Some day a book will come....

I want to write a book. Someday. About what? That is yet to be seen. I figure, however, that if I'm going to write a book I need to start writing much more often.

Still not sure what I'm going to write about in the mean time. I thought about writing more humor stuff, but then again I think movies like Fletch, Fletch Lives, and every chick flick ever made are funny (at least fun to mock that is)...

I thought about writing spiritual things, but then again I am the one who brings up the fact that I have been in two different police cars in two nonconsecutive states in the same 24 hour period as a conversation starter in a church meeting. Very spiritual. (I just found out that I haven't told my wife this story, she just found out from reading over my shoulder.)

I would love to write about my world travels. However, I just recently got a passport 2013, but apparently they don't stamp your passport in Puerto Rico - something about a being a territory, I don't know I stopped listening. So according to my blank passport my world travels score is still zero.

It looks like my writings will be something similar to this post mostly a hodgepodge of random thoughts, suppressed memories, and a few movie quotes.

Until next time...

Turning South

One year ago on February 9, 2011 I had an interview for an internship with the City Manager of Centerville. As I pulled out to the street when I was leaving city hall I looked south toward Bountiful and thought to myself I should go see my dad and tell him about my interview. I knew he was home because he had been feeling tired and sick for a few days and finally decided to stay home to go to the doctor. Instead, I turned north to get to freeway and go home.

The next day he died.

I don't remember the last time I talked to my dad, but I will always have a vivid memory of the last time I had a chance to talk to him. As I looked south I can still see the street  in my mind with the yellow-green dorment grass poking through the spotty snow, the barren trees, a grey sky and a road vanishing in the distance. I don't remember the last words he said to me, but I will always have this image in my mind of a last opportunity lost.

Do I regret not turning to the south? No... There was no way of knowing that in less than 24 hours I would be in a hospital emergency room helping my brother give him a blessing, and praying for a miracle as the nurses and doctors stop chest compressions. I am saddened to think that I could have taken the opportunity to see my dad one last time, but I don't waste time regretting what happened. I thought I was doing what was best. I thought he needed his rest and I didn't want to bother him. So I turned north.

I am left to wonder what would have happened if I had turned to the south. I miss my dad. I really miss sharing my life with him.

By: Dallin Koecher

Thumbing through the planner

As my planner gets closer and closer to the end of its pages and the need for a new one becoming more apparent, I took some time to thumb through the pages to see where the year has taken me.

My planner begins in December 2010 with things like classes and finals marking the pages along with holiday parities, reunions, and other responsibilities. Marked down on December 13, 2010 is a special Family Home Evening we had with my parents at their home in Bountiful in which we honored the one year anniversary of my brother Steven's disappearance. Also I see December 9, 2010 with these words "Grandpa Meeting with Social Worker." This day we discussed the growing tumor in my grandpa's brain and the decision not to operate meaning the inevitable was finally coming.

2011 began with a celebration of New Year's and the birthday of my cousin KC. I was unemployed, stressing about finding a job, gaining experience, completing school, and taking care of my family. But other than that there would be no signs that this year could possibly be worse than last year. Nor did I know that by the time we celebrated another 10 second count down to New Year's that my family would survive the a storm that would leave us stronger and more unified.

My planner has scribbled reminders of both the ups and downs. The good times are filled with appointments to keep, lists of things to do, and activities. Blank pages serve as reminders of the bad times when it didn't matter what I had to do the next day. February and July in particular are blank. Who can forget the day of their father's funeral? Who needs to write down the day you bury your grandfather?

Much good would come from 2011. In January I would embark on a path of internships and interviews that would ultimately lead me to August 16 the first day of  my first career job. As I look back  now how could I have known that taking an unpaid semester long internship with the mayor's office over a paid internship with the state of Utah would make all the difference?

In November black pen highlighted in orange highlighter marks the days when all the Koecher family embarked on a trip to visit my sister in Louisiana, something we probably wouldn't have thought necessary in January. This trip was really a pivotal moment for our family because we defined ourselves as a family who stays together no matter the cost, no matter the distance, and no matter how crazy it is to travel with four young kids on an airplane.

December holds one of the most significant appoints of the year for Amber and me. In addition to the press releases, the press conferences, and other hoopla regarding the 2nd anniversary of my brother's disappearance sits a quiet little date that would change our life forever. An ultrasound appointment. After a year long struggle to get pregnant, our prayers and fasting were rewarded when the doctor tells my wife the baby is doing fine.

My planner ends as it begins, with holiday parties, family reunions, and celebrating a cousins birthday. 2011 was a ride that I don't wish to go on again anytime soon, but I'm grateful for the way we came out in the end. Before you throw away your old planner take one more look and see what memories lie inside.

Oh and the next post I promise will be funny! No more of this sap stuff!

By: Dallin Koecher

It wasn't supposed to be this way

I have been thinking about the events of last week that surrounded the anniversary of my brother's disappearance and thought to myself with anguish, "It wasn't supposed to be this way."

We weren't  supposed to be lighting a tree to remember a brother, son, and uncle. We weren't supposed to have the media standing in our living room asking us questions about what we thought happened to Steve. We weren't supposed to be gathering for such a somber occasion.

Christmas wasn't supposed be a double dagger memory of a lost brother and a lost father who had fought so hard to bring his son home. My dad wasn't supposed be taken from us when it felt like we needed his strength, his resolve, and his insight the most. It wasn't supposed be to me to fill the role he left, and the role I tried to avoid for two years, because it hurt just too much to think about my missing brother.This isn't how his life was supposed to be.

It was supposed to be happy, filled with family, and absent of unanswered questions, fear of what could have happened, and the pain of loosing a loved one. We were supposed to be the quiet family down the street that didn't draw attention to themselves, that served others, and enjoyed each others company. We weren't supposed be the family that desperately tries to keep their story in the media in the hopes that someone, somewhere might come forward with information.

It wasn't supposed to be this way...

I am filled with gratitude for an amazing family who sticks by us through thick and thin. I am grateful for a family that never passes judgement, and always stands together to shoulder one anothers burdens. I am grateful for awesome friends who love us and shower us with prayers, thoughtful words, and kindness. I hate to think about how our life would be without these saintly people constantly surrounding us and encouraging us.

I am grateful for a mother whose unyielding faith stands as a beacon for all her children both missing and present to cling too. For a mother whose strength lifts the rest of us when we feel like we can no loner carry on. I'm grateful for brothers and sisters whose bond has become unbreakable and whose love for each other outshines the darkness of despair. I am grateful for a wife and child who help shape me into the man I need to be. They give meaning to a life that would otherwise be selfish and indulgent. They help me see the greatness inside.

This is how life is supposed to be.

I guess when I think about it, we're really not that far off...

By: Dallin Koecher

News stories and Pictures

Lastest news stories about Steven.

CBS Channel 2
http://connect2utah.com/news-story/?nxd_id=190117

KSL Channel 5
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18488050&title=family-marks-2-year-anniversary-of-koecher-disappearance

Davis County Clipper
http://davisclipper.com/view/full_story/16710951/article-Koechers-to-light-tree-honoring-missing-son?instance=home_news_1st_left
Thanks to boths of these stations for showing these stories!

by Dallin Koecher

Articles about Steven in the news

Over the last few days we have had some nice media attention about the anniversary of Steve's disappearance. Like always, we are grateful for the attention we do get. Here are links to the ones I know about and to the "Help Us Find Steven" group.

Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/53090169-183/steven-koecher-dallin-family.html.csp

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53100614-78/koecher-says-tribune-alberty.html.csp

Las Vegas Review Journal
http://www.lvrj.com/news/man-s-vanishing-in-henderson-still-unsolved-135493523.html

Las Vegas Sun
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/dec/12/ut-man-missing-utah-1st-ld-writethru/

Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/groups/225335012614/

Please come out to the tree lighting event tonight if you can! Thanks.

By: Dallin Koecher

White Light of Hope Tree

Dear Family and Friends,


I would like to wish you all a very happy holiday season on behalf of the Rolf and Deanne Koecher bunch. With the holidays approaching our thoughts turn to our loved ones and the cherished relationships we have with each of you. As you all know December will forever be a mix of emotions for our family. As the two year mark approaches of Steven's disappearance sorrow fills our hearts as we think of our precious son, brother, and uncle. But joy and comfort swells within us as we think of all the amazing support our family and friends have brought to us.

Many of you may know that one of the last things Steven did was decorate a tree in our front yard with white Christmas lights. Well, that little tree became our "hope" tree and as long as those lights burned we always had hope that we would find Steven or find answers. The lights have burned out twice now, but our hope for Steven has not. This year we are asking all of those who know and love Steven to join us as we relight our "White Light of Hope" tree again in his memory. We encourage all of you who want to participate to light a tree in your yard with white lights and to leave it lit throughout the year as a marker of our hope and love for Steven.

On Tuesday December 13 at 7 pm we will gather at Deanne's home to relight the tree in his honor. Please come out to celebrate the life and memory of Steven.

Once again thank you for your love and support through the challenges and hardships we have face these past two years. You will never fully know how much you have strengthened us. We love you all!

By:Dallin Koecher

Koecher Family “relights” hope for Steven

Dear Friends,

We are doing a tree lighting event Tuesday at my parents house in Bountiful. Please come if you can. If can't come please light a tree in your yard as a way to remember Steven and spread hope for his return or information about his case. More details below.

Thanks,

Dallin

Bountiful, Utah – The family of missing person Steven Koecher will be honoring the two year mark of his disappearance on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 pm as they relight the “White Light of Hope” tree at the Koecher residence in Bountiful.

“After two years and little news or updates all we have left is hope, and the lights on this tree symbolize our hope,” said Dallin Koecher, younger brother to Steven.

One of the last things Steven did before he went missing was put up white Christmas lights on a tree out front of his parent’s home. The tree became a symbol of hope for his parents, Rolf and Deanne Koecher, reminding them daily their son was missing and not to give up hope for Steven’s safe return.

The lights eventually burned out sometime during the summer months and the Koecher’s relight it on the anniversary of Steven’s disappearance. This year as the Koecher’s relight the tree they are asking friends, family and anyone who loved Steven to honor his memory by lighting “White Light of Hope” trees at their homes as well.

“We hope that when people see white trees at homes around the valley they will think of Steven and remember that his family still has hope,” said Deanne Koecher, Steven’s mother.

Everyone is welcome to come out to the Koecher residence in Bountiful on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 pm as they relight the “White Light of Hope” tree for Steven. For more information about the event or questions please call Dallin Koecher at 801-721-7353.

Event Details
• Who: Koecher Family
• What: Relight “White Light of Hope” tree
• When: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 7:00 pm
• Where: 334 West 3100 South Bountiful, Utah

###

Here is an article ran in the SLC Tribune today. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/53090169-183/steven-koecher-dallin-family.html.csp

By:Dallin Koecher

A Brother Missing

It has been over four months now since we learned that our brother, son and friend, Steven Koecher went missing in the Las Vegas area. Since then our family has spent countless hours worrying and wondering about Steven. Where could he be? Why did he go down there? Why hasn't he tried making contact with us? What has happened to him? Is he alive or dead? So many questions and so little answers. It is absolutely amazing that with today's technologies that someone could go missing with out a trace of evidence.

Now four months, multiple searches, dozens of news stories and even a reward later still I don't think we are any closer to finding him then the day my dad and I went down there to search the area. Now it's time for me to express my feelings about the situation. I have been suppressing them and ignoring them and what ever else I can to do in an attempt not to feel.

Do you know what limbo feels like? I think I could tell you. Imagine the spectrum of emotion from pure joy and happiness to the deepest sorrow and pain, well for me limbo isn't on that scale at all. It's not even an emotion. It's a place where you can't feel the good or the pain. I think not feeling at all is worse then being in a pit of the deepest sorrow. At least then you know where to go from there. This whole thing has left me off the canons of normal emotion and taken me to a place I don't recognize.

I have become numb. When I talk about Steven to others I don't feel happy or sad, hopeful or doubtful, I just don't feel. It's become like talking about the weather in a forced conversation in which you try to avoid the awkwardness of silence. Meaningless. Each time some one asks me "Any news?" I go into the weather spiel. "No."

I must apologize to my family and friends who may think I am not take the gravity of the situation seriously. I'm sorry if I continue to be too jovial, or have seemed to move on, but really I hide the pain and fear of expecting the worst. I hide behind a smile, a joke, and a pretend confidence. I don't know of any other way to cope. I love my brother Steven so much. I feel like he and I always had a special bond, like we were cut from the same fabric as it were. I would call him from time to time to talk about anything and nothing, and he would do the same to me. Hearing his voice on his voice mail now that he's not a phone call away cuts deep inside of me.

So I apologize to my dear family. What you see in me now is a person coping over a missing brother. I haven't given up, but I just don't know where to go. I haven't lost hope, in the other side of the veil at least. It's in God's hands now.

Love ya Steve. By: Dallin Koecher

Jackson Vid

Here is Amber torturing Jackson with cold wet hair to wake him up.

Jackson Dallin Koecher the First

This is me washing the head of Jackson.

The new and improved Koecher family.

Jackson right after he got off oxygen.

Amber and Jackson before before he was taken to the NICU. Amber had to stay and get stitched up. She was a real trooper.

Amber and I after the baby was born

Jackson weighing in at 8 lbs 2 0z

Amber right before the C Section started.

Me at 5:30 in the morning....

Amber at 5:30 in the morning, I think she handles it better than me.

Balloons, Baby Shower, and a Limo

What do balloons, a baby shower, a black Cadillac limo, five police cars, and a pellet gun have in common? One exciting night!

Last Thursday some of Amber's friends through here a baby shower up here in Logan at our house. I, like any other self respecting man would do, graciously fled from the house! Well when the shower was near the end I came home. I hadn't eaten in an hour and a half so I needed nourishment, and I heard that there were plenty of snacks at shower.

Amy and Tycee, the party organizers, wanted a ride in my friend Creighton's limo, so I pulled some strings to get them a ride aka a quick text message. Creighton came over to our house about 9 pm to give us a ride in the limo that would soon be a night to remember. (That's a little foreshadowing for ya)

To decorate for the shower Amy and Tycee brought some balloons and tied them to the railing out side of our house. When we got married a friend gave me an air soft pellet gun, and I typically don't have much reason to use it except to scare off stray cats and to remind little brothers my dominance over them. So one could imagine that a pair of perfectly good, helium filled, star shaped balloons would be quite the tempting target.

As Creighton arrives I am standing pretty much point blank next to the balloons shooting them. Apparently they were super balloons because I couldn't get them to pop. I go down to the street to talk to Creighton and wait for the lady folk to come down. To pass the time as we waited I took aim at the balloons and fired away.

Chikchik BANG! Chikchik BANG! Chikchik BANG! Chikchik BANG! Chikchik BANG! Chikchik BANG! (I must have been pretty trigger happy or something)

Anywho... We go for a limo ride. It was great. Nothing like a ride in smooth Cadillac while jamming out to NSYNC. Good times.

On our way back to the house, all of a sudden red and blue lights come flashing at us from the rear. A COP! EVERYONE SCATTER! We pull over to the side of the road and as the officer comes to the car we wonder what we were doing wrong to get pulled over.

Two officers come up to the car, tell us to roll down all the windows, and then asks Creighton to get out of the car. Later an officer asks about anything illegal in the car, and I didn't realize that I still had the air soft gun. Soon they start asking about my gun and if I still had it. I did. Before I know it I am asked to get out of the car because I was the owner of the gun.

Luck wasn't with me that evening because when I stepped out of the car there were now five, count em, five police cars there and I had a pocket knife. So imagine this if you were a person driving by, one black limo, five police cars, two civilians and one of them with his hands on his head getting pat down by an officer. (that was me by the way) If that was you what would you assume?

To rap up, come to find out that a neighbor saw me shooting the gun and then saw us drive off in a black limo, and called the cops because they were concerned. We were let go after I told the officer my red neck story - We were at a baby shower shooting balloons with a gun that I got for a wedding present, does it get more redneck than that? Maybe if Amber had gone into labor in the car or something....

What a memorable night, baby shower, guns, cops, a pat down and one awesome limo!

Teach For America...not this year

Dear Admissions and Staffing Offices,

Third time's the charm? Not with Teach for America.

In the past six months I have applied to three different positions within Teach for America, one a public relations job, the other a marketing job, and finally now a teaching position. I believed in the mission of Teach for America so much that I just had to be a part of this amazing organization.

My final hope was to apply for the teaching route. I had wanted to all along, but I had to wait for the application to come out for the 2010 year. I was so excited to be able to finally apply for the main corps, because I was hoping that someday I could take my own adventure of a two year commitment to teach. So I did ALL that was asked of me I jumped through the hoops, crossed all the "T's," answered all the questions openly and honestly, studied the mission of Teach for America, and anything else to give it my best shot. Then today, "Thanks, but not Thanks"

I find it hard to believe that I didn't rise to the top, and make it to the next round. I garuantee that if you would have taken the chance to interview me you would have seen how my personallity would have been perfect for teaching, how my experience acutally teaching qualified me, and you would have heard the innovative ideas I have that would have revolutionized engaging students in the classroom. In my spare time I actually think of better ways to teach people. In my spare time I watch people and take note of how they learn. In my spare time I make lesson plans that are highly interactive, fun, and educational. If I do all that in my spare time, imagine what I could have done for Teach for Amercia. Imagine what I could have done for those students.

I want to thank you for your time. I hope you had a chance to read this email. Feel free to contact me if you want.

Sincerly,

Dallin Koecher
Public Relations Specialist

USU Grant Will Look at School Trust Lands

Utah State University has received a $750,000 grant for research on the best practices for managing school trust lands in Utah and around the country.

The Landgrant Education And Research Network (LEARN) project is designed to conduct research on the use of school trust lands granted to public institutions throughout the country by Congress. The project is spearheaded by the Center for the School of the Future in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services.

The study hopes to find ideas and insights on the use of school trust lands, and Rich West, executive director of the Center for the School of the Future, is optimistic about the outcome.

“We hope to learn more about the best practices for managing school and institutional trust lands,” West said. “We expect to find innovative and effective practices in many states that still have trust lands.”

In addition to the research, the grant money will be used to begin the process of educating institutions and schools on their trust holdings of land and funds.

The LEARN project has the potential to provide major improvements in the management of school trust lands throughout the nation. With a greater knowledge on the effective use of the granted land, schools will have more money to improve education and upgrade schools.
School trust lands were given to public schools as a way for them to supplement their costs through the sale, lease or use of the land.

“The funds will be used to conduct the research and analysis of data pertaining to the management of school and institutional trust lands,” West said.

Congress granted more than 140 million acres of school trust lands to public schools and millions more to universities across the nation. According to the School LAND Trust program Web site, Utah still has 3.3 million acres of school trust land. Each year these lands provide millions of dollars for Utah public schools.

According to West and the National Education Association, Utah and Utah State University are acknowledged leaders in effectively using school trust lands to generate added revenue for Utah schools. In the 2007-2008 school year, this program generated $25.3 million for school improvement projects.

Through misuse and poor management of the trust land, many states have all but lost most of this valuable resource. West and the center are eager to start the research and create a network of information on properly using the land before more it is lost.

“LEARN will research how the remaining school and university lands and funds are being administered and provide information and support pertaining to new and emerging promising practices,” said West.

Related links:
Center for the School of the Future
Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Writer: Dallin Koecher, 435-797-1350, dallin.koecher@usu.eduContact: Rich West, 435-797-1994, rich.west@usu.edu

Orginally published in the Utah State Today Online magazine.

http://www.usu.edu/ust/index.cfm?article=38645

By: Dallin Koecher

Koechers for the Cure

Logan, UT - On Saturday September 12, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation held their annual "Walk to Cure Diabetes." This year's walk brought out many participants from all over the county and probably even farther. Whether it was the free food, the sunshine or the chance to show off team t-shirts that enticed participants out didn't matter because everyone was at least united in the cause to cure diabetes.

When we could be doing almost anything on a beautiful Saturday morning Amber and I decided we would do something that was more about helping others then about ourselves. The decision to joint the walk came when we both heard an add on the radio announcing the event. We both felt that we needed to start giving back to our community and take an active role in participating in local events.

Hundreds of people were in attendance for the walk. As the announcer went through the morning entertainment it became clear that most of the people there were seasoned 5k cure walkers. As for Amber and I it was our first walk...ever.

In the Greater Utah Chapter of JDRF there are five walks scheduled in the fall that extend from Orem to Boise, Idaho. We participated in the Cache County Willow park walk. The 5k started at the beautiful Willow Park in Logan and meandered it's way around the local neighborhood and on to the Logan River walk way. A person couldn't ask for a more inspiring place to take a walk for a good cause.

One of the most touching things for us as first timers to the world of diabetes fundraising was to hear the stories of young children who just found out they had the disease, and knowing forever more their lives will be changed.

Amber was diagnosed with type I diabetes just before her sweet 16 birthday. At the time it was very scary for her and her family as they faced a new challenge that none of them could have ever prepared for. Now eight years later with practice and education diabetes has become a part of her life that, with a little effort, she controls so it doesn't control her. It can be safely said that her ability to manage the disease through use of her pump and tester and other actions she takes has been greatly affected by research which was made possible by fundraisers like this.

According to their website JDRF was founded in 1970 and since then has provided our $1.3 billion for research for the disease. Now Amber and I join the fight to cure this disease so that one day others won't have to deal with the hundreds of pin pricks, changing sites, low and high blood sugar, and the constant vigilance it takes to manage the disease.

Editing photos

This picture was a little more complicated then the buttom pic. Here I had multiply layers to get what i wanted. Here I changed the levels and the hue staturation options to change the color of the "elephant" looking rock so it was more vibrate and obivious. Then I created another layer and kept the levels the same on the people. I didn't want there colors to be adjusted so that the rock still remained the most important element in the picture. Then I merge those two layers together so I could start working on the back ground rock. I lighten them up so it looks like they are more distant. Then just for fun I added a "paint knife" affect to the backround. Finally I just cropped the part I wanted. There you have it.

Here are some of my pictures that I have transformed with photoshop. In this pic I have just added another layer, changed it to black and white. Then I erased the out line of the black and what truck to bring the red up. It was pretty simple.

Photoshop assignment

Photoshop assignment

Facebook Frenzie

Facebook- the new gossip girl. I must say I have a facebook account and I check often, not religiously, but often. I think it's a great way to stay somewhat connected to my friends, especially those out of state. People's lives are constantly changing and so are their facebook pages so its very easy to be up to date on everyone. However i do think its a little crazy how fast things can spread using facebook, that's why I call it the new gossip girl. Info on a facebook page one day can be a disaster the next. For example a buddy of mine jokingly wrote on my wall saying that I was engaged, the next day people who I hardly talk to in person but are facebook friends where all in a hissy fit. That's when I realized that ANYONE could be looking at my profile at any moment, friends, family, acquaintances and probably strangers. From then on I have tried to keep all the information on the page viewer neutral so it doesn't matter who sees it.

Hidden Secrets and High Prices

The Internet sure has opened up a whole new bag of worms when it comes to privacy and the cost of instintaneous information. In an article about how popular search engines like Yahoo, Google and MSN, record peoples searches the author shows deep concern for governmental spying. I agree with this person in part, I don't think access to those records should be easy to get, but I don't agree that access to peoples search history should be protected limitlessly. Just like anything that is considered private information a proper warrant for that information is just as good. I mean what's the difference between the courts getting your bank statements for a case? Doesn't a bank statement show what a person has been doing for the past few months to a year? Search engine histories are similiar.



Where I think the problem could be solved is if those popular search enginges just didn't keep track of that info. Granted the customer wouldn't have as tailored results but then again you can subpeona information that doesn't exsist.

The other article I read concerning the Internet was about companies like AT&T who may chage more for companies like Google and Yahoo, because they use more bandwidth then others. Once againg mixed feelings about this.