The Becks

Lou Holtz

2009-02-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

As I have been studying for a upcoming Captains test in the Fire Department I find that I am drawn to the leadership styles of great sports coaches. I know, weird. Vince Lombardi, John Wooden, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and of course the great Lou Holtz. Most of you all know that I love Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, but especially the wit and wisdom of Lou Holtz....

Lou Holtz has some great stories and lessons. Coach Holtz had just taken the head job at a new school. On the first play of the season his team threw a pass that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. He said his team was given a standing ovation from the crowd. It puzzled him and he thought his team’s fans were cheering for his opponent. Eventually he figured out that his team and his staff were given a standing ovation because they actually threw a pass on a first down. They were going for it, attacking and not playing to “not lose.” It had been a long time since the program he had taken over had thrown on first down. I love that story. Attack! Play to win. You might make mistakes but big deal; you will be way better off in the long run. Don’t wait around and hope success will fall on top of you if you wait long enough.

One of my favorite quotes is “When you see a person on top of a mountain, you know they didn’t fall there.” Go get it. Pass on first down.

Anyway, my random thoughts in between study sessions.....

Appleton, WI: New Engine/Truck trip 09'

2009-01-27T19:18:00.000-08:00

A quick update for all that are interested in Lehi FD's recent purchase of a Pierce Engine and Pierce Aerial. Captain Beck, Captain Stanley, Engineer Smith and myself are currently in Appleton going through the acceptance process of our new fleet. I will try and post more pics as the trip goes along. Please excuse my photography, I am terrible.

Day One:

We arrived 7 hours late into Appleton due to mechanical problems with the airplane and were forced to get other flights which resulted in the delay. We arrived at the Pierce plant at about 930 pm and were able to check them out a bit.

Day Two:

Started the day early at the "41 plant" where are apparatus is located. Jeff had not been here before so we spent the first half of the day orienting Jeff with the place and the plant. The second half of the day we began our acceptance check off on Engine 81. Our last hour we took Engine 81 and Tower 82 for a test drive and it was amazing! Nice to FEEL the fruits our labor......this has been nearly a 1 1/2 year process. The Engine drove like a Cadilac, seriously! The Tak-4 suspension is nothing short of amazing. We would go over large bumps without feeling anything. The Caterpillar C-13 engine has a rediculous amount of horse power and torgue....powers Engine 81 nearly too well. Might be dangerous that there is so much get-up-and-go. Tower 81 has an identical drive train setup to Engine 81, but weighs nearly 25 thousand pounds more. It too powers it extremely well......I am excited. We ended the day off with a trip to the hook and ladder (firefighter bar) and dinner at Victorias in downtown Appleton. Good first day of work...

Grandma Beck

2008-10-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

Carma Beck
(August 11, 1935 - October 17, 2008)

Carma Smith Beck passed away on October 17, 2008 while surrounded by her children, grandchildren and sisters. Carma was born August 11, 1935 in American Fork, Utah to Max and Ivon Adams Smith. She enjoyed growing up with seven sisters and one brother.

Carma married Kent E. Beck, December 14, 1955. They were later sealed in the Provo Utah LDS Temple. Kent passed away July 23, 1973. His unexpected death left Carma to raise her children alone. Carma was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1972. Her endurance, courage, and humor helped her face this challenge for the last 36 years. She never complained about her illness. Carma enjoyed her grandchildren first and foremost, but she also enjoyed chocolate, Pepsi and pizza.

Carma is survived by her children; Kim (Rebecca) Beck, Robyn (Dennis) Day, Kevin (Apryl) Beck, grandchildren; Jacob (Diane) Beck, Silas (Bethany) Day, Bronson Day, Auston Day, Jordan Beck, Jenna Beck, one great-granddaughter; Aiden Beck, sisters; Barbara (Dolph) Jolley, Kathryn (Hal) Holmstead, Linda (Frank) Manning, Judy (Eldon) Harward, Vickie (Roger) Jensen, brother; Max (Allyson) Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters, Joanne Iverson and Maxine Smith and by a granddaughter, Amanda Beck.

Funeral services will be held, Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the Lehi 2nd, 5th & 9th Ward LDS Chapel, 465 East 300 North. Family and friends may call, Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at Wing Mortuary, 118 East Main, Lehi, from 6-8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to service at the church. Interment, Lehi City Cemetery. Online guest book at wingmortuary.com.

The family would like to extend their thanks to the administration and staff at Alpine Valley Care Center for their loving and selfless service to Carma. Our hearts are filled with joy because we know Carma is now enjoying a nice long walk with Kent by her side.

Blog Update....Finally!

2008-10-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

Two things.......
1. Yeah I know that it has been a while since I have made a post, cut me some slack. This is usually a soccer mom thing! And I am a jerkey eating, motor oil loving firefighter! haha

2. I am going to attempt to do this a bit different from now on. I may feel like posting more this way....I am going to attempt somewhat of a photo blog. Hope you enjoy!

Aiden is now about 8 months old....However this pic is a few months old. Aiden seems to be "growing up" quickly she is eating most of the stuff her mom eats, yogurt, bread, cheese, etc.. If you know Diane well you know what I am talking about and you can understand why this is funny to me. Haha

Take that BYU fans! That is right UTAH! She has been to Utah vs. UNLV, Utah vs. Weber State, Utah vs. Utah State, and Utah vs. Oregon State. How many BYU games have you went to this year??? We got season tickets this year and also are going to the San Diego for the San Diego State vs. Utah game. It has been a blast going with Ricky/Erica and Jeff/Cassandra. Aiden is a great cheerleader! (seriously)

For some reason she looks Oriental here. Nope. 100% American parents. Either way Oriental or American she is damn cute.

See!! How many of you bloggers know what this is? Thought so.............That is right, a Cat C-13. Picture taken while in Appleton, WI at the Pierce fire engine plant while finalizing our new apparatus.

Diane is the best mom! Her and Aiden at the U tailgate party before UNLV and during the game. Aiden is a great hiker! We spent three days hiking around Southern Utah and she did awesome. Little Wild Horse Canyon, Goblin Valley, Fish Lake, and Boulder Mountain are the areas we hit. We took Diane's mom and dad down for there birthday to take pictures (her mom is a photographer). We stayed in a little cabin in Torrey, Utah and had a great time.

Best picture ever!

Hope that gives everyone a small update on what we have been up to.

Thanks for looking!

Working out

2008-06-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

Like I said in our earlier post Diane and I have been trying to do "crossfit" as much as possible. And believe me when you first start it is hard to even do it at all. The work outs are basically designed to make you vomit......all within 20 minutes. Aiden has been coming with us, kind of looks funny walking into the weight room with a car seat and baby but ohhhhh well.

Our first "date' was a work out, kind of crazy but we did about a 50 mile bike ride up American Fork Canyon and as they say "the rest is history" and Diane would go on 4 to 5 mile runs nearly up until she had Aiden. After all "a family that sweats together stays together!?"Pooooooor Aiden not quite sure how she is going to turn out because of all this!!

Been a month.......

2008-05-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

Wow....been a month since the last blog post.
Quick update
-Aiden is getting big! 95th percentile in height and 75th in weight! I am thinking she will be the next Logan Tom (volleyball player) but who knows, maybe she will hate sports.
-We have been working on our yard, just brought in 16 yards of dirt for the vegetable garden and will probably have to bring in another 16 yards. I will then begin the process of "getting the dirt ready" for next years crop. We just planted a weeping blue atlas cedar, very beautiful tree. We are going to the nursery to get a few more plants and flowers and hope to get the flower beds planted a bit.
-Diane and I just started doing a work out called "crossfit" it is a little over the top and we are both VERY sore after just a couple of workouts. We enjoy it because it is only a twenty minute workout but it is very intense. Check it out at crossfit.com.
-I am now a proud owner of a "Ron Reynolds truck" few of you will understand this! It is a four door 4x4 Ford F-150. Nice truck and safe to put Aiden in.
-As you seen from my earlier post, Diane is back working and is waiting to hear from Utah Valley ER where she was tentativley hired pending an opening. This would be a great job cause she would be able to work nights.
-We are getting excited for summer and real excited to spend the first day of summer at the bluegrass festival in telluride colorado. We plan on being gone for a week. Aidens first trip!
-The fire department is hiring 10 additional full time people and our new station will open on April 1. A 105' ladder truck and new engine have also been ordered. This will also be the start of our Paramedic service. Fun times at the fire department right now!
-Sad but true....I have been dumpster diving in construction dumpsters looking for materials to build a shed in my back yard. I have found some awesome stuff! FYI I learned these techniques from Kristin who perfected them in New York City!
That is it I think????
My memorial day resolution is to blog more......so be prepared!

Mr. Mom

2008-04-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, so my first day at being a Mr. Mom is no picnic! Not sure how all you REAL moms do it? Diane has proved to be the best! (yes, i am bragging!). Besides, it is SUPER hard to type with one hand and hold the baby in the other (doing it right now!).

I had to take Jackie to the groomer this morning and that alone took an hour of planning to time baby feeding, diaper changing, and car seat logistics to get Jackie to make her 10 o'clock appointment.

But, don't get me wrong.....this is ALL a good thing! I have noticed that your pace slows down (or should slow down) when you have a baby, she becomes first priority (or should be first) and all other things seem to have no value. Funny how the material things in life which used to seem important are replaced by the simple things. Maybe children or babys have a way of bringing that out?

I have been reading a lot of my old Mountain Gazette's today. For those that don't know the Gazette it is or was a moutain town magazine born in the high country of Colorado with an emphasis on good writing and less on advertisements. I have been an avid reader of them for close to ten years. I read a quote today that really stuck with me and make me think.....

"It isnt about me its about you, her, him. its about the mountains the blue skies. its about living without regrets without fear and hate. its about living, loving, and dying but never thinking about it."

This was from Free skier Billy Poole before his tragic death skiing in the Big Cottonwood Canyon back country.

One last quote from Ryan Adams (not Bryan Adams) who Diane, Aiden, and I will get to see in concert at the Telluride Bluegrass festival this summer. This kind of ties my current thoughts together..........

"You can't see tomorrow with yesterday's eyes"

Saturdays

2008-04-04T23:25:00.001-07:00

Having Saturdays off the last few weeks Diane and I decided to start going to breakfast each Saturday.

Two weeks ago we went up to downtown Salt Lake and had "a zen breakfast" @ the Golden Braid bookstore, it was very tasty and peaceful and Aiden slept the whole time. We left and met Jacob Nelson up at his house on Michigan Ave. near the U of U campus. We spent the morning catching up with him and hearing about his and Cheryl's business ventures. We followed him to downtown SLC and toured his new showroom space in the Gateway District. He is a very ambitious business man and together with Cheryl's clothing design business they hope to open up shop in 6 months or so. Very cool........
Last week we decided to go to Sundance to "The Foundry" for breakfast. This is our favorite place to go for breakfast. You can not go wrong with Joes Breakfast......Scrambled Eggs with Spinach, Chorizo, Onions and Mushrooms served on a Buttermilk Biscuit.......VERY good. We finished the morning off by strolling around the resort and taking in the beautiful morning.

I am not sure where breakfast will find us tommorow......I am thinking maybe Silver Fork Lodge up Big Cottonwood Canyon? Who knows?.....

Just thinking............

2008-03-21T22:49:00.000-07:00

Just thinking a lot about this wonderful treat and that I will have a rough time find them after Easter........Nothing is better than mini eggs washed down by a red bull!! Anyone agree?

Fire Code!!!

2008-03-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

Fire code is awful! Been taking a class for the last month or so on fire code and it does not get any more boring..........I would rather sit in insurance seminars for days or hang out with a bunch of midget clowns than sit through one more fire code class!! One class left luckily.

However, the BRIGHT side is when I come home I have the most beautiful wife and daughter waiting for me!! I am one lucky guy!

Aiden is nearly 5 weeks now and is growing out of all of her newborn clothes, she has grown into those large feet fairly well (they still seem big to me). She is becoming more and more aware and loves to watch the ceiling fans in our house. She falls asleep easily in the car and braves her moms trips to the deep south for bread. She also puts up with her dads strange smells!? We are excited for the changing weather and look forward to letting her swim in our neighborhood pool. Mom and Dad are adjusting well and LOVE being parents to this awesome little girl!

The Fam

2008-03-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

Aiden is nearly three weeks old now and Diane is the best mom! I am so blessed to have them both....Diane and Aiden.

Aiden- She is the most patient baby that I have ever been around (granted I have not been around many!). We love watching her and the crazy baby faces she makes.......she is also VERY active with her hands! She has super long feet and hands and I am convinced she is going to be a great athlete.......We have begun walking her on the trails near our house and are excited for the weather to improve so we can have her outside more........She is sooooo spoiled by both sets of Grandparents, especially Grandma and Grandpa Beck, because it is their first grandchild........Jackie is not to sure about Aiden, she keeps her distance, but is still VERY protective of both Diane and Aiden.

Diane- Diane is constantly on the go and rarely sits down. She takes constant care of Aiden and is receptive to both mine and Aidens needs. I feel bad that with my full time job (Lehi FD) and my part time job (Saratoga FD) that I am gone for long periods of time and am unable to help Diane like I would like. She does not seem to mind to much, but I know that it wears her out. She is awesome!.......She looks forward to the Winderfarms delivery on Sunday night! For those of you that know Diane know that she COMPLETELY lives on dairy, so every Sunday night Winder delivers fresh milk, tons of yogurt, a block of cheese, cottage cheese, various fruits and eggs. Diane, alone, consumes this over the course of the week and anxiously awaits Winders next Sunday delivery! Besides her dad homemade wheat sourdough bread, that is all she eats! No sweets whatsoever.........she is funny!

Jake- As stated above I am working two fire department jobs and it wears me out! Lehi REALLY wears me out! We are running 8 or 9 calls a shift and get up at least twice a night. I am also becoming impatient with all of the problems of a relatively new full time fire department. Overall I LOVE my job though, funny if you look back to when I was younger I ALWAYS wanted to be a firefighter, now that I am one I sometimes take it for granted. We are in the process of building a new station and will be hiring an additional 15 or so full time jobs,, so exciting things to come in the future.........I have came up with a thing I call the "four F's" and it is aimed to keep me focused on what is important, The "F's" are in order, Family, Friends, Faith, and Fire Department, Diane would question my order sometimes, but I am striving to be able to always put my family first.

Aiden Amanda Beck

2008-02-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

February 17th........two years to the day (and almost hour) of Jakes late wife Mandi Beck's passing, our precious little angel Aiden was born. Fitting, on the same day you can mourn a death you can also celebrate a birth. Mandi wanted it that way.

Now for the pregnancy story..........From Jakes point of view.

I awoke to the sound of our fire station tones/lights going off simultaneous with my cell phone ringing. As I was putting my pants on and pulling on my boots to respond on a reported "overdose", I answered the phone. Diane on the other line informing me that her water had broke, but "it is no big deal, get home when you can". Still dazed I informed Ernie (my station Captain) that I was leaving and going home. I franticaly drove the mile and a half home and found my German Shepherd Jackie waiting for me, nervous by the door. A nervous dog and a nervous guy find a smiling Diane doing her make up in our master bedroom!

She had just got out of the shower (after her water breaking) to get primped and ready for her upcoming baby delivery. With her contractions less than a minute a part she had no sense of urgency. Having delivered a few baby's I knew this was something that we needed to leave right then! Diane could not understand why I would not pack her a bag or retrieve other frivulous items for her (remember Diane is an RN!).

We began our trip to American Fork Hospital Labor and Delivery, I was determined to deliver at L & D and not in the Subaru! On arrival the RN told us that Diane was dilated to a 10 and would be delivering shortly...........Aiden Amanda was born at 450 a.m. (a little over 1 hour after Dianes call to me) weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz, and 21 inches long, hate to see how big she would have been if she was not three weeks early!

Overall our care was exceptional at AF Hospital, we loved all of our nurses and staff that took care of Diane and Aiden. Unfortunately, Aiden was not able to be in our room due to having to stay in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). It was ok though, her nurses were more than we could have asked for and gave her the best care.

We brought Aiden home yesterday.

We love her, except Jackie who is jealous!

Diane is already the BEST mother.........Aiden is lucky, she also has another mother, Mandi, watching out for her.