The Best Deals on Black Friday

The most popular holiday shopping day of the year is just around the corner. Stores are opening up their doors and offering amazing deals for the upcoming Christmas season. Lines of eager customers form outside stores in the wee hours of the night hoping to get a head start on their holiday shopping. They may be thinking that they are saving tons of money on the latest and greatest, but what they don't realize is that they are missing some of the best Black Friday deals. Deals that no store can offer, but are available to all.

Deal #1. Sleeping In.

Taking the time to sleep in Friday morning is one of the best deals on Black Friday. It isn't available to the first ten customers only, but to everyone! No credit required! Let the turkey coma take its effect and relax on your Black Friday morning. Just turn that alarm clock off and wake up whenever you want to. This deal is also available through Saturday and Sunday mornings. Something that no store can offer you.

Deal #2. Family Activities.

This Black Friday deal is missed the most. It is never advertised on TV, but it does have the greatest value. Stores never offer any deals for the entire family, it is only for the individual. Take advantage of these deals while they are still available. For some it may be that this is the only time of the year to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa or with old Uncle Lou. Treasure up the time with your family. The memories created will last longer than any Black Friday deal. Play games. Do puzzles. Take a family picture, even though it's sometimes more complicated than solving a Rubik's Cube. Share stories. These deals won't always be there, so it is best to take advantage of these now.

Deal #3. Relax and Reflect.

Even when Thanksgiving is over and the leftovers are packed in the fridge, it is okay to continue in Thanksgiving. Expressing gratitude isn't reserved only for the fourth Thursday of the year. In fact it's okay to show thanks throughout the entire year. Take the time to reflect on the past year and relive the  happy moments. You could visit the bad moments too, but that isn't the essence of reflection and relaxation. This deal will individually benefit you the most. It's free. It's refreshing. It's enlightening. 

It seems as if Black Friday is spreading like a plague over the things that matter most in life. It is now slowly creeping over into Thanksgiving as some stores are opening their doors at 6pm Thursday night. I feel bad for the employees of such stores that have to spend their time dealing with the mad rush of customers when they too, I'm sure, would love to be spending time with their families on Thanksgiving night. Don't let the deals of Black Friday ruin your Thanksgiving holiday, but rather take advantage of these hidden deals. Sleep in on Friday. Relax and enjoy some quality time with the family. 

Christmas Music: It's Okay Before Thanksgiving

Historically, Christmas music has been playing far before Thanksgiving was even a holiday. 

One of the hot topics of the Holiday Season is not whether you are going to your in-laws or staying home for Christmas. It's not whether to get a fake tree or a live tree. It comes much before Christmas even starts. This discussion is very controversial for almost every family. It's whether to listen to Christmas music before or after Thanksgiving.

Let's start with an elementary school history lesson. If you were to ask a young school goer "Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?" They might answer as follows:

"It's when Daddy watches football all day and mommy is in the kitchen making food."

Well, that is what they might say. Here is what they should say.

"To celebrate when Squanto and other Indians had dinner with the Pilgrims."

Close enough. The point is that Thanksgiving is a United States Holiday that celebrates a meal the Pilgrims had with the Wampanoag Indians in Plymouth, Massachusetts. However, at that day the United States wasn't even formed and wouldn't be until over a hundred years later. Thanksgiving was declared a federal Holiday during the Civil War when Abraham Lincoln declared it a day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens" in 1863. It was to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every month.

With that in mind let's review the reason why we celebrate Christmas. Once again if you were to ask a child why we celebrate Christmas, they may respond as follows:

"It's when daddy watches TV and mommy is in the kitchen making food. And Santa comes and brings toys."

Well, that is not quite right, but it's a start. It's the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth on this earth over 2000 years ago. A precious and promised gift from Heavenly Father of His only begotten Son. Therefore, Christmas has preceded Thanksgiving even hundreds of years before Columbus even set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, traditional Christmas carols and music have been played way before Thanksgiving. And it will always be that way.

Here are just a few of the popular Christmas carols that have been playing before Thanksgiving was even a holiday:

• 1849 - It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
• 1823 - The First Noel
• 1818 - Silent Night
• 1739 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

There are some that even date to the 15th and 16th centuries. The point is that historically, Christmas music has been playing far before Thanksgiving. I, however, understand the importance of Thanksgiving and expressing gratitude for the blessings we have. Isn't the reason we celebrate Christmas a good reason to be thankful and express gratitude anyway? I don't think we should associate Thanksgiving and Christmas as separate holidays, but complimentary holidays. Thanksgiving compliments the celebration of Christmas. And perhaps that is one of the reasons why Abraham Lincoln declared it a holiday to  express "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens" for his beloved Son Jesus Christ. Let's remember the reason for the seasons and be thankful for this wonderful and eternal gift.

P.S. I wrote this while listening to Christmas music ;)

Fall Birthdays Are The BEST!

Having a birthday in the Fall is the best. Everyone enjoys celebrating their own birthdays. There are some that don't, and that is okay. We still get to eat their cake. It is an entire day that celebrates YOU! Cake, presents, and parties! It is wonderful, but there is something magical about having it in the Fall.

First of all this post is totally biased as my birthday is in November. Even if it weren't I would be totally jealous of all the birthdays in the Fall. Anyway, here are three reasons why fall birthdays are the best.

1. Football

Football is America's sport, and every single weekend is packed with Football. High School football on Friday night with college football taking over most television networks on Saturday, then the NFL playing all day Sunday. Having your birthday on a football weekend makes it a whole lot easier to plan a party. It might be the worst birthday ever if your team loses, but remember the day is about you and not the team.

2. The Change of Seasons

Fall can be one of the most beautiful times of the year. Nature truly transcends all beauty as the fall leaves emerge in their beautiful displays of oranges, reds and yellows. It is as if Mother Nature, in her tender voice, is saying "My Dear, I know it's your birthday so I decided to light some birthday candles of my own. But don't try and blow them out. You'll probably pass out." Even she cares about you on your birthday. 

3. It is during the same time as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Birthdays in October, November, and December have special privileges to be in the same time as these most popular holidays. Not only is there a celebration of you, but there are the bags of candy and costume parties coupled with Halloween. Sometimes (depending on how much self-control you have) that candy will last until the fourth week of November to stuff your faces with as much food as possible for Thanksgiving. Then the Christmas season is in full swing with all the Christmas lights illuminating the dark nights with happiness. You can cozy up on the couch with a nice cup of hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies. There are so many other wonderful things about Christmas. It is definitely the most wonderful time of the year when your birthday is during one of these months. 

If you are planning a family and if you really want to make  your child's birthday the best, try to have them born during the fall. They will thank you for it later.

Birthday Smash!

When I came home from my mission, I wanted to start a birthday tradition that was unique to the time of year. I could have started by jumping in a pile of leaves every year. I don't know if you have ever jumped in a pile of leaves, but it hurts. When I watched cartoons as a kid, they showed children jumping and swimming in huge piles of leaves. What they don't show is the pain in the rear end and all the dirt that flies into your eyes. So that was out of the picture. I needed something different. Something like a piñata. But I don't like to be blindfolded and put in a circle with a bat trying to hit a cardboard box filled with candy. Honestly, it's public humiliation. But I do like the smashing idea.

I finally decided that every year on my birthday I would smash old Halloween pumpkins instead. There is no humiliation, just the sheer joy of smashing pumpkins with a baseball bat. The only difficult part is timing the carving of the pumpkin. If it is carved too early then it just becomes all soggy and mushy. When you hit a pumpkin like that, it is messy. Chunks of mold and fungus are sprayed everywhere. Just close your mouth and it's all good.

Yesterday, was the fourth year in a row that I have done this tradition. We had one little problem, though. We didn't have a bat. So I went to a thrift store to find one. With any thrift store you never know what type of people you are going to see there. After I found my choice of bat, I wanted to browse around and see if I could find some thrift store treasures. At first I felt awkward carrying a bat in a store. Maybe someone would speculate something. The more I thought about it, the more I felt safer. So I came to the conclusion that if you feel unsafe in a store and someone is following you, go to the sporting goods section and pick out a bat. Just carry it with you until you're done shopping. By then the threat would be gone. Anyway...

The birthday party was a smash. I had the privilege of hitting one of those moldy and mushy pumpkins, but I was smart to close my mouth. My wife and friends were the lucky ones who got a nice spray of old pumpkin. This is by far the best birthday tradition ever. Here is a video of my wife and I smashing her pumpkin. She carved Olaf, but that doesn't mean we don't like Frozen. She loves it in fact, and I am a proud hubby that she was willing to introduce Olaf to a baseball bat. Enjoy!

Do You Believe in Angels?

I believe in angels. They are more real than ever. 

Do you believe in angels? Do you believe they are watching over you? Do you believe they are mindful of you and what you are doing? Do you believe they have wings? Do you believe they would sacrifice anything for you?

I believe in angels. They are more real than ever. They truly watch us. They have an infinite investment in our lives that they would sacrifice anything for us. Their wings are full of love, mercy and healing.

Have you ever seen an angel? Have you seen them in action? Have you seen their love and compassion? I have. They are the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen. They have a special power given to them from a divine heritage. They are swift to reach sorrows. They are quick to calm a troubled heart. They are perfect in patience.

Angels come in disguises. We don't see them right away in their white angelic robes soaring through the air. We hardly see them that way at all. Instead, we see them at sleepless hours of the night rocking a crying child to sleep. We see them spending countless hours in the kitchen trying to cook gourmet meals that often get despised or rejected. Their shirts are covered with spattered baby food and their hair is ten times more tangled and frazzled than your worst bad hair day. They soar in their majestic mini-van from soccer practice to soccer practice to piano lesson to piano lesson to concert to concert with no expectation of tips.

They are often found wiping tears away from the broken boned and the broken hearted. They have an unlimited supply of love and kisses that no money could ever buy. Their hugs are endless just as the warmth felt in their embrace. Their compassion and tenderness are always flowing just as the waves of the sea.

No, they do not have white angelic robes, and perfectly set hair. They did at one point. Your father saw that part of your mom, but she gave all that up for you. She knew it was worth it all. It was worth everything to see your first smile. It was worth everything to see your first step. It was worth everything to hear and feel your love. You are everything to her. She is your guardian angel.

Some of you may be reading this and may not feel this way about your mother. To that I say, I'm sorry. I don't know how it could possibly feel to be abandoned, or rejected by a mother. I would hope that an effort is made to forgive and make restitution. I also hope that this inspires you to become the guardian angel for your children one day.

I hope that your eyes are opened to see the angelic beings that are called "Mothers". They are watching over you. They are mindful of what you are doing. They would truly sacrifice anything for you. Mothers are the guardian angels God has given you for your life.

Because of Him

#BecauseofHim death will not be the end for humanity, rather it will be an eternal beginning. 

The Easter season is a time to celebrate the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His Atonement commenced in the shadows of the olive trees of the Garden of Gethsamene. There He suffered both physical and spiritual pains beyond mortal comprehension. He was then lifted upon the cross and suffered death. This was not the end of His mission. Three days later Christ rose from the dead winning the victory over death. #BecauseofHim death will not be the end for humanity, rather it will be an eternal beginning.

My heart is full of joy and gratitude for the Atonement of the Son of God. The Spring season is such a beautiful time of year, and it has many references to the infinite gift of the Atonement. After the long, cold and very dark season of winter the Sun begins to shine more abundantly. Warmth is finally felt again. Flowers and trees blossom providing a newness of life. The air is refreshing and the entirety of the season brings hope, joy, and a fresh start. 

Because of the Savior and His Atonement, the light and hope of the gospel can warm our hearts with His endless love. We can have a fresh start being free from guilt, despair and sorrow. Everything and anything is possible through Jesus Christ. The Savior lives. And because He lives we shall all live again. This I know because of the Spirit which has testified of these eternal truths in my heart. May we always remember Him, because He will always remember us. 

Habits of a Happy Husband

Don't Change from Prince Charming to King Couch Potato. Continue in courtship. 

They say the first year of marriage is the hardest. Whoever they are, I don't know what they are talking about. My first year of marriage, I don't want to say it was a breeze and that it was the easiest thing I have ever done, but I will say that it takes work to have a happy and fun first year of marriage. There are certain habits and practices that need to be developed in that critical first year to produce a happy husband and a happy marriage.

First, don't be lazy. Do you remember the work you put into dating and to winning your sweetheart? After working so hard to take her to the altar, it doesn't mean you stop working when you leave it. Don't change from Prince Charming to King Couch Potato. Continue in courtship. Make her fall in love with you everyday. Don't let the charm die. The real work begins on day one of marriage. 

Second, learn to laugh. Life would be so dull if no one laughed. There is nothing better than laughing together with your spouse. On one occasion my wife and I were getting ready for bed and we were brushing our teeth. Her toothbrush is purple and mine is pink. I don't know how I mixed up those colors but I found myself using hers. We both didn't realize it until I was almost finished brushing my teeth. She could not stop laughing, and either could I. It took us a while to calm down before we finally fell asleep. Laugh together. It's always fun.

Third, continue to serve your wife. True happiness comes from putting your wife's needs above your own. Find ways to serve your wife everyday. I remember one day when I was walking home from school, I thought to myself, "What can I do for my wife today that will make her happy?" The thought came to do the dishes. So, I came home and did the dishes right away. When she came home she was so happy and grateful that she didn't have to do the dishes. It was a big relief for her and this in return made me happy. Remember to serve your wife.

Fourth, look for the good in your wife, ALWAYS! There will be moments when you want to critique or judge your wife. Bite your tongue and don't even think about it. Push such shameful thoughts aside and find the good in her. Once you have found it, magnify it. Compliment her on what she is doing. Express sincere gratitude for her and what she does as your wife. This also means that you never talk bad about her when you are with your buddies or with anyone else for that matter. If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.

Fifth, forgive often. I believe that this habit is the most important one to develop. I firmly believe that forgiving each other often will bring a husband and wife closer than anything else in a marriage. Forgiveness fills holes of grief and sorrow, and fortifies your marriage into a stronghold. It shows your wife that you truly, sincerely care for them. It expresses true love and helps your marriage become whole and complete. I think for men, we need to seek forgiveness more often, but remember to return the favor to your wife.

These habits are not specifically tailored for husbands, but can be applied for both husband and wife. There is one common lesson taught in each of these principles. Marriage is never about you. The more that you invest your love, your time, and your attention to your wife, the more happy you both will be. Your happiness depends upon the habits you develop to make your wife happy. You're a team now. Her joys are your joys and her sorrows are your sorrows. You've become best friends. You have rings to prove it. You are her number one fan. Don't let anyone else interfere. Develop these habits and a happy husband you will be and happy wife you will have.

What are some habits that you have developed in your marriage that has made it strong? Leave your comments below.