Story Time Fun..

"If Life Gets Too Hard To Stand, Kneel." - Gordon B. Hinckley

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip."

I got tickets to fly there on "Wish I Had" airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town.
As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there.

First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have and Could Have. Then came the I Had family. You probably know Mr. Wish and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost. The biggest family would be the Yesterday's. There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share.

Then Shattered Dreams would surely make and appearance. And It's Their Fault would regale us with stories / excuses about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It.

Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent "pity party" could be canceled by ME! I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.

I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? Yes, but there is no physical way to undo them.

So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it, it's in your own heart. Please look me up. I live on I Can Do It street.

These are favorite quotes of mine that help get me through the worst of times. I use them often to uplift myself.

"Please don't nag yourself with thoughts of failure. Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort." - Gordon B. Hinckley

"There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless." - James E. Faust


Walt Disney was turned down 302 times before he got financing for his dream of creating the "Happiest Place on Earth". Today, due to his persistence, millions of people have shared 'the joy of Disney'.

Colonel Sanders spent two years driving across the United States looking for restaurants to buy his chicken recipe. He was turned down 1,009 times! How successful is Kentucky Fried Chicken today?

Having said this, keep in mind that you must constantly reevaluate your circumstances and the approach you are using to reach your goal. There is no sense in being persistent at something that you are doing incorrectly! Sometimes you have to modify your approach along the way. Every time you do something you learn from it, and therefore find a better way to do it the next time.

You've failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn't you? Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.

R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.

English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.

Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.

Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.
I loved these little snippets from an LDS sight that my partner in crime (Ferron) showed me! Hope you are Encouraged today.

LDS News From American Samoa

At the Leone, American Samoa chapel

Food distribution for the Volunteer Relief workers in Leone

This is from my Aunt Mitzi Semo an LDS member in Aloau, American Samoa, who is also helping in the LDS clean up efforts of the destroyed villages:

"I woke up feeling extreme sorrow for those who lost loved ones yesterday and families who slept in strange beds because theirs were washed away. But then, the sun came up and I marveled at its light, knowing that this would be the start of a good day."

LDS News From Western Samoa

Malaela Village - no more

Malaela Village - an all LDS village

Lalomanu Village - no more. Workers looking for bodies.

Lalomanu Village - completely leveled

LDS church building in Malaela - Samoa (Western)

Malaela - Samoa (Western) LDS village tent set up

Pesenga LDS clothing donations that will be distributed

Pesega Stake helping to collect and distribute donations

Makeshift homes for at Malaela Hill for the LDS members whose village is completely gone

LDS members new living quarters until the re-build


This update is from my relative in Utah, Larissa Tuinei. She is getting LDS updates from her uncle who lives in Samoa (Western):

"Today is hot, hotter than than the first 2 days. We are continuing to haul water to the saints and others. Church members are camping in 5 different areas high up the hills. One is in Saleapaga, one in Lalomanu, 2 in Malaela and one in Leagiagi or Saleaumua. We are now setting up our own control post at the Leagiagi chapel where we are offering counseling services and a control point of distribution of immediate needs for them. Outside help from NZ and Australia are now arriving and hopefully it will be sent to these needed people soon. The Church has now approved a plane load of food (rice, sugar, hygienic etc water..) coming in from SLC hopefully within the next few days as they are negotiating for a plane now. I think once those come in it will greatly ease the suffering physically, but emotionally it will remain with our people for a long long time.

I know American Samoa is going through the same trauma, but they are in good hands with the US extending a big hand to help them. Here in poor Samoa its all depending on the handouts from families and from other governments. The Lalomanu and Malaela are the worst hit area, in fact there is no Malaela standing. The only building standing in the whole village is part of the stake president's home and the damaged chapel. Remember this village has only one religion and that is LDS, so all the casualties in the village are mostly members of the Church if not all and are mostly related to the Purcells. So it is a very devastating effect to the Church and to the saints here.

People are now starting to bury their dead especially those that were found yesterday and today as they are starting to decomposed as our hospitals and government facilities are not adequate to handle these casea. As mentioned earlier, a member of my ward has lost her parents, a newphew whom they are still searching for, and a niece in the disaster. Lena/Vana you know of Segia--Nicholus mom, her mother is one of the victims of the tsunami, in fact in the 2 wards in Malaela there are about 15 deaths as of now and a few others in the other wards of Leagiagi and Vaovai. The total dead as it now stands at 110 but still counting. We are continuing to haul water and food up to the various camps and trying to provide them with some other means to use for sanitation, as well as some hygienic needs. These people only had what they wore on their bodies as they tried to run up to the bushes so it was pleasing to see them use a change of clothes from what we delivered yesterday. I think it will take a while for them to be in camps as the smell is very strong and could cause some health problems.

We are trying to organize a Mormon Helping Hands cleanup project from all the other stakes that were not affected hoping for a good turnout in the 1000. I think it would be great not only for the community but also as a missionary tool for the Church. The mission president is in favor of this too and has offered his missionaries to participate in it so it will be good PR for them too. I think with most of their basic needs such as food, clothing in place we can now move to try and help them rebuilt their lives physically and emotionally so they can move on. It will probably take a while but I know with faith they can do it."

In American Samoa news, we were listening to live Samoan Christian radio the other night before family prayer. Anyone from around the world can call in and let there family members know they are praying for them and thinking about them. My dad doesn't speak or understand Samoan asked, "What are they saying? They must be pretty upset."

Actually, that is never the case with the Samoan people. Every caller first takes time to thank the hosts for the opportunity to speak and then they let their family members know how much they love them and keep them in prayer. Most of the callers are thankful to God for the lives spared and ask that all the Samoans be thankful to the our Heavenly Father for the tragedy as well as the happiness they enjoy, for it is a part of His master plan. It is humbling to know that when most people are asking "Why?" after complete devastation, my Samoan people ask for everyone to "Pray."

I Don't Qualify? Really?

Procrastination WAS my thing for the past few years. It got me into a college that obviously was not my first choice. It made sure I turned in the rest of my Seminary assignments weeks after I was done and graduated from high school. It gave me probably the worst musical performance of my high school existence . Oh yeah, that Prom performance was broadcast on public television, so plenty of good laughs for hours on end this summer. Thank goodness even cable has a time line they have to follow and that wretched taped performance will vanish into a box in a dark closet somewhere in a tiny storage area where the only threat of it showing up would be if I ever became a famous artist or celebrity of some sort. I am positive only then will some random kid I attended high school with produce the DVD and claim to be one of my yesteryear best friends, sell it to every news media outlet for financial gain. Fat chance that will ever happen, but you never know, right?

I seemed to have digressed from my original point about procrastination, my bad. I was given a 'stern lecture' (and I am being really POLITE on how I said that) about filing for financial aid or what we college kids refer to as "spending loot". Of course as luck would have it, yet another one of my parent's 'stern lectures' went in one ear, right out the other. I sat on it and waited until last week. Then came the threat of having to pay rent if my grades fell anywhere below a B average. The goal would obviously be to carry straight A's in my full time load, but my parent's showed me some mercy and said a B would be sufficient since I was preparing to leave after this school year. I nagged my dad a few times to help me prepare my FAFSA (you can google that if your lost, lol) and I hurried back to the school counselor to turn everything in. They say it will be three to four days before I hear anything.

Yesterday the FAFSA report came in the mail. Images of a shiny new guitar and a custom uke like I always wanted started to flood my thoughts. Oh how much spending loot was Mr.Sete entitled to? I'm a pretty decent guy. I'm polite and I work hard at my job and at home. I'm a good son and brother most of the time. I deserve a few trinkets for being decent.

My mom opened the letter and read aloud I qualified for figures in the thousands ... Meanwhile, I'm thinking in my head, "wait for it ... wait for it. Thousands? ... SCORE!" ... then she says very disappointed "in loans."
"You qualify for loans. You qualify for thousands in loans. Not even a stinkin' Pell grant? What the heck? Are these people nuts? A loan? What is that?"
Needless to say moms was NOT a happy camper. I think she went into shock.
"This can't be right. You have always qualified. I don't believe this."
I know my mama well and I knew these next few sentences would soon follow,
"Why son? Why didn't you finish applying for the scholarships I asked you to fill out? If you would have filled out the scholarships we would not be in this predicament now. You need to talk to someone at your school and see why you don't qualify for a grant."

My mom could not wrap her mind around what she had just read in the letter. At this point my dad is already toiling away on his laptop doing his homework. He's doing online college classes for a different degree in computer stuff. He looked puzzled as to why my mom was upset. My dad grew up with a 'silver spoon' I guess and doesn't understand my mom's 'plastic spoon' mentality most of the time. My mom told me to jump on the computer and check to see if 'they' made a mistake.
"Hurry up son. Do it now".
I guess if I moved fast enough, the results were sure to be different in the computer, lol. I log on and the results are exactly what the FAFSA letter says. The same amounts. Still loans.

I guess when I go to my lab session tonight I will have to see why I didn't qualify for even a Pell Grant. I see three bright and glorious silver linings from my college career thus far;
First, procrastination is NEVER a good thing even if I keep saying "I have my own perfect timing."
Second, I aced my first college math test last night, so Yipee for me!
Third, it's official now mom. **sounds of bells and noisemakers** WE ARE NOW MIDDLE CLASS! Even if it's only on paper, the United States government gave me an official document that says it in black and white. You make too much money! Thank you, thank you, thank you to this noble institute of higher learning for printing the words I thought I would never live to see on a financial document from a school with my name next to it I 'DO NOT QUALIFY'!

We're not rich but we're not broke like we use to be. Yessir! **sings in celebration** (sing with me if you know the tune)
"Well, we're movin' on up , movin' on up
To the east side, movin' on up
To a deluxe apartment in the sky
Movin' on up, movin' on up
To the east side
We finally got a piece of the pie

Fish don't fry in the kitchen
Beans don't burn on the grill
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill
Now we're up in the big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat,
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin' wrong with that ..."

I think I'm going to frame that letter for my parents and one day they will get to hang a copy of my degree next to it.

You Can

I remember hearing the story of Team Hoyt back in 2005. I always get choked up hearing the great love this father had for his son and the sacrifices he continually makes in his life to watch his son become successful. What a way to let your son and the world KNOW, he is loved and he matters. WOW! I was recently reminded of Team Hoyt and knew that anyone who gets the chance to hear their story repeated will be really inspired by it.

Team Hoyt to me, is so much like a living version of the story of God sending His only begotten Son to the earth. He loved His Son enough to let him go teach the people on earth and do good works for everyone. Ultimately sacrificing His son for the sake of all mankind. The Hoyt story is a powerful testament of the human spirit and the sacrifices we make for the ones we love.
There isn't time to worry about the nay-sayers or throw pity parties for your situation.
You just DO IT!
What do you do that motivates you to be the best person you can be daily?
What do you sacrifice daily for your family and those you love?
Do you love yourself enough to sacrifice your time to improving yourself so that others might be blessed from it?
Have you done all you can as a parent to help foster success stories for your own children?
I know my Heavenly Father loves me just as much and continually sends daily reminders of just how much I mean to him.
I hope this video will inspire your own lives to do whatever it is YOU NEED to do to be a better you, for yourself and to everyone else.
The Team Hoyt motto: YOU CAN!
Pause the music player. Watch the video. Enjoy!