin to look forward to the blessings of our hard work. The tomatoes that seemed to take forever to begin to ripen are now beginning to trickle through our door with more regularity. The onions have been waiting, and the peppers...well, my peppers this year seem to be playing catch up. Now it is time to bring all these vegetables together for a party of flavors that hopefully will last through the winter season.

This recipe is one that my sister came across a couple of years ago, and we have loved it. It has been our favorite recipe ever since we were introduced to it. However, we just can't leave a good thing alone. Sometimes it works for us, sometimes it works against us. This time we added chipotle to the recipe and it definitely worked for us. That is the flavor that sent my tongue into a happy dance with the first batch of salsa this year. So, I hope you enjoy!

Our Favorite Salsa

8 Cups tomatoes cored, seeded, and diced. (dicing the tomatoes rather than blending helps keep it thick)
2 1/2 Cups         Onions
1 1/2 Cups         Bell Peppers
6                        Jalapenos (adjust as desired)
6 Cloves            Garlic (I always sneak more in ;) )
1-2 tsp               Cummin
2 Tbls                Salt
1/3 Cup             Vinegar
1/3 Cup             Sugar
15oz                  Tomato sauce
12oz                  Tomato paste
4 Tbls                Chipotle peppers blended from a can (I will add more when my wife is not looking ;) ) 


Combine ingredients in a stock pot and simmer for 10 minutes bottle and process for 10 more minutes.    Let the happy dance begin!