It is so refreshing here!

I am chillin here in Missouri, at my cousin John's house, trying not to wake up Wylson who is borderline sleeping. I feel impressed to jot down a few ideas. I would first like to address the issue of the election as the Republican Convention is fresh on my mind. I was impressed with the speech writers of John McCain. I admire his courageousness as a POW and I admire his tough attitude. I agree with most of the things he said in his speech and I APPRECIATED the fact that he has faith in God. However, I do not agree with his stance on the war, nor do I like a man who flip flops on his issues. I am still undecided on rather to vote for him, or write in Ron Paul, as I am torn with the fact that our votes ultimately wont count as the electoral college determines the outcome. I also feel it is Un-American not to vote so I will exercise my right to vote as well as my right to bare arms. I am leaning toward voting for whom I think is the best candidate (Ron Paul)and let what happens happen. I know Ron Paul is not even really running anymore, but he is still my top choice, so that is who I will vote for. If Obama is elected, it will just bring us that much closer to the second coming of Christ , which would be better anyway. Brig it on! Now, off of politics and down to a more personal level. I have lived here in Missouri with John's family now for 3 weeks. I have learned more in 3 weeks than I have learned in any 3 years combined in my life. I have been awakened on several levels. I am having awesome spiritual discussions with my cousin. I am putting my body through trials that are challenging and building up physical and mental muscles that have been dormant for a while. It is so refreshig to my soul. I have always considered myself to be a tough kid and man and I have figured myself as a mental giant, however, I have been humbled and lifted in many ways. I am learning what HARD work is and I am loving it. That's right..you heard it from me personally. Tom Van Vleet is enjoying hard work. Now, I have worked hard in the past, don't get me wrong, but My cousin John is an example of a man who is one of the hardest workers I have come across in my days, along with my father. I am doing things that I wouldn't have even tried before now...This scrap metal business is so therapeutic. I can take a sledge hammer all day long and pound down aluminum panels, and while I do it, I zone out to parts of my mind that have been un tapped for years. I am comprehending literature better, I am focused on my scripture and church history studies, I am aware and making adjustments in my own imperfections as a father and husband. I am realizing my talents and strengths, I am realizing the limits and potential of my body and mind. I am very grateful to my cousin for believing in me and my talents. He actually believes I can do things that I didn't think I could do, and I have always had a high opinion of myself. John is an example of how I would like to be and how I want my sons to be. His wife Jen is awesome and I really admire her as well. She is a great mother and wife. I am lucky to have a wife like that as well. It has been somewhat difficult to be away from my family for this long, but I feel John and I will have success in our endeavors as we strive to build up our business and the kingdom of God simultaniously. This sacrifice has been difficult, yet uplifting for me and I feel that when my family is reunited with me here in Missouri, we will be a stronger unit because of the growth that has transpired. John's kids call me "Tommy", which I kinda like, although it will get a tad confusing when my son Tommy comes around. They will have to call him "Junior" I guess.I have felt like one of the family here and welcome as such. I have really enjoyed the company of John's kids as they make me feel less homesick. I have nothing but positive feelings about this move and therefore I feel it is sanctioned by Heavenly Father that this is where my family is to be at this point. I have not received anything regarding the gathering place of the Mormons or that there is purpose for me here in that respect, but I do see many opportunities for service in the church here and I am excited to get started as my family is ready for the blessings. I will be sad to leave the proximity of my parents and I will miss them dearly. I hope that we get a chance to visit them often here or there. Maybe they will move out here to Zion??? I have a funny story to share. John and his family and I loaded up the canoe to go to the lake for Labor Day. While John and Wylson were out on the lake, trying to swamp and unswamp the canoe as we learned in the scouting program. I watched them struggle, and thought I could do a better job teaching as I have taught the canoeing merit badge in the past. so I swam out to lend some instruction. after several attempts, we figured out how to flip the canoe with minimal water left inside it. then John and I decided to act as if it were a live situation and not only flip it but get back inside...the both of us. This was difficult as we are of different weight. ( i wont say by how much,but it tended to tilt toward my side more than his. We tried and tried and tried. Me first then him, him first than me. It was a difficult task and we were gettin exhausted. After about 30 tries, we gave it one more go and I got in and settled, then he started to get in as I balanced us out. As he centered his weight, we wobbled and wobbled and.... viola, we were in. After a split second of admiring our accomplishment, we both raised our fists in victory. Unfortunately, we both raised the fist on the same side of the canoe and immediately rolled over back into the water. We were laughing and laughing and were so tired, that is was hard to stay afloat while laughing, which made us laugh more. It was a fun time to spend together and Im sure we will both chuckle about it when we think about it years from now. I am looking forward to the near future and hope that my friends will miss us and come visit sometime. I am thankful for my friends in Arizona and hope to make a few new ones here in Missouri. I will leave this post with some words of advice that I was taught by my football coach but I have applied it to my life recently while working and maybe someone who reads this will benefit from it. " In life, or in football, or anything...It is better to be the Hammer than the nail"

Good Night