I am so Thankful

The last two posts sounded selfish and I am still so ready for them. However, I thought it would be good to list for what I am so thankful. These are not in any particular order.
I am so thankful that I can read and there are so many good books to read.
I am so thankful for my dear wife. She is rocking awesome.
I am thankful for my dad. I am so thankful for his change of heart. He is so photogenic; I love taking his picture. He and Mom look so good together.
I am so thankful that I have a job that I really like.
I am so thankful for my church calling.
I am so thankful for music. I like listening to most kinds of music though I do have my limits.
I am so thankful for my friends.
I am so thankful for where I live. I really like living in AF.
I am so thankful for my siblings. They are great and I love watching and talking to them.
I am so thankful for my colleagues. They are so cool. They make going to work enjoyable.
I am so thankful for baseball. I have such great memories of playing and now am creating great memories with Nathan.
I am so thankful that my children are doing well in school.
I am so thankful that my children attend church and seem to enjoy it most of the time.
I am so thankful for technology that has kept me alive for the past 14 years and my dad alive for the last 25 years.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to go camping with family and friends.
I am so thankful that my kids still love me despite my many faults.
I am so thankful that Jen has stuck by me for all of the grief I have given her for the last 19 years.
I am so thankful neighbors that make life much better for this Nicholes family.
I am so thankful for the snow that has and still falls.
I am also thankful that I do not have to drive in it.
I am so thankful that I can shower with hot water.
I am so thankful for humor. That we can laugh until we cry. We can laugh so hard that our bellies jiggle like Jello.
I am so thankful for nieces and nephews; to be able to talk with them, see them in the some of the same circumstances Jen and I were in which does not seem so long ago. They are so much smarter than we were.
I am so thankful when my back gets back tickled.
I am so thankful that I was able to learn to fly so many years ago.
I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father that loves me.

I am so ready...part 2

I am so ready to go for a ride in an F-16.
I am so ready to have the Thunderbirds come to Hill Field when I can go and stay the day.
I am so ready for spring break, though I am not going anywhere, and I will be working most of the time.
I have tried building a dock, I am so ready for my ship to come in.
I am so ready to go to Disneyland with Jen for about a week, to eat at Goofy's Kitchen and to eat at the restaurant by Pirate's of the Caribbean (Jen wants to eat there).
I am so ready to have a dog. Lindsey has converted me to getting a beagle.
I am so ready for a Cherry Coke from the Cinemark here in town.
I am so ready to drive a police car with all of the lights and sirens blaring. It would fun to race somebody with both cars blaring.
I am so ready for my house to be finished; up and down stairs.
I am so ready for the energizer bunny gene that Todd seemed to get in abundance.
I am so ready for some fun living.

I am so ready...

I am so ready to sit on the beach, drink a Coke, read a book, all under the shade of a nice big umbrella. There is just a little ocean breeze blowing; enough to keep me cool, but not disturb the pages of the book that I am reading.
I am so ready to sit in the bleachers of a big league game sip Coke, eat a dog and enjoy the evening night air, while watching my team do some major knocking the ball around.
I am so ready to sit in a movie theater watching 2-3 different movies in one day with Jen sitting by my side.
I am so ready to go on 7-8 day cruise with Jen; taking the opportunity to simply be me.
I am so ready for the opportunity work in a mostly stress free environment.
I am so ready to fly to San Diego and watch the Padres play and sit on the beach (see first part of list).
I am so ready to be Ty on Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
I am so ready to sit in a jetted tub with the right temperature of water.
I am so ready for a 1 hour massage from a massage therapist.\
I am so ready to go to bed and sleep for about 10 hours.

Simply Me

Please bare with me during this blog it may be hard to follow. First of all I am amazed at the workings and intricacies of life. How it all is intertwined. How are lives are linked for the fact the we can give and receive what is needed by those with whom we associate.
I have been contemplating how I would answer the following question: Am I a religious person? I really do not think that I am not, but on the other hand I suppose that I am. My definition of a "religious person" seems to include someone that is fanatic about religion whatever that religion may be. I don't see myself as that person. I do attend church and pray. I have probably read my scriptures more in the last 2 years than I have in the several previous years. Though I was not able to attend the Nicholes Family Temple Night a few a weeks ago I am thankful that this tradition has started.
My own children get to hear my testimony enough, but very rarely does the rest of the family get to. Maybe I should share it here.
I will admit that I feel a bit embarrassed, but you can't see my red face.
On my mission I learned and gained what I felt to be a strong testimony of the life after we leave this one. It seemed to be one of the principles of the gospel that came easier to me than some of the others. To tell someone that we do continue to live after we die is something that I know to be true. As I hear stories of people who do not have this knowledge I become saddened. Especially when they have lost a child.
I remember the day I came to gained the testimony of Christ. I was in my apartment in a small town in northern Georgia. I was seated on the couch waiting for another set of missionaries to come and it came to me. It is one of those things that I remember just as if it had happened moments ago.
I have also come to learn the importance of friends. In the church it is stressed that it is important to have good friends in those teenage years. Through what I have seen it is as important to have good friends regardless of age. I am so thankful for the friends that I have. They are tops in my book.
Finally, (maybe) I am grateful for our family. Not only my own, Jen and kids, but all of my extended family. I look at my siblings, that would include their spouses, and am in total awe. Some them move very quietly through life doing good things like they have a secret. I love the humor they have and share. I love to call and talk with them on the phone. My siblings are good to me. I have been very blessed to be part of their family. When one of the grandkids have gone through the temple for the first time I like to sit at the other end of the room and watch the hugs and smiles that occur. You are truly a beautiful family.
I had better go to bed. I've got meetings at what I consider early in the morning. I love you all. Be happy!!!!!!

Me

Boys of Summer

Well, I am coaching Nathan's baseball team again. I don't know if Nathan really likes the idea or not, but I think it's a lot of fun. Nathan tried out on Tue. for the major leagues, but did not make it. The league president called me last night and asked if I would coach one of the minor league teams. If there were a bad side to this is that there are only 3 minor league teams. Makes it kind of hard to really compete with many teams. Regardless, I am planning on having some fun. I know that I have 2 other kids from my team from last year coming to play with me again. I have not received my full roster yet. I'm hoping to only have 11 players on it. It's kind of hard to give everyone a good amount of playing time with anymore than that.
I look forward to having a good season. Our season starts the last week of April, and we go to mid/late June.
A little humor for Nate and I...we are the dodgers again. Will we ever get to be the Braves?
I am looking forward to a good season.
Rock on all and have a most excellent day!!!
Love,

Me

I really hate waiting!!!!

Not that I have had reason to go to the ER lately, when I do go I hate having to wait. For example, one night I was suffering from an allergic reaction to something. Dang it I had to wait. Not that any of you will care, let alone know what I am talking about. The Central Utah Writing Project is local chapter of the National Writing Project. This chapter is very much in its infancy. This summer is the first summer they will be having a Summer Institute. To be invited to participate in Summer Institute one needs to apply. First your application is reviewed. If the powers that be like it then you are invited to interview. Using whatever criteria, if they like the interview then the applicant is invited to attend Summer Institute. I am so tired of waiting. I want them to tell me that I am either in or out. My interview is not until a week from Thursday, as in n 19 March. I am thankful that the interview is a group interview. I will be with 3-4 other people in the interview.
I don't know.
School is going really well. We have started doing state reports. My state is Kentucky. I really want to go there someday. I hope Jen will go with me there on vacation. I want to go tour the Corvette plant and the Louisville Slugger plant. Hey, maybe I could during the Kentucky Derby. It all sounds fun. That will have to be a dream for a later date.
I don't mind waiting for retirement though. I am definitely okay waiting for that. Maybe I have said enough for today.
Once again Love you all.

Old Man

Too Much Facebook

I have been spending a stupid amount of time on Facebook. I have caught up on a lot of people from high school. I have decided that it is all too busy for me. I must be getting old. Also, I have tried to spend more time in my journal. Sometimes I think this is like a journal, but I do not know if I can print any of these pages to put in a journal.
I failed at going back to the gym the last three plus weeks. I am just lazy. I think I am blaming my working for TaxHawk. I feel a little worn out. Jen mentioned on the family blog that we just celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. We were so excited that we went and bought 2 new tires for the van. Can I have a wave?
For those of you who care I am buying a canoe this week. It will be available by the end of the week. If you would like to use let me know.
Lindsey is driving a bit more. I get to sit in the back seat. I am not sure that I like that idea. It's kind of fun to see her drive. The other day she missed a turn and we sat for a while while she was trying to figure out what to do. We finally got moving.
Nathan is getting anxious to play some baseball. I am not sure if I will be coaching this year. It gets a little wild. Sometimes my heart just gets pumping and I sometimes get too excited. I remember having to walk down the outfield line to control myself.
I mostly hope the kids have a good time playing. I was surprised that we finished second in our division last year. During the tournament I just didn't know how to bring it all together. Live and learn I hope. I am not sure that I can beat Clay. He's good, and brings out the best in his kids.
School is going okay. I have finally got my sound system working...most of it anyway. It is taking a long time to get my hand held microphone problem fixed.
I had a good visit down in St. George. Juli, Ashley, and I made a day trip of it. We left at 5 AM and got home at 6 PM so I could work.
Love you all

Old Man