Three Little Birds

Editors Note: If you are a current or future employer of mine, my thoughts here don't reflect my work ethic. They just reflect my thoughts...no need to read anything into it. 


Work doesn't matter.

Ok, of course it matters. Of course I need it. Of course I need to succeed at it. Of course I need to have the personal integrity to approach each day with importance and professionalism. Of course. I get that.

But, in the long run...the ultimate long run, it doesn't matter. Why bring it home? Why worry about things that are outside of your control? Why?

The Bob Marley song, "Three Little Birds" is a fantastic tune. It's such a simple message.

The lyrics are as follows:

Don't worry about a thing, 
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right. 
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, 
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!" 

Rise up this mornin', 
Smiled with the risin' sun, 
Three little birds 
Pitch by my doorstep 
Singin' sweet songs 
Of melodies pure and true, 
Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:") 

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing, 
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right." 
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing, 
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"


The birds had a message against worrying. I love that. I don't think birds worry. I think this little family of three birds eat, sleep, breathe, live, and even die, for each other. Their world is them. Their life is them. They exist to exist with each other. 


I don't think papa bird comes home stressing about all the drama he encountered at the bird factory. I don't think papa bird cares that Joe Bird said that Frank Bird said that Ellen Bird thinks this or that. 


Rather, I think papa bird comes home and is thrilled beyond measure that mama bird and baby bird are ok. He's thrilled that they all made it through another day and that they can now spend time together. 


Papa bird knows there is no point in worrying, cause' everything is gonna be alright. 


Yesterday, Annie was feeling pretty sick (nauseous and dizzy) and she called me on her way home in the morning...she had left work to go rest up. I was so worried about her. I was so concerned with her well-being and the well-being of our little baby. I didn't care what was happening at work. I didn't care about that trivial stuff. I wanted to be home. Suddenly, Joe, Frank, and Ellen Bird were more nuisances than anything (not that I view co-workers as nuisances or anything) but I didn't care. 


Editors Note: Everything is fine with Annie, by the way. From what I could gather, her blood pressure dipped a bit and she got a bit dizzy and nauseous. She rested, drank lots of water, and feels great today. Baby is moving like crazy too!!!


I am vowing to be the dad who leaves work at work. I am vowing to be the dad who shields his family from the craziness of the workplace. 


It's so easy to be caught up with drama at work and it's so easy for that drama to have a lingering effect on other aspects of our life. But why? Who cares? Everything's gonna be alright. 


Again, I will always work hard and will always do my best at work. But I won't let it linger with me. Part of that is staying away from the drama at work as well--another thing I am vowing to be better at. 


While I consider some of the people I work with to be great friends, and I know that my family and Annie's family will always be there, I also realize, that at the end of the day, it's just us "three little birds." 


I don't want to be the depressed, annoying bird who can't escape the drama. 


Thanks Bob Marley...great message!

Time To Prepare

In my previous post, I spoke about kicking preparation into full gear--since The News is now 21 weeks along and growing like a weed... (I've always wanted to use that old-person expression).

In order to jumpstart out preparation, I've ordered this:

That beanie should go nicely with a few of these other things I've ordered, in preparation for The News:

I'd say we are well on our way to prepared...any suggestions on other stuff to get???

A Glimpse

I'm amazed when I look at this photo...wow. That's all I can think about. Wow.

This is our baby right now--we hit the 21 week mark today. I can't believe that we are there. June seems so far away, but it also feels just around the corner. Time to kick preparation into gear...

20 Week Ultrasound

If this were bowling--we'd be in the fifth frame.

If it were football, basketball or soccer,  we'd be in the locker room preparing for the third and fourth quarters.

If it were hockey...I actually don't know, hockey has two "half-times" so I'm assuming this would be somewhere in the middle of the second period...maybe...what a weird sport.

The point is...we reached the halfway point!! Annie is now almost 21 weeks along... we had our 20 week ultrasound this last week...and, while the gender is still a mystery to us, we did find out that we have a healthy, strong baby growing in there...see evidence below!

As you can see, my baby has a firm grip and a strong right arm!

I must say, the pride I felt as I sat there and watched my baby move and wiggle while the ultrasound was going on is unparalleled and is pride I have NEVER felt before in my life. We saw the chambers of the heart. We saw the kidney's, the liver, the lungs, the legs, the arms, the face, and the brain! It was an unbelievable experience!

I am so proud of this baby. I am so proud that The News is working so hard to grow and develop. I am so proud of the accomplishment this baby is working on.

I am one proud Daddy!!

Editors Note: The ultrasound technician told us that she had a great shot of the gender and that she knows what gender the baby is...we passed on knowing. It was a bummer. But to have a healthy baby is all I can ask for and care about...so that trumped not knowing what the gender is. I can't wait to find out!!

Orem's Mack Daddy

Outside of my immediate family, there are few people who have had major impacts on my life and perhaps no one amongst those people has had more of an impact on my life than one Ray McCoy--Orem's Mack Daddy.

O.M.D. (Orem's Mack Daddy) was a special person. He was a rare breed. He was the type of person that comes around once in a while and when they do, they change lives drastically. He incorporated an open door policy at his home that made anyone feel like their last name was McCoy. He was one of the more genuine and loving people I have ever met.

He gained the O.M.D. nickname after giving it to himself in the parking lot of an American Fork grocery store. Any reference to his nickname following that night was usually accompanied with some type of dance move that he thought he was nailing.

By his own admission, he ate enough Jello to be a Mormon (he himself was a very devout and practicing Catholic).

But more importantly, he was my friend.

I like to think that outside of his immediate family, there was no one that Ray loved more than me. I remember driving with the McCoy family one evening when I was seated in the back seat. Ray kept missing turns, while his extremely loving and wonderful wife Diana was trying to direct him otherwise.

He didn't seem to be heeding her words much and was jokingly telling her to stop being a back-seat driver. Finally, I had had enough. I leaned forward and threw out a direction to Ray about an upcoming turn. Without missing a beat, Ray followed the direction. Diana asked him why he listened to me, but not anyone else in the car. Ray responded that I was the only one that was allowed to be a back-seat driver while he was driving.

I've always remembered that moment.

But I've always remembered it for a very different reason.

It really has nothing to do with me or my new found title as "Ray's only back-seat driver." It had everything to do with his relationship with Diana.

While observing them that night, and while thinking back to that night, there was no more love between a husband and a wife than there was, and is, between Ray and Diana. I could tell how much fun they had together that night. I could tell how much love exists between them. I could tell how much he respected her, while also joking with her about back-seat driving. I could see the high regard in which he held her.

Ray is my second installment of father's that I want to be like. I want my kids to notice and feel the love that I have for their mother. I want them to know how much I care for their mother. I want them to realize how important it is to respect their mother. I want them to see a fun, joking, loving, caring, respectful marriage.

I want to be their Ray and Diana.

Ray was my baseball coach first, but he quickly became one of my best friends. I remember him making a trip to my house to cheer me up after a very discouraging knee injury. He would have done anything for me.

I'll never forget the night I heard about Ray's passing. It was easily one of the toughest nights of my life. I just got done with work in the Kid's Department at Nordstrom (not as creepy as it might read). I was about to get in my car when my friend Sean called me. He broke the news to me and I sat on the hood of my car for a half-hour--not sure how to react.

The next morning, I went to the McCoy's house. I hugged the family members present and thanked them for allowing me to be a part of their family.

I never really got a chance to say goodbye to Ray and I never really got a chance to tell him these things in person. I only hope that I can effectively take what he subtly taught me and apply it to my own life, with my own children. Because of Ray, I will vow to treat my wife with love and respect at all times.

I like to think that Ray has been spending the last several years as a very valuable member of a committee that has been in charge of preparing my child for their earth experience. I hope that child is listening.

I envision Ray telling my baby, while in the midst of one of his dance moves,  "when you get there, tell your dad that Orem's Mack Daddy says hello."

More Disney

Editors Note: I feel like you can totally tell that Annie is pregnant now...I think you can see it in this picture below, a little bit. It's such an awe inspiring thing to watch that type of growth occur. 

Now, here are a couple of pictures from our trip to Disneyland as a family of three!

This is Annie and The News on Main Street in Disneyland. They are enjoying some exercise while also taking a moment to enjoy a lovely Dole Pineapple Float from a quaint concession stand next to the Tiki Room. From what I understand, both she and the baby enjoyed the float. 

These are a couple of things that we got The News from Disneyland. It was sooooo much fun to be shopping for our actual baby--something that I didn't think I would get emotional about but, truth be told, I found it difficult to fight back the tears while walking through the Disney Store on Main Street that night. It's such a happy feeling that I haven't ever experienced before. 

If buying things for my child feels like that every time, then I won't have very much money. It was such a neat experience. I don't want to forget that feeling of happiness and pride. 

It really was the happiest place on earth, but for so many other reasons. 

Editors Note: I don't know why, but I feel like I should also mention to any of my readers who may be having trouble having children, please don't get discouraged. 

Please don't let those negative thoughts into your minds. Please don't let bitterness overtake you, because it will try to. Please don't feel like you are alone. Please don't blame anything or anyone--especially yourselves. 

I've carried those burdens around for a long time, and it's not fun. You will appreciate that child more than anything when that day finally happens. 

Don't get down. 

Not sure why I felt a tangent coming on there, but I did. 

A Family of Three Dances With the Stars

This last week I was in Anaheim for some Nu Skin Kickoff Meetings. Our event was being held at The Disneyland Hotel and featured Dancing With the Stars' J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff--who happened to be the winners of Season 13.

Annie is a huge fan of Dancing With the Stars and didn't miss a single episode of Season 13. Naturally, when she heard that those two were coming to be our keynote speakers and entertainment, she was very excited and wanted to check it out.

Annie flew down on Friday evening and was front and center for J.R. and Karina on Saturday morning. She came and got pictures taken with the two as well--it was a very neat experience.

But, for as cool as that was, it was even cooler to be able to stay in Anaheim on Sunday and take our family of three to Disneyland. We didn't get to ride many of the rides because of The News, but it was by far my best trip to Disneyland. There was something about walking down Disneyland Main Street, the three of us, that made that trip extra special.

After buying some gender neutral merchandise for our baby (ultrasound is January 23, still working on Annie to find out the gender), we headed back to Orem on our first flight as a family of three.

While I'm pretty sure the baby won't remember this trip to Disneyland, it was such a neat moment to have Annie and the baby there.

I look forward to taking them both back to Disneyland in a few years--where we can hopefully do more rides!

Tell Me My Future, Great Zuke

Every now and then I find myself sitting and thinking, randomly. I'll go and get the mail, and I'll stand there and think. I'll sit down at the computer and not do a thing but think. I'll drive with the radio off and just think. 

Lately, more often than not, I am thinking about the type of Dad that I want to be and the type of Dad that I will be. 

Editors note: Annie just told me she thinks she can feel the baby moving right now...I would love to have that type of confirmation. What an awesome thing. She's been noticing it more and more the last week or so, and I'm extremely jealous. 

During my times of thinking, I always long to see the future. That got me thinking. I happen to know the greatest visionary of the future that exists--my good friend, The Great Puke...eh...Zuke. The Great Zuke. 

Better known as Neil Warner, the Zuke has been covering Prep sports for Utah County since the early 90's. As he puts it, he "knows all, sees all."

The Zuke predicts winners of football, basketball, and baseball games through the calendar year...and the majority of the time, he's spot on. 

He runs a contest called Beat the Zuke, and it's extremely difficult to do so. 

So, here's what I want, Zuke, I want a free-reading. I want my future told. I want you to take a look into that Zuke crystal ball and tell me how being a Dad will be. Tell me what my future holds. What can I expect??

If I know the Zuke as well as I think I do, I'm pretty sure he'd tell me that the one thing that is completely unpredictable is raising a child. But, I'd still like him to try. 

Editors note: Neil, you owe me lunch. Let's settle up buddy.

Once I started thinking about the Zuke, I began thinking about all the positive influences that I have in my life and how they impact the type of Dad I hope to be. 

Obviously, my own father has been my main reference in developing my own fathership. My dad is the most caring, nurturing, and selfless people that I have ever met. He's done so much for me and I wouldn't be anywhere that I am if it weren't for his willingness to mentor and educate along the way. He's always been there for me, and I consider myself extremely lucky to have a dad like that. 

I could write post after post about my own father (and I will). But right now, I want to introduce a segment I'll be doing weekly--I want to explore the father's that I have observed. I want to discuss the fathers that I've watched with their children and I want to explain how they have had a major impact on my development as a father. 

Enter again, the Zuke. I met the Zuke when I was still in high school, and we have been great friends since. We've since attended a myriad of sporting events together, in Utah and even as far away as Atlanta. I've always been impressed by the type of dad I've seen the Zuke be. 

It's extremely obvious that he loves his kids, and that's what I really like and what I want to incorporate into my own relationships with my children. 

I remember when his son went on an LDS mission. The Zuke and I attended a Jazz game together the night after his son left (it may have even been the night his son left). While he was extremely proud of his son, I could tell that he had just said goodbye to his best friend for two years (a feeling my own dad felt as well on that day for me). 

I remember that day with The Zuke very well. I remember thinking that I wanted that type of relationship with my children. I wanted to have that type of love for my children. 

I've always admired Zuke, but since that day, I've looked up to him as a type of dad that I would like to be. 

Here's to you Zuke...and don't skip out on my lunch. 

My Beef With The Mayans

I typically don't have beef with the Mayan people--in fact, I know very little about them and I don't think a Mayan has ever done anything to offend me...except predict the end of the world in 2012.

Don't rain on my parade, Mayans...2012 is everything but the end of the world for the Flanagan crew.

In fact, it's the beginning of a completely new world for Annie and I. It's the start of our three-person family. It's becoming complete. It's a new adventure.

Quite frankly, it's the best year! If I were Chinese, I would call it, The Year of The News!

Tomorrow (January 3) is our 17 1/2 week appointment and I couldn't be any more excited tonight.

So, I'm not about to listen to end of the world talk...

Now, bring on 2012!

Thanks Mr. Larsen

A big thanks to Erik Dean Larsen for his response to my Round Ligament Pain post...he has provided us all with a wonderful model. Thanks Deano!