Thursday night I had a dream that a dragon lived on the outskirts of our town. My seven-year-old came to me and told me "Daddy, I am going to go slay the dragon!" I said "ok, have fun". My dream then switched to a scene where people were telling the dragon that my seven-year-old daughter was coming to slay him and the dragon said (yes, a talking dragon in my dream) "well when she comes I will burn her to a crisp." My dream then jumped to my daughter walking up the the dragon to slay him. The dragon stood up to his full 20 feet height and took in a deep breath. My daughter screamed and turned to run away. The dragon breathed out a huge ball of fire and burned my daughter up on the spot.
I woke up in a cold sweat with my heart racing. I jumped out of bed and went into my seven-year-old's room to make sure she was ok. She was sleeping peacefully. I kissed her on the cheek and whispered "I love you" in her ear and then I went back to bed.
As I lay in bed I could not stop thinking about the dream I had just had. The thought finally came to me that perhaps the dream had some meaning. As I thought about that I believe the answer finally came to me.
In the morning I sat my girls down over breakfast and told them about my dream. I then asked them if I was a good father in the dream. They said no. I asked why not and they said my little girl wanted to do something that I knew she should not do, and that had a high likelihood of hurting her, and even though I knew what she wanted to do was very bad for her, I said go ahead and do whatever you want. I asked my girls "Well, I wanted to be a cool dad, I wanted to let her do what she wanted, isn't that good?" My girls said it was not good and that as the dad I had to make sure she did not do things that I knew were bad for her. I jumped for joy!!! I told them that was exactly right and that as the dad (or parent) if I saw that my children wanted to do something that I knew they should not do I have the responsibility to stop them. They all AGREED!!!
I then asked them what kind of "dragons" they may face as they grow up. My nine-year-old said rip tides in the ocean and when we tell her to not swim out so far she needs to listen. I told her that was a good example, and that other examples include friends they may want to have, movies they may want to see, parties they may want to go to, and those types of things. I told them that when they get older and want to do these things that some of them might not be good for them. I told them their mother and I have lived a longer life and have gained experience and wisdom about right and wrong. Tiffany added that we are blessed with the Spirit of our Father in Heaven to direct us as to what our children should and should not do. I added that because we have wisdom and experience we have a duty to make sure our children do not do things that we know are bad for them, and that when we say they cannot hang out with a certain friend, or group, or see a certain movie, or go to a certain party it is because we are protecting them from going after dragons. They all seemed to understand and even commented that they would not ever want me to let them do something if I thought they should not do it.
Seizing on this very rare opportunity, and given the attitudes my girls had at the moment, I asked them who they think knows more about what is right and wrong, and good and bad for them, them or their mother and I. They all said their mother and I knew more about right and wrong and good and bad than they did. I told them that was true, but that as they grew into teenagers they would not believe it. I told them that if we had a sign on the walls of our home that said "Parents know more than their children about what their children should and should not do" and if we read it very morning together as a family, they would happily agree today that it is true, but that when they turned 13 years old they would look at it and say "bologna!!" My girls said "no way dad!" It then dawned on me that I should have been video taping this entire conversation.
I told my girls that from age 13-20 children stop thinking that their parents know what is best. Just like babies get older and grow teeth, some babies get older and grow hair, children become teenagers and their brains stop working and they forget that their parents know what is best. I told them that when those days come they need to remember the story of the dragon and remember that parents do not do a good job when they just let their children do whatever they want.
My nine-year-old then said she would never think that way, and I jokingly told her I should have her sign a contract. She said that was fine with her and she went and got a piece pf paper and wrote the following:
"CONTRACT FOREVER (Until I'm 3,050,000,000,000)
I, by the City of Las Vegas and the State of Nevada, I declare that ...
Parents are smarter than children and when they say no we the kids go with that! And that is that!"
She then signed her name to the bottom and asked Tiffany and I to sign it with her.
My oldest then drew up her own contract that said:
"My parents know more and I will listen to them always. I know that when I am a teenager I will want to do things with my friends and my parents will say that it is not a good idea. My parents have lived a longer life and know more. I should listen to them, whenever I ask them to do something. I promise to listen to them and take their advice."
She then printed and signed her name at the bottom.
It is neat to have such great children. It is also wonderful to have a Heavenly Father who leads and directs me (even through dreams at times) as to how to teach my daughters.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Spectrum 10K
I tried to sign up for the St. George Marathon last year and did not get in. If you are not a Washington County resident, there are very few options other than putting in for the lottery which gives you a 50% chance of being selected for entry. One of the options is the Utah Runner's Series, where you have to participate in 2 Utah runs during the year, and if you do then you get automatic entry in the St. George Marathon.
I entered the Runner's Series and the first run I needed to complete was this morning. It was the Spectrum 10K, which was held in Ivan's Utah, which is right outside of St. George. I drove up last night with my second oldest and we stayed in a hotel. Amazingly, this was the artwork on the hotel wall.
My friend Chris Jolly has in-laws who live in St. George. They were gracious enough to watch my daughter while I ran the race. The race directors bussed the participants to the starting line in the canyon. We ran through the canyon, into Ivans, through the neighborhoods of the town, and ended up finishing at the Church on Main Street (how small town is that?). I set a goal for 50 minutes, which would require 8-minute miles for the entire 6.2 miles. Chris' 11-year-old son ran with us. They set a goal of 56 minutes. I crossed the finish line at 47:46, and Chris and his son came in at 53:30. Chris' son (who again is only 11) took 3rd in the 11-14 age division. He could not have been more happy. Everyone was very pleased with the times they turned in. Chris says he is going to enter the Spectrum every year. After today I think I may join him.
Here we are soaking up the glory after the finish.
After the run I went back to the hotel and changed. Then ate at my favourite place in St. George, a little Mongolian BBQ spot. After that I took my daughter to "Fiesta Fun" for a ride on the bumper boats and a round of miniature golf. I think my daughter will drive Tiffany crazy with requests to go there every time we pass through St. George (which is something we do several times a year).
I entered the Runner's Series and the first run I needed to complete was this morning. It was the Spectrum 10K, which was held in Ivan's Utah, which is right outside of St. George. I drove up last night with my second oldest and we stayed in a hotel. Amazingly, this was the artwork on the hotel wall.
My friend Chris Jolly has in-laws who live in St. George. They were gracious enough to watch my daughter while I ran the race. The race directors bussed the participants to the starting line in the canyon. We ran through the canyon, into Ivans, through the neighborhoods of the town, and ended up finishing at the Church on Main Street (how small town is that?). I set a goal for 50 minutes, which would require 8-minute miles for the entire 6.2 miles. Chris' 11-year-old son ran with us. They set a goal of 56 minutes. I crossed the finish line at 47:46, and Chris and his son came in at 53:30. Chris' son (who again is only 11) took 3rd in the 11-14 age division. He could not have been more happy. Everyone was very pleased with the times they turned in. Chris says he is going to enter the Spectrum every year. After today I think I may join him.
Here we are soaking up the glory after the finish.
After the run I went back to the hotel and changed. Then ate at my favourite place in St. George, a little Mongolian BBQ spot. After that I took my daughter to "Fiesta Fun" for a ride on the bumper boats and a round of miniature golf. I think my daughter will drive Tiffany crazy with requests to go there every time we pass through St. George (which is something we do several times a year).
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Too Easy
It is so ridiculously easy to forget how blessed our family is. I am making this note more as a journal entry for myself than anything else. Yesterday morning I woke up after a night of about three hours of sleep and left my house headed for court for day three of the trial I have been up to my ears in all week. I was stressed to the hilt about whether the jury was with my client and I or not, and was extremely worried about how I would possibly keep up with the rest of my cases while I was spending 10-14 hours a day on my trial.
Yesterday afternoon my legal assistant called me and told me that she got a call from a defense attorney on a case I have been particularly concerned about (as if there was not enough already on my plate). At the close of yesterday both parties had rested their cases in my trial and we were to start closing arguments at 9:45 this morning. I went home last night and had to compile my Power Point presentation for my closing argument, and also had to finalize the jury instructions and email them to the Judge, all in addition to attending a Court of Honor for my scouts who were getting their advancement badges.
I managed to get everything done by about 9:30 p.m. and then practiced giving my closing argument to the mirror. I went to bed at midninght and did not go to sleep. I don't mean I had a tough time getting to sleep, I mean I did not go to sleep. I lay in bed until about 3:00 a.m. reviewing in my mind what had gone on throughout the trial, and considering what I would do and how my closing argument would go. At 3:00 a.m. the other case my assisstant had called me about entered by brain and I found myself stressing about that as well. I finally told myself I was going to lay there with my eyes closed until the alarm clock went off. I have heard that if you cannot sleep, laying still with your eyes closed gives you 80% of the benefit of actual sleep. I don't know if that is true or not, but it got me through the night.
When the alarm went off I got up, got dressed, kissed my girls (all 5 of them) and headed to the courthouse. On the way I called the attorney in that other case and dreaded what she would have to say. When she answered she told me that her client had decided to accept the settlement proposal I had made on Monday. It was the best possible news I could have received on that particular case.
Trial started a little late and the closing arguments went well, even though I had not been to sleep since I woke up Wednesday. The jury took the case at 1:00 p.m. and came back at 3:15 p.m. I drove to the courthouse worried and second guessing myself, and wondering how I could possibly deal with things if the jury shafted my client (it certainly did not take long for me to forget the amazing blessing I had just received in that other case just a few hours before).
As I entered the courtroom I saw my client and told him I hoped for the best but that you never know what jury will do. He told me "Don't worry David, you did a great job, if we don't win it's not your fault. I got the Lord on my side, and whatever happens is what He wants to happen, and I will be fine." The jury came in and read a verdict that awarded my client more than twice what we had offered to settle for. It was a home run in any park. My client was thrilled. The defense attorney shook my hand, congratulated me, and told me "State Farm will write you a check." Again, if I had written the script for the day myself I don't know that I would have ever imagined asking for more.
The Lord is in control. He is on my side (and yours). Whatever happens is what He wants to happen, and I will be fine (and so will you). It never ceases to amaze me no matter how good things get, I always find an excuse to worry about something. It is just way too easy to forget our blessings, no matter how much the Lord slathers on us. Today was living proof that the Lord is mindful of His children, and that everything that happens is part of His plan for us. I am sure I will sleep well tonight, and after I do I hope my client's words to me today echo in my ears when I wake up tomorrow, and every day after that.
Yesterday afternoon my legal assistant called me and told me that she got a call from a defense attorney on a case I have been particularly concerned about (as if there was not enough already on my plate). At the close of yesterday both parties had rested their cases in my trial and we were to start closing arguments at 9:45 this morning. I went home last night and had to compile my Power Point presentation for my closing argument, and also had to finalize the jury instructions and email them to the Judge, all in addition to attending a Court of Honor for my scouts who were getting their advancement badges.
I managed to get everything done by about 9:30 p.m. and then practiced giving my closing argument to the mirror. I went to bed at midninght and did not go to sleep. I don't mean I had a tough time getting to sleep, I mean I did not go to sleep. I lay in bed until about 3:00 a.m. reviewing in my mind what had gone on throughout the trial, and considering what I would do and how my closing argument would go. At 3:00 a.m. the other case my assisstant had called me about entered by brain and I found myself stressing about that as well. I finally told myself I was going to lay there with my eyes closed until the alarm clock went off. I have heard that if you cannot sleep, laying still with your eyes closed gives you 80% of the benefit of actual sleep. I don't know if that is true or not, but it got me through the night.
When the alarm went off I got up, got dressed, kissed my girls (all 5 of them) and headed to the courthouse. On the way I called the attorney in that other case and dreaded what she would have to say. When she answered she told me that her client had decided to accept the settlement proposal I had made on Monday. It was the best possible news I could have received on that particular case.
Trial started a little late and the closing arguments went well, even though I had not been to sleep since I woke up Wednesday. The jury took the case at 1:00 p.m. and came back at 3:15 p.m. I drove to the courthouse worried and second guessing myself, and wondering how I could possibly deal with things if the jury shafted my client (it certainly did not take long for me to forget the amazing blessing I had just received in that other case just a few hours before).
As I entered the courtroom I saw my client and told him I hoped for the best but that you never know what jury will do. He told me "Don't worry David, you did a great job, if we don't win it's not your fault. I got the Lord on my side, and whatever happens is what He wants to happen, and I will be fine." The jury came in and read a verdict that awarded my client more than twice what we had offered to settle for. It was a home run in any park. My client was thrilled. The defense attorney shook my hand, congratulated me, and told me "State Farm will write you a check." Again, if I had written the script for the day myself I don't know that I would have ever imagined asking for more.
The Lord is in control. He is on my side (and yours). Whatever happens is what He wants to happen, and I will be fine (and so will you). It never ceases to amaze me no matter how good things get, I always find an excuse to worry about something. It is just way too easy to forget our blessings, no matter how much the Lord slathers on us. Today was living proof that the Lord is mindful of His children, and that everything that happens is part of His plan for us. I am sure I will sleep well tonight, and after I do I hope my client's words to me today echo in my ears when I wake up tomorrow, and every day after that.
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