Family.
Family is one of our greatest blessings as well as one of our biggest trials at times. My family has always shown love and support for me and I will always be grateful for them. Furthermore, I am grateful for an eternal family. Belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I have a strong testimony that families can be together forever. The Plan of Salvation offers me comfort at all times that my family will be together forever someday, even though death may separate us for a short season. I am grateful for our loving Eternal Father and His son, Jesus Christ, who has made it possible, through His infinite Atonement, to receive forgiveness for our sins, make our burdens lighter, ease our pain, and return to live in the presence of God, Jesus Christ, and our families. I hope that I can always remember our Savior's sacrifice for us, and that there is an eternal Plan, even though it may not always be our plan, He knows best. Always.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Jimmer Fredette University
That's pretty much all that needs to be said - Jimmer. He's becoming a household name of anyone who watches college basketball. The kid is a machine! 5 games score 40+ points, one of which came last night against the then undefeated #4 San Diego State University. 43 of BYU's 71 points came from our very own Jimmer Fredette. If you watched the game on CBSCS last night, you may have seen the "Jimmer Fredette University" poster? Ya, that was my friend Aaron. He made the newspaper. College scouts and professionals are even watching this kid, he's so good. Kevin Durrant tweeted - "Jimmer Fredette is the best scorer in the world!!". That's from KEVIN DURANT! One final thing... Watch out for Jimmer Fredette. "He's climbin in yo' windows, snatchin' yo' people up, ya'll need to hide yo' guards, hide yo' guards, hide yo' guards, and hide your forwards too cause he's rapin' errbody out there!"
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Maybe a few times in a life time...
This is going to be one of my shortest posts to date because I can't really talk much about this, but tonight I got a chance to do something that most people never get to do in their lives. I got to clean the temple, the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.
It was a really neat experience and one I will probably remember for a while. I got see a couple things that most people don't get to see, and something almost no guy gets to see (except ones that clean the temple). I hope that if you ever get the chance to clean a temple you will take it! The hours are late, and cleaning doesn't sound that fun, but honestly, how many times can you personally help clean the House of the Lord?
It was a really neat experience and one I will probably remember for a while. I got see a couple things that most people don't get to see, and something almost no guy gets to see (except ones that clean the temple). I hope that if you ever get the chance to clean a temple you will take it! The hours are late, and cleaning doesn't sound that fun, but honestly, how many times can you personally help clean the House of the Lord?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Time Makes Emotions Grow
I've been saying this for a while now... "In any relationship, time makes emotions grow stronger. Whether they be good feelings or bad feelings, they grow in any relationship." It's not a perfect analogy, there are some exceptions, but I can't think of any in my life.
In a generic sense - if you spend time with someone you dislike because of a certain quality, usually that feeling increases or is replaced by acceptance and then acceptance grows stronger.
In a dating or marriage situation, as you spend time together and get to know each other your love increases as you understand how much you truly care about this person or is replaced by a different emotion which grows based on certain factors...
Example, the more time I spend with someone that bugs me because of a certain thing he or she does, the more that feeling grows. It bugs me more and more until it's almost ridiculous. Unless. Unless that feeling is replaced by another one. Acceptance. I accept this thing that bugs me. That acceptance grows until I don't even notice it. Eventually it's replaced by something else. I like it. That thing that used to bug me is now something that makes that person who he or she is. But that's only unless...
I've loved someone before. it was. one of those experiences that ends up defining you as a person. the more time I spent with her, the stronger those feelings of like became, until one day they become love. (For all of you critics who say I don't know what love is, love changes as you grow. It was love, just maybe not the kind you have now). The more time I spent with her the more I loved her... until. That's such a formidable word. Until something came along. Love was still there, but it was slowly being butted out by another emotion. Jealousy? Frustration? Anger? Now everything that happened made that emotion grow until it became too much and things had to end. That anger grew, even after we had broken up. Every look, every glare, every conversation had some subtle hint that made things worse until...
Another emotion replaces the old one. Acceptance.
It's not a cold-hard rule. But time is the ultimate growth hormone of emotions and feelings.
In a generic sense - if you spend time with someone you dislike because of a certain quality, usually that feeling increases or is replaced by acceptance and then acceptance grows stronger.
In a dating or marriage situation, as you spend time together and get to know each other your love increases as you understand how much you truly care about this person or is replaced by a different emotion which grows based on certain factors...
Example, the more time I spend with someone that bugs me because of a certain thing he or she does, the more that feeling grows. It bugs me more and more until it's almost ridiculous. Unless. Unless that feeling is replaced by another one. Acceptance. I accept this thing that bugs me. That acceptance grows until I don't even notice it. Eventually it's replaced by something else. I like it. That thing that used to bug me is now something that makes that person who he or she is. But that's only unless...
I've loved someone before. it was. one of those experiences that ends up defining you as a person. the more time I spent with her, the stronger those feelings of like became, until one day they become love. (For all of you critics who say I don't know what love is, love changes as you grow. It was love, just maybe not the kind you have now). The more time I spent with her the more I loved her... until. That's such a formidable word. Until something came along. Love was still there, but it was slowly being butted out by another emotion. Jealousy? Frustration? Anger? Now everything that happened made that emotion grow until it became too much and things had to end. That anger grew, even after we had broken up. Every look, every glare, every conversation had some subtle hint that made things worse until...
Another emotion replaces the old one. Acceptance.
It's not a cold-hard rule. But time is the ultimate growth hormone of emotions and feelings.
SITCOMS!!
So while I was watching Psych today they mentioned something I decided I could talk about in my blog today. I figured I'd wait a while, run some errands, watch a little tv and then write my blog. Wrong. I can't remember what they mentioned that I struck me. So I decided I'd talk about a couple of my favorite tv shows.
1) How I Met Your Mother - this is probably my favorite tv show of all time. It's the story of Ted Mosby, a 30-something year old hopeless romantic living in New York City searching for the love of his life. He has 4 best friends, Marshall, Lily, Barney, and Robin. Their lives are crazy and exciting and full of hilarious moments. HIMYM has brought many a happy moment to my life and filled it with lots of funny inside jokes with friends and family. Highly recommended.
2) The Big Bang Theory - is the story of 4 "nerds" and the hot girl who lives across the hall. Leonard is a brainy physicist in love with Penny but just can't seem to catch a break with her. Sheldon (my favorite character) is persistent nag about what is actually correct even though no one cares. He has a LOT of OCD ticks that are a riot. Howard is just a creepy perv of a guy. Rahj - the ethnic one - can't talk to women. Last there's Penny, the hot blonde aspiring actress from Omaha. It's a good one. Lots of geeky humor!
3) Psych! - The adventures of a fake psychic detective and all of the crimes he solves using his "psychic" abilities. If you like crime shows and sit-coms, this fulfills both!
In relation to my post "The Pursuit of Happiness", these shows make me happy. My life is no sit-com, but sometimes I try to say funny things and do funny things that happen in sit-coms, just to make life a little more interesting. You should try it sometime. Say that really corny or cheesy thing that only happens on tv, sometimes it works. Although, the irony usually isn't there...
1) How I Met Your Mother - this is probably my favorite tv show of all time. It's the story of Ted Mosby, a 30-something year old hopeless romantic living in New York City searching for the love of his life. He has 4 best friends, Marshall, Lily, Barney, and Robin. Their lives are crazy and exciting and full of hilarious moments. HIMYM has brought many a happy moment to my life and filled it with lots of funny inside jokes with friends and family. Highly recommended.
2) The Big Bang Theory - is the story of 4 "nerds" and the hot girl who lives across the hall. Leonard is a brainy physicist in love with Penny but just can't seem to catch a break with her. Sheldon (my favorite character) is persistent nag about what is actually correct even though no one cares. He has a LOT of OCD ticks that are a riot. Howard is just a creepy perv of a guy. Rahj - the ethnic one - can't talk to women. Last there's Penny, the hot blonde aspiring actress from Omaha. It's a good one. Lots of geeky humor!
3) Psych! - The adventures of a fake psychic detective and all of the crimes he solves using his "psychic" abilities. If you like crime shows and sit-coms, this fulfills both!
In relation to my post "The Pursuit of Happiness", these shows make me happy. My life is no sit-com, but sometimes I try to say funny things and do funny things that happen in sit-coms, just to make life a little more interesting. You should try it sometime. Say that really corny or cheesy thing that only happens on tv, sometimes it works. Although, the irony usually isn't there...
Saturday, January 22, 2011
My Dad Can't Pour Worth Beans - Jimmer Time!
So today(yesterday) brought a couple of different adventures...
1. I decided to continue my new habit of running 3 times a week and yesterday(Saturday - now on called today) I met my quota by running 1.5 miles in 12:49 and then ran for another 2 minutes before calling it. I felt pretty good about my time. However, my body apparently decided I was weak and made me throw up. That sucked. On the plus side, it got me out of shoveling the drive way...
2. Shortly after my... "running/spew"... my dad decided it was time to change the oil in my car. This was my first time doing it myself (with the help of my dad). It required not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 trips to AutoZone to get the right tool to get the stupid oil filter off of my car. Ridiculous. So, finally, more than an hour and a half after starting the project, we got to work. It was way too cold to do it outside, so we brought the car into the garage. FYI, the concrete in the garage is pretty dang cold too. I was the lucky one who got to climb on my back, figure how on earth I was going to get the stupid oil pan plug off without any room for leverage and lie on my back on the freezing cold concrete for 10+ minutes while the stupid oil drained out of the pain. Oh, ya, and in the mean time my back was getting soaking wet from the snow dripping off of my car. ¡COLD! So after I drained the oil from the pain and replaced the plug, I crawled out from underneath the car, we put in the new oil, and I asked my dad if he needed me for anything else.
3. He said no so I went inside to wash all the oil and grease off my body (which takes longer than usual because it's a non-polar substance and doesn't come off with water as easily because it's polar). Then my dad tells me he needs me for something else... We have to drain the oil from the thing we caught the old oil in into some plastic jugs. No big, right? My dad can't pour worth beans apparently! He missed the containers almost completely and got the oil all over the garbage can, which I was smart enough to hold the plastic jugs over, and all over my hands. That was exciting. So then I went and washed off all THAT oil. All-in-all, it was an enlightening experiences and I know how to change my own oil.
4. Jimmer Fredette is the man! 42 points in the game against CSU tonight. You may say, no big deal it's just CSU, but they beat #16 UNLV @ UNLV. That's a pretty big deal. Jimmer, yet again, buried at least one from at least 40 feet (shooting it, not hucking it up at the last second). He is the best PG in the country, and the leading scorer. 'nuff said.
5. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World = meh. It was alright, kind of hard to follow at parts, but some funny parts. "You're hairs getting kind of shaggy." (If you don't get it, that's ok).
That's my little blurb for the day. Sorry it was so random. It's kind of long, so if you're going to read any part, it should be numbers 2 and 3... that might have been better at the beginning. oops.
1. I decided to continue my new habit of running 3 times a week and yesterday(Saturday - now on called today) I met my quota by running 1.5 miles in 12:49 and then ran for another 2 minutes before calling it. I felt pretty good about my time. However, my body apparently decided I was weak and made me throw up. That sucked. On the plus side, it got me out of shoveling the drive way...
2. Shortly after my... "running/spew"... my dad decided it was time to change the oil in my car. This was my first time doing it myself (with the help of my dad). It required not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 trips to AutoZone to get the right tool to get the stupid oil filter off of my car. Ridiculous. So, finally, more than an hour and a half after starting the project, we got to work. It was way too cold to do it outside, so we brought the car into the garage. FYI, the concrete in the garage is pretty dang cold too. I was the lucky one who got to climb on my back, figure how on earth I was going to get the stupid oil pan plug off without any room for leverage and lie on my back on the freezing cold concrete for 10+ minutes while the stupid oil drained out of the pain. Oh, ya, and in the mean time my back was getting soaking wet from the snow dripping off of my car. ¡COLD! So after I drained the oil from the pain and replaced the plug, I crawled out from underneath the car, we put in the new oil, and I asked my dad if he needed me for anything else.
3. He said no so I went inside to wash all the oil and grease off my body (which takes longer than usual because it's a non-polar substance and doesn't come off with water as easily because it's polar). Then my dad tells me he needs me for something else... We have to drain the oil from the thing we caught the old oil in into some plastic jugs. No big, right? My dad can't pour worth beans apparently! He missed the containers almost completely and got the oil all over the garbage can, which I was smart enough to hold the plastic jugs over, and all over my hands. That was exciting. So then I went and washed off all THAT oil. All-in-all, it was an enlightening experiences and I know how to change my own oil.
4. Jimmer Fredette is the man! 42 points in the game against CSU tonight. You may say, no big deal it's just CSU, but they beat #16 UNLV @ UNLV. That's a pretty big deal. Jimmer, yet again, buried at least one from at least 40 feet (shooting it, not hucking it up at the last second). He is the best PG in the country, and the leading scorer. 'nuff said.
5. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World = meh. It was alright, kind of hard to follow at parts, but some funny parts. "You're hairs getting kind of shaggy." (If you don't get it, that's ok).
That's my little blurb for the day. Sorry it was so random. It's kind of long, so if you're going to read any part, it should be numbers 2 and 3... that might have been better at the beginning. oops.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sarcasm: Sticks and Stones
"While it may be entertaining to watch, in real life, cutting humor and sarcasm are too unkind to be funny. They can only injure, never uplift" - Chris Crowe, New Era, May, 1986, 34.
Sarcasm as been the most often used mode of humor in my family for as long as I can remember. My dad is one of the most sarcastic people I know. I always know when my dad is being sarcastic versus serious. However, some of my friends, when they first meet him, think he is the most serious guy they've ever met. I wonder how this could be possible, but to them it's clear as day.
Growing up around sarcasm constantly, as most of us do, has dulled me to it's pain. Usually when I'm being sarcastic I'm just trying to be funny because I don't know what else to say. How stupid is that? Someone once told me that behind every sarcastic comment we make we also find a little bit of truth. I don't think this is always true, but sometimes it is, and that's wrong.
Yesterday I was out shopping with my sister and my mom. I thought we were having a good time until one of my sarcastic comments wasn't so funny anymore. I hurt one of their feelings and I felt horrible! I thought we all knew I was joking around and being sarcastic, and we did all know that, but it's like I said, behind the sarcastic comments we make someone else might find a little bit of truth. My sarcastic sense of humor has gotten be into a little bit of trouble outside of my family. Not everyone gets our sarcasm. But shame on me for continuing to use it. I'm trying my best to be a better person, but my sarcasm isn't helping.
So, I'm trying to remember that old saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will destroy my spirit. Join in me thinking a little more about what we say before we say it. Just because we know that we're being sarcastic and don't mean any harm by what we say, the people listening may think otherwise.
Sarcasm as been the most often used mode of humor in my family for as long as I can remember. My dad is one of the most sarcastic people I know. I always know when my dad is being sarcastic versus serious. However, some of my friends, when they first meet him, think he is the most serious guy they've ever met. I wonder how this could be possible, but to them it's clear as day.
Growing up around sarcasm constantly, as most of us do, has dulled me to it's pain. Usually when I'm being sarcastic I'm just trying to be funny because I don't know what else to say. How stupid is that? Someone once told me that behind every sarcastic comment we make we also find a little bit of truth. I don't think this is always true, but sometimes it is, and that's wrong.
Yesterday I was out shopping with my sister and my mom. I thought we were having a good time until one of my sarcastic comments wasn't so funny anymore. I hurt one of their feelings and I felt horrible! I thought we all knew I was joking around and being sarcastic, and we did all know that, but it's like I said, behind the sarcastic comments we make someone else might find a little bit of truth. My sarcastic sense of humor has gotten be into a little bit of trouble outside of my family. Not everyone gets our sarcasm. But shame on me for continuing to use it. I'm trying my best to be a better person, but my sarcasm isn't helping.
So, I'm trying to remember that old saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will destroy my spirit. Join in me thinking a little more about what we say before we say it. Just because we know that we're being sarcastic and don't mean any harm by what we say, the people listening may think otherwise.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Pursuit of Happiness
Webster's defines happy as "having, showing, or causing great pleasure".
A friend and I recently started a list of things that make us happy. When we started it was really intended to be an on-going list, but it's turned into one. We've each come up with a semi-decent sized list by now (I'm not really sure how many things are on my list because she is the one writing them all down to keep track). However, this list has made me realize some things.
1) There are SO many things in this life that can make someone happy if you stop to think about it. This morning when I woke up, there was a little bit of sunshine coming through my window and I realized that that simple thing made my day a little brighter already (no pun intended). Some of the simplest things can make you happy when you stop to think about it.
2) Life gets a little easier when you are trying to find the good things that make you happy. Last week wasn't the greatest week for me, nothing absolutely horrible happened, but a couple things that sucked did. However, this week I've been looking for things that make me happy, and finding them everywhere, and I haven't had a bad day since! The first day, Monday, wasn't great up until I started my list with my friend and it just went up hill from then on. You might say it's just a coincidence, but I know better.
3) When life gives you lemons, think of how happy lemonade makes you (unless you hate lemonade and then there's no happiness for you). We live in a country where the "pursuit of happiness" is something we are all guaranteed, assuming we abide by the laws. But we are only guaranteed the pursuit of happiness, so make the pursuit easier by looking for happiness, cause happiness is at your door, waiting for you to realize it's knocking.
I guess right now is a good time to put in my religious stand point too. Not my full on testimony, that's coming. I'm not saying that you have to believe in my religion (or any specific religion) to find happiness, but having something good to stand for and believe in also makes the pursuit of happiness a little easier. I know that being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has made me a better person, and having those morals to stand up for makes my pursuit of happiness that much easier.
A friend and I recently started a list of things that make us happy. When we started it was really intended to be an on-going list, but it's turned into one. We've each come up with a semi-decent sized list by now (I'm not really sure how many things are on my list because she is the one writing them all down to keep track). However, this list has made me realize some things.
1) There are SO many things in this life that can make someone happy if you stop to think about it. This morning when I woke up, there was a little bit of sunshine coming through my window and I realized that that simple thing made my day a little brighter already (no pun intended). Some of the simplest things can make you happy when you stop to think about it.
2) Life gets a little easier when you are trying to find the good things that make you happy. Last week wasn't the greatest week for me, nothing absolutely horrible happened, but a couple things that sucked did. However, this week I've been looking for things that make me happy, and finding them everywhere, and I haven't had a bad day since! The first day, Monday, wasn't great up until I started my list with my friend and it just went up hill from then on. You might say it's just a coincidence, but I know better.
3) When life gives you lemons, think of how happy lemonade makes you (unless you hate lemonade and then there's no happiness for you). We live in a country where the "pursuit of happiness" is something we are all guaranteed, assuming we abide by the laws. But we are only guaranteed the pursuit of happiness, so make the pursuit easier by looking for happiness, cause happiness is at your door, waiting for you to realize it's knocking.
I guess right now is a good time to put in my religious stand point too. Not my full on testimony, that's coming. I'm not saying that you have to believe in my religion (or any specific religion) to find happiness, but having something good to stand for and believe in also makes the pursuit of happiness a little easier. I know that being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has made me a better person, and having those morals to stand up for makes my pursuit of happiness that much easier.
Grumpy Old I think I'll sleep
I guess it's technically day two of my blogging. I have two random things I'd like to say, only one of which is related to the title. Scratch that, I'm changing the title. For those of you that care, it was originally titled "Sleep is a glorious thing".
Now that the post title is a little more appropriate for both things I'm discussing in this post I will continue.
1) Grumpy Old Men is absolutely HILARIOUS. I'd never seen it before tonight. As I was getting ready to watch my nightly movie I asked my mom for suggestions to look up on Netflix and that was her suggestion - definite winner! I love crotchety old men who swear at each other, pull pranks, and talk about the stuff they talk about. It makes me think, "Hey, me and my best friend will be like that one day and it will be hilarious." At least, that's what I think. If you haven't seen Grumpy Old Men, you should.
2) Sleep is absolutely wonderful! Not that this is a shock to most people, but I love the point where you are so tired at night that when you climb into bed, your head hits the cold side of the pillow and within a minute you're fast asleep. I always feel so well rested after those kinds of nights. Yes, tomorrow(today?) should be a wonderful day! Yes, sleep is a glorious thing.
Goodnight.
Now that the post title is a little more appropriate for both things I'm discussing in this post I will continue.
1) Grumpy Old Men is absolutely HILARIOUS. I'd never seen it before tonight. As I was getting ready to watch my nightly movie I asked my mom for suggestions to look up on Netflix and that was her suggestion - definite winner! I love crotchety old men who swear at each other, pull pranks, and talk about the stuff they talk about. It makes me think, "Hey, me and my best friend will be like that one day and it will be hilarious." At least, that's what I think. If you haven't seen Grumpy Old Men, you should.
2) Sleep is absolutely wonderful! Not that this is a shock to most people, but I love the point where you are so tired at night that when you climb into bed, your head hits the cold side of the pillow and within a minute you're fast asleep. I always feel so well rested after those kinds of nights. Yes, tomorrow(today?) should be a wonderful day! Yes, sleep is a glorious thing.
Goodnight.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Service
I just thought of this today running up the stairs after taking my shower... and here I am.
The other day I was talking to a friend about things that made us happy and we decided to start a list. One of the things on her list was service. I didn't think about it but yesterday I decided I wanted service on my list too.
Problem: Is it bad to make service conditional? Obviously the answer is yes, but I realized I prefer giving service when it is most convenient for me. However, I find service more rewarding and satisfying when I give service randomly and not necessarily when it's most convenient.
Example: Shoveling someone's driveway because you're already out doing your own. OR Shoveling someone's driveway on a regular basis because you know they can't do it for themselves and it makes their lives that much easier.
That is just the first one that came to my mind because it's something that I actually do, but there are dozens of other ways I wish I could give service for the right reasons, not just because it happens to be convenient for me at the time.
Moral: Give service out of love for your fellow man.
The other day I was talking to a friend about things that made us happy and we decided to start a list. One of the things on her list was service. I didn't think about it but yesterday I decided I wanted service on my list too.
Problem: Is it bad to make service conditional? Obviously the answer is yes, but I realized I prefer giving service when it is most convenient for me. However, I find service more rewarding and satisfying when I give service randomly and not necessarily when it's most convenient.
Example: Shoveling someone's driveway because you're already out doing your own. OR Shoveling someone's driveway on a regular basis because you know they can't do it for themselves and it makes their lives that much easier.
That is just the first one that came to my mind because it's something that I actually do, but there are dozens of other ways I wish I could give service for the right reasons, not just because it happens to be convenient for me at the time.
Moral: Give service out of love for your fellow man.
So this whole blog thing?
Since I don't have any followers, and I doubt many people will look at my blog, I guess this whole blog thing is mostly for my own benefit for now? It seems like everyone has a blog (not jumping on to a band wagon thing) and a Facebook status isn't really a great way of letting people know what I'm thinking on more than a very superficial level. I doubt anything I say on here will really be anything important, but I'd like to see what I can do, more of a goal for myself to see if I can write down my thoughts on a regular basis (whatever that means).
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