LET IT REALLY SINK IN - THEN CHOOSE.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate.   He is always in a good mood
and always has something positive to say.  When someone would ask him how
he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

  He was a natural motivator.

  If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee
how to look on the positive side of the situation.

  Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked
him, "I don't get it!"

  "You can't be a positive person all of the time.  How do you do it?"

  He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two
choices today.  You can choose to be in a good mood or...you can choose to
 be in a bad mood

  I choose to be in a good mood."

  Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can
choose to learn from it.  I choose to learn from it.

  Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their
complaining or...I can point out the positive side of life.  I choose the
positive side of life.

  "Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

  "Yes, it is," he said.  "Life is all about choices.  When you cut away
all the junk, every situation is a choice.  You choose how you react to
situations.  You choose how people affect your mood.

  You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.  The bottom line: It's your
choice how you live your life."

  I reflected on what he said.  Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry
to start my own business.  We lost touch, but I often thought about him
when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

   Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious
accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.
  After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released
from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

  I saw him about six months after the accident.

  When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be
twins....Wanna see my scars?"

  I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his
 mind as the accident took place.

  "The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my
soon-to-be born daughter," he replied.  "Then, as I lay on the ground, I
remembered that I had two choices:  I could choose to live or...I could
choose to die.  I chose to live."

  "Weren't you scared?  Did you lose consciousness?"  I asked.

  He continued, "...the paramedics were great.


  They kept telling me I was going to be fine.  But when they wheeled me
into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and
nurses, I got really scared.  In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I
knew I needed to take action."

  "What did you do?" I asked.

  "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John.
"She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.'  The doctors
and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply.  I took a deep
breath and yelled, 'Gravity'".

  Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live.  Operate on me
as if I am alive, not dead."

  He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his
amazing attitude...I learned from him that every day we have the choice to
 live fully.

  Attitude, after all, is everything.

  
I got this as a email from one of my dearest friends and i wanted to share it with everyone that follows the Walch street journal. I hope this help you have a better attitude about things around you and the people around you. If you have a great attitude it will spread, They are very contagious like smiling.

We were driving into eureka on a Tuesday night

The snow was coming down it was a miserable sight

It took us 2 hours to go 60 miles

But my companion and I still wore a great big smile

I thought to myself, why is this so?

Why are we smiling and happy when it was so bitter cold

I thought well it could have been that dinner we just ate

All that Italian food on those fancy plates

Or was it because our training meeting was done

 And we knew that we could enjoy some fun

Or was it because in my studies

I could answer a question for my buddy

Then I thought back to Sunday what a way to start the week

It was nice to go to church and strengthen my testimony when it was so weak

Or was I happy to teach some people and by away from home

Living and spreading the gospel in Montana, being able to roam

Maybe it was because I worked out so early

Even if you add up all the min I workout they equal thirty

Then I ponder on all the tuff rules I have to obey

Getting up at 6:30 and studying most of the day

Then spending time talking to people who think I am crazy

Because I am not indoors watching tv and being lazy.

 They ask me what has gotten into you, why do you like to boast?

 I simply answer, I’m inviting you to listen to the Holy Ghost.

Then a light bulb flickered on inside my simple brain

I know why we were happy and glad we weren’t going insane.

 Obedience to the gospel we live it all the time.

 The lord blesses our family’s and that is what eased our minds.

I reminisced about all the letter I got from my kin

To here they were doing great it brought joy from with in

I knew if we were righteous in this Zion land

God would help us prosper with his loving hand

It was a promise he gave to a prophet’s way back in the day

He even gave his beloved son to pave us a righteous way

So all we have to do is follow his loving rules

And heavenly father will give us all the tools.

 I challenge all who ready this to live up to their best

Heavenly father won’t give us rules if we can’t follow them like the rest.

Remembering the Blessings.

The cowboy was out on a cold winter day, checking the lines

Thinking to himself he is a dying bread, the last of his kind

All the long days out gathering the steer

It would drive any city man to tears

So he stopped his old buckskin to take a quick rest

As he was reminiscing about the days he remember the best

One of the days happened to be a warm afternoon

Somewhere in the month of June

He was riding along

Whistling A good old country song 

And out of the corner of his eye

He saw a red streak fly by

He wondered what it could be

For He knew it was just him and the trees

So he jerked on the horses reins

racking what it could be through his brain

He looked over his shoulder

And by a great big boulder

There stood a big bull with no brand on his side

He thought to himself it was a perfect hide.

One he figured would look good with all his cattle

So he threw a rope and tied it to his saddle

All of a sudden that bull took after him

It was a drastic situation one where he had to act fast

Or he and his horse would be in the past

They galloped down the mountain a mile

As he screamed like a small child

Wondering if the bull was going to stop

He slowed his horse down tell he heard a branch pop

He spun around and heard a great sound

It was the bull running non stop

The bull hit them broad side

And threw him off his horses hide

As he fell a pound the ground

He was wondering how he was going to get back into town.

His truck was pretty far away

But at least he was feeling ok

As he was walking back

He started to think of the past

The thought came to his mind this

Must be another sign

He was thinking of his childhood

When all must have been good.

He was wondering where he went wrong 

Then he thought of a song

The song was subtle but sweet

And he knew it complete

The words were:” I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful Wonderful to me.”

The words kept running over and over in his brain

So he kept walking tell there was no pain.

He knew that this must have been his sign

He was feet away from the truck so he was almost out of time.

He was remembering the price Christ had to pay

So we all could repent and live happy this day

It didn’t matter what commandment he broke

It was up to him to fix it with all the folks

He said out loud; o lord I going to quit my sinful ways

I swear old lord I will work hard for the rest of my days

I will try my hardest to repent

I will treat my friends and family descent

I’m grateful for this day

Even if I had to walk most of the way

I know your son paid the debt

But I’m not ready to meet you yet.

I have many more days out on the line

I just hope one day I will remember this great time.

Don’t Be Afraid To Get Down On Your Knees

Don’t Be Afraid To Get Down On Your Knees

The radio was blasting, kicking out a good old country tune.
We were singing along with George on that hot day in June.
We were barreling across a dry valley; living that sweet dream…
Talking about girls, school, and hunting… even our favorite football team.
Life was going good until we heard that dreaded blow.
I just sat there in my driver seat and sank extremely low…
I looked towards my 2 best friends and said, “Boy! Doesn’t that put us in a tough spot?
This here truck we have been driving just threw us into a boiling pot!”
Jason smirked and then commented “That’s the third tire! It must be a blasted sign…
We are just going to have to sit here and wait our dreaded time.”
I looked upward and saw that big, hot sun beating very high,
And if we were to sit there much longer… we could surely die.
It was a drastic situation! One I want never to repeat.
I was wishing I was at home with a pretty lady messaging my feet.
Then a thought popped into my mind, “Get down are your knees.
Pray like your mom has taught you since you were two or three.”
Well… I offered up a quick prayer, right then and there…
I asked for strength and knowledge and God’s loving care.
I did what my thoughts told me. I know it was the Holy Ghost.
He has helped me out of a number of binds, and I don’t mean to boast.
We started walking toward home with that sun blazing high…
When all of the sudden my friend, Clayton, started singing a lullaby.
We sang all the songs that we knew, until we saw a trail of dust…
We knew our prayers had been answered; it was someone we could trust.   
I’m just glad God listens to us all, from are very birth.
While we journey through our time here on this place called “Mother Earth”.
Whenever I am in a tough bind,
I can always look to that Lord of mine.
I challenge all that read this story,
To remember the Lord and all His great glory.
A prayer to our Heavenly Father is all we need…
So don’t be afraid to get down upon your knees

CHRISTMAS EVE CONVERSION

        ONE CHRISTMAS EVE, A LONG TIME AGO

AN OUTLAW WAS CAUGHT, IN HIGH WINDS AND SNOW

HE COULDN’T SEE PAST HIS PONIES TWO EARS

IT WAS THE WORST BLIZZARD TO HIT THIS COUNTRY IN YEARS 

HIS HORSE BUCKING SNOW WAS DOING HIS BEST

BUT WITH THREE FEET OF SNOW, THEY BOTH NEEDED A REST

THEY WERE FREEZING AND LOST AND THINGS SURE LOOKED DIM

SO HE DUG OUT A SNOW CAVE AND BURROWED RIGHT IN 

“I’VE REALLY MESSED UP THIS TIME”, HE SAID UNDER HIS BREATH

FOR HE KNEW THAT HE AND HIS PONY COULD SOON FREEZE TO DEATH

IF THEY DIDN’T GET HELP, AND NO HELP WAS IN SIGHT

THEN HE HEARD THE BRAY OF A DONKEY, AND THROUGH THE BLOWING SNOW

SAW A LIGHT 

THEN A SHEEPHERDER SLOWLY APPEARED THROUGH THE TREES

LEADING HIS DONKEY AND STOMPING THROUGH SNOW PAST THEIR KNEES

HE WALKED UP TO THE OUTLAW WITH A LANTERN IN HAND

THAT WAS PUTTING OUT HEAT, AND A LIGHT THAT WAS GRAND 

HE HELPED THE FREEZING OUTLAW UP ONTO HIS DONKEY’S STRONG BACK

THEN LEAD HIM AND HIS PONY TO HIS LITTLE ROCK SHACK

HE HELPED THE OLD OUTLAW IN, AND STOKED THE FIRE AT HIS FEET

THEN PUT THE HORSE AND DONKEY IN THE STABLE, WITH SOME DRY CORN TO EAT 

THE OUTLAW SAID, “I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU FOUND US, YOU WERE DIRECTED SOMEHOW

BUT I KNOW IF YOU HADN’T, I’D BE WARMING UP WITH THE DEVIL BY NOW

THAT WIND IS STILL HOWLING LIKE A MAD WOMAN’S SCREAM

AND YOUR CABIN’S AS WARM AS ANY I’VE EVER SEEN” 

AFTER SOME HOT MUTTON STEW, THE OUTLAW SETTLED IN FOR THE NIGHT

WHILE THE HERDER SAT AT THE TABLE, READING HIS BIBLE, BY THE LANTERNS WARM LIGHT

“YOU KNOW”, SAID THE OUTLAW, “I NEVER DID READ FROM THE BIBLE

IT NEVER SEEMED IMPORTANT NO HOW

BUT BEING IT IS CHRISTMAS EVE IT WOULD SURE PLEASE ME

IF YOU’D READ FROM IT NOW”

 THE HERDER SMILED AT THE OUTLAW AND TURNED TO A VERSE

HE SAID, “LET ME READ FROM ST. LUKE, ABOUT OUR DEAR SAVIORS BIRTH”

AS THE HERDER READ SCRIPTURES AND THE STORM HOWLED OUTSIDE

THE OUTLAW REFLECTED ON HIS SINFUL PAST, AND HIS COW THIEVING RIDES 

HE REMEMBERED PAST CHRISTMAS EVES, JUST DRUNKEN PARTIES ALL NIGHT

BUT THIS CHRISTMAS EVE, WELL IT JUST SEEMED TO FEEL RIGHT

THIS HERDER WHO’D SAVED HIM SEEMED SO HUMBLE AND PLAIN

HOW HE’D FOUND HIM IN THIS BLIZZARD, HE COULDN’T EXPLAIN
 

 

HE SAID TO THE HERDER, “LIVING WAY OUT HERE, I BET YOU’VE NEVER HAD NOTHING NICE

YOU JUST NAME IT AND IT IS YOURS, FOR SAVING MY LIFE”

THE HERDER’S EYES SPARKLED AS HE GAVE THE COWBOY A LOOK

“YOU CAN REPAY ME MY FRIEND, BY READING THIS BOOK” 

THE OUTLAW SAID, “IT’S A DEAL, AS SOON AS I CAN FIND ONE”

THE HERDER RESPONDED, “YOU MAY HAVE THIS ONE, WHEN MY MISSION IS DONE”

HE THEN CONTINUED TO READ FROM THE BIBLE ONCE MORE

AND THE OUTLAW DOZED OFF AND SLEPT, LIKE NEVER BEFORE 

THE NEXT MORNING THE OUTLAW AWAKENED AND SENSED SOMETHING WAS WRONG

THE STORM, THE HERDER AND THE DONKEY WERE GONE

THERE WAS NO ROOF ON THE CABIN, JUST FOUR CRUMBLING WALLS WITH NO DOOR

NO STEW, NO FIRE AND HIS HORSE STOOD NEXT TO HIM, ON THE CABINS DIRT FLOOR 

THERE WAS NO SNOW ANYWHERE, THE GROUND WASN’T DAMP

IN FACT HE FIGURED THIS PLACE TO BE A MIGHTY FINE CHRISTMAS CAMP

BUT WHAT OF THAT BLIZZARD, HAD HE DREAMED UP THIS FABLE

THEN HE SAW A LEATHER BOUND BIBLE, ON AN OLD WOODEN TABLE 

HE TOOK THE BOOK IN HIS HANDS AND STARTED READING THE PAGES

HE HADN’T FELT THIS KIND OF JOY IN WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN AGES

HE STAYED RIGHT THERE AT THIS CAMP UNTIL HE’D FINISHED THE BOOK

THEN HE KNELT DOWN IN PRAYER AND GAVE THE HEAVENS A LOOK 

PLEASE LORD FORGIVE ME FOR THE BAD THINGS I’VE DONE

AND THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR WONDERFUL SON

I READ YOUR BOOK, LIKE THAT SHEEPHERDER ASKED

NOW I PROMISE TO YOU, MY SINS ARE ALL IN THE PAST 

HE SAID, THANK YOU O LORD, FOR ALL THAT IS RIGHT

AND ESPECIALLY FOR THAT DREAM THAT I HAD LAST NIGHT

THAT SHEEPHERDER YOU SENT, WELL HE MADE ME BELIEVE

AND I WAS TRULY CONVERTED, ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE  

I want to bear  my testimony that everyone can be forgiven of there sin. That Christ came to this earth to make it possible for us all though  the atonement  to repent.  We as people living here in today world needs to take this chance and do so. We can change are life and make the best of this life we have here on earth with what little time we have left here. so be like the outlaw and change your life before you get to the point were it is to late. 

Famous last words of a coach

     Coming from a sport center town I believe every boy who has lived in Alamo NV can say they have played Football.
     They all will remember the smell of a sweat-filled locker room and senior boys trying to get everyone pumped up and talking about the great plays and tackles they have made in the previous half. They all wait for the coaches to come in and give them some advice on how to make the last half of the game the best half of the game. All of us have herd Coach Kens famous words he gives to us. It always seems like at the beginning of the season the words of encouragement are:

 "All that training you did during the 2 a days practices come down to now! This very moment, this very place. Every terrible 20 you ran, every sand wash you have sprinted, every snake you have trudged threw comes down to now!"

      Every game he says something along those lines. No matter how many times we heard his speech, it would still pump us up. Later in the season the lecture sound about the same, but he would add to his famous lecture:

     "And all the games you have won and all the pain you have endured"

      Then at the end of the season, he throws it all down:

"Senior boys, I have loved coaching you and watching you guys grow from a good team to a great team! You have 24 min left in your high school career till it's over. After that, you cant change anything. All you can do is look back and say 'We did well'. So don't hold anything back. Give 110% all the time, so you have no regrets later in life. So your able to look back and say, 'We did all we could do and played with all our heart'. Remembering the goal we made at the beginning of the year: Winning that state game. When the finial buzzer rings you know that you will come out victorious!"

     I remember hearing that speech and following it. The feeling we got from winning that state game was amazing! After it was all over, we looked back over all the great work we had accomplished.
     When I look back upon my high school football career, and Coach Ken's speech, it reminds me of how we live our lives. We should live are life like a football season. Practicing. Studying. Executing. Insuring you will preform everything flawlessly. We as Latter Day Saints should practice: keeping the commandments, Having faith, hope, charity, and love, and keeping the Sabbath Day holy. We should study The Scriptures, Ensign articles, and General Conferences talks, like we study film of another team, so we can know what lies ahead of us. With enough practice and studying we can preform with success. Giving it 110%, leaving it all here on earth like you would on a field. Having no regrets in life. So in the life to come we will have that great feeling of accomplishment, knowing we did great. Feeling complete and overjoyed. Knowing that we endured to the end and played with all are hearts.

Killin Time

I was sitting at the bus station trying to kill the time.

Chattin with an old friend, talking about this short life of mine.

All the long hours came up about us throwing the hay.

Just so we could earn a few bucks and go fishing the rest of the day.

We talked about all the days out hunting looking for the king beast.

So we could sit down at night and enjoy our simple feast.

We then reminisced about all the time at the county fairs.

Drinking soda and chasing girls, boy we sure were a bright pair.

We thought about all the time we barely escaped with our life.

Man I sure do feel bad for our future wives.

We agreed right then that moment someone was always there.

Making sure we returned home safe without a loss of our hair.

Surly the lord would guide us with his dear loving hand.

He wants us to return home safe because he has a greater plan.

 Once again God saved me knowing where I will do my best.

I hope I can try my hardest and keep his loving feeling in my chest.

Now I am on my mission in Montana i came with all my joy.

I escaped the grasp of an Asian speaking mission and no vegetarian soy.

Now teaching people the gospel it runs deep within my veins.

I just hope one day I will be elected to enter in to Gods special hall of fame.

All the hours we spent swimming all the money and soda down the drain

All the “if I would of”, and “barleys” all the bandages and the pain

All the football games we played just to win those grueling fights

They aren't even close to a down payment Jesus paid that essential night.

My family investigated the gospel knowing it was true.

They gave up all they had to cross the great deep blue

I'm grateful for their example they lead me all my days

I hope one day I will be able to meet them and thank them anyways.

It’s hard to think of their skin frozen and cold as ice

They have to love me the same as Jesus to pay that great of a sacrifice.

So I hope I don't disappoint them I know this gospel is true

So maybe that will help you think again before you try to hand me a cold brew.

I hope you do the same thing about your great life

You can find all the mistakes you made and not dwell on them twice.

Well I and my old friend, we parted are simple way

I’m glad we could chat a few and review our short life up to this blessed day.

by: Kenyon Walch