Hello family

It is almost 1 a.m. here in the Utah Valley and I am just wrapping up some school work. Lately it has become very difficult to focus on school work, so I find myself procrastinating the work in the evenings and then staying up too late to do my assignments. After working all day, when I get home I want to spend time with the girls and be involved. Then when they go to bed I want to spend time with Angela, even though this time is usually spent just watching TV it is time together away from work and other occupiers. Having said that I find myself worried about others in my family, most notably Jeff. I am concerned with the amount of work you are putting in, and the lack of sleep or family time you may be receiving. I sincerely pray your work load will begin to decrease, and the need for you to work so much with your day job, night job, seminary, and your side businesses you are trying to get up and running, will diminish soon. Remember, "Family, It's about time." This is not to say you should not be working so much, because I know in order to get by sometimes excessive work is required. I just hope the end is near, and if it is not please let us, your family, know how we can help. You may live in South Carolina, but you are not alone. I am the worst at asking for help, shoot I move at night just so the ward won't try to come and help, but I am always more than willing to help in anyway I can. Please brother whatever you may need, let us know.

Rather than update my family situation tonight, I really just wanted to share what has been on my mind. The first paragraph has been one of the things on my mind the most. Another thing, and related to the stuff above, is that this life's purpose is not about accounting reports, or selling the most products. Our Heavenly Father wants us to work, and be productive, but I doubt I will need to know how to generate A/R reports in Heaven or dissect an insurance EOB. The purpose of this life is to learn, grow, and experience life. Learning to work with others and manage people, or how to utilize our time, those are valuable skills that will benefit us after this life. Mostly though I believe we are to work on our families, building relationships, working together to build a unified, celestial family. They say we spend more time at work with co-workers than we do with our families at home. That is sad. I made a commitment a few years ago to myself, Heavenly Father, and my family that I would put family first. It is not always easy, and sometimes the demands of work are real and must be satisfied, but if I have to choose between work and family, my family will win every time. This is why we long for the day when Angela will be home with the girls. However, in order to provide the proper home for them, we have had to make some sacrifices. In time we believe the fruits of her labors will reap a better home, better environment for our girls, and her in the home more rather than at work. That time is not right now, but hopefully soon. I just think there has to be more to life than waking up, dredging into work, coming home whooped, killing a couple hours, going to bed exhausted and waking up early the next morning to do it all over again. Obviously there is more to life than this, but sometimes I struggle to get out of that rut and make sure I am enjoying the life God has blessed me with, and enjoying the wonderful people he has surrounded me with. At work, I encourage a lot of camaraderie among my team. I figure these people are part of my extended heavenly family, we should get to know each other and build lasting, meaningful relationships. This is from the anti-social member of our family I know. I love spending time with each of you. The weeks I had to spend with David, Michael, Sherri, and Jeff this summer were awesome. I loved every minute of it. I wish we lived closer and did more together. I find myself dreaming of our rafting trips in West Virginia every time I watch an Ohio State game. I thoroughly enjoy my family. I just am not the world's best conversationalist. My shy nature is second only to by boyish good looks.

I think of each of you constantly, and wish I could do more to help with the many situations we have right now in our family. Unfortunately none of us are rich and have the means where by to help out as much as I know we all could. Life is a grind, and it seems like lately we all have been on the up slope rather than enjoying coasting down the hill. I hope each of you know that I think of you often, pray that your burdens will be made lighter, and that you will stay strong and happy even during these times of trial and tribulation. For myself, I have found the greatest stress relief to be rearranging my priorities. I am unlikely to be rich, so working 60-80 hours a week just to get by wears a person down emotionally and mentally much more than physically. However, as I worked to spend more time with my family, leave work at work, and separate my life into its respective categories, I have found less stress, more happiness, and a stronger relationship with my kids and my wife. Clearly I am not perfect, and I have made many mistakes that continue to plague my family and life, but I cannot go back and change those mistakes, I can only go forward changing the impact and consequences they have on me and my family. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie, Kung Fu Panda..."The past is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift that is why its called the present". I love you Mom. I love you Sherri. I love you Michael. I love you David. I love you Jeff. I love my wife and two beautiful girls. I will do anything for each of you, so please if you need anything just ask. There is nothing to small or too great, we are family, forever. Each of you have helped me many times in many ways, I want to return a portion of what you have done for me. Take care and hope to see you soon.
Love, Mark