Last night I sent out a text message about having a Super Bowl Party. It was simple. Basically I posted Linda's dictation:
Save the date February 12th for an
​epic Super Bowl party at 4:30 here  <dad>

I received some responses later that evening. When I read them I had mixed feelings, then laughed out loud.

Dad we probably won't make it but if our plans change I'll let you know!  <Steven>
Oh Steven we have so much fun when you spend time with us!   <Mom>
And I have a ton of fun with you guys too! I'm sorry:(  <Steven>
The Lambs will be there. Problem solved. ​ <Jerimiah> ❤❤

So I captured this little exchange to demonstrate and remember the multitude of great times we have as a family. Our digital and face-to-face communications bring us together as friends. Our family is the fuel that provides the motivation for life. 

I recently started reading a fascinating book called Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath & Dan Heath. The book discusses the anatomy of ideas that stick and explains ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the human scale principle, using the Velcro Theory of Memory, and creating curiosity gaps. Along the way, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds—from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony—draw their power from the same six traits.
1 Simplicity
2 Unexpected
3 Concrete
4 Credibility
5 Emotions
6 Stories

Provocative, eye-opening, and often surprisingly funny, Made to Stick shows us the vital principles of winning ideas—and tells us how we can apply these rules to making our own messages stick.

I want to start applying these ideas to promote my own projects and feel enthusiastic about its impact and potential to stick.

Interestingly, I am also reading a book about the inspirational Steve Jobs, which is eyeopening. He is an unlikely character in the creation of one of the world's largest and most valuable companies. Ask anyone who the greatest business innovator in modern history is they will likely say, Steve Jobs - and for good reason. He was a pioneer of technology and the founder of one of the biggest companies in the world, Apple.  quotes

In the audio ​book, author Walter Isaacson talks about the early history of Steve Jobs and the series of events that led to the creation of Apple.  I am actually learning a lot from this book about Jobs that I didn't know or realize, which has been eyeopening. He is adopted and overcame numerous hardships. You may have heard of Steve Wozniak and John Sculley for their early involvement. But I will bet you have never heard of Ronald Wayne. I hadn't until I read the details in the book. There is a story about Wayne that he was to provide the company with “adult supervision” and oversee some areas of the budding company for which he would receive a ten percent stake in the company. But while they were drawing up the documents, he got cold feet. So after a mere 12 days with Wozniak and Jobs, Wayne had his name taken off the contract and sold his shares back to his co-founders for $800.

Wayne’s decision to leave the start-up cost him big. Today, a 10 percent stake in Apple would be worth more than $95 billion according to experts. People know about Ron Wayne now as the man who won the lottery but lost the ticket.

Don't let that happen to you. When you realize the value of your personal and family history is not the time to start it.

Begin now!

This morning, another tragic shooting was reported. Linda blurted out "I don't care about the Trump supporters, something needs to be done about all these shootings." And she is right. The news reported on Jan 25 that there have been more mass shootings than there have been days this year. Incredible.

But considering the chaos in the government and the ridiculous news media reports, one really can't depend on this evidence or lack thereof. The motivation of the perpetrators and the ultimate instigators of the chaos is still in question. But the source is no wonder. It is satan, the enemy of all righteousness.

What are we to do?

The Book of Mormon prophesies about this level of utter confusion in the last days. All the scriptures do. I also refer the reader to  chapter 43 of the Gospel Principles manual. 

​For thousands of years, followers of Jesus Christ have looked forward to the Second Coming as a time of peace and joy. But before the Savior comes, the people of the earth will experience great trials and calamities. 

2 For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.

3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.

So the evidence abounds. The chaos is prevalent. But the question persists: What are we to do?

My answer is simple. Believe in Jesus Christ and follow him to the very end. In the words of our dear prophet President Hinckley " If it is not okay , it is not the end." Okay In The End - LDS Blogs
​
​That much I can do.