My View of Life - Never Better!

This is my third and final blog.  It brings my life up to the present.  That's great!  It must mean I'm finally on top of my game.  Well, I forgot one little tidbit.  We have four children.  They're totally fantastic for sure, but for some reason, I thought they were immune to the challenges of growing up.  I mean, well, Lisa and I raised them.  So...they get a free pass because we'd put all our energy into raising them for the past 30 years.

I'm sure you know as well as I do that no one gets a free pass.  I sure struggled as a young teen.  Thanks to the efforts of my parents and siblings I finally got some sense knocked into me during my senior year of high school.  And then, later on, Lisa and I found out that it takes work to make a marriage, well--work. 

The kids, like dominoes, met the challenges of life, conquering some, and giving in to others as we all do.  As parents you try everything.  "I'm not your friend right now!  I'm your disciplinarian.  You've got to straighten up!"  or "Let's spend more time together. We're going to have to go to your friends parents and get to the bottom of this."  So on and so forth.  Loving, coaxing, bribing, helping, listening, caring...  All the while being frustrated, confused, upset--the entire realm of emotion right? 

How do parents juggle raising their children in the world today, and expend any leftover energy making a living?  Or is it the other way around?  With Lisa and I, it was always the kids.

So I finally found the main problem.  It was me!  I didn't know how to act to their behavior.  I became frustrated, confused, and upset as I mentioned before.  Work in the ER became arduous.  My arthritis flared up, and...my light went out.  I couldn't deal with...it.  Whether it was me, the ER, the kids...I couldn't go on.  I left the ER and all my friends and moved to the recovery room. 

That was probably not a good idea.  In my state of mind, learning a new job caused more  uneasiness and my frustration grew.  I missed my former life.  My tears flowed frequently.  I was lost.

That's when the light bulb came on.  It's too bad I have to hit rock bottom before I cast my burden at Jesus feet.  I'm probably like doubting Thomas.  I won't believe until I see, or I won't ask until I have to.   Well, I should have asked and went to my Savior when I was doing well, so I would have been prepared.  Finally, I asked, prayed, plead, and cried.  The answers came.

I had a beautiful helpmeet at my side.  She was excellent at everything where I was weak, and I was strong where she was a little weak.  We worked as a team.  Strange but marvelous things began happening.  Sure, the kids continued on with their youthful battles--working on a new marriage, young adulthood, peer pressure, and all of the adversaries entisings but the real miracle was Lisa and I. 

Our jobs weren't arduous any more.  Instead of despair and frustration we felt hope, faith, peace, and comfort.  We felt renewed--happy.  Can you believe it?  We found happiness in the midst of the trials.  Well, the first and natural thing to do was pour more love on them.  It worked!  Actually, they were overcoming life's challenges valiantly on their own, but I know our love ignited sparks of hope and courage in them as well. 

I learned a few things while raising my children.  Growing up isn't easy.  Your kids likely will struggle.  Again there are no free passes.   You need the Lord's help.  He'll strengthen you, bless you, and ease your burdens, as in my case he replaced our frustration with hope and happiness.  And it takes a family.  On this website under articles I wrote an article that was published in a worldwide magazine called the Ensign.  It tells of the tremendous help my sister Char was to me as I met the challenges of a young teen. 

One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 22:6.  Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.  I have a prodigious testimony of family no matter what form or shape.  I believe our nation is only as strong as the families within it.

In the ER I frequently take care of the elderly.  Guess what they always share with me.  That's right.  They have an accurate count of all their children, grand children, and great grand children, and often they know just how they're doing.  Their posterity is their pride and joy--their work and their glory.

My children are all grown now.  Don't ask me to talk about them because I'll probably tear up.

Cherie is an angel--a beautiful wife and mother of four.  She has determination that's out of this world.  She is going to accomplish great things.  Her husband Kevin in my words is--a wonderful man.  Their home is a sanctuary of peace and comfort for all who enter.

Nicole is an angel as well.  A beautiful wife and mother of two.  She has more talent and capability in her little finger than I have in my whole being.  She's going to accomplish great things as well.  Her husband Bronson is also a wonderful man.  I take advantage of every opportunity to associate with my son-in-laws--they're fun.

Our Son Brycen is angelic to me as well.  He recently returned from his two year mission to New Mexico. He's a new husband and father, and he's excellent at it.  He's going into nursing like his parents.  He'll be terrific!  I love to be with him.  He makes me feel better.

Our Son Nathan is in Mexico serving a full time mission to bring people unto Christ.  He's been gone one year--we miss him so much.  But we're so proud of him.  His letters that we receive each Monday, speak of his love and devotion for the Spanish people, and his joy as he witnesses the blessings that flow into their lives as they come unto Christ.  Each one makes Lisa and I cry.

As for Lisa and I, well, after 31 years I'm not me anymore.  It's Lisa and I.  I can't imagine life without her.  Truly man is not without the woman.  She's been right by my side supporting, lifting, comforting, and loving without letting up.  Surely there's more beyond this life.  I want her with me, I need her, love her--I want her as my bride always and forever.

As for me, myself-- I'm a dreamer.  I'm driven.  I never seem to have a spare second.  If I'm not working I'm writing.   I've written a novel that I hope will soon be published.  It's genre is romance and it highlights chastity, and the importance and eternal nature of marriage.  I've written two other books that are still in the editing phase.  Maybe someday a movie will be made of one of them.  My only desire, whether it's writing, working in the ER,  or enjoying my children or friends, is to bring people unto Christ by simply living the blessings that I've received.

Now, at age 53, I'm well aware of new challenges that might be lurking around the corner.  Therefore I can say, with wisdom backing,-- that I am  on top of my game.  For I believe I've found how to find happiness and enjoy the ride all along the way.  I plan on continuing to be...NEVER BETTER.