I’m not going to lie, I like the break, the slow down in pace.

We live in a time where life is moving at a break neck pace, instant gratification is the name of the game, if it isn’t faster, we don’t want it. So it’s nice when we can slow down, life is about so much more than work, than BYU-Utah (though that’s a tough one to swallow), than bills (Carolyn would say otherwise), life can be so much more.

One of the reasons, I believe, many companies slow down this time of year is so we CAN take time to stop and smell the roses. Thanksgiving is the first of the big holidays and appropriately gives us an opportunity to think of all we have — or, at the very least, to say thank you to someone for something.

So, here’re some things I’m thankful for this year:

• My family
• My wife
• My job
• My car
• My health
• My computer (the Mac, not the PC — okay, I’m thankful for the PC)
• Technology
• A heater
• My friends
• The fact that I am where I’m at, at the right time, doing the things I’m doing, with the people I interact with
• Food
• A comfortable office chair
• The gospel
• My calling
• Facebook, Twitter, blogs, email and all the apps and networks where I can meet new people and keep in touch with dear friends
• Good tennis shoes
• A comfy bed
• Good ideas
• The opportunity to live in this great country of ours (regardless of what some say, it is a GREAT country)
• And many, many more things

So, between turkey bowls, parades, food and whatever other traditions you may have, find a moment to say “thank you.” Whether it’s to your family, friends or Heavenly Father, do it and you’ll be thankful you did.

While my wife and I endured the endless sales tactics & pitches, we made it out with a $50 Home Depot card, $40 Red Lobster gift card, and of course the trip. As we thought about it, it donned on us that Anaheim was home the “The Happiest Place On Earth,” Disneyland.

The plan was laid, November would be our “relief” trip. Why “relief” you ask? Relief from life’s headaches, relief from Salt Lake, and so on and so forth.

We arrived bright and early yesterday morning, Tuesday, November 4, 2008, a memorable day — not just because Barack Obama won the election. We left the cold, soon-to-be snow covered streets of Salt Lake City and arrived at the complete opposite, sunny, warm, peaceful California.

After picking up our rental car, we told the GPS to take us to downtown Hollywood, Grauman’s Chinese Theater. (Let me take this moment to plug consumer GPS units, if not for our Garmin Nuvi, we may never have made it to Hollywood — or Anaheim, for that matter.)

While I have no idea of the history of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, I did recognize many of the famous names, Cary Grant, Tom Hanks, Bob Hope, Adam Sandler, Harrison Ford, Frank Sinatra, and many, many more.

From there we headed to the Pacific Coast Highway for a very peaceful, scenic trip down to Huntington Beach and Anaheim. It was really nice to get away, we even took an unexpected detour down to the Long Beach docks to see the mammoth shipping cranes in the Los Angeles Port.

When we finally arrived at Huntington Beach, the sun was close to setting, and as we walked along the beach, it wasn’t hard to look at the horizon and see how people the likes of Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan and others had the incling to discover what was beyond the furthest point on the ocean. It was also very easy to see why some people retire and move to the beach and Southern California to live out their days as beach bums.

All in all, it was a great day. Very friendly people, terrific weather, good company — like I said, it was a very memorable day, not just because Barack Obama won the election.

Well, Friday night the little guy and I took a whack at creating our own superheroes on Marvel’s kids Web site. I think we did pretty good, check them out:

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Want to have some fun? Go to the Marvel kid’s Web site, create your superhero, download it and send us a copy, we’ll add it to the gallery of pictures. Be sure to give me the name and any additional info you want me to list.

My mind is somewhat at ease because I know she is free from any pains she might have had while in her last days. And I know that she is with the love of her life, the man she missed for nearly 15 years until the day she died, my Grandpa.

Death is a silly thing sometimes, it evokes emotions in us, often sadness and confusion, regret and a reminiscing of times past. But what is death, really? It’s simply a passing from this life to the next. The more I learn about life, its divine purpose and the life and opportunities that await us after we pass on cause me to wonder why we react so.

Truth is, I understand it. I have said good-bye many times in my life, as the son of an Air Force officer, my family moved around quite a bit and I can remember lying in bed at night crying because I knew there was a good chance I’d never again see my friends. So the idea of a long good-bye is nothing new, but death just has this thing about it, I think the scriptures put it aptly when they refer to the “sting” of death. Whether that was intended for the deceased or those still alive, I think it applies.

I am happy for Grandma, no longer does she have to deal with doctor visits, lonliness and the hot Las Vegas weather ;o) She is now with her family and friends that passed on before and ultimately with her Maker.

In the end, death should be a happy time. A time to remember days gone by and look forward to a time when there will be a wonderful reunion with all those we’ve known. As a person who believes in a loving God with purpose, I think all things have their purpose — even death.

So here’s to Grandma, thanks for the PB&J sandwiches, and when you told me to “hold my horses” when I grew impatient. Thanks to letting me stay with you for that week in Utah, and for driving me down to Provo for EFY and then to pick me and my friend up so we could go home again. Thanks for keeping me on my toes and reminding me when I was “sassing” you and that if I didn’t stop I was gonna get hit. Thanks for reminding me that you have the uncanny ability to start a conversation on Monday and then finish it on Thursday! In short, thanks for all the memories, thanks for being you and putting up with me being me. I love you, and miss you and hope you and Grandpa are happy and I’ll see you in a while.

Your loving grandson,

Kris

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In school these last two weeks we have been learning about colors. Each day we have worn a different color and then done activities with that color. Dad asked me last night what my favorite color was and I told him that I liked all the colors.

I also asked Dad and Mom what their favorite colors were and they told me. But, my question to the whole family is:

What is your favorite color? (Put your answer in the comments and I’ll read them later)

I have two wonderful kids and although the little one runs away from the camera, or worse, runs toward the camera whenever we break it out, they are photogenic.

If they could sit still long enough, maybe we could get them jobs as kid models — ha! Won’t ever happen.

Enjoy!

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Fast forward two weeks, while driving home from work, I decided to take side streets home, and as I drove by Sandy City Hall, low and behold, I saw the elusive unicorn, the Dodge Challenger, my Eleanor!

So I did what any want-one-but-can’t-have-one, car lover would do, I pulled over, got my camera out and did my best not to drool on the car. This is sweet, not only is it one of the new Challengers, one in a series of cars designed to bring back the era of muscle cars, but it was top of the line, the Hemi V-8, SRT model. Although I don’t want to know what this guy’s gas mileage is like, I’d sure take him up on an offer to “test drive” the car.

Here are the pictures I shot of the car, I tried to get some good angles, but this is really a cool car, ’nuff said! (Enjoy the pictures, just don’t drool on your keyboard.)

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]]> http://krisbeldin.com/2008/09/04/cool-car-sighting/feed/ 0 http://krisbeldin.com/2008/07/01/blog-drought/ http://krisbeldin.com/2008/07/01/blog-drought/#comments Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:07:40 +0000 Kris http://krisbeldin.com/?p=355 Okay, it’s been too long since I last posted here, but it’s nigh time! I find that sometimes I just don’t know what to put here sometimes, when I do have thoughts, they are fleeting. But I’ve got a good idea and will post later today.