Dee Gardner – web log

This weekend we were supposed to go camping with the church for the Aaronic Priesthood commemoration campout. But as has been common this year it rained. The boys weren’t too happy. But I am glad we weren’t out there in the rain. It would have been a pretty miserable time for me.

Sometimes I just feel old and tired. Only a few years ago I would have been up to the challenge. I have been swimming a bit lately and I am disappointed in my lack of speed and endurance during workouts. I would try to loose some weight but the low blood sugar just makes me irritable and tired. Something I can’t afford at this time in my life. I get up and move on.

Sometimes I wish life would get a bit easier and it would stop raining. However, I am without much hope of that. I believe life is too be difficult, as much of my life has proved this too me. I hope some how this will be different in Heaven and the next life. However, the pain and suffering seems to be what makes us grow here and I often wonder if the next life will be the same. I live under the fear that giving up will only make things harder in this life and maybe in the next. Not a very hopeful out look but once again I get up and move on.

I am hoping it will be as it says in the song “Come Come Ye Saints” … Happy day all is well … ”

I guess I have to hope for something.

Why does the camping have to get more difficult every time. I have been involved with scouts as a volunteer leader for over 15 years. I seemed at first things went pretty smoothly I showed up taught the boys a few things and then we came home. Now it seems even with over a couple of months of pre planning everything seems to come down to the last minute and that last minute is starting to take up a couple days. This time the older boys decided they wanted to go kayaking. Which I was glad because it is something they planned and were excited about. But getting all those kayaks transported was a last minute ordeal and took up way too much time.

Another thing that is really taking all the fun out of volunteering is the attitude by all the boys they want the fun of the campouts but don’t want to do any of the work to make the campout happen. They all complain about having to clean up, prepare food, move stuff around. I realize I have gotten lazy and just started doing things, which in the end just makes me upset. But it’s my own fault. It’s nice to have adults that will help, but they when the do what the boys should be doing. It just makes things harder. I should give it all up, I am not really sure why at this point I don’t. Luckily there isn’t another campout until August or September.

It always go to fast. We always wait in anticipation and then it’s hear. I am more amazed each time how quickly we burn through 10 hours of church. It always ends too soon. Here are some of the highlights.
Elder Uchdorf spoke on patience. He told a story about how a professor at Stanford University did a study with 4 year olds. He would put a big marsh mellow in front of them and tell them to wait 15 minutes and the would get two. Only 30 percent would wait. It didn’t seem that significant to him. However, he kept track of the children from the study. Those that had waited had less behavioral problems, got better grades and made more money in their professions. Patients really is a virtue we need.
The Young Mens General President Brother Beck, spoke about the new Duty to God program they are going to be starting in June. President Eyring also spoke about it to. As far as I can tell the basica premise for the program is outlined like this. The boys pray, fast and discover what they are to do. The plan how they are going to accomplish what they need to do, and then they act with diligence to accomplish the plan. I am excited to get involved. I am sure it is an inspired program.

One of the general authorities spoke about using the Book of Mormon more diligently in our families. Another spoke about the importance of eating dinner together with our family.

I am looking forward to studying what what said and trying to put these things into my life so I can be better.

I was talking with James Laughlin a friend of mine. I’d met with him a couple times to talk about what I do. The past week I met with him and during our conversation I asked him what I do. He had a hard time explaining it. I told him that is my problem no one really can explain what I do. So we chatted some more and he said to me you need to tell people the product of what you do, not what you do. He came up with a great statement for me. He said, “You turn employees into innovators.” Which is a perfect way to describe what happens when I work with companies. Thanks James.

I have been using that line on people now for about 10 days and it is getting a great response from most people. It is getting me more excited to talk to people. I am also getting the opportunity to talk to lots more people.

I also found this cool software that helps me schedule appointments with people. it at www.tungle.me

I have also met some really great people.

It’s festival time here in Austin. I think it started out as a music thing but it has added web and film as part of it’s showcase. The badges for South by, as it’s called by the locals, are pretty expensive. But over 29000 people showed up and paid. Then there are another 1100 or 1200 bands. I went down to the Austin Convention Center to see what was going on at the SxSWi (i for interactive, really just web) There has been quite a buzz about web stuff for the last couple of years because Twitter announced there. It seems there is a big push for startup software companies to show up to tout their wares. However, I think it’s like the music festival. Lots of band show up that most have never heard of and probably never will. Even though all these bands and software companies won’t have much effect on the main stream, it still makes for a great party with a pretty cool vibe. And for those of us lucky enough to get close it can’t be missed.

For about six weeks I have been working on some software that massages a ward list into a google map so our ward can determine and keep track of Fast Offering routes. I finally got the beta version finished and it is ready to go. I handed the map off to Justin Allen to make up the routes.

I am also going to try and help my brother Mike with his ward. He is the Deacons quorum advisor in his ward.

We will see where it goes from here.

Last week in Deacons quorum it was fast Sunday and I taught about feasting on the words of Christ. We challenged all the kids to read at least one verse during the week. Jim Freeze had a cool Idea and brought food to class this week: chicken salad sandwiches, crackers, grapes and bottled water. I thought it was pretty cool and I think the boys will remember that for a life time. Great lesson.

Over the past couple of months I have been focused on getting my PMP(Project Management Professional) certification. I just found out I have been approved and now I have to schedule my testing. I’ve only posted to the blog a couple of times with the Holidays, New Years, and the class. Tomorrow I am joining a BNI(Business Networking International) chapter. also signed up for a Cospace community membership. I need to get back into the blog swing. I thought I would slowly get back into the writing mindset.

Here we go.

On a completely different tangent. Last week our youngest, who occasionally suffers from allergy related asthma, stayed home Thursday and Friday. Amanda took him to the allergy specialist and got a few perscriptions. However the prescriptions didn’t work and then Saturday things got worse. Amanda was at her wits end and was ready to take him to the emergency room because he couldn’t stop coughing. I just decided to give a steady effort at prayer. I realize I’m not perfect and don’t really deserve any devine intervention. However, miracles do happen. It was about 6:30PM and he just went to sleep and slept until next morning at 8. That never happens. I do believe God was looking out for Amanda because she is really struggling. It was also fast Sunday and we fasted for him too. Then Sunday evening he was coughing again and Amanda asked if I would find someone to help give him a blessing. We called the home teacher first but he had gone out of town. So we called another friend from the ward an he came over to help. He has coughed a lot less since then. I am glad I have prayer as an alternative. There are probably many out there that don’t believe in prayer, faith and religion. It’s happened way too many times in my life to just be coincidence. If you are reading this and skeptical. Just try out a little faith and prayer, even if only hope that it will help and see what happens.

I pulled this from a website today and thought I would share.
Inspiration

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s okay to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s okay to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

Here it the end of January and I haven’t written anything this month.  I had grand plans to write down resolutions and plans for the year.  Never too late to start I guess.  One of my constant goals is to exercise 4 times a week.  I started today.  even though I haven’t been too consistent the last few months.  I have managed to get one or two runs in a week.  The last couple of weeks I am surprised how well the runs went and how long I was able to keep my heart rate down.  There is always my business goals but I need to write those down before they get on here.

I am almost finished with my Project Management Class. It has been very enlightening.  I am also not ready to take the exam that goes with the class.  I will be studying for a couple of extra weeks before I take the test.   It has taken most of my normal working time to take the class over the past couple of months.  I am looking forward to getting back into full time networking mode.  There really is much opportunity to be had.

So much has happened over the past month.  On the 12th there was a devastating Earthquake in Haiti.  Those poor people were poor before and now things have even gotten worse for them.  Hundreds of thousands have died and millions are without proper food or shelter.  I really feel helpless as I read stories and see pictures.  While my contribution is pretty pathetic all I can do is pray.