Setema Gali Is Creating Value

Exactly a year ago I moved my family from our home in Provo, UT. Although it was by choice to move we were highly motivated to move. I had lost my job, my companies, my investments, my partners and more importantly my pride. We were being kicked out by the bank because our home had foreclosed.

It was the week of Thanksgiving 2008 and my entire family helped us move. Neighbors and people from our ward helped us pack up, load up and relocate.

I was sad to leave. We had lived in this home for nearly two and a half years. It was our very first home plus I built it.

Many memories had been created in this home.

• The birth of our first child
• Numerous family parties
• Birthday parties
• Church activities with the youth
• Firesides in our home
• Family home evenings
• Countless prayers came from our home in Provo.

A good friend of mine offered his home to us. It was vacant and would foreclose within several months. I felt that it was the right place for us to go. It was a blessing from heaven.

I packed up our home and relocated to Highland, UT. I knew going into this home we only had 4 months there but my good friend said to take advantage of it. No rent for four months was a good thing.

Thanksgiving 2008 was unforgettable. We had just barely moved in to this temporary home and then ate at Golden Corral for Thanksgiving.

As a man, a provider, the protector and the presider of the home it is humiliating and embarrassing when you’re unable to provide for your family especially when you recently were able to provide abundantly for your family.

If you’ve experienced anytype of job loss, pay cut or challenge with the economy then you know exactly what I”m talking about.

One thing I’ve learned through all of this is that our faith will be tried and tested. We will be tried and tested, maybe refined and purified are the better choice of words.

I had a choice. I could either choose to learn, to be refined and to be humble or I could choose to be a victim, feel sorry for myself and blame others.

I chose the first.

It is moments like this that truly define who we are.

Are you choosing to be refined through your challenges or are you playing the victim role?

I often say “I am the man who loves his life.” I love my life, not because it’s easy and not because I don’t face challenges. I love my life because I clearly see God’s hand in it and the opportunity to become more like Him and His son.

The past two and a half years have been defining to say the least.

To be continued….

Setema Gali

Technorati Tags: foreclosure, set goals, setema, Setema Gali, wealth

A very good friend of mine passed away last week. He left behind 6 beautiful daughters and an amazing wife. His name is Naki Maile.

He was an incredible man. I played ball with Naki at BYU nearly 10 years ago. I just saw him a week ago speaking to our youth group in church. What he shared made a difference in my life. I used to see him at the gym often. He was always so passionate about life and so happy. He was so genuine in his kindness and generosity.

I have never heard Naki speak ill of anyone. He never spoke guile of anyone and was always so helpful and always so happy.

I don’t feel ’sorry’ for his wife and daughters. I feel compassion and mourning with them. I feel gratitude to know we have a loving Heavenly Father who knows….He truly knows and is over all.

I feel compassion, love and gratitude for his daughters to know that their father was a man of love, a man of faith and a man of God. I know the Lord will bless them through the efforts of others. I know the lives of others will be blessed as they contribute to Naki’s girls.

The Lord can and does ‘consecrate our affliction for our good’ if we will trust in Him.

What a time to not only mourn, to feel the loss of someone so close to us, but to celebrate the life Naki lived, to celebrate this great time of testing, of trial and of hope. We have hope in Christ. We believe one day we will be reunited with those we love.

I feel hope, love and faith that one day Naki will be with his daughters. More than ever I believe his daughters and his wife have so much to live for to be able to be with him again.

If you would like to contribute to Naki’s famlily the link is www.NakisGirls.com. Sacrifice an extra meal or a movie and help out.

Make today the best day you possibly can. Tell the one’s you love how much you love them. Spend time with those who matter most and spend time on all that matters most. You never know when your time comes so that best thing you can do is to live each day to the fullest! Call your parents and express how much you love them. Do something great for your kids, your spouse, your friends and anyone who you have forgotten.

Thank you Naki for your example. Thank you for your love and friendship. Thank you for really living life to the end.

To his beautiful daughters and wife…we love you.

Setema Gali

Technorati Tags: death, life, Naki Maile

I love being a daddy. I am a very proud father of 2 boys who I love and adore so much. I love being a husband too but this is dedicated to the fathers out there.

The past two weeks have been amazing. My 2nd son was just born and I forgot how many diapers they go through in a day. I can change like 3 diapers in a 30 minute span…how awesome is that?

As an entrepreneur and online marketer I work from my home office. Therefore I have the chance to see them grow each and every day through the day.

12-18 diapers changed daily between my two boys.

Jumping on the trampoline, teaching Zion to ride his bike, Mac and Cheese, chips, apple juice, Kung Fu Panda, Cars, Hulk, Sound of Music, Yo Gabba Gabba, Mickey Mouse Playhouse, Handy Manny, Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Diego, Agent Oso, Backyardigans, and the list goes on. My son watches TV in my office while I work. Can you say AWESOME!

Although there are countless books out there about fatherhood and parenthood there is nothing like being a father period!

I coached high school football last year and I could teach and coach and show and tell my players but there was nothing like getting out on the field and actually DOING it.

The same goes for swimming, tying knots, cooking food and FATHERHOOD. You can read all about it and watch videos about it but there is no substitution for jumping in the pool, actual knot tying, being in the kitchen and cooking and then there is no substitution for being a father.

I change diapers through the night and in the day to help my wife. If we are ever out of the house I ALWAYS change them. It gives my wife a break but more than than, it gives me investment time with my kids. I love them so much and I love being a dad. Oh no, I am far from being a perfect father and I have had to apologize to my 2 year old if I am ever out of line towards him.

I’ve learned that my 2 year old wants more and more attention these days so I must more than ever be prepared, plan and then be spontaneous with him.

I’m still learning how to be a father. I have great examples around me in both my fathers Setema and Royal. My brothers and my MPA brothers have been great mentors since they had kids before me and told me stories.

I love being a daddy.

I was a member of the Super Bowl XXXVI New England Patriots. I have played football all over the country. I have made lots of money. I have traveled the world from Micronesia, to New York to Samoa to Florida to Australia, New Zealand and to Japan. These were amazing blessings for me to experience early in my life.

But NOTHING and I mean none of those things compares to being a daddy and loving and serving my kids. I can teach them, show them, mentor them and love them. I play with them, hold them, kiss them, chase them, bite them, smell them, bathe them, clean up after them….Yes it is hard and challenging at times…but no greater reward!

I would love to hear your stories about being a daddy and your experiences and thoughts.

Setema Gali

Father in Training

Technorati Tags: dad, daddy, father, fatherhood, parenthood, setema