Wait--I just picked up my life!!

Ok---so on Monday I picked my life back up and it was supposed to be all fun from here on out! Laughing, playing with my kids, walks with my wife just the normal perfect fun life kind of stuff. That is till I started talking to people again. This week I have spoken with numerous friends who have lost their jobs and are moving, losing their homes, having emotional breakdowns or some/all of the above. Another good friend was diagnosed with a life long disease and to top it all off I took a look at our bank account and 401 K. I seem to have lost the fun vibe and feel a bit weighed down with all the struggles that seem to be going on with many close friends. For me it is worse when there is nothing I can do to solve the problem, but only offer to pray for them and then watch them endure and survive. UGH! It is a bit hard to be friviolous with life and shallow at times like this.

I need to think about what my family and I can do........

I'm Baaaaaacccckkk

After taking a six month hiatus to finish my dissertation and finally graduate I, Chris Bray, as of today June 15th have picked up my life again. The funny thing is only my family has really missed my blogging/journal writing. I really had nothing to write about the past six months except for "working and writing, writing and working, getting my writing shot down by my chairperson, rewriting and working and rewriting more and so on." Not the most interesting read. But as of today June 15th, 2009 I am interesting again! Or at least I am telling myself that.

So am I happy that I graduated? Yes! But looking back, which I am trying not to do right now because of PTDS (post traumatic stress dissertation syndrome) I realized it was a bit of a sad six months. The gloom of winter with its dark and cloudy days matched what I was experiencing. Missing bedtime with prayers and stories, and time with Gale did not help my already sad and cranky disposition.

But now that has changed and I can start living again! Now that I am ready to live and have fun Gale leaves for girls camp tomorrow. So it looks like Elle, Ava and myself will have to start the fun.

If you want to know how I feel about Gale enduring this whole thing you need to read my acknowledgment page to her at the beginning of my dissertation. It will make you cry. Good luck finding it!~

New Years!

Just a few fun pictures of our New years Eve bash and subsequent Bowling outing. The newest tradition that has taken hold this year is bowling. It is the second year that we have pulled together 5 or 6 other families and gone It is now a tradition. It is funny because the last two years we have received a coupon for free bowling for 10 people. (Did I mention that Elle and Ava had the high scores).

Amazing!

I am often amazed at my children. All of them are incredibly talented in so many different ways. Today Chloe amazed me. Yesterday afternoon she got a call to sing in church, a song she had never heard before. Her young women's leader came over, they practiced a couple of times and that was it. I watched her sing today and so many thoughts came to my mind. I wonder what the Lord has in store for her and how she will use her talents to share the gospel. What is a head for her in her life? I pray that she makes the right decisions in her life so every opportunity is available for her to serve and share her talents. Chloe you are amazing, and blessed. What must it be like to be you?

To Olivia...THANKS...I LOVE YOU

Olivia-

Thanks for helping me pull down all the outside Christmas lights. Thanks for refilling my drink at dinner. Thanks for caring about me while I have this horrible cold. Thanks for giving me back scratches during scripture reading. Thanks for practicing the piano all week without being reminded to do it. Thanks for doing extra chores around the house. I noticed it all, and it made me feel so loved. I love you.

To Accomplish or To Become

I often wonder if I am accomplishing all that I should be, all that I was meant to do or if I am coming up short. It often bothers me, especially around New Years. This year as I sat down to write out my goals and all that I wanted to accomplish in 2009 I had one of those thoughts that stops you in your tracks. Was I too worried about accomplishing things, than who was I becoming? What would the Lord be more concerned about...what I accomplished while I was on the Earth or who I was as a person? The thought then continued that if I was to accomplish all that I was meant to, I needed to be a certain type of person. In a harsh reality moment, I realized I have been going about it all wrong. I was so concerned about accomplishing what I felt was good and right, I was often not worried enough about who I was as a person. I was stalling myself from progressing. The words of "what type of person" came to my mind----integrity, service, charity, kindness, humility, honor, duty, honesty, holiness, love, hope and a host of others.

In the past two weeks I have had two individuals I know pass away. I was able to go the funeral of one who I went to church with and the other was a mother of 5 who I went to high school with and her brother is a good friend who lives close by. As I sat at the funeral of the 57 year old father who had taught my little girls how to ride a horse, little was spoken of accomplishments....much was spoken of the person he was. Father, best-friend, brother, husband...and all the reasons everyone loved him. Not because of what he accomplished, but because of who he was.

I have significantly changed my New Years Resolutions due to today's and last nights thoughts. David Guy Stuart, 57, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was born Dec. 5, 1951 in Pittsburgh, PA, and died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008. Memorial services will be held at 2pm Tuesday, Dec. 23, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 5020 NW 63rd, in OKC. Family visitation to be held at 1pm prior to the services. Survivors include his wife Melissa four children, James and his wife Allison, Jeff and his wife Julie, Scott and his wife Stacy, and daughter Hillary grandchildren Aidan, Ethan, Kodie, and Jante siblings, Suzanne, Andrew, Brian and James. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Edward and Geraldine Stuart. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:Make-A-Wish Foundation (http://www.wish.org/)

Christi Rae Hales 1970 ~ 2008 Christi Rae Hales, 38, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 in the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Christi was born December 2, 1970 in Rota, Spain to Frank Gerald and Toni-Rae VanHarten Hart Jr. She and Robert Hales were married August 16, 1994 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Christi was a Silver Director for Heritage Makers and was passionate about keeping memories. She loved dance, ballet, and survived three bouts of cancer since the age of 14. Christi is survived by her husband Robert Hales; three sons, Alexander, Nicholas, and Spencer; along with two daughters, Abigail, and Isabella, all of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her parents Toni and Gerry Hart, of Southaven, MS; four brothers, Gerry Hart, of Edmond, OK; Michael Hart, of Southaven, MS; Jonathan Hart, of Minneapolis, MN; and Patrick Hart, of Noblesville, IN; her sister Jenni Hart, of San Diego, CA; her paternal grandfather Frank Hart, of Highland, UT; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Tony and Inez VanHarten; and her paternal grandmother Alta Marshall Hart. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 2, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Spanish Fork 12th Ward Chapel, 1150 E. 1240 S., Spanish Fork, UT. Family and friends may call/ gather at the church from 8:45-9:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.walkerfamilymortuary.com

My Wife is a Homeless Person

For the full story you will need to connect to my wife's blog. But I have to give my part of the story. I slept in this morning and I woke up to Gale standing at the end of the bed. I looked at the clock and it was around 9:00am and even the girls weren't up yet. Such bliss sleeping in! I asked Gale if she just got up and she responded with, "No, I have been out shopping for the holiday store all morning." I chuckled a bit and said, (Now before I write this you have to realize my wife is beautiful and she is one of those who is naturally beautiful) but I laughed and said, "you look a bit homeless this morning with your crazy hair." She burst out laughing and said, "You're the second person to tell me that today!" She then proceeded to tell me the story that you can read on her blog. I made her let me take a picture, but I will just have to see if I can actually get her to let me post it.