Tuesdays with Muerte

Stacia and I wrote a lullaby for our 5-month-old baby, Kai. Here's how it happened: Before Kai's birth, we intended to create a personalized lullaby like my sisters’ kids had. However, busy schedules made it challenging. During our Christmas vacation at Heather's house in Spokane, WA, we aimed to fulfill that goal and compose a special lullaby for Kai. However, with the house packed with family to interact with, we never made the time. Fortunately for us, my sister invited us to extend our stay by a week. Once the house was quiet, we immediately got to work on Kai's goodnight song. After months and months of anticipation, it all came together— in a single afternoon !  First, I threw a favorite chord progression together on the guitar. Then Stacia and I figured out the vocal melody, lyrics, and form and wrote it all down on sheet music.  The following day, we were still in the flow, so we added descants and harmonies. My 12-year-old niece Annika and my sister Heather pit...

10-day-old Kai His name — We thought Kai's name would be much easier to settle on than it was. Honestly, it was the last thing holding us up before the nurses would let us leave the hospital. Kai was always at the top of our list of names, but I supposed we would lock it down immediately after seeing him for the first time. Community  — In these COVID times, we were surprised (and grateful for) how many people served us (e.g., food, gifts, time). Prepared to be on our own, we bought 2 weeks of frozen food from Beehive Meals that we haven't even cracked into yet. Burp rag supply — We severely underestimated the number of burp rags we would initially go through. Despite having 30 rags, there were numerous times we had zero in reserve. (Granted, we have not been efficient in their use.) Back pain — We weren't expecting backaches for both of us. (Stacia is obviously still recovering from 2.5 of pushing. I just have terrible form while holding Kai.) We should’ve been doing pr...

Two years ago, I didn’t feel anywhere close to being “marriage-ready.” Yet, as I write this, I’ve been happily married for eight months. What helped me take this big step? What changed? After much reflection, I’ve identified a few key factors. They all relate to specific limiting beliefs I once held (highlighted in red ). Identifying and replacing these beliefs was crucial for developing my confidence to thrive personally, build a meaningful future, and start a family.  Color Coding Lies: Unconscious, limiting beliefs that held me back from pursuing marriage. Truth: Conscious, empowering beliefs that helped me develop a healthy mindset preparatory for a successful marriage. Lies Truth 1. My imperfection makes me unrighteous and an unworthy prospective husband and father. 1. Perfection isn't a prerequisite for marriage. 2. Single people are somehow incomplete. 2. I never needed “a better half” to complete me. 3. I just ha...

Stacia and I are asleep in bed. It’s 1am and uncomfortably hot. I hear Stacia wake and stir next to me. She had already thrown off the blankets and was just under the thin bedsheet. I tell her I think it’s too hot and ask her if she wants me to turn on the ceiling fan.   Stacia: “No.” [she answers groggily] Bryan: “Lower the AC?”   Stacia: “No.” Bryan: “Which one? Fan or AC?” Stacia: “No. I want the dre-[initelligible].” Bryan; “a wha?” Stacia: “the dress” Bryan: “Which dress?” [I play along.] Stacia: “#342.“ I get out of bed to turn on the AC. The moment I stand up, Stacia says in full voice, Stacia: “Babe, where are you going?!”   Bryan: “I’m getting the dress,” I lie.  “Where is it? In the back?” Stacia: “No. It’s already in a bag.” Bryan: “oh, okay.” I turn down the AC and come back to find her sleeping loudly. Bryan: “I got the dress,” I state triumphantly. Stacia: [No response.] I must have done well. ...

Close your eyes, think of your mother, and you will likely recall her voice reciting familiar sayings. I am lucky to have a mom that loves her kids and takes her job as Mom very seriously. Here's a short list of some of her sayings that occasionally wander through my mind: "Are you full, Bryan?" My mom obviously favored me when it came to helping size while growing up. I was always running around and never seemed to gain weight. My mom's concern for my weight included perks like being served first more often than not, and also receiving the largest slices of dessert. "You look so good in green, and gold. Avoid white; it makes you look washed out." My mom helped me understand the importance of fashion.  In all likelihood, I'd have opted to wear sweatpants and t-shirts my whole adolescence had it not have been for her direction. "Take your school bag up to your room, please." And "when you see a cabinet open, close it."...

I love you, Mama!  Thank you for your undying love and support.  You raised me well and I want you proud!  Thank you especially for: Sharing fun moments on Instagram Energetic phone calls Tracking down special gifts for me Reminding me of things I'd forget Praying for my love life Giving me space Teaching me the importance of language (spelling, grammar, syntax, etc.) Providing me with an entire can of chile everyday as an after-school snack Letting me play video games, even though you probably hated them Remember all those hours I spent locked away in the TV room playing video games?  That was the best form of love you could have given me.  When I screamed at the NES (when my character died just before reaching the end of a level) you probably thought it would be the responsible thing to do to intervene, but you didn't; you allowed me continue.  I feel like that gave me a terrific opportunity to develop principles of determination, patie...

Heather asked me to make a list of songs that she could use for an end of the year, family video. Daily Life: Darin - Viva La Vida The Postal Service - Such Great Heights Glee Cast - Don't Stop Believin' (Glee Cast Version) Cousins: Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe Owl City - The Bird and the Worm Mark Ronson - Ooh Wee feat. Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife & Saigon [Radio Edit, Questionable Content ] Rickmas: Take That - Back for Good Rick Astley - What The World Needs Now The Dandy Warhols - We Used To Be Friends Family Fun: BNL - The Canadian Snacktime Trilogy II: Popcorn Glee Cast - Halo / Walking On Sunshine Lady Gaga Ft Colby Odonis - Just Dance Flo Rida feat. T-Pain - Low [ Content Questionable ] Holidays: David Archuleta - Joy to the World Hayley Westenra - Peace Shall Come Miscellaneous: Owl City - Hot Air Balloon Owl City - Fireflies Beastie Boys - Body Movn' Birthdays/Celebrations: C+C Music Factory - Gonna Make You...

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you so much. For your birthday present this year, I feel that it is time that you finally learned the truth. Now that you are becoming much more technologically savvy, it is time for you to be let in on the dark secret that the rest of the family has kept from you over the last 6 year. Upon returning home from my mission, I set up a shared Google Document designed to host copies of all of the Mother's Day, Birthday and Christmas cards that the rest of the family has written for you.  The document is tied to Google Calender so that it is emailed to each of us at those three times a years.  Now, here's the part I'm really ashamed of.  Instead of adding to the genealogical record of all the different reasons why we love you, we have resorted to simply copying one anothers' sentiments from years past. I know.  I know.  I should burn for this one.  But I figured, it would be better to tell you about it now and get it ou...

Happy Graduation Stef! Stef asked me to be her photographer, and we had "a fun time." But I'm afraid I didn't perform to the expected competency level. Here's an example of a video clip inside the BYU Marriot Center just before Elder Ballard's Commencement speech: The day was fun and family-filled. We spent the morning packing. Took graduation pictures and enjoyed a leisurely lunch with the family. Toured the Museum of Art and even went out to CPK for dinner. Here's a pic of my grandpa photoboming my sister:

Mosiah 4:15-26 You can count this for your daily scripture study: 15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness ; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. 16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just— 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. 19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all ...

Long story short, Stef misplaced Scott's $500 glasses. Stef also needed to take the garbage out before cleaning checks in the morning. I volunteered to get my hands dirty and carefully sift through each garbage bag, piece by piece, as I poured them into the complex's dumpster at 2:10am this morning. I had Stef's headlamp on so that I could see in the dark. Out of the blue a girl walks up to the dumpster with her own trash. I was too tired to react with any emotion. All I could manage to say was, "Hi. Would you mind throwing yours towards the back for me?" Looking at her heavy bags, I realized how rude that sounded so I helped her by throwing them in for her. "Goodnight" I said, and went back to sifting. It was then, as she was just walking out of sight, that I realized she walking pretty fast toward her apartment and I looked like some creepy pervert at an all girls apartment complex dumpster--I've probably got less than 5 before a poli...

Story from Last Week Stef and I were driving along University parkway toward Provo when I saw a Sizzler on the left. I made the remark that Sizzler, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden are establishments of 'fine dinning' rednecks. When a redneck wants to show his girl he REALLY loves her, he'll take her out to the Oliver GARDEN. Stef looked at me like she didn't get it, so I said in my best hick accent, "One day, soon, I'm a gonna take you out some place fancy! Like The Sizzler!" Stef still wasn't amused, so I desisted. Story from This Week Stef and I were in the car again and we passed by the Olive Garden and she started cracking up! It was ridiculous how much she was chuckling to herself. She explained that ever since we had that conversation, she laughs harder every time she passes by one of those three restaurants. The irony was that I had forgotten that I even said anything about it.

I wrote my Mom her own post on my family's private blog, because, well, it's private. But I will tell her again that I love and appreciate her and that I'm so she's my mom because every mother deserves to her those words far more often than they actually do; especially mine. p.s. I'm really sorry for not calling for 2 months. Since I won't be able to be with my Mom in Ohio on Mother's Day, I will go ahead and visit my aunt and her family in Centerville, UT. My Aunt Charlene is an amazing; she's beautiful, she's sweet and giving. She gave me a terrific gift last time I visited -- a tupperware of her famous strawberry freezer jam. This is actually three gifts in one: 1. The incredible jam! (I bought a extra loaf of super-nice bread that week just for the jam.) 2. The tupperware. I use that little container thing SO MUCH! 3. A terrific date idea. I still haven't made strawberry preserves with anyone, but I think it is a winner for a...

Yanni - Creeping people out for more than 20 years Yanni Bio:   Yani left his homeland of Greece at the age of 18 to attend the University Of Minnesota. After receiving a BA in Psychology, he decided he would instead seek a life in music though he had no formal training and could not read a note. Yanni has since performed live in concert before in excess of two million people in more than 20 countries around the world. "We have to understand that our thoughts are our most precious resource, everything begins there. At some point a thought turns into a dream and that's when the magic begins. A man's dream or a woman's dream is so powerful it could change the world. We have seen it in history time and again, where the impossible, imagined, became reality." To listen to this quote directly search " Yanni Nostalgia London " on YouTube. The Metamorphosis I'm totally stoked about Yanni's newest CD, " Voices ". My impression...

My Dad After Surgery After dad had a kidney stone surgically removed, he was pretty badly doped up. To test his own state of mind in the recovery room he asked the family this simple question: " Zhabungawalezapod ?" "What honey?" asked mom with a smile. " Isabunjawhalesapod ?" dad insisted. "I don't understand Gordon, what are you saying?" A little more lucidly, " Isabunchofwhalesapod ?" Finally someone in the crowd pickup what he was laying down (smoother than a rapper from South Central): "oh, he's asking, ' Is a bunch of whales, a pod ?'" "Yes, Gordon. Very good." David Goes To The Dentist My favorite line is,  "Is this real life?"  I empathize with that poor guy. I'm sure some of you do too. Please share your funny "drugged" stories in the comments.

Phil, this video is dedicated to you. I don't know if the situation has changed since you lived in Provo, but my guess is that you still haven't seen Star Wars. If that is the case, I'd like you to perform a simple exercise. I'd like you to record your self explaining the plot of the original, first three movies in under three minutes. You can use your Macbook, or a digital camera, or a voice recorder, or a camcorder if you have one. Then I want you to post it and we will compare it with the video below. I hope you win. May the Force be with you... ---------------- Listening to: Lights - Drive My Soul

Watch their mouths while they sing.

This looks like something that my family would do. A nationwide improv association in New York welcome home a complete stranger at JFK. Here is the article  about it.

When I drove the shuttle van for Mark Harmon's Auto Center, I found this charming neighborhood that I thought Mom and Dad might have been interested in buying. It was off of State Street in Lindon, past some fruit orchards and up a slight hill offering a beautiful view of Utah Lake. I snapped this photo with my phone out the window of the shuttle van. I found out from my passenger that the ward was full of recent empty-nesters. The average house price (back then) was around $400,000. However, since you guys decided against Utah, I didn't bother sending the picture to you. What do you all think? Worth checking out?

Belle, this one is for you. Is this a boy or a GIRL? ---------------- Listening to: Michael Bublé - The Way You Look Tonight