January's Gone -Extraordinary Events Live On

January is behind us for another year, but the many memories of it, will live on. Each month brings recollections of important and extraordinary events from both the present and past. Here are several January events making it forever special:

BIRTHDAYS: Alicia, Breann, Hunter & Paula (sister). The excitement of their birth becomes real each year as I remember racing to the hospital in a snowstorm with Alicia. Hearing the doctor say, "It's another girl", for Breann! Getting a call that the baby had been born when not expected, Hunter. With Paula, trouble was detected and the birth was at LDS Hospital instead.

VACATIONS: Going to Hawaii as a family a rare opportunity. Snorkeling, hiking, the huge downpour, Pearl Harbor, Cultural Center and more. Our trip to Florida to pick up Jenn from her mission, was exciting as well as Cape Canaveral, Sea World, MGM Grand and more.

MISSIONS: Allan left & returned from his mission in January 1971-1973. Jenn returned from her mission the first month of 1997, too.

CURRENT EVENTS: Major storms this year rocked the East, with floods in Austrailia & Brazil leaving many dead or homeless. Past events we'll remember are the Space Shuttle disaster, major earthquakes in Haiti & California.

DEATHS: My brother, Nile's death was in January as well as the death of President's Hinkley & McKay.

BUCKET LIST: I set out to do 11 things each month of this year. I gave out dozens of cinnamon rolls to welcome the near year, visited art museums, hosted a FHE dinner for 30, saw True Grit, & more. They aren't big, just different than the same old same ole. We grow much more when we try.

Goodbye cold month - Hello new thoughts & experiences, February.

'R'

After reading and enjoying the book, 'Fast Food Nation' by Eric Schlosser, I wanted to see the movie about it. Thinking it would follow the many facts introduced in the book, I didn't notice the rating it had. It only took a few minutes to discover it was R rated. I don't watch R rated movies and have found after they come to TV, it is a good rule to have.

Unlike the excellent book the movie was filled with foul language and disgusting scenes. Disjointed and repulsive, I should have turned it off at the first 'F' word. Hoping it would get better, I watched the whole movie 100+ 'F' words and all.

I felt defiled and disgusted. Unpleasant pictures and words keep marching through my mind. Disappointed that my self-will wasn't stronger like many other times, when I stopped a movie at the first insult and sent it back.

The next day while reading 1 Nephi 17: 30-40, I was surprised how many 'R' words jumped out at me. 'Redeemer, received, raiseth a righteous, resteth and rod' promised hope for my mistakes. While on the other hand 'revile, rejected my word and ripe in iniquity' reminded me of the 'R' movie.

I knew it could be forgotten and I'd be forgiven, then move forward more cautiously the next time, trying not to trust in the arm of flesh.

The Firsts are Foremost

This year instead of making New Year's Resolutions, I decided to choose eleven new things never before experienced. So far a visit to the U of U Museum of Art, a spin in the Harold B Lee Library and seeing the James Tissot art exhibit at BYU's Museum of Art have been my firsts. Okay, not super wild but educational nonetheless.

January will be my 'Attempting All Art' craze month. February is "Be a Basketball Fan". I am going to some college basketball games at BYU & U of U or more. March perhaps something charitable or funny. This summer Glacier National Park or fireworks on a bay somewhere. There is plenty of time to think up alot of exciting or cool things.

Why die a boring life, when you can have an interesting one? This may be the year I climb King's Peak or Angel's Landing, scuba or sky dive. I may even try making Quiche Lorraine. Who's to stop me from giving it my best shot? Tell me what you plan to do.

Plummeting Perceptions

Have You Noticed?

RED LIGHTS: If you run a red light or light turning red, you won't make the next light, unless you speed even more, of course. Notice the cars that were just behind you and stopped at the first light. They will catch up to you at the one you didn't make. Those drivers will have a clear conscience for obeying the law. After noticing this several times, I quit running the lights.
Moral of the story: Just stop at the first light, instead of thinking you saved time and chance getting a ticket.

DEBT: 'With each passing year, we find we are more owned by the things we think we own.' Norris Burkes in Florida Today.
Moral: Think twice & more about those must haves. Choose to do something affordable instead, that you can pay cash for.

OBEY the Traffic Laws: Several drivers this week ran stop signs from side streets to beat the traffic bearing down on them. Fatal accidents happen when we drive too fast, break the law and are impatient or rude drivers.
Moral: The life you risk, may be your own. Is it worth the twenty seconds saved?

Thinking we can out manuever fate sometimes comes back to bite us in the butt. Our perceptions plummet, but we can remedy them by being smart in the choices made.

01/01/11 or One One Eleven

Yes, here is the first day of 2011. Although it is 15' outside the sky is a bright blue, thanks to the breeze that cleared away all the smog. What a great day to be alive. This magpie photo showed up on my camera download. This noisy, aggressive bird isn't really popular, but with the sunlight coming from behind in this picture, it looks like a promising opportunity for some photographer. That is what we need to make 2011, 'A Promising Opportunity'.

So far it's been a pretty lazy day. I watched the Rose Parade, read the newspaper that had been piling up for awhile and took a spin around the golf course on my skiis breathing in that cold, fresh air. Hey, it's okay to take one day off.

Have a terrific year of gaining knowledge, helping others, staying healthy and enjoying life. May 'twenty eleven' be a great time to enjoy each day as it comes. Take a look at what's really in the picture instead of the things we don't like about it.