Today in church one of the things we learned about was Standing Fast in the Storms of Life. Something that stood out to me was something Joseph Smith said:
“You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God, and (said he) God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God.”
I know that God gives us trials and challenges so that we can build character, grow closer to Him, and become stronger. Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, suffered all things. I know that when we turn to Him He can help us through our trials. He understands. He’s felt our pain (and much more). As we face these challenges, we grow, we learn and our desire to feel compassion for others and serve them is enhanced.
The official church website says the following about adversity:
Dealing with adversity is one of the chief ways in which you are tested and tutored in mortality. Our loving Heavenly Father has the ability to compensate us for any injustices we may be called upon to endure in this mortal life. If we endure faithfully he will reward us beyond our ability to comprehend in the life to come.
As the Lord told Joseph Smith during a period of intense suffering: “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” ( Doctrine and Covenants 122:7–8).
Do I think trials suck? Kinda…I’m not gonna lie. But at the same time, I know that they can help me grow. It’s kinda like when I go for a hard work out…either a run or intense weight lifting. Does it hurt sometimes? Yes. But do I know it’s good for me? Of course.
I know that trials can make us stronger. And I know that God doesn’t give us a trial that we can’t overcome. Hopefully we can all embrace challenges and endure faithfully at whatever comes our way.

The kid is smart.

Sometimes i’ll get these dreams at night where i’m involved with some sort of activity that requires running. Sometimes i’m playing basketball or soccer; sometimes i’m being chased by bad guys; sometimes I find myself running for reasons I can’t remember.
Whenever I’m running in a dream, I feel like i’m going sooooo freeeeaaakin’ slow. It’s frustrating. I can never quite understand why my feet are so heavy.
Anyway, this same feeling is exactly how I feel with work right now. I know where we’re going. I know what it’s gonna take. And I know we are on the right path. However, I just wish we could move quicker.
It’s funny though because by any measure, we are moving quickly. We are. I’m always tweeting about that and we are constantly launching new tools and features, innovating, and being nimble. We are definitely movin’ and groovin.’
But still…I wanna go go go! I can feel it. I see it. I know it. The rocket is on the launchpad and just rumbling, grumbling, and getting ready to go. It’s close though. It’s very close. I just really, really, really wanna get there today. Not tomorrow.
I’m still trying to figure out how to grow a mustache without Rachel noticing. Every once in awhile i’ll sharpie a stache on my face while i’m alone at home. I’m serious. I think I look good.
…and your kids need to be super heroes.



I’m plenty man enough to pull this off. Pantyhose for men.

![header=[The Zinch Motto] body=[Students should be seen for what they really are -- not numbers but people.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r1_c1.jpg)
![header=[Princeton University] body=[I was a student there. Loved every second of it. I left a little early to start Zinch. I promised my wife i'd go back and finish someday.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r1_c3.jpg)
![header=[Eu amo Brasil!] body=[I was a volunteer missionary (for my church) in Brasil for 2 years. I love the people and I love the country.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r1_c5.jpg)
![header=[My Eternal Companion] body=[I am the luckiest guy on the planet. Rachel is amazing.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r1_c6.jpg)
![header=[Design] body=[I love design, art and anything aesthetically interesting. Rachel and I have a design blog at EleganceRedefined.com] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r1_c10.jpg)
![header=[Our Redeemer] body=[Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. I am an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r1_c19.jpg)
![header=[Culture] body=[My wife and I love plays, musicals, museums, shows and performances. Hairspray was the first Broadway Musical we saw together.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r4_c4.jpg)
![header=[My Life Motto] body=[If I can understand and live this...I will be one happy camper.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r5_c1.jpg)
![header=[Plant life] body=[I have no particular interest in plants. I placed it here only for looks. :)] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r6_c5.jpg)
![header=[Woof] body=[Our dog Pixie. That lil' rascal her.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r6_c6.jpg)

![header=[Foxy] body=[She's hot.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r8_c13.jpg)
![header=[Fooooore!] body=[Golfing is so much fun! I love it.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r9_c11.jpg)
![header=[This Sofa] body=[It's not ours. I found this pic online and wanted to use it. Our's is much uglier. :)] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r10_c6.jpg)
![header=[More sports] body=[Still love it...] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r10_c20.jpg)
![header=[Soccer] body=[Played it in High School. Still love it.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r11_c4.jpg)
![header=[My one and only] body=[Computers are in my top 5 must-have things for sure. It's my life blood (sad I know...but true).] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r11_c8.jpg)
![header=[Tennis] body=[I love it and I play it often. My backhand is weak-sauce though.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r12_c1.jpg)
![header=[Hoops] body=[Played basketball in high school. Still love the game.] cssheader=[tooltip_header] cssbody=[tooltip_body] offsetx=[-30] offsety=[-70] fade=[on] fadespeed=[0.1]](http://www.mickhagen.com/wp-content/themes/wigglez/images/main-picture_r12_c2.jpg)













