The Steinmetz Family Blog

Brain Power and Daily Habits

2011-10-27T15:30:00.000-06:00

I recently had the opportunity to watch the movie "Limitless." I found it rather interesting, as well as a bit disturbing. The main character of the movie is given a drug that gives him access to 100% of his brain power. With this power, he takes advantage of other people, makes a lot of money, and nearly gets killed for doing all he can to maintain his stash of the drug and keep it away from others.

This got me thinking about how much of my brain I am using, and how much I am wasting. I don't think a drug is needed to expand your brain power, and I certainly hope that those who have tapped into more of their brain power aren't using it to take advantage of others.

The following are some daily habits that I strive to maintain. I believe these habits help me access more of my potential. I think there are many more habits that I need to develop that would help, but this is a start. I have developed these habits through my own experiences and through the examples of those around me.

Prayer
I try to start and end every day with prayer. This helps me to remember the source of all of my blessings. It also helps me to stay humble and grateful.

Devotional
Daily devotional for me means reading or listening to scriptures, conference talks, and other inspirational talks or videos. Again, this reminds me of where all my blessings come from. Through this, I also gain insights and knowledge that helps me prioritize goals and improve my character.

Planning
I try to plan each day as best I can either early in the morning or the night before. This usually is an ongoing process for me. Luckily, I have a handy tablet that helps remind me of different things I have planned on.

Exercise
There have been several periods in my life where I have been very good about exercising regularly. Sadly, however, the streaks of time where I do not exercise regularly far outnumber the times where I have been good at this. I have failed miserably most of the time. I know the benefits of this one, but somehow it is the first habit that I get out of when life gets busy. I will continue to try getting back into this habit.

Vitamins
I have set myself a reminder to take my multivitamins daily. I have noticed substantial increases in my energy levels when I do this each day. When I forget to take my vitamins, especially for several days in a row, I find that I am more fatigued and less able to focus and concentrate on important things.

Finances
I have learned by experience that budgeting and keeping track of finances is very important to the survival and financial success of your family. Times for us over the past few years have not really been easy for us financially. We have suffered from unemployment as well as up to 50% decrease in salary. By staying on top of our expenses daily, we have been able to make sure our family always has what we need.

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts there have been times where we have completely run out of money and the outlook was bleak.

Fortunately, we have had help of neighbors, friends, and family to get us through the roughest times. We are so thankful for those who have looked out for us along the way.

Family Time
Life is busy. With Ritchell and I both working, we have a hard time making sure that we spend time together as a family. Most of the time, this family time is simply all of us relaxing together in the living room after a long day. Sometimes the only time I have with my children is when I am getting them ready for bed and tucking them in at night. I try to make the most of it by doing my best to teach them and also to have fun with them.

I am so happy to come home to the hugs and kisses of our sweet girls.

Service
The habit of service to others is one that I have struggled with. It is difficult for me at times to stop thinking about myself and focus on the needs of others. I try to maintain this habit by serving my children and Ritchell. This may mean simply helping out with household chores, cleaning up after the kids, changing diapers, or giving a back-rub after a long and tiring day. I'll be the first to admit, and I am sure Ritchell would be the second to admit that I need to work on this one. :)

Show Some Love
I have tried to make it a habit of mine to tell my wife and children how much I love them each day. If you haven't tried this, I highly recommend it. I have found that our family is much nicer to each other when they hear loving words from their parents. They return this love so easily and freely. Expressing love even when I know that love won't be immediately returned has proven very rewarding and always comes back full-circle in the end.

I am trying to show love in more ways, such as passing on encouraging words to others who may be struggling. I hope to improve on this habit as I increase in age.

Current Events
Until more recently, this wasn't a habit of mine. There are a lot of things that happen in this world that need to be known. Many things that happen can effect your life and the lives of many others. It is important to keep up with what is going on so that I can at least voice my opinion on matters if not volunteer my time and efforts to make a difference. Frankly, there are too many terrible things and terrible ideas and trends out there and truth and correct principles need a voice.

Increase Knowledge
After graduating from college, I found that as time passed I was losing more and more of what I learned and tried to find ways to reverse that. I try to increase my knowledge daily by reading or listening to books--both fiction and nonfiction. Recently, I have decided to try and get back into school to pursue my MBA degree at BYU. This has changed my current goals to increase knowledge, specifically by studying for the GMAT exam.

Disclaimer
I don't claim to always follow these habits. I wish that I was perfect enough to keep these habits a more regular part of my life. I struggle to maintain these habits, but find it helpful to write them down regularly to remind myself what is important. Too often, I am distracted by unimportant things and I need to try harder and harder each day.

I would love to hear different things that you and others strive to do on a daily basis. How do you maintain your good habits? What are you doing to increase your capacity to love, learn, grow, and help others?

Please share.

Summer 2011

2011-10-09T17:23:00.000-06:00

A lot has been going on this summer! First, we had our new boy Jordan. Jordan is growing fast! He still doesn't let us sleep much, but always brightens our days with his smiles. He loves to smile and loves to talk. He only gets upset when he wants someone to talk to and when he is hungry. Here are some pics of him during his first few weeks.

Our girls are also growing so fast! Vanessa is talking more and more each day. AnaBelle is all grown up. She has turned into our little artist. She loves to draw and write her name.

Mommy and the girls

Vanessa and her light saber.

More pics of Jordan in his first few weeks.

Vanessa tried out pull-ups this summer. She liked them, but didn't really want to potty train yet. Here are some pics of her showing off her new diapers.

After only a few weeks, you could already see Jordan's growth. He quickly grew out of his newborn clothes.

We have a neighborhood pet. It likes to eat our neighbor's nice garden.

Rainbow over our neighborhood.

Ritchell and I celebrated our 8th anniversary this past September! It's been a great 8 years!

So beautiful!

AnaBelle's first day of pre-school!

Pretty girls

Jordan had his blessing in September.

We've been so blessed with our 3 kiddos!

Jordan after his baby blessing

Beautiful 'Nessa

Grandpa and Grandma

So, it's been a wonderful summer! We can't believe it's over already.

Over the summer, Dan decided that he is going to pursue admission to the Marriott School of Business at BYU for an MBA degree. He has been spending a lot of time studying for the GMAT and preparing application essays.

What a great year to be alive! We are excited for the future and hopeful that life will continue to get better. We, as many, have gone through difficult times but know where to look for guidance and hope. Count your blessings!

The Birthday - AnaBelle and Jordan!

2011-06-25T17:12:00.013-06:00

Daddy and Vanessa taking a Sunday afternoon nap

AnaBelle taking a Sunday afternoon nap

On Tuesday night, we had a birthday party for AnaBelle's 4th birthday! It was a small party with just us and Grandma and Grandpa. We had a simple dinner of tacos and then some cake, strawberries, and ice cream.

Princess AnaBelle on her birthday! We can't believe she's already 4!

Grandma gave them paints for Ana's birthday

Daddy got Ana some more princess puzzles

Our cute girls

The birthday party was cut short because Mommy started having contractions that were 3 to 5 minutes apart, so we headed to the hospital.

Mommy checked into the hospital

After some time on the monitors and waiting for our doctor to finish delivering other babies, we were admitted and scheduled for the C-section. Our original schedule was July 2nd, but it looks like our baby boy had different plans!

Jordan Gabriel Steinmetz - June 21, 2011 - 11:53 pm - 5 lbs 14 oz

On the scale...tiny boy of 5lbs 14oz

Good job Mommy! Meet your new son Jordan!

Pondering the situation

Mommy holding Jordan for the first time!

Proud papa!

Big sisters holding their new baby brother!

Proud Grandpa!

Lola feeding her apo!

Grandma holding Jordan!

Sleepy

Cute kid

This is Daddy's baby photo. Any resemblance?

We are very excited to have Jordan! He is a very quiet little boy. He sleeps most of the time and doesn't fuss much except during diaper changes and if he gets really hungry.

Thank you everyone who has helped us out watching kids and entertaining them while we welcomed baby Jordan into the world! What a coincidence that he happened to come on AnaBelle's birthday!

What's Been Happening

2011-06-05T19:32:00.000-06:00

The girls are still cute!

And getting cuter!

Daddy can cook....sometimes.

Mmmmm

Philly Cheese-steak, cheesecake factory, and a mango shake!

AnaBelle with her best friend.

More cuteness.

Sweet sisters.

Vanessa waiting for Lola on Mother's Day.

Vanessa turned 2 in May! She liked the cake.

And loves her trike she got for her birthday!

AnaBelle decorating Easter eggs.

More Easter fun with cousins!

Vanessa decorating Easter eggs.

Easter fun with the cousins at Grandma & Grandpa's house.

Mommy is blooming! So beautiful! Ready for our baby boy to arrive.

The girls have upgraded to a bunkbed in preparation for our baby boy's arrival!

We've been very busy with work and preparing for our new addition. We have picked a name for him. Jordan Gabriel Steinmetz.

So far, he is scheduled to arrive via C-Section on July 2nd...if he says in 'til then.

Ritchell was given a baby shower yesterday. We are so thankful to all those who are helping to spoil our baby Jordan before he even arrives.

Another baby shower is scheduled for June 17th. You're welcome to attend! Please ask us for details.

AnaBelle will be turning 4 on June 21st! She's so excited! We can't believe how fast she is growing!

Dubai Trip

2011-03-16T21:09:00.002-06:00

Last week, I was able to go to Dubai, UAE for a business trip to the WETEX show at the Dubai World Trade Center. It was an exhibition for water and energy technology.

I flew from Salt Lake City to Paris, France and then on to Dubai, UAE. It was a long trip there and even longer coming back. It takes about the same amount of time to fly to the Philippines from here.

My flight from Paris to Dubai was delayed 5 hours. It was a long time to wait around, but I finally made it to Dubai at around 2am. Once I landed in Dubai, I thought my night was just about over, but soon found out it would be a long wait before entering the country. When I got to the passport check, there were 50 lines all at least 50 people deep waiting to get their passport stamped and enter the country. So...I waited another hour in lines and finally made it out.

By this time it was 3am. Since I was so much later than expected, I had no idea if my ride would even still be there. I walked out of the terminal and looked all over but didn't see my ride (an employee of ours and also a friend of Ritchell's family from the Philippines).

Luckily, there are a LOT of Filipinos in Dubai. I went back inside the terminal and asked one of the Filipinas at a rental car counter if I could borrow their phone to call my ride. They let me call and I was able to get a hold of him and get a ride from the airport to my hotel.

Ibis Hotel Deira City

When I checked into the hotel, I found that they had not kept my reservation properly and was only able to get a smoking room. I didn't think this would be a big deal, since I don't smoke anyway, but when I got to my floor, I realized the whole floor they put me on was a smoking floor, so as soon as I got off the elevator, it reeked of cigarette smoke.

View from my hotel room

Luckily, I was able to switch rooms after the first night. My room wasn't as bad as the smell of the hallway, but still smelled a bit like cigarettes.

My first day in Dubai was spent at our office in Sharjah getting ready for the exhibition.

Water Services Sharjah Office

The next 3 days were spent manning our booth at the exhibition. Unfortunately, 90% of our show materials never made it to the show because of a logistics error on the part of our freight company. Fortunately, we did have limited materials at our office there that we were able to use.

Water Services/Zoeller Pump Co. booth WETEX 2011

Thursday night, after the show was over, we went out to dinner at an Iranian restaurant with another American that had a booth close to ours at the show. The food was actually quite good. I had grilled shrimp and an avocado shake.

The night before, we went out to a Turkish restaurant for dinner. I really enjoyed the food there as well. Flat bread with all sorts of meat & yogurt toppings. We had beef and lamb.

After the show, I had a few days to explore the city. I'm really glad I had time to check the place out.

Friday, I went to church. Yes, church is on Friday instead of Sunday in the UAE. I attended the Sharjah ward. Church was held inside a large home/mansion that was apparently given to the church by the UAE government. The ward was about 50% Filipino, 25% American, and 25% other. I felt right at home. All of the people there were very nice.

After church, we went to our office and my boss then got ready to head home (a few days before my flight was scheduled). We went to dinner that night at the Deira City Center mall at a Chinese restaurant. The food there was very good. We had dim sum, stir-fried rice noodles with seafood, and kung pao chicken.

On Saturday, Ronan, our employee and friend, let me borrow his metro card so I could get around town to explore the city. I went to the Dubai mall, Burj Khalifa, and Mall of the Emirates.

At the Dubai mall, I went through the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. It is a very large indoor aquarium that is 3 stories tall. It was very cool.

I also went to the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. They also have a huge fountain pool there in front of the Burj Khalifa. I didn't get to see the fountain running on Saturday because they only run the fountain in the evening and I was there early in the afternoon.

The fountain pool

"The Address"

Dubai Mall

Burj Khalifa

The fountain pool from the bridge

Burj Khalifa, fountain pool, Dubai Mall

The Mall of the Emirates was just like any other mall, except it was huge--as was the Dubai mall. All very fancy, high-end shops. The malls were so big that there was no way I could see all of it in a day. The attraction at the Mall of the Emirates is Ski Dubai, an indoor ski slope.

Ski Dubai

I ate lunch at the Dubai mall where I had sushi and sashimi for about 1/3rd of what I would pay for the same thing here in Utah. It was delicious.

Tuna Sashimi and Shrimp Tempura Roll

On Sunday, I was able to get out again. This time, I had a guide to drive me around--one of the members of the ward that I met while at church. He drove me all around town showing me the different areas of the city. We went out to the Palm Jumeira and saw the Atlantis resort. We also drove out on one of the branches looking at some of the homes there.

After the palm, we went to the beach near the Burj Al Arab--which is one of the most expensive hotels in the world. It was beautiful and the weather was very pleasant.

Later that evening, I met up with Ronan again and he took me back to the Burj Khalifa to see the fountain run. I think the fountain show was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I loved it and would definitely recommend anyone that goes to Dubai go and see the fountain.

Burj Khalifa Fountain Show 3.13.11 by dsteinmetz21

Ronan also took me down to the mall/outdoor shops and restaurants near the Burj Al Arab. We ended up not eating there because all of the restaurants were out of my price range. We ended up going to another huge mall--don't remember the name of it--and we ate at London Fish & Chips--shrimp, fish, and chips. It was very delicious.

After dinner, Ronan dropped me off at the airport for my long flights home. I had another 5 hour layover in Paris on the way back. The nice thing about the last flight from Paris to SLC was that the flight was half empty, so I had a whole row to myself and actually got a little sleep.

Overall, I enjoyed the trip. However, it was very hard being away from Ritchell and the girls for that long. The trip would have been 100 times better if they were with me.

I really enjoyed Dubai a lot more than I expected. The main reasons why I like Dubai are:

Very large Filipino population - this made me feel right at home
Very clean and safe
Very multi-cultural/global city - there are people from all over the world there in great numbers. I loved talking with people about where they were from, how long they had been in and why they were in Dubai
Beautiful architecture
Good public transportation

It was an unforgettable trip, but I am also really glad to be back home with my girls. I really missed them.

It's a Boy!!!

2011-03-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

The wait is finally over. Congrats to the 80% of poll voters for being correct!

Valentine's, Birthday, and Bowling

2011-02-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

It's been busy times these past few weeks. Here are some of the highlights.

Ritchell and Dan at the Fil-Am Valentine's Day dinner

Ritchell and I enjoyed going to the Fil-Am Association's Valentine's Day dinner. They had great food and great company.

AnaBelle and Vanessa having fun jumping on Ana's bed

This past week we took the kids to BYU to go bowling. They loved it! It was a great time with the family. We also enjoyed going to the Cougar-eat afterward as well as the BYU bookstore. Being back at BYU makes me kind of want to go back to school, but it also made me feel a little old since it seemed like all the students there were so young.

AnaBelle, Vanessa, and Daddy bowling at BYU

Vanessa realizing the ball is heavier than she thought it would be

Vanessa ready to bowl

Good times!

Ana loved watching the pins get knocked down

Painting of Ana and Vanessa done by their Grandmother given to Ritchell on her birthday

We had a birthday celebration for Ritchell this weekend. It was a small gathering of family and a few friends. We enjoyed great food and had a good time together. My mom gave the above painting to Ritchell for her birthday.

Beautiful girl

Stylin'

Another beautiful girl

The beautiful birthday girl

Cool

I know what these are for

Families Can Be Together Forever

2011-02-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

For Rent - Very Convenient Location in Provo!

2011-02-05T10:17:00.001-07:00

Our home in Provo is available to rent starting in mid February. Please spread the word! We need to have it filled by March 1st! Find all the details by clicking here!

Blasts from the Past

2011-01-23T18:13:00.002-07:00

What a week! Things are really picking up at work. So much that I can't get everything done that needs to get done, so we'll probably be hiring someone soon. Good problem to have! 2011 is looking like it will be a good year. Sometime in the near future I may post details on the hiring--if you may know of someone that needs a job.

I am feeling very connected to my childhood lately. In the past week, several experiences have reminded me of the past. Those worry free days. The days when summers seemed to last a lifetime and you thought that someone who was 18 was old and it was so far off you thought you'd never get that old.

I had the chance to chat online with Sean, my best friend growing up and brother from another mother. It was nice to catch up with him and talk about the fun times we had together when we were kids. I miss those times playing wiffle ball in Skyler's (who I also found on facebook this week) backyard--pretending to be MLB pros, and trying to see who could make the best paper airplane.

I was going through some old stuff of mine in storage a few months ago and found a picture and some old letters that I didn't even know I had kept from a girl I had a serious crush on when we were kids (early 1990s--name removed to protect the innocent! :). Curious, I thought I'd look her up on facebook and see if I could find her. I searched and found her. I sent the friend request and waited..and waited, and then thought..."I guess she doesn't remember me" or "maybe she doesn't want to remember me" lol, since I never got a response. Oh well, life goes on. Then, out of the blue, earlier this week I woke up and thought "maybe there's more than one person with her name." So I searched again and sure enough...the first one I found a few months ago was not her! So I found her and now we're friends on facebook. I also found her brother, who was also a good friend of mine. Finding them on facebook and hearing from her has brought back a lot of memories that I had almost totally forgotten. Very fun to remember those times. I also can't help but laugh out loud at the things I did when I was a kid. Ritchell loves to hear about it too and tease me about it.

I'm not done. Last night, Ritchell and I were out doing our grocery shopping and ran into another person from my childhood, Mark Grierson. He was a youth leader when I was in high school. I learned a lot from him and really did a lot of growing up while he was my leader. It was really cool to run into him and talk about all of the people from the old ward and how everyone is doing.

So many people from the past suddenly resurface. How cool is that? I don't think there has been any other time on earth when it has been possible to keep in touch with so many people from anywhere in the world. Amazing!

This picture was taken a few weeks ago, but it really could have been taken any day this week. I've been so busy at work and not sleeping well.

Daddy and his girls

Are you sure this kid is 30?

2011-01-05T06:29:00.000-07:00

Christmas 2010

2010-12-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

We were very blessed this Christmas! Here are some pics of Christmas with family.

Seeing Christmas Through New Eyes

2010-12-24T16:31:00.002-07:00

What Shall We Give?

2010-12-23T20:33:00.001-07:00

Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful

2010-12-20T06:10:00.001-07:00

Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Hallelujah, Christmas 2010

2010-12-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Kids and Christmas

2010-12-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Look to the Light

2010-12-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

It won't be Christmas 'til July!

2010-12-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

Ritchell and I were going to wait until Christmas to announce, but couldn't contain our excitement...we're expecting baby #3! Official due date is July 9th, 2011. We have decided the birthday will be July 2nd.

We are very excited! We are so blessed! We are so happy to become new parents again.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

The girls.

Thank you Paul & Kathy Brimhall for hosting Thanksgiving dinner! It was wonderful!

Anthony & Camille.

The girls.

Dad, Mom, Ritchell, Nanay.

The food.

My girl.

Aubrey.

Ritchell and Nanay.

Our Blog is Now on Facebook

2010-11-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

We've upgraded the blog to include a facebook page. Please click on the 'Like' button to the left to automatically get updates on the blog. You may now also post comments to the blog via facebook plugin at the bottom of each post page.

I have also setup the blog in facebook so that it automatically posts to my facebook profile and to the blog's facebook page when I post to the blog.

What I am Thankful For --Part 2

2010-11-16T07:00:00.024-07:00

I am very thankful for great leaders and teachers both past and present who have taught me through their good works, and good examples. These people have had a great influence on my life. Thank you! (These are in no particular order of importance.)

L. Michael and Sharon Keone presided over the Philippines Quezon City Mission during the second half of my time there. They were both so caring and loving. They taught me a lot about how to treat other people and also a lot about living and enjoying life.

Robert K. and Cynthia S. Wagstaff presided over the Philippines Quezon City Mission during the first half of my time there. They taught me the importance of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. They also taught me a lot about living and enjoying life.

President Bush did not necessarily have a huge impact on me personally as he was president of the United States. I have recently come to appreciate him as a great leader of our country. He has impressed me with his honesty and humility--traits I think every great leader should have.

Dave Ramsey has greatly influenced the way I think about money. His books and radio program inspire me to do better...not just with my money, but also with other aspects of my life--family, friends, and how I treat those around me.

Robert Hokanson has been someone I have looked up to for a long time. Robert is someone who goes beyond the call of duty. He was a youth leader while I was a youth. He always went out of his way to spend time with me and others--more time than was required for the position he was in. I am very grateful for his good example.

President Gordon B. Hinkley was president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death a few years ago. He taught many great lessons to so many people throughout the world. He left a huge legacy and his influence will be on the earth for many years to come.

The first presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thomas S. Monson, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and Henry B. Eyring. These 3 men spend countless hours in the service of their fellow human beings. They are a great example of what men ought to be.

The quorum of the twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quintin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, and Neil L. Anderson. These men also spend countless hours in the service of others and in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.

Joseph Smith, Jr was a prophet of God. He restored the church of Jesus Christ to the earth in modern times. His teachings and his example have influenced millions of people to come unto Christ. He suffered even to death so that the gospel of Jesus Christ could move forward.

Jesus Christ made it possible for me to repent of all of my mistakes. He taught me through his example how to treat others and what is most important in this life. He suffered the pains and sins of all so that we can become clean and return to live with Father in Heaven. I am very thankful for this and know that without Him, my situation would be hopeless.

My parents. Both of them have spent countless hours serving me. They have always been a great example to me. I am so thankful for my mother--for teaching me the importance of prayer and also for teaching me through her example that we truly can do or accomplish anything we are willing to work hard for. I am thankful for my father--for teaching me the importance of service through his countless hours as a scoutmaster while I was a boy. I am thankful for their love and their service to me--which many times is un-deserved.

Ricardo "Buboy" Innocentes and Jellette "Lilet" Panilagao. These two are among some of the best friends I have had in my life. They are both great examples to me. Each of them spent many days with me while I was a missionary serving in their area--San Rafael, Montalban. They were and continue to be great missionaries and examples to thousands of people in the Philippines. I am thankful for their example and their friendship.

The del Val family--and Kuya Nelson. The del Vals have always treated me like family. As a new missionary in a foreign land, this family took me in and made me feel right at home. They fed me. They taught me. They befriended me. I will never forget their good example to me of kindness. I would like to model my family after theirs. They work hard, love hard, and enjoy life to the fullest. Thank you. Kuya Nelson spent many hours in missionary service while I was there. He is a great example to me.

Bruce C. Hemming, PhD. Bruce is another great leader in my life. While I was a young man, Bruce also went beyond his duty as a bishop and helped me in more ways than I may be able to recognize. He put me to work for him at his laboratory. I am certain this kept me out of much trouble that most youths get into. He taught me the importance of working hard and earning a living. Thank you.

Rob Metler. Rob is a great example of how I would like to be as a businessman, friend, and mentor. I had the opportunity to work with Rob at Builderhelper.com. I learned a lot from him about how others should be treated in the business world as well as personally. His optimism is contagious. He can always uplift those around him. I am thankful for that example.

My aunt and uncle. Nola and Kent Steinmetz. I have always been impressed and looked up to my aunt and uncle as great examples. Their family is an example of how I would like my family to be. They have taught me through their good examples of faith, service, diligence, hard work, and positive outlook on life. Thank you.

My brother-in-law. Anthony Brimhall. Anthony has always been a great example to me of a hard worker and a selfless individual. I have been the recipient of many hours of his service. His knowledge and handy-ness have been a great positive influence in my life. Thank you.

My brother-in-law. Lee Morgan. Lee has been a great example to me. He has always treated my sister and their children with the love and respect they deserve. He is a great leader. He positively influences everyone he comes in contact with and I am grateful to have him in the family. Thank you.

There are many more people that I have looked up to, admired, and learned from over the years. The more I ponder, I keep remembering more and more. Thank you. I am truly grateful for you and I would not be who I am today without your good influences and examples.

What I am Thankful For --Part 1

2010-11-12T06:55:00.001-07:00

I am very thankful for the people in my life. I am so blessed to have them around!

Our beautiful children, AnaBelle and Vanessa. They bring such great joy into our home and into our lives!

My wonderful, beautiful, talented, "hot mama" wife, Ritchell!

Loving parents.

An awesome family!

I am also very grateful for good friends who care about me more than I care about myself at times. Thank you!

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

2010-11-11T06:59:00.001-07:00

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A Few Inspiring Videos

2010-11-09T06:59:00.001-07:00

This video may be old, but it's still true.

Here is another video. Good stuff.

Halloween & Other Updates

2010-11-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

AnaBelle was Snow White for Halloween. If she had her way, everyone else would have been Snow White also.

Vanessa went as Tinkerbell. We called her "Stinkerbell."

This Halloween was a little different than we have done in the past. The kids went to the ward party and got plenty of candy there. Halloween was on a Sunday. Around here, everyone did their trick or treating on Saturday night. There was a big storm that dumped a lot of hail and rain on us that night, so we didn't take the kids out trick or treating.

They enjoyed handing out candy to the kids that braved the storm.

Before Halloween, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. There, they got a free hay ride. There was also a straw bale maze for them to run through. The kids enjoyed it. They also loved spending time with their cousins Aubrey and Sarah.

New Pages
In case you have not noticed, I have been busy creating new pages for the blog. Above, you will find several new pages.

Our Fairy Tale - Adapted from a previous post. Here you may learn about how Ritchell and I met.
Our Faith - A summary of our beliefs as Latter-day Saints
The Plan of Our Heavenly Father - A little more detail on what we know and believe about God and his plan for all of us.
Our Invitation to All - Our invitation to everyone to learn more about and read The Book of Mormon.
His Gospel - A little more detail on what we know and believe about Jesus Christ and His gospel
The Restoration - A little more detail on the beginnings of the Mormon church

In the future, I will be adding a more detailed "About Us" page, as well as some more details on our faith.

Why?
Why have I suddenly become so "preachy?" Several experiences in my life have prompted me to share what I know and believe to be true with everyone. If anything, I hope that you will read and at least broaden your knowledge of the Mormon church and get to know us. I am saddened by recent attacks by the media and others against my faith and feel the need to let the truth be known.

I have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my entire life. I have seen and felt the difference it has made in my own life and the lives of hundreds, maybe even thousands of others I know personally. My faith has brought me a lot of happiness in my life and I want to share that. I have never been taught at church to hate others. I have never been taught at church to belittle others because of their faith, race, sexual preference, misdeeds or bad habits. I have also never heard a sermon at church condemning another religion. I have always been taught what Jesus Christ taught. Love one another. Do good to them that despise you. Is it easy? No. Am I a perfect follower? No. I don't know anyone that has followed 100% the gospel of Jesus Christ, but I try.

Do I expect everyone reading my blog to convert to the Mormon faith because of me? Certainly not. I just hope that something you read on this blog will bring greater understanding of the Mormon faith and what we believe.

I will continue to post about our lives and what we are up to. I will also continue to share with you our beliefs.

I appreciate all of the comments and words of encouragement from all of you.

Good Entertainment

2010-10-18T07:00:00.002-06:00

This last Friday was date night. Ritchell and I went out for dinner and a movie. It had been about a month since we had been able to get out without the kids. We really enjoyed the time together.--Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids.

Ritchell and I went to Panda Express for dinner. After, we saw the movie RED. Neither of us really knew much about the movie before we sat down to watch it. I don't recall seeing any trailers for it. The movie has many good actors in it--Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, and Helen Mirren.

We were thoroughly entertained! This movie was full of action and very funny. It reminded me somewhat of "Grumpy Old Men" crossed between "Die Hard."

Anyway...if you are looking to see an entertaining movie--we'd recommend "RED," which we found out stands for "Retired and Extremely Dangerous." :)

Other good entertainment that Ritchell and I have enjoyed is watching Smallville. I think the show is one of not many that have stayed mostly clean over its 10 seasons. I initially had no desire to watch a show that was about Superman. I'm not really into the super-hero thing. I just happened to come home from school one day and Ritchell was watching the first season that she had borrowed from a friend. I watched a few episodes with her and was hooked. If you haven't watched it, I would recommend going back and watching all of the seasons, as it is now on its last season.

It is hard to find good entertainment these days. Ritchell and I do not watch movies that are rated R. We have found it to be increasingly difficult to find movies that are not rated R that we haven't already seen or that are even worth seeing. It seems that a great majority of movies coming out are nearly all rated R. It also seems that among the movies that are not rated R, maybe 3 out of 10 are worth watching. It saddens me that Hollywood is creating such movies and that the increase in these types of movies only signifies an increase in their bottom line---which means people are actually viewing them. Why shouldn't I watch rated R movies?

To simply say that such movies do not effect our minds would be a lie. Have you ever watched a very graphic movie and then dreamed about it later that night? I know I have. I am not a psychologist, but I can see the effects that such movies have on children AND adults--and on our society. Sure, just because I have a dream about it doesn't mean that I am going to change my actions. However, when I see something that has that kind of negative effect on my mind--over time I may come to think that this kind of behavior is normal. Swearing, alcohol, drug use, killing, adultery, etc should not be normal. These are things that plague our society and cause many problems--which I chose not to participate in. I would rather seek for solutions to these problems rather than embrace and encourage them. This is why I seek out good, wholesome entertainment.

Comments welcome.

An Invitation to All

2010-10-14T07:10:00.011-06:00

My parents are wonderful people. They have always taught me very well through their good example, as well as their counsel. When I was a teenager, I didn't always welcome that counsel. My parents would try to gather the family together to read scriptures or learn about the gospel, but we wouldn't always cooperate. I'm not sure why we acted this way about it. Maybe because we were thinking of other more entertaining things we would like to be doing, or because we just didn't understand it. Maybe it was teenage rebellion. I am very thankful that my parents tried so diligently to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to me and my sisters. The reality and truth is that despite their efforts, each one of us had to put in our own effort before we would ever know the truth.

One week, when my parents had gone out of town and left me behind, I decided that I wanted to learn for myself if what they were teaching me was true. I couldn't just take their word for it. I went out and purchased my own set of scriptures and began to read them. I read at least a chapter each night for a period of several months. As I was reading through The Book of Mormon, I felt the truth of its words, but still wasn't certain.

One night after reading, I decided to say a prayer. I asked if what I was reading was true. It is difficult to put into words how I felt after praying for this answer. All I can say is that it was a very happy, exciting, and emotional feeling that all of it was and is true. This decision for me to read The Book of Mormon and pray about it has blessed my life and I want to share that blessing with others.

I invite everyone reading this to learn about The Book of Mormon. Read it! I have read it and found it to be a great blessing in my life. I also invite everyone reading this to read the Bible. The Bible and The Book of Mormon together can bring so many blessings into your life if you read it and try to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Please click here or go to http://www.mormon.org/book-of-mormon/ to learn more about The Book of Mormon and request a free copy of the book. You may also read or listen to the entire book online, as well as the Bible, by clicking here. Learn what The Book of Mormon really is, where it came from, and how it can help you come closer to Jesus Christ as it has helped me and millions of other people.

Some of my favorite passages in The Book of Mormon are:

I spent 2 years of my life in the Philippines sharing this message with the wonderful people there. It was 2 years that I will never forget and never regret. The Book of Mormon is true. I have seen first hand in my own life and in the lives of hundreds of other people the effect this book and its teachings can have on individuals and families. I have witnessed the Savior's love for me despite the fact that I am one of billions of people that have lived and despite the fact that I am so imperfect. I know that He lives and that if you honestly study his life and read The Book of Mormon, you will find that it is true and you will find the peace that His gospel can bring.

More Fall Photos

2010-10-10T17:07:00.001-06:00

Last weekend we took another drive up Hobble Creek canyon for pictures. This time we went with Grandma & Grandpa. It is so beautiful to see all of the fall colors. We enjoyed spending time with my parents and the kids.

Our Fairy Tale

2010-10-06T07:39:00.002-06:00

Ritchell and I met on July 4th, 2001. From the moment I saw her, I knew. It wasn't long after we met that she became my best friend in the mission, and my life. I am so blessed to have my best friend by my side forever. She is my angel. From day one, she has made my life a much happier one.

After returning from my mission to the Phillippines, I thought I would never see her again. How could I? She was half a world away. Ritchell and I kept in touch through email after returning home. It wasn't long before we were calling each other on the phone. I still did not know how it would be possible to see and be with my best friend again. I still had doubt that it was possible at all.

Finally, I made the most important decision of my life. I took my biggest leap of faith. Without knowing how it was possible or even if it was possible, I asked Ritchell to be my wife. To my amazement, she said YES! Ok, so now what?

From the moment the decision was made, everything seemed to fall in place perfectly. The process of marrying someone from another country became clear and easy. The decision stop school for a year and work was easy. Finding work was easy. I know that God had a hand in getting the two of us together. There were so many obstacles that vanished. Maybe we were blind to them. :) The war began in Iraq. SARS was a big fear in Asia. This did not and could not stop us from being together.

After 2 return trips to the Philippines, Ritchell and I were finally married in the Salt Lake temple on Sept. 6th, 2003. There has never been a day where I have regretted the decision to make that leap of faith. I am so amazed at the strength and courage of my wonderful wife. To leave her family, her country, and everything she had ever known in life just to be with a skinny white guy like me is humbling for me to think about.

More than seven years later, we still share the same love. We know much more now why that leap of faith was so important. First, AnaBelle. Then, Vanessa. Each one has come into this world as a result of that decision and that love. Each one has blessed our lives infinitely. We are sure there are more to come and bless our lives as well as the world.

I wish to tell everyone that none of this would have been possible without God. Without the true church of Jesus Christ, my family would not exist. Without help from above, my life would have turned out very differently. If you have faith, anything is possible! Had I not made the decision to go on a mission and share the gospel of Jesus Christ, I might never have met Ritchell. I owe my life to that decision.

To anyone reading this post, I challenge you. If you do not know that God loves you and that He is there for you, seek Him out. If you do not know that Jesus Christ is your savior, seek Him out. He is there and He can bless your life more than you may ever imagine. No matter what mistakes you have made (and we all certainly make mistakes), He is there for you. Please, find out for yourself what a great blessing being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can be. It will be the greatest decision you have ever made.

Elder Patrick Kearon

2010-10-03T13:57:00.002-06:00

Great talk.

ksl.com - Pres. Monson announces 5 new temples

2010-10-02T10:42:00.000-06:00

ksl.com - Pres. Monson announces 5 new temples

Fall Pictures

2010-09-27T06:41:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, we decided to go for a drive up Hobble Creek Canyon and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Before and After--Landlord Horror Story

2010-09-23T08:43:00.002-06:00

Last month, we had to evict the tenants that were living in our other house. It turned out they were hiding a lot from us and did not treat our home very well. They stopped paying rent in June. After we evicted them, we found out they had 11 children living in the home. We also found out their father had been put in jail the day we evicted them for beating his wife in front of 16 children...all in our home. The fight also resulted in a few holes punched into the walls of our home. We found out later that they also weren't good neighbors to have because one of the neighbors came up and told us how happy they were that the family was gone. It is unfortunate that so many children are kids of such irresponsible parents. I hope and pray that they will be taken care of in the future.

These are the before and after pictures.

Before....

After...--it's amazing what turning on sprinklers will do for your lawn.

Before...entry tile was very dirty and broken by the tenants.

After...I re-tiled the entryway.

Before...Very dirty, chipped paint, nasty stained carpet.

After...New paint, new carpet, new baseboards.

Before...holes in walls, nasty stained carpet, mice droppings everywhere.

After...Clean, sanitary, no holes in walls.

Our jaws just dropped when we saw this room. The tenants seemed to think it was OK to write with permanent marker, crayon, paint, and toothpaste all over the door, walls, window sills, and ceiling in this room. We thought it was just the kids, but evidence showed that the parents were also writing on the walls.

After several coats of primer and paint and a very extensive washing, the room turned out nice in the end.

More of the "graffiti room."

After.

Before. There were mice living in the internet box shown in this picture.

After.

Before.

After.

Before. This used to be AnaBelle's room. It was the least nasty room in the house, yet still nasty so we re-did everything.

After.

Before.

After.

Master bath before.

After.

Master Bedroom before.

After.

Master bedroom. Notice the garbage and clothing everywhere. There were mice droppings all over because the tenants were so disgusting.

After.

The kitchen was the nastiest. There was food stuck to EVERYTHING. The cabinets all had mice droppings in them. There were cabinets that were rotted out with maggots in them because they wouldn't clean up spills. The floor was caked with sticky goo. The fridge had juice coming out of the ice/water dispenser and all of the compartments had never been cleaned and were broken.

After.

Before. Broken cabinets because of kids climbing and hanging on them.

After.

The pantry. Garbage was stuffed in all of the heat registers. Mice were lovin' it down there. We ended up getting the vents and ducts professionally cleaned.

After.

Laundry before.

After.

Back deck before.

After.

When we evicted them, they left their belongings in the back yard. We were the lucky ones who inherited this junk and had to sell some of it, but most of it ended up at the dump.

After.

None of this cleanup and remodel would have been possible without the countless hours of donated time and effort from my family. My brother-in-law helped us out a TON with all of the miscellaneous fixes. My mom and dad also were a great help. You name it, the tenants ruined it. I am very thankful for supportive family that took a lot of their time to help us clean up this mess and get the home in order again.

Fortunately, we signed a new lease with tenants we can trust. The previous tenants have a judgment against them for over $6,000 of which I am sure we will never see. The good news is that the home is now in better condition than it ever has been, at least on the inside. And we hope to keep it that way.

The other good that came out of this experience was all of the time our family spent together working on it. I am so grateful to have them around and am humbled that they were willing to take so much time to help without any form of compensation except for the occasional meal provided in between hours of hard work.

Thanks again to my family and friends who helped save us from this mess! We couldn't have done it without you!

The Steinmetz Family Celebrates 7 years

2010-09-15T07:03:00.000-06:00

On Labor Day, Ritchell and I celebrated 7 years of marriage! Each year is passing faster and faster. We have a hard time believing it has been that long, but also know it is just the beginning. In our 7 years together we have been through a lot. We are proud parents of 2 wonderful little girls. We managed to make it through school, survive 2 periods of unemployment, buy a home, build another home, and become landlords all while watching our children grow faster than we could imagine.

To celebrate, Ritchell and I went out to Carraba's, an Italian restaurant. The food there was wonderful and the company was even better. We enjoyed being able to relax and spend time together.

Here are some cute pics of my girls.

I am so happy to be with Ritchell and our two girls and to share my life with them. They are the greatest blessings I have ever received and I love them more and more every day.

New Blog Format

2010-09-14T12:36:00.000-06:00

Hope you like the new format. I have added several new features to the blog. It has been dormant for quite some time. I'm not sure how many people actually read it anymore since there has only been 2 posts all year. I will see if I can keep it updated.

Please visit our facebook pages for more about us and what is going on. I have also included links to my profiles on Mormon.org (profile not fully published yet as of today), and LinkedIn.

Enjoy. More posts and photos to come.

Happy Birthday Vanessa May Steinmetz!!

2010-05-07T12:39:00.002-06:00

Overdue Update

2010-03-14T20:09:00.008-06:00

So...it's been 4.5 months since our last post. Here's what's been going on:

AnaBelle is growing up way too fast! :)

We had 2 Thanksgiving dinners! We started a new tradition since my parents are now living here in Utah. We have 1 Thanksgiving dinner with the Brimhalls, as we have done in the past. We now have a second one on the Saturday following Thanksgiving for the Steinmetz fam.

Christmas was great! We enjoyed being together as a family, eating lots of good food, and spending time together.

I got a new job and started in January. I work for a company called Water-Services, Inc. located in Provo. I am still an estimator, but now estimating military contracts that are primarily located in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is an interesting job and am enjoying it so far.

Ritchell had a birthday last month. We celebrated with dinner at a place called Pirate Island. It is a pirate themed restaurant and arcade in Orem.

We feel so blessed with our 2 little girls. They brighten our days. It's amazing to watch how fast they grow.

We had our good friend from our mission come to visit us last month, Buscato! It was good to see him and also to meet his 2 brothers.

Since November, I have been working on the construction of my parents' home. The home is nearly finished. I will post pictures when it is all done.

Here are some pics of my beautiful wife:

Happy Halloween

2009-11-01T15:30:00.002-07:00

This year was the first year that AnaBelle was able to go trick-or-treating. She loved it! She was so happy that everyone was giving her candy! Now the only problem is that she wants to eat it all the time.

This past month I was able to go back to St. Louis for a quick visit with family to help my parents move. Here is a picture of my sisters' kids.

Here is a picture of the home I grew up in. My parents recently sold it to move to Utah, where they will be building a new home.

This is a view out my back deck. Soon the view will include my parents' new home.

We finally got my parents settled into our home over the past couple of weeks. They are currently living in our basement until their new home is finished being built. We are hoping to have the home done in February, but have had quite a few delays getting started.

I can't believe it is November already. Where has the year gone?

Six Years

2009-09-24T14:36:00.004-06:00

A few weeks ago Ritchell and I celebrated six years of marriage! We went up to Park City and had a good time together with our girls. We had a nice lunch and then went up the mountain on the chair lift. It was a first for both of us.

It's hard to believe that it has been six years. We are starting to feel like we're getting older faster. I still love her more than anything! I'm proud to have such a wonderful woman to share my life with!

Summer

2009-08-30T18:47:00.006-06:00

Well...it's about time for an update. This summer just flew bye! A lot has been going on. Ritchell quit working in July and we've finally had a lot of time together as a family since I have been out of work as well since the end of May.

We have started a new career as day traders. It has been a rough start, but we're hopeful that things will work out eventually.

Our little girls are growing fast. We're so glad that we're able to enjoy spending our days with them watching them learn and grow.

My parents will start building their new home in our neighborhood within the next few days and should be able to move in around Christmas. I will be mananging the construction of their home and am excited for the project to begin.

Vanessa had her baby blessing at church earlier this month. Here is a picture of her in her dress.

Here are some more cute pics of our newest little girl. We are so lucky to have her!

Our two girls!

Mommy and Daddy...getting older fast.

Happy family...at our family reunion in July.

Mommy and Vanessa.

My two mothers. What would the world be like without great mothers!?

Mommy and Vanessa sleeping on the couch.

Me and my little girls.

This is AnaBelle with us when we went to watch fireworks on Pioneer Day.

Mommy and Ana went to the Pioneer Day parade together. They had a great time!

AnaBelle is 2!

2009-07-05T13:14:00.008-06:00

The past month has been busy. We celebrated Ana's second birthday twice. We have been enjoying time with my parents who have been in town. We are enjoying the spring/summer weather. Life is good! Here are some pics of what we've been up to.

My 3 girls.

Ana's cute new outfit.

My nephew Justin getting his Eagle Scout. Good job!

Ana's birthday gift...a Dora trike!

Checking out the controls.

Vroom vroom!

Mom and me just before the celebration.

Me cooking Pinoy BBQ... Mmmmmmmm!

Cute baby Vanessa smiling for the camera.

Dad and me workin' the grill.

Ana opening gifts.

A bank.

More gifts.

Ana's new monkey.

A new book!

:)

Ana's birthday cake.

After blowing out the candles.

Admiring the cake.

Ana playing on her new trike.

Yummy food.

Cool 2 year old!

Princess Ana.

The visitors.

The visitors after more arrived.

Cool princess.

Royalty.

Ana showing off her new hat.

More pics of cute Vanessa.

Pictures

2009-06-02T18:04:00.004-06:00

Vanessa May Steinmetz

2009-05-08T13:04:00.004-06:00

Vanessa May Steinmetz was born last night, May 7, 2009 at 10:49PM! She weighed 6lbs. 6oz. We're so happy to have another little one! Here are some pics of the cutest little baby ever!

Labor was long and hard for Ritchell. She labored for 16 hours before having an epidural. After the epidural, she labored for another 3 hours before finally having a C-section. She is now resting and recovering in the hospital.

Updates

2009-04-04T11:45:00.002-06:00

We have been a little busy over the past month...or just lazy about updating the blog. Here's what's been going on:

Ana still loves to get a hold of Mommy's cell phone and call people.

Mommy gave Ana her first haircut!

Ana is still Daddy's little girl!

We made a trip to temple square. It was Ritchell's mother's first time there. We also watched the Joseph Smith movie.

We went to iBuffet with friends to celebrate a birthday!

We went to Salem pond and let Ana run all around the park.

We went to the duck pond again at BYU and also to visit the Provo temple grounds.

Are we getting fatter?? :)

Ana will soon have a baby sister in May. We're excited to have the baby arrive.

Not much else has been going on. We have both been busy working and playing when we find the time. It has been nice to have some spring weather...although the past week has been snowy.

Life is still wonderful and we couldn't be more blessed! We have so much to be grateful for! The greatest blessing has been having AnaBelle and watching her learn and grow. We can't believe how fast she is growing and learning. She is doing really well talking now and can say just about anything after hearing it a few times.

Happy Birthday Ritchell!

2009-02-22T17:17:00.004-07:00

This past Wednesday was Ritchell's birthday! We celebrated yesterday with a party at our house. We had a lot of good food and good company!

Filipina friends with Ritchell and her mother.

Ana with her cousins Sarah and Aubrey

Nanay with my sister Camille and her kids, Justin, Kayla, Andrew, Sarah, and Aubrey.

The birthday girl!

Eating and socializing.

Kalbo!

Look at all of that food! We even had a turkey!

It has been nice to have Ritchell's mother around to help out with AnaBelle and help around the house. She was really happy to meet everyone at the party and looks forward to spending more time with all of them.

The other day I updated my cell phone and ended up losing ALL of my contact numbers! We would love to get everyone's number back...if you are reading this, please email me and let me know your number so that I can put it back in my phone.

The other night a co-worker and I were invited to go to a Utah Jazz basketball game with a client of ours at work. They took us to the "100 club" for dinner before the game. It's a restaurant on the upper level of the Energy Solutions Arena, where the team plays. They had really good food there...all you can eat. During the game, we got to sit 15 rows behind the Jazz bench with all of the players' families. It was my first time to an NBA game. I enjoyed it.

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-13T22:34:00.003-07:00

Happy Valentines Day! Hope you enjoy the pics!

The fireplace mantle was Ritchell's Valentines/Birthday gift. We just got it installed today.

Ritchell has been working hard on these drapes for the windows in our great room. She did a great job on them.

Life is good! I would not have it any other way. I am so happy to share my life with my sweet wife Ritchell and our little lady AnaBelle.

Oh...we have a name picked out for our new little girl! We'll announce it when she arrives in May.

To my dear wife on Valentines Day: (If you want to hear the song, click here)

Kasama Kang Tumanda (Grow Old with You)
Itong awiting ito
Ay alay sayo
Sintunado man to
Mga pangako ko sayo
Ang gusto ko lamang
Makasama kang tumanda

Patatawanin kita
Pag hindi ka masaya
Bubuhatin kita
Pag nirayuma ka na
O kay sarap isipin
Kasama kang tumanda

Sasamahan kahit kailanman
Mahigit kumulang di mabilang
Tatlumpung araw sa isang buwan
Umabot man tayo sa three thousand one

Ipaglalaba pa kita
Pagkatapos mamalantsa
Kahit abot-abutin man ako ng pasma
O kay sarap isipin
Kasama kang tumanda

Loves na love parin kita
Kahit bungi bungi ka na
Para akin ikaw parin
Ang pinakamaganda
O kay sarap isipin
Kasama kang tumanda

At nangangako sayo
Pag sinagot mong oo
Iaalay sayo buong puso ko
Sumangayon ka lamang
Kasama kang tumanda

Whenever you need a good laugh...

2009-02-05T09:22:00.002-07:00

Just go to http://www.engrish.com. I check this site out every few months or so and am always quite amused. I usually just go to the "Signs" section.

Just a random thing I thought I would share with you all.

Plenty of Good News

2009-01-17T15:33:00.006-07:00

The results are in! Well....we really found out almost 2 weeks ago and have been holding out on you. It's a GIRL! This means that 70% of you out there that voted on our poll were wrong. Here are some pics of the ultrasound.

We're really excited to be having another little girl!

This past week we finally got word that Ritchell's mother received her visa to come here to the US! On Thursday night, we drove down to Las Vegas to pick her up from the airport. We drove down there after I got off work. Her flight arrived just before midnight. We spent the morning driving back here to Utah.

We have been continually blessed with SO much. It is good to be alive!

Goodbye 2008...Hello 2009

2009-01-01T14:51:00.015-07:00

January 2008
--We started out 2008 in the Philippines with Ritchell's family. It was a great time! We really enjoyed our time there with family and friends. Dan turned 27. AnaBelle got to meet Mom's side of the family for the first time.

February 2008
--February was Ritchell's month. She turned 29! She got her US citizenship! It was a very great month. We also started the petition for Ritchell's mother to come here to the US.

March 2008
--Not much significant happenings in March. We worked, we spent a lot of time planning our new home and getting the paperwork in order for our loan.

April 2008
--We started construction on our new house! Dan had his graduation ceremony and a nice big party afterward.

May 2008
--Construction on our home really took off. We got the concrete in and a lot of the framing done. The real highlite of the month though was at the end of the month when we went to Florida for a family reunion.

June 2008

--AnaBelle turned 1 year old! Our home was finished with framing, windows, and rough HVAC and electrical. Heidi and Lee came to visit us. We also went to Idaho to see Grandma! At the end of the month, I was laid off at J Ballard Homes.

July 2008
--July was a difficult month. I was unemployed and spent most of my time looking for a new job and also supervising the construction of our new home. The home was mostly finished at the end of the month with the exeption of cabinets and a few other miscellaneous items.

August 2008
--I found a new job! It was and has been a blessing to have employment at Condie Construction. We finished most of our home...except for cabinets. AnaBelle loves the new carpet.

September 2008
--Ritchell and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. We can hardly believe what has happened in such a short time. We also found out that we are expecting our second child May 15th, 2009! We finally officially finished our home and moved in.

October 2008
--A good month. We were busy with work and getting settled into our new home. We enjoyed spending a lot of time with my sister's family.

November 2008
--November flew by. We were notified that Ritchell's mother will be interviewed for her visa in December.

December 2008
--We had a wonderful December. It was great to have so much family and friends here with us to share Christmas with. We are still enjoying the company of family and friends. We have truly been blessed in 2008.

2008 was full of surprises. In the end, we have no regrets. It was a great year!

In 2009, we look forward to having Ritchell's mother arrive here to live with us. She passed her interview in Manila and is currently awaiting the arrival of her visa so that we can fly her here!

We look forward to the birth of our second baby in May! We are excited to find out what to expect on January 6th!

AnaBelle is growing fast and will be 2 in June.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T19:59:00.009-07:00

This Christmas has been wonderful for us and our family. We have been very blessed to have so much of our family around to share the holiday with.

Earlier this week, my parents arrived from St. Louis. This past Tuesday we had a family gathering at our place. My aunt, uncle, and a few cousins and their families came over. My parents and sister and family were there. We also had some good friends come. It was great to have all of them over and spend time with them.

On Tuesday we had a seafood feast. We have 4 different kinds of fish, oysters, shrimp, and lots more delicious food! We also had a white elephant gift exchange. I got a pregnancy test!

On Christmas Eve we went over to the Brimhall's for dinner and to decorate little graham cracker houses.

Here are some more pictures from Christmas. Ana got a lot of toys that she loves. It was great to have everyone here to share Christmas with.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T11:07:00.004-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Some things I am thankful for this year are:

Jesus Christ
Ritchell
AnaBelle
New baby on the way
Parents
Siblings
Family
Employment
Technology
Home
Friends
Church
Education
Knowledge
Goals
Hope
Food
Experiences
USA
the Philippines

We have had a very blessed November. We got word earlier this month that Ritchell's mother will have her interview with the US embassy on December 23rd. After her visa interview, she will be flying here to live with us. She'll likely be here before the new year.

This Thanksgiving was great! We have enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

For Sale---SOLD

2008-11-02T13:32:00.004-07:00

Ritchell reminded me that I forgot to mention that we sold our first car a few weeks back. It was a good car for us. We just didn't use it anymore since my company gave me a truck to use.

We also forgot to mention that our home in Provo is now being rented out. A very nice family moved into it about a month ago. The home is still for sale though...but we don't think anyone will be buying anytime soon. There just aren't many people looking right now.

Ritchell has had a harder time this time around being pregnant. She is sick a lot more and doesn't like to eat much. She is almost done with the first trimester and has another appointment with the doctor this week.

Since that family moved in...we removed our old washer and dryer from the house. We plan on selling them. UPDATE: We posted the washer and dryer on ksl.com and sold our washer and dryer in less than a day.

AnaBelle is starting to talk a lot. She has learned to imitate whatever you say and she will say it right back to you. She's so cute. She is learning so fast it is amazing. She's learned to say "No! No! No! See!" "What's that?" "What are you doing?" "Night night." "Gatas" (tagalog for milk) "De de" (Tagalog for bottle) "Up" "Down" "Dog...arrr arr arrr" She's always getting a hold of one of our cell phones and talks away like she has someone on the line. She loves to watch Dora on TV. She also loves to dance whenever she hears music she likes. Recently, she has started singing as well. She loves to take a bath in the big jetted tub in our bathroom. She also likes the big shower. She loves to have visitors and will run around laughing and showing off to whoever comes over. She really enjoyed having so many trick-or-treaters stop by on Halloween. She sure makes life fun and interesting.

I caught her putting on daddy's shoes the other day. She is such a daddy's girl. She loves to do whatever she sees daddy doing. She also loves to sit on daddy's lap and cuddle and kiss him.

I spent most of the day yesterday moving all of our stuff from the garage to the basement. Now our garage can finally fit 2 cars in it. I'm not sure if my truck will fit in there though.... it's a big truck. Also, I don't want to put the truck in there yet because it leaks oil and fuel. That's supposed to get fixed this week though.

We got a new bed this past week. Since Ritchell and I have been married, we've either just had our matress on the floor or on a metal frame, but no head or foot boards. When we bought our new appliances for the new house, we got a gift card that was able to get us the bed for free. We originally ordered the bed 2 months ago. I kept calling the store to find out when the bed would be delivered, but they could never give me an answer. Finally, we went to the store and tried to figure out where our bed was. It turned out that the foot board was never ordered. So, I negotiated with them to get a different bed that was in stock, and also get a nightstand. We were able to get both...still for free.

October

2008-10-26T19:43:00.008-06:00

This month has gone by fast just like every month. Here are some pics of what we have been up to.

Pia came to visit us.

We had a family evening with my sister and her family. We got some pumpkins and carved them up.

AnaBelle has learned how to climb and can get to just about whatever she really wants.

Ana went to a neighbor's b-day party and got her face painted.

We went to BYU for a walk. She loved the reflection pool.

We also went to the BYU duck pond. Ana thought some of the bread was for her.

We went to the Filipino American Association Halloween party the other night dressed as a corpse family...bride, groom, and flower girl. We won first prize and got free movie tickets. Cammy and her family came along as well.

It's been a fun month. We hope it has been for all of you as well.

Boy or Girl?

2008-10-07T18:58:00.005-06:00

In case you haven't noticed the subtle update in our profile... we're expecting our second baby! We found out a few weeks ago. It's not a surprise for us, but it is earlier than we expected.

Today we had our first doctor appointment for mommy and baby. The due date is May 15th, 2009 calculated before the measurements on the ultrasound, which put it at May 17th, 2009. Here are the first pics!

I decided to put a poll on the blog. What do you think?? Boy or Girl?

What else has been going on with us? Well, we are still unpacking here in our new home. It has been slow.

This last week, we had one of our friends from Chicago come and stay with us. It was good to have company and get some use out of our guest room and bathroom in the basement. She also was a big help in getting things unpacked here. She really did a lot to help us clean and unpack and we really appreciated it.

I have been getting used to my new job at Condie Construction. I am really enjoying it there. The people I work with are great and the job is interesting.

Ritchell has been getting used to being pregnant again. She does not like to eat fish or seafood, and now mexican food makes her sick as well.

5 years

2008-09-14T12:59:00.007-06:00

Last weekend Ritchell and I celebrated 5 years of marriage! We decided to take the weekend and spend it up in Salt Lake.

Saturday, we first went out to breakfast at IHOP with AnaBelle.

After breakfast we dropped Ana off at a friend's house for the night. We then went to Salt Lake. Our first stop was at the Clark Planetarium. We got tickets to see Deap Sea 3D in their IMAX theater.

After the movie, we walked around the Gateway mall and Ritchell did a little shopping.

We then decided to go to a restaurant that we went to after our wedding, the Blue Iguana Mexican restaurant. We hadn't been there since the day of our wedding. The food was OK. We thought it was a bit spicy though. The salsa they had with the chips was so spicy we felt it burn all the way down into our stomachs! Despite the spice, it was fun to go back to the restaurant where we first ate together as a married couple.

After eating, we decided to take a carriage ride through the city. It was nice a peaceful. Our guide was very nice and told us a lot about all of the old buildings in downtown Salt Lake.

We also went to see the movie 'Traitor.' The movie was interesting. It gave a little bit of insight into our modern world of terrorism.

After spending two days in Salt Lake, we missed AnaBelle. :) We bought her some new boots for the coming winter.

This past week we have just been busy working and also trying to get settled into our new house. We have had to search for someone to finish our cabinets because of a problem we had with the guy we originally hired to do the job. We finally found a company that will do it for us, but they will not come in and finish until the end of this week. We're excited to get it all done and really be able to move in.

As soon as we are actually moved in, we'll have some pictures of the house completed.

Yesterday we had our good friends Pat, Shala, and Brennley over. We watched the BYU vs. UCLA football game and had home-made ice-cream. It was fun to spend time with them and watch BYU whip UCLA 59-0.

Other than that, not much going on. We'll have more exciting updates soon.

Changes

2008-09-02T21:40:00.003-06:00

Sorry for the long wait between posts. A lot has been going on the past month.

First, for those of you who did not know... I was recently laid off from J Ballard Homes. It couldn't last forever. The market just hasn't been good for the housing industry and J Ballard was no exception. The company went through many cutbacks and finally got rid of the whole department I was working in.

It was a scary time for us not knowing whether or not we would be able to keep the new house we were building. But...there is a good ending to the story.

I had many job interviews...one was even in Moapa, Nevada. Moapa is a small town about half way between St. George, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada. Anyway, it's about 4 hours away from Provo. My interview was early in the afternoon and I was running a little late. On my way down there I got pulled over for speeding by a state trooper! Oops! :) It turned out I wasn't late after all. The company was willing to offer me a job, but it was just too far away for us...so we turned it down.

The Lord has truly blessed us. Ritchell and I had a special fast two weekends ago praying that I might find a job. The answer came the very next day when I was offered a new job estimating for Condie Construction Company.

It is quite a change from what I was doing before, although it's still estimating. I am now estimating heavy civil and infrastructure projects instead of residential. I was given a truck, free gas, full medical and dental benefits, 401k, great pay, and profit sharing.

I am really enjoying the new job and very relieved that we were given this opportunity.

Finally, we have moved into our new house! There are still some things that need to be finished, and a lot of stories behind why they aren't finished, but for now we're mostly moved in. We'll have pictures to post when we find out where our camera cable went during the move.

Guess who's walking!

2008-07-25T14:33:00.004-06:00

The past few weeks have been great! Here's what's new.

The house is nearing completion. We have paint, hard surface floors, shower surrounds and light fixtures installed. The exteriors are just about done. The stone, stucco, raingutter, and hardie shingles are all installed.

The only thing left on the exterior is driveway, patio, sidewalks, paint hardie shingles, install garage door, and install the rock wall and deck in the back.

The interiors are just waiting for cabinets, countertops, appliances, plumbing fixtures, touch up paint, and cleaning. Here are some pictures:

This is the view as you open the front door. There are boxes covering our hardwood floor to keep it from getting scuffed up before we move in.

This is in the basement. The niches were Ritchell's idea. The center will be an entertainment command center that will have built-in desk and shelving.

Mommy and Ana in our new house!

This is the tile in the master bath.

This is the front of the house before the raingutter was installed.

View down main hall to front door.

The best news this week is that AnaBelle has started walking! She is still gaining confidence, but is doing great. In a few weeks she'll be off and running. She is already very anxious to explore the world on two feet.

This past week has been nice. No work all week for both Ritchell and I.

I had the chance to go fishing again with my bro-in-law and some of his kids. We ended up going to Deer Creek. It wasn't really a success for me... but the kids caught some fish. It was nice to get out on the lake again.

Ritchell and I picked out appliances the other day for the new house. We can't wait to move in! We're just a bit worried that our house won't sell anytime soon. We've had a good number of people come and look, but no offers yet.

Yesterday we went to Spanish Fork and watched the Pioneer Day parade in the morning with my sister and her family. Then we went to the park and walked around all of the fair booths they had there. We went to a pioneer museum there in Spanish Fork as well.

I enjoyed spending time all day with family.