It's Christmas at the Gillings...

It was a foggy, humid night and the smell of Christmas was in the air; Chocolate, cookies, seven layer dip, and leftovers from the night before. The children were insane as they anticipated the gift opening extravaganza.

Before the event. Pops is in the chair, fully situated to sort and give out the presents.

Hannah was in the way.

The Spread. My favorite was the three layer jello and the meat and cheese tray

We missed the sister's and Brother in law's, found throughout the world, and their various children who bring so much extra life to the party.

This post in principally for them.

Merry Christmas!

Julie Andrew's Meadow . . . and Beyond.

Two Days last week I Snowshoed to Julie Andrew's Meadow in AF canyon. The first was exploratory as I had never been there in the winter, but we still made it. It was a Beautiful day.

Heading up the Bear Canyon Trail.

My 68 year old Dad, with timpanogos in the background.

Heading into the valley.

Later in the week on Saturday. Myself, Tiny, Dallas, Tanner, Guthrie, Gavin and my Dad all went.

We made it to the Valley, then Dad and Gavin turned back and the rest of us decided to do a little more exploration.

Heading up a 45 degree slope.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=10150335371820293&comments

The link above is a video of us Climbing.

Me and Tiny at the top. That is Utah Valley in the Background.

Heading along the ridgetop.

We did a lot of jumping on the way down. This is Tanner.

Guthrie

Guthrie

Me and Tiny.

What a great couple of days snowshoeing.



When a Good thing goes . . .Good!

I love to read. If boredom begins to set in, I will read anything that is placed, or happens to be in front of me. This idea came from such an experience as I sat perusing Hot Mama's copy of "Rachael Ray Everyday."

Yes . . . I know.

In the most recent edition was a section for Holiday traditions. One of them was something called, or that I called, service jars.

Here is what we did. One Monday night we gathered all the children and came up with 24 ideas of how they could serve others during the month of December. Simple things, like; opening doors, smiling at others, or hanging out with those who have less friends. Then the ideas were typed  and nine copies printed. Later that night each child cut their ideas into 24 individual slips of paper. These slips were then placed into small individual jars (that we purchased at a dollar store) for each family member.

Every morning as we begin the day we each individual chooses one slip of paper from their Jar. The paper is read, then placed in a small gift box and becomes our Gift to Christ that day. Through out the day we look for any and all opportunities to serve others. The results have been fantastic.

Each day the children share how they tried to serve others. One day, little man pulled out "Smile at others". From then on he had a constant smile on his face, when I dropped him off for school I said "have a good day", he looked back with his biggest smile and said, "Have a much better day"! Squishy, among other things,  changed every diaper yesterday, without being asked, (no small task for a 7 year old) because her's that day was "Help others as much as you can" Tiny invited a less popular kid to hang out. His Highness encouraged those who were down one day. . .

I could go on and on.

It has changed our children from just wanting, to wanting to give. Even the youngest ones are focused more on what their sheet says than on what they are asking for or perhaps receiving this year. The Christmas season is more about Service and love.

All this from a "wasted" moment looking at a cooking magazine, 1 dollar jars, and seven pieces of paper. 

Life can be so simple and wonderful!

Merry Christmas

So Much To Be Thankful For...

This is an amazing song. It helps me remember what this season is all about.

And as a Follow up;

May we all make this a season of Thanks and Giving.

2010 Christmas tree tromp or trudge

How do you get a Christmas tree?

Some search lots for those trees which have been grown for the purpose of lighting the Holiday season.

Others, find a live tree still growing amongst acres of other trees all again growing solely to be a Christmas tree.

Others still may open a box to find a partially decorated tree that holds tradition from previous years.

Not Us. . .those ideas are all well and good. . .but for us, the finding of the tree must include; adventure, climbing, cold and snow. This year brought all three, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

There was more snow than usual as we started out, three to four feet to be exact. Luckily we all had snow shoes so we began the adventure.

Even the Dog loved it.

The Beginnings of snow angels.

At this point some are more enthused than others. They were too anxious to get sledding.

Dawn saw one on the other side of the valley. Down we went then back up, and up. . .

Looking down where we were, from almost the top...Almost

Dragging out the tree. See the top, where the gap is in the trees, doesn't look too far does it? That's what we thought, we found the tree about 500 feet past the very top. By then only Hot Mama, His Highness, Queen and I were left. The others had retreated to the van for donuts, cold (but should have been hot) chocolate and sledding.

The finished product, without decorations.

Is it the perfect tree? No.

But it is perfect for our family, and the memories we created finding this 2010 tree will never, I mean never be forgotten.

I just hope they will all go again,

And I am sure they will, on the ride home they were already talking about next year.

Good Water Rim - San Rafael Swell

In my quest to see much if not all of the state of Utah before I die, it was time to try a new biking location; the San Rafael Swell. Having lived in Utah for most of my life, I was surprised I had never been to a place that is so amazing. The drive out seems lifeless enough. . .Huntington and Castle Dale are anything but "outdoor" cities like unto Moab or Park City, but the pictures we had seen were too intriguing. Before Castle Dale we hung a left and began a 50 mph dirt road through a large prairie "for the lack of a better word".

At a "V" in the road there was a lonely outhouse and map, both of which looked new but contained bullet holes.

There we parked and began riding a dirt road to the "rim" of the swell and a place called the "wedge" or "Good water rim". After a short 15 minute ride, we found the rim, and it did not disappoint. Pictures can never do it justice. It was an overcast day, but the scenery was still amazing. The trail follows the rim for the next 16 miles...all single track...no other people...not too technical...and beautiful.

It only took us three hours to ride and we had cell phone and even Internet coverage the entire time. (at our lunch break I was actually Gmail chatting with a friend in the northern most part of Brazil).

At the bottom of the Gorge is a small river called the Little San Rafael. It is a very popular Kayaking river as it is very scenic and only a class 2 float (that is less than the Provo river). Next May we are floating it.

Another Amazing place, yet much less crowded, to keep the outdoor adventure bug alive.

For a lousy video of our adventure click this link;

A Thanksgiving lesson learned

Just a quick Story, and a lesson.

Tonight during family scripture study,

 We were discussing some things we are going to do at Christmas to better serve others.

(I found it in a Rachael ray Magazine my wife receives, We call them service jars, for the next 25 days we pull out one slip a day which has written on it one way to serve others, that day we focus on doing that thing for as many as we can, 9 jars, everyone has a different item)

The conversation turned to money and family and blessings

We read Malachi 3: 13-18 which essentially teaches that one cannot judge on this earth the blessings that one receives from righteousness.

Then My twelve year old son said, "Dad this came into my mind as you were talking;

Money means nothing, Faith is the currency of the Lord"

What?! A twelve year old?

That was a lesson I learned on Thanksgiving day.

Birthday

This birthday I wanted to do something different.

I usually ask my children not to get me anything, as I don't really need anything.

They would draw cards or make things for me, but this year I wanted some thing more meaningful, so Sunday night we watched this video.

After the video a discussion ensued regarding; what the boys did? why the boys did it? and how they felt after they did it.

I informed them that this birthday, for their gift to me I wanted them to find someone and help them this week. It is a work in progress but tonight a few already shared some neat moments.

Tank- Said at school there were some boys teasing another boy their age. Caleb said he remembered what we had talked about so he stopped and told the teasers to stop or he would go get the recess monitor. The teasing stopped and he went on his way. Today a similar experience occurred.

Queen- Shared that when she was on her way to the student council meeting she saw a girl that was being made fun of, and had been for some time as she was new to the school. She decided that it was more important to help this girl than attend the meeting and so she and another, went and told the offending teasers to back down then spent time talking with and comforting the girl, afterward taking her to talk to a teacher.

Two small instances. That affected the lives a a few children, but it is a beginning.

I think for that reason, this has been a great birthday, my children are looking for opportunities to serve those around them.

I really don't think there is anything much better they can do with their time. They are examples to me, and I am grateful for them.

37th Birthday = 37 Things

On November 9th, the age 40 will be three years closer.
 I still feel young so what do I care?
Even in his 90's my Grandad walked 6 miles a day and mowed his lawn so I figure to be biking, hiking, snow hoeing and hopefully snowboarding and skiing at the same age.
However, I digress. My Sister listed 35  things, that people may not know,  about her on her Birthday. I liked it. I am going to steal the idea and do the same.

1. I like to sow, and I'm fairly good at it. In fact there is a sowing machine in my room. I have made; backpacks, bike bags, suspension trainers, camping gear, etc.
2. I love to cook. Today I made home made bread. One night I even made steak and beans look like a garden on a plate.
3. People. I love people. I care about them. . .however, I am not real talkative. I can sit in a room in absolute silence, without feeling awkward or a need to "chat". But with all these people I love, There are very few people I enjoy hanging out with.
4. I like Taylor Swift's music, there it's out.
5. I hate romantic movies. Matter-of-fact I hate romance in any movies. If I rent a movie with romance, I fast forward it. . .all of it. . .Can't stand it. . .at all.
6. I love mountain biking and other extreme sports (I know that. . .you say) Did you know I owned the first "Mountain Bike" that Schwinn ever made? It's true. My Dad got it for me. My uncle owned a Schwinn shop. I loved it.
7. I love having fun with my kids and other's kids, pinatas, tattoos, face painting, parties, wrestling, lacrosse, whatever, I love making it fun for kids.
8. I still read Portuguese at least one time a week so I don't lose the language entirely.
9. Before my mission, I wanted to be a ski bum and get married much older. I was 21 when I married. We had 8 children in 10 years.
10. I like doing new things. Even hiking or biking the same trail too many times gets old and boring.
11. Some day I want to base jump. My brother and I almost did it once, but the guy inviting us was quite drunk, okay, he was completely sloshed.
12. Wind chimes are amazing. There is a set outside my window and a set in my room. I love the sound of them.
13. Every night, I sleep with the windows open (even in winter) and a 30 inch fan blowing less than one foot from my face. My dream is a commercial wind machine.
14. I love reading. But I hate fiction. My favorite reads are early American history, business and science based. Currently I am reading about the eruption of Krakatoa, before that it was Benjamin Franklin.
15. My wife and I never would have spoken if she hadn't initiated it. I thought she was way out of my league. She still is.
16. I would rather be biking, hiking, snowshoeing or just being "in the wild" than at any amusement park. Hugh Nibley summed up my feeling when he said that "Disneyland was a hell on earth". Will I go there some day with my kids, perhaps some day, but only if includes surfing the waves and exploring the mountains.
17. When my children were young and I had but a few, I thought I was a good parent. Now that they are older, I realize I'm pretty much clueless, it's more survival.
18. I don't think newborns are cute. None of them. Not even my own. Before I would hold them I would always make the nurses wash and clean them. They become cute later.
19. I try to do creative things for valentines day. One year I made a Fruit bouquet. Another year I wrote the story of our meeting and dating from my point of view - things I remembered. My wife says I'm a romantic, I say I'm just creative.
20. I hate baseball.
21. Next year my brother and I are doing a 24 hour California trip - Drive - Surf - Bike -Drive --Die.
22. I enjoy blogging, my wife hates it. She can;t even say "Computer". But it's fun to hear her practice.  "Compppoooter".  No, shorter the "oo" sound. . .every night. But she is getting better.
23. I won the "Ruby's Inn Bryce Canyon Rim" WALK! Yes I hurt my knee so I walked . . . and won. Not proud of that.
24. I was in the choir that sang at President Hinckley's first priesthood session as the Prophet.
25. I was the only missionary in my mission who got Malaria in three years. The only one.
26. I fractured my C2 vertebrae (went on a forty mile bike ride the next weekend) and broke my tailbone within four months of each other.
27. I love lighthouses.
28. Every year my children get me a Lego bionicle for Christmas. I still have them all.
29. Next year, I am starting "canyoneering". I have the harness, carabiners, atc and figure eight. I just need my rope.
30. My whole purpose of losing weight is so I can go uphill faster on a bike. I'm always last. However, I can descend very quickly.
31. I have a stripped quilt I sleep with every night. The stripes must be facing outward and vertical, or I will not sleep, it drives me nuts.
32. I am copying my Mission journal onto the computer so someday I can make it a small book and pass it down to my children.
33. I love working on bikes. It relaxes me, most of the time.
34. Favorite Holiday - Christmas. 2nd- Halloween. Confession - I do not like thanksgiving. It's too boring. When my children are old enough thanksgiving will be spent riding bikes in Moab then a big dinner down there.
35. In a span of 2 years I had 7 concussions. One I got doing the half pipe at Brighton, then skied for the rest of the night with purple and yellow lines crossing my vision and a great desire to throw up.
36. My Name is Gage R Gillings. Why Gage? It was the name of a villain on a john Wayne show. Why R? (no it's not an abbreviation) My Grandad's name was Richard, Grandpa's name was Ray - you get the picture. Why Gillings? Here is a long explanation. My favorite part was that it is a derivative of "Julian" which comes from "Iuppiter" which means "The Supreme God".
37. Finally, the last one, I was reaching there for a while. Here it is; I think my wife is the most amazing woman. She is not perfect but she is perfect for me. She lets me be adventurous, puts up with long Moab adventures, and has never complained. She only says, "tell me where you are going in case you die, but if you die I will be very angry with you." She is smokin' hot, a blast to hang out with and takes care of the children so well. She is amazing and one of my heroes.

What an adventure that was.

That's me.

37 Years worth.

November 9th.

1917 Josef Stalin enters the provisional government of the USSR

1921 Albert Einstein is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work with the photoelectric effect.

1939 Adolf Hitler narrowly escapes assassination when a bomb explodes in the historic Buergenbraeu Hall in Munich shortly after the Chancellor had left to return to Berlin. (Dang it)

1989 Cold War: Fall of the Berlin Wall. Communist-controlled East Germany opens checkpoints in the Berlin Wall allowing its citizens to freely travel to West Germany. People start demolishing the Berlin Wall.

1989 East Berlin opens its borders.

In 1973 it was the day I was born.

The end. . .but not of me.

Naisi Zhao - An amazing person



Naisi Zhao is on the right,



I had the opportunity to teach a young lady named Naisi Zhao.  She was a transfer student from China, who enrolled in seminary, began studying the Gospel and scriptures voraciously, and was later baptized while attending BYU.

The link below will take you to an article by the New York Times that was published about her while she served as a LDS Missionary New York.

She is truly an amazing person. One of my heroes.

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html

Someday. . .when the kids are older. . .

RACE AGAINST THE SKY!

2010



Halloween Week into weekend

We Love Halloween. The , family, parties, costumes and of  course trick or treating. The following are glimpses of the week.

Pumpkin carving. What is Becca doing her own? Yes - and it was an awesome mess. Following carving we roasted the pumpkin seeds.

Dinner Friday night. Sloppy Joe mouth with potato chip eyes - very healthy and low in calories.

Following dinner, we decorated and ate dozens of sugar cookies complete with frosting and sprinkles. Once, again healthy.

Halloween. Lil' man was magician scooby doo. Two precious costumes combined for one fantastic effect.

Squishy wanted to be a witch, but a pretty witch.

Super-girl.

The threesome, preparing for the night. Neither rain, wind, nor cold stopped any of them.

A.F. Canyon will close the gate on November 1st. So on Halloween we went for a sunday afternoon drive up the canyon to the summit parking. We took pictures and the kids just stood on rocks in their pajamas.

It was cold. Some were in Pajamas - thus the blankets.

More Rocks

We needed to go the bathroom but couldn't find a restroom. There were about 30 of these lined up with two Wash basins at the end. No idea what for. . .but I couldn't resist a picture.

Halloween is over, the candy is almost gone, (Hot Mama is not a believer of "lets make it last" or "only one piece a day" she gave them their baskets  after church and declared "eat as much as you want" the sooner it is gone the better), and now the kids are attempting to go to bed and the house is not even close to quiet. Scriptures turned into - wrestle with the dog and laugh time.

Lil'man just yelled, " I want water". But we still love Halloween and all the fun it brings.