Christmas in July

Well folks, this year is more than half over... This month was the first month after the halfway mark and reassessment of where things were, it started with asking myself where are you right now (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, financially and socially) and where will you be and what's the next step? Taking inventory (I totally copied this from Payton's notebook.) Tony Robbins always says that the quality of your life is the quality of your relationships and the questions you ask yourself. Then this month was action packed, emotional turmoil, reassessment of all goals, new direction, and realignment of what we set out to do in January.

The kitchen started to get more decorated and I love the way that it is starting to look, the whole house will be decorated before the end of the year, Scrappy (the dog) ran away and the manhunt has begun, (I guess I should say dog hunt) And on the home front, I love mowing my lawn and pulling weeds and stuff. I need to get some fertilizer on my lawn, I need some green grass!

So to start off the month, Emily & Sterling got engaged, he proposed at the Murray arts center while they were ballroom dancing. He ran onto the stage and took the mic, professed his love and asked for a waltz with her in front of everyone. So they did that then he spun her around and he was on one knee and he proposed. Pretty cute I'd say! The ring is awesome. She likes it, they're totally happy and love each other, the whole thing just makes sense. They're great together. It cracks me up that he was one of the lucky few to have gotten out of the friend zone and now engaged to my sister, it's cool that they're getting married, I'm happy for them. The date is set for January 21st, 2012. They have a Facebook event, you should check it out and go!

Emotionally I got vulnerable and a tad lonely and was feeling fully ready for a relationship, so I feel as though I had a full and healthy relationship this month, there were many ups and downs emotionally and a lot of fun and memories made, but I learned the areas in which I need to improve and so the growing begins. Maybe next time? I have work to do on myself more before I am ready for the relationship that leads to marriage or "the one" as it's been said. Who knows when it'll be but I hope it's sooner rather than later, I have to seek god more and have patience. It'll happen when it happens and how it's supposed to happen. Till then it is about god and family and business.  With Halli this month it was emotionally straining for her. I travelled a great deal, I went to Southern Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California all in about 3 weeks. So as a result of all that travel I was hardly home and she got mad about it, so towards the end of the month I focused primarily on her to strike back that balance at home.

The 4th of July was quite spectacular, we spent the day with Kylea and her boyfriend and our families and went to Layton to enjoy fireworks, face painting And festivities after the parade, we followed that up with a BBQ at Halli's Nana's house with everyone, then we split up and Emily and Sterling and I met up with our friend Michelle and her husband Brian and their family and we went to watch the fireworks in park city. For the last three years i have cried during fireworks, i get overwhelmed with gratitude for freedom and they move me, but i didn't let anyone see my tears :) the three of us enjoyed a nice and uplifting and fulfilling time with the Olsen family I love their family, this month I learned so much from them and their examples.

In California I got to reconnect with my cousin's Terry and Judy Kane. I love those two a great deal, they're truly exceptional people and they mean a lot to me. So it had been a year or so since I had been out there, that cousin time was greatly needed. I also enjoyed a really wonderful phone conversation while I walked the beach in Oceanside with my friend Michelle, she's such an incredible lady and has become one of my mentors in life. I really value that relationship a great deal. She is wise and gives some really great advice. I got to reconnect with my friends in LA in the Latin market, and we got the opportunity as well to reconnect heavily with the boys in San Diego. We spent a couple nights at Steve Wolf's mansion in Bonsall California, he lives in a villa style place that looks and feels like Tuscany with avocado trees and citrus trees everywhere. It was a real treat, I got to go to a few beaches, spend some time in la Jolla, and I got to go to the San Diego temple 3 times, I even ran into a friend that was on her mission from back at home. I got to reconnect with a couple old friends and spend some quality time with Bryan. It had been a while. The Mexican ice-cream on that trip was so good and that was needed.

On the way back I got an invitation to spend the weekend at lake mead with Michelle's family and go boating and go to a family reunion, how could I pass that up when I was passing through on my way back to Utah, so I spent so super quality time down there and got tanned, enjoyed the family reunion, i even cried when the grandma gave a speech from her heart, but i didn't let anyone see the tears, we got to have great uplifting conversations, I got to drive a fast car and i got to connect with a family that i some day hope to replicate, we rode the roller coaster at new york new york and we even made it to church in mesquite on Sunday. That was a really uplifting week! And fun too. A great deal accomplished. I returned home to Utah late Sunday after a really nice and peaceful Sunday drive and washed my clothes and put them back in my carry on and it was off to Albuquerque for the week. Oh the life of a networker.

I spent that Monday with Halli and we went boating with our friends at Willard bay and we ate and played and spent some real quality time and then left Tuesday, Payton and I drove down, this was one of the most uplifting trips I have had in a while. I was charged the entire time, even though I was dealing with emotional turmoil from a girl and confusion from a lack of direction and clarity as to what the next step was, I was charged because of who I was around and what we were doing, we (Payton and I) ate clean and started a new eating lifestyle which made me feel so good, it's amazing how good food and lots of water can make you feel, it's onto getting more ripped and eating good, nothing feels as good as being healthy. We had a good time in Albuquerque and I went to the temple twice there, Payton had his 25th birthday while we were  there so there was deep conversation, re evaluation of purpose and direction and as he spoke I drew inspiration from his clarity and perspective. The drive back to Utah was great, we had great freestyle raps, conversation and food, that was such a wonderful Road trip. So uplifting and on that trip I had a break through and figured out what I wanted to do with my life and it is in the process if happening now, there were some beautiful sunsets while we were in Colorado and a few rainbows and I got a couple Really cool shots of them.

I came back to Utah on the war path to getting fit, and spending every possible minute with Halli, eating super clean and making some lasting memories, writing in my NEW pink and black notebook and getting even closer to God and NOT traveling as much. Halli and I immediately started having fun! there was a fierce work out that happened, then we went boating, my good friend Ammon came back from a summer of alarm system stuff and so we went to the lake with him. Halli and I went to a few festivals, did a bunch of shopping, went to the farmers market, and fully enjoyed each other's company. I didn't realize Halli really wanted a library card lime that bad but she had been promised it for quite a while and so we got that and it reminded me of all the nostalgia of me as a kid going to the library and getting tons of books, Halli has read over 30 books in 3 days, the whole books cover to cover! She loves it! I had to get pictures! That was a proud moment for us!

Payton and I went out and bought these Italian custom tailored suits for the RevvNRG convention, it was really nice. I think i want to dress up from now on in suits as often as possible. I was going to buy shiny and flashy and I went conservative. I loved the aspect of service

For the 24th of July Halli got to go to handcart days and experience all of that, we lit off fireworks in front of our house with Danny and Bailee. It was really nice! They got to do sparklers and enjoy the first year I have ever seen aerial fireworks in Utah. That was an aspect of childhood that I cherish in my memory that Danny and I used to do, and we are now instilling that tradition in our kids. Growing up is pretty cool. I think I want to be that guy that has like 10 kids and is like madly in love with his wife and does so much family stuff all the time. Like performing musical numbers for each other and taking trips and dancing and doing so much family stuff. I think that would be a blast! I'd also be good with 3. Hahaha! I am easy going that way.

To finish off July right, I took another trip out to San Diego & Los Angeles super last minute. That was a nice 3 day mid-week trip, Bryan flew in from Canada and met me down there and we rolled back, there was one point on the drive home when everyone was asleep but me and I was driving into the Utah valley and that feeling comes over me where I am grateful to be getting home and going to my house and seeing Halli and I get super grateful and start to think about life and the sun was rising and I managed to catch a picture of it and I was feeling super grateful and pensive, I internalized the month and things became more clear with each mile.

Life is coming together, it's moving forward, time will either promote or expose you, it is time for a promotion. Everything I have worked so hard for is getting very very close; I can feel everything materializing! New and exciting things are happening here soon. The next step is close. Time to become the man I was put here to be. Spiritually I am going in the direction of more responsibility, a friend of mine just got baptized LDS and it reminded me of my baptism and that got me so pumped up. I got clarity on the next step to go spiritually and I have like 3 books to read this coming month, I read a great book this past month that fired me up in business. It's time to close the gap on 2011's final half.

I learned a few things this month...

1. "You can do things with God or without God... With is better." I stole that quote from Brig Hart. I applied that this month. I tried 3 days without God and 3 days with this month, then I did it again. It feels so empty and dark and like something is constantly missing and then I filled it with being a little negative, "Sighing" a lot, being down for now reason, being sad for no reason and just an overall lack of zest in life. The contrast was unimaginable. I had a conversation with someone that didn't believe God existed, I said to try 3 days with and he wouldn't, so I tried 3 days without... Then 3 days with...  UNCANNY!! Now I know that without a shadow of a doubt that if you wanted proof... Just ask. Prayer ALWAYS works! So with God is totally better. It's like being happy all the time with a sense of purpose and that hole is filled and so is your cup :)

2. You came into this world naked, you will die Naked

People won't remember what you had or what you said, they'll remember how you made them feel. Whether you drive a $500 car or a $300,000 car, you're still stuck in traffic. I met some really materialistic rich people in California this month and they were all about the cars, watches, clothes, brands etc. It blew me away how empty they all were and what gave their lives meaning. Their identity was tied into THINGS, when you die people might wonder who is going to get your stuff, then all you were to them was "Stuff."  What impact did you make on the people around you in the course of your life? We cannot take our material things with us when we die.

3. We are either an Example or a warning. If we don't know what our purpose is and what gives us meaning we leave ourselves vulnerable to our environment and what ever comes our way. By doing that we are kind of floating along in life without direction or purpose. When we have clearly defined objectives, goals, and most importantly a higher calling of some sort, then what we are doing with our life becomes our calling or our mission. Some people live life in fear, some people never overcome daddy issues, abuse issues, self esteem problems, addictions, escapes, etc. Their life is their message, and their message was a warning. Their mission to make peace with those things opposing them of progressing. After that, well... They can accomplish whatever they're setting out to accomplish.

Often times I see a world of people hurting, blaming everything on something that happened a long time ago or someone that did something, or people using two of my top swear words: "CAN'T" & "BUT"  while they incessantly fold their arms. Putting limitations on themselves saying they "Can't" or telling me how something would be good for them or that they should do something they want to "BUT" and then comes the excuse. The people that are always complaining, being negative, talking bad about other's and gossiping, the people that get mad all the time and have anger problems.  We all know people like this, some of us are people like this. These people act as warnings that we need to make better choices, be forgiving, be more patient, more kind, more grateful, have more self control and discipline and to just be happier and smile more. I mean after all, we are alive. Isn't that something to be grateful for and happy about.  

Then there is the flip side, the surfer that is up at the crack of dawn to connect with nature that humbly goes and does what he loves because it is what he loves. The guy that runs the mom and pop store that is always there and always smiling and remembers your name. The girl that asks you how your day is and genuinely cares about your answer. That guy at the gym that's really positive and gets more intense than anyone else there and he does it as if no one is around. The runner that pushes herself day in and day out. The mom that slaves away in the house with little respect and appreciation but does it because she loves her children. The hard working father that shows up before everyone and leaves after everyone has gone at a job he hates, works harder than his employees to set the example and doesn't ask something of them he doesn't do. We have so many examples in people that we know and respect and we have so many warnings around us of how not to be.

Are you a Warning or an Example?

June-Bugged

So....

I have no idea where to begin, this month has been something fast. I am almost bugged how quick June came and went! I cannot believe it's over already! So many amazing things happened in this short while, My mommy is amazing and I love her and she is probably the greatest woman I know, I took this picture and had to put it up. She's a sweetheart. This picture isn't really relevant to anything other than the fact that I really love my mom and this picture makes me smile!

I moved into the house I will live in till I get married. It's a great house, pergo floors throughout the whole place, cool detailed fixtures and faucets, a wonderful yard. A majestic master bath with a cool shower with a few shower heads and the raindrop style one overhead, a full sized bathtub, a large walk in closet and there is a nice guest room, a great deal of storage space and of course, it's black on black. :) When moving into a new house it's always amazing to see how much or how little "Stuff" you have. I didn't have too much stuff which was refreshing or else my buddy Kramer is extraordinary at packing. My boy Shae grabbed a massive trailer and we did a 3 load thing.

It went quick. Then came sorting everything. I started to unpack, I got the kitchen and my closet done but was severely lacking throughout the rest of the house, Emily came over with Sterling and they unpacked me overnight one night, it was really nice of them and I am so grateful for that! Then I went on a KSL classified mission to find the necessary things to complete the house (for now) this was super fun cause I was raised on deals and garage sale hunting so this was like a bit of nostalgia and at the same time going back to my roots. and releasing the inner bargain shopper, I found a black on black lawnmower, a really nice TV entertainment center thing that was black on black, some bar stools, and some miscellaneous things. The house is getting dialed, now I will add to it little by little and make it into my home more and more. I need a vinyl decal for my wall of a quote or something.

Some crazy news since the move in was Scrappy! She is a purebred Cairn Terrier, She is about a foot tall and maybe 8-12 pounds. She doesn't shed, she is super playful, outgoing and loving, she cuddles, she is smart, she plays ball, fetch, tug-of-war, she knows basic commands, is potty trained, and she can run a 5k if we ramp up to it :) She is such a blessing. We got her in Cedar City and Halli and I spontaneously took a 4 hour trip down to get her at like 8pm on a Tuesday night.. Scrappy acclimated so well to our house, we have 3 doggy doors and a big fenced yard so it didn't take much for her to feel right at home. In this picture she is smiling at me.

Marriage was on my mind ever since I saw the perfect wedding, two VERY dear friends of mine, TJ & Sarah, got married and their reception was unlike ANY I had ever been to before, I watched their families come together, it was beautiful to witness that type of union. There was so much love there. It was real, I almost cried because of how much love was there. It was cute! You could FEEL it! That made me so excited for when it's my wedding and there is love of that caliber and I can feel that way for someone and she can for me as well. And we will dance :) I cannot wait. I can feel marriage in the air for Emily, Danny, Kylea, (Halli's mom) and her brother as well. You can just feel it. It's like wedding season. I will most likely be the last to get married of all of them :) That'll be perfect. I often wonder what it'll be like meeting "the one," people say you'll just know.

I got super into Tony Robbin this month I always loved his stuff but I found a tape on relationships called "The power of relationships." It rocked my world, I got to my notebook and wrote out in detail my perfect girl, and then who I would have to be to attract her and then a few other pages in the notebook from idea's I stole from Payton, he asks himself REALLY good questions. And Tony Robbin's always says the quality of your life is the quality of your communication with yourself and the questions you ask yourself. Payton asks himself really good questions in his notebook, it's like that kid you copy off of in Jr. High.

I am complete with my notebook for 2011. There's no more paper. I will start a pink & black one for the second half of the year. We are at the 50 yard line. So much to show for it and yet so much that hasn't even come to be. Time for a re-group. Then a half time show and then it's time to go out there and take the lead and finish strong.

I went to California with Diego and Bryan, that was fun. I hadn't eaten anything fried in months, but in Vegas Bryan wanted to go to Cane's for lunch cause it's a Louisiana orgin restaurant and Diego and I hadn't been there before so we got to have that experience. It was quite good! And naturally we had to stop in Victorville for some Mexican ice cream. When we got to LA it was cool, I got to work with some of my favorite people. My Spanish is improving. I did part of a presentation in front of a bunch of people in Spanish. That was wild! I love the Hispanic people and culture more than the American culture. They have a great deal of gratitude and love and patience. I am like so in love with all of it.

It was a quick trip to and from California, I had some Skydiving to do! Something I have wanted to do for a while and well, did... My friend Keena was having a birthday celebration and that's how it all started. It wasn't very scary, kinda windy but I enjoyed it. I don't think it was worth $170 but it was an experience everyone should have. I took my dad for father's day! I think he enjoyed himself. He was very happy. It was a really fun experience to have for a fathers day celebration. Emily was there and decided last minute to participate, my mom showed up last minute to watch us land, Halli was so cute, she was worried that we were going to maybe die and kept telling us that she loved us! hahaha! It was so fun to spend that time, I wish Danny & Nikki and the kids came!

I'm always home for church on Sunday, this new Family ward thing is wild, there is so much community togetherness! I am in a neighborhood where I go to church with all my neighbors, it really makes it picturesque. I like it a lot! Sunday's are my recharge days, I have consistently had the family over all month and cooked up a meal and some appetizers as well. It's been fun. Halli loves the new house, she has her own space, we have traditions, she has a puppy, we have like 3 parks that are walking distance from the house, she's been climbing tree's, having art lessons from her tutor, she is singing all the time, being a girl, riding her bike on our patio, playing with the dog, jumping on the trampoline, swimming, cooking and just enjoying her overall life, she's getting so old! We will start obedience training for Scappy soon I bet!

I went to Albuquerque again... This trip was so much different than the last one. The food in New Mexico is so much better than anything here in Utah, I swear that they're ruining eating for me. We rolled into Albuquerque and we totally had a Bro-down, we all did 200 pull ups fully locked elbows to chin up, it got me so sore! then an epic ab work out the next day, followed up with a nice afternoon by the pool in between meetings, then great food and great people, so much was done there in such a short span of time. There are a couple leaders in that area that I feel I will be friends with for a long time, what a wonderful trip! I had some great smoked salsa and red & green chile, and spent some quality time with Paul and Crystal Chavez. What more could you want in a trip?

Physically, I am at the 6 month mark of the Ryan Reynolds goal, There was a picture that I saw of him looking forward and he was in a wifebeater and it kept popping into my mind so I totally had to find it and compare and contrast, this is the comparison after 6 months. But as far as my diet this month I ate poorly and didn't exercise consistently, my body fat is at 11.2%. I need to get on a program, I may do p90x or crossfit or a personal trainer or something. I will lower my pride and concede for the sake of being ripped. I need to dial my diet, train harder, run more, maybe train for a marathon. Mentally, I listened to some Tony Robbins but I really need to start a new book. I ran a couple 5k's which were mentally challenging. The birthday thing is still forever keeping me on my toes and I am forever grateful for it. The world becomes a decoded matrix to me and people's experiences help me appreciate the beauty all around me and understand the social experience with such clarity. Emotionally I grew a great deal this month, it was a two steps forward emotionally but one step back spiritually, mentally, and physically. I felt like I was treading water in those realms, or maybe it's just me being hard on myself because I expect a great deal from myself.

This month was fixated on marriage, relationships and emotional growth in preparation for "the one," so many things in this department this month. It's like Emotionally there was a breakthrough in my world. It honestly was God, and developing an understanding of forgiveness but somehow Emotionally I developed and grew. I overcame any remaining issues associated to my upbringing, my divorce, other relationships, and the loss of my older brother and stuff tied to being a young dad. It's as if a heavy emotional weight lifted this month and I am a new man. I feel for the first time 100% capable emotionally. I could get married tomorrow and it'd be a healthy marriage and I would be in the relationship to give, not "get" something out of it. Life is better with someone to share things with.

I have cultivated a nice and healthy relationship with myself over these past few years, now to better my own internal communication with myself. Put me first in some situations and take care of more of my own needs and do more things for me which are all things that I do not do that well but I am working on.

What really helped me develop my relationship with myself was developing my relationship with God, that enhanced all aspects of my life and development. I believe that you cannot have a real relationship with someone till you develop a real relationship with yourself. I have learned that I personally cannot have a really healthy relationship with others or myself without  having a strong relationship with a higher power, my creator, my God. This has been the most defining thing in my life as of lately. Is that realization

That makes sense to me. So it's the first time I am in that space and so I am prepping and pushing myself into high gear and becoming the man my future wife cannot live without, so 2012 my world (of being single) comes to an end. I love that Michael Buble song "Haven't met you yet." That's good music right there!

Financially I am doing good, I am making more money than I ever have in my life and it is residually and I am not being careless about money, I have weird planning strategies for money and what not. like I won't just go out and buy stuff cause I can, I have to earn it. I won't buy certain things till a goal of some sort has been hit, then the reward for that is something I want. But I am constantly re-investing into my business.

Spiritually, well I continue to progress in regards to thoughts, actions, habits and temptations. It's an on going process but I am closer to God than I have been and my faith is constantly growing. I am having synchronicities constantly, like being at the right place at the right time, reoccurring numbers and patterns in things, and of course... Birthday messages. It's just wild as to how much you can see when you're not looking. But the relationship and communication with God is progressing, my pride gets the best of me in certain moments, but I must progress and become who I am supposed to be, who I was destined to become. I need to keep making the right decisions, it's time to advance in church and structure a time line to go to the next level spiritually.
June was a month of growth, reevaluation, settling, travelling and love.

I did learn a couple things this month that I will share...

1. Everyone should own a dog. This will help you grow emotionally, you will see this furry little animal and you feed it and take care of it and it shows you your capacity to love. It will love you endlessly and be so loyal, what an example! There is so much to learn from a dog. It's also great for developing responsibility in your 7 year old daughter.

2. "A woman's heart should be so deeply rooted in God I should have to seek him to find her." This has been the methodology I have adopted towards "The one." If she has a relationship so deep in God that would mean that she is on the path she needs to be on, making right choices, she is a good person that does good, loves everyone and is always trying to be better and she is humble, yet she knows herself very well and has a great relationship with herself and has a bunch of good habits and is happy, joyful and peaceful most of the time. I always say a happy girl is a pretty girl. So I must continue on that path and the right girl will be rooted in the thing that means the most to me. A relationship with my creator.

3. "95% of the things we worry about will never happen, the 5% that do are not as bad as we thought they were." People have so much fear and limit themselves because of what people may think or how bad it may be. I hear what if's and maybe's as to what COULD happen. But the person suits up and gets the courage to do the things they're afraid of doing they usually say: "That wasn't as bad as I thought."  We are all so in our heads about things and stuck on ourselves and our internal worries, and fears. There is only a good thing when it's gone. If you are afraid of something, that's all the more reason to do it. You might just grow :)

4. Most things in life are a 3 step process... Get up... Suit up... Show up... People go to work day in and day out and get up, get their work faces on and show up, clock in and clock out when it's time to leave and while they were there they did just enough not to get fired and somehow the job they're hired to do gets done yet they're barely working, just showing up. Their check still comes. Not because they worked hard, not for how much they put into the hour, but for the simple reason that they showed up.  If you took an aerobics class 3 times a week and showed up, you would end up doing it and being moderately in shape. Once you get there it's easy to participate or even do the bare minimum.

Half the battle is showing up, if you were to ask Payton how he got so good at skiing or so ripped or  so dynamic at networking he will tell you. "I just showed up for like 3 years." You could ask Sterling how he won Emily's heart and pulled himself out of the friend zone after well over a year and he'd say He just kept showing up. I bet Emily will be engaged to him before the next blog!

We worry so much and give so many reasons to why it won't work, or why we shouldn't or can't or whatever negative excuses we have but if we just show up... Time will either promote you or expose you like The slight edge always says. So remember the above quote... And get up... quit worrying about the 95% that won't happen, the 5% won't be as bad so make that effort to suit up put a smile on and then just show up... And KEEP showing up.

July will be Epic so many of my friends have birthday's this month!

I appreciate you reading this Blog!

If you have feedback please leave a comment!

:)

If I may...

Hey there all!

This was such a transitional and paramount month in my year. So many things happened in such a short period of time.

The notebook took on a life of it's own, which we will discuss. I fell in love with my iPad 2, I am writing this blog right now from my iPad in the upright position in my temporary bed that is conveniently located in Bryan & Mandy Robert's food storage room.

So as you all know, my house sold and I had to be out last month. That was hectic and stressful and a wonderful faith builder and it played out well and the house I was destined to be in was purchased. Well I would be receiving the keys to the new place may 29th so the move in could begin. The Robert's are so kind to me. They insisted on me staying with them and storing my stuff at their house for the month of may. So in an effort to not be a burden I felt it appropriate to fill my may calendar with travel and I'd essentially live out of a carry-on for a month like the time I went to Peru last fall.

Halli turned 7! What better way to celebrate her birthday than with an all expenses paid trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida?! We went to San Diego last year for her birthday and managed to make unforgettable memories and we got a caricature done also which was nice. So it was only fitting to do the same thing.

Halli had a big family birthday party at her Nana's house this year! Her mom and I really went all out. I more so on the trip, her on the party and festivities! We spoiled her with clothes and games and gifts and we all made memories, it was a great deal of fun. My friend Kenny pulled some strings and Halli got to ride a horse on her birthday! She was scared so I had to climb on the horse and her mom had to hand her to me and the horse trainer led us into a field. But it was fun! Halli even got to take a miniature horse for a walk which she really enjoyed.

We then enjoyed a party full of extended family from both sides. Halli played and played, there was trampoline action and good food and lots of fun! Then first thing Monday morning Halli and I boarded a plane to Orlando. We got to the hotel and immediately hit the pool then got a nice late dinner. We were jet lagged and went to bed early. We slept 13 hours on a comfy sleep number bed. Our resort was nice and we enjoyed the amenities. We then went to magic kingdom the next day and rode rides, got food, saw shows, and characters and experienced the magic of Disney, Halli gets scared of rides easily and somehow we ended up riding space mountain which was a dark, scary roller coaster, Halli was mad at me and I have a feeling she will hold that over my head forever.

In preparation for the Florida experience, we started focusing on that market and timing worked out that an up and coming leader from Texas drove down to relocate to Orlando and we met up at Disney World right after we exited space mountain. So from there we spent time together in a group and got the grand tour. The best part was the fireworks show at the end of the night. Hali was so happy, she felt magic and dreams can come true. It was really special.

The following day they took us to coco beach and on the way there we passed a wake boarding park I had seen on fuel TV before. It had these cool zip line rope type things and jumps and rails. So we stopped there on the way back from the beach and got to wakeboard for a while. Then from there we went to the pool at the resort then the hot tub and eventually I went to take a shower then a bath. So in one day we were in the Atlantic ocean, a lake, a pool, a hot tub, a bath tub and a shower. Hahaha! Wrinkly and tanned to say the least. We had good food that evening, the four of us (Tyler & Stephanie Hutchinson and Halli & I) went to a steak house that was quite delicious.

We swam in the pool till easily 2am. Then woke up early to catch the shuttle to the theme park cause we had to catch our plane that evening and wanted a full day. We were both very tired and cranky from swimming so late but we eventually made it home with a three hour lay over. But we had so much fun and we bonded well and talked of life, and the future and our goals and we got great pictures, Halli was so exhausted and slept the entire plane ride, when. We got into SLC after midnight she was so mad from being off balance that I had to snap a picture of her expression, I found it to be adorable.

on the plane I read an entire book. This book changed my life. There is a story behind it as well. I met a guy named Michael at church and we got to talking and he said to me, you strike me as a natural born leader and you would be awesome in a network marketing company. I laughed and told him that that is what I have been doing for a living for over three years, he laughed and told me he had done that years before and loved it, and he told me that there was a book I needed to read that would refine where I was at. A week later I bump into him downtown and he says he has a book for me. He gives me a signed copy of the book "launching a leadership revolution." and he wrote me a message on the inside cover that was very heartfelt. This book has inspired me and taken my business to another level.

Upon returning home I had two days till I left for Albuquerque so I had to maximize them, so I went to working on things before I left and I found myself at a Diego Moreno's daughter's 1 year birthday party dressed like Elmo, it was amazing.

The trip to Albuquerque I cannot really express in words but it was productive, I met some people that I believe will be in my life forever. And I got to "bro down hard" with my boys Payton and Chris and we shuffled. The food in new Mexico is so much better than Utah, I had pizza with Green Chile, everything was with Green Chile and so delicious. It took Albuquerque to make me fall madly in love with this device that I am typing on. The iPad 2 is genius! And so useful!

I came home and got the keys to my new house. When I walked the property and said "I'll take it." I forgot what it looked like inside. When I went over there yesterday I was floored and speechless and stunned, it is so much better than I thought. I cannot believe I live there now! It is spectacular. There is not one flaw! So I will begin the move in when all this rain stops and then it's the next chapter's beginning. I love how things converge. Summer is here, the giant RevvNRG Event is upon us with the release of two new RevvNRG products and a new RevvNRG website, business is going next level now and I am moving into the longer term house, Halli gets out of school and then we assimilate into life and living it. Things are wonderfully falling into place. God is so good! We are blessed!

I learned a couple things this Month.

1. Before you try to conquer the world, clean up your bedroom. This is funny but it is so very true. How can you run a business or be a leader if your own personal life is in such disarray that your room is messy, your bed isn't made, your laundry is piled up, your car is a mess, or your bills haven't been paid on time. It shows a lack of organization and preparation and your life. your mood, and your emotional and mental states are directly reflected by how groomed you are, how clean your living area and working areas are. How "on it" you are can always be reflected by the depth of cleanliness you embody. So if you are down and lacking energy or motivation or you're depressed... Go clean your room, if you need a refresh... Do spring cleaning. Or tackle a project like an attic or garage or something. So before you go trying to conquer the world, why not clean your room and your car?

2. What counts is not the number of hours you put in. But how much you put into each hour. On the age old quest for consistency I see this time and time again, people spending time worrying, doing things half. People don't work anymore. They just kind of show up and get paid for being there, so when someone actually works and puts effort into their time, they stand out because things are so convoluted in the workplace. If we put our heart and mind into every conversation we had, ever phone call we made and we truly took every minute seriously that we had, we would be able to accomplish so much in a day and still be done by 5. The business I am in people make excuses and say they can't or it's too hard or something like that. But they will sit and watch TV for a couple hours. Imagine if you said "I will work 2 dedicated hours on my fortune." If they did that 5 days a week. That's 520 hours a year towards their fortune. It adds up! Think about the friend you know that is always quoting movie lines and that's his/her favorite topic of conversation. How many hours a year do you think they put into that past time? What are you doing with your time and where are you putting the most into your hours?

3. Past tense Perspective - Negativity + Payton Suggestions = Rapid Growth. So in my notebook Payton Parnegg suggested writing what I wanted my life to be like a year from February. The catch was I had to write it looking back on it, almost like it had happened and writing it from the perspective of how it felt. So I wrote two pages. The sound like this... "2011 has been a great year, so many things have happened." And then I go off to list what happened and how I felt because of it and how my life was different because of it. Whenever I would read that in my notebook it gave me hope and pumped me up as to where my life would be next year and I continued on the path. Well I reviewed that notebook before writing this blog tonight and well... It's May and by June nearly everything in that notebook came to fruition. So I must redo the entire notebook I got there was faster than February 2012. So this excites me for February but I have to revamp everything. So I would suggest you doing this because it is powerful. Payton Parnegg is a genius. He's next level

4. Your life is your message. mediocrity is a disease and it plagues our society. Settling is normal, people don't try, people lack zest, substance and ambition, passion and courage. Few stand up for what they believe in. I had an acquaintance did this month and it put a great deal into perspective for me. Just as you remember "I have a dream." with Martin Luther King... his life was his message. We all know that. When you die... What impact will YOU have made in your world? What will people say of your life? What will you leave behind? Will the world become a better place cause you were alive? What will people say you contributed? Your life is your message so wake up and do something with it. We are all pens writing our own individual stories, what kind of ending will yours have? What will be YOUR message?

New Mexican Sunset...

Thanks for reading this... I appreciate it! June is going to be fun! Going to start summer off proper!

April Showers :)

Well howdy folks!

April has come and gone, what a wild month we have had!!!

As I write this I am in the middle of a massive exodus in my house, the packing has begun, the first few loads are gone. So much more to do. This is overwhelming to say the least. Hahaha! As I am typing looking down at the monitor because I am on a kitchen chair and the computer is on the floor. I did however get resourceful and make my own desk with a piece of plywood resting on my lap. But hey, I made a CD for my road trip tomorrow; and now I am writing my monthly update, so my commitment to getting things done seems good. :)

Oh April, where have you gone! This month flew by fast. I neglected my notebook a bit, I feel as though it needs dramatic reconstruction. I planned out what life will be like next year and it was written as if I was looking back on the year. Wow, is there power in doing that!!! I read through it first week of April and well, half of those things are already here and the other half are poised to be there next month. This is nuts! So I was soul searching and figuring out the next move and chapter in life. I think I have a clear view, I like where it's going. Progress is fun!

Things are being redefined and the direction is being altered a little bit. Moving stresses me out and kind of depresses me because of all that's involved, I just got everything in a groove here and now I am having to take it apart. But as far as the other stuff goes, I hit a wall with fitness, I have cut up and I encountered lower back as well as foot problems, I have never been able to run more than a mile. I ran a 5k this month! That was awesome! I saw where my muscle imbalances were and as I cut and got more definition I went back down to the size of clothes I used to be but got more defined. I need to work on my lower back and my obliques, I am leaning towards some conventional exercises and more cardio. Gotta get my butt in shape. I want to run marathons someday, I love running shoes! They're not stylish but they're functional.

In the world of artistic pursuits so many fun things have happened, first... Emily and I did another music video with Sterling Bryant, he is on the verge of finalizing film school. So excited for him! So we filmed a video for a song that is very close to my heart about my brother David that died, some of the filming locations are also dear to my heart, like the cemetery where he was buried, the spot in which I go up to and ponder about my life and watch the sunset from time to time; which is my favorite place on this earth. (besides the temple) We also did all the audio for a new song in the studio as well. This one is about Family, no filming as of yet. But with time we shall see. The iPad came in handy so much on filming and in studio, I take back all the mean things I said about the iPad, it's quite useful.

Here is the view of that place I love so much, I used the App called "Pano" to take this panoramic picture.

In the world of family so many things have come about, first off... We are all moving on to our next steps in life. Danny & Nikki just had their second child and are really stepping into the parental role and it's so cool to see them grow as a family. I do think that we need to take a four wheeling trip in the upcoming months! It sure has been a while! I love being an uncle it is really cool.

Emily is also moving forward as to her next step in life, she just got a new and better paying job and will totally change up her lifestyle and as this semester brings itself to a close and summer is here it'll be cool to see what happens in her world as she continues being the world's greatest aunt and as she pushes forward to structure herself to go on a mission in the fall/winter of this year. How exciting! Wait till you see this video! She kills it! So many new things to come in her world. She's coming into her own and moving forward.

As far as the parents are concerned, this next phase of being grandparents and the kids moving on and moving forward is exciting to see. They're nearing their goals and this year is their year to accomplish the few goals that they have set out to accomplish for the past 26 years (that I know of) So it'll be cool to see them transition, maybe get a new home now that the kids are gone, and assume the role of the grandparent. I wonder what the shift into this phase of life must be like and I wonder if they are lonely or what. It's interesting and I try to put myself in their shoes but I don't know what they're like. But I have so much love for them and I am so grateful to have them as my parents and as examples to me, they have taught me so much and I am lucky to have them. I couldn't have asked for better parents. I am blessed.

In the world of miss Halli, this move has been quite stressful, it's crazy to see the transition and how she takes it, I feel so bad for her with all that is going on, I have worried and wondered and I feel like we are in limbo for a couple weeks while we close on our next home and I can only imagine what she must feel like and for sure these next few weeks will be trying and she seems to be coping alright but I can see that it is quite hard on her. It makes me sad, I am doing the best that I can, but this will all be over very soon and we will be settled into a better house, this time with a nice private fenced yard. We will establish every tradition and it'll be our home and this will be the beginning of the rest of our lives. She has needed stability for so long now and FINALLY she will have it. I am so excited for this chapter. She will be starting Soccer this month, getting an art tutor, and a voice coach. We will integrate into our new church and then have the greatest summer of our lives. It starts with her birthday on the 14th of May. Then we will be going to Disney world in Orlando on the 16th for a few days! Then I will be devoting so much focus to making this a summer she never forgets, we are going to get the Westie that she wants and train it and go through obedience school, I am so excited for the next chapter, ahhh! Barbeque's on the patio, baking in the kitchen, cooking dinner for guests, four wheeling, camping, a fire pit in the back yard. FHE in our spot. This chapter is here and I am so grateful for it and so ready! 

Easter was amazing. So much fun! We played and had a wonderful time with TWO Easter egg hunts! Set a new tradition with Bailee and Halli and celebrated in style that way. I look forward to enjoying so many more holiday traditions with Danny & Nikki and their family (Bailee & Kyler) as we grow up and get older, it's so awesome to see us all grow up and we were all once kids, now we are having kids and hitting those next chapters, I look forward to meeting the right girl and getting married and hitting that stage again. I absolutely love being a parent and I am so excited to have more children in the future.  I can't wait till Emily has kids too! That will be so cool!

April Spiritually was very fulfilling, I had so many uplifting experiences, I feel as though my faith was tremendously tested and my relationships all throughout my life were strengthened, there was a new found capacity to love others and be open to them and vulnerable. It has been fulfilling feeling that way. Halli and I have an even stronger bond than we did last month. That makes me so happy. She is truly the greatest blessing I have. In the upcoming song, I rap completely about her :) I hope she will cherish it when she gets older. I learned a great deal, in the world of church I am transitioning into a different area so I will attend a different ward/branch of the LDS church, as I am sure it'll be fun meeting new people. I was attending a ward that was comprised completely of people my age. Now I will be attending one with families. This should be an interesting change. I am looking forward to it. It seems all things are transitional right now.  I call them growing pains.  I got to attend LDS General Conference with Tyler Harris. That was really fun. His family all got together that weekend and I got to spend an evening getting to know them and it was quite uplifting, his mom played piano after dinner and we all gathered around and sang. It was one of the funnest experiences I have ever had in my life. I will do that with my wife and children when I get older! 

There were so truly phenomenal people this month that I got to connect with as well that were uplifting and I took a little piece from them to add to my world. I have a friend named Jordan and Emily, Halli & I got to connect with her family, We had never really been invited over for dinner by anyone before, that was one of the first times that's ever happened and what an amazing experience it was! I learned so much from them! They're some of the nicest people I have ever met! Their family dinner and games and closeness/togetherness are all things to add to the list of things that I will shoot for when I am married and have more children.  I also met a wonderful older couple that go by the last name "Howard" that had us over for dinner and Emily & I spoke in their church. That was an amazing experience. Till "The Girl" is a part of my life, I will work towards becoming the man she cannot live without and I will mold my present family into the picturesque family unit I see in my mind to the best of my ability. Daddy, daughter and doggy. While having Nana, Mommy, and all her other family members as much a part of her life as I am.

In business, things were stable, I was working at capacity part of the month, this house thing really took a toll, I have been focusing on the move the past couple weeks and it got the eye off the prize a little bit. Watch out though, in May it's going to be a big month! I am sure another trip will be won, maybe a Macbook Pro, and of course, a new rank, bigger car bonus and tons of people in the business making money and earning trips and incentives. I am reading a new book that a wonderful friend gave me, he even wrote a message for me in it. It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture. So I am excited to see what happens. I will be living at Bryan Robert's house all month while I wait to move in June 1st. So there is sure to be much accomplished in the business this month. The book will add so much growth as well. May looks like a really big month! I am excited!

I learned a couple things this month...

1. Have faith. I saw a quote that said: "As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit."  I learned this one tremendously. I was so stressed out about the move and didn't know where I would end up or what would happen. I could have gotten down and depressed and introverted and stayed in my bed all day the day it happened (which I wanted to) But I got up, went to the temple, got everything current. I wrote God a LONG letter, squared up on everything with him and got peace, put it in his hands and got to work, started packing in faith, called up my boy Kenneth Thomson (the real estate investment mastermind) and was at peace and with every milestone and obstacle, my faith grew and peace was there and BAM! I found the house I KNOW I am to live in and I cannot believe it! it's literally EVERYTHING I could have dreamed of for the next two years. :)  Then my friends came through on the helping move and pack thing. My friend Kramer actually walked miles to make it to the train to then walk all the way to my house from the train station to help me move all day. And my buddy Spencer helped me moving all my big stuff and Tyler helped when he was so tired and beat all day move! What a blessing it is to have such great people in my life!!!

2. If something is not happening for you it doesn't mean it's never going to happen. It means you're not ready for it. I wanted so badly to move to the next place and I kept wanting to take the next step but I wasn't ready for it and was being impatient. I focused on growing and making the best of where I was at at the time and overcame a great deal of bad habits and emotional weight and things in my past I was still holding onto and I had tremendous breakthroughs emotionally and really felt capable and next thing I knew this adversity of being thrown to the wolves was conquered and now here we are. So I would say if things aren't working how you want them to... Grow... It'll happen when it's supposed to, you want to speed it up, grow more...

3. When someone shows you who they are... Believe them. So many times you see people associate with dishonest people or people with integrity that you could question. I say from experience, if you are not living your life right... You are not someone to be around. bad things happen to good people when they surround themselves with those kinds of people or do business with those people or what ever. I would say be careful who you associate with and make sure they're on the same moral level you are. Cause when pressure is on, you will see who they really are. They'll give you hints and indicators. Just don't be too naive to ignore the warning signs.

Thanks for reading this! Time to end the month with a trip to St. George for Revv with some quality people, then an uplifting Sunday, some notebook time and then start Monday off at Bryan's house with massive action.

I love you all :)

The March :D

Well it is time for round two, "The March." Almost seemed fitting for a title as this month has been a march forward in progress and growth, I even adopted the hobby of running. This month feels like I procrastinated things, I was so on point and focused half the time and so not at the other half. As I read my notebook and look back at the month fondly the one thing that stands out is that I accomplished more in my life THIS month than I have in the past year. Things are starting to compound on themselves. 

The notebook went through a renovation the last week of February and changes were made, goals were assessed, along with progress and order of importance and some things were cut out and some things were added. All in all some things stayed the same. I started March at zero.  My sleep schedule was semi regulated because of fitness, mostly because of implementing something called "The 5am Club." In which myself along with a few close, and key individuals wake up at 5am, text each other what we are reading and we wake up to read and fill up our cups, when we are finished... We go back to bed. That has done wonders for me spiritually as well as in terms of sleep schedule. It's kind of an exclusive thing, by invitation only, I feel lucky to have been invited. Singing, being the other thing I battle with, my fear and insecurity... I performed a song for a couple people and sang my heart out. I have upped my singing in the steam room time and feel more confident in singing in the shower as well. Singing in church will happen some time before the year is over.

On the Family front, Danny & Nikki had a beautiful baby boy! I am an uncle of the first ever baby boy in our family! Kyler David Goldberg, his middle name is after my older brother. He is adorable and was born on March 8th, the same birthday as Halli's Nana. He is so cute. Halli was in awe for about 2 minutes and then the fact that all she could do was hold him and he didn't play or talk, she went to go play with her cousin Bailee, Halli has had a lot of fun lately! We have gone all over the place, we went on a couple clothes shopping experiences. We collected a bunch of used shoes for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan for a charitable service project and Halli was so cute! She wanted to do her part but was having the hardest time giving up some of her old shoes that she didn't wear anymore. But that little girl has such a big heart! That she ended up giving them up and she was quite emotionally invested in each pair. So I taught her about the law of giving after she donated, then 2 weeks later. I surprised her and brought home the most adorable pair of white shoes for her (Her favorite color) and told her how when she gives, she receives. We have gone on a couple dates, and Halli got really into scrap booking this month, she has completed over 20 pages so far. I swear we are always getting more supplies every week.

 Emily is doing well, she is painting an amazing painting and she gave me one of her paintings, I love it! she's talented. She has been working on finalizing this crazy music video, so we were doing shots all month, random ones. who knows what it'll look like, but it's about a week away from completion. Emily's close friend Sterling Bryant, (The one that works with Real Salt Lake for filming their stuff and some TV shows etc) was doing some work for some TV stuff and somehow Emily ended up becoming a producer/director for a Wasatch front casting call for a couple movies coming up. I have no idea how it happened! Then she ended up doing a bunch of shots and is going to be in a commercial for some table company. I don't know all the details but I don't know how she does it! She's wild! She sang in church this month which was quite moving. Then she sang in a fireside (like a church sponsored evening function) and it was a song she wrote. VERY powerful.  Among that she also spoke at it as well. She has had a great month it seems. If you don't know her... Add her on my facebook or Go to her website by right clicking this and opening in a new window. she is phenomenal. I am grateful to be related to her.

By way of Physical goals, I am getting closer and closer to my end result of "Being Ripped On a Boat," this will come with discipline and consistent effort over time.  I won't show any pictures yet, but I am sure getting excited to see the final product. I had my body fat tested and I am toying with the idea of taking it to the next level with a trainer. Strength has increased a great deal, but I am lacking in my lower back and it has been catching up with me. I also have been having a major issue with my left foot, I have trouble walking and running and dancing some days, I slowed down on dancing and I quit wearing pointy shoes for a while :( I thought it may be the shoes, I went and got a pair of running shoes, who knew there was so much science behind running shoes?! I learned a new thing. So as a result I have taken up running. I WILL run a 5k in April, I have to up my endurance and foot-pain tolerance. So I have been sprinting a great deal lately, short distances. I am THAT guy in the neighborhood that runs around in track pants with a smile on his face hahaha! I never thought I would be that guy. I really want to run the Ragnar, but I would need more training. I feel as though I have subbed out dancing for running. I guess it makes sense. Dancing keeps me out late and is negative on my sleep schedule and not in line with my goals as they are developing. So I see it as an inefficient use of time.

As my eating habits progress, cooking is on the rise; I dove face first into hummus, it has become something I eat with everything I prefer using spinach instead of chips because it is time to take the eating into overdrive. I make it probably 4 times a week. It's so good for you. Yum! I have been eating a great deal of green vegetables, and I cut out cheat days and bad foods. Diets don't work.... You have to make a lifestyle change. Payton Parnegg once said: "You are what you eat... Look at America, all we eat is corn fed Beef and Pork. If we are what we eat, what are cows and pigs whole existence? To sit there and get fat?!"  That stuck out to me so much. It tweaked the process, I have been eating a great deal more white fish and chicken, nothing processed. It has been nice :) I feel very healthy and I have more energy.

I haven't been reading nearly enough, I did finish one and a half books and I bought about 12 new books, Halli and I have been reading Chicken Soup For The Soul at night, she really loves the touching stories in those books. It's become a great nightly ritual, that book always tears me up. I love that :)  As far as writing goes, my note book is getting weathered. I am in quite a serious relationship with it. At the end of the day I cannot wait to get home and check off tasks and look at what I have to do the next day. I have been getting so much more done because of that notebook. There was a span of 4 days where I accomplished more in those 4 days than I had in the past 4 months. I took EVERY debt that I had, large and small, and consolidated them all into my notebook, random things like "$1500 I owed my parents from when I was 17 and I don't think they ever expected me to pay them back." To "$20 from the time that so and so paid for dinner" and I knocked all of them out.

I got the beemer new suspension and control arms, cleaned it up and got it ready to sell and sold it within 30 minutes on KSL without a picture :)  I deeply cleaned up around the house and cleaned out my truck and got them washed after a day of snowboarding. I got excited and too pictures before I parted ways with my black beauty of 5 years. She will be missed

Then I did my taxes which I haven't gotten around to for a couple years. among many other little things that I needed to do like closing a few old bank accounts, starting the process of turning myself into a corporation. I even got a Costco card now I feel like a grown up. I fell in love with snowboarding and this month I went to Wolf Mountain, Powder Mountain, Snowbird, Snow Basin and Brighton, I will go to Canyons, Park City and Solitude this month. I want to hit all the resorts before the season ends, all work and no play would make me pretty dull. I need to have balance.

As far as church goes, My parents came to that fireside that Emily spoke at and sang at that was their first experience having to do with anything Mormon, it was cool that they came and it meant a lot. I got to conduct for my first time ever, that was a pretty cool experience. I also got to witness a friend get baptized into the LDS church this month. He was a completely different person after, it was cool to see that. And then the most defining moment in my life, I received a temple recommend on the 27th, I totally went to the temple and it was an experience I cannot really explain. I was in the shower getting ready to go for my first time and I broke down into tears at the realization that I have conducted my personal life and thoughts to a degree where I could go there. It was a humbling experience which I couldn't do alone. But I thought back to when I was touring in bars doing guitar comedy and I think of who I have become now and I am shocked I was once that person. Crazy. As I drove up to the temple I had the most tremendous butterflies, I went alone and had no idea what it'd be like, I snapped a photo while driving that will forever remind me of that moment,.

In business, I learned so much about myself this month. I put my head down and I worked really hard this month, I doubled my income in about 3 weeks, earned a trip for Halli and I to go to Florida, all expenses paid, to Disney world, Universal Studios and Sea World, with airfare, hotel, rental car. We will be going for her birthday, Last year we went to Lego Land California and this year, Disney World in Florida. The Company Car Allowance increased and I earned an iPad 2 as well, it just got here today! It's engraved with my name and a congratulations. I haven't the faintest Idea what to do with an iPad but we will see what happens. In the world of business things have been booming, they're only compounding on themselves.  We have so many new groups starting up all over the country, some in English and some in Spanish, April should have some significant travelling in store. Leaders are emerging and duplicating is happening every moment. I have been given a Red Bull and a Rockstar for free this month by word of mouth advertisers for their companies, funny how I am doing the same thing with RevvNRG. I wonder how many different energy drinks will be handed out to me in April, I will start a collection in my fridge.

The opening process of the country of Turkey is moving along rapidly. I am so grateful for Arif Bayraktar, Tony Taylor and Jeff Vance. They're phenomenal. We have some really great people in RevvNRG. Some REALLY exciting things coming in June of this year and so much work ahead of us this next month. It's time to take things to the next level, I just got two new books in the networking genre. I cannot wait to read them and apply them and see where things are in a month.

House shopping has begun. It's time to find the house I will live in for the next 10-15 years. I am excited to move and the right house will be found soon. I have butterflies right now as I am thinking of it. There are a couple thoughts right now and potential houses but nothing concrete quite yet. But things are moving forward. I must perfect Spanish very soon here and make more time for myself, for reading, for playing the piano and managing my finances better. I have been alright in those areas but improvement can begin.

The things that March has taught me:

1. Your attitude determines your altitude (thank you Jordan Harbertson) "Our attitude is the window to our soul it taps our deeper resources and determines the direction we will travel on the road of life." (thanks Ricky V's Bathroom) Focus on the good in people, things and situations, you can view the same situation two different ways and will feel two different ways and have two different outcomes. You will ALWAYS find what you are looking for, I just think people know what they're looking for, finding the bad in people and situations and they get bad. Focus on the good. Someone believed in you once and you grew and accomplished things why not believe in others.

2. Time will either promote you or expose you. I see so many people that are unteachable and unwilling to change and rid themselves of bad habits and thy go do their own things and you do yours, what never ceases to amaze me is how they turn into haters if you become successful and they don't. But what choices did they make? Going to the bar? Getting high/drunk? Playing video games? Going to school? seminars? vacations? Buying something they couldn't afford? our choices define us. We love to blame the circumstance and people but we make the choices. and Time is a force that never slows down, it will either expose you for the choices you have made over time or it will promote you for the choices you have made over time.

3. Diet's don't work... make a lifestyle change. or you will go back to the way you were before. May as well start eating healthy now before the doctor tells you down the road that you need to. and healthy doesn't mean "Low fat" "fat free" and "Diet" It's being knowledgeable of what your body needs and giving it that for your goal.

4. This world is arbitrary... The only things that really matter are who's lives you have impacted for the good, what you can do to be a better person, how you can right the wrongs of the past, forgive people you are holding grudges against, and what kind things you will do and tell no one about ever. In this short life I have learned that nothing else really matters, people seldom remember what you said, it's what you make them feel. Do you want to be remembered for making people feel bad and hurting them? Or for being a source of joy and positivity? If you conduct your life like this and don't buy into all the hype and trends, you will end up having a great deal of peace knowing that you stood for something and were true to yourself

5. Family Matters... At the end of this life it will be family and the close friends that became family that matter. I played an elaborate prank on Emily where I was going to be arrested for murder and hauled away for life and it got me thinking about if I were really going to prison for life who would still come to visit me? Who have I made an impact on in a positive way that we have developed enough of a friendship that they would still come see me years later if I were in prison the rest of my life. That was a giant wake up call. I heard this from an old friend I truly believe he was right. "You can ALWAYS count your real friends on one hand. Those are the people that will let you borrow money when they don't have it, the people that will drive 3 hours in the middle of the night to help you with car troubles and the ones that will help you move, take you to and from the airport and will visit you if you went to prison 5 years later."  I know a great deal of people and it was eye opening to realize that I had less than 5. Appreciate your loved ones, do something nice for them randomly this month.

I am looking forward to April :)