Living In The Mix

Christmas is a season FULL of tradition. Tradition is so important, because it brings people together. It provides opportunities to create memories. Traditions are an integral part of family culture, because it helps us feel a sense of belonging, safety, and love.  Growing up, both Emma and I spent Christmas with only our immediate families. We didn't travel to grandparents' homes or others. We didn't host or go to parties. Christmas was always a simple, small, intimate holiday spent at home with just my parents and siblings.  This tradition is something Emma and I have carried on with our family. We spent our very first Christmas in our 1-bedroom basement apartment. Just the two of us with our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We were between semesters at BYU-Idaho, and if you've ever been in Rexburg during the holidays it is practically a ghost town. All the students have gone home. Of the married students who lived in our complex we could have counted on one hand

I came across this beautiful video produced by FamilySearch for their 2014 RootTech conference earlier this week and I had to share it.  I could share several more videos produced by FamilySearch that I love, but I'll let you go watch them yourself. I just love this and their other videos. They are so wonderfully done.  This video got me thinking about how we all at one time or another feel isolated, alone, unwanted, unloved, rejected, scared, and not enough. Those feelings come to all of us. Some feel this way on a daily basis for many reasons. We feel like we don't have a purpose. Many of us have even felt that there's no reason to continue; that our family and friends would be better without us.  This is simply not true.  For anyone feeling any of the above I want you to read what I'm about to say very carefully.  YOU ARE NOT A COINCIDENCE! If you don't believe me I want you to consider the following.  This picture is what genealogists/family historians call a fa

October 11 is National Coming Out Day. For that reason I wrote this new "coming out" post. After all, coming out is not just a one time ordeal.  In March of 2019 I took my first step in becoming more open and public about being a gay man and a gay member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It started with a music video produced by the non-profit organization, NorthStar.  Then, Emma and I were invited to share our story by recording a video for the Voices of Hope Project . Just before the video was launched I began this blog and wrote my coming out post  and created a partner Facebook page . That was an incredibly empowering and vulnerable moment when I clicked "Publish" and then "Post" on Facebook.  Since those days I have received numerous messages of support and love. I have had people approach me in unexpected places to express their support. That was something I had never experience before in connection with my sexual orientation. Know

  I only have once to do it  But I won't I only have once to notice But I will be blind I only have once to listen But I will ignore I only have once to play But I will work I only have once to be patient But I will be angry I only have once to get it right But I will fail I only have once To be what they need Because, you see They are a child only once I know what I should do, but Fear Shame Pride Exhaustion Worry Doubt Frailties They will all get in the way I will try with every fiber Despite all failures And shortcomings To be what they deserve I hope the day will come That they will understand The battles fought That they never saw I hope they will understand That they will have compassion That they will forgive And find healing knowing Knowing that I did it all Worked Feared Worried Cried Fought Prayed Stayed Because I am a father And despite my failures I will never stop trying I will never stop fighting Because I am a father And a father's love never sleeps Never stops p

Who is She? Who is She? That stood in the halls of the Gods Whose voice rang out with courage  To defend the Plan and the right  To choose progression over oppression Who is She? Who was God’s culminating creation  Remembered eternal truths  And partook of the fruit So that we might be Who is She? That spoke to an angel Became a chosen vessel And delivered Him in birth So that He could deliver us all  Who is She? Who was a sinner But recognized the Savior And offered her tears and hair To prepare Him for the cross Who is She? Who discovered the empty tomb Heard the angels proclaim His triumph Refused to leave without Him And was the first to see Him  Who is She? Who was the first transcriber  Gently peeled the tar and feathers Lost so many children  And gave her husband to Carthage  Who is She? Who loves despite betrayals Forgives and heals wounds Defends the voiceless and vulnerable  And is the Keeper

Last year I shared this truth spoken by Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and shared it again just yesterday in honor of International Women's Day: "When the process of creation occurred, Jehovah, the Creator...divided the light from the darkness...then separated the land from the waters. There followed the creation of plant life, followed by the creation of animal life. Then came the creation of man, and culminating that act of divinity came the crowning act, the creation of woman." A good friend of mine shared this piece of art that touched me deeply, and I keep is saved on my phone. God's plan, the very existence of the human race, is impossible without women.  It was a woman, Eve, to understood that God's plan for His children could not come to fruition unless she and Adam ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  It was a woman, both a mother and Pharaoh's daughte