I Hate my Dodge

Yup, basically I can not stand Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge. I think it is criminal what they are doing to us. Ok, the long and short, is that I bought a very nice truck in March 2007. I brought it home and I had finally bought my dream vehicle....then the issues began. In the first year of ownership I have had the vehicle in the shop for more that 30 days for repairs. According to the Utah Lemon Law, this vehicle should be repurchased from Chrysler. So I filed a complaint in January of 2008 with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection and have been fighting it ever since!

Well I am tired of it. So I decided to post all of my notes about my truck so that the world can read my experience and be warned when they go to purchase a Chrysler product. One of the big stinkers about this is that my brother-in-law is a salesman for Ken Garff West Valley Dodge. He is a great guy, but unfortunately the product he stands behind is not. So world feel free to read all of my notes (updated almost daily) and make a decision for yourself.

The Sweet Spirit of Children

Today I had the opportunity to substitute in primary for Clairissa's class. I marveled at how strong and wise their spirits are at the tender age of 9 and 10. Their teacher called me this morning and told me that she had hurt her back yesterday doing to much around the yard, so she needed somebody to help out. Of course it was a bad day to ask only because we are in the ward choir who was performing today and we had practice early this morning. So, needless to say, I did not get a chance to prepare a lesson. These children were so fun though. They worked hard at participating and they were so patient with me as I fumbled through reading the lesson as I taught. We had a beautiful moment though as I challenged them to find out for themselves if Jesus really did live and die for us. The spirit was strong as we spoke of gaining knowledge and a witness of the truth. Then, we went into sharing time where I got to listen to them sing a song that struck my heart. I know I can do better in my life and this thought was brought home so well by the sweet voices of children singing. The words to the song they sang are as follows:

1. If the Savior stood beside me,
would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments,
and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example?
Would I live more righteously
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?

2. If the Savior stood beside me,
would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind
if He was never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel?
Would I speak more rev’rently
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?

3. He is always near me,
though I do not see Him there,
And because He loves me dearly,
I am in His watchful care.
So I’ll be the kind of person
that I know I’d like to be
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me.

Bread of Life

Today is Easter Sunday and we are getting ready to go to church. What a blessing it is to be able to go and celebrate Christ; his life, his ministry, his resurrection. This is such a special day - a day to rejoice in Christ!

During sacrament we will be singing an amazing arrangement of How Great the Wisdom and the Love. As we were practicing the song, our choir directory Katie Delahunty encouraged us to really focus on the words. Wow, what a difference. I instantly felt the Spirit fill my soul and I had to hold back the tears. I am not sure how I will be able to when we sing it for the congregation today.

How great the wisdom and the love that filled the courts on high and sent the Savior from above. To suffer, bleed and die! His precious bleed he freely spilt; his life he freely gave. A sinless sacrifice for guilt, a dying world to save. By strict obedience Jesus won the prize with glory rife: "Thy will, O god, not mine be done," adorned his mortal life. He marked the path and led the way, and every point defines to light and life and endless day where God's full presence shines. In mem'ry of the broken flesh we eat the broken bread, and witness with the cup, afresh, our faith in Christ, our Head. How great, how glorious, how complete, redemption's grand design, where justice, love, and mercy meet in harmony divine!

I love this song and the message it gives. Christ has given all to us; then why can we not give just a little more to him. I love this gospel that has testifies of the life of Christ. The joy He has brought in my life. It is my testimony that Christ lives. That he overcame death! Because he has, we will be able to return to our Heavenly Father! Oh if this is so, why can we not be better? Better at serving other, at giving, at helping those in need, and at giving forgiveness. The power of mercy is great! I love my Heavenly Father! I love my life as a follower of Christ. It is my humble Easter prayer that each of us will renew our faith in Him.

Blogging is a form of journal writing

Well, at least it is for me. I really struggle writing down my thoughts on a sheet of paper. Of course, even if I did, I would not be able to read my own writing :) So tonight we went to the adult session of Stake Conference. I loved it, as I always do. This session is always my favorite. But of course the last time I wrote in my paper based journal was October 7, 2007 (General Conference). And the last time I wrote before that was the April 2007 conference. So I guess my paper journal has really just become my conference notebook. Not really a bad thing, at least I am writing my thoughts down somewhere. But it was great, the first counsellor in the Stake Presidency, President Tillman, mentioned that even blogging can be a form of journal writing.

Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, mentioned in a graduation ceremony that members should utilize technology to further the work of the church. Elder Ballard urged us to "use the Internet — including blogs and other forms of “new media” — to contribute to a national conversation about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

President Tillman's thoughts went right along with Elder Ballards talk. To use a blog to write down your thoughts and experiences. They do not necessarily need to be shared with the world, but the idea that we are at least capturing our thoughts and preparing them for future generations.

So is blogging the newest form of journal writing. I hope so. At least then I can read what I wrote!

Road Show!!!

Ok, so maybe it was not a road show, but it was a stake play. Tonight, we took the family to John and Dione's Stake Play - "The Music Man". It was so much fun. It was probably one of the best stake plays I have ever seen. In fact, it was the full play, not just a cut down version. Funny thing is, Becky and I missed our own Stake Play (and we were invited to be in it) to come to the play tonight. I feel a little guilty, but I sure wish that our stake would do some production that wasn't so spiritually based. Not that a spiritual play is bad, but the last three plays for our stake have all been spiritual. What ever happened to the good old days when a play just had to be clean and fun?

But what is up with todays teenagers? As we were sitting there trying to enjoy the play, there were 8 teenagers that sat and chatted. And it was not just a quiet whisper. No, it was full blown conversation. Even the people in front of us were looking back at them. So Rachael decided to take the matter into her own hands (I love this about her). She turned back and asked them to be quiet. It worked for a few minutes. It finally got bad enough that both Rachael and I turned back and stated a little more emphatically to "shut up" because we were trying to enjoy the show. I even went so far as to un-invite them - Okay, I flat out told them to leave and that we did not want them here if they were going to talk. That did it. They were quiet the rest of the first act. During intermission they went out to the hall, and thankfully, never came back for the second act. Sure I have some guilt about how forcefully Rachael and I (okay mostly me) handled it. But I just couldn't handle them talking one more instant.