Happy Easter

I am striving to be the best man, husband, father and a chef for this valley. No matter how hard I try I always fall short, but that’s where our Savior comes in. I am grateful for Him, for his Love for me.
We are approaching Easter and I feel humble and touched by His grace. Without the knowledge which I have of the meaning of Easter I would walk with my head down feeling sorry for myself. I am happy that little me is important enough to my Father in Heaven for Him to send His only Begotten Son, to save me and give me a chance of eternal life. 
May we All find joy in this Easter and find happiness in what we have and what we can become.
Happy Easter!

$9 minimum wage

My business’s name is Sweetly Divine, and just like many businesses in America, we hire people to help us get the product to the public. We are a small business and we are always looking to get the best price for our customers.  We understand that the pay we offer is not a salary you can build your life on, but rather is a transitional job, where mostly college kids will work or someone who is going through some hard times.

We currently have three employees, and if I would be forced to raise the minimum wage to $9 I would have to lay off two of them and work additional hours myself. This would slow the growth of my business.

When the business grows and I am able to pay people more, I do so according to their skills and desire to work.

Over the years I have had many employees. At one point I had nine people working for me. One employee started as a dishwasher, but was able to advance to a manager. The business grew and increased in sales, and it was exciting to be able to provide my employees the opportunity to advance in the company. Not only was I able to help the community by providing jobs, but I was able to spend quality time with my own family. However, because of the economy's downfall, I was forced to lay off many people. Now I work 16 or more hours a day, and don't get as much time with my family as I would like. If the wage were to increase to $9 an hour, I would be left with no other option than to lay off the few employees I do have. I wouldn't feel like I was benefitting the community, because I would not be able to provide employment.  I want to provide jobs. I want to be a source of hope for high school and college students, those temporarily unemployed, and anyone else who needs a job. But if the pay were to increase, there's no way I could provide that. 

Oh, you don't want to be bother?

What happened to us? When you speak for the constitution, you're considered a radical and an aggressive person. For decades the leaders of LDS church encourage members to learn the constitution, so when a bills come to a vote, we would recognize the ones which are unconstitutional. 
I see So many people just want to be left alone and don't care what is happening. We are a sleep as a nation. I am afraid that when most people wake up it may be too late to turn around. Sigh...

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just one week away and I guess I should say what I am grateful for. Its not easy to list all the things, because it would be ridiculously long list. When I think of what is the closest to my heart, its lot easier to narrow it down to few of many.

I work many hours in my business and it is not that I want to do that rather, I must do it. I must say that I am grateful for my family, which I long for everyday when I'm at work. I pray that I may be busy enough to be able to hire more people so I could spend more time with them. Life is hard, but I am grateful for the life I have. Seeing my children grow and seeing them grow with the gospel of Jesus Christ is the best joy I could ask for.

My sweet wife, which has to put up with me and my crying over things. She is the engine of my heart. I do everything in life because of her. I wish I could have finances to help her with her health, which stresses her and me. Without insurance, which I can't effort, not much I can do. She suffers from IC and so far, there is no cure for that problem. Its hard to be intimate when you are in pain. And in pain she is a lot.

My two oldest boys are on the mission, and it's hard for me sometimes. I feel like I was left behind and they moved forward. I feel like that, because we played all the time with each other. We played computer games with headsets. We talked to each other about life, religion, politics pretty much everything. Now I don't have that connection with them. Things probably would not be so hard sometimes if I would have some close friend (guy) besides my wife to be able to talk to. I have a lot of good friends, but not a “buddy”. I’m not complaining, because I know that to every relationship, you have to put time and effort, which time I don’t have. I did click with 2 friends, but one is just a little old and we cant go biking :).

I am so happy to live in Cache Valley. Being so close to the Temple and with people of the same values, makes life a lot better and happier place to be.

So to finish this, I am definitely a family guy. I live for them, and I am grateful for them. Thanksgiving will be a great day, but only if I want it to be.