Eldon & Shaela Beck Family

Christmas 2011: The Year in Review

2011-12-22T23:22:00.000-08:00

Because we have a family blog, we shouldn't need to write a Christmas newsletter. Instead, we should just tell people to read the blog. But that would require more than two postings for the year. And since we didn't send out a Christmas letter last year, you probably have no idea what we've been doing.
In keeping with the Gothic family photo this year (see "American Gothic," for those of you who never played Masterpiece as children), we will try to provide a report that reflects the Gothic characteristics of realism and detail.

First of all, we're now a family of six. Sterling Williams Beck was born on 6 December 2011. He has all the health, strength, appetite, and desire for sleep that we could ever want in a newborn infant. We're all grateful for that. Sterling loves to be swaddled and held, but there's nothing terribly unusual about that. What is perhaps somewhat unusual is that Sterling has become accustomed to using the bathroom like a civilized human being instead of soiling his diapers. We're all adjusting to our new addition fairly well. His big brother and sisters are glad to have him in the family, though Sarah can sometimes be particularly sensitive to her new position as a big girl rather than the baby of the family.

Sarah Jane is Little Miss Independent. Though petite for her new age of two, she has remarkable physical strength and an even more impressive will. But Sarah's independence doesn't require her to sacrifice snuggling, stories, and one-on-one attention. She loves to play outside, is learning how to handle the single-rope swing in the yard, and is not terribly concerned about talking in ordinary English. However, she is quite expressive and able to communicate her needs, desires, and decisions. Sarah is a self-potty-trained individual and a chameleon-like dresser who seems to be sporting a new outfit every time you cross her path throughout the day. Sarah is also the champion eater in our house and will often eat a hearty breakfast that is as big as what her Dad eats. She loves playing with Joseph and Caroline and is quick to emulate their behaviors, whether silly or serious.

Joseph is a little working man, just like his Dad. He is always early to bed and almost always the first to rise. From the time he gets up around 5:30 or 6:00 AM, Joseph gets dressed and is ready for the day. He is neat and tidy, but normally prefers to spend his time outdoors in our desert. As a result, he usually has a patina of dust from playing in the sand, swinging, working in the garden, moving firewood, or feeding, petting, and gathering eggs from the chickens. Joseph loves the chickens and would be able and willing to take care of them all by himself if he was only a foot or so taller (four-year-old boys have trouble getting over 42 inch electric fences). Joseph has a great sense of humor and has recently taken to enthusiastically reciting Millie's famous line from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: "Ya gonna act like hogs... ya gonna EAT like hogs!" Though sometimes shy amongst strangers, Joseph is an engaging boy with a contagious sense of humor and a keen sense of detail.

Caroline is the best reader in the family... and an artist. Those are her own words. And that characterization is in no way delusional or deceptive: it is a perfect description of our six-year-old daughter. Caroline learned to read and wasted no time immersing herself in the wonderful world of books. She reads several large "chapter" books at a time (i.e. the 300 page varieties like the Little House on the Prairie series) and will devour two to four books of that magnitude every week! But she's not just turning the pages; her comprehension is excellent and her vocabulary is growing as she asks about some of the trickier words she finds. But Caroline is also an artist who creates incessantly. You can see some of her work here. From writing to woodwork, flowers to sand sculpture, and drawing to dining preparation, Caroline always has another brilliant idea that she is working tirelessly to reify. Still, Caroline spends plenty of time playing outside, helping in the house, and just being an ordinary well-rounded child. As she learns to wisely harness and focus her creative passions, she will be a bright and powerful force for good.

Shaela had the bright idea to adopt 16 new chickens just as we began raising 25 chicks in September. But due to a violent tragedy in the chicken's former house, natural selection left us with only 9 mature hens and 1 amazing rooster. The good news is that we have had enough eggs to supply our family over the last few months. This year, Shaela learned to trust in the Lord and to remember that these demanding, crazy times of young motherhood are both fleeting and precious. She has learned that, with the proper attitude, diapers, laundry, pool maintenance, chickens, and house cleaning can be exhilarating and inspiring, especially when the children are involved, learning to work, and even arguing over who gets to clean the toilet, iron handkerchiefs, or set the table the nicest. Additionally, Shaela has learned to love to learn this year as she has redoubled her own efforts in her studies while teaching the children. Day by day, she finds great joy watching their minds work and their souls expand as they gradually come to understand, embrace, and apply light and truth.

Eldon has had so much to do that he has not had time to do more enjoyable things, like post photos, videos, and pithy comments to this blog. He spent the last year, until November 2011, as a defense counsel and found great satisfaction helping Marines in trouble and holding the government accountable (i.e. "sticking it to the Man"). Eldon is grateful for the many wonderful people he was able to work with and the opportunity to learn so much through interesting and challenging cases, such as this case. He has recently become the officer-in-charge of the Civil & Installation law section and, as a result, has temporarily left the courtroom to learn the "corporate" side of the Marine Corps. He loves the challenge and complexity of his new job and is excited to tackle ambitious, much-needed, and high-payoff projects that will make a lasting positive impact on the way the office works. In Church, Eldon was released from the Elders Quorum Presidency in order to serve as the Second Counselor in the Bishopric. This has been another time-intensive opportunity to learn and serve that has been both demanding and rewarding. At home, Eldon continues to strive to be the husband and father that Shaela and the children need and deserve. There are always projects around the house and the chickens to care for, but we still find many a Saturday morning for a family hike in Joshua Tree National Park and sometimes even get the chance for an occasional Friday night movie in front of a cozy fire. And every night in our home is the time for Eldon to read aloud the great books that teach and inspire us to become great people.

That's about all the detail and realism we can share in a little family newsletter without turning it into an unwieldy tome. If you want the full experience, you'll have to pay us a visit! In the meantime, here are some of the best pictures of the family and the kids from this year:

Life is good. We miss all our friends and family, many of whom we haven't seen now for several years. We think of you often and are grateful for the uplifting influence you have had on us. More than anything, especially at this special time of year, we are grateful for our Father's gift of his Son and our Savior's gift to us of the Atonement, which opens the way back to our Father. Those eternal gifts provide the purpose and hope for our individual lives and our family. They are the path of immediate and everlasting happiness for all people who will but follow the plan. We are thankful for the many blessings we have received as a family. We're humbled and sometimes even slightly whelmed by the challenges and opportunities we receive. But we trust in and follow Jesus Christ and know He will make us equal to whatever burdens we may have to bear. We wish you all the best in the year to come and pray that you may feel an abundance of the sweet peace that the Gospel brings.

Caroline's Art and Notes from 2011

2011-12-21T13:43:00.000-08:00

Here are some of Caroline's best pieces of art and some of her funniest notes from this year. Translations are provided below each image.

Temple

Testimony: I love the Lord. I know the temple is holy. I can't go now. But I know the scriptures are true.

Oil. Honey. Peanut Butter. Chocolate. Vinegar. Moose Chocolate. Moose Chocolate Cookies.

If I had a magic pebble I would wish that I was a gymnast.

Princess picture.

I wish I had a pet cow with 8 legs and [Caroline can't remember what this is supposed to say]. I love cows that give milk.

Finger paint.

Eliza and Julia: I will teach you how to dance. You pay 3 dollars tomorrow. Love, Caroline.

Hiking the Skull Rock Trail

2011-08-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

This post was dictated by Caroline:

On Saturday morning, we got up and jumped in the Beast. We drove up the mountain and almost no one else was there in Joshua Tree National Park. It was warm and sunny, but not too hot. We climbed a bunch of rocks and had so much fun! Sometimes we were on the trail, but other times we were climbing on rocks or going through prickly bushes.

Sarah says funny things while she hikes. She is a pretty good hiker, but after a while, she gets tired so Dad puts her in the baby backpack so she can take a nap.

We also went up some rocks that were so steep that we had to go down the backside because we couldn't go down the way we went up.

While we were off the trail, hiking around the rocks, we found a cave where we ate lunch.

We found a big huge flat, slanted rock that went up to a big cliff where we took silly pictures and marched around, playing trumpets.

After hiking more than 2 miles, we got to Skull Rock at the very end of the trail. Then we got in the Beast and drove to the farmers market in Joshua Tree before we went home.

Camping in the Mojave National Preserve at Hole in the Wall

2011-06-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

Our family trip to Hole in the Wall in the Mojave National Preserve. Definitely the coldest and windiest camping trip I have ever been on, but very rewarding and so fun. The kids hiked more than six miles and ended by climbing up several feet of big steel rings. It was wonderful family time. We were so grateful that the Acrees were willing to join us. It made the whole trip that much more fun!

Desert Happiness

2010-11-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

Sarah loves the freedom and the flavor of the desert.

Caroline had a blast planting seeds for flowers and can't wait to be able to pick the flowers to give to her Mom. Or for her Mom to cut and give to her. She understands though, that this is, "just an experiement."

Really, can life be any better for our three year old? Popsicle in hand, waterproof boots, two acres to roam, and plenty of water to splash in?

Overall simplicity

2010-11-18T21:10:00.001-08:00

After being here a few days we quickly realized that our childrens' clothes were being ruined by the elements outside. Sand, water and cactus pricklies just don't keep cotton in shape for very long. After changing outfits multiple times a day and using more oxiclean than I had in the previous many months Eldon suggested overalls. Of course, that was brilliant! The kids love them! Even Caroline, my dress queen, loves to wear her overalls "for work only," but puts them on every morning for at least a few minutes before switching to the dress of the day.

Desert Dwelling

2010-11-07T21:59:00.000-08:00

Translation: "Everyone must check our shoes to see if you have pricklies."

The kids have quickly become familiar with some of the dangers of the desert. Like going barefoot in a place where the "Jumping" Cholla Cactus thrives. It's packets of "priclez" really do have a way of jumping onto you even when you are very cautions.

But there's a lot to love about the wildlife here. Like the Ocotillo plant that looks like a giant inverted octopus on steroids... with thorns and occasional flowers. And the ubiquitous rabbits and quail. And the occasional roadrunner. And the coyotes patrolling the neighborhood at all hours. And the tarantulas hanging out by the front door. And--of course--Joshua Trees. For example...

A Sunday afternoon walk started with "parasols" in hand. But then the parasols were traded in for rocks after we saw a few foxes (or coyotes?) trot across the trail.

If you're not careful at night around the front door, you may have some uninvited company enter the house.

Of course, we're loving it here. Come visit us in the wilderness!

Our Future Desert Abode

2010-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

The middle of October is an eventful time for our family. The 15th is the day we got married, the day Joseph was born, and the day Grandpa Beck was buried. It will also be the day we move into our first house. We're excited and feel very blessed. Because this home was a short sale, we offered to buy it at the end of May but we only recently received notice of acceptance. We're survivors of the short sale roller coaster!

This house is built on a few acres on the southern end of the Twentynine Palms area basin. It is only a few hundred meters from the border of Joshua Tree National Park (which begins at the mountains you see in the pictures below). If you have never slept under the stars in the desert, you can come to our house and camp out in the backyard. Here's a glimpse of our new place:

Swim Lessons

2010-07-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

All the kids are in swim lessons and are making wonderful progress. This first video will be a treat for anyone who has seen Joseph swim (or, more likely, anyone who has seen Joseph adamantly protest a suggestion that he get in a large body of water).

Our 3 Big Cheeses at Fairytale Town

2010-06-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

Some pictures just need to be shared. This is one of them. Taken at Fairytale Town, Sacramento, CA.

Starting Life as Pioneers

2010-06-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

Last Day of Dance Class

2010-06-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hiking in The Backyard

2010-05-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

This was the post-graduation hike. We are less than approximately one mile from our house, in the George's Hollow / Wire Mountain area.

Law School Graduation

2010-05-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

Caroline & Joseph: Best Friends

2010-03-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

Caroline at the Salt Lake Temple

2010-02-20T17:08:00.000-08:00

The kids can earn special dates with either Mom or Dad. They decide what to do. Caroline's first outing with Mom was to see the brides at the magnificent Salt Lake Temple!

New Years Sledding

2010-01-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

Zion National Park New Years Hike

2009-12-31T17:43:00.000-08:00

Post-Christmas Wells Gathering in Las Vegas

2009-12-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

An Official Family of 5

2009-12-28T21:58:00.000-08:00

While in Las Vegas visiting the Wells family after Christmas, we took some family photos with Mike Morelli, the same gentleman and family friend who took our wedding photos. Aside from Sarah's head tending to be noticeably less-than-erect in most pictures (after all, she is an infant), we were pleased to have some turn out pretty well.

We got a good laugh out of this experience. Family pictures taking changes as the family grows! When you have 1 child, you think you're entitled to have almost every picture be spectacular. By the time you're dealing with 3 children, you figure you're lucky if you get more than a handful of good pictures in the whole batch.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T17:33:00.000-08:00

Sarah's Homecoming

2009-11-14T20:31:00.000-08:00

The Birth of Sarah Jane Beck

2009-11-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

Autumn in the Fort Douglas Cemetery

2009-11-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

Halloween

2009-10-31T19:36:00.000-07:00

A Quiet Sunday Afternoon

2009-10-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Joseph's 2d Birthday

2009-10-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

Bouncing on Mom's new ball

2009-10-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

Riding the Heber Valley Railroad

2009-09-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

Caroline dressed and acting like... Mary?

2009-08-24T19:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is underwear on Caroline's head.

Summer in Chicago

2009-08-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

Eldon's 30th Birthday

2009-07-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Dreaming of the Farm

2009-07-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

4th of July with the Jonas Brothers and Glenn Beck

2009-07-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Meeting Dad at the Airport

2009-07-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day at Fort Douglas Cemetery

2009-05-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

Just Another Crazy Day...

2009-05-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

California Adventure... no really, that's where we were, not just what we were doing.

2009-05-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

Joseph climbing stairs again and waving. This little guy loves to go up and down anything that allows him to go up or down.

Grandma, Shaela, and Caroline waiting for the 3D bug movie. Caroline and Joseph were NOT amused. They screamed through the entire thing.

My parents enjoying their time together.

This is the bench where Shaela and I sat and talked for 3 hours right after we met on the night of June 16, 2004. This is the first time we have been back to Disneyland since then. For those who don't know, Shaela and I first met at Disneyland after corresponding all through May 2004. We were engaged 12 days after meeting and then married on October 15, almost exactly four months after our first meeting.

Disneyland

2009-05-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

Nicole, Caroline, and Madeline getting ready to see a bunch of dancing characters.

Caroline and Joseph with their newly acquired Mardi Gras beads.

While watching some Jedi training, Caroline suddenly became frightened when storm troopers rushed in and Darth Vader arose out of nowhere while the Imperial Theme blasted (see next picture). She was so scared that she covered her eyes, but so interested that she couldn't keep them completely covered.

Caroline and Madeline on Its a Small World.

Shaela won't like this picture of herself, so just look at Joseph. He is waving and talking to someone or something in Its a Small World. He's probably talking like a duck (which he does very well whenever he sees a duck or someone says "what does a duck say?").

The highlight of the whole trip: meeting the princesses. This is Caroline and Belle.

Click here to see Caroline describe her experience meeting some of the princesses.
Ariel was the most personable and engaging of the princesses that we met. Caroline, of course, could hardly contain herself.

Family Gathering on Coronado

2009-05-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

This is the kite we could not fly on the beach at Naval Air Station North Island, where we gathered the day after the wedding. The reason? Low flying aircraft. Pictured are Caroline (trying to grab the kite), Eldon, Nicole and Madeline Pettit, Shaela, and Joseph.

I don't know if it is because we came from Utah (where it was snowing a month ago) or because I don't believe in being cold unless it actually is really cold. But we had a great time visiting as a family despite the clouds and the breeze. Pictured here are Amy Pettit, Beth Beck, and Suzanne Darracq (my mom and two sisters). Suzanne looks more and more like Amy each year.

Here's Mike Darracq with his daughter Charlotte Rose. We were all thrilled to have him with us because we have not seen him since he left for Afghanistan early last summer. He was home for a two week leave period and will complete his deployment (hopefully) within the next three months. His experience as a Navy doctor, attached to an Army command as an individual augment responsible for "mentoring" and developing the Afghan emergency medical system has been interesting, frustrating, and challenging, to put it mildly.

Young people wear little at the beach; old people wear lots. Here is my Dad, Grandma Nicolaysen, and Joel Skousen. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Joel and my uncle Dave together, but they hit it off and spent the afternoon talking politics.

Andrew & Michelle's Wedding

2009-05-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

The cousins had a great time in San Diego for the marriage of Eldon's sister, Michelle, to Andrew Skousen. Here's a photo of all the girls with Andrew and Michelle outside the San Diego Temple.

Caroline enjoyed dancing with her oldest cousin, Nicole Pettit.

Joseph, with his current fascination with stairs, could frequently be found here going up and down during the reception.

More on Provident Living

2009-04-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a few more great quotes from the bretheren of the church on the dangers of dependency and attitudes of entitlement to government welfare.

The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance
By President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988)
This was printed in the March 2009 Ensign

Gullible Gulls
I clipped the following article from the Reader’s Digest some time ago. It reads:
“In our friendly neighbor city of St. Augustine great flocks of sea gulls are starving amid plenty. Fishing is still good, but the gulls don’t know how to fish. For generations they have depended on the shrimp fleet to toss them scraps from the nets. Now the fleet has moved. …
“The shrimpers had created a Welfare State for the … sea gulls. The big birds never bothered to learn how to fish for themselves and they never taught their children to fish. Instead they led their little ones to the shrimp nets.
“Now the sea gulls, the fine free birds that almost symbolize liberty itself, are starving to death because they gave in to the ‘something for nothing’ lure! They sacrificed their independence for a handout.“A lot of people are like that, too. They see nothing wrong in picking delectable scraps from the tax nets of the U.S. Government’s ‘shrimp fleet.’ But what will happen when the Government runs out of goods? What about our children of generations to come?
“Let’s not be gullible gulls. We … must preserve our talents of self-sufficiency, our genius for creating things for ourselves, our sense of thrift and our true love of independence.”2
The practice of coveting and receiving unearned benefits has now become so fixed in our society that even men of wealth, possessing the means to produce more wealth, are expecting the government to guarantee them a profit. Elections often turn on what the candidates promise to do for voters from government funds. This practice, if universally accepted and implemented in any society, will make slaves of its citizens.
We cannot afford to become wards of the government, even if we have a legal right to do so. It requires too great a sacrifice of self-respect and political, temporal, and spiritual independence.In some countries it is extremely difficult to separate earned from unearned benefits. However, the principle is the same in all countries: We should strive to become self-reliant and not depend on others for our existence.
Governments are not the only guilty parties. We fear many parents are making “gullible gulls” out of their children with their permissiveness and their doling out of family resources. In fact, the actions of parents in this area can be more devastating than any government program.
Bishops and other priesthood leaders can be guilty of making “gullible gulls” out of their ward members. Some members become financially or emotionally dependent on their bishops. A dole is a dole whatever its source. All of our Church and family actions should be directed toward making our children and members self-reliant. We can’t always control government programs, but we can control our own homes and congregations. If we will teach these principles and live them, we can do much to counter the negative effects which may exist in government programs in any country.
We know there are some who, for reasons beyond their control, cannot become self-reliant. President Henry D. Moyle had these people in mind when he said:
“This great principle does not deny to the needy nor to the poor the assistance they should have. The wholly incapacitated, the aged, the sickly are cared for with all tenderness, but every able-bodied person is enjoined to do his utmost for himself to avoid dependence, if his own efforts can make such a course possible; to look upon adversity as temporary; to combine his faith in his own ability with honest toil. …
“We believe [that] seldom [do circumstances arise in which] men of rigorous faith, genuine courage, and unfaltering determination, with the love of independence burning in their hearts, and pride in their own accomplishments, cannot surmount the obstacles that lie in their paths.”3

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles – General Conference April 2009
We live in a time when sacrifice is definitely out of fashion, when the outside forces that taught our ancestors the need for unselfish cooperative service have diminished. Someone has called this the “me” generation—a selfish time when everyone seems to be asking, what’s in it for me? Even some who should know better seem to be straining to win the praise of those who mock and scoff from the “great and spacious building” identified in vision as the pride of the world (see 1 Nephi 8:26–28; 11:35–36).
The worldly aspiration of our day is to get something for nothing. The ancient evil of greed shows its face in the assertion of entitlement: I am entitled to this or that because of who I am—a son or a daughter, a citizen, a victim, or a member of some other group. Entitlement is generally selfish. It demands much, and it gives little or nothing. Its very concept causes us to seek to elevate ourselves above those around us. This separates us from the divine, evenhanded standard of reward that when anyone obtains any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law on which that blessing is predicated (see D&C 130:21).
The effects of greed and entitlement are evident in the multimillion-dollar bonuses of some corporate executives. But the examples are more widespread than that. Greed and ideas of entitlement have also fueled the careless and widespread borrowing and excessive consumerism behind the financial crises that threaten to engulf the world.

Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually
Elder Robert D. Hales
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles General Conference April 2009

What is a provident provider?
All of us are responsible to provide for ourselves and our families in both temporal and spiritual ways. To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.
Being provident providers, we must keep that most basic commandment, “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. Some of us feel embarrassed, ashamed, less worthwhile if our family does not have everything the neighbors have. As a result, we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford—and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually. We give away some of our precious, priceless agency and put ourselves in self-imposed servitude. Money we could have used to care for ourselves and others must now be used to pay our debts. What remains is often only enough to meet our most basic physical needs. Living at the subsistence level, we become depressed, our self-worth is affected, and our relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and the Lord are weakened. We do not have the time, energy, or interest to seek spiritual things…
We must want, more than anything else, to do our Heavenly Father’s will and providently provide for ourselves and others. We must say, as did King Lamoni’s father, “I will give away all my sins to know thee” (Alma 22:18). Then we can go to Him with steadfast determination and promise Him, “I will do whatever it takes.” Through prayer, fasting, obedience to the commandments, priesthood blessings, and His atoning sacrifice, we will feel His love and power in our lives. We will receive His spiritual guidance and strength through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Only through our Lord’s Atonement can we obtain a mighty change of heart (see Mosiah 5:2; Alma 5:14) and experience a mighty change in our addictive behavior.
With all the love I have in me and with the Savior’s love through me, I invite you to come unto Him and hear His words: “Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted” (2 Nephi 9:51).

Provident Living while students?

2009-04-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

A year ago we moved into student housing at a public university. After a few weeks of interactions with other mothers on the playground and at church activities I was surprised by the culture of government welfare. It was casually talked about as though it was the same as the weekly ads that come in the mail. I knew I was uncomfortable during the discussions, but it has taken me time to study, pray and ponder to better understand why. Government welfare is not the Lord’s program to provide for His children and prepare them for eternal exaltation. My greatest concern is that those who accept government welfare do not realize the damage they do to their own soul in the process. They rob themselves of the opportunity to increase in character, self-respect, and faith in the Lord.
The Lord’s plan for welfare combines principles of self-reliance and provident living with work at its core. When a need arises beyond what a family can take care of on their own we are advised to first seek help from immediate and extended family. After all resources are exhausted we are to council with our bishop for guidance, support and if needed, church welfare assistance. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should counsel with the bishop before accepting government welfare.

The Brethren of the church have been very clear on where they stand, we just need to be willing to listen with a humble and open heart.

In a talk to BYU students in 1977 Elder Ezra Taft Benson shared the following regarding government welfare.
“We stand for independence. The aim of the church is to help people help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our church members. When you accept food stamps, you accept an un-earned hand out that other working people are working for. You do not earn food stamps or welfare payments. Every individual who accepts an unearned government gratuity is just as morally culpable as the individual who takes a handout from taxpayers’ money to pay his heat, electricity or rent. There is no difference in the principle between them. You did not come to the University to become a welfare recipient. You came here to be a light to the world, a light to society. Society may rationalize immorality but God cannot condone it. I know what it is, as many of your faculty members do, to work my way through school taking classes only during winter quarters. If you don’t have the finances to complete your education, drop out a semester and go to work and save. You will be a better man or woman for so doing. You will have preserved your self-respect and initiative. Wisdom comes with experience and struggle, not just going through a university matriculation. I hope you will not be deceived by current philosophies which will rob you of your godly dignity, self-respect and initiative. Those attributes that make a celestial inheritance possible.”

Elder Oaks spoke of the dangers of dependency in October General Conference of 2003.
“The gospel plan is based on individual responsibility. Our article of faith states the eternal truth "that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" (Articles of Faith 1:2). This requirement of individual responsibility, which has many expressions in our doctrine, is in sharp contrast to Satan's plan to "redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost " (Moses 4:1). The plan of the Father and the Savior is based on individual choice and individual effort.
The doctrine and practice of personal responsibility and personal effort collide with individual traditions and local cultures in many lands. We live in a world where there are large differences in income and material possessions and where there are many public and private efforts to narrow these differences. The followers of the Savior are commanded to give to the poor, and many do. But some gifts have promoted a culture of dependency, reducing their recipients' need for earthly food or shelter but impoverishing them in their eternal need for individual growth. The growth required by the gospel plan only occurs in a culture of individual effort and responsibility. It cannot occur in a culture of dependency. Whatever causes us to be dependent on someone else for decisions or resources we could provide for ourselves weakens us spiritually and retards our growth toward what the gospel plan intends us to be.
The gospel raises people out of poverty and dependency, but only when gospel culture, including the faithful payment of tithing even by the very poor, prevails over the traditions and cultures of dependency. That is the lesson to be learned from the children of Israel, who came out of hundreds of years of slavery in Egypt and followed a prophet into their own land and became a mighty people. That lesson can also be learned from the Mormon pioneers, who never used their persecutions or poverty as an excuse but went forward in faith, knowing that God would bless them when they kept His commandments, which He did.
The changes we must make to become part of the gospel culture require prolonged and sometimes painful effort, and our differences must be visible. As the "salt of the earth," we are also the "light of the world," and our light must not be hidden (see Matthew 5:13–16). The Apostle John warned that this will cause the world to hate us (see 1 John 3:13). That is why those who have made the covenant to change have a sacred duty to love and help one another. That encouragement must be extended to every soul who struggles to come out of the culture of the world and into the culture of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John concluded, "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18).”

I have heard many ways of thinking to rationalize the use of Government welfare; including WIC , unemployment, Food Stamps or Medicaid. In my own opinionated ways I explain the truth behind the myths that have become acceptable in our culture.

1. It’s Free – There is no such thing as free. Someone somewhere pays for it. The difference is that the money is taken from someone else to give to you. Many would gladly give any amount of money to help those in need, but government welfare removes that opportunity for charity.

2. We don’t make any money, how else are we supposed to make ends meet? – It’s no secret that the first years married and in school are hard. Working and going to school requires sacrifice for everyone in a family, but the blessings will be reaped later on. Education is a privelege, not a right. That is the purpose of student loans.

3. It is just while we are in school, then we will pay it back. – Government welfare is not a loan. The money will never be paid back. Taking something for nothing and then paying what is already expected is not paying back.

4. The prophet told us to stay out of debt. – We are also counseled to work hard and be honest in our earnings. Taking something for nothing is not honest. We have been told that appropriate debt for a home or for education is an acceptable reason to spend more than we have.

5. My husband wants to make sure his family is provided for; we are picky eaters, so the basics just aren’t enough. - There is a difference between the high cost of living and the cost of living high. It is possible to learn to make inexpensive foods and to learn to love them.

6. I am going to be paying taxes for the rest of my life, I might as well get what I can now. Taxpayers money is not intended to take care of those who are capable of taking care of themselves with sacrifice and hard work.

7. That is how the law of consecration will work right? We all get what we need and give what we can. We can’t give now, but we will later. – The law of consecration will involve those who are all working to their best ability to provide the very best for all. With everyone working hard in his or her own responsibilities there is sufficient for all. The reason our federal government is bankrupt is because too many citizens want something for nothing. We will all pay a VERY HEAVY price for such attitudes of entitlement.

8. My husband studies too much to get a job and if one of us does get a job, we wouldn’t qualify for food stamps year round. Where there is a will there is a way. Jobs are always available for those who are willing to work. A little bit of money earned for a part time job fit in between classes will go a long way if used carefully.

9. It saves so much money. – It may save you money, but really it is just lost opportunities to rely on the lord and increase in faith,character and self-respect.

10. If we don’t use it, someone else will. – You can say NO, when someone or some entity wants to give you something for nothing. If we lived in a society where everyone worked for what they earn the government would not be bankrupt by trillions and the dollar would still have value.
Over the years, the brethren of the church have been very clear on their attitude towards government welfare and the dangers that it presents.

As a family we chose not to use government assistance while in school, and have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives for so doing. I have prayed for tomatoes and received them. I have wanted a few extra dollars for groceries at the end of the month and found money in a pocket. After increasing our fast offerings on faith because of the recommendation of a well respected priesthood leader, we were blessed with twice the amount of food we paid for while volunteering at the food co-op. I know that the Lord gives us challenges to learn to rely on Him and work together, that we may learn the principles and gain the attributes of our Savior necessary to return to His presence.

Christmas Letter 2008

2008-12-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

For some reason, we are feeling particularly grateful this Christmas season. Perhaps it is because we are reading A Christmas Carol or just watched Polyanna. Or maybe it is because we haven’t spent a week in the hospital with Joseph since January. It could be the joy of being halfway done with law school, the smell of diesel fumes from the Beast (yes, that 18-year-old gray van still runs), or the staccato of gunfire at the range. It might be the comfort of food storage, the invigorating aroma of fresh bread and cinnamon rolls, or the peculiar pleasures of simplicity and frugality. The feeling might be inspired by the views we take in when we run up our nearby mountain with the children bundled up in the stroller, especially when the cold weather keeps others inside.

Joseph, no doubt, is grateful for his one-year-old legs that can get his hands off the cold floor and move him quickly to fun buttons that he can push (i.e. the computer) or books that he can pull off the shelf and peruse. He tells us how grateful he is not through words, but through smiles. For Caroline, gratitude is directly related to having plenty of dresses (since that is all she wears), music to dance and twirl to, and lots of good books to read. Shaela is glad to have helpful friends all around the village, a saxophone that she has started playing again, and an Institute class that brightens her week (the calculus class is nice, but it doesn’t brighten much). Of course it helps to have a husband who is home and helpful except for the summer months when he is in exotic, distant Marine Corps locations like Twentynine Palms. Eldon is just humbled to have great classes, outstanding professors, good friends, and a wife and children who make coming home the best part of the day. “Boogey man” beats “law student” any day. But as we wind down at the end of the day with dinner, baths, stories, scriptures, and prayers, we invariably recognize the true reason for our gratitude: the Babe of Bethlehem, even Jesus Christ.

He brings light to our dark and dreary world. He brings hope to our failing hearts. He brings peace to our troubled souls. He heals us when we repent. He is the Way and the Truth; Life, Light, and Salvation. Each day, we find more reasons to be grateful for his birth, life, atoning sacrifice, and continuing care for us. We hope you do too. As we celebrate his birthday this year, we are reminded now more than ever that He will come again soon. It is our prayer that we will receive Him now and be ready to receive Him then.

Love,
Eldon, Shaela, Caroline, and Joseph Beck

December 2008

2008-12-22T22:07:00.000-08:00

This month started out with a great lesson: clean the filter between batches of grinding wheat and don't try to multi-task too much. Otherwise, the kitchen may look like a winter wonderland by the time you catch a problem.

"Mom, I'm going to the store in the car, ok?" I found Caroline vrooming in the fridge like this a few moments later.

Eldon loves to ride his bike to school if at all possible. So, unless there is snow or possible ice... he rides, cold or wind alone won't stop him.

Joseph's favorite way to entertain himself in the kitchen: playing with the pipes. We call him "Joe the Plumber."

Wanting some attention, the kids begged me to take another picture. This time they agreed to at least look at the camera.

Caroline reads to her dolly (that was also her Mommy's dolly).

Caroline's 3rd Birthday

2008-12-22T22:02:00.001-08:00

We made the long-awaited "Princess Castle Cake," complete with Cinderella figurines and frosted spires. Caroline loved it!

The family:

Caroline's friend Clay helped blow out the candles successfully!

November 2008

2008-12-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

November rolled around and the leaves were coverring the gorund. At first the kids weren't quite sure what to do with the piles everywhere, but they soon got used to it.

Joseph has reached that lovely developmental milestone where he can move faster than I can think and destroy faster than I can clean.

That smile just warms my heart every day. He thinks he can get away with anything with that smile and he might just be right.

Eldon's cousin Cherie lives nearby while attending LDS Business College. We have enjoyed having her over frequenlty and getting to know her better. Caroline has really enjoyed having her over because Cherie is willing to read and read and read. We are grateful parents.

Joseph can climb almost anything now, but he doesn't always have a good way down.

October 2008

2008-12-22T21:35:00.000-08:00

Caroline loves to iron. She specializes in Dad's handkerchiefs and placemats for fancy dining on the kitchen table.

Caroline and Joseph sitting in their own chairs between General Conference sessions in October. They are capable of playing very well together and can be quite entertaining. Joseph adores his sister, especially when she makes him laugh.

Caroline and her good friend Hannah dressed up like princesses, their favorite playtime activity.

Caroline and Joseph keep themselves busy while I fold laundry in the morning.

Caroline got paints for the first time this week. She was so excited to use them, I let her paint while I was making dinner and not closely monitoring her. I turned around to see what she had done when she exclaimed, "Look Mom, I painted the wall pretty!" In the instant that I had to choose, I realized I had not given her the rule to "not paint the wall" and chose to take a picture, then laugh and have her help me clean it up. She never has painted on the wall since. Thank goodness for Mr. Clean wipe ups!

Joseph is so cute.

Caroline dressed like Cinderella for Halloween with her reluctant handsome prince.

Caroline is ready to go trick-or-treating. You notice the shoes in her hands, but the real story is that she wore those plastic heels for two hours of trick-or-treating at the shopping center in the afternoon. She refused to take them off even when she had blisters forming on her feet and her toes were squishing through the front. She is a true girl.

Family Pictures 2008

2008-12-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

As is usually the case, taking family pictures was a somewhat stressful experience, but it all turned out well and we are grateful we did it. It was hard to choose which ones to get with the package.

If any of you have a "Portrait Innovations" near you, we highly recommend them. They were fabulous to work with, very affordable and it was a quick process.

Notice Joseph's shorter hair... I really like it like this.

Joseph's First Birthday - October 15, 2008

2008-12-22T14:59:00.000-08:00

On Joseph's birthday we received a chin up bar in the mail for Eldon and I. The kids have never had so much fun making a mess in the house. It was a terrible mess to try and clean up, but it was worth the fun!

Joseph had a minor trauma as we celebrated his first birthday because he burnt his hand on the candle. Mom and Dad both thought the other was taking care of it... we'll communicate a little better next time.

On the second try, we didn't even light the candle. Poor kids. We are learning on them! Joseph seemed to like this much better.

2008-12-21T20:38:00.000-08:00

Caroline explains the art of making dump cake.

September 2008

2008-12-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

Joseph really likes his food now and can sometimes even out-eat his mom! There is no guessing why he is so big.

Joseph shows signs of loving tools. He is a young man after his father's heart.

Caroline loved decorating cow cookies that Aunt Kathleen (Kow) and Uncle Tony gave us during their visit.

Summer Vacation: Our August Adventure

2008-11-02T15:18:00.000-08:00

All great vacations must begin with a squared-away haircut. This was Joseph's second.

Hiding in a cave on our hike in Snow Canyon near St. George, UT.

The family in Snow Canyon. Those clouds almost rained us out of Tuacahn's presentation of The Sound of Music the night before. But the prayer of a two-year old availeth much. The rain stopped just in time for the show to begin.

Eldon and Shaela celebrating their old age (29 and 28 years, respectively) with Shaela's parents in Las Vegas.

Visiting San Diego's Balboa Park while spending time with Mike before his deployment to Afghanistan.

Eldon and Mike with Charlotte Rose, Joseph, and Caroline.

Bobo and Caroline had a tea party with two random boys at Grace Ada Park in Modesto while Eldon and Shaela tossed a frisbee.

Caroline, Joseph, and Shaela with Snow White at Fairyland in Oakland, CA. Joseph is particularly attracted to Snow White's nose.

Caroline as the little pig who built her house of straw. I'm huffing and puffing...

Shaela and Caroline climbing Hyde Street in San Francisco after eating a wonderful dinner at McCormack's. We walked almost all the way back to our hotel, much to Shaela's consternation, because every passing cable car was full... or at least two full to take on two crazy adults with two crazy little kids.

Eldon and Joseph climbing Hyde Street. Right after doing this, we walked down and back up the famous windy section of Lombard Street.

Shaela looking at the OIF/OEF Memorial Wall at the Marines Memorial Hotel where we stayed in San Francisco. We found all 16 of the men that 1/5 lost when Eldon was deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq from March to September of 2005.

Caroline and her cousin Neal Pettit playing at the Oakland Temple. We were there for the wedding of Eldon's cousin Valerie Nicolaysen to John Brody. Mazletof!

Shaela and Joseph on the beach at Lover's Point in Monterey, CA. This was the southern leg of our bike trip.

Eldon and Shaela on the sand dunes overlooking Monterey Bay from the north end of the city. This was the turnaround point of the northern leg of our bike trip.

Joseph and Caroline fast asleep with their helmets.

Joseph and Caroline waking up in the bike trailer. We thought this photo was priceless. Look closely for the moisture seeping out of the mouth and eyes...

Our last stop before returning our bikes was at Dennis the Menace Park. Shaela did a re-enactment of a scene that originally occurred in October 2005 when she was about 8 months pregnant. She had a little more space this time.

Here's Shaela doing the same thing in October 2005, a month before Caroline was born.

Joseph being cute while back in Modesto.

Grandma Beck (Bobo) and Joseph playing together in Modesto.

Neal and Caroline eating watermelon in front of Bobo & Papa's house.

Caroline and Shaela watching the geese on the southern end of Silver Lake at Plasse's Resort in the Sierra Nevada of California.

Joseph got tired on our little hike to the lake. Very, very tired. He slept like this for a while after we got back.

Shaela and Joseph in the kayak on Silver Lake.

Eldon returned to shore with Caroline asleep.

And Shaela returned to shore with Joseph asleep. It was a grueling kayaking trip around the lake's island.

Our campsite in the background with kayaks and The Beast in the foreground. Old friends from Davis will be interested to know that The Beast is still going strong with more than 260K miles.

Caroline roasting marshmallow's over our campfire.

Joseph eating dirt and marshmallows. Yum!

Caroline being a ham. She had just been imitating a bear. What is this? Who knows, but its funny.

Caroline and Joseph playing around the resort's tractor tires.

Summertime!

2008-07-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Our summer apart is now drawing to a close. Fortunately, we will be able to have a few weeks together before the fall law semester starts up. We have quite the trip planned for August and will keep a journal of our travelings and experiences right here on our little blog.

The highlight of July, of course, was when we got to be together at home for four days of the Independence Day holiday weekend. In our case, absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder. We consider ourselves greatly blessed as husband, wife, and parents. We find our greatest joys in the time spent together each day, helping and watching our children learn and grow.

On 3 July, we walked/ran/hiked the Bonneville Shoreline Trail that runs along the mountains just east of where we live. While I have run it several times, it was Shaela's first time on the trail. Now she's hooked, goes several times a week, and is working on reducing the time it takes her to make the trek. From the trail, there is a great view of the This is the Place Heritage Park. Since this is basically our backyard, we made good use of our membership there and spent several morning and early afternoon hours enjoying the park on the 4th. During that time, we got to ride on the mini train that had just opened that day. We even got to watch from the train as they shot an anvil about 30 feet up into the air at noon! Big booms and flying anvils are always fun for the kids and their parents. Of course there was much more to do, such as:

Riding the ponies,

Petting the calf,

Feeding the goats,

Crawling on the grass,

Making faces on the grass,

And just sitting on the grass and being content to have it. We even all took an afternoon nap in the shade of one of the trees near Brigham Young's farm house (not pictured, of course, because we were sleeping). During those days we also went to the pool and the zoo, but we mostly just enjoyed the time we had to be together.

One reason we like to play on the grass is that it just doesn't grow in some places. For those who have asked or been curious, here is a glimpse at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms where I have been working for the summer. This shows the middle section of mainside, but mainside itself only takes up a tiny portion of the land that constitutes the training center. It stretches out for miles to the west and north, with massive valleys and mountain ranges where Marines can come together in full-scale combined arms exercises to develop their capabilities as Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTF). Though most of my time is spent indoors in an office with no window, it has been a great experience. Working as trial counsel has been a superb learning experience. After all, how many first year law students get a chance to represent the government ("The Big G" as we call it) in court by prosecuting their own cases?

I have also fallen in love with the desert, or at least this quiet, rugged portion out here that forms the bridge between the Colorado and Mojave deserts. Having adjusted to the dry heat, I love to run for miles here along the mountains, especially on Friday evenings and Saturdays when no one else is out. Sometimes the beauty and majesty of the Lord's handiwork is breathtaking. I will miss the rugged expanses, the warm and clean air, and the salt-of-the-earth non-cityslicker people here. I have attended church meetings in lots of places throughout the US and the world, but this is the only place where someone says "good morning" from the pulpit and gets a rousing chorus of "good morning" back from the congregation. The hearty independence, hard work, genuine neighborliness, quiet dignity, and unequivocal physical and moral courage of the great American west still live on in places like Twentynine Palms, California. I am grateful that I have been able to spend a wonderful summer here.

Another Four Months: Spring Greetings

2008-06-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

Life goes on, even when the blog does not reflect it. And, as usual, our last four months have been full of change, challenge, and excitement. Here is our attempt to sum things up.

February and March were fairly routine as I spent most of my time on schoolwork and Shaela did almost everything else. However, we had one significant accomplishment in the spring when we completed our long-term food storage, something we had been wanting to do since we got married. After deciding to get it done, we took some time during my Spring Break to purchase appropriate amounts of bulk food items, borrow the #10 can sealer from a local Church cannery, and package everything up. It was a long, all day project but we really enjoyed doing it. Since we did everything in the garage, even Caroline was able to help prepare the cans for sealing! The boxes now take up the entire lower portion of the closet in our study, but they realistically contain enough food to keep us going for a year.

During our self-sufficiency surge, Shaela also got into sprouting. She has become quite the advocate of sprouts and is continually coming up with new and tasty ways to use them. We have had a lot of fun getting back to basics in the way we live (except for Caroline's fancy dresses) and feeling the stability of preparedness

April was finals month, so I spent many long days studying. Fortunately, the time was well spent and I performed well on my exams.

On Cinco de Mayo, we had an appropriate celebration with law school friends and their children, the Whites and the Barons. It also doubled as a celebration of our successful completion of our first year of law school! We had an outstanding feast prepared by James White and a wacky pinata made by Eldon. The little ones had a great time smacking the pinata with some help from their dads.

That evening, Tulan and Caroline played their way into the Grimm's yard next door and ended up on their playground. During a chat with Pete Grimm in his office/museum, I had occasion to don a WWII era dive mask that he has amongst his relics. It is as heavy as it looks.

During May, we moved out of Anne Pinnock's home to make way for her daughter and their family, Andrea and Rob, who will be buying the house and staying with Anne until she wears herself out enough to rest for good (with a name like Action Anne, that is not likely to happen soon). As a result, we spent May moving in to our new home in the East Village of University of Utah's student housing. We love it there. Caroline and Joseph especially benefit from having a park/playground as our front yard. Our old family van, The Beast, was a real benefit that allowed us to move everything by ourself and at our own pace. Since many of our things have been in storage since last July when we left California, it was somewhat like Christmas as we unpacked some boxes, especially as we uncovered some of our nice wedding gifts that have remained in their boxes due to lack of space. As shown below, Caroline had fun drinking out of the enormous ceramic stein from Austria (for those who are familiar with John Wayne's McClintock, she even knows the meaning of "down the hatch"). We were able to feel properly moved in by the end of May when we hit the road and headed west to begin our summer adventure. We like our new home. In the words of one visitor, "you guys know how to make cinder block walls look good!"

After a brief stay with Shaela's family in Las Vegas, we pushed over to Simi Valley for the baptism of Chad & Amy Pettit's second daughter, Madeline. The cousins had lots of fun playing with each other.

Nicole and Madeline are particularly good examples, helpers, and playmates despite the fact that all their other cousins are under the age of three.

Of course, where there is a trampoline, Shaela (our amazing gymnast with her new short hair) has to do some tricks. It is much easier for her to jump now than when she is nine months pregnant ;-)

Joseph also enjoyed the company of cousins, especially his new pal, Charlotte Rose Darracq.

At the beginning of June, I began my work ("summer fun") at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC, also referred to as the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Center, MAGTFTC) in lovely Twentynine Palms, CA. I qualify that statement with the caveat that it is lovely to anyone who appreciates the desert. While somewhat desolate, isolated, and hot (at this time of year), it really is a neat place.

As a summer funner, I work in the military justice section here but have also taken on responsibility in the administrative law section. I will be handling several guilty pleas ("dives") by acting as Trial Counsel in the next few weeks, but that is about all I am allowed to do in the courtroom at this point. However, my past experience at Camp Pendleton as an Adj continually proves to be invaluable, not just for helping me understand almost everything that goes on, but for being able to apply that expertise in ways that helps the other lawyers here and the units here. Despite my involvement, having limited responsibility and sometimes experiencing some fairly slow days is difficult for someone who is much more comfortable being significantly over-tasked. However, I take advantage of the quiter moments and study things like the Military Rules of Evidence, which will not only help me out in my future work but will also put me ahead of the game next year in school.

Shaela and the kids spent the first part of June in Modesto with "Bobo & Papa" along with Suzanne who is now a Navy wife learning what it is like to have her husband gone on deployment.

Before going to Leavitt's gradutation in Las Vegas, Shaela et al stopped by my temporary desert home and we were able to spend some time together in Twentynine Palms over the weekend.
We had a great time riding the carousel at the Carousel Cafe,
swinging on the playground of our condo-like hotel,
and exploring the Mara Oasis at Joshua Tree National Park.

Should any of you want to visit, we now have two convenient locations to serve you better: Salt Lake City, UT and Twentynine Palms, CA. Hurry, though, because this exclusive offer expires at the beginning of August.

Four Months in Review

2008-02-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy four months. Here is the brief version of our recent family history.

October brought the burial of Grandpa Beck, our third wedding anniversary, and the birth of Joseph all on one day: 15 October. Joseph spent five days in the NICU because of his mysterious hypoxemia. We finally got him home though, he remains on a small amount of oxygen when he sleeps. Hopefully he will grow out of it soon. November brought a lightning-fast voyage in the Beast out to Modesto for Thanksgiving with the Becks. December was finals month and Christmas in Vegas with the Wells. January was the month of sickness; when we were not sick at home, we were spending five days in the hospital with Joseph (thank you, RSV). In February, we are simply enjoying being a happy family. On 15 February we celbrate our 40th monthiversary!

Best wishes to all. Enjoy the photos.

Caroline with her new baby brother.

Great Grandma Nicolaysen visits.

Daddy dancing with Caroline and Joseph.

A monkey, an angel, and an Iraqi couple.

Caroline's 2nd birthday and Thanksgiving in Modesto, CA.

Enjoying late autumn at Heritage Park.

A December Sunday afternoon.

Caroline thanking Anne ("Nana") for her Christmas present (a dress).

Eldon and Caroline riding the train (UTA TRAX) while Mommy and Maju take care of Joseph at the hospital.

Our early February family snowshoe trip in the wilderness of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Eldon and Caroline breaking trail.

Shaela the motivator wearing Joseph and enjoying the beautiful, soft, treacherous powder.

Grandpa Beck - In Memorium

2007-10-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Any thought of Grandpa Beck brings to mind a few choice words that are worth preserving for our posterity. He understood the value and necessity of work, family, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He possessed an unwavering testimony and eternal family perspective which inspired dozens of children and grandchildren to be strong links in the generational chain. His life reflected the knowledge that "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God . . . ." He entrusted to us a legacy of faith, family, righteousness, and work that we must now preserve, improve, and instill in the rising generation.

I'm working on a list of Grandpa's Gems: witticisms, observations, counsel, declarations. I think a well compiled list could serve as a humorous, inspiring, and compelling eulogy. This is only the beginning. Please send me any concise additions that would help make this list an accurate representation of the patriarch we knew and loved.

On Work
- "Man was made to work. When I stop working I will die."
- "People are like concrete... when they stop moving, they set up."
- When a job was satisfactorily completed: "Just like downtown" or "First class"

On Marriage
- "There are two kinds of women: work horses and show horses. Get yourself a work horse. Of course I was lucky enough to get both!"
- "Marry a pretty girl. You're going to be looking across the table to her for a long time."
- "Marry a pretty girl. The last thing you want is ugly kids."
- "President Packer once addressed a group of missionaries and asked them who they would marry when they had the choice between an unattractive girl with a strong testimony and an attractive girl with a weak testimony. The missionaries predictably replied that they would marry the girl with the strong testimony. Pres Packer surprised them by responding that a testimony can grow, but a girl is not likely to become any more beautiful than she is when you marry her!"

On Family
- "People who don't have kids don't leave many footsteps to follow."
- "What you learn in this life you learn by raising children. Those who choose not to have kids never really learn anything."

Test of embedded slideshow

2007-05-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

For those who say Caroline looks like her mother... Take a look for yourself! She's her father's daughter for sure!

2007-05-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Shaela's 1st Birthday

Eldon's 1st Birthday

Caroline's 1st Birthday!

Spring Update

2007-04-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

The family is back together now. We're quite grateful for the last several months we have enjoyed together since my returned from Okinawa in January. I continue with my job for the time being as 1/5 prepares for its next deployment with the 11th MEU. I, however, will not make this deployment. The time has come to move on. The move, like all moves that follow very challenging and successful esperiences, will be bittersweet. I have been richly blessed by the opportunity to stretch myself each day in service, to lead Marines, and associate with some remarkable men in the Corps' finest battalion.

The next move--sit down for this--will be to Salt Lake City, Utah where I will commence my studies at the University of Utah's Quinney College of Law in August. The school let me in and the Marine Corps selected me to go to law school, so we are going. We are just entering the planning phase of this move and we are excited for the adventure that will come over the next few months.

It is important to note that I am not getting paid to go to school. In fact, I get paid not to go to school. Under the Excess Leave Program (Law) of which I am now a part, I get paid for every day I do not have school classes or exams. All my school expenses come out of my pocket. This is good. The next three years will be our opportunity to be starving students, struggling through graduate school while having children and raising a family. During the summers I will be working with other Marine judge advocates at a major military installation, most likely Camp Pendleton. We will work out the details of all that when the time comes, but right now we are hoping to find a way to (a) keep the family together for a good portion of the summer and (b) spend some quality time on the beach (which we will sorely miss after leaving Dana Point).

Other significant news, for those who don't know, is that our second child will be reporting for duty no later than the end of October. We don't yet know if its a boy or a girl, but due to our significantly constricted budget we are tempted to find out prior to the delivery so we can streamline any required baby purchases... More to follow on that.

We are loving life. I have actually put on some healthy weight and frequently enjoy running the steep hills of the San Mateo area in the NW corner of Pendleton or the beach between Trestles and San Onofre. Shaela is more beautiful than ever and intends to end this pregnancy lighter than she started her first. Impressive, no? Caroline continues to astound people with her wit, charm, strength, and coordination. We are grateful for the many blessings the Gospel brings into our lives and pray that you may be similarly blessed.

Hugs, kisses, peace, and love... Eldon

We Like Sheep--and Retired Generals--Have Gone Astray

2007-01-03T06:38:00.000-08:00

I saw an article that I could not simply read and forget when I checked my email tonight: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,121509,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl. So I did as the page suggested and "sounded off" to let my voice be heard. Admittedly, my response is a bit lengthy for these online forums, but I'm also "firing for effect" here, not simply taking a halfhearted jab at someone else's stupid comment. It needed to be said, so I said it:

How unfortunate that some retired general officers can be so easily swayed by popular trends and so ignorant of true principles. This article is replete with claims of the clear failure of current policy, yet there is no evidence of failure that could ever be presented in this matter. This argument, like so many others that try to pull wrong behavior into the mainstream, is without principle, without historic or future vision, and without understanding of the realities of religion and family. Indeed, Gen Shalikashvili and his ilk, by claiming to be in touch with popular America, demonstrate how out of touch they are with the America that so many have given so much for.

First, there is a necessary distinction that must be made between our nation's founding principles and popular pressures. The father of our nation, a remarkable man who has been honored and revered far more than any of our retired generals ever will be, warned the fledgling country of the attributes and attitudes needed in public servants: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity." He continues with an assertion and a question that should drive all of us to serious contemplation and focused action: "It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?" How easily we invoke the privileges of popular government while forgetting the necessary foundation for it: virtue and morality. We must define the public debate and turn public discourse and public behavior back to these fundamental elements of free government.

Second, this argument takes a narrow look at a short term manpower situation without any regard for long term consequences. Of note is the figure of 11,000 who have been dismissed over this policy over more than a decade. Considering the tens of thousands who enter and leave the service over the course of every year, well under 1,000 per year is hardly an argument for a critical loss of personnel. We separate far more casual drug abusers and alcoholics, many of whom have performed superbly in combat. Clearly they are a much more significant drain on our critical personnel. If we are truly stretched thin on personnel such that we have to abandon fundamental guardians of good order and discipline, then we need to first reconsider our policies on substance abuse, personality disorder, and body composition! Balderdash! How much more shallow can we get in attempting to keep our force strong? The power that drives and energizes a mighty military force is found in inspiring leaders filled with integrity, men and women challenged to excel, units that trail hard, and solid professional climates that foster esprit de corps in support of the nation's missions. We maintain strong and motivated servicemembers by holding high the torch of good order and discipline, not by extinguishing it and yielding to a sordid free-for-all. The natural progression of this idea, leading to the open acceptance of homosexuals in the military, would be a dark milestone in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. If "individual" lifestyles and "private" behaviors truly are deemed insignificant and independent of "public" military service, then we are done fighting the nation's battles because we will have destroyed ourselves from within.

Third, and finally, I make a very real plea to the common sense of the many good people within the military. With this policy, consider what we would gain versus what we would lose? I speak of strong families. When we talk about "our service" or "the military" being stretched thin, we are really talking about individual choices that hundreds of thousands of individuals have to make. Acceptance and endorsement of homosexuality is fundamentally opposed to the principles upon which the family is based. The family is the fabric of society; homosexuality and its associated forms of confusion and depravity are the shredders, burners, and seam rippers of that fabric. They do not co-exist and flourish together. Where one is given "maneuver room" the other is quickly sidelined. We give more and more lip service to strengthening and retaining families to keep the military strong, yet we are still woefully inadequate when it comes to acting in accordance with this concept. I can think of no policy that would more effectively turn more families away from military service than one making the military a safe haven and open political battleground for the radical homosexual movement. I will serve with all my heart and soul so long as I can keep my family strong and serve with a clean conscious. Being deployed half of every year makes it hard enough to feel like I'm doing right by my family, but the implementation of this policy would be a no-brainer for me and many others like me. Those strong family men and women of strong religious conviction--many of our finest leaders--would quickly recognize the broad destructive effects and implications of such a policy. The military would then increasingly become a massive political puppet in the hand of a sickening and confused nation.

For the love of all that we hold dear, may we reflect upon the fact that there is a God in heaven who loves us as his children and wants to bless us. Our homeland was set aside for a special purpose: its discovers were guided to it, its founders were united under divine direction, and its inhabitants over many decades have been miraculously blessed and prospered because of their overall tendency to do good and choose the right. We have been far from perfect, but we have been doing our best for a very long time. If we despise and reject the great Creator and Lawgiver and turn our backs on his commandments, then we will soon go the way of all other wicked nations that have become puffed up by pride and infected by iniquity. May we embrace and uphold those true and virtuous principles that have been the source of our "public and private felicity" for so long. In so doing, may we boldly defend them from the many attacks that they will most certainly face as we—retired brass and old big wigs included—try to remember the purpose for which we live, the purpose for which we unite, and the purpose for which we sometimes may have to fight and die.

2006 in Review - Part I

2006-12-31T01:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Beck Family's happy little virtual home. This will serve as a satellite representation of our home for those of you who are not fortunate enough to live right next door to us. On the other hand, since half of our married life has been spent on opposite sides of the world, this little site merges our experiences into one fascinating whole. Since you are only primarily acquainted with one side or the other of our worldwide family, this may help you see the world that we know and love, even though it is often experienced through virtual conversations, email, and mutual spiritual impressions. Wherever we may be or whatever the conditions that may separate us, we strive to love and serve the Lord so we may "live after the manner of happiness." Caroline is living proof of this happiness, as displayed in this Kodak moment captured in our backyard which is also known as Salt Creek Beach (August 06).

The year 2006 was filled with many challenges and wonderful blessings for us. I will start with one that covers a lot of territory:

The Legal War

During the first half of the year, I (Eldon) assumed a substantially larger workload as Adjutant for the Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines when all the other units in the Regiment deployed. What this meant was that all the legal issues of our sister battalions (that would be 2/5 and 3/5, for those of you who don't know military pedigree charts) and 5th Marine Regiment became mine. As a result, I had a new six month mission of conducting extensive liposuction on a four ton gorilla that had long arms, sharp teeth, and a substantial appetite. In six months, I handled more administrative separations, courts-marital, nonjudicial punishments, and death investigations (we lost three men between April and June) than you want to hear about. Thanks to the energy and tireless work of an exceptionally committed legal clerk, Lance Corporal Chris Johnson, First Lieutenant Beck effectively reduced the legal burden of four units to what would normally be expected of one. Though I consider it a miracle, the miracle has within its shadows many early mornings, late nights, the ten pounds I lost somewhere, and the spirit of a close colleague who tragically took his life at the climax of this perplexing effort. I thank a loving Father and a patient, understanding, and thoughtful wife for sustaining, encouraging, and guiding me through this trying time.

Paradoxically, my excess of practical legal experiences proved a considerable hindrance to my academic legal preparation. I had planned to take the LSAT in February, but very prudently put it off until the next available date in June. I had no way of foreseeing what would transpire over those months... which was probably a very good thing. In the final days of preparing for the test in June, we lost a solid two days during our pre-deployment leave period (ie study time) due to the serious injury of one Marine and the death of another. I felt like a man who signed up to run a marathon, started the race with reasonable expectations, took extensive detours throughout, cared for the downtrodden, injured and dead along the way, and still finished with a respectable time. Not surprisingly, on the two acceptance letters I have received thus far it is noted that my leadership experience--not my inspiring LSAT score--put me over the top. The Lord opens doors and windows at just the right time; sometimes he even breaches walls, flattens cities, and rearranges mountain ranges and coastlines! He has led me thus far and I know he will lead me on.

In mid July, I kissed Shaela and Caroline goodbye to commence a deployment to Okinawa, Japan. The photo at left at the gate of Shurijo Castle is proof that the plane landed in the right place. [Historical Background: My battalion morphed into Battalion Landing Team 1/5 as it attached a Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) platoon, an Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) platoon, a Combat Engineer platoon, and a battery of artillery (I Btry, 3/11). The BLT then became the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is America's forward deployed force-in-readiness that covers the entire Pacific Ocean all the way west to India. If you're dying for more, research "MAGTF": Marine Air Ground Task Force. When I taught MAGTF 101 to Shaela on our first "real" date, it inspired a nearby generous couple to pick up our tab ;-)] With more than 2/3 of our cycle spent in Okinawa, I had the resources and opportunity to craft a personal statement and apply to 15 different law schools. I was lucky to have such opportunity. After all, many months on a ship, in a tent, or back in a combat zone like Iraq would have effectively prevented me from having the time and communications abilities that I needed to complete these applications.

On the other hand, a deployment that goes to exotic places where Marines and Sailors have "liberty" makes it quite easy for people to make some very poor choices. On the bright side, however, we did not cause an international ruckus while in Subic Bay, Philippines, (pictured at left with the USS Essex and Harper's Ferry in the background) though there were protesters there demanding "justice for Nicole" from the incident that occurred with some Marines from the MEU last year. With rare exception, every legal problem I have dealt with would have been prevented if those involved had chosen not to become intoxicated. While the foolishness stemming from drinking usually passes without major impact, the natural extension of that foolishness introduces moral turpitude that destroys lives and wrecks families in a most tragic way. This is an area of experience where once is one time too many. I never want to see another married man intimately engaged with a foreign woman. I never want to handle another capable young man passed out from drunkenness. I never want to draft charges of rape and adultery against married men who hold significant leadership positions. My own Marines have heard the passionate message from me on many different occasions: freedom must be good for something! Freedom abused is freedom lost. How unfortunate that so many of the young men supposedly fighting for freedom do not even know what freedom is. Far too many--including many officers--are oblivious to the inexorable ties between liberty, religion and morality... but this is a book or at least an article in the making so I will not use this forum to examine this malady (stay tuned for more). In sum, my legal experience developed a whole new dimension during our deployment in Southeast Asia.

The outlook for the coming months is exciting and very uncertain. I have applied to law schools all over the US and am just beginning to hear back from schools. Early in 2007, I will apply to the Marine Corps' Legal Education Program to see if they will select me to join their elite team of "LEPers." The Marine Corps may pay me to go to law school (Funded Law Program / FLEP), they may turn my pay off and give me the time to go to law school (Excess Leave Program / ELP), or they may tell me to pound sand and get back to work. Of course, I am confident that a miracle will occur and the outcome will be positive. As a result of this secondary application process, we will have no idea where our next home will be until the end of April.

In the meantime, we will continue to strengthen our family and do everything we can to lift, love, and inspire all those around us. After all, if we fail to do that, what are we doing with this divine gift we call life?

We are extremely grateful for our good family and the peace that comes from the eternal sealing that unites us here and hereafter. We are mindful of all our dear family members and pray that you may feel of and share in the happiness that sustains and motivates us everyday.