Wish I had my own workshop to work on my bone carvings.

Ran/walked 4 miles today and i'm sore

Tired tonight, but still haven't gone to bed. Thinking about trying to run 3 miles tomorrow morning. So far 2.25 has been the longest I have run. Hope I don't die!

Laura has finished her race and I can't wait for her to come home. I think I'm a pretty needy person when my spouse leaves or I leave. I miss having the feeling of safety when I am with my wife. I sure have kept myself busy though. Tonight I am taking a break and just watching some TV. Tomorrow I turn 40 years old and I'm not really looking forward to celebrating it by doing nothing. I have always wanted someone to make a big deal about my birthday and I think every year I am more disappointed. I think my most memorable birthday was my 1st birthday on my mission. I had been in one area for about 6 months and I had made a lot of friends with the people in my area and they were ready to give me a birthday get together. I was so looking forward to it. I got transferred a few weeks before my birthday. I was so disappointed. So in my new area I really didn't know anyone. On my birthday my companion told me that we needed to go to the church to do something. While we were there some kids that we had been trying to teach brought me a cake and sang happy birthday to me. I was very excited, my first and probably only surprise birthday. My wife thinks I'm kinda whiny about it and I think she is right. LOL

Laura is starting her race today in Las Vegas. She is running the Las Vegas Ragnar. I'm home with the kids being Single Dad for the next couple of days. I have one day down and 3 left. So far so good with getting the kids ready so I can take AJ to school. Cleaned up some of the house last night and plan on cleaning more tonight. It is so much easier to clean the house when kids are a sleep and no one else is around. I put on my tunes and start working.

I guess I had better get ready for today before the kids wake up and start to get into stuff.

As I watch the world around me, I am amazed at the blurring of lines between what is good and what is bad. Those things that at one time may have been so clearly distinguished as evil are now acceptable and even taught as good for oneself. The opposite is the same, where what was once considered good is now looked down upon or even considered wrong. Society has become a self evolving monster of confusion and poor thinking, where logic has lost its place.

I do believe that the way we take on adversity will determine our success in this life and the life to come. I strive each and every day to have a positive outlook on life and the struggles it brings. Some days are easier than others, but I know it is necessary to push forward and have faith and hope that something good will come of the struggles.

Such random thoughts from my brain, but I thought it would be healthy to release them.

Monday we went up Millcreek Canyon for FHE and enjoyed a nice little hike on the pipeline trail.
































This was a snake we found on the trail.

Laura is off to girls camp. I took the kids on a picnic tonight at Bear Park. We thought that it might rain, but it ended up just being windy. We didn't stay very long since we needed to get back to the house to check on Max (our dog).

A.J. got his first bike last night and was so excited. He rode it around the parking lot of Home Depot while Laura ran in. It was fun to watch him be so excited. I can't believe how big he is getting and how fast he grows up. Now if we can just learn how to bottle all his energy we would be in good shape.

Ok so we are not moving to Texas. I was offered a job that paid better here in SLC so we are staying.

moving to Texas

Well.... after a year of planning, the Jordan High Class of 1989 reunion came and went. What an awesome experience. I have had such a great time working with former classmates preparing for the reunion. It was so nice to see that it was such a success. A great evening was had and it was quite memorable. It was fun mingling and listening to people reconnect with long lost friends and watching new friendships emerge. Now I am already looking forward to the next reunion.

Devin Worthen, Melanie Helm, Me














Dan Clawson, Jason Mumford, Curt Myrick














Matt Greeff, Duane Despain, Tom Brand














J.D. Barnes, Jason Jarvis, Brad Murry, Duane Despain, Jason Hatton













J.D. Barnes, Blaine Dehaan, Me

Life is amazing and I have great hope for this life. Even when the worst is happening to you it is never as bad as it could be. I would chose hope over despair any day. Why ruin your life by thinking all is lost? All is never lost. I believe in a Savior and I believe that he has suffered every possible burden that man experiences and then some. This knowledge gives me comfort in that I know my Savior has already felt the pain I may feel. Life has been rough and poor choices have only made it rougher. I am determined to make better choices each day so as to lighten the burden I place upon myself by not making good choices. I pray that as I strive to do this that the good will always outweigh the bad. I'm ready to take on the challenges that are placed before me. I know they are great, but I know I have someone to walk with me through this empty place that has found me seeking extra guidance. Press forward with hope, confidence, and humility. Serve other to lessen their burdens. Be nice to all I encounter as to possibly brighten their day. Smile like never before and beam with the pure love of Christ. Love.. Love will be my guiding light. Love of my God and my Savior and love of my fellow man. Eschew hate and disdain of others. Love even my enemies and those that do wrong to me. Follow the teachings of Christ and live as he has asked me to live. In the end if all appears to be lost I know that what I will have found will be greater than all.

Life is an interesting thing. It can give you the worst of the worst and the best of the best. Trials are tough and blessings are great. I have been in a place where I have forgotten what a blessing it is to be alive and to love those around me. I have finally gotten tired of just getting by and always being on a short fuse with my family. A change has occurred and so far it feels great. I am hopeful for great things to come and many blessings to be realized.

Just thought I would post something since it's been a while.

I'm still working as a contractor with Teksystems at ADP Benefit services. I like the job and I wish it could be something more than just contract work. Unfortunately the Corporate office thinks otherwise. They have been able to extend my contract until the end of the month and then we'll see what happens. Not quite sure what I'm going to do if they are unable to do another extension.

The kids are doing well and are growing and learning everyday. Yesterday my friend Jared was here setting up a bookcase he built for us. While he was putting it together A.J. became his little helper. He was getting him screws and putting them in where they needed to go so Jared could screw them in. It was funny to watch. Analise is just a little jabber box and is so funny. When she gets angry and ornery we ask her if she is the wicked witch. Then I will ask here where my Princess is. I'll tell her to tell the wicked witch to go away. it's so funny cause she'll start talking to herself and says "GO WAY WICKED WITCH!!" "GO WAY!!" it's hilarious because if I talk to her and call her princess and act all flirty with her she softens right up and does whatever I ask. Now I'm worried that I'm either creating a diva or someone with dual personalities.

Geraldine Halladay, my last living grandparent passed away today. I'm sad that she is no longer with us, but happy that she is no long suffering in a body she can't control and mind that no longer functions properly. I'm happy that I had the opportunity to live with her for 3 months and take care of her and spend that time that otherwise never would have been spent with her. God bless you Grandma.. May we meet again one day

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for. I'm thankful for my family, a place to live, a job, food on the table, and the freedoms that this great USofA has. What a wonderful day to spend time with family. We had a Halladay family brunch at my grandma Halladay's house in the morning. After the brunch we headed up to Laura's parents house and I snuck in a little shooting before we left to have thanksgiving dinner. I shot my 45 for a little bit, but mostly I shot my father-in-laws Ruger 22 rifle. I was having a great time. My mother-in-law wasn't so thrilled because her husband was out there with me and we were suppsed to be heading to Laura's grandmothers house. We made it there and enjoyed a wonderful meal.

Well my interview last week did not go well at all, but today I had one and they are bringing me on as a contract worker. So finaly I will have a job for right now. I have had some wonderful friends that have been very supportive along with my family.

We're on to week 3 of not having a job. This really stinks! I do have an interview this wednesday and it will be the first one since I was laid off. I hope all goes well.

OK... I finaly have a second to sit down and write. This week ended up being quite the doozy of a week. At the first of the week I was going to work and everything was fine and dandy. I had just got approval to travel to Chile to move their office and I had been in meetings discussing the moving of equipment from the offices that were being closed. So Tuesday I take a half day off so that I can go to the dentist and he decides he is going to go ahead an put on my three crowns that I have been postponing for years. That night I get home and I'm online and I get some messages from co-workers saying that Ron Heap (my boss) and several other Managing directors were let go in a lay off. I couldn't believe it. So I started worrying about my position. I go to work the next day and there is a lot of stuff going on. I got there early and I noticed cars of other managers in IT in the parking lot. I get to work around 7:00 and there usually is no one there but the call center. So I wander around the building and there is a big meeting going on in the board room. I knew something big was going on. I get back to my desk and sit impatiently wondering what is going to happen. 8:00 rolls around and my employee arrives for work. She passes by our desks and says that the manager over Techops needs her help. So I have no idea what is going on, but I am getting more and more nervous. I also continue to watch people get pulled in to be given their walking papers. Most of the morning has past and then I get a call from my Bosses boss. I go up and and there it happens. I get my own walking papers. I lost my job. I was part of the 85 people that were laid off from TNI. I am very sad about this. I loved this company. I loved what I did for them. I loved who I worked with. I couldn't have asked for a better job. So I pack my stuff up and head home. The next day we are off for Bothwell to help Laura's parents put in hardwood floors and celebrate Shaun's birthday. By this time I had also put the word out that I was out of work and that I needed to find something quick so that I can provide for my family. The response I got was amazing. I had so many people call or email me asking me to get them a resume so they could give it to someone or they would give me suggestions of places to apply. I was just speechless for all the people that were so concerned about me and my family. I am very grateful for them. So now starts the journey of finding a job. I have applied for a couple of positions and I have already had one that came back and said that I was fitting the criteria they wanted for the position. I hope this doesn't take long. I wish I was just back at my old job. I guess there is a reason that we decided to stay in our house and not move down to Happy Valley.