Advice from Dad

I always think about my Dad alot in March, he passed away nine years ago this month. I was listening to one of his tapes a little while ago so that I could hear his voice. During part of the tape he was talking about a trip he made to Boise. He was driving along with my mom and hit this huge snow storm, there were cars pulled over to the sides of the road for miles. But my dad being my dad went slow and just kept trucking along. Then he said that two miles down the road, the weather cleared up and it was bright and sunny. He said those people that had given up and pulled over to the side of the road had no idea that two miles ahead the weather was bright and sunny and the roads were clear. It hit me how our trials in life are like this. The storm hits and we have the urge to pull over, but little do we know that two miles up the road the weather is bright and sunny and the roads are clear. If we just keep going things will work out, the key is to just keep going.

I usually hit the storm or my trials with white knuckles gripping the steering wheel - I dig in my heels and don't want it to happen. Once I have accepted that it is going to happen I handle it fine and then something will throw me over the edge and I get irritated and want it over again - the storm keeps pressing on and I keep going on - sometimes I repeat this cycle a few times but eventually the roads become clear again. The thing that has been amazing to me is that I can actually find peace during the storm if I go to the right place. It was great to receive a message of hope from my dad so many years later when I needed it.

I have learned a lot from my dad, so I thought I would make a list of just a few of the lessons I learned from him:


1- You are responsible for your own actions - it doesn't matter who else is around, you know the rules, you decide if you are going to follow them and you will live with the consequence positive or negative.

2-My dad taught me how to truly love. If I made a mistake my dad never said I told you so, he always wrapped his arms around me and said I am so sorry that you are hurting right now.

3-You can do anything if you want it bad enough, even if you are a girl.

4-If your plans don't turn out the way that you want them and they usually don't, try to find another path - there is almost always one there, but always find happiness in the situation you are in.

5-Cookies go a long way.

6-Just because you are a girl doesn't get you out of changing your oil, or your tires or setting up camp. Just because you are a boy doesn't get you out of dishes or grocery shopping or cooking. You need to know how to do it all to be prepared.

7-Be patient and kind, be full of love and be strong - stay true to yourself.

8-Work hard.

9-Intregrity and being honest is more important than being rich. He would rather lose a dollar than cheat someone out of a penny.

10-You are going to have trials in your life and it is not fair, but you can learn a lot, you can still be happy, you can find peace just keep your eyes on your ultimate goal - where do you want to be at the end of this life.

11-Giving up is never an option.

12-You can have fun and still be good - always stay true to yourself.

13-The way the world measures success is different than the way that Heavenly Father measures it - and it is His opinion that matters the most.

14-It is important to show love to those around you and be supportive.

15-Take time to listen to those around you - they might have something interesting to say, they might not be around tomorrow, and if you spend time building those relationships today they will be strong tomorrow when you need them to be.

I miss my daddy and I love him like crazy. I am so grateful for the lessons that he taught me and the person that I am today because of him. He inspired me to want to do better out of love rather than force and I always had his support. I can't wait to see him again one day.