A Wonderful Representation of the LDS Church

I found this video this afternoon and thought it appropriate to share. Rachel Esplin is a practicing member of the LDS Church at Harvard University. She was part of a religious panel this last fall and this is the video of her responding to questions from a Washington Post moderator. I thought Rachel's responses to the moderator's questions could serve as a great base and frame of reference for anyone faced with basic, yet pivotal questions about the LDS faith.  Rachel's responses were very well founded (and correct!) and showed her desire to not only share the Church's doctrine, but also have the experience be memorable and engaging.

Here you go!

Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

A Start Up Chad's working with...

Not really an update about our family, but an update on some fun things Chad has been a part of recently. Hope you all are well!

Surfing The New Web Wave

View more presentations from Jeff Dance. (tags: social networking office 2.0)

Summer 2008 Update

We wanted to let everyone know we're still alive and doing well. We're just settling back in from a long summer of driving to every point on the map imaginable...Seattle (too many times to count), Utah (3 times), Rexburg (2-3 times), Boise (2-3 times), Coeur d'Alene (daily for Chad's work) and I think some other places too. It was so great to see everyone, but man are we glad to be done with the driving!

Melanie is enjoying being a mom and the best Sunbeams teacher around! I am now back in school and enjoying getting to work on some MBA courses as well as a few law school courses. Payton is excitedly awaiting the start of his pre-school that Melanie and her friends put on for their kids. And Carson is just excited to start eating real food!

Let us know how you are doing and take a look at a few of our summer pics.

Mel and Carson doing what they do best...looking cute!

Chad's sweet firm rafting trip down the Lochsa River in May

The always necessary "Jumping Picture" just before Mel's parents went into the MTC

The last Dance Family picture for a while.

Kiev Ukraine Temple Pictures

Just thought I'd share with all who care to know...I found some great pictures of construction of the Kiev Ukraine Temple. It should be done April 15, 2010. Just in time for a great graduation gift to myself...hmmmmmm.

As to Eastern Europe, on Tuesday I had the great privilege of speaking with Kolya, a great friend of mine that I was able to teach while in Moscow. He is recently engaged to a great girl and is doing everything right in his life. I couldn't be prouder of him or his decisions. It was great talking to him about how his decision to join the church way back when has changed the course of his life forever. It has changed mine as well. I am better because of the goodness of his life and the example he is to me. He didn't grow up in the best of circumstances and has just blossomed in his young life. Again, I couldn't be prouder ofhim or the choices he has made up to this point in his life. Go Kolya!!!

Carson Alan Hallberg

Here are some of the cute pics from the incredibly cute Carson and his big brother Payton!

Carson at about 1 week old

An attempt at a "Perfect Mormon Family" Blessing Day picture.
March 30, 2008 in Spokane, WA

Another attempt at a perfect family picture only on Easter.


Payton ensures Carson has double accident coverage.

Do we see a theme yet of someone making certain not to abdicate the throne without a fight?


And finally, Carson's shiner after his imbecile of a father dropped him on Thursday, April 17th.

So the doctor says nothing's wrong, it's just a fall, and nothing permanent will ever result from it. But, then they come back with the x-ray and CT results and say that he "mildly displaced" his left orbital. They still said nothing permanent will come of it and because his bones are still forming everything will heal just fine. But, that has only doubled Chad's anxiety and constant hallucination that whenever I am holding Carson he is slipping and about to crack his skull.

An actual post about the Hallberg Fam

So, I figure no one actually comes to our blog because we haven't updated it since October. Better check that. I - Chad - haven't updated it since October. We're trying to live on the cheap and not have internet at home, which makes posting for the blog tough.

Anyway, after a great conference weekend, we're excited to apply the principles we've learned and will continue to learn from The Brethren and The Sisteren of the Church.

I'll post Carson pics soon as they're not yet on my laptop.

The need for a 1031 like-kind exchange blog

The world of 1031 exchanges has need of a value-based, knowledge-laden blog that can be the ultimate resource for qualified intermediaries, investors, realtors, attorneys, accountants, escrow companies and everyone in between to gain knowledge and share insights into 1031 like-kind exchanges. This blog purposes to fill this need.

I feel you must know right from the start where I come from in writing this blog. My name is Chad and I am a Qualified Intermediary (QI) – someone qualified to facilitate 1031 exchanges – for 1031 Exchange Coordinators out of Bellevue, Washington. I have facilitated hundreds of exchanges myself over the last 2+ years and our firm consistently facilitates upwards of 100 exchanges per month. While I represent our firm in writing this blog, I will not ever openly and knowingly attempt to coerce anyone to think they must use 1031 Exchange Coordinators to facilitate their exchange. I have simply added a link to our website here and on the sidebar where you can contact us if you'd so desire. My goal with this blog is to help foster (1) value-based education about 1031 exchanges and (2) discussion amongst those concerned with 1031 exchanges on whatever level, from professionals to the person first hearing about 1031 exchanges.

So, I hope you visit the blog frequently, comment on whatever piques your interests, and tell others about this blog!